GARDEN VICTORY!

We've waited and waited and waited for our dirt to be delivered, and yesterday we had 15 tons dumped in our back yard with a threat of overnight rain. So, what did we do? We started shoveling, and by the time night gently fell, we had filled all our boxes except the little one I hadn't built yet. We woke up sore and exhausted, especially since Jacob cried all night with an earache, but the job wasn't finished. It still hadn't rained, but Liz had to run the car to Davenport, and I had to give a final.

Well, by the time I got done with my class, it had poured and was continuing down. Michael and I hit the shovels and did another couple tons, but this time it was wet and muddy. We broke for lunch, gave the rain time to move on, and during a clear moment we all headed out to put plants and seeds into the beautiful ground we so lovingly prepared. The only problem in this lovely situation was that the ground certainly wasn't loving us back. It was wet, sloshy, thick, muddy, puddly, and altogether disagreeable.

We did, however, conquer, and now all our little plants are, hopefully, working for us at this very moment. We learned new skills, like tomato-teepee-making, and walking with an inch of mud on our shoes. Not a single person took a splat in the mud, although we definitely had plenty all over us. We didn't beat the return of the liquid downfall, but we were close, and we even got our garbage cleaned up.

We had Papa Johns for dinner and watch some excellent Little House; spoiler alert—it was fool's gold. Here are some photos of our adventure today.

These are my "front porch" flowers:

Winter Squash, Pumpkins, and Currants:

Top to bottom: Potatoes, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Red Onions, Yellow Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, Red and Yellow Bell Peppers, Jalapeños, Poblanos, Anaheim Peppers, Concord Grapes, at least six types of Tomatoes, Eggplants, Tomatillos, Purple Basil, Various Herb pots, Fava Beans, Kentucky Pole Beans, Yellow Beans, Radicchio, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower, Garlic, Black Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuces, Bok Choi, Radishes, and more Herbs:

Joshua, messy and tired:

Michael and I, soaked to the bone, good and muddy, and happy to be working together:

Tomorrow's task? Get to Atlanta!