Saturday Garden Journal

The garden has taken quite  a leap in the last few weeks, leafing out, sending up shoots, flowering and thriving. This time of year is always thrilling, as the weather warms, the days grow longer, and the plants respond with intense growth. We had two 80 degree days last weekend, a welcome reprieve from a very cold and rainy spring. Today brought a very comfortable 60 degrees, perfect for getting some work done outside.

 The forget-me-nots are blooming--quite enchanting for the three-year-old.

 We planted potatoes April 6...

 ...and now they look like this.

Our chickies are about 5 weeks old now, feathering out and ready for some daytime scratching about in the outdoor coop. That's Delia the Delaware in front, Gloria the Golden Laced Wyandotte hiding behind her, and Ethel the Australorp in back.

Marigolds and zinnias have been potted up and are growing well.

This is our little makeshift greenhouse for starts (pvc pipe covered with plastic). The rough gravel does not deter the slugs, unfortunately, and they are raging a massacre on the poor plants. They particularly favor the zinnias. Every morning and evening we go on a slug hunt, lifting the trays to find slugs of all sizes nestled cozily. I think the only remedy for this is to get the trays off the ground, but we're not yet set up for that.

 Lilacs are sending out their heavenly scent and lavender loveliness.

 We're delighting in fresh salad greens--above is "Leopard" lettuce--new to us, beautiful and delicious.

 In the front--overwintered chard and parsnips. Raised bed on the left is broccoli and kale covered with agribon to keep the cabbage moths off (and theoretically the neighborhood cats, though they have proved to be incorrigible--trampling all over the row cover and putting holes in it--even when we had it draped over the hoops and clamped in place--drat cats!!). Raised bed in the middle has spinach, chard, beets, lettuce, scallions, radish, and arugula--supplying all our salad needs for the last two weeks. Raised bed on the right has garlic and newly transplanted leeks.

 Some of the native plants we've put in over the past few years are filling out and beginning to create just a bit of a wild feel to this corner.

 Dan cut down most of the crimson clover today. We're going to try planting our tomatoes and peppers directly into these beds without tilling...I've been inspired by my re-reading of The One Straw Revolution to experiment more with no-till gardening.

And we've had many a child's posy of crimson clover and dandelions brought in these days. Makes me so happy to see my girl delighting in flowers and all the treasures of the natural world.

Linking with Ginny's Saturday Garden Journal...

yarn along: basket, eggs, and a pebble

 

Ah, finally a week of knitting progress. I played copycat to Ginny and made a very quick felted basket and set of Easter eggs just in time for Sunday morning. (Ravelry notes here.) Loved the patterns for both--very simple and satisfying. And they met approval by the littlest resident of the household, which is most important.  I've also been working on the Pebble vest and enjoying this yarn--feels almost like a handspun. 

Does anyone have favorite soaker or longie patterns that really work (i.e. stay on and don't leak)? I've never used wool diaper covers, but would like to try on this coming babe.

I just started re-reading Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution after finishing From the Land and Back--what a great read. Has me thinking about community, simplicity, sustainability, and the value of useful, satisfying, physical work. About how our modern culture got to where it is now, and wondering whether/how it's possible to change the course we're on. Topics I think a lot about...and this book articulates many of my thoughts so well, and provides a historical context for them. I've seen a few good movies relating to these topics over the past few months--

Learning from Ladakh

Alone in the Wilderness

The Amish

Maybe one day soon I'll be ready to do a post to articulate all the thoughts swirling around in my head on these topics...for now, happy knitting!

Joining with Ginny for Yarn Along

bits of Easter beauty

 

~lovely tulips brought by a dear friend

~early morning egg hunts (repeated many many times throughout the day)

~decadent cinnamon rolls (the unpredictable three year old of the house, upon receiving hers--before tasting--declared "I don't like it," smashed it with a bare arm, and demanded oatmeal. Ah well, more for mom and dad...) Recipe from Tasajara Bread Book.

~last minute knitted basket and eggs (inspired by Ginny)

Wishing you beauty and life today!

Easter booties

 

I finally finished these little pink Saartje booties and sent them off to the Easter babe for whom they were intended. I also decided to try the Pebble vest, and have knit a few rows. The yarn is rather bulky and the gauge is larger than called for. I do want a larger vest, but I'm a little worried it will be way to big to fit our babe in the proper season...ah well--one nice thing about baby knitting is that if it doesn't fit now, it may fit later, and if not later, then there's another babe somewhere who can wear it. 

I've been reading a lovely book that has been on our shelf for a while, inherited from my in-laws, called From the Land and Back: What life was like on a family farm and how technology changed it, by Curtis Stadtfeld. It looks like it may be out of print now, but I think it discusses a topic that is still, or again, timely and compelling for many young folks interested in traditional skills and local food/goods. The author's writing is honest and poetic, a pleasure to read. Definitely worth searching for at your library.

Joining in with Yarn Along today...

intention

Photos taken at Portland Japanese Garden.

At a recent yoga class I attended, the instructor spoke briefly about the importance of intention--of starting your day, or your practice, or your labor (this was a prenatal class) with a single focus. For the next week I spent an extra minute in bed every morning contemplating my intention, and then writing a single word at the top of my to-do list for the day. Surrender, compassion, patience...

Seeing that word and being reminded of my intention throughout the day made a real difference in my perspective. I was more likely to take an extra breath before losing my temper, or giving into exasperation. It helped to bring meaning to mundane tasks, and provided a framework in choosing activities for the day.

A very small thing, but powerful, and manageable for a busy mama.