With the kids home, I mostly stay outside gardening.  Sometimes it takes maneuvering around S, who will follow me around chattering nonstop about his fantasy world, but often that turns into a learning moment about plants and gardening.

Yesterday, (probably mostly motivated by money, but still), he kept asking if he could help me in the garden!  Hey, whatever it takes!  So I found him a few jobs he could do (with some demonstrating by me) to get paid, and he was happy for a while.  It mostly keeps him from accidentally trampling flowers.  I even found him his own “secret” hideout, like E’s “secret garden”.

I reseeded some empty veg rows with beets and onions, picked snow peas, weeded, and replanted empty flower spaces with more flowers.  There was even a moment with E talking about what we can and can’t plant on the property, being constrained by renting.  He would like more trees, an orchard, and more woodsy paths!  So would I, in an ideal world.  I have a feeling he will end up being the first of the kids to move out and try to find a more conducive situation.

We finally have cukes!  Tiny baby ones in different shapes.  Also, the tomatoes finally have flowers, so they shouldn’t be far behind.  The only thing that was a bust so far is beans, but the corn, sunflowers, okra, zucchinis, pumpkins, and watermelons are coming up.

The pool is just about open for the season.  Naturally, it’s been unseasonably cool out!  Which works for me, I get a lot more done.