new growth...

As the sun was topping the trees this morning, I was heading down the back stairs.  I wished that my phone camera was better, I would have loved to have captured a picture of the soft green haze peeking through the layer of straw.  It was absolutely beautiful.  I was heading down to check on the newest Elderberry tree and give all three of them a dose of fertilizer from the banana skins I had put in water. I love this time of year.  As I peeked around the fence I see the start of the zinnias and if they survive the first few weeks with all the deer and bunnies that part of my fence line should be beautiful! 

Yesterday morning, as I struggled through the fog of a very sleepless night, I checked on the radishes and realized that many were ready to harvest.  There are more to harvest today. I'm getting ready to plant more seeds so that we hopefully have at least one more harvest before the heat of summer.  We snacked on them throughout the day, savoring the sharp crispness that only comes from a fresh harvest.  These are the days I long to be able to move into the country, have a few acres to plant and harvest from, the days that I day dream like crazy, until I snap out of it. Sharply realizing that I do not have the energy to keep up with a couple of acres, that keeping up with pups, Hubs and a few raised boxes is more than enough. 

We picked up our new elderberry tree.  I am so excited to have it!  It's huge compared to my first year's that I planted in the fall.  Well, actually it's huge in general.  I was standing by it this morning as I gave it the banana fertilizer and realized it is already taller than I am.  Admittedly, I'm kind of short at 5'3", but the other two don't come to my knee yet. This is such a fun experience! After doing a bit of research into the variety they gave us, as I am so excited it is an American variety, although it is not a short variety, so I do hope I picked a good spot for it. I can't wait for the beautiful flowers of summer and the dark berries of autumn.

Ranch variety - will stay short

Bob Gordon variety
fairly short huge berries

hard to see with the trees in the back -
my newest one
Sambucus canadensis

The joy of a pickup!  They gave us the largest one.

Today will be a bit of catch up, yesterday was pretty much a blur.  I worked on the goat milk yogurt, yup... that was a fail.  I'm not sure the milk was fresh enough.  Maybe if I make it the day I bring it home it would be different, but neither of us cared for the taste or consistency.  Which is okay, because we love the cows milk yogurt. A quick dash to the store and I started another batch last night.  Discovering that with the timing, this might just be perfect, by 9:30 this morning it will be ready to be refrigerated to cool before draining.  By dinner time, it will be jarred and in the fridge.  I am still learning to time the different things I am working on. 

The other day I was weary, my muscles take a while to recover from hard activities and I had been pushing hard.  I simply didn't feel like climbing stairs or pushing the lawn mower (guess that will happen today).  

I have been staring at my spinning wheel a lot lately.  I've been mourning the lack of use, the fear I had that I might never use it again.  Struggling to have the courage to risk it.  The last time I seriously used it was before my knee replacement, the pain was unbelievable.  There have been moments off and on over the past few years that I have pulled it out, oiled it and tried.  All that trial and error did was frustrate me and create a mess.  I wasn't able to get the rhythm back that would create beautiful yarn.  Instead the tension was off, I had yards of over spun singles that were wrapping haphazardly around everything. 

All of this caused sadness and anxiety.  I have baskets of beautiful roving that have waited patiently for their turn to become a soft yarn.  I didn't know when or if I would ever try again.  As the day warmed and the pups and I decided it was time to stay inside and shut things down, I pulled it out again. 

The dust that swirled around me, was epic.  I was Disney bound!  That is what happens when you have two dogs that love the outdoors and no grass to speak of. At any rate, I was determined to get the rhythm back. A few false starts later and I was lost in the process.  So much so that three hours slid past.  If it hadn't been for the ache forming in my legs from the constant motion I would have probably finished up that entire skein of yarn.  It will probably happen today, after I catch up and the temperatures warm to a level I don't want to play in I will lose myself in creativity. 

I am also thinking of painting a few barn quilts to perk up the bland exterior in the backyard.  Not huge, although one on the front of the house would bring me joy, I am fairly positive my neighbors would welcome it with the same joy they welcomed the skeleton across the street. I am considering a few that are about 2x2 to hang on the gates and along the fence line where I didn't plant flowers.  Just enough that we could enjoy the beauty when we sit out on the lower patio in the evenings. 

Who knows... by now you've probably figured out that I have bigger dreams, plans and hopes than I possibly have hours in the day. 

Well, the heat is sneaking in, the yogurt has transferred to the fridge, so I need to get busy. We're heading to the mid 80's today, and I despise being hot.  I am never going to be a summer girl.  Which is why I get up early to garden and such. 

I hope today is filled with new and wonderful things.  I pray that everyone is finding their paths forward in these interesting times. 

love and prayers, b