The Lake just got a little Deeper

Well, as is tradition for Mother's Day weekend, we spent the weekend with my in-laws at the lake.  This is the annual kickoff for camping.  We spend a few days pretending that it is warm enough to venture into the mountains and getting just close enough to feel like we are there.  I swear you never know what kind of weather we will get.  Many times we get sunburns, quickly followed by an evening of frostbite in our tent.  This year with the new little man, we did not want to be left out, but like I said, it is difficult to take a newborn camping when the temperatures dip below freezing.

The wife's aunt allowed us to "camp out" in the extra bedroom they have which is only about a 10 minute drive from the lake.  Definitely worth the trip to have just a little bit of sleep.  The big kids slept in the bunk beds in Grandma's camper.  We returned this morning, with better sleep and bearing gifts of Starbucks, in case others didn't sleep.

All around, definitely a great trip.  The kids' 2 yr old cousin was there and this was the first time there has been another kid to play with and annoy.  One of the uncles brought his boat and the kids pretty much thought that was the best thing...ever.  I mean besides, candy and the oreo meals they get to have when no one is watching.  Roma is a boat driving machine and Liam, the eternal perfectionist, didn't think he was doing it right.

I was glad that we decided to go up, and also glad we skipped the tent camping, since there was definitely frost this morning.  The kids always spend half of the time creating some sort of mud waterfall, so the kids always come back with a trash bag full of wet clothes and snow boots.  Hey, we live in CO, there is little rain, and a lot more snow, so we make do with what we have. 

Bragging Rights

Well, now that we have been in our current house for about 5 years, I feel like the garden is starting to get somewhere other than needing work.  Don't get me wrong, there is always work to be done in the garden but, I feel like there are not as many bare spots.  When we moved in, the yard was great, but the gardens were almost non-existent.  There were a few shrubs and overgrown lilacs, but not much in terms of gardening.  Any monkey with a few simple tools can plant that.  It takes time, patience, care, and most unfortunately, money.

I am going to blame the latter for the time it has taken to get the garden where it is today.  Everyone with money can go out and buy a ton of plants, my problem has been the lack thereof.  So my investment in the garden has been the countless books and seed packets bought.  I read and find out the best plants that work the best here in Colorado, which compared to Kansas where I grew up might as well be on another planet.

The plants here are beautiful in an understated way.  But they are tough, they have to be able to handle the less-than-awesome clay soils, the almost constant drought conditions, the scorching sunlight and the giant temperature swings.  Other than that, any plant that lives must then live through the constant trampling from kids and animals.
  

The flower in the photo is one of my favorite, easy, hand-sown plants, the Oriental Poppy.  It is a perennial that I planted the seeds for two years ago.  The first year they were pretty when they bloomed.  Now, by the second year they are about 8" across and amazing.  They last a couple of days but are a great addition to any garden.

Actually, I must confess that have a flower fetish this year.  I just can't get enough poppies.  There are so many different varieties.  There are the stand-by California poppies that will sprout and grow anywhere there is sun and the tiniest little bit of moisture to get them started.  These are annuals but they often self-sow which is key for the lazy gardener that I am.  You can also get these in the ginormous seed packets which is also key for those of you letting your small children help.  Let's just say that not everything makes it into the allotted locations.  I am also trying the opium poppies this year which are technically illegal but I just think they are pretty.  I will keep you updated on how it goes.

There are, I am sure, hundreds more varieties and ones that will do great wherever you live.  I am always surprised at the things that grow and the things that don't.  I plan to continue to try the gamut of different flowers.  Until next time, happy experimenting...