tally-ho for 2009 garden

The garden/chickens only produced 7.2 lbs for the month of December, but hey, it's winter.

Grand announcement-- the 2009 garden produced 692.5 lbs of food.

That's food we ate (and we have eaten almost all of it) and it was organic, fresh, delicious and as local as food can get!

I fully expect next year to produce much more. This past year's apple crop was non-existant. Well, four or five apples. The year before we got baskets and baskets of apples. I'm already planning out the garden for 2010 and while I do not expect the chickens to do quite as well, I expect the garden to do even better. I really want to grow more of the food we need to buy in the grocery store.

Of the new things I tried I was most impressed with Chinese cabbage and Fortex beans. The Chinese cabbage did well in both the spring and in the fall. It sure was a lot more productive than the regular cabbage! The Fortex beans were delicious and productive (and an heirloom seed gift from my mother!) I was totally unimpressed with the eggplant and the watermelon. The yard long beans did well and were interesting but I was the only one in the family who really liked them. Kohlrabi was interesting to grow and delicious to eat but it sure didn't produce much food for all the space it took up. Swiss chard was ok. It grew ok but it's no one's favorite vegetable. Most of the rest of the stuff I grew I've grown for many years and is very reliable, ie bush beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, peas, cucumbers, etc.

Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas together. All the kids were here and DD#1 brought her boyfriend for us to meet. It's been fun. We had all grown-ups for the Christmas nativity play.

hanging out at Christmas

We went to the zoo on Christmas eve, like we always do. It was cold and rainy and easily the worst weather we've ever had for visiting the zoo. We still had a good time. And then back home for more game-playing (and massive amounts of eating).

the kids are coming home

All my kids are going to be here for Christmas. We picked up the two college girls last night (and promptly fed the starving students pizza). College boy is coming in this afternoon and GI Joe is coming this evening. I've been so looking forward to this. It will be a crowded house. We even have an extra, a friend of DD#1 is coming to stay next week. I haven't had to cook for an army in a long time and I'm very much looking forward to it. I love cooking. Although the girls love it too and I've already been informed they get to take over the kitchen at least some of the time. The question is will they get out of bed before noon?

DH graduates

It's official! DH graduated from nursing school. Now he needs to take the RN exam and then off to find a job. The building where he graduated is a symphony hall. It's is like something out of Phantom of the Opera. He's worked so hard this year to earn this.

Abinadi and King Noah

New seminary video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvoD7Zkm58o

I love Christmas

I love everything about Christmas except the presents. I love having an extra excuse to think on the miracle of Christ's birth, I love the decorating, the food, the music, the parties, being with family, the whole atmosphere. I like everything except the presents. Presents represent a materialism that I'm just not comfortable with. My kids think I'm nuts.

Isn't this a nice picture? My oldest son was taking pictures as we decorated the house for Christmas. I liked this one the best.