My New Composting Bin--or--Am I Amazing or What?!

Very excited today!  It's my big girl's twenty-second birthday, so I've been thinking about where I was 22 years ago today. . . let me paint a picture for you.  I was in a military hospital in Anniston, Alabama, where I was the first patient to deliver in the recently reopened maternity wing of the tiny hospital, so I was the only one there.  I had been in the hospital for about a week, and it was President's Day.  I was trying to nap, but SOMETHING kept waking me up, making me restless.  This was not my first time around the block so you'd think I'd recognize what was going on, but I didn't.  At around 2:30 I realized I was in labor, and the nurse unwisely said to me,  "You girls always go into labor while I'm on duty so I don't get to be there when the baby's born!"  I asked her when she got off work, and she said 11:00 p.m., so I said, "If you think this baby won't be born by then, I'll kick your ass right now."  (I'm paraphrasing.)   Anyway, my beautiful little blond bundle was born at 8:15, and I very SMUGLY made eye contact with that nurse.  I had to win that one.  I might be the tiniest bit competitive.

Also, I got  a lot accomplished today.  Kaleigh and I got the raised beds down where we want them with landscape fabric under them.  We couldn't mix the soil because it was too windy today, so maybe we'll do that tomorrow when I get home from work.  Also, I found all the canning supplies I could ever want at Ace Hardware, of all places!  I got some jars and other stuff.  I also got a bag of compost for $1.99, which is kind of incredible.  It's not as easy as it sounds to find different brands of compost, so when I see them, I get them.  Then...miracle of miracles...I noticed a huge pile of pallets outside, which I have been looking for to build a real composting bin.  I have been dabbling with a half-assed pile of composting materials beside the shed, and looking longingly at any REAL compost bins that I see.  So I asked about the pallets, and Liz (the Ace Hardware person) told me that they sell them for a dollar.  A DOLLAR!!  I've been looking high and low for them, and was about to buy some wood and build a few myself, but I couldn't do that for a dollar!  So I got three small ones, and this afternoon, I built myself a real, live, honest to goodness compost bin.  I feel so professional.  That's not the right word, maybe. . . like a GROWN UP GARDENER!   Pictures will come as soon as I can get the front of it finished--I still think I need to move it a few feet to the left, but I was too excited to wait to write about it. 

All that's left is to buy some plants, and I'm really looking forward to doing that.  I have my plan all ready, I'm just trying to make sure that we won't have any more very cold weather. 

Kaleigh is spending the night with a friend, so I'm off to take an hour-long bath.  Thanks Casey for telling me that baths are only therepeutic if they are over an hour long.  Clean sheets are on the bed and whispering my name.  While I'm in the bathtub I may look at gardening catalogs and dream about all the vegetables I'm going to grow. 

Sorry about the last post with no words at all.  I didn't have time to write, but the picture was available, so I thought I'd just pop it in there and add something later.  So. . . anyway, those are the Christmas stockings I made for my daughter's family.  They are specific for each member of her family, the crazy quilted one is for her, the one with the hand-dyed fabric (dyed by me, myself, and I) is for Seth, the green, blue and white one is for Elijah (big brother), and the primary colored one is for Baby Ethan.  I am sending them out today, so I wanted to post a picture so I can remember them--and I have proof that I've made her something recently. 

And these are my gorgeous worms that live in my classroom.  I have ALWAYS been a little squeamish about worms, but these guys don't bother me a bit.  I kind of like (okay, I LOVE) them.  I think because they are doing such a good job for us and our garden.  I like that they eat our leftovers and their castings (my class prefers poop) make wonderful compost for the garden.  Aren't they cute?

While I'm talking about my classroom, I am going to also add a picture of the igloo that I built this year, which is FAR SUPERIOR to last year's.  All done with recycled milk jugs and a crap-ton of hot glue.  Built on a cardboard base, for any of you silly people who might try this at home. 

As you can see, only three friends are allowed in at a time.  (Ignore the sleeping child in front of the igloo.)  And you guys thought I couldn't add pictures and make my blog interesting.  PSHHHH!                                           

Worm Composting. . .

Who would have ever thought that I would be so excited to get a worm composter?!  My coworker said you'd think somebody gave me a diamond ring or something, which I find hilarious because it's true.  The worms are ordered and will be delivered to school on Wednesday or Thursday, so that will be equally exciting, I'm sure.  

I am thinking about what kind of quilt I am going to make for my new granddaughter, who will be born sometime around Leap Year.  Her name is going to be Bridget.  I just adore having grandchildren, I already have three, two boys--Elijah and Ethan, and now two girls--Bianca and Bridget.  It's a shame you can't have grandchildren first. . .  I finally know what my mom was talking about.  Of course I love my kids beyond the ridick, but there is something just so super-spesh (special) about grandchildren.  Of course, I'm thinking pink, or more to the point--PINK!  I have been making quilts since my daughter Hillarie was born, and she's 21 now.  I've been thinking about this for about a week, visualizing all the possibilities.  I haven't quilted in a long time, and I'm looking forward to it.  I'm debating if I want to hand quilt or machine quilt it, but I'm leaning toward machine.  Those darn babies can be hard on quilts, spitting up on them, chewing on them with their pearly pink gums, dragging them around, etc. 

Pleasant dreams.