Lazy Landscaper No More!

My weeping cherry tree before and after I had my way with it. 

I love to garden, but I've been prego or nursing five times in fifteen years so when one does the math, that's a lot of summers where I declined squatting or kneeling, getting filthy pulling weeds or planting.  Some summers we had an enviable huge heirloom vegetable garden with tall corn, sweet peas, a variety of lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes.  Then there were summers where there were weeds as high as veggies and it felt as if weeds were going to take over the entire yard. 

We live in a high-elevation, rocky area that actually resembled a slate quarry when we built our addition.  It's hard to plant here.  My husband was once a work horse around the yard, but maybe it's getting older, having a few more kids to tend to and recreate with, or a midlife crisis, the yard work has gone by the wayside.  Stuck in an abysmal real estate market like so many others, we've lost the curb appeal we once had.  We have had difficulty getting interested buyers to come take a peek at our home let alone complete a deal.  We've had a couple of offers in the last 12 months, but it's a buyers market and the offers were not acceptable.  We've pulled our home off of the market and hopefully we can hit the "reset" button on it all.  I'll share some little things I am doing to spiff up the place.

Let's start with tree pruning. I have these three flowering fruit trees I haven't known how to care for.  After birth, we plant the placentas of each baby under a flowering fruit tree.  Each spring, we take a photo of each child next to their tree in bloom. It has been super cool to see their growth with their tree. The placenta-part of the tradition originated in Native American communities. Some tribes planted the placentas under the doorstop so the child would always know where home was. 

 I've been waiting eight years for my husband to take charge with these trees and get them pruned. I made the agonizing decision that it was time I take matters into my own hands and show my daughters that I can do this task that we all so often defer to men. So I went to Aubochons yesterday in search of some  big guns to do the job.  I came home with these:  

Fiskars. My new favorite toy!!  I then went to the tree nursery and spent 20 minutes conversing with the expert on how to tend to my orchard. I don't know why this has seemed like such rocket science to me, but it has. Remembering whether to trim above or below the knub, trim the downward or inward branches, and even remembering what time of year is best has all been a mystery to me. I'm ready to stop waiting for my husband to decode the enigma, and figure it out for myself. 

Below is a weeping cherry tree that is affiliated with Harleigh, age eight. It's grown pretty mangy, and anything I had in the garage resembling a pruning tool was cheap and dull and couldn't even trim a small hedge.  Those made it into the trash heap yesterday. 
 

Harleigh and I have taken to doning skirts while gardening. It helps us feel more civilized. Plus, I can't yet fit into much else as I gave birth just four months ago. 

Here it is me versus the tree. Tree one.  Me zero. I'm feeling annoyed but determined at this point. 

Once I get the new pruner tool around a branch, it cuts like butter! I'm smiling!  The nursery guy told me that we shouldn't have let these branches grow all the way down the trunk like this. I felt kinda silly. It's supposed to be a droopy canopy tree. 

The task was so simple despite 2-3" diameter branches that Eight year old Harleigh could do it!  She plotted and planned with me on how much to take off and where. 

It's starting to look like the ones at the nursery! 

There were a couple 3-4" diameter branches just a bit too large to bite with my new toy. We pulled Cory in and asked him to get those with the chainsaw blade of his weed wacker. 

While at the nursery, Harleigh picked out some purple sage and an orange poppy plant to adorn her new and improved tree garden! We thought the purple sage might fill in nice around that propane tank in the backdrop. Hastas and a tall grass are in front. 

Harleigh took real ownership of her tree garden and had so much fun the rest of the day pulling weeds and planting. I am so glad I dove in with her! 

Ciao!

Potting Begins!

I made my first trip to the local nursery. Going to this place feels like a staycation for the kids and I. They have a tiny playground to keep children busy while mom browses and strolls and a fish pond with a fish food machine - for a dime - kids can get a handful of fish food pellets to toss in and watch the huge trout jump. The trout video is on my daughter's phone. I'll try to upload tomorrow.  

Here a nursery clerk helps me get my wallet out.  Breck is here supervising, as usual. 

We walk our wagon to the car. Our load is full of geraniums, viney thingies, goldilocks rocks, brachyscome, rosemary, thyme, basil and lemon verbena. 

As I pull in my drive, I notice the French lilacs are popping out. 

Daughter and I potting away. Working on the herb pot here.  

I changed up my flower boxes a bit this year.  I usually place a geranium in the center, the viney thing in front of the geranium, the goldilocks rocks and the brachyscome on the sides. I used to pot symmetrical, but I mixed up random colors this year. I have five identical boxes sitting on my deck railing. 

Below are herbs potted just outside the kitchen door. Rosemary, basil, thyme, lemon verbena. Apparently the lemon verbena is most aromatic in the evenings.  I'm ready to incorporate them into soups, teas, sauces, potatoes, chicken and fish.  

More tomorrow!  Happy Memorial Day!

Ciao!

 

Westward, Ho!

In the spring of 2013, we took a family holiday to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I wanted to blog about it while we were on the road, but we used every minute of daylight hours to explore... and by the time dark rolled around each night, I was pooped.  Afterall, we traveled with the six of us and our team of twelve siberian huskies.  Yes, I just said we road tripped with six people and twelve siberians.

We all fit in here.

We left our home in rural in New England and headed out interstate 90 with a pitstop with family in Rochester, NY.  Here is "Pop" with the littles.

 Onward to I-90, I-80 and up to Jackson Hole.  Here are some pics from the road.  We had a super fun time.  My 13 year old requested I make her an 80s play list.  My work as a parent is complete.  She likes Pat Benetar.  She really likes Def Lepard.  Actually all four of my kids do, as well as Bon Jovy and Scorpions.

This is how we strung the dog team up from the front of the truck every 4 hours or so to let them stretch, drink and make a mess.  Here is the team about 20 hours into the trip, loving Nebraska or eastern Wyoming.  Not sure where this was.

Once we reached eastern Wyoming, there were antelope everywhere!

Eastern Wyoming snow in April.

Youngling moose right out our door in Wilson, WY.

Here are Cory and I under Jackson's famous elk antler arches in the town square.  We lived in Jackson, Wyoming before we married.  This was our first trip back since 1998. 

The famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Our first day of recreation we rented a snowmobile, hooked the dog team up to the sled and headed into the Gros Ventre wilderness.  The Gros Ventre is the best place to see wildlife outside of Yellowstone. Our intention was to make it to Goosewing Ranch, about 17 miles in from the trailhead.

View from the dog sled. 

There were big horn sheep right next to us.  It was pretty intense - with a team of 12 sled dogs - to have tasty sheep right next to the trail.  At one time, I thought the team might hurl us down a cliff in pursuit of one that had leaped across the trail right in front of the team leaders.  Our lead dogs were amazing and very obedient. Thank heavens they adhere to "on by".

Amazing views around every bend. 

Colton's first time on a snowmobile.  He likes.

We turned around here as it was getting late and we were 11 miles in.

The trip back had different vistas.

We all took turns riding the dog sled and snowmobile.

The red hills of the Gros Ventre.

I love the red hills.

Cory checks on the team.  They're loving Wyoming!

Due to thin snow cover, we trashed our sled runners in the Gros Ventre.  Luckily, Jackson Hole is home to a famous Iditarod musher and tour operator. We took a drive down to Granite Hot Springs to meet Frank Teasley of Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Tours

We got a first hand inside peek at his touring and racing operation and met some of his team!  The dog houses are made from upcycled wire spools from a utility company. We thought this was a great idea for a kennel. 

Franks' Iditarod sled!

Frank with Cory and the kids (where's Huck?)

Here Cory, Cassidy and Frank Teasley replace our trashed sled runners with new ones donated to us by Frank.  He's a great guy and if in JH, take one of his tours!  While we were there, one of his guides reported over the CB that the teams on tour were held up by a cow moose on the trail.  This is every musher's worst nightmare. There are some horrible stories of moose crushing and killing dog teams in the Iditarod.  I loved Frank's wisdom about this situation "Mostly if left alone, moose will do the right thing." and move along.   I've often since thought of this as a metaphor for life and to describe people.  Often if left alone, people will do the right thing. 

And we're OFF!  Directly out of Teasley's kennel, lies the trailhead to Granite Hot Springs - a warm mountain bath/pool awaits about 11 miles in.  Cory proposed to me near this location above.  I'm so glad I married this man. 

I didn't get any photos of the Granite Hot Springs.  You'll have to get there yourself! But isn't this a great shot?

The next day of recreation we SKIED Jackson Hole!  This is the Tram.  When I get big, I think I will be a tram driver.  It's like riding in a cadillac with up to 100 other people, complete with a state of the art sound system with indie music, 80s rock or whatever the pleasure of the driver du jour.  

Peeking over the closed Corbett's Couloir. Next time.

Indian Paintbrush to "toilet bowl". 

Cool Native American photos in the Caspar mid station lodge. A beautiful day to catch sun on the deck between runs. 

My favorite trail this trip with the kids.

Cory and I took turns skiing the chutes and big mountain with the three big kids while the other hung with Huck Bridger.  Huck and I catching some rays at the base while enjoying Too Haute Cowgirls Popcorn.  They have chocolate and espresso flavored.  It was pretty amazing.  Would love to see this product in Vermont. 

The next day, the clouds broke exposing the Grand Tetons.  We took a drive around and into Teton park to soak in their magnificence.

The rig.  Cory thinks him and his truck should be in a Ford commercial.  Comment below if you agree. 

I love this photo in the sage brush.

Yellowstone was closed as they cleaned up the roads between winter and spring seasons, but we drove right up to it and basically enjoyed as much as we would have if we went into the park.  The only thing missing was the Bison.  They had not yet left they're winter quarters in Kelly, although we searched and searched for them.  They were tucked away.  It was my only time in Jackson never seeing a buffalo.  Usually they're everywhere.  

I love this afternoon photo.  This is my favorite spot and time of day to take in the view. 

The Snake River just south of Yellowstone.

Wildlife everywhere. 

Of the Grand Teton range, Mt. Moran to the right of Cory's head, is my favorite peak. 

This was a native American summer village where we stood.

Jackson Lake

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Drive back to Jackson and Wilson.

The Elk herd had just started their migration back up into the Tetons which is why the resort closes early with still a ton of snow, to allow the herds to migrate without people and lift activity.

The condo we found allowed the team to be strung up in the empty parking lot outside.  It was "off season" - really cheap - hardly anyone around.

Skiing with Huck!  I'm smitten with this little man. 

We left Wyoming and headed south into Utah. We were stoked to show the kids more of the Wild West and meet up with friends there.

We all noticed the topography change among the western states.

Here the dogs got a brake somewhere on the road between Jackson and Park City.

A tour of the Salt Lake City Temple grounds.

Our beloved friend Jake C. from SLC.  We knew him in Vermont when he was a Mormon missionary. He's totally rad, has a beautiful wife and babe, and a great role model for our boys.  We visited with his parents and siblings and stayed in his lovely home. Thanks to Brooke for preparing for us with last minute notice!  

Somewhere between Park City and Colorado.

En route to Colorado via eastern Utah (Vernal area).

I bet there's dinosaur bones in them thar hills.

The team strung out for a break among the oil rigs.

western Colorado

We spent a quick night in a dive hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado (Aspen area). We found a park -  to tend to team.

As we drove eastward on beautiful I-70, we wanted to show - without actually skiing - our ski racer kids the various ski resorts that lie along the highway. Beaver Creek, Vail, Loveland, Copper. Guess who ran over to see our team and sled when we pulled into Beaver Creek?!? Gold medal and world champ slalom skier - Mikaela Shiffrin!  She was training Super G this day.

Shiffrin asked all about our dog operation.  We were a little star-struck.

She had a nice chat with Cassidy about her own homeschooling experience and skinacademy life.  Cassidy heads to a ski academy next winter. 

I think Shiffrin wants to take Max home.

We were just hoping our neanderthal outdoor dogs would not lift their leg on her.  They tend to do that with women, girls and small children. Come to think of it, they do this with pretty much anyone but Cory. 

She had us take a pic with her phone with the dogs and kids!  Thanks, Mikaela!! What a memory at the end of an already memorable vacation. 

Vail!  Home of Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn.

Vail's big ski chairs.

Ice rink in Vail village.

Reminds me of a Bavarian village. Although I've never been to Bavaria. I suppose that's what it might look like. Except older. And taller mountains. And German people. And weinerschnitzel.

Coloradahhhh.

The kids and dogs did great on the road.  This was an affordable family trip of a lifetime. We were sad to return so soon and plot our next family adventure. 

Ciao!