crazy garden lady

I was getting called crazy garden lady by my family today.  It is okay.  I am growing vegetables and flowers for both the addictions.  The bear seems to always want some roasted veg with his "sauce" at most dinners.  I like roasted veggies too.  And flowers.  I love flowers.

Last year, I did not really get the garden in I wanted.  Most of my garden stayed fallow except for what reseeded itself.  The torrential spring rains did not help anything either though.  

This year, I decided to change a bit of what I am doing.  I am making beds so I can get to my vegetables and flowers.  I might even get a chance to weed!  What an amazing idea.  So far there have not been torrential rains so I am hoping that I will get some plants established before that happens again.  I also have Koda Bear and my Beloved helping most mornings.  That is a major surprise because usually I am the only person in the garden.  

Flowers.  Vegetables.  I am keeping my fingers crossed!

refining an old skill

I am slowly feeling better from the food poisoning.  I actually got to do some yoga yesterday.  It was also helpful that Koda Bear was with his Dad because yoga with Koda Bear around is a full contact sport!  I am not exaggerating. 

I woke up this morning to sunshine and decided to start working in the garden for this year.  When we were in Washington state, my Dad showed me a different way to dig up a garden.  Many years ago, when small town railroad stations still existed and there were railmen there, my Dad watched a railman dig up a gravel driveway to become a garden.  Dig a trench with a shovel.  Then, with the same shove, move back an inch or two, take the scoop of dirt out, throw it on top of the dirt from the trench.  Work your way backward.

In an hour, I got more done better then if I had dug the garden my own way or with help.  I need to learn better ways in the garden because it is normally just me no matter what the other words may be.  My Dad strongly suggested to just work an hour at a time.  Then take a rest.  Today, that was exactly what I needed.  I did not think I was even close to overdoing until I came inside to write.  One hour!

That green is a tomato plant that still has tomatoes on it.  It has overwintered so far.  I was surprised it was in such good condition after the cold we have had.  I was a bit more careful around it then it places I had no plants to worry about.  We may have a few tomatoes soon. 

Sometimes all it takes is to ask and to listen.

more weeding

I got more weeding done this weekend.  I do not think I will get my weeding done until next  year when the winter weather helps everything die back.  But that is okay.  My flowers are lovely.  I deliberately seeded for a cut flowers.  I am starting to really like very old fashioned zinnias.  Growing on me you could say.  It makes me smile to think about it.  I have some squash which the only way I will find out what they are is that they will need to fruit.

I just need more time in the garden!

I do not know how much time I will be here this week.  My Beloved's youngest nephew is spending the week with us.  He needs Uncle time.  I think I am already tired!

calm

Small Mister is off with his Daddy and I have a chance to work on the quilt without a small boy sitting on my feet.  He is helping me treadle.  When my spinning wheel gets pulled out, he yells "spinning wheel!" and also helps me treadle.  But that one he can sit on my lap.  It is really much easier to not having the small boy helping with the treadle but the joy level does go down.  I find the quilting very meditative but I have three dress wandering through my head that I wish to make.  It will all happen.

I did spend time in the garden this morning until I started to hurt.  I had to ask my Beloved to help with the cleanup.  I have more flowers this year which makes me happy.  I gave away a squash yesterday and we had greens from the garden the day before.  We may not eat as much this year but I am enjoying the flowers so.  I am trying many more zinnias this year.  I like the colors.  I still have cosmos and blanket flowers.  A yellow flower that I cannot spell.  Salvia and amaranth are popping up all over.  My Beloved puts the amaranth leaves in his smoothie. 

The flowers just make me smile.  I missed having so many last year. 

I hope I did not overdo today so I can do more tomorrow.

one of those supposedly significant birthdays

Saturday, the boyos, Miss A, and I went to the beach.  There was waist high, fairly clean surf for Galveston.

Now, I have to admit that where my shoulders are, I do not paddle well.  If I can paddle, there is no strength and sometimes paddling causes pain I just have to breathe and be still until it recedes.  It was what I did on the mountain as well.  But I had fun.  My Beloved just floated and helped the Small Mister.  Small Mister rode a wave for the first time by himself.  He kept saying "more snow board!" after he got dunked and was blue.  Another boardhead in the famlly.

My Beloved got me some earrings but he also bought some rovings from different breeds of goats for me to try spinning.  I know it is an odd gift but it is so us.  I find the drop spinning such a meditation.  I am not sure that I wish to have these goats for fiber.  One is a Karakul and he is going to have to look up the other.  My Dad may pick me up some fleece to try, Cheviot.  I also wish to try Shetland.  I am a little late to be looking for fleeces but I can try.  I especially like the darker colors which are not so common.

I have started picking flowers from my garden which just makes me smile.

And the roses the boyos bought me for Valentine's day are trying to start.  It is exciting.