Coffee in the Flower Garden

It was time for a break in a full, check-list sort of day.

So I brewed coffee, splashed in whole milk, and headed out to the garden.

Delphinium are getting lovely, lilies are starting late, and so many more flowers are getting ready to enjoy the summer sunshine!

I also took time to sit on the swing while finishing my coffee, enjoying Annabelle hydrangeas turning white and a pink thunbergia climbing a trellis. Restful minutes!

Garden: Before & After

We got a little late start on the raised gardens this year, but they are coming along nicely!

First Step: Weeding. Before (above) and After (below):

Before... and After

Next Step: Digging and Amending Soil

Finally: Planting

Now: Watering and Growing!

Meanwhile: The asparagus patch has been feeding us and our friends well. We will stop picking any day now to let the plants store up strength for another year.

Hot & Cold Greenhouse Days

Greenhouse season is slowing down up north. But when helping out with plants, customers, and kids this year, we had a wide range of hot and cold days.

Hauling carts of vibrant colors was a treat after winter!

Little helpers...

Elsa's woolen bonnet design getting well used!

"Thunder Cake" Book Review

A little thunder, a little hail...

...and a good dose or two of rain suddenly turned our world green in early May!

• Lily of the Valley moving into the brick path •

• Wild Ginger •

But not everyone enjoys thunder as much as I do. Especially not little ones, which is why books like "Thunder Cake" by Patricia Palacco were written. (And why my sister got it for her kids!)

In a delightful way, the author teaches children that they can choose to do things even when they are scared... and that they don't actually need to be afraid of a sound.

We love this book's vivid artwork highlighting the author/artist's cultural background - especially her Babushka (Grandmother).

And when asked what was her favorite part of the book last week, my 3 year old neice said "the cat." Plus she likes the part where they are gathering the ingredient "milk" for baking a Thunder Cake.

▪︎ My little shadow and her big shadow ▪︎

Early March Blossoms

While the winter's snow melts in a warm spell, flowers are opening indoors!

This miniature orchid finally rebloomed after years of the plant limping along!

We are down to one reblooming amaryllis pot, but it is a beauty!

And that geranium cutting I showed in my previous post is brightening the kitchen.

Do you have any early March blossoms indoors or out? I'd love to hear in the comments below!
~ Hannah

Winter Joys

A clipping from last summer's geraniums is getting ready to bloom!

It is so neat to see tracks of various wildlife in the snow.

Our Valentine tulips from Mom & Dad brightened up winter days!

Mom's multi-year crochet project has an end in sight!

Pulling out old games has been fun and stimulating for occasional family game nights. Dad learned Mille Bornes when student teaching in Africa to wrap up his music degree, so he bought this once he got back home in the 70's.

January 2025

January 2025:

January held a few noteworthy activities for our family.

I got out cross-country skiing for my first time in years, and it felt amazing! A second time at the start of February was just as satisfying. I love this new (old) way to enjoy our 8 acres and surrounding fields in the fresh, cold air!

We ate the last tomatoes from our garden on January 25th... a record for us! They had been picked in hard and green before freeze-up last fall and slowly ripened in a box and then the window-sill through winter. They were even sprouting inside!

Though not like vine-ripened, these were certainly better than from a store. And they worked great in a Fiesta Salad with home-canned corn and beans.

Speaking of canned beans, this was also a first.

I finally tried the several day process I'd been dreaming of and sprouted black beans for extra digestibility, then pressure canned them for an easy protein to add to meals. They turned out delicious!

Elsa launched two new lines in our renamed Etsy shop: Heritage Woolen Co.

Her handknit, soft, woolen bonnets are a favorite with moms and littles alike!

And her new textured mitten design comes in the prettiest earthy colors! (limited edition)

Back to foods:

Mom made our first 2 crust pie (a challenge usually avoided in gluten-free baking) in about a decade. Delicious! 

And we are eating lots of fresh sprouts... courtesy of Elsa's diligence. 

After starting 2025 with a bang... playing Dutch Blitz with cousins at midnight (a family tradition neglected for many years past), we are on a roll!

We are keeping it up by pulling out old favorites for a weekly family game night. My Rummikub memories go back to before age 12 when we sat around Grandpa and Grandma's round dining room table and learned to plan complex moves!

While Nordic colorwork mitten designs for the Etsy shop keep clicking off my needles during family audiobook evenings, I make gifts for my stash on Sundays. This amigurumi zebra is the latest to make me smile.

And the 1 minute blind contour sketch I did of it makes me laugh!

If you haven't heard of this quick sketch practice, it involves looking only at the subject (never even glancing at the paper) and drawing in a continuous line without lifting the pen. A fun challenge!

And yes... I just noticed that this sketch was done in February. So starts a new month...

~ Hannah