Dirt for Breakfast

on July 11, 2010
in All Posts

Started my day by digging in the dirt!

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Our landlord maintains our front and back yard, but he doesn’t do things like weed our flowerbeds.  Since I wanted it to look nice (and my mom brought flowers to put inside the ground), I decided to tackle the beds this morning before it got too hot out. 

 

Maggie helped.

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Weeding is a lot harder than I thought it was – some of the grassses were really stuck in there! 

 

I ate while I weeded, which resulted in dirt in my breakfast.

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TJ’s High Fiber cereal, blueberries, and yogurt. 

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You know what I think I like most about home improvement projects?  Tangible results!  After 30 minutes of hard weeding, I can now enjoy my pretty flowerbeds each day.  Or until I kill the flowers.  Advice?  🙂

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Off to church with my mom!  Have a great Sunday!

{ 39 comments }

 

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs July 11, 2010, 8:56 am

    Hmm..water them!? That’s the limit of my flower knowledge!! Green things die in my possession :s
    Have a lovely day 🙂

  • Shell July 11, 2010, 8:57 am

    Yummo your breaky looks delish as usual, it sounds like your enjoying the time with your mum, mums are the best arent they? :}
    have a great day!

  • Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries July 11, 2010, 9:03 am

    You and Maggie are too cute! Hope you are enjoying life in the wonderful Charlotte so far. Have a great Sunday!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape July 11, 2010, 9:08 am

    Your breakfast looked really delicious until I heard about the dirt, lol. The flowers look nice! I would say just make sure to water them enough. And you’re totally right about weeding. That is HARD work!

  • Emily Eats and Exercises July 11, 2010, 9:09 am

    Look at you – so domestic. 😉 Water and sun should do the trick… but next time eat breakfast separate from your gardening!

  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete July 11, 2010, 9:28 am

    Unfortunately, I kill everything that I touch (at least plant wise). I’m going to be buying a house that has a very well manicured yard. I don’t know how long that will last after I move in!

  • maria @ Chasing the Now July 11, 2010, 9:28 am

    Weeding sure can be tough. I’m not so good at flowers, but by some miracle our garden is still kicking!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is July 11, 2010, 9:29 am

    We usually weed 2 times a week and water everyday if it doesn’t rain. Our flowers are doing great!

  • Heather July 11, 2010, 9:36 am

    I love having color in my flowerbeds! Just make sure the stay weeded, watered and free of bugs! if the leaves turn colors or get holes in them from bugs spray the flowers to get rid of the bugs!

  • Angie (food and exercise) July 11, 2010, 9:37 am

    LOL,You are so funny
    with your dirt in breakfast.
    It’s fun isn’t to plant your own flowers. I planted morning glories and night bloomers to vine up and hide me from my neighbors,lol!

  • Rachel S July 11, 2010, 10:10 am

    I’m not much of a gardener, but I’ve always read that it’s best to water plants in the morning as opposed to the afternoon and evening, so that’s what I do.
    Yummy looking breakfast too! I love that TJ’s cereal.

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg July 11, 2010, 10:20 am

    This is a weird question, but has Maggie gotten more spotted on her belly since she’s gotten older? Our dog Baxter looks a lot like her, and he used to have a plain white belly, but all of a sudden he is getting SO spotted!

  • Krista @ Can't Survive on Yarn Alone July 11, 2010, 10:29 am

    Water water water!

    Fiskars also makes a “softouch weeder” that I swear by – good handle + the weed popper part is curved so you can literally launch weeds up in the air…not that I have done that or anything 😉

    Have you ever tried the self watering planters? I love them. There is a spot in the bottom that you fill w water – just have to check to make sure it’s not empty. I’ve learned not to kill plants via them.

    • caitlin July 11, 2010, 11:27 am

      oh i could definitely get behind self-watering plants!

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter July 11, 2010, 10:55 am

    I am just so bad with gardening! I have always loved them, but I’m too afraid I will kill everything.

  • Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales July 11, 2010, 10:58 am

    What a domestic goddess you are becoming! Have a fabby Sunday!

  • Wei-Wei July 11, 2010, 11:20 am

    Your flowers (I almost typed flours there – I think I’ve got baking on the brain) look so pretty! I love gardening, it’s actually quite relaxing 😉 It’s funny about that dirt in your breakfast – isn’t that variety of TJ’s cereal called “twigs” somewhere?!

    Wei-Wei

    • caitlin July 11, 2010, 11:27 am

      I think so!

  • Alyssa @ Bride To Be Fit July 11, 2010, 11:21 am

    Wish I could give some advice about keeping plants alive, but I kill even the easiest to keep alive type of plants!
    Looks like a nice Sunday! Enjoy 🙂

  • Maria @ Oh Healthy Day (Formally A La Mode) July 11, 2010, 11:21 am

    I am definitely not the right person to give gardening advice, but I’ve heard to water each day, preferably in the morning or evening (the heat of the day will absorb the water too quickly), if it doesn’t rain. Maybe my flowers died because I fail to follow my own advice…

  • Rachael July 11, 2010, 11:41 am

    Digging in the dirt is the best way to start the day!
    Gonna echo some of your watering advice – always water in the early morning or after the sun has gone down a little – otherwise, you run the risk of too-fast absorption and even burning/singeing the leaves.
    As for weeding, buy a little neem oil and use it in the water that you don’t put directly on the plants (ten or so drops in a liter). It’s a non-toxic pest deterrent. So is lemongrass – you can use it the same way, in essential oil form.
    Hope this helps!

  • Alexis @ Mission: Ambition July 11, 2010, 11:51 am

    Good luck! I definitely have a black thumb…I even killed a bamboo plant that I got as a housewarming. They’re supposed to be the easiest plants to take care of, lol.

    I hope you’re enjoying getting your new place all put together! That’s always fun 🙂

  • Jo July 11, 2010, 12:12 pm

    awww what a perfect sunday! 🙂

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) July 11, 2010, 1:20 pm

    I’m a self proclaimed plant killer. It’s awful.

    But I’m sure you’ll do great! I think all it takes is patience and a lil’ hard work. 😀

  • peony July 11, 2010, 1:30 pm

    http://www.showpony.co.uk/collections/all-1/products/hot-dog-rufus
    saw this and thought of u ! aha 😀
    peony x

  • Camille July 11, 2010, 1:43 pm

    Good luck with the yard!

  • Amanda July 11, 2010, 1:52 pm

    I always kill plants too….no advice there 🙂

    It doesn’t seem like you talk about going to church ever, do you usually go?

    • caitlin July 11, 2010, 2:05 pm

      No, I’m not religious but my mom is a Unitarian and wanted to check out the local church in case she moves here. If I was to associate myself with any organized religion it would probably be Unitarian because they are so open and accepting. It was a good service! It was about bridges the differences between different types of people. 🙂

  • Amanda July 11, 2010, 2:36 pm

    Weeding is tough, sometimes the roots are in there real deep! Looks like you have marigolds… don’t worry they are low maintenance. It takes a lot to kill a marigold! Just water them and snip off the dead heads.

  • Mindy July 11, 2010, 2:43 pm

    The flowers look awesome – I give you credit for even attempting! I guarantee I’d kill them!

  • Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine July 11, 2010, 3:24 pm

    My mom keeps lots of flowers and waters them and feeds them some kinda flower mix when she takes care of ’em. 🙂 She loves flowers! They usually last for a while.

  • Dynamics July 11, 2010, 5:16 pm

    Watering and fertilizing is key to success. They have some great organic fertilizers that will not hurt the dogs. Also, keep in mind if you buy, I think it is annuals, they are only good for one season so do not feel like you killed them. Make sure to plant some herbs. They make beautiful plants. Have fun!!

  • Sarah July 11, 2010, 6:03 pm

    If you decide to plant some more plants, sneak in a few herbs. Totally easy to grow and great tasting. Also, some of them are great for attracting butterflies. You can do it on a small scale–just one or two plants will do the trick. I love using parsley, fennel, and dill to attract butterflies (they lay their eggs on it). It’s so fun to watch eggs turn into caterpillars turn into butterflies. Just remember not to use pesticides…butterflies are an insect and will be killed if you don’t do an organic garden.

  • Orla July 11, 2010, 6:42 pm

    I used to think I had black thumbs! But I persevered and now have three rose trees in my garden as well as two vegetable patches. This years haul will include potatoes, peas, carrots, pumpkins, purple sprouting broccoli and rainbow chard which was a gift. Honest – stick at it. You may be very pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait for my stash of goodies!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) July 11, 2010, 6:53 pm

    Just make sure the weeds are away from it and keep it watered.

  • Ellen@FIrednFabulous July 11, 2010, 7:27 pm

    I’ve never pulled weeds, but I have a feeling it’s wouldn’t be my thing. I don’t really do dirt 🙂

  • Anne July 11, 2010, 8:45 pm

    Lucky for you, your mom chose “easy” flowers for you. A little bit of water every other day and they will be fine. It is best to water early in the morning or late in the evening. Since you have some basic annuals you don’t need to worry about adding or doing anything special other than watering. You can deadhead the flowers once they turn wilty or die and they will keep your plants blooming — it encourages growth. Good luck!

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