Flowers, Flowers and More Flowers

Im going to test my memory and try to list all the types of flowers I started today:

Green Envy Zinnia

Aztec Sunst Zin

Oklahoma Mix Zin

Some other Zins

Cosmos-2 types

Lions Tail

Calendula-the blush colored ones

Eryngium-a Beautiful blue, round thistle like flower.  It seems it may be a fussy germinator so we'll see

Hmmm...that's all I can think of but in case you are curious what else is out there...

Clarkia

Rudebekia

Zulu Prince

Straw flower

Amni Visnaga

Cleome

Statice

Bachelor buttons

Dahlias, dahlias, and more dahlias

Hmmm...thats all I can remember.

Anyway, If all goes my way It will be a beautiful array of color and shapes.

Im so looking forward to the harvest stage of this adventure.

Sunday Rob and I are going to break ground at the garden site. Providing that the soil is dry enough.  

Anyway...the sunshine has been a beautiful thing.  Only problem is I wear myself out because apparently Im doing too much.  

Hope you all are enjoying the weather.  

LOVE

So here's the thing.  What is all this testing about?  Its so vague.  GBS?  does anyone have anything to say about GBS?  If I test positive I have to have a 4 hour IV during Labor? Oh and If I refuse they (the Hospital) can keep my baby for 3 days? Even though they monitor the babe for 24 hours and I cant leave the hospital for 36.  I don't know, I do not mean to be skeptical but what the heck did women do 20 years ago? or 10?  I mean no wonder women choose to have their babies at home.
Has anyone seen the business of being born?  I haven't watched it because Im sure it is depressing.  But the concept is exposing how Dr.s and hospitals make so much money from childbirth and how its not about the mother's experience but about convenience for the care providers.
Ooh I think Im ranting.  The thing is I want to believe that as a first time mother I will be guaranteed the most beautiful and memorable birth experience. And I want to believe that my caretakers are there to ensure this experience.  Call me naive.  But this is what Im looking for in this perhaps, once in a lifetime journey.
So I will believe that on the day this little beauty is born I will get to have it just as I want it.
why not.

31 weeeks

Good Morning...and its an extra good morning because we have ended (it seems) our long stint of rain up here.  26 out of 28 days of rain.  wow.  But spring is here now and so is the sun. That means the plants and flowers are going to go crazy.  Im planting away and putting little babies into bigger pots until they are ready for the big show! Our last frost date isnt until May 15 so they have a long way to go.
But not the little blossom in my belly....nope...just 9 or so more weeks.  I went to the midwife yesterday.  Everything is fine and great. And just where we should be.  She thinks the baby is still breech so hopefully in the next couple of weeks this little bean will turn itself around.  I have been having little earthquakes in my belly which is normal and fine but my goodness they wear me out.  Ive been swimming and doing yoga...exercise feels really good.
I think that is all for now.  Im off to bake bread for my little bread exchange.
My favorite is from the Cheese Board in Berkley.  Its called Plain and Simple and it is just that.  But they left out fantastically delicious.  this cookbook is a must have.  Especially for the Banana walnut muffins.
Love you all.

Top 10 Things I love about being pregnant

10.  Being a little stupid and getting away with it.
9. The nesting instinct
8. Not having a mind clouded by anything other than whether or not things will affect baby
7. Not Drinking.  But I will be excited to enjoy a full beer or glass of champagne instead of a teaspoon that gets me drunk.  I hope no one worries about this one.
6. I pretty much get to eat whatever, whenever.
5. feeling the babe slither inside my belly
4. Having Rob forgive me when I get uncontrollably upset
3. Knowing that my momma is watching over us.
2. Knowing that in 10 weeks or so, we get to meet this new part of our lives.
And my number 1 reason why I love being pregnant...
1.  I get absolutely pampered in my yoga class. And not only there, but everyday is a pamper fest.  Whether its rubbing yummy belly salve, drinking homemade decaf goatmilk lattes, getting frequent foot massages (thank you rob)or eating that extra cookie...it's a pamper fest.

And for those of you ladies who are pregnant now and need a little push to go to yoga...do it.  While everyone else is panting through Camel pose, you get to lie back in supta vadrasana (or however you spell it) for long glorious minutes.  Its all about relaxing.  Treat yourself!

And one other honorable mention...though Im sure there are many...One other thing I love about being pregnant is that it means i will be giving my dad another grandbaby.  He has many now but I know he will just love another.  He's a  great Grandpa.

OK. So I posted a link to an Amazon baby Registry.  For those who are interested.  All you need is my name Carissa Chiniaeff (the hard part).
There is also a small registry at Tinybirds.com which is a link I posted.
Asking for things feels funny but everyone says just put it on your list.
I appreciate all the love and sweet response Ive gotten about this blog thing.  Its really beautiful.
ciao.

Rain, Rain go away...come back after all the farmers and gardeners have worked their soil and have planted all the spring lovliness.  Or better yet just move your self and fall over all the empty lakes, water catchment systems, and other storage containers.  Willits has had enough. And please take the wind that blew over my hoop-house with you.  

The photo above is a small sample of the babies I've been starting to get the flower biz off the ground. They look yellow in the photos because the photos were taken with an artsy fartsy iphone app.  In person they are green and healthy looking.   

Yesterday Rob and I went to the Fort bragg aquatic center where there is an indoor heated pool, lazy river, water slide and lap pool.  It was so fun.  Some good baby exercise.  Anyway, I ran into the local gal who is growing cut flowers in the area.  She is great.  She had a lot of useful information and has complete faith that what I am looking to do will go well. Though slow.  it was really interesting to hear that she started her operation right after her momma passed away.  At my same age or close.  My Mom would be so proud.  

Kind of Weird But Interesting

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS
>
>I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in 
>California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. My line of 
>work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks 
>to get more of your money's worth for every gallon:
>
>Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we 
>deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the 
>pipeline.. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, 
>regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a 
>total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.
>
>Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the 
>ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations 
>have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground 
>the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, 
>so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not 
>exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity 
>and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol 
>and other petroleum products plays an important role.
>
>A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But 
>the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the 
>pumps.
>
>When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a 
>fast mode If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) 
>stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, 
>thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are 
>pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are 
>pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank 
>becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the 
>underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
>
>One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is 
>HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank 
>the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster 
>than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal 
>floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas 
>and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service 
>stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature 
>compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
>
>Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the 
>storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; most likely 
>the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and 
>you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the 
>bottom.
>

Midwife Update

Went to the midwife this week.  And I am happy to report that all is well.  I have been eating way more sugar than I did when I wasn't pregnant and had a bit of concern that Gestational Diabetes was going to be an issue.  Mind you when I say more sugar I still dont eat much but I definately want it everyday.  But anyway, my sugar level was perfect according to her, I'd have to eat a lot of sugar everyday to make my levels go to a dangerous place.  Sugar treats continue.  And my iron level was exactly where it needed to be also.  And that's funny because I dont eat much meat.  at all.  It rarely sounds appetizing.    In fact I haven't had many cravings.  Yesterday I had a strong desire for cumin.  So I made some hummus with toasted cumin.  Yummy.  'Bout ate it all and the funny thing is I actually dont eat like I expected to.  I thought preganant women were hungry all the time and ate and ate.  Ive gained a total of 12 pounds.  Im happy about that.  Im not worried about the size of the baby, I had plenty of extra pounds prior for the baby to live off.  The midwife doesnt seem concerned either.  So again Im happy less work post delivery right?
It feels like a time of nesting and getting ready for baby.  I dont exactly know what I am supposed to be doing.  I mean I have diapers and onsies and clothes.  What else do you need at first?  Oh swaddling blankets, throw up rags.  Anyway, Im going back and forth about the whole baby shower thing.  Is that weird?
Im off to my child rearing mentorship now. (Fancy name for babysitting)
 Love you all.  
So yes, all is well inside my belly and I really cant believe I only have 11 weeks to go.

Welcome.
I hope you enjoy scrolling through this blog once I have had a chance to fill with grandeur.  As for now Im hoping that it will provide a space for me to document my upcoming adventures.  I am 29 weeks pregnant and am in the process of starting up a cut flower operation.  You mommas out there and papas too, probably think I am crazy.  Well so far It seems that everything is falling into place as it should and you'll soon know whether or not my fantasy has become reality.
I chose Blossom as the title for obvious reasons.  I have a blossom in my belly turning to fruit and soon will have many blossoms blanketing my friends yard.  I hope to post pictures soon and along the way.  Be gentle with me.
Enjoy.