Monday, Monday

 

Happy Monday!! Are you excited that this is the last week of January? I am sorta. When I went out for a walk this morning, I felt like it is the first time I have visited everything and noticed all of the surprises. My mind has been on such other things for so long, I could believe how much has changed. Not anything you would notice if you weren't looking.

Our Raywood Ash trees have all of these little green baby leaves on them. With these lovely little red buds.
I was so surprised to see this already. I have heard the meadowlarks for two weeks. A sure sign that a change is coming. You know they really sing so pretty when it is raining.

Artichoke

The artichoke is going crazy already. Have you ever read that verse that talks about "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself." I walk around and I see all of these plants, trees and bushes growing all by themselves. They just stay connected to the trunk, vine and root. I don't hear a single one saying, " I must grow fruit, or do I hear one saying, I am going to grow all on my own away from this root. 
Of course, which is what I do most of the time, I try to run off in my own direction, my own way and it isn't until I come back to the vine, because I have exhausted my hoard of resources.  You would think I would learn this by now. Life is so much smoother when I stay connected to the vinedresser. 

Large Nettle

 I couldn't believe all of the nettle that is already up this high. When I see nettle, my mouth waters. It only grows in areas that are high in iron. This time of year, I need iron. That is how I can tell. I know of no other tea that tastes as good to me as nettle tea. 

All of our mullein is growing too, I didn't take any pictures of that. That was what I always used when the kids were small if they had colds and coughs. It is an excellent expectorant. 

   I planted these in the fall. They are also good at a tea for colds and coughs. I have a herb book on my shelf that is full of recipes for different kinds of herbs for ways to treat different illnesses. Almost every recipe starts with Pot Marigolds. That is what they call these. 

Sweet Peas

 I had to show you how much my sweet peas are growing. I love seeing their little feelers out getting ready to start climbing. Here in California we have to plant sweet peas in the fall. It gets too hot for them by late May. Always on my birthday my favorite bouquet is sweet peas in a blue canning jar. 

Rug pattern by Cammie Bruce

 My rug for January. MY-ONLY-RUG! I hope to finish it this week so I can say I made something in January. Slacker that I am. It is so much fun to work with wool that I dyed myself and to do hearts this time of year. 

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments. I am so glad to be here in this place, right now.
Happy Monday!
  
~Kim~

The True way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.----Francoise de Motteville