Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

I miss my garden. The lack of free time isn't killing me - I've adjusted to the fact that I don't have time for the karate classes I used to take, or the fact that I haven't even taken my cello out of it's case for 11 months (since my belly got too big to hold it properly). But my garden... I really miss working out in my garden.

There's just something so rewarding about getting dirty and tired after an afternoon of working hard in the backyard. I love being outside often enough to notice the new leaves that have appeared on my herbs, or eating peas straight off the vine while I'm working. I am totally addicted to gardening! Now that the sun is getting out, I am determined to find a way to drag Miss Clara out there in the evenings in her portable crib or something... and as you can see, Joy already has proven to have a green thumb of her own! I do love that girl.

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Cross-posted from singlesupermama.com

I had the first BBQ of the season tonight, which is always a notable event. The most exciting part of this evening was the discovery that even though I have completely neglected my garden for almost a year, my herbs have come back! So in their honor, I barbequed salmon and potatoes with fresh rosemary and sage (I think it was sage -- whatever it was, it smelled great!). It reminded me of this clever tip for cooking with fresh herbs, care of my dear friend Megan:

Instead of painstakingly cutting up fresh herbs with a knife, put all the leaves in a small mug. Then, just keep cutting away randomly inside the mug with your kitchen scissors - voila: easy, fresh herbs for your meal!

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You can read more about Syd’s adventures as a single mom at singlesupermama.com

The deal I have made with my plants is this: if they will just survive, just limp through, until my youngest is 5 years old, I promise that I will take better care of them than any other plant on the block. They will be blessed. They will be green, overflowing, plentiful, abundant. They won't regret it. Just survive a little longer, pleeeease.

How do people swing this parenting gig and keep pets alive?