The cold weather and snow storms got me thinking about spring. Of course I thought about planting. Doesn’t everybody?
I had some help preparing the garden plot last year. Here’s one of my helpers with her pink shovel, a shovel that belonged to La Petite when she was about this size.
Have shovel, will travel!
We put her in charge of uprooting the dandelions and feeding some of them to Buttercup. Bunny was very happy.
An encore presentation: it’s all still true. I just got back from a short shopping trip that included Half Price Books and a local dollar store. I can finish the wrapping now.
Folks, you know me. You know I gave up buying wrapping paper several years ago. You know I plan ahead for gift shopping because of all the birthdays that mingle with Christmas. You know I love Christmas music and listen to it – well, I love to listen to holiday music, new or classic.
But do you recall – of course you do. Creative wrapping, frugal gift planning, and finally, the shopping, take a little thought. And then, with a little thought and planning, the fun begins.
Thrift stores! By carefully perusing the racks, I have often found good buys on brand name and quality clothing. Lands’ End, GAP, Old Navy, and my favorite jeans just take a quick cycle through the wash and then look good as new – or better. Better how? Because they’re already worn in, but not worn out.
Thrift stores again – baskets. I enjoy filling baskets with my own canned goods for special people like extended family. My favorite place to find baskets? Goodwill and other thrift stores.
Stores that specialize in vintage. This angle requires good knowledge of the gift recipient. If you’re considering that rabbit fur coat that’s marked 20% off, you’d better avoid buying it for me or for La Petite. But if you see a lovely scarf or classic cameo pendant, go for it.
Stores full of repurposed and crafty pieces. There’s a shop near my workplace that sells wonderful creative and useful household pieces. I look at their wine cork frames and trivets and think “I could make these.” Then I realize no, I don’t have the time or the talent. I’ll buy it from someone who does have the time and talent.
And finally, last but never least, I thoroughly enjoy shopping at Fleet Farm. Don’t bother with Toyland; just stick to my standard departments. Friends and family know that they can buy anything for canning and preserving and I’ll be thrilled. They might even find gardening tools and toys there, despite the weather outside being frightful. We’ve also discovered that the foodstuffs designed for hunting or camping are also good pantry staples. Bear Creek soup mixes, anyone? Yum.
Chuck had a day off in exchange for working mega hours on the weekend. He seemed to feel he needed to accomplish a few things at home. I was at school, so he sent me this email.
What was that last one?
He sent me a picture.
Next thing I know, he’ll probably be feeding the little furry creatures.
Prepping for winter at the O.K. Chorale means – well, I’ll show you rather than tell you.
Firewood on the deck
Chuck moved the entire pile from beside the garage to the deck. This accomplishes two goals; it clears the side of the garage for our spring construction, and it moves the firewood closer to the house for the winter. I predict a few Packer Sundays next to a roaring fire. Cozy, eh?
last of the green onions
The mess in the colander is not seaweed, my friends. It’s the last of the walking onions. They started coming up again in the cool spell of August, and I pulled them as the autumn freeze approached. The bulbs, small though they are, went into the freezer. The greens boiled and simmered along with a little garlic for a delicious soup broth that never made it into the freezer. I used it up too soon.
Bunnies take shelter
The ceramic bunnies are huddling with a souvenir cup, ready for snow. As ready as they can be, I guess. See you next spring, little bunnies.
Actual Text Messages:
Chuck: There’s a bunny in your garden right now. Want me to chase it away?
Daisy: Yes, please. Take a picture if you can.
Chuck strode out to the garden, phone camera in hand, and got a big surprise.
Chuck: It’s a regular wildlife sanctuary back there. 1 chipmunk, 1 mourning dove, 2 bunnies, small flock of blackbirds. Sorry, no pics.
No wonder I’m hardly getting any beans. Come on, critters. Leave the family vegetables alone!
Bunnies coming out after winter
That’s more like it.
My signs of spring may differ from yours. I’ll share a few.
Picnic table
The picnic table is an island of ground surrounded by snow. In an ocean of snow? No, not that much. Maybe a Great Lake.
Grilling time!
Chuck finished the taxes yesterday! He is celebrating by getting out the grill. Pay no attention to that pile of snow behind the grill! We are starting up the charcoal and having steaks for supper.
Peek!
Closer to the house, a bunny peeks out to see the sun. It’s a ceramic bunny, not a fuzzy one, but it’s still a hint that the ground may be ready for planting sometime. Oh, and I now see where I “stored” the last batch of walking onion bulbs.
Readers, what are signs of spring at your abode?
My cards have mainly fit into two categories: Bunnies and Flowers, including my favorite, daisies.
Bunnies!
Daisies and Flowers!
And a third theme, the one already represented on my fireplace mantel — snowmen.
Snowman!
The snowman has a little surprise in store. Snow-buddy represents two of the major food groups:
Chocolate and Coffee.
You were thinking vegetables and protein? You make me laugh. But the final picture made me smile. Enjoy.
This guarantees that I will smile and get better.
Was it Erma Bombeck? I think she was the one who proclaimed that a woman’s car is an extension of her purse. I was driving La Petite’s car for a few days, and it was definitely Her Car, not mine.
Sunglasses in the Saturn!
It seems a photographer in her twenties must have available at all times a suitable selection of sunglasses. So – will it work for me?
One!
Two!
Three!
And one more —
Last pair, maybe
I asked if she needed any of these. Her response was classic. “No, it’s okay, I have spares.”
Ah, yes. My very own sunglasses are still the best for me.
But I do kind of like the bobblehead bunny in the back.
Bunny!
Maybe my minivan needs a bunny. What do you think?
I’ve brought herbs inside for the last few winters. They don’t always do well indoors in this cold climate. This year’s herb collection is doing well on the deck – so well that I’m attempting the process of drying and crushing and storing herbs. I’ve tried two different locations in the house for drying. So far, the attic is winning out. The basil didn’t fully dry, though, even after hanging for about a week and a half. I ended up putting the basil (and its friends oregano and cilantro) in the oven on a low heat setting for about 20 minutes. At that point, I could pick up a leaf and crumble it.
The fun part was playing with my new kitchen toy: a ceramic mortar and pestle set. The set is rather pretty, and it grinds nicely. See how it works!
Oregano!
Basil! Purple basil!
The poor rabbit, though. Little Krumpet, the tiny and very furry lion head rabbit, was upset when I tried to grind herbs in “her” room, the den. Maybe she didn’t like the overwhelming odor. Maybe the grinding sound was hard on her fuzzy bunny ears. Whatever it was, she kept thumping when I tried to grind.
You know me, readers. I relented and finished prepping herbs in the kitchen.