Petunia Lady

The Petunia Lady...

to this day I don't remember her real name.

She was the first person I ever "bought" (my parent's bought) flowers for my garden. My garden at that point in my life was a big tractor tire with dirt in it. Every year I would fill it with petunias or as I grew older different and varied flowers. This started my love of gardening and I do still like petunias.

We also had a vegetable garden at the house on Congdon Road behind the barn. Fresh vegetables from my dad's garden was just a way of life and I had hoped when I got my first house that I would be able to grow my own vegetable garden.

Yesterday I bought lots of vegetable plants and a few flowers for my garden beds in the backyard. This evening I planted rosemary, basil, peppers, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, and a blackberry bush. I hope that it will grow well and yield enough vegetables and fruit to share. I am really excited and hopeful. It has taken a lot of work to get these beds ready but I will tend to my garden.

As I was finishing planting a butterfly came into the garden to visit. Maybe it really was dad coming for a visit and hopefully blessing not only the garden, vegetables, fruits, but me as well.

Now I may not be the petunia lady but maybe one day a child will remember me in the same fond way I remember her.

Spring Has Come

Spring has come to Michigan. The trees are budding and the temperature is beginning to be warmer. Spring reminds me that we are all renewed in the many seasons of our lives. This spring is renewing me. I am beginning to work in our yard and I trying to plan out my garden. This is spiritual work tending a garden and being outside in the beauty that is nature. Go out and tend your own garden whether it is the garden in your yard or the garden of your soul.

Molly

Here is a picture of the new family member

Molly

More pictures coming soon.

A New Year

Well we are now almost a month into 2010. Last year was another interesting year for Mike and I. Mike found many soccer coaching opportunities and now is the JV coach for both the Pioneer high school men and women. He also continues to be the director of the Rush Academy. Due to Mike's schedule he was able to get a lot of work done at our house and we are so proud of it.

In December I was looking at my goals for 2009. One was to buy a house... well I think I can put a big check mark by that one! My other goal was to run at least 2 races. In 2009 I ran four races! I think that calls for a check mark with a lot of stars around it! I have already begun to plan my races for this year. I may even start in February.

I also have revived my love of knitting. Yes I was knitting a little (now a little for me may be a lot for others) but I am now knitting a lot... joined an international shawl exchange and I am going to try to join a knitting group or two this year.

It is time for me to get out there and meet more people. I have even started playing in a coed soccer league with Mike. We will see what this year has in store for us.

Here are a few pictures. The first is just a cute picture of Mike and Drew at Bona family Christmas. The other two are from Mike's Christmas present... we went to a Red Wings game.

Merry Christmas to all! And to all good knitting.

I decided to knit a last minute Christmas present. I am sure not many of you are surprised. In order to get this Christmas present done I decided to knit on the bus from my car to the hospital in the mornings and evenings. For all of you knitters out there you need to knit in public because the looks you get are priceless! People on the bus were trying not to stare but seemed not to be able to help themselves. One woman would stare at my knitting and then when I would look at her she would quickly try to make it look like she wasn't staring. It all made me giggle as I knitted away.

Speaking of Christmas I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. May it be filled with good memories, love, and a sparkle of hope. I also want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Thanksgiving and Turkey Trot

Sorry for the late post. We don't have internet at home so I haven't been able to post in a timely fashion. Mike and I went to NY for Thanksgiving. We had a good time hanging out with the Johnville and Ellis clan. Kathy and I also ran another race. (Yup we are a bit nuts!) Kathy had her best time to date even with hurting her ankle. We even took a trip to the ER but no broken ankle for Kathy but a very bad strain. I had an OK time for not running in awhile. While we were in NY we went to the museum with Jacob and Evan, helped Kathy get a Christmas tree, and saw Jenny and the kids. All in all a good visit.