Garden Updates

Per Grandpa Art's request, I thought I'd get some updated photos of our plant life up on the blog. ;) Things overall are going pretty well with the garden. Unfortunately, I just don't think my beans are going to make it (something keeps eating at the leaves, and they just don't look great), carrots aren't doing much, and today I noticed some of my potted tomato plants have leaves that are turning white (I have no clue what that means!), but, other than those everything else is growing right along.

I added some pink flowers to the porch over the weekend:

And replaced the peas & lettuce that just weren't growing with flowers:

Herbs are doing well. Will have to get another cilantro plant though:

I lined up all my tomato containers on the side of the house. Some of them are getting too tall for me to handle:

The celery is almost ready to harvest:

And potatoes are getting close, too:

The tomato plants haven't produced much fruit yet, but they'll get there:

And Eric's making progress on the rain barrel. We have a hole in the back to plug and we have to secure mesh on the top:

And since we have no mesh right now, and because there was still wine residue, we have some interesting particles floating in the rain water:

My first canning class of the summer is this Wednesday night (it's on freezing and drying fruits and veggies)! Looking forward to learning about that and seeing what all the garden does the rest of the summer.

Vacation 2012 & Big News

Eric & I had a wonderful time last week traveling all across the country (at least it felt that way!) and getting to see family. A big "thank you" again to the Anetsbergers and Grandpa Jack for letting us stay with you all. We had a blast and truly appreciate it! And it was of course so great to see GPA & GMI as well as all the Michigan people!

We started off our trip in Chicago and it was my first trip to the city aside from stops at O'Hare. Traffic was definitely stressful and chaotic, that's for sure. I had my first train commute (thanks again to Jordan for showing me around!) and spent 2.5 days at the Merchandise Mart for the design trade show. Eric & I were also able to get away to see the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and take the architectural boat tour.

The Field Museum

Lake Michigan

Navy Pier

Stained glass exhibit @ Navy Pier

View from the ferris wheel

Architectural boat tour. Trump Tower on the right.

The Merchandise Mart

Lunch on Tuesday by the waterfront

We had one relaxing day after Chicago at the beach in Michigan, and then I talked Eric into hopping back in the car to make the 2.5 hour drive up to Interlochen (we were SO close, I just had to!). It was really great and sentimental to be back there, and even more special to relive some of our memories together. I just think it's so cool that we were there the same summer before we met. Who knows, maybe one day we'll find a picture from 2004 that we both happened to be in...that would be crazy.

Lake Michigan in Michigan

Kresge Auditorium @ Interlochen

Kresge

The Bowl

High School Girls waterfront

2004 cabin (we just so happened to find this one unlocked!)

Proof that I was there! ;)

2004 cabin

2003 cabin

High School Girls practice huts

Corson Auditorium bear

Eric's home, summer 2006

One of Eric's 3 cabins

Someone was pooped out on the way back!

Visiting Aunt Rochelle's school

Isn't Aunt Rochelle's backyard AMAZING???!

And for some exciting/scary/challenging/but overall good news (sorry, but no babies yet!), with a lot of support so far, I'm starting up my own design business. It wasn't something I was exactly planning on, but after being let go from my job last month we've decided it's the best solution for our situation right now. Unfortunately, there just aren't many other job options for design Columbia that I would be truly happy with, so this allows me to do what I really want to do {assuming I can bring in some actual clients ;) }, and it allows Eric to continue to grow and move up in his position with the University. I'm a little scared because I feel like I should have a little more experience, but at the same time I'm confident I can make it work. We set up the LLC the other night, and I'm working on finalizing business plans. Stay tuned for more info!