How my kids see me:

Here is a survey to give children...regarding how they perceive their mother. My kiddos are 5 and 6 years old. I hope you enjoy their answers; I know I did.

• What is something your mom always says to you?

6 year old: Brush your teeth and brush your hair.

5 year old: It's time for dinner.

• What makes mom happy?

6 year old: Doing school work with us.

5 year old: When I give her a present.

• What makes mom sad?

6 year old: Getting hurt.

5 year old: When we don't listen to her.

• How does your mom make you laugh?

6 year old: Jokes and when she tickles my ribs.

5 year old: When she uploads funny pictures.

• What was your mom like as a child?

6 year old: She wore glasses in her teens.

5 year old: She always laughed sometimes.

• How old is your mom?

6 year old: 30

5 year old: 80? [!! I am 30!!]

• How tall is your mom?

6 year old: 6 foot, 8 inches.

5 year old: 40 by 60.

• What is her favorite thing to do?

6 year old: Making sure school is fun to us and spending time with the family.

5 year old: Typing on the computer and spelling things.

• What does your mom do when you're not around?

6 year old: I think she watches movies with daddy downstairs.

5 year old: She goes on a date with dad, or watches movies that would be stinky to kids.

• If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

6 year old: Singing.

5 year old: She'd be a rock star.

• What is your mom really good at?

6 year old: Hugs and kisses.

5 year old: Cooking.

• What is your mom not really good at?

6 year old: Spending a lot of money.

5 year old: Making hard patterns with buttons.

• What does your mom do for a job?

6 year old: Schoolwork.

5 year old: Schoolwork. [I homeschool them]

• What is your mom's favorite food?

6 year old: Blueberries?

5 year old: Sausage. [Note that I am a vegetarian]

• What makes you proud of your mom?

6 year old: She sings to us.

5 year old: She does nice things.

• If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

6 year old: Olive...you know, that girl from Popeye?!

5 year old: Mary Poppins.

• What do you and your mom do together?

6 year old: Snuggle.

5 year old: We play.

• How are you and she the same?

6 year old: Our brown hair.

5 year old: Our eyes.

• How are you and your mom different?

6 year old: She's older.

5 year old: Because of our shoes. Mine are smaller.

• How do you know your mom loves you?

6 year old: Hugs and kisses, and she always watches over us.

5 year old: She has my heart.

• What does your mom like most about your dad?

6 year old: He's cute.

5 year old: He loves her.

• Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

6 year old: The weekend.

5 year old: The market (The French Quarter in New Orleans) and to get new clothes.

Fun, no?!

Every Garden Needs

Planning My Garden

I love the old Victory Garden war posters and talking with my grandmother (aged 91) about the vegetable gardens they grew as she was growing up.

This year, I am inspired to try my largest home garden yet. In past years we have successfully grown tomatoes, leeks and peppers. Now we'll stretch our veggie vines a bit.

I've ordered or started:

• Bowling Red Okra
• Star of David Okra
• Jaune Obtuse du Doubs Carrots
• Cosmic Purple Carrots
• Green Doctor Cherry Tomatoes
• Titan Sunflowers
• Brightest Brilliant Quinoa
• Scarlet Runner Beans
• Gotte Jaune d'Or Lettuce
• Rouge d'Hiver Lettuce
• Contender Green Beans
• Filius Blue Hot Pepper
• Ashe County Pimiento Sweet Pepper
• Tigger Melon
• Japanese Long Cucumber
• Black Beauty Zucchini
• Moon and Stars Watermelon
• Genovese Basil
• Lime Basil
• Bouquet Dill
• Lavener
• Slo Bolt Cilantro
• Yukon Gold Potatoes
• Garlic
• White Onions

This weekend we're constructing four or five raised beds. I hope to either mulch around the beds, or start a ground cover around them. This will ensure a large patch of the backyard won't need mowing!

Potatoes are going in a potato tower like this one. Might we end up with 100 lbs of spuds like so many websites promise?!

Additionally, we're sticking some tobacco and cotton in the ground. The tobacco is purely for the fun and enjoyment of the hubs. This way, maybe I can persuade him to do the watering once in awhile. The cotton should be experimental fun for the kids. I want them to see how the main product of our clothing grows. It is the "fabric of our lives," is it not?

I'm also planning a row of grape vines. In the last couple years, I've explored making my own wines. This year maybe some of the grapes will come from our own vines. A girl can dream, at least.

I can't wait to get out there and till up some dirt...stir up some compost...make garden markers with the kiddos. See you in the sunshine!