Off To The Races

 

It is full on spring here in California. Last week, I was released from the doctor. I am already two weeks behind in spring training. Around here we call it spring training, because we begin our weekends before the sun is up and work until we drop. I was a little scared because I hadn't held a hula-hoe in my hand for quite a while. I was so encouraged though by the amount of work we accomplished. Now, moving was a different thing all together.

We managed to start seeds too. We have this lovely bathtub in our bathroom. We never use it. We decided that it would be a good place this year to start seeds. Ron went out to the wood pile and made this wonderful table. ( We use the shower because it is faster, it is that OCD thing you know.)

After our seeds are sprouted I will find some place to use this lovely table. It is just right up my alley.
I just love what he manages to come up with, out of that magic wood pile.

I just loved the way the pieces all match.

 

Here it is sitting in the bathtub. Those plants sitting there have been there since fall. They are the ones that can't stand the cold. He was able to save his pepper plants from the cold and when needed was able to pick them.

He brought in the heat mats and put the trays on them. I used to start seeds in my kitchen windows but I think this will work out better since almost all of these seeds are gourds. Gourds need a long growing season and we have wonderful plans for them.

We have one more seed tray to put on the end but I want to start some more tomatoes and peppers and I didn't order those kinds of seeds. Well, I got Ghost Chili Pepper seeds. They are the hottest pepper with a 1 million Scoville rating. The packet only came with 10 seeds. I also bought these tomatoes seeds called a Indigo Rose. They do look dark blue and red but I need big tomatoes. Lots more.

 

Last night Ron asked if I thought perhaps we had a problem with plants. I told him no, I didn't think so, we just don't know that many people who use their bathtub for growing plants.

This week our oldest grandsons will turn seven. The three oldest. They were born 3 days apart. Seven years ago when our Daughter-in-love went into the hospital to have the twins it was scary. I would ask that if you remember if you would hold her sister, Rachel up in prayer. She is pregnant with twin girls. The girls only weigh 2 pounds and they have put her in the hospital now until the babies will be born. They aren't due until May.

We also had two deaths in the family last week. I don't know why I ever expect March to be any different. It always comes in like a lion and tests us at every turn. I still love March though, and I am thankful that God always, always has a plan. He is always there in asking, " Will you trust me?"

Thank you for stopping by today,
~Kim~

 

 " Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
(Psalm 51:10)

Gardening Photos

I have been staring at pictures of gardens on Pinterest. I thought just for fun I would go around to my pictures and show you gardens from my past. This is our very first garden. I think we must have worked in it every waking moment. I froze and canned so much from this garden. We really didn't know much about it and we planted every thing we could think of that year. This was 2009

This was the garden of 2010. We grew so many cantaloupes that  every member of our family was sick to death of cantaloupe. Even the chickens would glare at me with, " Really more cantaloupe?"

In 2011 it changed a bit.

 I couldn't seem to stay caught up with it and I think at this time life was on fast forward and my heart wasn't into it. You can see how my mental processes affect my ability to keep weeds out of my garden.

In 2012 the heat was beginning to really take its toll on me and my eyes were starting to really bother me.

This one was the biggest of all and filled with so many different things but I was mainly growing flowers because as my sight was slipping away, bright colors really helped me stay sane.

Then we come to 2013 the biggest gardening flop of our short gardening life. Because we were busy with the wedding plans, we planted late. The only thing that did okay was the sunflowers. Well and the beets but that was it. I think I got five tomatoes.

I was able to keep it pretty much weed free, but not bug free. My life as an organic farmer changed, I tried to use Neem oil and soap suds and you name it and nothing helped. I finally gave up and pulled every thing out and decided that this year it will be back to a big garden. Though I haven't decided if I want it as big as the first one. I would like to grow more produce to can this year. I do love flowers though.

I love seeing my life through gardens. I have learned so much out here. Time began in a garden. I find that when I am in the garden, even working. Watching the world from here is the best place to be. I love watching the seasons change and even watching the weather. Being in a garden, life just slows down and what matters becomes so simple.

Have a lovely Friday. I have found out lots about Fields of Dreams looking back through these pictures. Dreams are lots of work and they don't just happen. If I want something I better work for it.

~Kim~

"You saved me once, and what is given is always returned. We are in this world to help one another.
---The Adventures of Pinocchio---C.Collodi,1883

Wonderful Wednesday!

 

Do you ever wake up and the first thought is, I am so glad I am alive? I admit until I had my eye fixed I didn't feel that way at all. My thought then would be I wonder how I will get through the day.
Well, I have my oldest silkie hen. I noticed that she seemed to be pulling away, and just standing in the corner and not eating and as I watched her I realized her little fuzzy top knot had grown so much during the winter she couldn't see.

I went back in the house and grabbed some scissors. Never mind that I hadn't figured out how was I going to grab a chicken, hold her in my arms and give her a haircut. I chased her and got her pinned in a corner and picked her up and I could feel how skinny she had become. I kind of put her under my arm and then very carefully started trimming her top knot. Silkie chicken feathers are more like down. So as I trimmed the air was white with these little flowers. Like dandelion puffs.

 

 I trimmed as carefully as I could until now she looks like I shaved her head. The funny thing as I put her down she started eating like she was starving to death. Right away her old bossy self was back and into her eyes came the look like she was back in the saddle again. I stood and watched her and thought to myself that is just the way I feel. I know you will get tired of this but I am alive again. I never knew I was gone. I feel so much like the second movie of Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.  Gandalf to Theoden,
" I bid you come out before your doors and look abroad. Too long have you sat in the shadows."

 

I just find even the grass and the weeds and the color of different greens. I had forgot the shades of green and the different shapes of clouds and watching the birds and watching as they fly. There is this hummingbird that makes this sound. Kind of like sawing through wood. He sits in the tops of the trees and makes it and I sat and was finally able to see him.

I sewed yesterday, and to be able to see the fabric and the colors and my needle, just amazes me. The headaches are gone as well. I had about three migraines a week before the surgery. You know how it is when you have one you just don't loose one day but at least two.

So yes, it is a wonderful Wednesday, a wonderful week.

Thank you for stopping by today,

~Kim~

"Surely it is cruel to cut down a very fine tree! Each dull, dead thud of the axe hurts
the little green fairy that lives in its heart."
---The Fairy Caravan---Beatrix Potter, 1929

Birds and Flowers

Do you remember way back before I had my eye surgery, I told you that I had prayed that the Flickers wouldn't leave until I could see them? Well, I got to see this one in my back yard. I managed to get a few shots of him through the window. My bird photography is rudimentary at best. I was so happy though.

 

 I was afraid he was going to get wise to that crazy woman with a camera, who was crawling all over the floor like a commando.

 

He was really trying to decide if he was going to stay around or just fly off. I turned away and what do I see hopping around by the swimming pool in the rain but robins. So I took some shots of them. These are the first robins I have seen this year. So that means officially spring is here,  I think.

 

I realized that  I have heard them in the trees but they had not as of yet decided to venture out into the yard until it was raining to get all of the wonderful earthworms we have in our yard.

 

This guy was by far the biggest and the most brave. He was all over the place inspecting everything.
That day in the yard I was so surprised to see all of the birds. We have such a big flock of doves now.
It is so fun  to see birds again. I just love to sit outside at dusk and watch all of the cattle egrets and ducks and the bats. The egrets and the ducks hurrying home and the bats waking up.

 

This weekend, it hit me that it was March. I had not as of yet ordered a single seed. I think I went crazy.
I think that I will finally reach my goal if I am not careful and have the whole 2 1/2 acres in garden. I ordered a bunch of different kinds of pumpkins. Warty, white, Cinderella, all colors of Jack be Littles
Now when I go to bed at night, I think about manure, and mulch and tomato plants.  Then lots of sunflowers. None yellow. I have yellow seeds. I still haven't got the food seeds I want. Like squash and eggplant and all of that. I find myself promising, I will remain weed free all summer. I will have the garden of my dreams. Do you think it odd that for my birthday, I asked Ron if he would go down to the lady at the end of the street and ask her to bring dump loads of horse manure she has out in front of her riding stables?  I can't think of anything else I would like more. Spring has hit me hard. I have finally lost it. :)

 

This is Cinnamon Sun,  I can't wait to see these again.  I didn't have a single seed of these so I had to order them.
Well, here we are at Monday. I hope yours is nice, and this is the last snowstorm for you all in the path of it today.

~Kim~

 

" Maybe it sounds peculiar to say that dirt is clean, but I think new-plowed dirt's the cleanest thing I know of."
---Miss Charity Comes to Stay---(Alberta Wilson Constant, 1959)

"You must have a garden wherever you are"
---Sarah, Plain and Tall---(Patrica MacLachlan,1985 )

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