Happy birthday little one

This posting is rather late but I've been busy with kiddo's first birthday, getting the yard and garden ready, finals and starting the Spring Term.

Last week my tiny little baby turned 1 years old. How did a year go by so fast? How did she get so big? It was great having all the family around to celebrate that special day, even if we all had a bit of a sniffle.

A few days later we planted her tree: an October Glory red maple that should grow big and wide and have deep, glossy, green leaves during the summer and brilliant red leaves in the fall. We were looking for a tree to help shade the front of the house and the timing worked out that we got the tree the day after Miss M's birthday. So we've decided it is her tree, and to start a tradition of planting a tree on significant birth dates. Though, now it will be hard to move from this place-I wonder if I can dig it up in 5,10, 15 years when we finally get the ranch and move? LOL

On the garden front the tiny pepper seedlings have not liked how the changing weather has made the house cold, then hot, then cold and we struggle to build a fire, let it burn out, re-build it. I hate using electric heat, the bill always becomes sky-high but the outside temperatures are all over the place. I've lost a couple seedlings who just couldn't handle the house being 50 degrees one night and 80 the next (that's what I get for trying to put extra wood on so hubby didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to check on it. sigh). Oh well, still have time to plant more seeds.

On Saturday a nice lady is bringing out several yards of compost for me and, if the weather isn't too horrible, we'll get the garden tilled and maybe even sink the corner posts. Never did get around to building the chicken coop so I think the chicken plan will have to wait another year. Unless there are a gazillion wasps around again and then I might pick up some adult birds and build a small pen for them that would work in the warm weather. With Miss M being so close to walking we are going to have to do something about the bug problem this year if she is going to be outside...and darned if I'm gonna keep my kid locked in the house during the sunny season because of those bugs.

So, that's where we're at...still waiting for spring and warm weather so we can get our hands really dirty. I have been planting primroses and pansies to help keep my sanity but there's only so much room for those cuties. I may have to resort to drastic measures and clean out the side yard and start the shade garden idea I've been kicking around for a while.