Jump Up Johnny

We have new landscaping and new yard lighting, but I've been too busy (and when I'm not busy, I've been too lazy) to get pictures of it. We still need new mulch and Seth is halfway through re-painting the house. One day I'll show you. I promise.
But for now, here is a picture of our Johnny Jump-ups in the window box. They make me think of the talking flowers in Alice in Wonderland. They make me smile.

P.S. Don't forget about the Walden Market tomorrow!

Our Underwater Life

When you buy a piece of live rock, you never quite know what sort of tiny creatures have made their homes (or nests) on it, so it's really fun to keep watching as things change and grow. I've noticed a few different kinds of sea snails emerge since my last post about our salt water aquarium, but I have not ever seen this one until last night, when he was plastered to the front of the tank. If I had to name him, it would be Elephant Snail because of his weird trunk. Very strange. He could be in a Dr. Seuss book, I think.

Lots of other things are growing too, like our corals and this huge anemone (2nd picture):

A bit o' BLAZE

This past spring, Seth bought an Autumn Blaze Maple and we planted in our front yard. He promised that when fall came, we would have the prettiest color on the block. Well...he was right;)

Etsy Mentors

Ever thought of opening an Etsy shop? Or do you have one, but you still have a lot of questions? Well, there is a place for you to find out everything you need to know and have someone help you through it. A couple of months ago, I joined the Etsy Mentor team. The team is comprised of other Etsy sellers who have been around long enough to have become an "expert" in certain areas. Here is a list of mentors to contact for one on one answers to your questions. Click on a members shop and send them a message if you want them to mentor you.
If you are blurry about Etsy, but no specific questions come to mind, click here to visit the Sellers Helping Sellers blog. Kept up by the team members, this blog has tons of helpful posts that cover all areas of "Etsying." Good luck and go get 'em!
(Cute card from Whatever is Lovely on Etsy!)

Happy Anniversary

We've been married 9 years today. It's gone by really fast.

Underwater Update

Well, Seth's completely (re)obsessed with our aquariums...I'm enjoying them and learning a lot. Since I posted last about them we have acquired several more pieces of live rock with interesting creatures growing on them (below is some sort of anemone standing up and that flower-like shaped thing is a mushroom anemone,) and three new pieces of coral (in the back is a green coral, to the left is a banded coral.)

We also bought a juvenile Kole Tang. This is a variety of "Dory" (which is how we explain half of the fish to our younger kids...they're Nemo's friends.)

We also bought a dozen Tropheus Dubosis for the African Ciclid tank. These are really pretty little fish but none of them would stand still long enough for me to get a good mug shot! Seth is hoping to breed these. I'm excited for that. We've bred fish before and it is so cool! African ciclids keep all of their fry in their mouths! They take care of them and protect them, which is really rare for fish. I love to watch it, so I can't wait for some mating activity!

I mean...FINALLY!

I thought I would have green tomatoes for, like, ever!

Live Rocks

Remember that we turned one of our aquariums into a salt tank a couple days ago? Since then we added a few pounds of live rock to make the tank interesting, give the fish somewhere to hide and help filter the water. For those of you who didn't know rocks could be alive, well you'd be amazed. They're actually rocks that tons of strange oceanic animals and plants have attached themselves to. The rocks aren't even visible anymore.

Our rocks have a bunch of stuff that I have no idea what it is, but Seth and I keep watching, hoping to see weird stuff grow or move or grab infinitesimal particles to eat. I know for sure we have some plants and a small tube worm and some anemones. We also have this really creepy brain thing (photo below) that I need to do some research on to find out what it is. And who knows how many other things live on these rocks that are still too small to see!

Grand Mastermind

Seth and I decided not to turn the TV on last night and opted for games instead. We played Grand Mastermind which is one of my all time favorites. If you're not in a thinking mood, this game's not for you, but if you want to stave off Alzheimer's or you like playing sudoku then try it! Ours is a vintage version, which you can get here. If you want a more modern board you'll have to try plain Mastermind. To learn more about the game, click here. To play an online version, click here or here.

Plantage

Someone sent me this lovely link. The baby and I sat mesmerized. Go take a little breather and click here.
(Music by Under Byen)

The Light Pink Peonies are Blooming!

...and FYI, each color smells different!

Sweet, Sweet Peonies

I love this season in particular for all the blooming flowers. Our hot pink peonies have begun to bloom (we still have the light pink and the white ones to go) and their sweet perfume smell and all their luscious petals sweep me off my feet whenever I step foot outdoors. Yesterday, Seth cut a large bouquet to keep in the house. There is nothing like fresh cut flowers to wake up a sleepy house! I love having them in here, although I've been sneezing some. I've promised myself that I will not go over to them and smell them up close (awful allergies) but I have to admit, it is very tempting.

Head, Elmo, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

I asked Emet to show me where his eyes were, he knew and pointed to them, touching his squinty eyelids. Then I asked him to show me his mouth and ears, chin and cheeks, fingers and toes, and he knew where all of them were and was so proud of himself whenever I exclaimed "Yay! That is your _! Good job!"
Then I asked him where his elbow was and he turned tail and ran out of the room. I thought "O.k. he must be tired of this game." Only to have him return a few seconds later carrying his Elmo. All I could do was laugh and say "Yay! That is your Elmo! Good job!"

The wildflowers are at it...

I hope you're not totally bored at some more flower pictures. I know...everybody takes flower pictures, but things are movin' and shakin' in the yard and I just feel like I have to document! Perhaps these photos will be useful when winter rolls 'round again.

What are you growing?

Seth bought a million seeds this spring and had the kids help plant the first of them throughout the yard and in planters in the courtyard. Signs of Spring are showing up everywhere and it's so exciting! If you haven't noticed already, I've added a poll to the upper right side of this blog. What I want to know is: are you planting things this season? and if so, what?