Let's Get This Party Started - - Ballard Garden Beginnings

A couple of weekends ago, the weather turned overcast and granted us some shade for what turned out to be a productive and fun couple of days! How often do those two adjectives describe the same day?
It was my kind of weekend.

The first order of business was preparing for the ward party that Friday night. Yes, we are involved in events of a social manner. When did this happen?
It was to be a progressive dinner, starting with appetizers in our backyard (and of those two things, I provided only the backyard), an Italian dinner and serenade in our neighbors' backyard and some dessert and what can only be described as a small rock concert at some other neighbors' garage (though the term that was most often used...even on the relief society invites...was 'man cave').
Good times to be had.

JC prepared the general area we were contributing by cleaning up and hosing down the side...yard? Can it be called a side yard if it involves no yard and much concrete?
Anyway, he hosed this part down.
The kids loved it.
I have children after my own heart. If there is rain, a sprinkler, or a hose on, they will find a way to splash and become soaked. And enjoy every minute of it.
(Unless it's this unfortunate story)

Look at our front yard and all of our dead, frozen bushes.
And...wait...is that a small child running through the grass...?
And...is he....?

Nearly naked.
Yep.

Sometimes, after splashing around in water, one cannot help but march around in the sun with as much skin exposed as appropriate.
See, me...I would just roll my pant legs up and push my sleeves up on my arms, pull my hair up...
But, call me crazy...I am pretty sure all the way down to undies is appropriate for a 3 year old boy.

But there is a certain point at which Mama makes you take your march inside.

That very same day, we started...and finished...construction on a project that has been YEARS in the making.
YEARS.
You know that thing people say when something was a long time ago, like, "Before you were even a sparkle in your parents' eyes..."
Though perhaps not the same kind of sparkle...there is not a time I can remember that this was not a sparkle in my eye. I have been thinking, planning, dreaming, this thing up for...you guessed it...YEARS.
And the time was finally right.

Remember that garden fence we put in about two years ago?
It no longer stands empty.

We went out, got some lumber, and started work on our first garden box.
This picture documents JC getting to work on the building and Ben marching convincingly around the backyard with his corndog.
I hope he never stops letting corndogs inspire him to march around his property.
I have a sister that, I think, still does this.
You know that song, "I Hope You Dance"?
If I re-wrote it, it would involve something like this.
That's it. I'm doing it.

Like anything we do around our little homestead/Shire (I'm not letting go of the shire thing), we wanted it to be a whole family affair. I figure a family garden is just that - - a family garden. So, we are all involved from beginning to end.
I mostly take pictures.
But...
it counts.
Bethany and James got really good at holding the boards steady so Daddy could secure them.

Bethany even surprised us by being big enough to deliver new boards as needed.

Happily.
(SO cute)

James too.
(I'm keeping these pictures to show them when they are teenagers and perhaps their willingness to help is lessened a bit.)

When I asked Ben if he was going to come help, he gave me this look:

But he came anyway.

But work only lasts so long when there is tickling to do.

And green buds to spot on the plum tree.
I have been watching this tree for any signs of green for a couple of weeks now.
It's finally here! I get so excited.

I'm not the only one.

What does not excite either of us?
Loud tools.

The crew.

The rebel.

He was busy.

As you can see.

Oh, did I mention? In addition to the plum starting to show green, my Queen Anne has started sprouting her lovely red leaves.
There is something so different about the leaves of a pomegranate tree! Red instead of green (at first) and really waxy...they almost don't seem real! But I love them. Give her a couple of months and she will be at her most stunning. Bright green leaves and crimson blossoms.
I have missed my trees through the winter.

After all the construction was done (which JC finished up while I admired our trees), Bethany took the opportunity to relax.

Once it was flipped over and actually resembled a box, Ben decided to take advantage of it as well. You know, all that heavy swinging can wear a guy out.

James inspected it to be sure all was up to par.

Once that was done, after a long morning outside, we all crashed for a little rest time.
It was one of many afternoons lately that have gotten the better of James.
Something about the weather starting to warm up, us keeping a little more active, and overworked immune systems just calls for a nap occasionally.

While the little boys snoozed, JC got to work getting this bad boy in place.
We decided to put a bottom on the box and position it up off the ground for a few reasons but I think mostly to avoid weeds. I don't really want to have to deal.
It was easy enough, really. Just positioned it up on cinderblocks.
Well...easy enough is easy enough to say when I'm not the one who did it...

But anyway, Bethany gave moral support while JC got some drainage holes in the bottom and holes for ventilation in on the sides.

And . . . it sits ready.
Our first garden box.

And...our firstborn.

Okay, okay, Scout. Yes, I know, technically you are the firstborn.
Touchy.

So, the next day proved to be more rainy than we had anticipated BUT we managed to get out and purchase some beautiful soil to fill our empty box inside our no longer empty fence.
I like to take pictures of everything. Did you know?
Even JC unloading the soil from the van.
Oh but guess what? I helped!
I do help sometimes...just nobody ever gets pictures of it...

Look what else I like to take pictures of?
This is how much it rained that day. Large puddles of water were all over. And it was cold.
Just the weather that makes you want to plant a garden...

But look at him now...all happy and full.
Just like a garden box should be.

(Wow, I keep thinking I'm almost done with this post but then I keep scrolling down at the pictures I already loaded on here and remember how much we did that weekend...and how I can't leave anything out ever.)

At a later time in the weekend, another rest time had claimed a couple of children and those who remained ventured outside into the rain.
There was still work to be done.
Big James, little James.

Little James helped Daddy with the next step in getting our garden ready...marking off the squares we would be planting in.
Yes, I tend to be rather thorough.
Luckily, I have some boys who can put into action what I scheme up.
They got things all measured and marked off...

James felt very big and important with his tape measure around his neck just the way Daddy showed him to wear it.

He did his part too, finding all the markings they had earlier made so Dad would know exactly where to put the...things that needed to be put there...?
Oh come on, I just take the pictures around here...

See? Those things.
My four year old can apparently work with them and I don't even know what they're called.
Eye hooks? Maybe?

You can tell that James LOVES helping Dad with stuff.

But he is four and eventually can lose interest. At which point I receive a promotion to photographer AND helper.
I have evidence that I helped.

I also have evidence that sometimes running into the house to go potty can be too much of an inconvenience for a small child who has recently learned that boys can pee outside sometimes.
Apparently right out in the open against our back wall.

...and then go right back to work.

He found this spool-o-string to be fascinating.

And, as always, he did his job well.

(JC did pretty good too.)


And there you have it...
built, filled, and marked off.
Ready to play host to our first (hopeful) harvest.
Isn't it the best thing you ever saw?

I really can't tell you how excited I am about starting our garden this year! And I really really can't tell you how grateful I am for a husband who knew exactly how to make it happen. His mom always wanted him to do something with his artistic talent and as far as I'm concerned, this counts. :) I can't say that I love to garden because...I've never really tried. But I sure love the idea of it! And being so close and ready to start growing some of our own food makes my day over and over again!
More to come on this...planting season is upon us!
And hopefully some more gorgeous weather like we've been having.
Oh man, it is just the best time of the year. Gorgeous weather, green on the trees (the ones that didn't freeze...), lots of fun plans, a few firsts, some growing traditions...spring really is my favorite.
And that's all she wrote.