Box Gardens Finished

Box number one.

Box number two.

Box one with marigold plants, sun flower, and zennia seeds.

Box two with sun flower seeds, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, parsley, and catnip.

Box two with tomato cages added,and after bunny damage. 

I love, love, love raised garden boxes!  It brings me great joy to watch things grow.  I cannot wait to use the fresh herbs, and spoil my cats with fresh catnip.  I am hoping the bunnies will leave the garden alone, after finding 2 tomatoes damaged, and 2 cucumbers nibbled on.  We have already started to see seeds sprouting. These boxes are going to be awesome!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Spring Plans

A long ago bloom.

Our neck of the woods is about to burst with color.  We have bought two garden boxes made of cedar to build.  I have big plans for them.  First we have to get past the threat of frost.  I have more plans than garden box, so I will have to temper myself.  I am eager to get them put together, perhaps this weekend.  Last weekend we had rain all day Saturday, and other plans for Sunday.

The Gold Finches have their new bright yellow spring coats.  I love watching them at the feeder outside my window.  I am so pleased that my dear children bought me a finch feeder last fall.  I am hoping for another bird feeder to find a home here for Mother's Day.  Maybe.

I have three planter boxes to fill with annuals.  Last year they added such constant color to our outside world.  I also have to replace the two cone flowers that did not make it over winter, sadly.  I am not sure what to replace them with at this point.  I also want to plant a butterfly bush in memory of my precious grandmother who passed away just before Christmas.

Besides the spring planting, I have a "new"table to spray paint for the deck.  I found it at a thrift store.  I have all the painting supplies, just waiting on the weather, again.  I am looking for some sturdy chairs or we may use what we have.  They are not intended to be kept outdoors, so we would have to bring them out when we want them.

I so love this time of the year! I love taking care of all that the Lord has given to me around my home.  I am so thankful.

Start Where You Are

I love this quote!  It can apply to so many areas of my life.  I strive to use what I have and do what I can do. Right now I have some areas in my home that need my attention.  I have purged on a regular basis, but am needing to purge even more, I think.  We did get rid of our garage refrigerator.  That was hard.  We buy a lot of food for five people each week, but it was getting old and didn't keep things frozen during the winter months.  Still it was nice to have the refrigerator side working for extras.  We are not planning to buy another one.  I worked hard to get some organizing of our kitchen refrigerator done.  It is looking great.  It is still a squeeze, but doable.  And I like having a less cluttered garage.  It is always a work in progress in there.

Found Treasure

This past week, I went to three thrift stores looking for spring shirts for my boys.  I found a little more!  I really enjoy thrift stores.  But you do have to go with an open mind, and be prepared to hunt for what you need at several stores.  I usually tack on a thrift store outing with another errand, so that I am not wasting gas.  I regret the early days of my marriage when I thought thrift stores were tacky.  Oh the money I threw away!!!

Hodge Podge

These three pictures that I saw on Facebook really spoke to me,so I thought I'd share them here.

I love, love, love chickens!!

This old house has everything I like, a porch, symmetry, and a tin roof.  Amazing that it is left to rot.  

Quotes From The Prairie

I just finished reading, Little Town on the Prairie, and The Long Winter.  I am currently reading These Happy Golden Years, all by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I just love the wisdom from these books.  So, as I read, I jotted down in a notebook the following:

• "This life is a battle," said Ma.  "If it isn't one thing to contend with, it's another.  It always has been so, and it always will be.  The sooner you make up your mind to that, the better off you are, and the more thankful for your pleasures."
• "There's no great loss without some small gain."
• "We must not tempt Providence!"
• "Modulate your voice, Laura," Ma said gently. "Remember, 'Her voice was ever gentle, low, soft, and excellent thing in a woman." (Shakespeare, King Lear) 
• "Least said, soonest mended."
• "Nobody knows what will happen,"Pa said.  "Prepare for the worst and then you've some grounds to hope for the best, that's all you can do." 
• "Lost, between sunrise and sunset, one golden hour, set with sixty diamond minutes.  No reward is offered, for it is gone forever."  Horace Mann