I want flowers!

Each morning I tell myself not to run outside to see if the daffodils have bloomed. I know it will be another couple of weeks. But I Want It Now! Patients – one quality that is needed by anyone with a garden. One I am lacking in at this time of year.

I did make some great little newspaper seed pots – that’s to Seeded – and started some gourds, pumpkins, Scotch bonnets, Thai peppers, basil (to go in pots on the porch) and snapdragons. Now I will need that quality I am lacking in- patients.

I went to a very good friends house last week and had a wonderful play date with them and there 3 little dogs. I also managed to came home with several tubs of a beautifully composted manure. As all 6 dogs were the same size it was wonderful - 4 of them are terriers. We sat by their pond watching a pair of mallards watch us and watching the dogs try to figure out just how they could get to the ducks without actually getting in the water. Smokey did manage to get mud up to his belly, which required human help washing off, Charlie thought the chickens were particularly fascinating ( I was waiting for him to get just a little to close to the rooster and maybe learn a lesson) and Monty, well, Monty smelled deer and was determined to find them. Charlie, Monty and Smokey slept like the dead on the way home.

Incase I have not mentioned it, I love my Honda Element. You can just fold the seats up out of the way, sweep out any dirt and worst case scenario give a quick wash – inside and out- with the hose.

Thoughts for Thursday

"Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window."

Steve Bluestone

In like a lamb..

Last week we had snow, ice, rain, mush and beautiful days with temps in the 50's. I not sure if I can say that March came in like a lamb or if February went out like a lion.

We has a little false spring on Sunday which I took total advantage of and worked in the yard. I planted some bulbs that were given to me last week - and a couple that I had missed last fall when I was planting. I also began an all out war on the little brambles that I have in my yard. I have some really nice Black berry bushes but I also have these little prone briars that are just horrible. You don't see them until you step on them or they grab your jeans and they are slowly trying to invade the little grassy area I have! I spent a good 2 hours just pulling these up and only covered about 30 sq feet. I admit that it was fun to try and pull them and see how much of the roots I could get.

I fully admit I am addicted to reading - I read gardening blogs, general blogs, herb blogs and even manage to sneak in an old fashioned book or two. I used to think that I was a little weird for the amount of books that I have but in my family having boxes of books is not so unusual. Every member of my family has several good sized boxes of books, bookshelves full of books and more scattered around the house- we claim it is genetic. Why I bring this up - I have my first I-pod (yes, I am a little slow). I also have my first subscription to Audible.com. WOW! I was impressed by the vast number of books. I am also worried. Will the easy availability of downloadable audio books bring an end to beautifully printed hardback books?

Winter morning

I took this yesterday on my way to work. As the sun was just starting to touch the tops of the winter white trees.

With all the warm weather we have been having I am just itching to get the seeds out and start the garden. In a couple of weeks I will actually start some of the longer growing seeds, but for now I just have to contend myself with getting out the calendar, seed packs and a lovely green marker.

Mom and I are going to share a garden at her house as well as the one I will have at home. I am already thinking that in hers we will plant the pumpkins, some squash, hot peppers, onions, kohlrabi, lettuces, and tomatoes. Before that can happen I have to spend some time digging up the raspberry suckers and transplanting them to my yard. I have always thought that I wanted lots of berries in my yard. However, with the reading I have been doing on their care - prune some the first year, others the second, and, oh yes, got to build a trellis. Like that is going to happen. I am going to just go with the lazy farmer way - plant them and see what happens.

Newused Car

My poor old car, Bessie, was really getting worn out - the door did not close correctly, needed new upper and lower ball joints, the back hatch did not open, and the list goes on. I finally decided that I really needed a new car - a new to me car. I did the whole search the internet, read articles and get blown away by price thing.

What I discovered is that I wanted a Honda Element. They are better on gas then Bessie was, They have a ton of room inside, good accident rating, and the best part - after going to the nursery I can just sweep out the big clumps of dirt then take a hose and wash it out. Yes! the inside is a sealed vinyl that I can just hose it out! No more vacuuming for hours trying to get all the dirt and dog hair!

I have been lucky enough to find one! Right here in Boone. The long and short of the story is that I have some wonderful friends here who were looking to trade there 2004 Element in and I was lucky enough to get it! I am now the proud owner of an orange 2004 element.

I really need to name her...I have thought of punkin - to normal, OJ – unfortunately there is a person that carries that name that I just can't stand, Main squeeze - cute but to long, Matilda- Matty for short, hmm...Anyone have a suggestion?On another note.

On Sunday we had just a bit of wind up here...Gust up to 70MPH. I was lucky that no trees came down on my house - or the new element but the wind did tip over my composter. I have an older metal compost tumbler on a metal frame that was bunged with 3 bungees to 2 trees that the wind pushed sideways then tipped over. Luckily there was a large old grape vine that caught the tumbler before it went too far. I will have to wait till the weekend when I can get some friends over to help put the tumbler back up

Winter in the Blue Ridge

I have lived here for close to half of my life and I am still amazed that I can drive down a road I've traveled many time and see a view that just takes my breath away.

Winter for me is one of the hardest times of year. Not much to do in the garden, lots of grey days, and the wind. The wind may be the worst. Even if it is a beautiful day, like yesterday, the wind just make it impossible (for me anyway) to be out for more then a little while. I find myself standing by the windows looking at my garden and mentally planning what to do this spring. My list is growing ever longer and I am now trying to sort it into some sort of priority.
Make raised beds at the foot of the bank,
have more trees taken out,
plant fruit trees,

rent a chipper,
pray that all the flowers and herbs I planted last year come back..... You get the idea.

One good thing about winter is sitting on the sofa wrapped in a cozy blanket, hot coco beside me, idly flipping pages of my newest seed catalog. My seed and garden catalogs have the place of honor on my coffee table - right next to the gardening books and the tv remote.

There is another side of winter that I like. Watching the dogs play in the snow. Last week we had a nice snow then it sleeted giving us a not so nice layer of ice on top. It took Smokey awhile to figure out that running down hill was not a good idea. He would just keep sliding and sliding! I will admit that I got a good giggle from the look of amazement on his face.

Thoughtful Thursday

If you talk to animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear.
What one fears one destroys.

~Chief Dan George

July 24, 1899 - September 23, 1981