Tanmi, Irish, Merr

[tanmi]

Annuals are planted yearly and last the season only. Perennials return the following year, they aren't usually potted plants, at least out doors. However, that doesn't mean you can't.

I bought two tomato plants. I have these quarter-barrels that I put them in. They grow pretty well. I picked up a jalapeno and a green pepper, as well. That was it for veggies. I usually grow cucumbers, but they get so scraggly and unattractive, that I decided I didn't want to look at them.

I had to move the herbs to the back. I had been keeping them on the front entry, because honey has been repairing the deck. However, Alex's friend Dale, keeps digging in them to bury peanuts and I find a mess every morning. So I had to get them out of his way.

[tanmi]

You didn't have a very snowy winter, either, did you? It's not good that things are getting that dry. The critters must be struggling.

[merr]

No, we barely had any snow. The mountains got a bit more than we did in the valley, but not anywhere close to what we need.

When you say they'll last the season...they'll stay pretty until fall or will they die before then? If they are going to die in July I don't want to bother spending the money on flowers.

Will the squirrels and chipmunks not go to the backyard?

[tanmi]

Yes, last all summer. Now, with that said, you will need to deadhead the flowers, so that new ones will grow in their place.

Our deck is two levels, I put them on the upper deck. Can the squirrels and chipmunks go there. Of course, but I'm hoping they are used to the peanuts in the front and won't mess with the back.

I haven't bought any flowers yet. At this rate, I won't be able to get anything I like. I do not pale flowers, like pink, etc., they always look like they couldn't make up their minds as to what color they wanted to be. I am more for Red, White, Purple. I know, I don't consider White a pale flower, because they really stand out.

[merr]

I need to buy a watering can. Dragging the hose out to my pots to water is annoying. lol

[tanmi]

LOL. I find that lugging a watering can around is not fun. I only use it now when I fertilize. I bought one of those hoses that shrivel up when you turn off the water. It expands enough that I can water all of my plants and then it shrivels up and I keep it next to the sprout. Easier for me than lugging, almost dragging these days, a water can. It's faster, too.

I have been so busy today. Non-stop since 7:30. I decided to take a quick break.

How's it going? Are you getting those kids in line? ;-)

[merr]

I got me a watering can. Our hose is 100 ft long because we have a big backyard so it becomes a hassle. I do like those hoses you are talking about, just not practical for our yard.

I'm glad you took a break!

I'm trying to be nice and let them follow the rules on their own to give them a bit more freedom since they are older, but they aren't doing great. We're going to have to start taking away phones.

[tanmi]

See, that's why it works for me. ;-) I keep all of the plants on my decks, even the veggies. On rollers, no less. Totally, have had to make this easy for myself.

Kids need management. :-) Of course, I have no kids, so ignore anything I may say.

I just ate chocolate pie for lunch. I am not a chocolate person, so this was a bit much. It was good.

[merr]

Chocolate pie for lunch sounds like a fantastic idea! I had a hamburger, which was also good.

Cabin this weekend, but it is going to be HOT! I'm going up alone in the morning. (Kevin and the boys just left) Emily works tonight and then she is covering shifts tomorrow as well. She just realized this morning that she agreed to work 11-3 for someone and also 5-9 for someone else so I'll come home from the cabin some time around when she gets off of work.

[tanmi]

How far is it to the cabin?

I’m going to have to make a few decisions in the next few regarding this job. I don’t know any to keep working, but the benefits are keeping me on.

I made pulled pork in crock pot yesterday. It turned out really good. I made a corn salad as a side.

I finally planted the herbs. With Marc still working on deck I don’t have a lot of places to put the plants that gets them away from critters.

[merr]

The cabin is just under an hour away.

I know what it's like making hard decisions.

I LOVE pulled pork! Yum. I'm already cooking simple meals as much as possible and things on the grill etc. The weather has gotten crazy hot really fast and I don't want to warm up the house too much cooking dinner every night.

Kevin power washed our deck and the furniture yesterday. I asked him to help me set up the power washer cause I'd never used it and he just ended up doing it. haha (Exactly like I knew he would. )

[KyleEl]

Jun 4, 2021 12:04:23 GMT -5 merr said:

I'm trying to be nice and let them follow the rules on their own to give them a bit more freedom since they are older, but they aren't doing great. We're going to have to start taking away phones.

That has such a different meaning now than it once did.

[merr]

Jun 7, 2021 16:02:47 GMT -5 KyleEl said:

Jun 4, 2021 12:04:23 GMT -5 merr said:

I'm trying to be nice and let them follow the rules on their own to give them a bit more freedom since they are older, but they aren't doing great. We're going to have to start taking away phones.

That has such a different meaning now than it once did.

It definitely does!

[merr]

It hasn't really sunk in that I'm leaving with Emily on Saturday and will be gone over a week while she's at cheer camp. I'll fly with her to PA and drop her off on Sunday morning. I'll drive to Maine Monday morning (8 hours) and then spend T, W, Th with my sister and her daughters. I'll drive back to PA on Friday. Pick Emily up on Saturday morning and then we get a little bit of time to hang out before flying home Sunday morning. It's going to be a crazy trip and I need to start doing things to get ready! Like laundry and making sure that work stuff is all caught up.

[tanmi]

It's gorgeous out. I think I'll take a break and sit outside. Regenerate a bit.

Merr, and entire week for Cheerleading. UGH!!! Thank goodness you can visit with your sister. A lot of driving. The area is beautiful. PA, Maine.

I guess I'll have Kyle to keep me company next week. Wait, wasn't he going away too?

I'm the only one stuck at home!!!

[merr]

I'll try to remember to log in on my phone! I don't want you to be all alone.

We can also just chat through messenger next week. That would be a lot easier for me.

[KyleEl]

Jun 10, 2021 11:32:20 GMT -5 tanmi said:

It's gorgeous out. I think I'll take a break and sit outside. Regenerate a bit.

Merr, and entire week for Cheerleading. UGH!!! Thank goodness you can visit with your sister. A lot of driving. The area is beautiful. PA, Maine.

I guess I'll have Kyle to keep me company next week. Wait, wasn't he going away too?

I'm the only one stuck at home!!!

Well, I only post here on Monday and Friday. But I'll be gone Friday.

[KyleEl]

Merr, are you familiar with the movie "Once I was a Beehive"? And is "beehive" really something Mormon teenage girls are called?

It was a movie about a girl who lost her father and while her mother and stepfather were on their honeymoon, she had to stay with her new Mormon family members, related to her only through her stepfather. And she got sent to church camp with a bunch of silly Mormon girls.

Even though she wasn't part of the faith, they accepted her and she added more to their experience than they added to hers. There was, of course, the "popular girl" who acted better than everyone else but the difference is she prayed.

[merr]

I do recall the movie, Kyle, but I don't remember if I actually watched it or not. And yes, our church used to name the age groups of kids. In just the past few years they've done away with it though. Beehives were girls ages 12 and 13.

[merr]

I'm in that weird brain fog I always get after a trip. My body does fine through the vacation being so off my normal schedule, but then I get home and it gives up for a few days. I probably have a little jet lag even though the time difference was only 2 hours. I never drink as much water on vacation as I should. I'm getting back to work as much as possible but my brain just seems tired and I have a hard time focusing for long periods of time. Hopefully I'll be back to normal soon. It's already time for me to start seriously getting ready for our trip to Hawaii July 8th! gotta make sure we have the covid testing all ready to go and make sure we don't need to purchase anything else for the trip etc. I'm questioning why I was so looking forward to summer time. zzzzzz

[tanmi]

LOL!!! All of that vacation getting in the way of work.

Hawaii!! I know you have a lot to do when you get there, but will you be able to stay there this time? Keep posting photos, I get a real kick out of them. I message you to keep you up to date.

You really are seriously busy this year. It's great!! I just think of all the memories your kids will have when they grow up. Cabins in the hills of Utah, vacation cable in Hawaii. Learning to drive all of those fun machines. Boat trip. It's very cool, Merr.

[merr]

I'm not quite ready to say I'm looking forward to the school year, but I'm definitely going to get there!

We are supposed to do our COVID tests for Hawaii on July 5th, but the company that does them is apparently closed on July 5th!! So we have to do it first thing on the 6th and once again be all stressed out hoping that we'll get our results back on time. So far it hasn't been a problem, but it's still stressful. Once Hawaii gets to 70% vaccinated, they're going to get rid of all this stuff. I'm crossing my fingers they do reach that at some point, it definitely won't be before this trip.

[tanmi]

Are you getting ready for your trip? Are you going to be able to stay at your place?

They're tearing up the road in front of our house. I have no idea why. There wasn't anything wrong with it.

I finally was able to finish planting. It took me a while. Plus, Alex's friends won't leave the green pepper and jalapeno along. I replaced the green pepper, nothing could be done. The jalapeno has been messed with, but I hope it pulls through. Piglet is doing this. It's time to stop putting out nuts. Although, I would hate myself for it.

Work is major busy. So, not only am I doing my job, I have to cover for someone who works for me. She is on vacation for three weeks.

Take care, have fun, Aloha!!

[merr]

We are going to be able to stay at our place...well the shed we've been sleeping in the past few times anyway. The girls will stay in our actual house that is still unfinished and the boys will be sleeping in our friends unfinished house. We are both hoping to get toilets put in our cabins this time. Kevin is very excited to try out drone fishing and that is all that he really wants to do this time. It will be interesting to see how much time our 3 families actually spend together doing the same things and how much we'll split up and go on our own. This was supposed to be a 100% vacation with no working, but that isn't going to happen. We've got toilets to put in, Kevin needs to add a few electrical things and move a wall a little bit (not sure why it wasn't done right the first time). Then I think he wants to put down enough flooring in the kitchen so that we can get cabinets ordered and installed while we are gone...so there is a few days of work right there.

How is work so busy? There aren't any microchips to make the cars that are being built run! haha When she gets back from her ridiculously long vacation, I think it is your turn!

I keep making lists and did a little shopping yesterday. Tyler outgrew his swimsuits from last year and needed new ones. He's about 5'11" now and definitely not done growing. His little brother is feeling pretty left out because they've basically been the same size their entire lives up until Tyler's recent growth spurt. He doesn't like his brother being so much taller than him.

I thought there would be so much more to do and I can't think of anything else so now I'm worried that I'll get to Hawaii and finally remember all the things I feel like I'm forgetting!

They didn't give you any sort of notice about the road? I thought they were required to so you wouldn't end up getting stuck in your driveway or something.

[merr]

We took our covid spit tests this morning and mailed them off to get to the lab tomorrow. Crossing fingers that we get our results back tomorrow night like we need so we can go to Hawaii as planned. I'm so looking forward to not having to do this anymore...it causes so much more stress.

I spent yesterday packing and shopping and getting that end of stuff all ready to go. Today I am working on getting work stuff all caught up if possible then tomorrow I can maybe relax a little bit and just get the last few things that need to get done finished. And probably finish up cleaning so I can come home to a clean house.

I was able to figure out the dates we can go visit my family in Nebraska...July 30-August 4 or so, that could still change by a few days. This summer is just non stop! I don't feel like I'm actually getting much relaxing in. I've certainly decided that I'm not a big fan of traveling so much. But this year for cheer...Emily is going to have a lot more cheer competitions out of state...yuck!

[mazeman]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERR!!!!!! :-)

[merr]

Thanks Maze! <3

[tanmi]

Happy Birthday, Merr!!!! We are having a huge storm, is that to honor you? The lights keep flashing!!!!

[KyleEl]

Happy late birthday, Merr. I was driving home from church yesterday. The service actually ended on time and I was able to hear where the service on the radio was coming from. Temple Square, with the Tabernacle Choir and orchestra.

[KyleEl]

Amazing. Jess is the perfect father and Dean is a tough cop. I also hear Lorelai was a tech company supervisor before her show got cancelled.