a pea-less season

First, no rain - too dry to weed.  Now, too windy and cold to get out there and get the spring garden chores done!  I never even planted the peas. . . 2012 - a pea-less year.

But Mother Nature is not interested in my excuses.  Her work is never done.  This is one of many juicy buds on my 'Josephine' clematis.  She has never bloomed since I planted her several years ago.  The appearance of these succulent buds make up for the year without peas!

The tree peonies refuse to be eclipsed by some upstart named Josephine!  

Primrose and mysotis coexist peaceably.  The forget-me-not had a good winter and has spread into many smaller colonies throughout the lawn, paths and gardens  -  beautiful pools of icy blue that never stay long enough!

It wouldn't be spring without the achingly ready-to-pop allium!  All of these images were taken in a high wind - it's not your vision going whacky, it's my amateur photo skills!  Chives - I have missed you!

This little conifer has been eating its spinach!  It has grown nearly a foot since last spring.  Soon it will be too large for the herb garden and I will need to relocate it.

 

I have plans to introduce many new trees and shrubs into the gardens this year.  My goal is that of one whose knees have begun to ache in earnest!  I don't have the desire to plant flowers - yet.

The gingko just makes me happy.

no pay it forward

Have to admit, I AM disappointed that no one, and I mean NO ONE, wanted to pay it forward.  The way I see it, I can either sulk and be still, or get over it and post.  Posting is better.

This makes me happy.  This was worth the wait.

Fabric designers offer us such an amazing palette - not to mention the delightful themes that are available these days.  This selection really took me back to childhood -

Although I never had the courage to ride a ferris wheel, I always wanted to!  

Sleepy time for little monsters.  

Pay it forward

 I am paying it forward via Jelli Donut.  Random acts of kindness can soothe this troubled world and hand made gifts are the icing on the cake!  Here's the scoop: (copied almost verbatim from Jelli and company)
(1) I will send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this post.  It will be a handmade gift, by me.  I will send it sometime in the next 365 days - this will also be a surprise.
(2) To sign up and receive a gift, you must play along too.  Pay it forward on your blog by promising to make a surprise for the first three people who comment on the post.
(3) You must have a blog (that is updated, as there will be stalkings to determine the RIGHT gift for you!).
(4) After commenting here, you must repost this, or something similar to your blog within 48 hours.  If not, I will choose the next person who commented.
Don't give up if you are not in the top three. Just head on over to the blogs of the comments that arrived first to see if you are in THEIR top three.  The rule is you have 48 hours after your comment appears to post the Pay it Forward on your blog, otherwise you get skipped over!  It doesn't matter where you hail from - I will send packages to any place in this blogging world!

So, PLAY!
I've been fiber playing - it was a most productive weekend!

'Juice Bar' is coming along nicely.  There isn't anything about this piece that I dislike!  

I'm quilting on a deadline - this one must be finished by May 12th!  (son's birthday)
I'm also stockpiling for my 'Willow' enterprise and this baby quilt will be on display on Opening Day along with (hopefully) coordinating goodies.  The red and blue combo is one that I never seem to grow tired of. 

The Scottie trailer 'theme' will appear again - (and again!)

I have a lot to learn about paper piecing design!!!  I'm eager to master at least the rudimentary principles, but I'll never be a Linda Hibbert.

As always, my faithful companion keeps an eye on my ramblings - he's still on medication and hobbling around.  It's painful to see him so crippled.  He's having a play date today with his favorites - Andrew, Merrilee and Bubbha.  When I pick him up tonight he will be exhausted and happy.

He's a good boy.

waiting for the rain

It's promised and we need it so badly.  Nature produces its spring time bounty, but I am seeing sure signs of struggle and fatigue.  

The asparagus is thinner and not nearly as tall as in years past.

It tastes really great despite its pigmy status - eaten raw or roasted with asiago sprinkled over it.

All of the hosta wintered over well and are making their appearances.  It's too dry to weed, believe me, I've tried.  I ended up disturbing good top soil so I quit.  A soaking rain - a few days worth - this is what is needed.

The apples are blooming and our local farmers spray late into the evening.

The beauty of the orchard never disappoints.

My mother gave me her compost bin and I am determined to improve the soil with great buckets of steamy dark composty goodness!  

Harley keeps watch for the marauding chipmunks.  It didn't take them any time at all to shake off their winter sleep and dive right back into their wicked antics -

There were beautiful little tomato plants in those trays when I left for work.  My son started them from seed and shared them.  I am really chapped about this.  I've tried every trick in the book to discourage their destructive behavior, but it is, in the end, a lost cause.  I used to think that they were cute.  How I really feel is under censorship - you don't want to know!

There are toothpicks in the soil of this pot with about an inch of the pointy ends exposed.  If I cannot stop them from digging in everything I can make the digs perilous.  So there!

a tower or two

Lally, this one is for you.  I meant to send these to you via email, but I'm not getting any cooperation from my computer.  Here goes;

If you do a headstand you'll be able to view this.  Isn't that thrilling?  I know that you love your daily calisthenics.  (snort!)

This might be a smashing lining for the nesting vessels.  And my favorite - (not that it matters in the least!) ...

Although I've never been, this is, to my mind, Paris in the spring!  If any of these three fabrics appeal to you and Summer, let me know ASAP.  They go quickly!

While I'm here .... I've decided upon a name for my shop.  Let's see if you can figure it out...

No?  How about this -

This?

One last hint -

It will be  'Willow'. 

Lally, I lied.  THIS is my favorite -

The nesting bowl exteriors look best in natural linen, so a jazzy lining can be a lot of fun. 

Did I mention that my daughter has me on a strict diet?  I think that hers might be the one that works for me.  It's exceedingly VERBAL.  She texts descriptive terms for FAT to me.  This morning she called our thighs marmalukes.  Marmalukes.  Mind you, her thighs are perfection.  One could bounce a dime off of either one of those beauties or write a sonnet to capture their loveliness.  MINE, on the other hand, are neither lovely nor inspiring. . . at least not any longer.  In truth, they had a good run - they had their day in the sun.  But you know how daughters can be - they want their mothers to look good.  If their mothers age well it's a positive reflection for them to gaze upon and comfort themselves with.  Don't worry Hilly - you've got good genes, I promise.

monday morning wants, needs, has-to-haves

Work is boring.  Imagining unlimited descretionary funds is not. 

A new powder room - I wouldn't change a thing about this except perhaps to add a small stack of current reads.  And some fresh flowers.  Tulips.
I'd like to have a brace of these to greet me at the door, flanked by my darling Harley, of course.

This is the patio that would make my heart sing - ocean for a backdrop, atlantic, please.

And I think that this would be a funny book to read, while lounging on my patio with my dogs -

 There have been so many changes these last few years that I have developed true gallows humor.  But it's all ok.  I am doing the best that I can.  We put my mother's house on the market this weekend and I will admit that the first sight of that realtor sign was off-putting.  It hit me somewhere, in a place where I live, where things can hurt and keep one awake at night.  Strange dreams followed and my day has had a blurriness, a grey cast to it. 

But then my darling daughter made me a salad and brought it to me for my lunch.  I am a lucky woman and I know it.

I do love these chairs and I would be completely satisfied to find my room transformed when I get home tonight -

Sweet dreams, me.

Long day!  Check back tomorrow ...

it's gonna be a long one

It's admitted student Open House today.  ALL day. I'll need a few xanax and some ear plugs.

I'd rather be home in my work room, where everything makes sense and peace and quiet prevails.

There was a small pilgrimage to the bead mecca shop -

It's time to stock pile my beaded bags.

We are in the planning stages of developing a brick and mortar shop.  Do you remember this little building?

Take a good long look because the next time you see it, the transformation will be complete!  If all goes to plan, you won't recognize it.

Spring has come to redress the gardens - new outfits all around!