April Showers Bring May Flowers

It's been fun to have a run of themed monthly banners...the garden boots I picked up recently at Target and some blooms found growing wild in our woods inspired this month's banner.

Hope you're all doing well! Be back soon!

Dreary and Dark with a Little Bloom

Today was one of those classic dark, dreary, soggy Pacific Northwest kinds of days. The weather outside didn't help that I was already feeling kind of tired, or that I had to get up early for a substitute job. There's something wrong with arriving to work when it is still dark outside...at least there was still a bit of daylight when I got home this afternoon. Enough to let Bam out of his kennel so the two of us could go visit the chickens, throw them some corn scratch and check for eggs. One piece of the "bright side" was going into my greenhouse for a moment, it's where I've been storing the corn scratch. Rain was coming down in a sprinkle and I stopped for a little while to listen to the sound of the drops on the greenhouse roof. It is a happy sound for me. I spent every moment I could out in that greenhouse during the first long grey winter and spring I spent in the Pacific Northwest. That year even locals who'd been here for decades were talking about the never ending rain and grey skies, it was a particularly gloomy winter and spring. The greenhouse was my retreat, my happy place during that time. That sound of rain drops was part of what was then a new life for me, a life that I was trying to find my place in. Today that sound made me think of how far I've come in a few short years. I feel grateful for the fact that I've gone from feeling like an outsider that doesn't belong, an "extra" in my husband's life, to feeling like a true local, someone that belongs here, someone that loves living here, someone who has made dear friends in this area.

So where are the sunshine and crisp days of last week? When I came into the house from my garden, I continued looking for the "bright side" and found a bit more of it in my kitchen window. The hyacinths bulbs that found their way from my Christmas stocking to this bulb vase have begun to bloom. I thought I remembered forcing some hyacinth bulbs about a year ago but wasn't sure until I went back through some of my first blog posts and found this one.

It's interesting to me to see how my blogging "style" has evolved over this past *almost* year. I hadn't done much pleasure writing for many years before I started this blog. Journaling had been an on-again-off-again habit a long time ago, but it never really felt completely like me - at least not enough to keep me writing for any extended period of time. So this blog has been a good way for me to grow as a writer (not than I fancy myself to truly be "a writer", just someone who likes to put down a few words on a semi-daily basis...) It has felt a bit awkward at times to try to find my writing voice, sometimes when I try to put thoughts into written words it just doesn't come out right. But, it has become easier with each post.

I mentioned a celebratory give-away back before New Year's to mark my 200th post, and even though I'm now somewhere close to the 220's, I haven't forgotton...the idea is still rolling around in my brain. I'm not promising when, but soon I'll make something happen there.

Hope your week is off to a good start, Happy Monday!

Monday Morning Tradition in the Making...

It is relaxing to me to watch tea leaves slowly fall to the bottom of my french press. It is comforting to me to hold a warm cup in my hands as I begin my work day. It is soothing to my somewhat sore throat to drink herbal tea on a crisp fall morning.

Here's to Monday traditions in the making! Also, this is my 150th post! Man that was fast! I didn't really see it coming, so nothing special planned this time. But, I'm already anticipating #200, there will be some sort of fabulous giveaway!

One last note...the husband leaves for Cairo tomorrow...I'll be alone for 10 days and then I'll leave to meet him there. I'm excited for his upcoming adventure, and I'm excited for my part of it, but being alone is not exciting to me, it's just kind of sad. I am going to come up with a solid routine so that the days don't feel so empty...

Sunflowers and a Winner in all this Heat!

It's been HOT! Our air-conditioning has been out until today, so I've been feeling the temperature. I think I've lost 10 pounds from the sweating alone! I've also been super busy getting ready for the fair this weekend. I'll have lots to share about that once things calm down. With all of the heat my tomatoes are continuing to ripen beautifully. The heat has also made the first of my sunflowers bloom!

As you can see, there are many more to come. Bambino has been taking naps in front of our fan.

Now for the fun announcement...there were four faithful readers who commented on my 100th anniversary post. And the winner of the apron is: Raheli...email me your address and I'll send that apron along! deetlesbird@yahoo.com

100th Post Celebration and Giveaway

This is my 100th post...a landmark I reached much sooner than I would have predicted. Blogging has given me both a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. I look forward to documenting what I've done, made, grown...another benefit has been blogging giving me a way to show friends and family what I do "out there in the country". Blogging and reading other people's blogs has been inspiring...the connection I feel to other people who sew and garden keeps my ambitions feeling fresh.

I have loved getting back to writing, it's been years since I've journalled regularly. It is a little intimidating at times picturing other people reading what I write, so I've tried not to think about it much. Honestly, if someone besides me gets some benefit out of this blog, that's a bonus. For this post I want to say thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging with a little give-a-way...

I've been making aprons lately...I think they're turning out pretty darn cute. So if you'd like the chance to have one, leave a comment on this post sometime before Wednesday morning...tell me something about yourself. I'll use a random number generator to pick the recipient of the apron and post the name of that person.

Thanks for reading!

50th Post! Dirt Bath Thursday and Other Random Bits

I made it to my 50th post! Definately a cool accomplishment. I have looked forward to blogging, I like how it makes me think about what I've accomplished and what I still want to do. For today though I don't have any one specific subject to write about, instead here are a few random photos to share...

Lately Figaro has been especially happy in the garden. Now with the fence and gate up, he doesn't have to worry about Bambino or the neighbor dog, Otter, coming in anymore. He's been following me around and being very cute. We are house-sitting for our neighbor for a few days, taking care of their animals. This is their tom turkey...he loves to puff up and do his gobble noise.I put some zucchini starts into the ground today. I started them in the greenhouse about two weeks ago.

The patch of ground below was the location of a burn pile last winter. I put a layer of topsoil over the ash and planted sunflowers here...as you can see they are coming in nicely. My hope is to have my own little version of Tuscany later this summer.

I transfered my three pepper plants into larger containers. As they get bigger I'll give them cages for support.

I've noticed that lately the chicks have been scratching in their run pretty aggressivly, trying to get past the grass to the dirt.

So I thought I'd help them out a bit. I put a couple shovels of dirt into their run. There were some ants and worms in the dirt, so the ladies went nuts almost right away when they saw the dirt, pecking to get the little treats.Next came the dirt baths...that pile of dirt was like a hot tub in a ski lodge at the end of a long day...packed out! The ladies were all rolling and wiggling in the dirt. I think they like to get it under their feathers because they all puffed up as they shimmied in the dust. It was hard to take a picture because they were all kicking and flapping so quickly - almost every picture came out blurry...I like this little hen, she's in the reclined position.

The last thing today is that I've finished my giveaway day items...all ready for next Wednesday the 27th! I'm actually considering doing a second giveaway...we'll see if I get around to it this weekend. Hope your week is ending well and that you're looking forward to the holiday weekend as much as I am! Here's to another 50 posts!