GEEZ! And I thought the last post was long in between. Sorry folks. But then again, I wouldn't want to bore all of you to tears! lol
Let's see, what's on the news front right now?
I'm finishing up my term as an AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America, which is a big long name for Domestic Peace Corps). I've been doing this since August of 2009. It goes until August 2010. (About 2½ weeks left! SHEESH Time flies!) I deal with food, fuel and housing issues in the NEK of Vermont. I've really enjoyed this experience. I wanted to do another year, but there's nothing up here going on that I qualify for at this time. So maybe another term the year after this one.
We planted a massive garden (well, for me it's massive anyway) out by the creek on the edge of the property by Canada (see, I really do straddle the border of VT and Canada!) We've had plenty of lettuce and radishes come up so far. I had started cuke seedlings and had them growing quite well. Really enjoyed planting them in the garden out there. There was plenty of room for the 2 dozen or so plants. But alas, we went out about 2 or 3 weeks later and they had all been eating by some animals. So that's the only drawback to planting about a mile out from the house. (Yes, it really is a mile ONE WAY!) Looking forward to the tomatoes (MMMmmm, fresh salsa!) and all the dill and basil planted. We also planted swiss chard (like spinach), snow peas and green beans. Potatoes haven't come up. And lots of sweet pepper plants (red, orange and green).
I love looking after the Holland Garden which I get to do a lot of this summer. We've gotten basil, dill, cilantro and lettuce out of that garden while weeding and watering. I'm looking forward to the cukes from there and also more tomatoes, and green peppers. The garden out there looks really good and several families have been helping out to keep it watered and weeded. The Curriers and Samantha Tice have helped out in addition to Emily Mehr who started the whole thing in her AmeriCorps Farm-To-School program. Emily, you're definitely missed out there at the garden! NICE job you did getting some of the larger piles of weeds around the flowers and such!
Let's see now, my 9 yr old, "Bratigan" has been helping in the Holland Garden. She just loves going out there and helping me pick, weed and water! She goes to tutoring 3x's a week, so I usually go out and weed while she's in tutoring. Then she comes out and helps me pick and water. The 14 yr old, "Brat", has started "working". Yep, she's actually getting paid to work this summer. She works about 20 hrs a week and seems to like it. Right now all she's doing is organizing the mess of Tech Patrol (computer services company out by us). At 14, I really didn't think she'd be able to do much more than help them out. And they were gracious enough to hire her! Hopefully, she'll do well and earn lots of money for school clothes this year. Brat has also been in Summer Band this year (as she has in the past.) and all are looking forward to the Concert at the Gazebo on Newport's Causeway at 6:30 on this Sunday.
Bareman, hmmm, he's busy working. Well, not at this exact moment. He's off for the week. Then he gets a week off between Christmas and New Years. Not a bad deal really....every six months they have a weeks vacation? I wouldn't mind that! He likes where he works. He works in the warehouse doing all the shipping and receiving. During his time off this week he actually helped his dad build an outhouse for the campsite around the bend from the garden. Sound like fun? Not in my book..better him than me. But I guess if I end up having to use it down there, I'll appreciate it more! lol
Last weekend we went down to Mass. to visit Bare's Mom, sister and sis' boyfriend. It was a good time. We were headed to the beach, pulled in to park and it immediately started raining and didn't look like it would let up. So that meant the races were out for the night as well. We ate at a few of Bare's favorite places down there, all the places he suggested we go were really good eating! Looking forward to going back again. I love road trips! lol
Right now, I'm waiting to hear if I get my Post Secondary Education Grant. Been waiting for quite some time now and haven't heard anything! Hopefully I'll get it. That would mean that I would be able to go to school f/t and stop just taking a course here or there. It would also mean that I'd get my Associates Degree in Human Services sooner so that I could go on to get my Bachelor's MUCH sooner than one class at a time! What does all that mean? MORE MONEY, of course!
For all my FB friends? I really haven't been near it in a while. The reason being I just don't have the time at the moment. Hopefully, I'll be getting a laptop with my Ed Award from AmeriCorps so I can take online classes as well as keeping up with my social networks! lol
Well, that's all for now folks...have a great summer!
