Another week is complete. It was a rainy start made a bit more glum by teething and Annabelle’s painful ear infection, but as we approached the weekend, the weather brightened, our little one turned playful (feeling more like herself), and our family relaxed and spent time together. There is much to be happy about this week:
1. Gaelic Gardens. Owned by Irishman Ted Russell, Gaelic Gardens is a gardening farmer’s market in Reston, Virginia. Situated on Baron Cameron Road next to Route 7, Gaelic Gardens is an open and sunny space offering affordable plants, gardening tools and accessories, and all with a charming Celtic twist. Our family stopped in to pick up some 3” vegetable plants for our garden, some shade loving decorative plants, and manure. Mr. Russell informed us that this quaint market is set to close because large businesses like Home Depot and Lowe’s make it hard to compete. I replied with complete honesty, “That stinks.” It really does. I promised to direct other gardeners to his gardening market, especially since he is working to keep the site of the original and historic Reston Farmer’s Market alive and well. So, if you live closeby to Northern Virginia or are driving through D.C., why not stop by and take a look? You’re sure to find a one of a kind treasure at Gaelic Gardens.
2. Strawberries! Yesterday our family drove up to Poolesville, Maryland to go strawberry picking at Homestead Farms. Not only did we enjoy a free ride on a tractor and the time spent picking berries and catching up with friends, but we also got to sneak a bite or two of strawberries. Our family purchased roughly the equivalent of 4 to 5 pints for about $10, and on day 2 of having the strawberries at home, we have eaten at least half of our supply! My husband loves to make strawberry shortcake by soaking sliced strawberries in a cup or so of sugar. I love sneaking bites of his strawberries, but I also make healthy strawberry smoothies with soy milk for myself. Oh, and Annabelle just loves stuffing strawberries into her mouth. We are altogether a strawberry loving family.
3. Neighborhood kids. Our neighborhood is unique in that most of the kids who live here still go outside every afternoon to play and hang out with each other. Whenever we go outside, Annabelle taps into her kid radar and shouts at whoever happens to be outside. She insists on walking up the sidewalk to check out the scene, likes to dig in the dirt with some of the kids, and enjoys “borrowing” toys from one kind and understanding family who has a number of popular riding toys. Unfortunately, her own riding toy was confiscated and given a makeover by some of the kids. At first I was a little bit upset and considered the “confiscation” an act of vandalism, but as my husband pointed out, if this is the worst that the neighborhood kids can do, well . . .
Overall, we enjoy the company of our neighbors and their kiddos, and it’s nice knowing that Annabelle will have other children to play with as she grows up. Oh, and here is the jazzed up riding toy with a bull’s face and perhaps bull horns added to the handles. Other creative additions included gold faced wheels and a bead to decorate the toy’s “face”:
3. Helpful Neighborhood Kids. That’s right. A few doors down live two blond haired girls who adore Annabelle and my husband. Each time Matt takes Annabelle over to our park, the girls run up and ask to accompany them. Today while I was unloading our plants from Gaelic Gardens the neighbor’s daughters asked if they might help me dig and plant. Of course, I was much obliged by their offer. So off we headed for the vegetable garden where the girls helped dig, plant, and water my new vegetable plants. When I spoke to their parents, I thanked them for lending me their daughters and providing free labor.
4. 3 Day Weekends! After the week I endured, phew! Thank goodness my husband is home. It is nice to have some time to sleep and to go a moment or two without hearing, “Mamma, Mamma!” which of course if usually music to my ears.
5. Montessori Homeschooling. This week Annabelle and I attended the first of our Montessori Playgroup, which we hope will evolve into our Montessori Homeschooling Pre-school. To get started we designated four basic activities that we’ll introduce at home to our children and then will meet for one hour each week so that our children may work together, interact, and learn. I am busy searching for affordable Montessori tools and gosh, I’d love some tips on where to find them.
So there it is. My week. It wasn’t too bad considering the rough start we had. And so now, we’re on to the next week, which I hope is a bit slower and healthier. So, to good health and moments to enjoy!
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