April Showers

Hi! Hope you are all hanging in there, and finding a positive way to get through this crazy time.
I've realized that I can burn up a day pretty easily.  One day I'll get up and get through my large list of things I want to get done and the next day is a complete write off. Lazy with a capital L. With all the highs and lows this time brings on, I'm thinking it's okay to take the time to recharge.  Even if I'm not going out or leaving our home base, there is a lot of information and energy  I need to process or reflect on and sometimes it can all be overwhelming.  I am honouring myself, allowing space, and finding peace.
I hope you are staying grounded too.

As the title shares for this post, we are having showers.  Okay we had showers....it's already cleared up.  Some would be content with that, but not I, I would love to have an afternoon of rain.  My garden would love it.  Nothing like rain water to encourage fresh growth.  Not to mention the seeds that have been planted....and I wouldn't feel guilty cross-stitching the day away.

Behind my little Buddha, in the blue pot I've planted bush bean and lettuce seeds.  I don't know how many flowers I'll end up planting, this year I am attempting to make do. It all depends on the germination of some left over seeds from last year.

At least I have my succulents, this wooden succulent bowl survived the winter beautifully. It's filled with chicks and hens, crystals, and a few stones picked up on a hikes. This will be their third summer!

I still can't plant too much in our zone yet, but the pea seeds are planted.
Down the side, in our veggie garden I've planted potatoes, and pushing my limitations, I've planted peas along side them.  These are bush peas, so we'll see how this works.

Waiting for the grass to get greener and the chives are already thriving! As well as my bulbs who are still growing by the minute....makes me question if we should keep the grass....

Back inside, I've finished my bird cross-stitch.

Most of my spring decor has been taken down and I'm moving summer in.

I am starting another little cross stitch.  Again, going with the 'make do' theme, I think these colours will work.  They are very close to the suggested colours so I'm going to give it a go.  That blue is popping up a lot in our house.  The fabric is coffee stained Irish linen.

I hope this finds you well and I wish you a day filled with exactly what you need!

Until next time, keep safe, and stay healthy,

Abby

April Garden

Last week snow, this week the bulbs are bursting out.  This is a great time of year.  Waiting for the first signs that these little guys survived the winter, and to see them push through the soil!  So proud and boastful.

At this point I usually make a little mental note of where I would like to plant more bulbs in the coming fall.  So excuse the repetitive photos of my barely flowering bulbs.  This will be my reminder and planting  grid for the coming planting season.

We also spent a day bringing in garden soil and mushroom manure.  Almost every year we top the whole yard with black gold.  But the black gold is sooooo messy.  We would spread a layer through out every garden bed and all over the grass.  You could literally watch the greens of the plants and grass get richer.  They loved it. But oh so messy.  This year I think I'll make a compost tea and water the grass with it. 

Before we started to fill the new raised beds with soil I did a little more digging and unearthed enough little boulders to finish all my pathway edging.  The pathway edges are recent,  with all the soil amendments that we`ve added over the years, it started spilling over the edges of the flower beds.  The rocks hold it all in, water and soil, and I love the cottage garden look it gives.

Below is a little view of how our garden has changed.  No waterfall, no creek or any sign of a vegetable before.  Now a cottage kitchen garden, at least that's what I'm hoping for.

Hyacinths are making their appearance.  

And then this happens.  I always seem to forget where I've planted my bulbs and I'm pretty sure there are more trying to push through the bottom of this pot.  I don't want to move the pot or it'll tear the roots off my thyme and lavender plants.  Darn.

The rhubarb has survived! That is a relief.  I was sure I did it in last summer, with all the division and transplanting and a slight bit of neglect.  I promise to do better Mr. Rhubarb!

Inside the seedlings are doing well.  I gave them a good soak of water with a tiny bit of fertilizer to strengthen them up.  

Tomatoes can be potted up again into good sized pots.  They seem to be right on time this year.
Amaranth and basil, peppers and kale, they should all be good for a bit.

Coleus!  Look at that colour, and such detail on their leaves.  I'll pot them up and thin them out as well.

On the cold and cloudy days I've been cross stitching.  I'm definitely a beginner and I get a huge amount of inspiration from Priscilla and Chelsea @ Priscilla and Chelsea .  Right now I am working on a summer stitch, I think this is about half way. It looks like it should be quick, but not for me!

I hope you are keeping well, and safe!
Until next time,
Abby

Farmhouse Raised Beds

It's April and the garden is slowly thawing out.

We had an above ground pool in the lower section of our garden, it was fun.  But I always felt so guilty wasting water, the use of chemicals and the electricity.  After much debate and discussion we have decided to change it up.  The pool will not go up, and in it's place some more raised beds.  We already have that area layered in pea gravel so no worries about lawn removal...we all know how fun that is! Pfft.   The pea gravel under the beds will be saved to fill up spots where pathways have thinned out or sunk into the dirt.

As the snow was melting it became obvious that there was a natural path we all were shovelling and so we followed that line, curving out the beds a bit.  Well not really, but with the two outside beds with angled ends, they create a curved look.  We pulled the pavers up and put them in front of each bed to reinforce a pathway.

BEFORE

 Then we woke to this:

Eventually, two days later, it finally melted and my husband was able to set the waterfall/creek up. Pure joy!

I've started seeds and  have even started to pot some up.  This window is south facing and receives a ton of sunshine, perfect for a make shift green house.  When it gets warmer outside I will pot up the starts and they'll go into bigger clear tubs on the back deck.  I've managed to use this system for a few years with great results.  Thanks to Larks Garden on You-Tube.

Tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, coleus, amaranth, and sage.  I think every seed I planted germinated! Seriously though, this is how a gardener survives the winters in this climate.

My flower afghan is now complete!  It was a lot of fun to make, although some days I just had to push through my quota.  I tried to complete at least three squares a day, most days that was pretty easy but not every day.  I love the results and I'm excited to start another!

It hasn't stayed on this bed, now it sits in the living room for some summer colour.   If anyone is interested in my pattern just comment below and I will try to accommodate. It's one I kind of made up and had a few trial and errors with based on afghans I have pinned on pinterest.

Take care, stay safe and healthy, until next time,
Abby