Daisy Crazy

Okay, I suppose its time for a gardening update. Here's D-Roo in front of the daisy explosion I came home to after my hiatus in Denver. Daisys, though beautiful, were everywhere. I staked a few, pulled out a bunch, and cut some for vases. Leah loved cutting the arrangements and was a great helper.
I am very sad to report on my petunia seedlings I was so pumped about. Yes, its true, I left the tiny seedlings in the sun while I was at church, and when I came home they were all completely fried!! oh boy I wanted to cry. So, now that its been at least a month or more I can finally talk about it:-) After such a disaster I can't hardly bring myself to waste the effort starting more seeds, I think I'll be waiting until next year. The only thing I might do is sow zinnia seeds directly in the ground in the front flower bed, after I clean up the bottom tier of the daisys as their blooms fade.

A few other lessons I've learned so far this gardening season, is to not believe everything I read in gardening catalogs. I ordered some hydrangeas, which were said to "thrive in shade to full sun", well after planting 2 in full sun, 1 in part sun, and 1 in full shade, only 2 are "thriving". The 2 nikko blue hydrangeas planted in full sun are weak and the brown leaves look quite sickly. I think I might try to save them and move them to a container on my front courtyard, where I have the other blue one. At least my Forever Pink Hydrangea is flowering.

Other successes involve my strawberry plants, which have produced a delightful harvest, I think Leah has eaten almost every one. Not to mention last year I planted 8 bareroot strawberry plants, they all died except one. Walking by that one living plant a few days ago I was pleasantly surprised to find 5 ruby red strawberries! the kids and I quickly carried them in to wash and eat them.

The area I'm really proud of is the potted plants in my courtyard. I planted impatiens, begonias and some others, and I think they look pretty nice. The large green leafed one in Lil L's photo is my other blue hydrangea, though I have yet to see buds on that yet. All around I think this gardening venture has been well worth all the effort and the work still to come.

Drab to Fab

I thought you could get a better idea of how the house looks from these pics. Here's the "before" and "after" kitchen pics. The white laminate countertop had cracks and bubbles in it and was stained, so after alot of M's hard work, and some help from SM, the countertops and backsplash look amazing. We also got new hardware for the cabinets, new faucet and stainless appliances to match. Hopefully the new owner will appreciate our hard work:-)

We got a new gas stove and refrigerator to match our stainless dishwasher in December, they are all staying, especially after we completely squeezed the fridge in there, there's no way its coming out- I'll miss you stainless appliances!

Touch a Truck

Today the next town over had "Touch a Truck."  D loved getting in the bulldozer and driving the RTD Bus.  All the city vehicles were there, and a few more. Who would have thought it would be so fun to touch a truck?

Cleveland Rocks

I found a few fun facts about Cleveland:

The Cleveland area has 3 professional sports teams, The Browns, Cavaliers, & Indians. (Plus the not pro hockey team "Little Monsters.") 

Is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

It sits on Lake Erie .

There's a temple in Columbus- only 2 hours away.

The average winter temp is 25 degrees, and the average summer temp is 72 degrees.  It's a little chillier than I would prefer, but I hear the ice storms are beautiful.  

As of the 2000 Census, the city proper had a total population of 478,403, and was then the 33rd largest city in the nation^[6] and the second largest city in Ohio. 

In studies conducted by The Economist in 2005, Cleveland and Pittsburgh were ranked as the most livable cities in the United States.   

Scenes for Spider-Man 3 were filmed in Cleveland in April 2006.

The city was also the setting for the popular sitcom, The Drew Carey Show which starred Cleveland native Drew Carey.

If anyone asks us how we feel about our assignment to Cleveland, the music starts playing in our head and all we can do is smile and say "Cleveland Rocks!"   

The Mistake on the Lake

Anyone catch that 30 Rock episode where Liz's boyfriend asks her to go to Cleveland? "I could be a model in Cleveland." and "How would you like to pet a real police horse?" The happy music and the slowed down pace of the city vs the hustle and bustle of New York.  Well folks, we're going to Cleveland! While I was thinking we might get Miami or DC, Cleveland was the 4th choice in our 4th choice region. But I'll take it! I'm so glad it wasn't CA or NY.   I think the McQuiveys where the closest on their guess, I'll be sending a milkshake your way!   I'll catch up with more details, but now I'm off to the airport for a weekend of fun in the capital city.

Countdown

I admit it, I'm full of anticipation, a little anxious, and excited. Its like being a kid on Christmas Eve and I just can't fall asleep, wondering if there will be presents under the tree or a lump of coal in the stocking. Yes I'm thinking of June 6th, a very important day. No its not some wierd holiday like Step-Sisters Day or Janitor Day (don't forget to send them a boquet of mop heads for all their hard work throughout the year), it is what I'm calling Destination Day! Some time that evening we will find out where we'll be headed to for the next adventure, and it could be anywhere... in the 50 states most likely. Feel free to venture a guess as to where you think we'll end up, and the winner (or person whose guessed location is closest to the actual) wins a milkshake! ok, I may have to see if there's a virtual one somewhere online (light bulb over head with Chocolate shake from Carls Jr, yum..) I'll do my best to post the results as soon as the countdown ticker reaches Zero.