I'm The Next Martha Stewart!

I think gardens are beautiful, whether they're planned out or not. Love 'em. Love the produce, love the flowers.... just love 'em all together. I do not, however, love all the work that goes into them. I want the finished product. Maybe because I've never had one of my own to work in and toil over, or maybe because of my childhood experiences. For any of you who have seen our house, you will know that it has a pretty big back yard. When my family moved in when I was three, it was all grass. A few years later, my
parents took out about half the grass and made the other half a pond, a patios, pavers, and three large-ish vegetable beds. Plus, there were two cherry trees, a peach tree, a pear tree, a mulberry tree, an apple tree, a plum tree, raspberry bushes, a strawberry patch, an herb garden, lots of vegetables, and lots of flowers. Woof. It kept us so busy! When my folks made the change from all grass to all that, they also took up all the grass and sifted through the dirt to get out all the rocks. This obviously should have been done when the sod was laid, but it wasn't, so the grass never grew very well. So my family spent what feels like seven summers (it probably was only one and the beginning of a second) filtering through dirt and collecting rocks. Filter and collect, over and over. Us kids got paid a penny per rock.... actually, I should clarify- Graham and I got paid a penny per rock, Annie and Liz got a nickle- maybe even a dime! They'll deny it, but I clearly remember my outrage when I found out. You can't make that up.

So, years have past, the sod was laid and is now a lawn, and some changes have been made. We now don't have one of the cherry trees or the pear tree, the raspberry bushes or strawberry patch, plus Eric and I haven't planted much yet this spring, so the flowers and veggies aren't present. But it's still quite daunting to us. Neither of us have ever had our own garden. I'd rather just have a nice, beautiful garden placed in our back yard, but I realize that the chances of this are slim. So Eric and I are laying out our plans for our yard. We're trying to be realistic and optimistic, which don't sit well together some of the time.

The reason for this post is this: to any of you experienced gardeners out there, please let me know of any beautiful yet low maintenance plants you have experience with. We're tentatively planning on using one of the beds for pumpkins and watermelons, and to use the other as part strawberry patch, part peas, maybe some peppers and tomatoes, etc. The third bed belongs to Liz, and I think she's got grand plans for it. We planted some raspberry bushes yesterday, so if anyone knows any secrets for their care, please pass it on. We'd like to get ideas for some good, easy to care for flowers to go around the patio and in planters, so those suggestions would also be helpful. Thanks to all who take pity on my ignorance!

People Still Do That?!

Last year I worked with a girl who I didn't really like. I won't mind if she reads this, because neither of us liked each other, and we both knew it. She littered.... and was proud of it. (This wasn't the only reason I didn't like her.) She said she threw things out of her window as she was driving to "give the inmates something to do". Two points:

1. Of all the obtuse things I've heard, this was ranked at the top. I don't need to point out that littering isn't OK just because someone will pick it up, even if it always was picked up (which it, of course, isn't), and that inmates don't pick up trash everywhere, and that it will make the area look horrible until the inmates pick it up- if they ever do, etc. Needless to say, I was horrified.
   
2. Her husband was recently released from a Federal Penitentiary, so she is the person least qualified to point her nose down at the "inmates".

I can't believe that there are still people like that out there. In this day and age, with the evidence staring us in our faces every time we leave the house, people still put trash on the ground? I was walking into Harmon's the other day and saw a woman drop her wrapper on the ground about five steps from the trash can. I just stared. Couldn't believe it.

It's like smoking. Who in the world starts smoking now? If you started in the '80's when it was cool or, even better, in the 60's, when no one knew better, that's one thing. But to START now, with all the information about how bad it is, the harm it does, who still starts smoking? I'm baffled.

So, please people, don't litter. With all the information we have about how bad it is, the harm it does, please use a trash can. I'm not trying to preach, I'm just asking you to think about exactly what you're doing, before you do it.

Who Can Help?

If you know of someone who may be able to help Annie in this selfless venture, please pass this along to them. All donations will be put to tremendous use!

Hi,

I am pleased to share with you my plans to volunteer abroad through Volunteers For Peace. I hope to depart the US on 06/28/2008 to begin my assignment in Kenya.

The goal of my assignment is to work with children in Kenya. Most of these children have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS and others are disabled. They live in extreme poverty, in some areas not even running water and electricity are available. I am offering my time and energy to work toward improving the lives of those I would be serving. I have the motivation to go, and my life currently affords me the time, but I lack the funds. Any donation you can make to help is very appreciated..

In order for me to be able to afford to take on this project, I'm seeking to raise enough funds from my family, friends and colleagues to qualify for a matching grant through a new program called Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program or "VFPServ". Co-sponsored by the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity at the US Agency for International Development, in cooperation with the USA Freedom Corps at the White House, and GlobalGiving Foundation, this program can provide me with a grant of $7,500.00 if I can raise at least that amount from supporters like you.

Your generous donation - in whatever amount - will go toward covering my travel, local living, immunizations, and project related costs the total of which is estimated to be $8,600.00.

To make it easy for you to donate, GlobalGiving Foundation has developed for me an online giving platform that will enable you to securely contribute and also receive a tax receipt for your generous donation. The same platform will allow me to keep you informed of my efforts up to, during, and immediately following my volunteer assignment.

I welcome your support - and encouragement - as I seek to help improve the lives of others in our world!

Sincerely,

Annie Knight

http://www.globalgiving.com/dy/registry/vfpserv.html?regid=1384&cmd=prevfund

Annie Knight

Tag?

So what's with the "tagging" people thing? Educate me on the blogging etiquette, please. In checking other blogs, I see that so and so was tagged, and then they did a survey thing. But how does the survey get started? Probably anyone can, so I figured I'd start one. Please put some thought into your answers, as I'd really like to know.

1. What, in your opinion, are the five greatest songs of all time? Not your current favorites, but the BEST. Songs that are timeless, that have touched you. In no particular order:

- Romeo and Juliet, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)

- You Can Close Your Eyes, James Taylor

- Tangerine, Led Zeppelin

- Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison

- Pastures New, Nicklecreek

2. If you had money and time enough, what charity or "cause" would you support?

The environment- what a blanket answer. I would educate people (meself included) about the damage done by the ignorance of our everyday routines. I would put money into more eco-friendly ways of living, etc.

3. What era would you live in, if you had your choice to go back into time?

The 60's. I'm afraid I mightn't have word a bra for the whole period. I think it would be exciting to take part in all those historic and groundbreaking events, and to meet all those influential people.

4. What fictitious character do you most want to emulate?

It's SO cheesy, but probably Marmee, from the Little Women series. She was so kind and patient, and people wanted to live up to her high expectations. She wasn't perfect, but was well respected by all.

5. What skill do you not have, that you wish you did?

I wish I played a musical instrument. I love music so much, but can only play the CD Player.

Now, I know this isn't the best survey you've ever read, but humor me. I hereby tag everyone who reads this.

Meet the Bartlett's!

Although most of you probably know everything I'm about to say, I figured I should "introduce" us to all of you in the virtual world.

I am Catherine Sariah Knight Bartlett (what a mouthful). I was born in Orem, Utah, and have lived in the same house here for almost my whole life. I went to Orem High and then out to Cape Cod, MA for about two years after graduation. We'll call it somewhat of a learning experience. When I returned to Orem, I had my little Riley.... we'll get to her in a minute.

I'm married to Eric Andrew Bartlett (not quite such a mouthful). He was born in Downey, CA...... why do people feel the need to say where they were born when telling "a little" about themselves? Who really cares? Anyway, he's lived here in Orem for most of his life, as well. He's going to UVSC now to pursue a degree in Photography, plus Pre- Dental classes- which, incidentally, will give him a minor in Chemistry without having to take any extra classes. Bleh. Then onto dental school, to the best school he can get accepted to. We used to talk about "wherever" he could get accepted, but since being married to him, I've found out just how intelligent and hard working he is. I have no doubt he'll get into a great school.

We have one daughter, Riley Jenna Bartlett. She's three years old and from my first marriage (Cape Cod). We were fortunate enough to have her sealed to us on our wedding day- one of the chief blessings in our lives. Eric had to wait till we had been married a year to do the formal adoption, but there's also no real hurry. We'll probably go ahead with that in September, when the baby is born.

Which leads me to the newest and smallest member of our family, "Harvey". I am expecting a baby, due September 15. I'm about five months along, for those of you who don't want to do the calculations, which means we'll find out the gender of Harvey (as we have been referring to him/ her) in about a week. I had some trouble with nausea during the first trimester, which I wasn't used to from Riley, and that was NO FUN! My appetite is still off, but it mostly shows itself when I can't find anything to eat! So that's not great, but better than barfing all the time, or feeling like I have to. Reading over this, I know I sound pretty dull about the whole thing, but we really are terribly excited about this baby!

Meet the Bartlett's!

My First Maternity Swim Suit!

Well, what do you think? I've never had one of these before. I was pregnant with Riley from May to February, so I didn't need a different suit for those summer months. I like this one, and I think I'll just bite the bullet and buy it. It's kind of the lesser of all the evils I've seen in my searches. No maternity suit is really going to be flattering. And, of course, if I get one, I'll lose my edge over Liz. I keep threatening to wear a bikini all summer and show off the belly. It's a pretty good threat, but one that I don't think I could bring myself to follow through on. Bare pregnant belly-- urg. Not a good view. So I think I'll go ahead with this one-- let me know what you think, even if it's bad. I can return it.

The Low Down

I thought I'd give you all the low down on our lives. It's not terribly interesting, but that's alright. OK, we live in Orem, in my old house. A few months ago, my parents decided to move to American Fork, but to retain the house and let us rent it. Sweet! I love the house, and it's so nice not to be in that tiny apartment anymore. We have the yard- which is a little (a lot) daunting, the pool in the summer, and all that space! We are so grateful to my parents for this kindness to us. My sister, Liz, also lives there, which has been great. Eric works so much that it's nice to have her around. (Of course, she's more social than a teenage cheerleader, so it's hard to catch her.) We moved to the house at the end of December, and are hoping to stay until we leave for Dental School. (I capitalize those words to emphasize their importance!)

Eric works at the Provo Mariott as the night Banquet Supervisor. They pay him well, but I'm not sure that he really likes it. It usually affords him time to study during the down times, and I know he likes a lot of the people he works with. But he's been there a long time, and the hours are hard. He goes to UVSC full time, and has a side job grading chemistry papers for a professor there. He can take the papers to work or home with him, and that's a nice bit of extra income for us. He's usually gone to school by the time I wake up in the mornings, and only comes home between school and work some days. In the days I was working I wouldn't see him when he did come home, but I'm between jobs now, so I do get to have that bit of time with him. Then he goes to work around 3:00, and comes home no earlier than 11:00 in most cases. It's often been later. Then he takes a while to unwind from work, gets as much sleep as possible, and gets up to do it again. Sometimes I wonder of I feel the monotony of his days more than he does, because I surely complain more. He is so hard working and determined to do well, it's like he doesn't think about all he's missing out on to do it. Or maybe he does, and still doesn't complain- which makes it more impressive. All I can say is THANK HEAVENS for him. I certainly could not get on without him, in any sense. He's such a wonderful guy.

As I mentioned, I'm between jobs. So if anyone knows of some available office work, please let me know. I have been working part time, but with the semester almost over and Eric not going to school during the summer (hurrah!), I'll be able to work full time soon. I think his finals get over the third week this month. So I spend a lot of time with Riley, obviously, and it's more fun now that I don't feel so sick (with the pregnancy) and the weather is getting warmer. Of course, we did have an incident a little over a week ago. Riley broke her leg- again. She broke the other leg in the exact same spot, almost exactly a year ago, in exactly the same way. Trampoline. The doctor said they call this the "trampoline break" because it's so common. She's too young to know to anticipate the movement of the tramp, so when it's coming up from a bounce, she doesn't know to bend her knees. So she's got the pressure of the tramp forcing up, and the weight of her body pulling down- CRACK! A break in the bone just below the kneecap. So she's in a cast that reaches up past her knee for two more weeks. Poor thing is amazingly stoic about it all. She fussed at first, obviously because of the pain (even that she handled extremely well) and because she couldn't bend her knee. But now all the ever makes an issue about is when she occasionally has an itch under the cast. Gross. I've never had a cast, but I can only imagine how crazy it would make me to not be able to reach an itch.

OK, this has already gotten way too long, and I didn't even get into a lot that I was going to say. I guess this is what I mean about over sharing- who cares about all these details but me? Well, I'll read this post, and maybe even leave a comment!

Another one bites the dust...

What can I say? I'm a sucker for peer pressure. Since everyone else I know has started a blog, and since I am truly horrible at keeping in touch with people, I thought I'd jump on the band wagon. The only danger in this blog is that I'll over share. I used to be a dedicated journal writer, but that's gone down the drain somehow. Since I don't have that creative outlet anymore, I'm worried that this will take it's place, and you'll be forced to hear about things you don't care to. So I'll watch that.

If anyone has any helpful hints about blogging, as my sister in law Erika did, please feel free to pass them on. (It is thanks to Erika that I have this fabulously girly background!) I'm technology impaired, so any hints would be appreciated. I don't have pictures on here yet, because I wasn't planning on doing this today, but I will soon. By the way, does anyone know how to delete an existing blog? I started one a while ago, but never did anything with it, and now it's bugging me.

I hope you're all having a wonderful day! Let's join together and have a group meditation session to try to send out a vibe for sunny weather, OK? I'm sick of this snow business.