Growing Things

Here in Ohio we had a late spring cold snap, complete with slushy snow. I don't know when the average last frost date is here, but I'm guessing it's right about now. At the end of April we should feel fairly safe in putting out all but the tenderest of plants. The tomatoes, peppers, and many other veggies should wait a couple of weeks, which is a good thing because I'm way behind on my seed starting.

Hubby promises me that Real Soon Now I will get a real greenhouse. We'll buy the kit from Harbor Freight, and it's going on the concrete pad where the shed stood before he tore it down and built a new, bigger one. For now I make do with the little three-shelf things covered with zippered clear vinyl. Do they work? Yes and no. They extend the season about three weeks. Sometimes that's enough, sometimes not.

My "tomato plants" are now approximately one inch tall. The peppers have yet to even sprout. This does not bode well for the planting season. The cucumbers show a little damage from the cold, but they'll recover. The squash is very happy but running out of room in its little cell pack.

The kids are growing too. I just hope they'll hold out till the end of long pants season before shooting up another inch or two. At my son's last doctor exam, we found out he'd gained three pounds in a month. This is good because he was skinny and it's due to improved control of his allergies, but I must admit it seems surreal to say "hooray, you gained three pounds!" when I'd like to lose thirty.

Yes, my son is allergic to the world. We had him tested and our cats are among the very few things to which he is not allergic. That's a relief, at least, as we have four of the creatures. He goes for weekly allergy shots, takes two pills each night, and has a nasal spray each morning. But it's helping tremendously.

My son is playing soccer, and also advancing rapidly in gymnastics. My daughter is a level 5 competitive gymnast, so it's lots of fun to see her little brother following in her footsteps. Two more levels and he's eligible to join the team, which will be funny, because he'd be the only boy. Technically it's girls' gymnastics -boys' gymnastics are different. But since there's no boys' equivalent offered nearby, they'll let him in. There are at least two other boys in the YMCA teams in this region. Not much, but, well, I'll leave it up to him. Mostly I want him to take gymnastics because it's so great for physical conditioning. I've seen what it's done for my daughter - she's healthy and muscular with lots of stamina. Dear son could be a couch potato if we let him. We won't, but we'll make the alternative lots of fun.

As for me, well, there's always laundry day. Two flights of stairs with each load. Doesn't that count?