Updates

A lot of garden progress this week! It is shooting up like crazy. I had to trim off the top of one of the cages to allow more room for the peas to grow. They need taller stakes, too. In the foreground are my the 3 different types of pole beans, herbs, cucumbers and tomato's. We planted a ton of tomato's this weekend. Hopefully they will recover from being a little leggy.

Tonight I have a meal planned around the broccoli raab that is more than ready to be picked.

Some boat progress was made this weekend, too. We primed her with a white wash and Eliot is working on some water color. I was annoyed at myself for feeling so territorial about this project. I was really worried about him painting it and messing up my vision of the final project. I had to take a deep breath and let it go....

He was so excited about it. Of course, when I first mentioned working on 'our boat' he was a little miffed when I explained we weren't making a real boat with hammers and nails.

I did let him use a hammer (mallet) on this project. We gathered wild flowers from around the yard and hammered them like crazy to make some interesting paper designs on some watercolor paper. That made up for the lack of hardware on the boat.

A close up garden tour

Today I will take you on a close up tour of my garden. I will try to get more in a broad lens once it comes together a little bit better. I have been doing a lot of digging between bouts of rain and more rain.

Here are the seedlings that are taking over my sewing table. I am going to try to get the little guys hardened off this weekend and in the ground ASAP. They are getting a little leggy.

The lilac in the backyard is just about to explode into bloom. A few little purple blossoms are peeking out here and there. I can't wait to have cuttings around the house.

We have a LOT of iris growing around the yard. There are several varieties and I hope I can successfully transplant them around as they are taking over most of the perennial border.

These guys are outside - a bin of mescalin greens. They are starting to show their true leaves now.

The rather unsightly cages over our gardening boxes are doing their duty. I think the biggest issue we have had has been neighborhood cats. This weekend we should have the rest covered up and probably 80% planted with more greens. I am trying to decide what to do about pumpkins...I think I am going to dig up an area towards the back of the yard and just let them spread out. I suppose anything to minimize mowing is good!

A break in the gardening has meant finishing up the paper mache on the the boat project. It now has holes for the wheels and mast. It is awaiting its coat of white wash. (header picture) I have been ironing and sorting out scraps from the massive amount of quilt squares I was giving. I haven't figured out what to do with them yet.

This picture goes especially to my friend Heather L. The blackberries are certainly rambling around our yard!

Lastly our tree in the front yard is now fully blooming. After trying to figure out what it is it is most certainly some kind of crab apple. Not terribly exciting but the blooms are beautiful and smell terrific.

So I am off to dig some more and hopefully remember to take some pictures along the way.

Ease In

I am trying to ease back into my blogging habit. I have been easing back into my crafting habit. I picked back up where I left off on the rock rug (I think it will be the Crescent Beach Rug once it is done). I have my big table facing towards the back yard so I can watch the snow and birds. I am motivated to get this one done. I'm aiming for the end of February to have it completed.
I went to a fabric sale at a church a few days ago. I picked up some fantastic fabric for a steal. I think they will be used in the next quilt I have in mind.

Another project in the works. I love the boats of Ann Wood so I thought I would make one for Eliot with my own creative touches. Here is the start. I have a feeling this project will keep being pushed to the side but it is fun to think about none the less.

So - I will try not to disappear for so long again. I have lots of pictures of the past few months to catch up on.