Spring has Sprung

I start off every spring with the best intentions.

I drool over garden pictures in magazine and online.

You know the pictures,

lush green lawns and gorgeous flower beds.

Not a weed in site.

I know the sheer amount of time and energy

(both of which I have very little)

it takes to create those masterpieces.

Last year I grew pretty successful potted herb garden.

It was the first time ever and I was so proud!!

This year, with lots of helpful tips from a good friend, I am going full on garden beds!

I have a good sized backyard,

that needs mowing.

a sprinkler system and some small planted beds.

you can see the Yoshuna Weeping Cherry tree in the corner.

We planted it the year before Michael was born and I adore the pink blooms that change to white.

I blooms right before his birthday and gives me such good memories.

I also have a few transplanted azaleas bushes

and large bunch of Cannas near the house.

For the new beds I decided to plant near the fence.

This gave the herbs last year some shade and they didn't get over watered.

Here you can see my new plants just waiting for a new home.

You can also see my weedy pots from last year. :)

I plotted out 2 of the fence sections which are 6 feet each and

then came out about 18 inches.

I tried to use my EdgeHog to break up the grass, which helped.

But I did end up digging most of the grass up with a shovel.

Talk about hard work!

This method took longer than I expected, so I only got one full bed completed.

The other bed is about 50% so far.

I wanted to take the bed out to meet the cherry tree, 

but I think I need to borrow or rent a tiller.

Here are my plants all laid out and partially planted.

It just needs additional planting soil and mulch.

From right to left I've planted:

Blueberry

Red Hot Poker

Columbine

Iris

Salvia

Clematis

Columbine

Iris

Here they are all finished up.

Not too bad. :)

The second bed will hold my herbs and veggie.

More to come on that

AND

you'll get to see the update on cleanup and decor of the patio.

Yeahhhhhh...

Lots and lots of more work to come.

Songs from the Vault Saturday #5

Welcome to week 5 of

Songs from the Vault Saturday!

If you missed last week's song, check it out HERE

This week I decided to share a more recent song.

I totally jumped on the bandwagon after Resistance was released.
They also have a song or 10 in the Twilight movies.

When listening to more of their tunes on You Tube I stumbled across this one.
Something about the piano the melody just speak to me.

After a hard week, it's almost like this song is inspiring.
Maybe why this is yet another song on my running playlist.
It helps keep me going.
It's in my iPod.

Muse - Starlight

My observations from this video:

• Since it's newer, not much stuff to scratch my head over.
• Not sure how I would feel about standing so close to pyrotechnics...Or on a freigher...Or near a landing helicopter.
• The ships name is Ocean Chic.  Makes you wonder what's in the cargo hold?  Models?

I hope you like it as much as I do.

XOXO,

Play Ball!

Yesterday morning was Michael's first Tee Ball practice.

Let me just say that this kid was excited!

He asked to play and has been repeatedly asking when practice starts for months.

Not bad for a almost 5 year old.

Jaime and I, being the proud parents that we are, had to get this day on film, video and blog.

It was supposed to rain, but the weather ended up being perfect.

Here is our little man, all suited up and ready.

We were one of the first families at the park and got to chose Michael's number.

Jaime picked out #6 for Michael.

Apparently that is Ryan Howard's number on the Phillies.

Yeah, like I would know.

While we waiting for the other families, we heard lots of dads asking for #6.

Jaime just smiled.

Michael did have two classmates on his team.

I think that made the whole experience even better.

Camryn and Michael did the whole practice together.

The silly kids. So cute!

Waiting to learn how to run the bases.

Michael heading home and Camryn cheering him on!

Along with Jaime and I.

Waiting their turn and cheering on the other kids.

Batting practice.

Look at the form. :)

Throwing practice.

He really like this station.

Even though he kept telling the coach, "I can do it myself".

sigh.

After a brief talk with me, Michael listened the instruction and was throwing great!.

  Look at that look of pride. 

Here is the whole team. 

We had a great morning, even if practice started at 8:00 am.

This should be fun for all of us.

Now I just need to remember to pack chairs, drinks, snacks and hats.

Yay, Tee Ball!

Songs from the Vault Saturday #4

Welcome to week 4 of

Songs from the Vault Saturday!

If you missed last week's song, check it out HERE

This week I decided to share a song that I first heard on DDR.

You don't know about DDR? 

Well, it's the original, fun and super addictive video game 

Dance Dance Revolution!!

It's one of the fun songs to let you get your groove on while stomping to the

scrolling arrows on the the screen.

Seriously, it's fun.

It's an upbeat, toe tapping song.

It's another great workout song and on my running playlist.

It's in my iPod.

Junior Senior - Move Your Feet

My observations from this video:

• Whoever made this video watched a bit too much Atari.
• Not sure how I feel about a squirrel driving a car or doing shots.
• Regardless how odd the whole thing is, the video makes me happy.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

XOXO,

Songs from the Vault Saturday #3

Welcome to week 3 of

Songs from the Vault Saturday!

If you missed last week's song, check it out HERE

This week I decided to share a song that I fell in love with in college
when I took 2 semesters of Opera as a Fine Arts elective.

It's a stunning beautiful classic opera song.
Plus, I'm on an opera kick after reading 50 Shades of Grey
It's in Latin. (But the video tells you what they say)
It makes me tear up every time I hear it.
It's in my iPod.


Sarah Brightman - Pie Jesu


This version is from 1985 and is my most favorite.
My observations from this video:

• Sarah needs to stop making funny singing faces.  She's gotten worse over the years
• I sound like my mom, but Sarah needs to stand up straight.
• How cool is the Church they are singing in, St. Thomas in NYC.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

XOXO,