B+ GOALS: SPRINGTIME 2017

It's starting to feel a little like spring here in Kentucky. The days are a little warmer, robins are building nests, and blossoms are tentatively appearing on our trees. Spring is a perfect time to air out new ideas and goals, and, especially since we're in a new place, that's just what I'm going to do. I'm working toward my B+ goals to being more seasonal instead of monthly, out of convenience mostly, but also because I'm all about minimal pressure these days.

Here's what I want to accomplish this spring:

Use my camera more, and look into purchasing a new one.

Spring cleaning!

More baking, with a focus on gluten free treats.

Learn more about our new town and meet new people.

Get a library card!

New deck furniture and grill.

Derby Week!

Plan and plant a container garden.

Start running again.

Finish up our guest room.

What are your plans for spring? Any ideas for me to add to the list?

SCENES FROM AN EASTER

IN THE GARDEN:SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Part of the reason we bought this house was the amazing space perfect for a garden on one side of the house. I love to garden and I feel that teaching our two children the joy of it is important. It's a outdoor hobby that they can enjoy their whole lives, hopefully, and the science in how food is grown is a valuable lesson for everyone, if you truly enjoy gardening or not.

In this early spring, there are few crops. But one that never fails is the sugar snap pea. Sugar snap peas are a perfect from-seed crop for kids to plant. The seeds are large enough for little hands to plant and they grow quickly (sprouts can appear in as little as two weeks). And it's also a circle-of-life sort of lesson, as the seeds look just like dried up peas.

Lake Valley Seeds, non-GMO

 



In California, where I live, it's a mild climate and we can plant these any time from fall to early spring (we planted ours in late January). In colder areas, plant as soon as you can work the ground; peas can handle the cold.
Two months later and our seeds have grown into 5 foot monsters, covered with peas.

 

 

 

 

 



Spring is showing it's face around here most days. And we are so happy to have her.

 

For more information about gardening with children, please read this awesome article over at Girl's Gone Child.

EGG CARTON RABBITS AND FLOWERS

There are so many lovely spring time crafts out there, aren't there? But some of them just seem a little overwhelming. Who wants to paper mache with a 1 year old? (Not this girl.) I wanted a simple craft that both of my children could enjoy. And these egg carton flowers and rabbits are just that.

 

 

This little craft is sweet, simple, and so easy. All you need is an egg carton, a pair of scissors, a few sheets of pretty paper, glue, and markers.

 

Cut out the "cups" of a cardboard egg carton. Trim them down a bit. Cut out some pretty paper into several leaf shapes.

For the flowers, glue the paper around the inside edge of the egg cup. Fold the paper slightly, so the colored side shows. (Or, you can leave them straight up for "tulips".)

 

For the rabbits, glue two of the papers, colored side out, to one side of the egg cup. Draw a face.

 Happy spring time crafting!