Yesterday was spent fighting through a ginormous throbbing headache all day plus taking care of three little boys (one who is still not feeling 100% better so I kept him home from preschool; another with whom we are in the throes of potty training (again); and the last who is suddenly getting into everything in sight). No pity for me, please. I actually got a lot of housework done, including four loads of laundry and a whole lot of organizing before we have some very good friends come visit us for the weekend (can’t WAIT!).
And amidst it all, I found myself dreaming of spring. For Christmas, Andrew and I received a lot of gardening-inspired gifts from family, including a gift certificate to the above seed company which we can’t wait to cash in on (thanks Billy and Annie).
Now for the hard part; deciding what to order! Have any of you ever ordered seeds or plants from a catalogue? I feel totally overwhelmed by it, but am sure if I just close my eyes and point to a few random selections, they will probably be wonderful. If you have any tips, I would appreciate it! Right now I am thinking we will order two or three different live tomato plants, cucumbers, peppers (hot and sweet), basil, cilantro, parsley, squash, spinach, beets, eggplant, sugar snap peas, and maybe a raspberry plant or two. Last year we had lots of success with peppers, squash, basil, mint, and cucumbers, but not so much luck with tomatoes (my favorite!). All the squirrels kept stealing them. So THIS year, I am begging Andrew to build a cage around the tomatoes to keep those varmints out. (P.s. I love the word “varmint” and have been trying to use it in daily language so that Oliver will say it spontaneously… no luck yet). 
Varmint
Looking at our garden now is a bit depressing. But…
Can you believe the mint is already starting to come back (or never died)?! Luckily it is confined to a container (which you simply MUST do if you want to prevent it from spreading to your entire garden… then taking over your entire yard. And I like mint but not that much. How many mojitos can one consume in a lifetime, anyway?
As for the rest of the garden… yikes. Not so good. We have a lot of work ahead of us.
Whoa! How were you so productive with a throbby headache? I had a particularly nauseating one yesterday too, and it crippled me and had me couch-bound all day. I’m crazy impressed that you did laundry when ill, when I can barely manage that on a regular day.
Ohhhh, seed shopping. I want to grow all of the vegetables and then nom them. What about brussels sprouts? I see you have a page opened to them. I’ve been wondering lately about what climates they work best in, because I love to eat them, and the way they grow and look like sleigh bells is just so great to me.
I’m also impressed that you got anything done with a headache, but it doesn’t take much to convince me to put aside laundry 🙂 We’ve been slacking on planning our garden and getting our seeds but I love looking through those catalogues! My biggest problem is wanting too many different varieties (they all look so good). I set limits like try only one or two types of beans this year and there’s always next year. I also try to balance stuff that preserves well with veggies that need to be eaten fresh. Can’t wait to see your garden and feel better!
I love seed catalogs. They seem so full of hope, and they’re a sure sign of spring. We aren’t sure about our garden this year because we’re moving, but I still find myself looking through the catalogs!
Will you come to my house and plant my garden for me? The only thing we DO have is tomatoes!!! Greta was “reading” this post with me…She saw the picture of Oliver and said, “That’s ME!” I guess even she thinks they look alike!
We are more than excited to see you all this weekend! It has been way, way too long. I can’t believe what a tornado of activity you are!
I’m so jealous of your dreaming garden, which I’m sure will turn into a bounty-filled reality very soon. Our plants just don’t like Chicago. You probably don’t need this tool since you all are old hat at gardens, but there’s this cool website I came across where you insert your zip code and it tells you which things grow well and when to plant them: Sprout Robot (http://sproutrobot.com/saint-louis-mo/planting-calendar/63130).
We’ll have to hear all about it when we visit!
Tell Milo to feel better–we can’t wait to see the little varmints!
I’ve had a nasty headache all week as well – was not nearly as productive as you, though. And I did beg a little pitty :/
Anyway, love your garden area. How fun. And, mojito sounds like a dream. Spring, come get us!
We got our catalog, too! I have nearly every other page folded down and things circled left and right…much like the JC Penney’s Christmas Toy catalog when I was a kid. I second the Brussels sprouts idea, and any and all tomatoes. Those little tiny orange ones are so sweet, we call them “tomato candy” and Reina gobbles them up every time there’s a bowl of them around.
Good luck with the garden! The kids have been hacking away with shovels and boots at ours for weeks, better than a tiller.
so exciting that it’s almost time to garden again and that things are already sprouting!!! Fun choices for you guys to make 🙂