Jennifer Love Artwork BLOG

Summertime!  I'm one of those moms who actually loves summer break. I love letting my kids sleep in rather than trying to drag them out of bed every morning (when I am also tired and completely empathize with their lack of motivation!). I love that we can stay up later doing family movies, game nights, and going to the local amusement park together. I also love summer mornings. I start most mornings and end most evenings with a check on my garden. I'm trying some new crops this year (carrots and potatoes). Last year, I grew watermelon and cantaloupe for the first time. I got two big watermelons off my vines, and seven or eight cantaloupes. They were all DELICIOUS! We also love to grow pumpkins every year for decorating and Jack-O-Lanterns in the Fall.  We are in our second year of a severe drought, and this year our irrigation water restrictions are even more strict. Only one day per week to water the entire yard, and for only 40 minutes. Ergh! I've got my DIY rain barrel...

It's Spring here in Utah. One of my favorite seasons of the year. I love the color and blossoms that are coming out. There are little chutes of green poking through the ground...and the tulips are starting to color. Hopefully the deer will leave them alone this year! After a rainy week (thankfully - as we need the water!), we had a little sunshine this afternoon and I spent a few hours out working in my garden. The garlic I planted last October is growing. Today, I planted carrots and potatoes, laid out my plans for where to plant crops, and put together a few more raised beds. Some parts of the yard and garden are full of sticker weeds...ergh! I'm trying to make my yard and garden organic, so I'll have to figure out how to take care of that without weed killer. Always a challenge to deal with!! My garden and my art studio are my happy places. I love the growing season. Gardening is an exercise in patience...in seeing sometihing awesome come out of hope and hard work. It...