Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring has definitely sprung...

It's gorgeous here, beautiful... breathtaking... the colors of pastel eggs in an Easter Basket all blooming at once.  In spite of watery eyes and sniffles, I so enjoy this time of year.  It was this kind of a spring day that Stephanie and I drove to Brimfield for their famous flea market, passing on the way the pinks and violets and lime green of a New England May... a later spring than we have in our part of the Midwest.

Driving into campus today reminded me of that spring day and the fun we had at the flea market.  A perfectly enjoyable day.  Almost worth the terrible airplane flight into Hartford for that visit... the same flight which made 1,000 miles of driving not so bad in October of last year.  :)

My venturing onto campus was necessary to borrow Christopher's car today.  I met my friend for coffee, the first long chat after a winter of not feeling so well.  Later, an hour was spent at my favorite nursery choosing a few veggies to plant tomorrow (lettuce, kale, and heirloom tomatoes) as well as two packages of heirloom seeds for string beans.

The unusually warm April weather has turned the nursery upside down with signs warning what to do if temperatures return below freezing.  It is much earlier than I would normally plant tomatoes but the heirloom varieties were already getting picked over.  Only a few herbs were available, most not ready for a couple of weeks. It's awfully warm to be planting the cold weather crops normally planted right now.  Go figure...

I picked up hubby for a trip to Menards.  I love Menards... not as much as a bookstore but close.  My father built houses for a living and my husband has a degree in wood technology (furniture engineering).  Our guests threw sawdust at our wedding instead of rice.  :)

Places like Menards have lumber and glue and hammers and nails and garden stuff and electrical stuff and plumbing and all kinds of things that could drive a creative person into a tizzy.  Sigh... we left with a new filter for the well, oil for the lawn mower, and wooden sticks to write what I'm planting tomorrow... particularly when planting seeds.

So, we will all do our best and carefully watch the expected low temperatures.  Tomorrow I will plant beans and tomatoes and "cold weather veggies" and one orange mint plant (thinking that had better go in a container?).  Hubby will build the remaining raised bed soon.  Hopefully in time to plant an herb garden and strawberries.

New life, the expectation that seeds planted will become heirloom green beans canned in August (or July this year?).  The remarkable miracle of seeds and tiny plantings growing into dinner someday.  Once again... the dream of Eden.  :)

Today I won't think of weeding or constant watering or making certain little furry creatures do not get past the fence.  That is for another day. 

Picture: Under the Sunflowers; allposters.com

7 comments:

Sallie@aquietsimplelife said...

It's been so warm here (Michigan) this spring that everything is about two weeks ahead. The poor planners at the Holland Tulip Festival must be beside themselves. They've already moved the festival up because every year the tulips were done before the start of the event. This year will be even worse. Many of my tulips are already blooming and the trees are leafing out. :-)

Kathy said...

Brenda, thanks for sharing. I love your blog!

I have just wrote a new post on Homemaking, and would love your thoughts and comments!

Christy said...

Hello Brenda - I've got that Spring Fever too! Isn't is so lovely? Hard to believe we were buried under snow not so long ago. Doing a lot of planting myself right now (and planning for more). Such a wonderful time, filled with promise and beauty. Thanks, as always, for a lovely post.

Sherri said...

Hi Brenda, have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

I visited the "best" greenhouse around these parts, but they are just sooooooooooooo expensive. But they do offer an extensive selection...but I will wait and actually purchase a few plants from one of the smaller greenhouses. LOVE to walk through a greenhouse even with my allergies. Stress buster for sure!

Scrappy quilter said...

WOW you're planting already. We won't be planting until at least May 21st and our tomatoes and flowers won't be planted until after June 1st. Hugs

Joy said...

Both my husband and I love Menards. We could stroll the aisles for quite awhile, it's inspiring--great ideas for the house or garden. You mentioned wooden stakes for plant markers? I have used old plastic slats from window blinds to mark plants. You can cut one end in a 'v' and that goes into the ground, the rounded edge up, and write on it in pencil, it does not wash off in the rain!