Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Morning in the Garden
This morning Hudson had me up at the crack of dawn, which didn't bother me too much as it was looking to be a beautiful start to the day! This coming weekend is calling for nothing but clouds and rain so I want to take in as much of the outdoors today as possible! Mid-morning I was able to put Hudson down for his first nap of the day, then immediately proceeded out to the garden to prune back last years twigs, gather up branches and garbage, plant lettuce and admire the beautiful morning light.
One of the things I love most about being in the garden is the sense of calm I always feel. Getting my hands in the dirt has always been my refuge from this crazy world we live in. Listening to the songbirds while the most beautiful light shone all around me was truly what my heart needed today
With this being my first year owning this yard, I am slowly introducing myself to the established perennials and shrubbery that my mother in law generously planted herself all these years she has been living here. Watching them burst forth thru the ground is truly an honour that only a gardener could possibly understand
I got to work cleaning up my new yard
and I cut down more branches than I probably should have
But I did it with love and I did it because I could. And I enjoyed that hour alone in the garden this morning more than you could ever know. When Hudson woke up, I brought him outside with me and we sat on the grass, looking up at all the new greenery on the trees, we collected fresh eggs and we sat on the swing, rocking back and forth until his eyes told me he was ready for another turn in his crib.
This is going to be a beautiful Summer my friends..I can feel it in my bones..
Looking Ahead to Spring
Every January/February is the same. Christmas comes and goes, the tree and decorations come down and then the New Year is rung in with hopes, dreams and aspirations for an amazing New Year full of goals and resolutions to do better, to be better than the previous year. January's excitement is met with dark, Wintry days that go on for what feels like forever til Spring arrives. Many people, including myself, start daydreaming about warmer weather and create lists of what all we want to achieve. As a gardener, I start perusing seed catalogs and nursery websites to plan new additions to my garden and flower beds. As farmers, we start making plans for which crops we'd like to grow this coming summer and where. Fields are rotated, fertilizer and seed are ordered, trucks are hired to haul last years grains to the terminals and contracts are signed.
It's an exciting time for us on the farm. A time I treasure every single year. I am especially looking forward to this year as I have a lengthy To Do list I've created for myself on the farm (all of which is fun & exciting to me!) and, the best part (of course) is we will have our little man with us for his first Summer on the farm! I'm already daydreaming of his first tractor ride and harvest..the memories and the photos I want to capture will be priceless!
For myself, I have already placed orders for flower seeds and Spring bulbs, I've started design plans for my *new* garden beds (since we now live in the old farmhouse that my inlaws used to reside in, I have her established yard to change and play with to my hearts content!) and I am eagerly anticipating Spring to see if all 140 bulbs I planted last Fall will poke their heads up thru the frosty ground and make their initial appearances.
While I will no longer be utilizing the vegetable garden space that I have had for the last 2 Summers (that is now where my inlaws reside) I have a huge empty plot of my own to work in that is just as big! But, this year I plan to scale way back on growing vegetables for a couple of reasons:
- this is my first summer with a baby and I already will have a huge yard to look after so do not want to over extend myself. And;
- this plot will be my dream vegetable garden so, I want to do it right! Nothing has been grown in this area, ever, so I want to spend this summer with hubby planning out watering systems, electricity and modifying the soil so that, come Spring 2015, it's ready to get growing!
But, that being said, I *will* still be growing a lot. They'll just be intermingled amongst flowers and herbs, sprinkled around the yard. It's going to be a lot of work but something I truly enjoy!
Adam also has a lot on his plate this year when it comes to the farm. Yesterday, we had new fertilizer bins delivered to hold more fertilizer for our growing farm and, last Fall we decided to change up our farm equipment for seeding so pretty excited to see how our 2014 farm season goes!
Of course I can't forget about my little farm babies, the chickens. I have wanted a new chicken coop for a while now and, if our list of things to do ever shortens a tad, we will get to building one soon enough! Currently, our coop is placed at the South end of our yard by our bins which is fine but, I now would like them moved up North to within viewing distance of our farmhouse. In truth, I want them placed in the same plot as my garden so that I can be out working in my yard and always keeping an eye on them. Especially since a certain Mr Fox has recently found their home and taken 3 of my babies for his dinner (grrr).
Just reading over this post makes me excited! Living a life in the country is hard and demanding work but my gosh is it worth it. I am ever so blessed and grateful for this life and so grateful I get to share a bit of it here with you!
It's an exciting time for us on the farm. A time I treasure every single year. I am especially looking forward to this year as I have a lengthy To Do list I've created for myself on the farm (all of which is fun & exciting to me!) and, the best part (of course) is we will have our little man with us for his first Summer on the farm! I'm already daydreaming of his first tractor ride and harvest..the memories and the photos I want to capture will be priceless!
For myself, I have already placed orders for flower seeds and Spring bulbs, I've started design plans for my *new* garden beds (since we now live in the old farmhouse that my inlaws used to reside in, I have her established yard to change and play with to my hearts content!) and I am eagerly anticipating Spring to see if all 140 bulbs I planted last Fall will poke their heads up thru the frosty ground and make their initial appearances.
While I will no longer be utilizing the vegetable garden space that I have had for the last 2 Summers (that is now where my inlaws reside) I have a huge empty plot of my own to work in that is just as big! But, this year I plan to scale way back on growing vegetables for a couple of reasons:
- this is my first summer with a baby and I already will have a huge yard to look after so do not want to over extend myself. And;
- this plot will be my dream vegetable garden so, I want to do it right! Nothing has been grown in this area, ever, so I want to spend this summer with hubby planning out watering systems, electricity and modifying the soil so that, come Spring 2015, it's ready to get growing!
But, that being said, I *will* still be growing a lot. They'll just be intermingled amongst flowers and herbs, sprinkled around the yard. It's going to be a lot of work but something I truly enjoy!
Adam also has a lot on his plate this year when it comes to the farm. Yesterday, we had new fertilizer bins delivered to hold more fertilizer for our growing farm and, last Fall we decided to change up our farm equipment for seeding so pretty excited to see how our 2014 farm season goes!
Of course I can't forget about my little farm babies, the chickens. I have wanted a new chicken coop for a while now and, if our list of things to do ever shortens a tad, we will get to building one soon enough! Currently, our coop is placed at the South end of our yard by our bins which is fine but, I now would like them moved up North to within viewing distance of our farmhouse. In truth, I want them placed in the same plot as my garden so that I can be out working in my yard and always keeping an eye on them. Especially since a certain Mr Fox has recently found their home and taken 3 of my babies for his dinner (grrr).
Just reading over this post makes me excited! Living a life in the country is hard and demanding work but my gosh is it worth it. I am ever so blessed and grateful for this life and so grateful I get to share a bit of it here with you!
Spring Weather
I woke up this morning with exactly 2 things on my mind:
1) Ugh, I REALLY don't feel like grouting anymore but at least today this project could very well be done, and;
2) I wonder why I've lost touch with my blog? I mean, I was doing so good last year before dad got sick..why have I truly lost my voice on here?
So here's how I'm dealing with both of these conundrums. I'm going to go downstairs and finish grouting, like I have been all weekend. But first, I'm going to sit & relax with my cup of coffee. And, I'm going to blog. 2 birds...1 stone.
Last night I was going thru some of my digital files of all the photos I had taken in 2012. Let me tell you, there were a LOT of photos taken! So many have never been shared with anyone, they were just taken and are quietly waiting in the corner until I turn my attention to them and give them a proper place to shine in our history. So many pictures caught me off guard when they involved my dad or things I wrote down about how much we were loving life last Summer..when we had no idea what was about to happen to us this Winter. It made me sad, but it also made me so happy..I'm so, so SO glad we got to just live so much of this last, precious time, without knowing..without wondering..without worrying. We just lived. And it was perfect
And that brings me to Friday night. After finishing a pail of grout with my inlaws, Adam and I ventured outside for our usual night-time chicken visits {every night, rain, snow or sun - we walk to the coop to collect any last minute eggs, close up the coop for the night then venture to the shop to sit and visit with our baby chicks before filling them up with fresh feed and water} and then I saw the sky. Down South from our yard we have stubble fields for as far as the eye can go. Its where I go on my daily walks and its also where you can sit and watch the most amazing weather "shows"
We sat and watched the storm for what felt like hours but, in all honesty, I believe we lasted only 45 minutes out there before the sun went beyond the horizon, the wind picked up and the rain began to fall. It was truly a beautiful way to spend our Friday evening together and the memories it stirred in me, warmed my heart.
So here's what I know for sure:
- I love Spring
- I love Spring storms, it signals that nature is waking up again after a long, cold Winter
- I love that growing up, all those storms I spent on the deck with my Daddio or in his truck, chasing a better view point, built me in to being the person you see today. I didn't know it at the time but those moments were forming me. They were instilling who I was to become and where I was coming from. A piece of who my dad was broke off and became a part of me as well. It was those small moments, all along. So next time you are with your child, your grandchild or even your spouse..just remember, it doesn't have to be big, expensive memories. No, in fact, its better if it isn't. If you take them outside after a Spring rain and jump in puddles or take them in to your garden and teach them how to plant, grow and pick a carrot, it might just be a quick laugh for you to enjoy and revel in, but for them? It could mean a world of difference..it could be building them in to who they will some day become..
Happy Monday everyone!
1) Ugh, I REALLY don't feel like grouting anymore but at least today this project could very well be done, and;
2) I wonder why I've lost touch with my blog? I mean, I was doing so good last year before dad got sick..why have I truly lost my voice on here?
So here's how I'm dealing with both of these conundrums. I'm going to go downstairs and finish grouting, like I have been all weekend. But first, I'm going to sit & relax with my cup of coffee. And, I'm going to blog. 2 birds...1 stone.
Last night I was going thru some of my digital files of all the photos I had taken in 2012. Let me tell you, there were a LOT of photos taken! So many have never been shared with anyone, they were just taken and are quietly waiting in the corner until I turn my attention to them and give them a proper place to shine in our history. So many pictures caught me off guard when they involved my dad or things I wrote down about how much we were loving life last Summer..when we had no idea what was about to happen to us this Winter. It made me sad, but it also made me so happy..I'm so, so SO glad we got to just live so much of this last, precious time, without knowing..without wondering..without worrying. We just lived. And it was perfect
And that brings me to Friday night. After finishing a pail of grout with my inlaws, Adam and I ventured outside for our usual night-time chicken visits {every night, rain, snow or sun - we walk to the coop to collect any last minute eggs, close up the coop for the night then venture to the shop to sit and visit with our baby chicks before filling them up with fresh feed and water} and then I saw the sky. Down South from our yard we have stubble fields for as far as the eye can go. Its where I go on my daily walks and its also where you can sit and watch the most amazing weather "shows"
and when I saw this view, I knew our first Spring storm was coming and I knew I wanted to sit and watch it roll in. So I asked Adam if he minded venturing out for a little walk with me and away we went, into the deep dark sky. Before I knew it we were walking down the dirt road and I came alive with stories of Spring storms. You see, my mom is not a fan of thunder and lightning. She hid it quite well when I was little but she is a little *ahem* terrified of them..and rightfully so, they can be quite intimidating! But my dad and I? Now thats a different story! Every night in the Spring/Summer when a lightning storm when come upon us..dad would get so excited and we would head out to our covered deck and just watch for the next bolt of lightning and count down the seconds til we heard the loud crack of thunder. It left us with the biggest grins on our faces. We loved it..it made us come alive. And I even recounted the numerous times, once I developed an interest in photography where the lightning storms would come and dad would load me up in his truck and take me to an open space to let me practice my "skills" in photographing lightning..and I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have yet to get that picture! Dad would piss himself laughing at me..the lightning would strike and 2 seconds later, so would my shutter. Always 2 seconds behind..never once right on time. We laughed so hard..and to this day I still laugh about it. But it was one of our things we did together that I will always be so grateful for. And when a Spring storm comes upon me..it ignites these very same feelings..I still come alive with excitement and I still love to just sit and watch the clouds roll in..
Once we came to a nice spot with the perfect view, we found a dry patch in the ditch and sat down to really take in the show. The clouds were rolling in from the West and the thunder was easily a minute and a half behind each lightning bolt. But I gasped every time I saw lightning strike, its honestly so amazing to me. There wasn't a breath of wind in the air, the silence of the country was truly the perfect setting. At one point, a flock of mallard ducks flew 100 feet above our heads and it was honestly so quiet, all we could hear was the flapping of their wings as they flew overhead..trust me, if that doesn't make you feel a little spiritual, I just don't know what will!
Even the boys were in heaven, running and jumping thru the stubble, loving the warm Spring air
We sat and watched the storm for what felt like hours but, in all honesty, I believe we lasted only 45 minutes out there before the sun went beyond the horizon, the wind picked up and the rain began to fall. It was truly a beautiful way to spend our Friday evening together and the memories it stirred in me, warmed my heart.
So here's what I know for sure:
- I love Spring
- I love Spring storms, it signals that nature is waking up again after a long, cold Winter
- I love that growing up, all those storms I spent on the deck with my Daddio or in his truck, chasing a better view point, built me in to being the person you see today. I didn't know it at the time but those moments were forming me. They were instilling who I was to become and where I was coming from. A piece of who my dad was broke off and became a part of me as well. It was those small moments, all along. So next time you are with your child, your grandchild or even your spouse..just remember, it doesn't have to be big, expensive memories. No, in fact, its better if it isn't. If you take them outside after a Spring rain and jump in puddles or take them in to your garden and teach them how to plant, grow and pick a carrot, it might just be a quick laugh for you to enjoy and revel in, but for them? It could mean a world of difference..it could be building them in to who they will some day become..
Happy Monday everyone!
The Sights & Sounds of Spring!
It is definitely Spring here .. finally!! Every day I take some time to enjoy the fresh Spring air .. I open my windows to freshen up the house and spend time outside with Jakey either playing catch or digging around in my garden. Yesteryday while Jakey and I were chillin on the grass, I took a moment to listen to everything that was happening around me .. it was peaceful, it was inspiring .. it was life!
I could hear the sound of lawn mowers throughout the neighborhood, the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of a gentle breeze whisking thru the green grass and most importantly the song birds who have finally come home for the season, it was beautiful! And then .. because it was rather warm out .. I heard the sound of this...
I could hear the sound of lawn mowers throughout the neighborhood, the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of a gentle breeze whisking thru the green grass and most importantly the song birds who have finally come home for the season, it was beautiful! And then .. because it was rather warm out .. I heard the sound of this...
*pant* *pant* *pant*
he always knows how to ruin the moment...
Oh well .. back to my story!! Since Jakey here has ruined my beautiful *sounds* of Spring bit .. I just went to shoot some images of the everyday happenings of our life yesterday ...
Yeah, we like to cuddle .. it makes Jakey feel loved and keeps me smiling when my farmer can't be around
and my tulips are starting to bud!! I reckon we'll have beautiful yellow tulips by the end of the week!!
While yellow is my favorite color .. I must say green comes to a close 2nd .. gee, do you think? hehe I never loved color as much when I was younger, I went straight for blacks, navy and the odd white .. but now that I'm a little older and more aware of what I like .. I go straight for color! Can you tell by the color of my kitchen? {love it!!}
What a wonderful day we had *sigh* now today will be more organizing the house & getting it ready to list, maybe work on a few more projects for submission and possibly a chick flick .. as today it is raining out..the perfect Spring weather to bring on my flowers :) Happy Crafting everyone!
Garden Planning
Last summer was my first in my new home and I was bound and determined to slowly but surely turn it in to my beloved, an English Cottage garden! I worked tirelessly researching the right plants and watching my yard for shady and sunny spots, weeding, planting, staking...it never ended! And I loved every minute of it!
Now with Spring on the horizon, a gardener's thoughts turn to the outdoors and visions of peonies dance in our heads...I'm so excited to see what has survived this brutal winter of ours! My tulips are now a good 2.5" up from the ground in my backyard..and my lilacs are in full bud..I will be checking in on the rest of my "brood" in the week to come, but right now we are under a wind/rain warning so I think I'll leave that task for a few more days! And since this will be my last summer gardening at this house (its bittersweet), I have plans to lovingly care for all the plantings I researched and bought just one Spring ago (seems so soon to give them up!)..plus I'll add a few sprinkles of plant seeds in the back, just for good measure!
now that its Spring, what are you anxious for?
Now with Spring on the horizon, a gardener's thoughts turn to the outdoors and visions of peonies dance in our heads...I'm so excited to see what has survived this brutal winter of ours! My tulips are now a good 2.5" up from the ground in my backyard..and my lilacs are in full bud..I will be checking in on the rest of my "brood" in the week to come, but right now we are under a wind/rain warning so I think I'll leave that task for a few more days! And since this will be my last summer gardening at this house (its bittersweet), I have plans to lovingly care for all the plantings I researched and bought just one Spring ago (seems so soon to give them up!)..plus I'll add a few sprinkles of plant seeds in the back, just for good measure!
now that its Spring, what are you anxious for?
Photo: Jupiterimages
Refreshing
I had such an amazing night tonight! After work I went and stocked up on some much needed groceries - and I know that this seems like a chore to so many people, but I for one LOVE grocery shopping! Restocking my shelves and trying new things always excites me!! Nothing like a fully stocked pantry to make this girl smile :)
Then, once home I tried a new recipe from P Dub and I have to say..it was heaven on a plate! So easy peasy to make (my favorite kind) and tastey!! Look at what I did!! I turned all this...
Then, once home I tried a new recipe from P Dub and I have to say..it was heaven on a plate! So easy peasy to make (my favorite kind) and tastey!! Look at what I did!! I turned all this...
In to this!! Mmmm...
Then, after cleaning up the kitchen I headed out with this guy:
handsome lil devil ain't he?
To pick up his "presents" before garbage day and I am proud to say that although it took me 3 days to do it..my yard is completely clean now with not one speck of poop in it! A first since I don't know when..
I just did a happy dance..
Okay..anyways :) THEN to my delight...I found these..
After all the snow and cold and drudgery...Spring is actually here..my tulips have broken ground and I was so giddy I had to run inside to grab my camera after taking some pics with my phone and sending them to Adam to prove how wonderful of a gardener I must be ;)
And then I was on a mission..what else could I find growing? Sure enough..my lilacs are in full bud too!!
Also I found a peony shoot in the ground (YAY) .. but didn't photograph it..sorry but my hands were already dirty from mucking around!! I am so excited though...I have so many plans going on in my head..I can't wait to get growing!!
Now its bed time for me..I have a phone date with my beau and then tomorrow is another new day!! Have a great night everyone!
Spring Forward
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
YAY!! Its getting closer to warm sunshine-filled days!!
Another hour of daylight is upon us!! Have a great Sunday everyone!!
I'm still alive!!!!
Yes I know I said I was going away to California for two weeks and it has now been 5 weeks since I was physically on this 'ol blog-o..but, well .. life has been BUSY!! I have sooo much to share and some really, really exciting news that I will be sharing in my next post.. PROMISE!
Until then, California was amazing :) A dream vacation and I loved it very, very much. I took just under 1,000 photos and we created many beautiful memories along the way! But, unfortunately all vacations have to end at some point and I came home to a nasty chest cold and well..bitter cold winter weather..I don't know about the rest of the world but we here in the Prairies of Canada are getting miserable..its cold, it keeps snowing..and we just want it to be done! I am craving Spring so bad..the warmth of the sun, the sight of green grass and green tendrils poking out of the soil..the smell of life again..I want to get out in my flower beds and work the soil, squishing dirt between my toes as I mosey along..pretty please Spring..don't be late!
Until then, California was amazing :) A dream vacation and I loved it very, very much. I took just under 1,000 photos and we created many beautiful memories along the way! But, unfortunately all vacations have to end at some point and I came home to a nasty chest cold and well..bitter cold winter weather..I don't know about the rest of the world but we here in the Prairies of Canada are getting miserable..its cold, it keeps snowing..and we just want it to be done! I am craving Spring so bad..the warmth of the sun, the sight of green grass and green tendrils poking out of the soil..the smell of life again..I want to get out in my flower beds and work the soil, squishing dirt between my toes as I mosey along..pretty please Spring..don't be late!
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest
Spring has almost sprung
Photo Credit: Sherelle Christensen
I saw this stunning photo on Sherelle's blog and it instantly tore at my heart! There is just something about Spring and baby animals that makes this little heart of mine go pitter patter :) The colors in the photo are amazing..stunning actually and it reignites that feeling in me of wanting to become a better photographer.. I think I'll just add that to my "To Do" list for this summer!!
I know most of you are still experiencing quite of bit of snow..at least down South from us you are..which is ironic as Canada is experiencing our Spring..Americans are getting snow! Whodathunkit? But I'm sure you are all itching for sunshine and warm days, green grass and flowers..I know I am!!
I've been blog hopping a lot lately, trying to recapture my crafty mojo..I don't know where its run off to but I hope it comes back soon! I finally finished getting in all my February PTI orders yesterday and there it sits..waiting for me to ink it up and create..so I hope to be back soon with some Spring beauties..but until then, Happy Spring and Happy Crafting!!
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