seeing green

Spent a solid bunch of minutes sitting on the porch last night and was restored with a feeling or rightness and wellness. Red-wing blackbirds are starting to sing and visit the feeders - I love them. Robins are picking around the fields too. The smell of soil and water and wind are all coming back full-force, and it fills me. Our first long winter in the country (since childhood) - we made it through warm-ish, dry, and happy.

Seed starting is starting to really get going. This weekend/next week, 8 weeks before the no frost date, I'll start the tomatoes and brassicas. Food-wise, peppers are starting to come up, eggplants still waiting, onions and chives are up, strawberries, rosemary, parsley.... Lots of flowers up too: pansies and lamb's ear (above photo), petunias, tansy, pink, russian sage, hyssop, catnip. So much more to come!

Nice things:
1. new ipod touch
2. how much i love D
3. peach tea
4. a good job
5. SPRING!!

in with the new

Tolerating the tail end of a cold that has had me worn out and coughing for the past two weeks. Taking it with stride tho, my first sickness of the winter, it was due. A little reminder as to how precious good health is... and how welcome spring will be. Finally, the snow is melting, the kindling is getting low, and the dog's happy to be out all day. Scarves more accessory than necessity. Can hear the ice cracking from the porch.

The extra hour ahead means I get to drive in twilight when going into the city, much preferred. It's a dreamy time of day-to-evening that adds quiet sparkle to my already cinematic drives through the countryside.

Have been working a lot - two projects to finish this month for work and lots of ideas for side-projects of my own. The latest and greatest thoughts have influenced the purchase of an ipod touch. Should be here this afternoon! What I'll use it for I'm not exactly sure, but for right now... research. Ahem. Funny because am fully aware of how much time I already spend on the computer (10hrs a day-ish), so adding another that lets me compute while not in front of the computer? Oh dear.

Nice things:
1. a box full of new seeds
2. halls cough drops
3. d's blueberry scones
4. visits with family
5. watching mo watch birds

valentine city

Pretty roses from my valentine. Am a lucky gal. So nice to have flowers in vases in the house... need to plan for ample cut flowers in the garden, tho so many pretty wildflowers around too. I don't know much about the cut-flower industry but curious about cut flower farms in Ontario and local flower shops that stock them.

Got my 2009 grow list somewhat figured out... a few things missing but nothing a seedy saturday can't fix!

Was in the big city this weekend for a band practice and D's band's last gig eva/Ancestors' 7" release. Very enjoyable. Old Toronto friends, head-banging, late night tea. Before that, a homemade mezza at J&N: falafel, stuffed grape leaves, bulgar salad, fried cheese, pita, and maple-walnut pie for dessert. MMM!

Nice things:
1. D's Burmese chickpea mash thing
2. a tow truck driven by nice retired dairy farmer
3. february almost being over
4. rock shows at sneaky dee's
5. norma's orchid collection

slowly turning pages

Quiet writing time... less words in the winter. Instead, energy goes into keeping warm, well fed, and fully rested, so that these cold cold months can pass with relative ease and calm.

Lots of tea, and a fire each morning. Lunch-time baths. Early to bed with an episode of something (six feet under, extras) or a gardening magazine. The pets full of energy in spurts, but mostly sleeping. Bundling up to fill the bird feeder, run around with the dog, wipe snow off the car, bring some more wood in.

Our first winter here, lovely... but so ready for spring!!!

Nice things:
1. james brown (music, not the man)
2. brownies
3. d's family
4. breakfast with jp & m
5. chickadees

rain in february

Love seeing the snow piles fade with today's +6C and rain. Once the rain stops, I'm going to finally walk down the road allowance with Whisk and see what the rest of our property looks like. It's ridiculous we haven't been to the end yet! - our last attempt was hindered by bear scare. Looking forward to seeing what we'll find tho guessing there won't be too many surprises, just more trees. Trees and trees and more beautiful trees.

Seed orders are coming in! Richters arrived this week and included the following:
Basil, Purple Delight
Basil, Mrs. Burns Lemon
Chamomile, German
Cucumber, Lemon
Savory, Summer
Spinach, Bloomsdale
Chives, Mauve Garlic
Strawberry, Alpine (not yet - on back order apparently)
Hyssop, Rose Nectar
Pink, Sweet

Going to start some of the perennial flowers tonight, to join the ones I started February 1st. Of those, pansies, lamb's ear, cat nip, and rosemary are up! C'mon spring!!