more starts

D. did a lot of searching, and then one day he drove the old truck up to Colorado, and drove home in a newer deal. So, we have a truck again--and a good-looking, reliable truck with all his wants, so that has been a happy thing. 

I've been going out to the garden plot, and basically just hanging out. I pull out weeds from time to time, but that's all I can do. I check on the little green bits of the sage, thyme & oregano popping up, and they are always just fine. So are the hollyhocks. The warming sun and the green grass popping up all over the place has given me some garden fever (and is giving the cat Spring Fever...in which she just spends her days plotting how to sneakily run outside.)

We dug up a little plot just by the house. This is where I'll throw flower seeds. The idea is that I'll have flowers to look at outside my windows. This will be a very happy thing.

We fashioned (well, not We really, it was D. who did all the fashioning) up a cold frame. I've planted some lettuce & spinach. This an experiment, but if it works, I'll have salad greens just outside my windows too. 

The best time of my week so far was spent down in the greenhouse. The landlord showed me where I could put my starts in amongst all of hers and our other neighbor. Inside the orange tree & lemon tree are blooming beautiful white & pink flowers...making a lovely scent, fully perfuming the air. Bees were happily at work, buzzing in the trees, occasionally zooming by me to see what I was up to, but always returned to their pollen opportunity. I planted dozens of starts...tomatoes, peppers, basil, cilantro, dill, marigolds, zinnias and statice. I'm sure I'll end up starting even more in a week or two. Getting seeds in dirt is always a soul satisfying experience. 

great things list #24

when the seedlings begin to pop up, a great thing each year.

april spring

book cover, Gwendolyn White, 1936

this morning was my first in feeling like Spring is truly on its way.

though we still get close to freezing at night, I've placed a few plants outside. so they may soak in the much missed sunshine.

and the seeds I started are starting to do things.

on Friday, I drove by a crowd on the lawn of Our Lady of Guadalupe (which is down the street from where I live). people dressed in dark respect, with heads down, praying. a few men holding a cross with the body of crucifixion. There, on that street, at la iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, a crowd has gathered to honor the days of Easter for 200 years.

it is the ceremony that catches me. that it is a time for people to come together. and the older I get, or maybe the further from home I am, it is that time of togetherness that gives me pause.

Spring, with its tiny budding plants and warmer air, its message of rebirth, is itself a Book for Happiness.

almost May

planted hollyhock seeds. which my grandpa gave to me. I adore the little white notes he wrote to label the seeds. I've planted them along the tallest part of my wooden fence. I can't wait to see them.

also sowed some morning glory seeds which my mother had collected for me. she discovered them growing up an elderly woman's fence. apparently, they are mini-morning glories.


















some of the basil has been moved outside. soon into bigger pots.

















wild violets. they are weeds, basically. growing everywhere in my yard. I've been digging up clumps and moving them to flower beds. because they are pretty & purple, weeds.

this past weekend I saw Kris Kristofferson play at the Orpheum. it was just him, his guitar and a harmonica. I felt a little overwhelmed by the idea that I was actually seeing him in person.

it is almost May. I have dresses to make my niece. and I'm feeling burdened by home ownership. and frankly, am once again, very uncertain about how to feel regarding my bday.

stormy may

our afternoons are sunny & warm, which give way to nightly storms. plenty of rain & firepower. so far, my little area of Kansas hasn't been rocked to hard. I'm not a Kansan that enjoys storms. they keep me awake & slightly nervous. but, they are amazing. in a terrifying way.

with the sun, comes bursting plants.
Sunday, finally put many things in the ground. two cherry & one grape tomato plant. the basil (Siam Queen Thai, is center in this photo) which I'd started from seed. marigolds. chives are perennial from last year. the green bushy thing in the background, is some mighty happy returning oregano.

I also sowed:
more Genovese basil
nasturtiums (Empress of India & Fordhook Favorites)
zinnias (Red Spider, Exquisite & State Fair Mix)
green beans (Kentucky Wonder)
globe amaranth (Strawberry Fields)

fun.

this huge iris is about to bloom. the bud is at least two fingers. the stalk is practically up to my chin. it looks like it will be a glorious white flower. I had transplanted some iris from mom's farm, and this must be one.

new

new growth. the basil seedlings, some now at a month-and a few days.















turkish rug. happily accepted from my stepmother. who felt she no longer had a place to display it. (of particular importance, is that she bought this while shopping with my best friend, in Istanbul) the Grey Kitty promptly showed her napping-approval. leaving a patch of fur.
some day it will be on a wood floor, in a newly painted white room. (when am I going to just take this project on? it hounds me)















lemon balm regrowth. (suggested as a must have last year by my friend t.)
it already looks triple the size it did when planted.















more signs of things I planted in the fall.















sprouts, from the compost in my garden bed.

also new, is that my little company has been purchased by a bigger one. and we now wait. to see what other new things this might bring.

this weekend I'll be acting as a delegate for our congressional district caucus. a new experience. with my new Obama tee.

--and, it is rainy here. which is good for everything growing outside. but makes my hair fuzzy.

--hoping that in 2-3 weeks. I'll be planting tomatoes. or, other new things...outside.

and finally yet most importantly new, my niece and her growing chunkiness & cuteness.

great things list #8.

when the sprouts show up.

(its been nine days since planting)

great things list #7

seed starting.

the sunny morning, got me inspired. I've not wanted to
do this on a cloudy, cranky day.

these are the beginnings of Basil. Genovese & Siam.

also. nervous about political events taking place today.
in Ohio & Texas.
damn politics. love it all, in a nail-biting way. here's hoping
what happens today, is what is best for all of us.

starting next week...

seed starting can begin.
plans for planting, have already begun.

from my notes, first the Gomphrena "Strawberry Fields"
and then, the basils. Genovese & Siam Queen. (so far)
(I'm wondering how fun it would be to also grow cinnamon basil, or lemon basil--might have to try that at mom's, since I've got limited growing space)

I simply can't wait. for the whole process to begin again.

little pots of dirt, soaking in sun on windowsills. sprouting.

seeds

in the winter, especially that horrid bout of February. when all is dead, and has been dead too long, one of my escapes is to dream of the garden I will one day plant.

Recently read about this at yougrowgirl.com, and am excited at the prospect of what is found in the Kitazawa catalog of asian seeds. I quickly ordered one...it is always fun to look beyond the world of Burpee. (Though, I spend much time poring over it too). Will stash it away until those darks days are here....

for now, am just waiting for all the rain to stop. So my plants full of green tomatoes, can begin to turn that lovely shade of red.

little jars

cleome, four o'clocks and dill.

flower seeds that mom saved in little jam & mustard jars--so that I may plant some this year.

with the warm, sunny weekend ahead. I have seeds a plantin' to do.

basil sprouts

little signs of what is to come.

wishing this blast of wintery weather we are having will leave soon.