Grandsons and Gardening

  A family update....Katie and Caleb will finally be coming home tomorrow, 10 days after delivery. Just to summarize, Katie had a small perforation in her colon and was heading toward peritonitis. After several days, a GI specialist finally found the problem and she was rushed into surgery where they removed a substantial part of her colon. She has bounced back very quickly from the surgery and they will all go home tomorrow (Dave has stayed at the hospital 24/day the whole time).

  Here is the new, very fine grandson, smiling at the world!

  I am always amazed at infants hands, fingers, toes and such. Here is Caleb holding my finger. Such perfect little features, right down to the tiny nails. God is an amazing Creator!

  Jackson has been staying with us for 10 days. I had some gardening to do on this fine Spring day, so this morning, we headed out to work.

  Sitting on the tailgate adjusting our caps. I wear a size 8 so Jackson had to cinch his up all the way !

  When we were in town a couple days ago I just couldn't resist going over to Martin's, a Mennonite owned garden store. I bought 3 tomatoes and 2 sweet pepper plants. I wanted to put them out under cloches, so we had some prep work to do. We cut some 9 gauge wire in 6 foot lengths and then cut some squares of Agribon row cover fabric.

  Then I roto-tilled an area that was still in the winter crimson clover cover crop.

I raked up the larger pieces of clover and a few weeds and gave them to the chickens. Remember these? Peepers just 8 weeks ago. And they are about to eat me out of house and home!

  By this time, Jackson had gone over to Wendy's to play with his cousins before going to the hospital to see his Mom, Dad and brother, so I was on my own. I set out the plants and also planted one hill of summer yellow squash. I am calling this 1/2 row my "early garden". I curved the wires and put 2 on each plant as a frame,  then draped Agribon over it, then slid a tire sidewall over it to secure it in place. 

  I intend to start all my squash under these cloches this year. Hopefully, it allows the plants to start fast and get ahead of the squash bugs. 

  I was a little concerned about my potatoes; given the long cold Spring, I was afraid they might have rotted, but looks like we're in good shape.

  There is also more asparagus up today and the first spear that appeared will be ready to pick very soon. 

   Praise God for new beginnings! A new healthy baby grandson, a healing daughter-in-law, and Springtime in the garden!