Monthly Round-Up

    April Monthly Round-Up: Plants: Baseball, Homeschool, + 90!

    My husband has recently started doing weekly round-ups, so I’m taking his format and making my own monthly round-up. With more photos. Because that’s what I like.

    GARDENING

    My garden was a huge focus in April (it is a lot of other months too, but especially in April). Planting transplants, putting in more seeds, purchasing other plants. I love it all so much.

    Auto-generated description: Several small plants are arranged in pink cell trays on a concrete surface.

    I’ve also been reconfiguring a few of my garden beds. I’m making two from three. And they’ll match two in front of them, so it looks a little more symmetrical. I’ll also be able to add another arched trellis (like in the photo below) for some climbing plants (and beauty).

    Auto-generated description: Two kids stand facing each other near a garden archway surrounded by greenery and raised garden beds.

    I let the kids take over one of these new beds, and they have been excited. They’re currently growing (everything from seed) beefsteak tomatoes, jalapeños, bush beans, sunflowers, borage, sage, and swamp milkweed. All with minimal help from me.

    Auto-generated description: Two children are tending to a garden bed together in a lush, green outdoor setting.

    So far, I’ve harvested about 30-something Sungold cherry tomatoes, several handfuls of strawberries (the birds have enjoyed way more than we have this year), and 2 banana peppers. And there’s a lot that’s looking good and should be ready to pick pretty soon.

    OTHER PLANTS

    Outside of the garden but still in the outdoor plant realm :), I’m probably most proud and excited about my Louisiana irises and Peggy Martin roses. They were beautiful this year. My next project is going to be attempting to propogate some new Peggy Martins.

    Auto-generated description: Pink roses climb a fence with a tree and grass in the background.

    BASEBALL

    My son is enjoying playing coach pitch baseball for the third season. And I thoroughly enjoy (with some nerves mixed in) watching him learn, grow, and have fun doing it. We all do. He was invited to try out for an all-star team again, but we decided to pass on that as he’s only 8, and we’re not ready to have baseball completely take over our lives. I really don’t know when we might become more involved, but now just isn’t the right time.

    Auto-generated description: A young girl with a yellow bag watches a boy in a batting cage. Auto-generated description: A baseball field is visible through protective netting, with people on the field and an American flag flying in the background.

    HOMESCHOOL

    We’ve found a pretty good rhythm in our homeschooling lately. Getting done earlier in the day has always helped, and we’ve actually been able to consistently accomplish that.

    We’ve also had a really great semester with our co-op. Our topic this semester was animals by location (so there was geography mixed in). There was a lot of great learning opportunities. And most weeks included some sort of a craft or hands on project. Simply because I love how all of their creations look in a group, here are a few of the things they made this month.

    Auto-generated description: Six paper chain cardstock snakes with various colored patterns are arranged on a green rug. Auto-generated description: Colorful Play-Doh coral reef sculptures are displayed on white paper plates arranged on a tiled floor next to a green rug.

    We also had some pretty cool field trips. Just a couple of weeks ago, we met a fellow homeschool momma and her daughter at a park and learned all about showing goats. Milked goats and fed the kids too. But the highlight was definitely baby goat snuggles!

    Auto-generated description: A girl with long hair holds a small black and white baby goat over their shoulder.

    MY GRANDPA TURNED 90!

    My Pop, my last remaining grandparent, turned 90 at the beginning of April! We took a trip to North Louisiana to see him and celebrate with a lot of other family.

    Auto-generated description: A smiling woman embraces an elderly man as they pose together in a kitchen.