It’s been awhile since I did an updated family post so today is the day! I like to do periodic updates on mom and dad and if you follow me on Instagram, you see a weekly lunch with the parents segment where I show them on video and share whatever we are eating for lunch that day as well as dessert that mom prepares. There hasn’t been a lot of exciting things going on. Mom and dad are doing fine, no sickness for them and they pretty much stay home except for trips to the grocery store or doctor. We help them out as much as they need us to.
It was just the 4 of us for Easter this year. Mom made ham, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes, and coconut cake for dessert. I made green beans and squash casserole and it was delicious. We all enjoyed our feast!
With my sister, Renee moving away, their care falls more on me now, so Mark and I will look out for them and take care of anything they need as things arise. We decided this year since dad is not up for gardening anymore to plant tomatoes at their house. We were going to try tomatoes at our house but it made more sense to go ahead and plant over there, since the beds are there and ready to go. A lot of good things have been planted in this garden.
Here’s a look back at 2017, the year dad got sick with C-Diff. This was one of the last big gardens he had.
I can definitely tell a difference in his stamina since 2017, he’s not as strong as he was before he got sick and a few years of added age makes a difference too.
The garden was still pretty big in 2018.
2018 garden. After that year, it got smaller and smaller with just tomatoes last year. So we are back to plant tomatoes this year.
We went over recently and Mark got out Dad’s Troybilt tiller that he’s had since the 80’s I think and got things tilled up. Grass and weeds take over a garden very fast, but the tiller works well in breaking it all up and getting it ready to plant.
Of course, dad thinks none of us know much of anything about gardening, even though mom has been by his side for about 50 years of gardening in their backyard. Mark and I don’t know that much, but mom sure does!
Dad of course was supervising. He really was itching to get out there himself, but he’s just not able to do it anymore. His leg strength isn’t there anymore. It’s hard to watch them decline, but since they entered their 90’s it’s definitely happening for both of them. I found a recumbent stationary bike on Facebook marketplace for dad and he’s been riding that so we hope that helps his leg strength.
Mark tilled it a couple of different days and the 2nd time worked best, after he read the manual. Dad couldn’t remember all the settings on the tiller and so Mark had to figure it out, but he did.
Dad was trying to remember it all the first day we were over there. I really think he might not have been setting it all correctly all these years. Dad set it where it didn’t dig into the dirt as much. Mark set it where it could run it with one hand, as pictured above and as the manual showed. Don’t worry dad didn’t last but a few seconds tilling and then he went back and sat down.
Dad’s memory is really getting bad too and he’s just not the same man he was. It’s sad to watch this part of his mental faculties decline too, but I know it’s part of life. He’s always been a sharp smart man. He’s been on a memory medication for a few years now and maybe it helped him some, but his memory and reasoning abilities are definitely in decline.
But dad had to try it out again just for old times sake even for just a few seconds.
That didn’t last long and Mark took it back over.
After Mark finished tilling, we got out and started digging and planting. Dad started digging holes and then I took it over and then Mark finished digging while I planted.
Dad showing us how it’s done and mom telling me how much fertilizer and epsom salts to add.
Mom helped me cover the plants back up with dirt and then she went and sat down with dad in the shade.
We had one of the grandchildren with us that day, we were keeping Ryane for about 3 days (Mark’s oldest daughter’s 18 month old girl), so we took her with us and she sat with dad in the shade. She was so good.
She looks so cute sitting in dad’s lap. They rested in the shade while we got things planted. Mom helped some too and then went and sat in the shade too. We got it all done pretty fast, in about an hour.
We dug holes with a pick ax about 8 to 10 inches deep, breaking up the soil, added about a tsp. of 20-10 fertilizer and a little pinch of epsom salts. Mom heard that somewhere so we added both and then covered up the plants and got them ready to water.
We planted Parks Whoppers, Better Boys and Rutgers tomatoes, so we will see how they all do. We hope to have a good bounty of tomatoes, since all of our families love them! We planted 22 tomatoes in all and I think we are going to plant a few eggplants too.
We went back a third day and Mark ran the tiller beside both rows of tomatoes to make sure the weeds don’t take over. That was mom’s idea as weeds tend to really grow fast in the summer. But the riding lawn mower can be run over the weeds so that should help.
We have one and 1/2 rows of tomatoes going and will have to keep an eye on them. I hope Dad will be able to tend to them some and mom will let us know when they need watering if we don’t get enough rain as they are getting established. We usually do have plenty of rain so hoping we do again this year. We have a hose back there so it’s pretty easy to water them and dad can even sit in a chair and water most of them with a hose.
So that’s the news on the garden this year. We are excited to watch it grow and hope that by about 4th of July, we will have plenty of tomatoes to eat! We all dearly love tomatoes so they will not go to waste, believe me!
I figured I’d share a few pics of Daisy while I’m at it. She’s doing well and is 3 months old now. She weighed 3.5 lbs. last time I took her to the vet a week or so ago. She’s eating and growing and doing fine. Very feisty girl full of personality and we love her so!
We are working on potty training and it’s going fairly well, she’s definitely not there yet, but I know it takes time. We take her out regularly and she’s getting some of it. I’m trying to use the bell method so she can learn to ring the bell.
She has definitely captured our hearts and changed our home for sure.
She’s such a cute little joy to have around and we adore her!
That’s the update on the family and garden for you. I’m in New Orleans right now and will have lots of pics to share from this trip when I get back. Thanks for stopping by today!
So glad to see your mom and dad in this post! ❤️
Tilling a garden is hard work, but so worth it! Know you will all enjoy those tomatoes this summer!
And, your little Daisy is a delight! Know sh3 brings you and Mark such joy!
Always treasure seeing your beloved parents. So glad they got to participate in a little gardening. It will be good for your dad to do a little tending every once in awhile. Can’t wait to see the first tomato sandwich!
It’s hard to see our parents decline, but it is good that you and Mark are able to be there for them. Your parents are just lovely!
Ryane is such a sweetie and I’m sure your parents enjoyed spending time with her, too!
Good luck with the garden!!
Thank you Rhoda for sharing , I love the posts of your parents, always brings a smile and warms my heart and that daisy girl is adorable , we are 60 and just lost our 2 lb , 13 year old yorkie Dolce in October ,we have been devastated and feel our our hearts are ready to love another one
It’s wonderful to see your parents. I miss mine terribly. Enjoy your time with them…as I know you do.
Have you ever tried planting the Heirloom tomatoes?? Some call them German tomatoes. I’ve grown them for the last several years….they are AWESOME!
Have fun with your family in New Orleans!!
HI, Sue, We haven’t tried those but I keep hearing about Cherokee Purple so maybe we should get a couple of those and see how they do. I think we’ll add a few eggplant too.
Rho,
I love seeing all of you out there in your Daddy’s garden. God Bless he and your Mom. It is so great that you are planting all of those wonderful tomatoes. Oh the great mater sandwiches that you are going to have later in the Summer. And what can I say about Daisy. What a doll.
Hugs,
Judy
This time of your parents’ lives is so challenging. It’s wonderful that you are able to be there for them. I highly recommend asking your parents about their grandparents and their traditions. I never remember my own talking about their grandparents. In my case, it could have involved German, Russian, Lithuanian, Welsh, Scottish, or Irish traditions. My father only told me one thing about his grandfather. He said that he and the other Russian immigrants would occasionally march around the yard like soldiers. I have many unanswered questions about that! Lol
I just recently found your blog, your story and ultimately, this posting of your dear sweet parents in their garden. In a world of fake and pretentious social media, this heartfelt and down to earth posting is such a breath of fresh air. Your family is truly a positive, loving and mentoring example for the rest of us. Thank you for not only reminding us, but showing us, what is truly important in life. God bless you, your parents and that delightful tomato garden.
Hi, JR, thank you so much, I’m glad you found me! I’ve been sharing my parents for years so my readers love them dearly. They are the real deal and I’m just a down to earth Southern gal who loves family and enjoys sharing all aspects of life. It is the most important thing in this world that we have!
You are so fortunate to have a good man that loves your parents and helps them with projects they can no longer do. My husband is also a good man when he helped my dad do things he could no longer go because of his age and lost of strength. We have both been blessed with good and loving parents as well as good and loving husbands.
So great to see your parents….I think they are both looking really good to be in their 90’s. Yes, its difficult seeing decline mentally and physically. I cant wait to see the garden in July. Your Dad reminded me so much of my late grandmother standing there “supervising”. My late grandmother always had a good size garden and finally it became too much for her. We took over and my husband would till up and plant a small garden each year and she would of course be walking right behind him supervising…lol.
P.S….Daisy is just too cute for words. I know you and Mark are enjoying this little stinker. Enjoy your time in NOLA.
So glad to finally see a post including your parents. I don’t see any pics of them on your instagram page. How could I be missing it? They are so sweet and I am sure they are glad y’all planted a little patch of tomatoes for them to enjoy.
HI, Lynne, I do post them once a week in Stories. Those are quick videos that disappear in 24 hours, so if you’re not there regularly you might not see them, but I do share them every week in videos. I haven’t posted a lot because there hasn’t been a lot to post about.
Your tomatoes look wonderful. You are going to need a big family to eat all those tomatoes. One year we had that many and I canned and gave away most of it. I was so sick of the site of tomatoes after all that canning.
Your mom and dad look so nice. It’s so good to see elderly people getting out and about. Both of my parents are in their 80’s and it is so so hard watching dads health and mostly mental capacity starting to fail. Dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It is so very hard on him. As well as mom.
Can’t wait to see how many tomatoes you have.
I hope we get lots! Mark has a big family so I’m sure we will be sharing with them too.
Your mum and dad are terrific- I love hearing about them ❤️👍
Another lovely post. It’s always a treat to see your parents! Where did you buy those gorgeous tomato plants?!!
HI, Kathleen, we bought a few at Home Depot and most of the smaller ones at a local place called Elizabeth Feed & Seed.
It’s wonderful to see your parents again piddling and supervising in the garden.
It reminds me so much of my dad and the love he had for his garden.
Unfortunately he passed away Dec 21.
We miss him dearly.
You will have so much to be thankful for when their time comes. You are a wonderful daughter with a good hearted man!♥️
Keeping a garden is definitely not easy work, but the rewards are so worth it. We went to raised beds this year, hoping to keep things under better control. We don’t get nearly enough rain during summer these days, and it is a battle to keep things properly watered.
It’s so nice to see your parents, and I pray that they continue to be strong and involved. Beautiful baby, and an adorable pup!
Miss Daisy looks terrific. She is so adorable; best of luck with the house training!
Michelle
Thanks for sharing your family! My Mom is going to be 95 next month (and is still independently living in her home that’s 15 minutes from mine). I can relate to you so much! (My Dad passed 22years ago.) And please keep the photos of Daisy coming—so cute!
Thank you Laura for sharing that your Mom is still independent and living in her home. I needed that encouragement today! My Mom is almost 85 and is still independent living in her home as well. She’s just 15 minutes from me also. My Dad passed 6 1/2 years ago. Have a great day, Lisa
Gardening is such a great connection to your parents and hopefully something to pass down to your grands. If you like sun-dried tomatoes, they are pretty easy to make in a food dehydrator. We make batches and freeze them to enjoy all year.
I always enjoy your post on your parents. Thanks for sharing.