Finally, a garden

 

I mentioned a couple months ago that we got a late start on our seedlings this spring. But with hours of work over the past few months, year three of growing our garden is underway!

In May, we bought a small electric rototiller, which did a good job mixing fertilizers into soil for our buckets. I still haven't mastered the learning curve to operate it!

Sam cleaned out the water pipes for the buckets to sit on. 

Then we started filling them with soil.

Evenings were cooler for these jobs. We planted peppers, okra, carrots and tomatillos in the buckets. 

Over in the raised beds, I spent a couple mornings planting tomato seedlings. 

And harvested the first few radishes. 

In early June, I planted a few flowers in pots for Mom Virginia's deck and yard. We have to share with rodents, rabbits and deer, but still have a few blooms to enjoy. 

Cucumbers and green beans took off immediately.

I forgot to take a photo, but this first cucumber grew to 6 or 7 inches before we ate it. Very tasty!

The spinach plants have provided a few small meals. I read that spinach does better in cool weather, so this is a pleasant surprise. It's definitely not cool out here!

Sam's next big project was drip irrigation. 

Where did he learn how to set up this stuff?! I think he's self-taught from the days when he bought his first house (at age 23 and single) and put in landscaping and a couple garden beds.

He's amazing! Once again, evenings after sundown are the best times to work. It's been a record-setting June this year. 

After the automatic system was done, I covered the soil and water tubes with straw. The plants and roots don't appreciate boiling water coming through the pipes!

Things are finally looking good.

Sam also put up shade cloth, which helps cut the heat.

Sam needs shade, too! At the walk-up window at Native Grounds Coffee Stop in Benson. 

A few other updates: a couple weeks ago we finally finished cleaning and detailing the Honda and it sold almost immediately. Goodbye, Honda Fit! We enjoyed knowing you! (Until we had to drive it on our dirt roads.)

Also a few weeks ago, Sam engineered the installation of a swamp cooler in our 5th wheel trailer. We love those things during the hot dry months. 

I had a birthday and Sam brought me beautiful flowers.

He helped me pick out my first real pair of cowboy boots and we went to a steer roping event at Arena Bar! It's a small town where this attire isn't uncommon! Thanks to Faye for the cowgirl shirt. I had fun with it. 

Sam's had several procedures done on his back, and his volunteer drivers always get a free lunch. The ablations seem to be helping his longtime pain.

He drove a bus full of kids to a water park last week and was drafted for further duty making sure the kids didn't drown. I would love to accompany him on these trips, but duty calls, as they say.

I do get in on our weekend visit to May at Benson Donuts (best donuts ever). Lately we park the car and walk a mile or two to get there!

One day we used the newly installed outdoor tables and umbrellas at the coffee shop. So cute.

The other day in Costco Sam (literally and intentionally with his cart) ran into our longtime friend Kate. It was great to hear how she and Phil are doing. 

He was buying supplies for our week's vacation in the White Mountains! We drove up yesterday, stopping to enjoy the scenery and relax.

Salt River Canyon is always beautiful.

And a pullout closer to Show Low on the Apache reservation. 

We also saw a lot of forest fire damage in the hills and along the river valleys.

We made it and we're going to enjoy the forest and cooler weather!

Hurray for vacations!