Reading ~ Free Gardening Kindle Books

Garden Guide - A No Nonsense, No PhD, No Fuss Guide to Great Gardens with Hand-Holding How To's for Beginners and Straightforward Instruction for Advanced Gardeners

 

Companion Planting: The Vegetable Gardeners Guide. The Role of Flowers, Herbs & Organic Thinking

 

Raised Bed Gardening - Ten Good Reasons For Growing Vegetables In A Raised Bed Garden (Gardening Techniques) 

 

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners!

 

 

 

 



Daily Goals ~ Tuesday, April 29th 2014

I can't believe this month is almost over! It flew by. May is going to be a busy month too. Cass, hubby and my dad's birthdays. Plus other's day and camping, we are going to be on the move. Also in May I hope to have all my seedlings planted in the garden. I also am hoping to drop 10lbs this month.
Is your monthly schedule packed like mine?

Today's goals

1. Work ~ I work form 8am-6pm. I have all the kids today and it is suppose to rain. 
2. Workout ~ I am challenging myself to drop 10 pounds by June. That will make me under 145, which gives me 25 more pounds to lose by the wedding.
3. Gardening ~ I hope the rain can hold off or take a break for a few hours to harden the plants a little more. I would love to have the kids plants in the gardening next week.
4. Weekly Goals ~ Write the and figure out what they should be.
5. Pets ~ Walk the dog today, it isn't raining right now. I want to get 1/2 hour walk in. It will feel nice.

Yesterday's Goals

1. Get organized - I feel so unorganized and stuck. I don't know why but I'm getting in my depressed mood. I do t know if it's the stress of the bills, or the weather sucking and feeling like my garden will never grow. I just want to sleep it all away. Becoming more organize will help me feel in control. - I worked on planning my day better! 
2. Work - today I work from 8-6 hopeful they can put me in a mood to move. I love spending time with them! They mean so much to me. - we had a good day!
3. Cooking - I so excited to make manwich for dinner. I have been dying for it! - Hubby surprised me and picked up corn on the cob to go with dinner mmm!
4. Gardening harden off plants - I need to start to harden off the kids plants. I would love to plant the peas in the garden next week! - We got the out! My little man was asking why the plants need outside time.
5. Pets - I want to clean the bottom of the rabbit cage tonight! It is important to keep it clean right now! We have 6 new babies to keep an eye on. - I checked on the but didn't get time to clean up after them.

What are your goals today?

Daily Goals - Monday, April 28th, 2014

This morning was so busy! I had morning chores and wanted to hit the shower. Hubby woke up early and want my time too. I think I plan to much in the morning. I was though able to feed all 14 pets and give them fresh water. Then wash dishes, start wash, and put gas in the car. I also grabbed dinner to make at work. Then took a shower and had some time with hubby. I was so busy.

Today's goals

1. Get organized - I feel so unorganized and stuck. I don't know why but I'm getting in my depressed mood. I do t know if it's the stress of the bills, or the weather sucking and feeling like my garden will never grow. I just want to sleep it all away. Becoming more organize will help me feel in control.

2. Work - today I work from 8-6 hopeful they can put me in a mood to move. I love spending time with them! They mean so much to me.

3. Cooking - I so excited to make manwich for dinner. I have been dying for it! 

4. Gardening harden off plants - I need to start to harden off the kids plants. I would love to plant the peas in the garden next week! 

5. Pets - I want to clean the bottom of the rabbit cage tonight! It is imporant to keep it clean right now! We have 6 new babies to keep an eye on. 

What are you up to today?

Reading ~ Free Gardening Kindle Books

Raised Bed Gardening: How to Use Simple Raised Beds to Grow a Beautiful Vegetable Garden (Raised Bed Garden - Your Ultimate Guide to Planting the Best Garden)

Container Herb Gardening Made Easy: How To Grow Fresh Herbs At Home In Pots

Organic Vertical Garden: Beginners Guide To Growing Healthy Organic Gardens

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners!

Reading - Book Review ~ 100 Easy Recipes in Jars

100 Easy Recipes in Jars

I download 100 Easy Recipes in Jars by Bonnie Scott for free around Christmas time. I just got around to finish looking at it! 

I love this book! The recipe in it are awesome! I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a little Christmas gift. The recipes we tried tasted wonderful! My Favorite was Blone Brownie Mix. 

I was very impressed with the different types of recipes. Normal most books are the same. I found many recipes I can use thoughout the garden season and can share! 

Daily Goals ~ April 22nd, 2014

Good Morning, I didn't want to get up and get ready for work. 1st day back since Thursday. I did miss my little ones though. Just getting out of bed was hard. I think it was more hard because hubby didn't want to cuddle this morning. I like it in the morning. Something about being in his arms makes me feel safe, then being safe all day.

Skipper Helping Garden ~ At least he thinks he is

Today's Goals

1. Work ~ I work today, from 8am- 6pm. I cant wait to see how the little ones enjoyed Easter!
2. Reading ~ We are going to start to listen to the Old Testament today at lunch. 
3. Gardening ~ clean pots!!
4. Cooking ~ Post Menu
5. Personal Goals ~ Post weekly goals

What are you doing today?

Reading ~ Free Kindle Gardening Books

Indoor Gardening: How to Grow a Luscious and Thriving Herb and Vegetable Garden Indoors (Your Guide to Growing Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Plants Indoors) [Kindle Edition]

White Gardens - How to Make a Stunning Moon Garden [Kindle Edition]

Grow Indoor Vegetables: Live in the City? Do Not Have a Garden? Learn How to Grow Delicious Vegetables and Herbs Indoors With Little to No Space!! (grow ... vegetable gardening, grow herbs indoors) [Kindle Edition]

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners!

Daily Goals ~ Monday, April 21st, 2014

Good Morning, Hope you had an amazing Easter! We did! Hubby and I went to to church. It is so nice, to have time with hubby and enjoy the church. Then we headed to m,y parents for dinner. It is so nice to get together with my family and have a blast. I'm lucky to be part of a family that is close and that want that closeness.

Today's Goals

1. Cleaning ~ I need to get the house picked up.We are having the sister over for dinner tonight. I have challenged them to come up with something new to teach about. I can't see what they have come up with.
2. Gardening ~ I need to work on getting the fire pit area cleaned up. I think this area will be some extra food for the animals. I will be able to use this for more lettuce, and cold shade crops for the animals.
3. Gardening ~ Get green house up and start to harden off crops. I need to start to work on my harden my cold crops off. I need the room and they can be planted outside soon.
4. Cooking ~ I need to make up the menu for this week. I get hard sometimes trying to figure out what to cook. I'm so glad my mother in law gave me a new cookbook.
5. Cass's ~ I was talking yesterday to my family, I feel like I'm not pushing her. I know that it is crazy, but she so much smarter than she been acting and I want her to try harder.

 There is a lot going on today. It is important I get to move on it!

Couponing/Stockpile ~ How I do it on a small budget

Giant and Gas Points

This is how I stay on my $150-$200 budget a month. I combine 2 bills into one. Yes I agree $150 dollars a month isn't a lot of money. I feed a family of 2.5 (my daughter lives 1/2 here and 1/2 at her dad's).

My Stock pile 4/17/14

I don't only feed my family, I also stockpile about 3 months of food. The LDS Church tells us to have a Food Storage of 3 months of food. That way if something bad happens, you have it. I can't tell you how many time having a stock pile of food has feed my family, when an unexpected bill has come up. It is a true blessing that God has giving me to have my stockpile. Also having a stock pile means if I got 10 ketchup bottles at $.35 a piece, then I paid $3.50 for them. I have them in the basement. If I run out I can grab one from the basement and not pay full price. (which is more that $2 a piece)

My stock pile freeze are full!

Okay, now your asking me how I use two bills to equal one, and can I do it all on $150 a month. My answer is Gas Point. Hubby and I both work out of the home. I use about 10 gal of gas a week and he use like 20gal. That's 30gal at $3.63, which is around 108.6! Oh my that's a lot of money going into my tank and coming out. Well lets make the money work for me! I'm going to let my money buy my groceries before it goes in my tank! That is double use of the money, that was going to go in my tank anyway.

Giant put almost $40 in my tank for this deal (everything here was free, plus 10 yogurts)

I do not count my gas money as grocery money, because that money has to be used on products that put money back into my gas tank! I also do not say my gas is free, its not! I'm using my gas money wisely.

Giant put $20 more dollars in my tank and this stuff free!

I know Hubby and I use 30gals of gas a week, that means I need to have all my gas points every week. I will have over 3.60 a week. I do that by the stuff that is in the box for gas points. I buy only what I would use, and add it to my stock pile. I don't waste to was money or my time, therefore I don't over buy. I don't want to serve my family old stuff.

Money I used to buy my gas was used at Giant on food!

Now you might think this is hard to do, or I end up with junk. I don't.  I will post my deals if I get a chance and show you how easy it is to build a stock pie that will help my family and do it using my gas!!! 

Reading ~ Free Kindle Gardening Books

Home Vegetable Gardening -a Complete and Practical Guide to the Planting and Care of All Vegetables, Fruits and Berries Worth Growing for Home Use [Kindle Edition]

Italian Cooking From Scratch - How to Make Fresh Homemade Pasta, Grow Your Own Herbs and Vegetables and Cook Classical Italian Recipes (3 cookbooks in 1) [Kindle Edition] 

 

Growing and Cooking Italian Vegetables - Gardening Tips and Recipes from a Lifetime of Italian Cooking [Kindle Edition] 

 

  Pigs, Peas and Poo: Raw Travel England (A Novella about a Wwoof Journey in the UK) (The Adventures of a Greenman) [Kindle Edition] 

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners!

Rabbits ~ Outside Hutch

Hubby and I finally decide, where we want the rabbit hutch to go. I wanted a shady area, so the won't over heat this summer. We decide to put them next to the chicken. The chickens weren't so happy about that idea, but the had no choice.

Messy rabbit area

Okay, I will admit the area is a mess. Not that I don't love my girls, but they don't normal hang out in their coop, because they are free. I haven't been the best with getting the area picked up and looking nice. That changed a 12 hour project was started and it took two day to complete.  

1st time outside

While I was cleaning up their area the 1st day, we put them out in the small animal cage (this has been used as puppy cage, 2x as a chick coop, and now the bunnies) This is perfect for them to eat some grass, and get use to the outside. They have never been outside in their little life.They loved eating the grass.

1st time in the new hutch

Day 2 of cleaning up there area, we put them in their new hutch. This is where they will be. I love that we got it for free, and it huge. Once we have some babies it won't seem so big, but it will have room. Even though I am raising them for meat. I want them to have a great life. I want them to be loved and know that they are.

Cleaned up area and nosy chickens

Day 2, we got the hutch moved. I finished the area. I was taught how to shingle a roof. We also put up the pen. This gives them a 10x10 area to be bunnies hop, run and just be a bunny. Once we have baby bunnies, we will pull out the hutch in Cass room and divide the cage. That way, mommy can be with her babies and daddy won't eat them. Also it will stay divide for so male and females are separated. That way we only be sending pregnant bunnies off to be meat (that wold be horrible). Yes, the girls had to check it out. Anyone every say chicken were dumb, haven't meet mine. I think they were jealous their pen is smaller, but the are trapped.

Rabbits in their new pen and hutch

I put them in the hutch and they had a blast. They were running around and hoping and just being bunnies. They still can't be in their all the time, because it is still cold outside. They have to feel better having a lot more room, to move around and be bunnies.

Gardening ~ Gardening Goals - 4 Weeks Before My Last Frost (praying) Weekly Goals 2014

 According to my book Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, I am on Week 4, but I am so far behind. I am still playing catch up. This cold weather just makes me want to stay in bed with a book! Okay I know we have been spoiled the last few year and had light winters. Spring is coming in my garden though, I can see it is trying! Time for me to start to try!

Green Daffodil

 Weekly Goals

1.  Harden off ~ broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce,cabbage, and brussels sprouts. Do this by using a green house before planting into the ground. I have to get my green house up and ready.
2. Plant seeds ~ I have so many seeds to plant! Every seed I want to grow needs to get planted this week.
3. Clean up Gardens ~ My Gardens are a huge mess. It has been so cold, getting outside is hard. I have to get to it though. Luckly I have a 4 day weekend still. I am hoping to be in the garden everyday except Easter!
4. Trees ~ I want to give them a little bit of fertilizer and new mulch. The girls have been taking the mulch off the trees. 
5. Bugs ~ Cleaning up my Rabbit Area, I came across at least 3 ant homes. I don't normal do this but because of the way the ants destroy my garden last year. I'm going to lay poison feed in their path. I don't want to kill all the ants. Last year I had over 40 different ant homes in my gardens. They were farming Aphids which were killing my plants. I'm hoping if i can take out a few ant colonies then maybe I will have less trouble this year!

What are your goals this week?

My Apricot Tree's blooms

Daily Goals ~ Friday, April 18th, 2014

Good Morning, everyone is up and feed. I don't like being home alone. With hubby on military leave, and the little one at her fathers. The house was so quiet last night. I can not wait for everyone to be home today! How did you do with your goals yesterday? I did horrible. I was so lazy yesterday. I just sat around eating and watching TV. Okay no TV today! I have work to do!!!!!

Fluffy! Just hang out

Today's Goals

1. Pets ~ Rabbits are going outside again to day! They are loving the area and being able to play. I still need to bring them in at night. They won't spend the night outside until it is 60* at night.
2. Cleaning ~ Time to work on the kitchen! I didn't want to clean yesterday. I want to get it done before the family gets home this afternoon.
3. Cass ~ I have to grab her at her father's house and then hit the bank. After that we are home for the weekend.
4. Gardening ~ Write my goals for this week, and put last weeks goals in it. I have been so bad with my gardening goals! This weather is frozen my gardening gene, lol.
5.  Gardening ~ Work on Fire Pit Garden. I don't even know what I'm going to plant there!

Happy 51 Birthday Mom! I love you

 Yesterday's Goals

1. Cleaning ~ It is chilly outside right now, therefore I want to take my time and clean up the kitchen. It is a mess and needs to get organized. ~ I didn't do. I was lazy yesterday.
2. Gardening ~ I'm hoping that the weather warms up and I can get outside. I want to start to clean up last years onion patch, and finish clean up the garlic area. ~ I didn't do. I was lazy yesterday.
3. Gardening. I have a lot of start pots, that I need to get clean. I have a lot of plants that need to get started really soon. I'm going to move my cold crops into the green house this weekend. That way I will have room to plant warmer crops. ~ I didn't do. I was lazy yesterday.
4. Errands ~ I have a few more errands to run this weekend. I'm hoping to get them all most all done Except Saturday night Easter candy auction. ~ I got everything done! I found stuff I was missing at another store, and my stock pile is awesome.
5. Family Time ~ Today is my Mom's Birthday! We will do cake and ice cream tonight! ~ My daughter's father let her come to the cake and ice cream. It was nice getting to with family. I really do treasure the time we have with them. I am lucky to have a close bond with my family.

What did you do yesterday? Did you take a lazy day and catch up on your DVR? The way I did. 

Reading ~ Free Kindle Gardening Books

Vertical Gardening: Grow Your Garden Up to Harvest Beautiful Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants in Small Spaces (Garden in Urban Locations, Small Spaces, Anywhere Else Using Vertical Gardening)

Plant A Garden And Be Happy: How Planting And Harvesting Your Own Garden Can Provide Tremendous Enjoyment And Satisfaction (gardening, benefits of gardening, gardening for beginners, growing a garden)

Urban Gardening: The Urban Farmer Handbook - How to Grow Beautiful Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants in Any Space (Garden Design - Learn to Grow a Garden ... Small Yard, Roof Tops, Balcony, and more)

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners! 

Cooking ~ Tutu's Skillet ~ How I inherided over 50 year old skillet and cleaned it

My Uncle asked me, if I would like to have my Tutu's skillet (Hawaiian for grand-mom). Of course I said yes! It is so cool to have something hand down that my Tutu, and uncle both used!

Cleaning My Tutu's skillet

He did warn me that the needed some TLC. I did my research and learned how to clean them. I used the information that was on wiwiHow. It couldn't have been easier. I used baking soda and a potato. I scrubbed them for about 15 minutes each. Then covered them with oil and baked them at 350 for an hour.

Seasoning the skillet

After they were done in the over, I start to cook with them. We were having pierogies for dinner. I fried p some oil and added some Mrs. Dash ~ Garlic and Herbs. Then fried up my pierogies, mmm they were great!

Cooking in the Skillet

After I was done cooking a watched a Youtube video on how to clean the pan. It was as easy as the lady said. I clean it with hot water and a brush. I dried it and then re-oiled it.

This one looks like new

Looks a little use, but wouldn't guess its over 50 years old

Now every time I cook, I will have my Tutu with me! This is an amazing gift my uncle gave me and one I will treasure for the rest of my life. It a gift that can never be replaced! I am hoping to pass it down to my little one! Could you imgaine cooking the meals for your family from the pan your Great-Grand mom used!

Daily Goals ~ April 17th, 2014

Good morning, I have been up for a while, but haven't gotten much done. Everyone is feed, and I put the rabbits outside to get some air and running around time. That is about all. I'm off of work today for a long Easter week. It was nice sleeping in a little and not having to rush. I do though have a list of stuff I would love to get done this weekend.

I love my flowers!

Today's Goals

1. Cleaning ~ It is chilly outside right now, therefore I want to take my time and clean up the kitchen. It is a mess and needs to get organized.
2. Gardening ~ I'm hoping that the weather warms up and I can get outside. I want to start to clean up last years onion patch, and finish clean up the garlic area. 
3. Gardening. I have a lot of start pots, that I need to get clean. I have a lot of plants that need to get started really soon. I'm going to move my cold crops into the green house this weekend. That way I will have room to plant warmer crops. 
4. Errands ~ I have a few more errands to run this weekend. I'm hoping to get them all most all done Except Saturday night Easter candy auction. 
5. Family Time ~ Today is my Mom's Birthday! We will do cake and ice cream tonight!

What are you doing today? Let me know

Reading ~ Free Gardening Kindle Books

How To Improve Soil Condition in Your Garden

The Exotic Northern Garden

A Walk in the Garden with Jesus: A Celebration of New Life

Get these while they are free and read along with me! Join me on Facebook at Pa Gardeners! 

Looking for something to do tomorrow night?

Thanks Facebook for the picture

I'm going to have to learn more on my it's pick! I can't wait though to see it!!

Daily Goals ~ Monday, April 14th, 2014

Good Morning, I know you didn't here much from me over the weekend. This is my busy time! I have so much to tell you and picture to show. Hope I can find the time to share it all before the week is over. This weekend, I spend over 12 hours in the yard! Most of it was time that I was cleaning the yard and area for the rabbit home. Then late last night hubby and I set it up. They had a blast in it and the area looks amazing.

Love the Daffodils just growing where they want

Today's Goals

1. Work ~ Today I work from 8am-6pm. I am excited to get back and spend time with the little ones. Last week, I was so sick, it doesn't feel like I was there. Plus I left early one Wednesday and didnt  work Thursday. Even Friday I didn't do much in the yard.
2. Workout ~ Ugh I haven't been doing very well on working out and counting my calories. I gained back a pound. I'm going the worng way. I know I can lose this weight! Back on track today. Plus getting in the garden is going to help burn calories doing things I like. Tonight hubby and I are hitting the gym. Abs get ready!
3. Finances ~ Today is my last day to file my business taxes. I have to get everything ready then turbo tax will help me do the rest. I'm almost done.
4. Shopping ~ Today I need to hit the store to grab the pepper, onion, and salad I need for dinner this week. I can't wait to just go get it out of the garden!!!
5. Blog ~ I want to download all the pictures, that were taking this weekend.

What are you doing today?

Gardening- Gardening Tour ~ April 5th, 2014

Plans for the Garden

My Gardening is finally getting on the growing. I'm excited to should you what is going on. Right now it is clean up time, I have many seedlings growing in the basement, on Mother's Day we will plant them outside.

My Vegetable Garden

I was able to start cleaning the Garden and planting last weekend. It was nice to get outside and enjoy the weather. I did get one of my Garden Box 3 cleaned up and planted.

 

All My Fruit Trees

 I try to walk around the house and see what is going on with the trees. I learned that my Apricot tree is starting to bloom. I also learned that one of my branch on my Peach tree is broke, and I have to fix it. This time weekly lets me see what is going on.

The Garden Around the House

 I work hard to have the gardens around the house. The driveway garden, I'm hoping to make it edible. The rest I would like flowers. I don't do many flowers, because I don't want to waste the space. I have come to realize, I like the cut flower in my home. Therefore I need more in the garden.

This is a small glimpse into my gardens, how are your gardens coming along?

Gardening ~ 6 Before My Last Frost (2014) - 4.Spray Trees

 

Spraying My Peach tree

Last weekend I started on some of My 6 Before My Last Frost (2014) - Weekly Goal. I sprayed my trees. Last year my peach trees had Left Curl, therefore this year I decide to spray all my trees.

I researched many sites the best I recipes I have found is
Vinegar Fungicide and Baking Soda/ Potassium Bicarbonate Fungus Control  from The Dr. Dirt
I'm going to take Dr. Dirt recipes. I combined the recipes and made my Homemade Fungicide. 

After making my fungicide, I when out and sprayed all my trees. I know that Leaf Curl only effects peach trees, but I want to make sure my other trees aren't holding the fungus. This also gave me time to check out each tree, and their branches.

My 4 Pear trees

 

My peach tree

My Apricot Tree

My 2 Apple Trees

My 3 Plum Trees

 

My everything tree, that lost all but one kind of branch

Do you have any fruit trees in your yard? I am hoping to get 2-3 more this year. I am hoping to have enough food coming out of the garden. It would be awesome, because the price of fruit keeps going up.

I'm Not sure if it will work but worth a try!