There

thanks, H.R.D.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

And here it is...

That moment of peace...my coffee, my blog, the morning sunshine, and most importantly a quiet house. Its been a long time since I've had that combination. Yesterday marked the beginning of my winter depression. Yesterday I pulled up all the things in the garden that won't make it through the winter. Which is just about everything except a few herbs, some broccoli, and some lettuce. This year my goal was to harvest and can everything possible. I did that. I learned to can fruits and veggies. I made pickles and jams. Next year, I aim for avoiding my winter depression. Cold frames. Its happening. I found several old windows during random junk days around my neighborhood and I have drawn up some plans for a cold frame for my raised beds. I'm going to start my seedlings earlier and get them out into the sunshine. I had great success with my tomatoes this year, getting them started and ready at least. Its the transitioning that I have trouble with. I knocked out a good majority of my heirloom, Cour Di Bue, tomato babies because I didn't have a safe place to put them while they adjusted to sunlight. Wind=tomato seedling death.

Today I'm planting the last of some bulbs for Spring. I've never planted bulbs before and had any success, so we'll see how that goes. I bought these allium bulbs that will have giant purple globes on the end of a three foot stem. Think purplish blue dandelion times about 100. They're amazing to watch, just swaying in the breeze. A lot of people turn their noses up to flower gardening because its not practical, but I can't think of anything more practical or neccessary than something that brings me peace and tranquility.

Tomorrow is another 15K Farmers meeting and I can't wait to do the kids' activity. I'm felting some sweaters with my Momma and we are going to help the kiddos make little mittens out of them. So easy to do and they can sew the mittens up themselves using plastic darning needles and yarn. I'm bringing some buttons from my "funky button" collection so they can decorate them. I'm so excited!!

Sigh...

I wasn't prepared to wake up to an overcast rainy Fall morning. I need to be at home baking bread and knitting.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

P.S. I need a farm name

A day of pumpkins

Here lately, I've devoted most of my life to work. Its unfortunate, but sometimes I love that place as much as I love my garden. The difference is the garden brings me peace and work brings on an adrenaline rush comparable to that of being dropped into the middle of a pack of wolves with a raw steak taped to your butt. I love that rush. Its a different kind of accomplishment and not as wholesome as my other hobbies, but its powerful and gives me confidence to face everything in my life. My heart is in that job for life. So, anyhoo, I'm back for the day. Slowing down, focusing on the season and upcoming festivities...HALLOWEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it. Its cold in the morning. Crunchy leave are all over the yard. (I don't rake, sue me, whatever) I let the girls out of the coop this morning and they all ran out, feathers ruffled up like they put on sweaters. Still no eggs, but I love those chickens. I have dreams about going out there and finding multitudes of colored eggs and overwhelmed with feelings of excited bliss. I just want one pale blue/green egg. That's all. Its like a drug that I'm addicted to, but I've never even had it. I've wanted chickens and my own eggs for so long. Now they're here and they need to get down to business.

I'm hoping today is going to go as planned. I am drinking my homemade pumpkin spice latte. I'm going to pack Sophia up here shortly and go pumpkin hunting. This was supposed to take place in my yard, but alas, FAIL! Yeah, I'm still bitter about no pumpkins. I will try again next year and be more aggressive with the feeding and caring for them. Still organic, but more aggressive. I'm going to make pumpkin bread and work on Sophia's garden gnome costume. Hopefully a productive yet fun day for us.

I planted some fall broccoli and a few lettuces which seem to be thriving with the cold mornings and warm sunny afternoons. I actually prefer fall lettuces. The flavor is a lot better. If I can conjure up some hoops, I would like to see how long I can keep the lettuce alive through the winter. I have a feeling its going to be very mild for a good portion of this winter. If I had to guess, I'd say February will be cold, but I'm planning on starting my plugs much earlier this next growing season. Especially the potatoes, lettuces, and broccoli. This year was very informative, though not quite successful. I learned to can and make jams. Had other things not taken place during peak harvesting times throughout the summer, I would be more stocked up on my canned veggies. I'm still happy though.

Why?

The big question that everyone asks me is why? Why do I make things when I can just buy them? I have several reasons but mostly its for the process. I can't willingly rely on other businesses/people to provide me with my basic needs. I wish had been raised on a farm where making what you needed went without saying and was second nature. I wish I had someone in my family to sit me down and show me how to knit or make jam or tell me how to grow healthy tomatoes. I don't, so I make do. I love the process of learning. When I go to the bookstore, I go straight to the cookbooks or craft section. I don't read romance novels or biographies of famous people. I'm more star-struck by innovative local celebrities such as our 15 Thousand Farmers founders and my favorite local band, My Morning Jacket. I love how-tos. I want to learn forever about "how-to." Self-sufficiency. If it can be made, I want to make it. If I can grow it, knit it, can it, save it, build it, whatever, I want to try.



The process of making things, allbeit sometimes frustrating, is actually peaceful to me. Sometimes when I give handmade things to people you can see the disappointment in their faces. Its not shiny and new with a pricetag. Its pricetag is invisible, but its there. It is printed with my heart, my time, and my effort. Its not perfect or designer-labeled. But its unique and already has a history. It was specifically made for you by me. As my hands push the fabric across the sewing machine; as I sit for hours at a time with two needles and some yarn, as I watch to make sure the temperature is just right in the oven...it was made for you.



The process is something that I want to pass along, but I know not many will be receptive. When you understand the process, you understand the effort and why. A good friend of mine gave me some frozen applesauce that her grandmother made from apple in her orchard. I wonder if she took the time to learn how to make the applesauce herself from her grandmother. Soaking up every little bit of knowledge from those who understand self-sufficiency from neccessity is the most valuable form of knowledge. Thats surviving knowledge.



P.S.
She does know how to make the applesauce and I'm very proud of her for that! Of course, now she has to teach me. ;-)

A chill is in the air

I feel it. It starting to happen. Its at 7 am when I go out to feed the chickens. Its a crispness that's creeping in through the night and is, for now, chased away by the warm sunshine during the day. Its almost Fall y'all and I couldn't be happier. Giddy is a more appropriate term. More so than Spring or Summer, Fall gives me an energy like no other. The farmers' markets are completely stocked with colorful harvests. Coffee has a whole new purpose as a comforter and hand warmer as I peruse the tents full of veggies and fruits. I can drink coffee anytime of day and in any weather. I stick to one a day if that, but coffee, when its cold outside, lights up my soul. Sounds slightly grandeur to describe a beverage in such a way, but I think its an association I have between coffee and shopping with my mom almost every Saturday for the past few years. I have finally found the person who truly gets me and shares the same passions for simpler more wholesome living. We have this addiction to Heine Bros coffee. What once started out as a crush on Starbuck's, our gateway coffee, has led to trips around town to different coffee shops until we found our true loves...Mom's mocha with whipped cream and my Nutty Irishman latte. Whatever we do or where ever we go is in direct correlation to the location of a Heine Bros coffee. (Starbuck's Pumpkin Pie Latte...I still heart you best of all) Luckily our favorite places to go are generally in the same vicinity.

So back to the subject of Fall...screw all you guys whose pumpkins grew this year. No, I'm kidding. I'm happy for you. Slightly bitter, but happy for you, nonetheless. No pumpkins and no clue as to why. My heart breaks every time I look out the window to my meek pumpkin patch and see nothing but vines and big orange flowers, but no glorious pumpkins. It makes no sense. And even though there is no chance that by Oct 31st I'll have one of my own orange beauties to carve, I can't bring myself to pull up the vines. As if the Great Pumpkin, himself, would visit in the night and sprinkle full grown pumpkins onto my vines and I would run down the stairs in the morning to see what Halloween presents he left for me. Yeah, I went there. So what. A girl can dream can't she?! Oh well, try again next year.


P.S. I have already started buying seeds for next Spring. Ridiculous.

Oh yeah, my garden

Lost a lot of stuff due to the events in July. Didn't water or weed at any point during that time. 'Maters are still doing slightly above average. I've canned quite a few quarts and that's makes me happy. My cucumbers, despite my neglect, produced 22 quarts of pickles. Dill...in the form of spears, slices, and whole. Next year I'm going to make my own dill spice blend, because whereas the package blend was convenient, it did burn every hair out of my nose with its pungency. Did I mention that was only one cucumber vine? And I probably, and unfortunately, wasted that much because of my neglect...call CPS on me, I deserve it. (cucumber protective services)

sil plants are on the warpath with stems comparable to small trees. Over grown and loving it they are. I may only have one pumpkin out of, oh I dunno, 30 PLANTS! (FAIL) Its ridiculous and heartbreaking. Nonetheless, I won't mind another trip to Hubers, a hayride, and picking my own little orange darlings with Sophia and Hubby, who, might I add, are doing quite well through all of this. That hubby, I tell you what. Nothing beats a good man who cooks and cleans and brings your spirits up through the worst of times. That man went days with no sleep to take care of us while I was dealing with my family situation.

Eggplants=ZERO. The plant itself its large and healthy looking yet apparently I'll be buying my eggplants from the farmers' market this year.

My one HUGE success this year was my Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelon. The first of about 10 is sitting in the fridge as we speak. I'm thinking tonight is the night. They are all doing great and are about the size of basketballs. That was the one thing I thought wouldn't make it this year.

CHICKENS! Oh yeah! They are getting so big! No eggs yet. My bet is on about two more weeks before the first treasure. I can't wait. There will be joy in my life again. That may be the start. The thought of greeting my girls in the morning, only to be greeted in return with an egg puts neon in my veins. I haven't spent as much time as I would have liked with the girls, and for that, some of our relationships have suffered a bit. But, I still have my goodies and Bessy still wants to be carried around like a baby. its ridiculous because she wasn't even one of my originals. We bonded. I love her, and still secretly (not-so-secretly) wish that she was a he. It could still happen!

Therapy? Who needs therapy? I just lifted two months off of my chest. I did miss this. My city-farmgirl life is whats helping me to heal. In between trips to and from the hospital I forced myself to can the pickles for fear that I would lose everything if I didn't. How could such a modest task like canning, ease the mind? Dunno. It did though. I chopped cucumbers through deep heartache and tears. And, when it was all said and done and I pulled the jars out of the water, I mustered up a miniscule amount of pride. A drop in the ocean, maybe, but it was something.

I heart Fall. Get here quick.

A summer wasted

Not that anyone reads this or even noticed my two months+ hiatus, but I think I'm back. I'm mending that's for sure. Tragedy does strange things to a person. It can completely change you without you even knowing it. It changes your values and morals and behavior. It consumes your mind and your time, long after the danger has passed. I've always been a leveled-headed person. I didn't go through the rebellious teenager stage. I've always respected authority and my elders. I've always been self-motivated and was able to find the positives of any situation to make the best of it. Now, at this time, I've been faced with something that was nearly impossible to find a smidgen of positiveness. Up to this point, I don't think that I've ever truly felt pain and hopelessness. Or, I just felt it so deeply this time that anything else pales in comparison. To the people around me, they know what I'm talking about. To anyone else, I really can't even type the words yet. I have spent the last month and a half feeling weak...in body, mind, and spirit. That day is as fresh in my mind as last night. While others have picked up and moved on and forgotten how and why we've all ended up here, I still feel it vividly. I feel the disregard and the manipulation, and the heinous act of violence. I will never forget it. I can't go into much more because its not right and its not my place to divulge anymore information than this paragraph o'vagueness. See, I was just a bystander. I was just supposed to be support for those involved. Yet, I'm not sure that anyone else understood the gravity of the situation. No one seems to be having trouble dealing with anything anymore. There is almost no anger or dispappointment...only light-hearted banter amongst the involved as if today was just another day. There is no question of judgement..only justification of actions. There is no thought of what is best for the victim...only what do we do for revenge or our own personal peace of mind. I see these people with a weight on my head. I can't look them in the eye because I'm so ashamed of their either great ability to shove feelings aside or the willingness to move on from something that needed a great deal more of their attention. I'm disappointed from the let down of broken promises. I'm hurt by the laissez-faire attitudes. PEOPLE THIS IS SOMEONE'S LITTLE LIFE!!!!!!!! An individual with potential and personality and intelligence and hope and YOU BLEW IT!!! You ruined everything. There is a pink elephant in the room that needs some attention.

I think I need a therapist.

Fourth of July and the peacefulness of simplicity

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July and remembered the reasons why we celebrate. We didn't light any of our own fireworks because Hubby had to leave for work. But, Sophia loves the bright lights and excitment, so we sat on our front porch, eating popcicles, and enjoyed the show. I looked at my little girl sitting on the steps. Hair in piggytails, popcicle covered face...she is what I believe little girls should be. Not clad with age-inappropriate clothing with words like "Hottie" across the heiny. She wears a ruffled tank top with a little fishy on it from her Auntie. She says please and thank you and talks about babies being "precious and so tiny." She is already beginning to grasp the concept of hurting another's feelings with words and that its not good to do that. She won't wear makeup for a long time. Her nails have yet to be painted. There is nothing sweeter than a baby looking like a baby. She likes to water her own plants. She knows real joy and happiness...not just something bought from the store. Little girls belong in comfy dresses, piggytails, chasing chickens around the yard.

Thats just how I roll

7/03/2010

Oh what a day!

I had some interesting conversation last night with a fellow 15k Farmer. When I can feel someone else's energy and enthusiasm, it inspires me. I woke up early today and let the girls out. They don't normally get to play outside in the morning, so they were very happy to be "getting the worm." I've weeded/watered/hauled to the point of shaking fatigue in my arm muscles. I have dirt smears across my forehead from wiping away the sweat. There is nothing that makes me feel greater than this. I know its the city and quiet is never really available, but the sound of the highway behind me becomes a constant noise so I can almost drowned it out. It is almost peaceful here sometimes. The honey bees were all around me on the clover grass. Ziggy and Matilda fought over a worm. I found my first cucumbers and RIPE tomatoes. Today is amazing.

Chick says MOO...meet Bessy

A drive to remember

With "Z" by MMJ as my soundtrack, I hopped in the car, did my farmer's market circuit, bought some plants, and chatted with a few folks. I've been asking around the farmers' markets about people who would be willing to show me the ways of a beekeeper. Lots of people have given my info and resources to check out. This weekend was no exception. Except, this weekend I met John Duncan. You can really see when some people are doing something that they love to the core of their being. He pulled me around to the inside of his modest booth of honey, eggs, veggies, and a few jars of salsa, sat me down on a stool, and literally gave me the history of bees with such gusto that it got me more excited than I have ever been about beekeeping. He is bringing me a video to watch next Saturday at the market, and he even offered to let me come out to his farm to SEE THE BEES--as in suiting up and checking out what is so great about their knees!!!! Enthusiasm from another person could inspire me to do just about anything. John definitely had enthusiasm and knowledge and I am a cell-o sponge just waiting for the spill. (as I write this I'm indulging on some of that bread and John's honey)

After the market, I set out on another journey. To Taylorsville, KY, to meet Jim Price for the first time on his farm. I wanted to add a few more worms to my worm-poo-crew and possibly another chicken or two. And I did. The drive was peaceful and surprisingly short. I drove down a curvy road to a gravel driveway. As I drove, I passed a beehive and pulled up to an old farm cottage complete with old rocking chairs on the front porch. There were chickens in the front yard. There were chickens in the backyard. There were cows in the pasture. And, there was a garden behind the house. I kicked myself several times for not bringing my camera. I'm planning another trip out there and won't make that mistake again. I can hardly call myself a blogger if I don't provide visuals!

The new girls are settled in and seem to be getting along with the original bunch. New names are Bessy, a Golden Comet who looks like a little cow, and Lily, possibly a Salmon Faverolle that's shy and sweet. The more are let myself sink into the simple life, like an overstuffed chair at your grandma's house, the harder it is to get out. It happy and safe and warm and fulfilling here. This past weekend was so good. The rugrat wasn't feeling all that great on Sunday, so I stayed home from work with her. Since we were confined to the house, I decided to make a good day of it. For four hours, I paced around the stove watching strawberries turn into jam and tomatoes turn into a hearty pasta sauce with basil from my yard and tomatoes & onions from the farmers' market. The strawberry jam was just sweet and tart enough to inspire me to make bread. Luckily, I had enough jam leftover, not enough to fill a jar, but enough to engage in some necessary quality control. I must say, one of my favorite guilty pleasures is freshly baked warm bread with honey, butter, or now, homemade strawberry jam. My favorite part was when the lids started popping on the jars and I knew that I was successful. After Hubby woke up, he took a shift with Sophia and let me go play outside. I let the girls out of the coop and started the endless process of weeding. They had a blast and almost didn't want to go back inside. The coop is finished--at least the building part of it. Its too hot and humid here to paint, so I'll wait a bit before I tackle that project.

A routine for happiness

I love my morning routine now. Get up. Stretch. Walk outside to check on the chickies and the garden. Water the plants. Come in, make breakfast, read blogs that I follow, then get ready for work. The chickies are so frisky in the morning. Especially today. Its a lot cooler than its been in the past few weeks and the sun is shining. I've got tons of tiny cukes growing on their vines just waiting to be turned into pickles for Hubby. The broccoli has heads on them about the size of softballs on some. Thats really cool because of my disasterous attempt to grow broccoli last year. The bean tower is completely covered in beany vines. The black beans have pods on them already. Tomatoes are sprouting out everywhere. After my canning class this past weekend, I'm feeling more and more confident that I will be eating my own tomatoes well into winter. These are all baby steps towards happiness. My focus narrows with everyday. Its getting easier to "bloom where you're planted" and just be happy where I am right now. Making this house, this little family, and everything that surrounds it into everything that I've ever wanted and more. I want to create and to be self-sufficient. (stay tuned for an upcoming test of self-sufficiency will power) I want a farm-like setting in the city. Its becoming that. Hubby is more and more supportive everyday. Sometimes he almost sounds interested! I'm getting involved and putting myself out there so that others can see how great it feels to do things for themselves. It feels good to quietly think to myself "What a good life I have."

FINALLY!

Nothing has twitterpated my heart like looking through the old antique window, through chicken wire, and into a chicken coop with my bustling little gals checking out their new digs. The first attempt at getting the girls moved into their new coop was a big FAIL! We didn't have the window in yet and I thought it would be fine since it felt so nice out. About 3:30 am a nasty storm rolled through which jolted me out of my slumber. In my pjs, I flew outside to find 3 of my 7 girls soaking wet, including Ziggy-138, my runt. I scooped them up, and with Hubby standing at the door for a hand-off, ran them inside back to their brooder. It was kind of comical because most of them were sleeping so soundly that they didn't really even wake up. I know they probably would have been fine, but I didn't want to take the chance. I love my girls. Last night we tried again. The girls settled down in a pile to go to sleep. I went out to check on them early this morning and they were stretching and scratching about--happy as can be. And, speaking of Happy, our pooch, he is doing quite well with them. I don't think they'll ever have an encounter that isn't separated by 4" and two layers of chicken wire, but he didn't bark all night and that's a good thing!

They grow up so fast...

The girls are about 4 weeks old now and getting bigger everyday. I took them out for a little adventure in the yard yesterday. They were quite pleased. Chicks learning to be chickens are the funniest things ever. They scratched at the grass; hopped and chased at everything that moved; ate some clover grass. My girls are ready to be outside full time. The coop is almost ready for them. Hubby is doing such an amazing job. We will hopefully be painting tonight.

A few garden updates...
The potatoes are flowering already
Beans are half-way up their tower
Spinach not doing so well
May bet one or two tomatoes from the ones I started...out of about 50 plants (unhappy face)


I also had my first attempt at making jelly last week. FAIL. The strawberry jelly wasn't too bad, but it was more like strawberry jello that hadn't quite set up yet. The strawberry-blackberry jam was waaaaaaaaayyyy too sugary. Those were both uncooked methods. I don't think I shall be trying that again. I'm hoping to get some canning equipment this week to do some real stuff like for green beans and tomatoes. Can't wait! I also spent some time talking to a nice man at the farmers' market about working on his bee farm. I want to get used to being around them and hopefully I'll get comfortable enough to make the jump and get a hive of my own.

Horses...

Today I heard my heartbeat for the first time. It galloped. Horses have always amazed me. Although I've had very few close-up encounters, their grace and peacefulness pour through me whenever I do get the chance to be near them. Sophia and I got the chance today. She is a "no fear" child and has no problem walking up to and taking on the challenge that is a giant horse.(compared to her) A recent addition, Ms Hadley, to our family has extended our happy little circle to include a few more wonderful people who have three of their own horses. They were generous enough to let us come out to see them. We were smitten. Sophia couldn't wait to ride one. It was amusing to see how calm she was when riding. She looked like she was in a daze. Jenna, Hadley's other new auntie, rode for awhile with Sophia and then let Sophia ride by herself for a bit. Then, they even let me take a ride. I was definitely not dressed for horseback riding, but honestly, I didn't care. I haven't been on a horse for about 15 years and couldn't wait to try it again. I was nervous. It was still great. Jenna showed us some tricks while riding and then took him for a run. The sound of his hooves hitting the ground...I could feel it...it felt like my heart beating. It was amazing. It choked me up. For the rest of the day, this is all I have thought about. It was all that Sophia talked about until she fell asleep on the couch! I am very thankful for today.

Cityscape to my right; garden to my left

Its been a long few weeks here and very eventful. Birthdays. Baby Showers. Chickens. Babies. Family *issues*. Its finally starting to slow down and I am beginning to enjoy Spring. I went outside after dark last night just to sit down and do some weeding in the garden. Its ridiculous out there--weed haven. My niece arrived on Saturday morning, not before keeping everyone of us up all night with anticipation. Well worth it though. Her momma did so awesome and she is B-E-A-utiful! Such a snugglebug. I love her.

The chickens are getting so big. Its been a week now and I swear they have almost doubled in size. My favorite one, which I have nicknamed Bertha because she is quite a bit larger than the other chicks, is really trying out those wings. She was actually on top of the waterer the other morning. Scary. Its been so rainy the past two weeks that Hubby and I are having trouble finishing the coop. Ziggy-138 has had a pasty booty since Day 2. She is also not growing as fast as the others which worries me because she really is a sweetheart. They still seem very content in their little brooder for now. I've been giving them little bits of shredded lettuce out of the garden to help supplement the store-bought mediocre crumbles. They attack it more than they eat it. I sit on a little stool and just watch them play. I love them.

I get a lot of questions at work. Mainly "What the *bleep* are you doing with chickens?" I don't mind. I like being the oddball/crazy one. They think that I'm wacko for having chickens, and knitting, and whatever else I do that isn't the norm for a 28 yr old. I love driving down my street, about to turn into my driveway, and seeing the Louisville skyline in my rearview. Then I pull into the driveway and see my garden and half-done chicken coop. Its kind of cool having the best of both worlds here. I do love this city.

They're here...

Today, after dropping off my little munchkin with her Mimi, I drove to the Post Office to pick up, quite possibly, the most precious things I have ever seen. The box could be heard as soon as I walked in the door. "Hi! My name is Adrienne Wilson. I'm here to pick up the peeping package." The guy still looked at me like I walked in with 3 heads. Apparently they don't get too much chicken traffic in el ghetto post office. Anyhoo. I got them home and into the brooder. Watched them run around, run into the side of the box, run into each other, hop, stretch, eat, drink, and literally fall over because they fell asleep standing up. I've spent a couple hours today just watching them. They are amazing and entertaining. I can't wait to see their adult feathers because they have beautiful markings even as chicks. The two solid yellows are the Buff Orpingtons, the white with grey specks is the Delware (currently named Ziggy-138, an offspring of Danzig), the black with white stripes is the Silver-Laced Wyandotte, the two with the tan sides and brown backs are the Easter Eggers, and the last little brown chick is the Partridge Plymouth Rock.

Captivated...

The only things habitual about me are breathing and changing the radio station every 2 minutes. That is, until last night. Last night, a banjo, fiddle, and a guitar stopped my finger dead in its tracks. Clean and fast. No digital effects. I pulled my car into the driveway, turned the car off, but kept the radio on. For 10 minutes I waited to find out who was making this wonderful music. Kentucky Sassafras. I ran into the house and pulled up my trusty itunes. Nothing. Yahoo! search...they have broken up. Enter sadness. The only thing left was an outdated webpage from 2008. I searched wfpk's website. Nothing. It was a special live radio show from one the first broadcasts from Kentucky Homefront. If nothing else, from this I found a spark for Bluegrass music and thinking about sneaking around and learning to play the fiddle. Which, actually is something I've always wanted to do...the violin anyway.

Today I got up, made breakfast, checked ebay for used books on sale, and played in the garden. Its going to be raining off and on for the next few days, so I thought I'd get a few seedlings transplanted...free water is awesome. I broke down and replaced a few of my *rip* roma tomato plants, some broccoli, and a few herbs. My pepper plants are just about ready to go into the ground. I'm pretty happy about that considering the ones I started from seed last year stayed 4" tall all season.

The rest of my day is going to be spent in a knitting class. YAY! I'm learning to knit hats in the round AND using different colors while doing so. I love knitting.

I've been doing a little contacting here and there. I'm trying to get more involved with my neighborhood and possibly helping with a little rejuvenation. Joining the Farmgirls has really helped me focus on making do with what you've got. And making what you've got into what you want. I want a farm. I can make bits and pieces of that happen here. I could be happy with a small urban farm. We'll see...

PRODUCTIVITY

Potatoes...planted
Shallots...planted
Spinach...doing well, thanks for asking

Lots going on these days in the garden. Hubby and I just planted a (sweetheart) cherry tree. I killed every single roma seedling I started. Built some new beds. Waiting on my chickens. What was that last one, you ask? Oh, the one before that one. Yeah. I killed them. Shocked and destroyed. Much like my hopes of canning those bright red ovals of spaghetti sauce happiness. It was a beautiful Spring morning. The romas were sitting innocently in their starter pods. I viciously grabbed some peat pots and potting soil, plopped each delicate seedling, pod-and-all, into the fresh dirt, horrifically watered them, and set them out in the sun to die. That's not exactly how that went down, but the end result was the same. Apparently after I set them outside after transplanting them, it got very windy. I'm guessing it was the equivalent of breaking some one's neck. They are gone. They were so healthy. It breaks my heart. Seriously. Now I have to BUY my seedlings and I'm a cheap-o. I'm really really giving it my best effort to start my plants from seeds. It just isn't working for me all that well. Grrr!

The sun is in my eyes!!!

I can't help it. I'm a morning person. I love morning sunshine. I love rainy mornings. I love foggy mornings. I love them all. I'm sitting here at the computer today with good coffee and the sun coming in through the blinds. Its so bright. I swear I can smell it. Early mornings give you an entire day of possibilities. To-do lists are born. (I say that like its a new calf on a farm) The only thing I like better than sitting here with the sun on my face is sitting in my veggie garden pulling weeds with the sun in my face and its not quite warm enough for that yet. I feel like I'm too young to really know how to slow down my life and enjoy it and to truly understand what happiness is, but I feel like I do. Knowing that Sophia is snuggled on the couch with her piggies and milk watching her favorite cartoon, Hubby is home from work and sleeping upstairs, and I'm here with my coffee...my heart is doing back flips. It seems like my family is always caught up in what someone else in our family is doing or saying. They think I'm stuck up because I don't come around much or partake in the *bashing* that goes on. Truth is, I just don't care and if they spent as much time looking at their own lives and understanding what would make them happy, they wouldn't have to put other people down just to make their lives look better. It makes me sad because they don't understand that.

Well, that was NOT garden talk. Moving on! All of my trays have sprouted and are doing well. I'm about to start a few more trays. I worked out in the garden this past week for awhile when it was warm. (ice on the front porch...ironically NOT cool!) Pulled weeds. Planned where stuff was going to go. Made top secret plans to infiltrate the side yard with a small pumpkin patch. (Hubby said don't touch that yard) Now that I've tackled a few sewing projects and I'm feeling slightly more confident that my sewing machine doesn't want me dead, I think I'm going to make me a few skirts for working out in the garden. I think they will look smashing with my blue boots from last year. I want the neighbors to think I'm totally bonkers...to see the real me! :-P Its the closest thing to a farm for now and I'm running with it. They just better be thankful that hoofed animals are illegal within city limits otherwise Linus, my fictional goat kid, would be struttin his stuff back there! I'm very reserved for my imagination. I'm just sayin!

Countdown to CHICKS

Hubby finally gave in and let me order the chicks a few weeks ago. They are due to ship the first week in May. (around the same time that my sis's baby is due...yikes) I can't wait. Sophia is already talking about them tickling her and peeping at her. We are "breaking ground" on the coop this weekend, weather permitting. I order 5 different breeds and 7 total chicks. Two Buff Orpingtons, two Americaunas, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, a Delaware (b/c hubby insisted on an all white chicken and this one has a little black mohawk as a chick--how appropriate), and a Partridge Plymouth rock. I think their colors will spice up my garden quite nicely. I keep daydreaming about sitting outside in the evening around the fire pit, knitting, watching my girls peck around for bugs.

Seed-Crazed

A few here...a few there...seeds. They're everywhere now. Every store. Catalogs. I buy them. Its a weakness. The potential. The planning. The planting. Watching as the little stem pushes its way up through the dirt and the two little leaves pop out of the shell of the seed. For three years I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to grow poppies. This year, as I carefully planted the seeds, I decided to try again. And, for the first time, they sprouted! I'm not good with flowers. I like to throw seeds into the ground and hope for the best. Flowers don't seem to care for that method, with the exception of sunflowers and zinnias. Those are always my "plan b's."

This is what is movin and groovin in my started trays:
Burpee
Bunching Scallions
Italian Parsley
Sweet Bell Pepper Mix
Organic Romas
Thyme
Genovese Basil
Baby's Leaf Spinach
Spearmint
Gaillardia "Goblin"
Butterfly Weed

Ferry-Morse
Dill
Jalapeno Peppers
Rosemary
Sweet Spanish Onions
Great Lakes Head Lettuce
Parris Island Cos Organic Romaine
Grand Rapids Leaf lettuce
Danvers Carrots (heirloom)
Poblano Peppers
Oregano
Organic Calabrese Broccoli

Tons of seeds still to start:
Black Turtle bush beans
Casper Pumpkins
Boston Pickling Cucumbers
Burpee Sunflower cutting mix
Spaghetti Squash
Canterbury Bells "Cups and Saucers"
Prizewinner Hybrid Giant Pumpkin
Babyboo mini white pumpkins
Lemon Bee Balm (heirloom)
Feverfew (heirloom)
Thai White Ribbed Eggplants (heirloom)
Moon & Stars Watermelons (heirloom)
Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelons (heirloom)
Hazelfield Farm Tomato (heirloom)
Cour di Bue Tomato (heirloom)
more to come...

I'm trying out a small herb garden for tea blends. The variety of pumpkins are mainly for Sophia. They were so neat to grow last year and she LOVES Halloween. I'm growing tons of extra lettuces because I'm hoping to be able to donate to a local soup kitchen.

I'm in HEAVEN

Its almost 8:30am. I've been up for awhile. Made some coffee. Fed my furry little sidekick, Happy. So far I've planted two trays, 72 pods each, of randomness-veggieness. Tons of sproutage going on. (the broccoli is my overachiever this year) I'm about to place another order with an heirloom seed company, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, mainly for herbs and special tomatoes that you can't find around here. In a nutshell, I'm in Heaven. The weather is starting to turn around finally and the sun has been peeking out almost everyday for a bit. I've got such big plans for my house and garden this year!! So much energy!!!

Joined the Sisterhood

My momma and I joined Maryjane's Farm sisterhood over the Holiday season. (link to the right) Its kind of a girl scouts for big girls! You can earn badges by doing different things like gardening, community service, and homesteading.
To date I have earned 5 beginner badges:
Stitching & Crafting: Knitting
Stitching & Crafting: Buttoned Up
Stitching & Crafting: Sew Easy
Make it Easy: In the Garden
Cleaning Up: Shopping Green

I'm making a tote bag to attach all of my badges to, kind of like the sash that girl scouts wear. Its fun and it suits my *goal-oriented* side very well. Some of the tasks to earn badges really push you to accomplish big things and to focus on your dreams. Never in my life have I been so focused and understanding on what really makes me happy and where I want my life to go.


"Even if it Breaks Your Heart" by Will Hoge

Way back on the radio dial
fire got lit inside a bright eyed child
Every note just wrapped around his soul
from steel guitar to Memphis all the way to rock and roll
Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol' guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart

Downtown where I used to wander
old enough to get there but too young to get inside
I would stand out on the sidewalk
listen to the music playing every Friday night
Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol' guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even it breaks your heart

Some dreams stay with you forever
drag you around and lead you back to where you were
Some dreams keep on getting better
Gotta keep believing if you wanna know for sure
Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol' guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart

And it does break my heart. This song is perfect. The longing to be on land surrounded by trees and chickens, hearing Sophia laughing and playing with little goats and appreciating life, its painful but its good and its my dream. It will take so much work and dreaming, but its possible and I will have it. No dream is unattainable if you're willing to work for it.

Just around the corner

First snowfall of the year

Knitted wool scarf. LOVE IT!!

My first homemade chicken soup! Back off sniffles!!

This is Sophia's "bunny cape" because she refuses to wear a scarf.

I made it from snuggly purple fleece.

The sun is starting to shine a little bit more. Every morning, while taking the birds their breakfast, I notice the fuzzy little buds on the trees are getting fatter. The seed catalogs have been pouring in. Spring is almost here. Its been a long winter with modest amounts of snow. I've been hibernating with my knitting needles and homemade pumpkin lattes. I've worked on my sewing skills (or lack thereof) and even took a few classes on it. My mom is progressing along quite well with her new found love of crafting. AND, the biggest and bestest news is that I'm going to be an auntie for the first time in less than two months. I've probably bitten off more than I can chew because while I'm planning my sissy's baby shower, I am also making baby Hadley's bedding. I'm really excited about it and I hope it turns out as good as it looks in my head. It means a lot to me that my sis would even let me attempt to make something like this for her. People think I make things myself because its cheaper, but honestly, I pour my heart into making things for people that I love, whether its a cake or a scarf or baby bedding. This winter has provided a lot of "firsts" for me as will this spring. I finally placed my order for my brooder supplies and preparing for my baby chicks to arrive. I found some chicken coop plans that will work perfectly for my yard and Hubby and I are going to build it together. This is going to be a very productive and good year. And, with any luck, Hubby will see how badly I need a laptop and get me one! I can't stand being in the office typing. Its no wonder that my blog posts are months apart. There is nothing inspiring me while sandwiched between desks and bookcases and file cabinets! Not to mention this chair is ridiculously uncomfortable! I should be outside in the sunshine, among my plants and chickens!

The quilt material for Baby Hadley

My first hand-sewn sewing project! !