WoW #4

Try not to drop your laptops. Yup, an actual Whiskers on Wednesday... on Wednesday.

Too Old for This

Most of the seeds went in three weeks ago tomorrow. I thought all of my seeds were from 2007 and took a calculated risk that many would not germinate. At this point if it was going to come up, it would have, so I'm clearing the weeds to put in new seeds today. In the meantime, I found several sources with estimations on how long properly stored seeds should last. These seeds were anything but properly stored, and seeing as they didn't germinate I began to go through the stack to throw them away. Upon further examination, I saw half the seed packs were from 2004 with a few from 2001. I must have looked at the handful from 2007 and thought they were all together.

The fact that I missed these dates does not bother me. I checked a couple of dates and went ahead with the project rather than just sitting and waiting for it to be perfect or happen on its own. That is a good thing. What concerns me is that some of those seeds were transported from the house we sold to the rent house, half-way across the country to Virginia, back across to El Paso, back to the rent house here, then into the house we are in now. Packrat? Hoarder? Unrealistic dreamer? Completely unorganized? Those things frighten me. To be burdened with things that are useless. Pointless. There's a declutterin' a comin'. A big one.

Four planted beds and a potato box on March 24. All reclaimed lumber and no, none of it is treated. If you ignore the ugly chain link fence you can see two pear and two plum trees in the background. The fifth bed was planted later, and three more are waiting to be filled with soil. I need to relocate a couple of the beds for better light.

Yellow

First, a double date. It is definitely spring around here, and "love" is in the air.

Next, at the risk of inciting an earworm... well, you know where I am and what these are.The roses are reaching about five inches in diameter. We only have one red rose for now.Our blackberries are doing well. I'm already dreaming of cobbler.The rain has driven me inside today to tend to some long-neglected projects. If I get down to the yarn cave today I should have some fiber photos to share.

Tax Man

I thought a somewhat patriotic picture would be appropriate for paying taxes. The "I'd rather be knitting" quip has crossed my mind more than once today, but not as much as "I'd rather be weeding." It may sound strange, but it is an absolutely beautiful day and there is just something wonderfully satisfying in digging out those nasties by the roots.

The bags are reversible project bags I made for the Sisters of the Wool Ravelympics team. Yes, we had a knitting competition right along with the athletic competition. Four of us finished what we set out to do. I need to wash & block my hat before I show it off properly. I have "medals" that say "Captain," "Hat Half-Pipe," and "Designer Original Dance." Those are just clip art, but I did buy the pin with the same artwork and 2010 written on it.

Brief note on the homestead front: the vegetable garden is struggling a bit because there is too high of a clay content in our soil. As soon as the taxes are done I'll be working on a better mixture for the three boxes that were not planted, then fixing what we can on the first five. The potatoes that were planted on a lark from some store-bought fingerling potatoes (in red, white, and blue, of course!) are doing really well. I'll post a link to the design instructions for the potato box in a later post.

Two and a Half Months in a Nutshell

....hmmm... don't think I can do it. Not when it includes the biggest snowstorm in North Texas in decades AND the beginning of spring, along with knitting and the work we are doing around the homestead. But I need to start someplace!
Two months ago, this little female goldfinch was dodging snowflakes for a meal. (May be a warbler instead, this is quite the angle for identification!)
Last week, this little male goldfinch was showing off before heading north.
Yes, both were a bit uncooperative in posing. The sassy Carolina wren was a bit more cooperative.I need to make sure I catch the garbage truck this morning, so I will have to continue this later. Wherever you find yourself, enjoy the spring!