:: new garden bed ::

Caleb and I have been wanting to plant strawberries for a couple of years now. His mama has plants that we can have, but we just needed to find a suitable spot for them. There are only so many spots in our yard that get full sun, and we do have so many things that we want to plant! Saturday morning we decided to use the grass area outside of last year's garden for their plot. We imagined our spot with an extension cord :), and then got some upside-down marking paint for the final design. Caleb made it larger than we needed--for strawberries, perhaps, though not for all our plantationary imaginings, and maybe not even for strawberries if we want to can jam--and designed it to follow the pattern of the first, long and flowing. He's a talented designer.

In the afternoon we edged and cut out sod, in addition to the dirt and wood chip hauling that Caleb and Greta did in the bucket-loadie. Caleb's family came over to help us with the sod. There was a lot of it there! We did finish it all before night. Sunday afternoon then we had a chance to till and smooth it, working in the extra dirt that Caleb brought in. I love gardening with my man; we have such a good time.

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Greta Rosie slept soundly for her Sunday afternoon nap while Caleb and I finished tilling and raking. :).

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::'~ It rained yesterday and moistened the dirt to a lovely darkness. I was able to plant my little pussy willow--such a bright Springy green.
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Isn't it lovely?

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Other Monday doings...

~':: Greta and I made newspaper pots to start our seedlings in--a lovely idea from Mia's blog. Mia's blog is a thing of beauty. You must visit.

Greta turned out to be a first-rate planter pot filler. She is so careful. She fills them up nicely to the top, slowly so as not to spill the dirt all over, and pulls the roots and sticks out of the dirt so it's smooth. Then she lifts it into the tray where it's to go. She did over half a dozen of the one flat that I filled yesterday. Today I'll be planting lettuce and echinacea and such.

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::'~ Greta and Caleb planted grass seed in the evening.

(The johnny-jump-ups are blooming!)

Spring Piano Recitals

::'~ Olivia Grace -- 3.21.10 ~'::

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Greta loves the music.

Her fingers dance while she listens.

::'~ Leah -- 3.28.10 ~'::

Greta and her Daddy in the bucket-loadie

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Such favorite people of mine. We worked on a lot of landscaping things today. Caleb hauled dirt and wood chips from the city compost site. Greta got to ride with him in the payloader, the "bucket-loadie" according to her. It was very exciting. She was kind of scared of how big and loud it was at first, but was thrilled to be there once she was beside Daddy in her own little spot.

from the scrap bag ~'::

I recently received a box of fabric bits and pieces from my man's sister Leah. Thursday I brought out the treasures that I kept from it and was inspired to make some lovely bits to feather the nest with.

As soon as I saw the beautifully hand sewn bias-tape hemming on this piece of turquoise-blue gingham I knew that I wanted to try to keep it as such and in a place where I could enjoy it. I decided to make a little curtain for Greta's room at the top of the stairs. There was just enough of it between the worn places to make a sweet semi-straight valance. There was even white fabric with eyelet lace to make a petticoat for it. I am delighted with it!


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~'::

My other little project was a patchwork pillow for my bed. I loved the fabric bits, and I love them even more together. It was relaxing to have a bit of hand sewing to do in the evenings to finish it. My bedroom is all the more inviting because of it.

lemon cake

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lemon cake, lemon curd filling, lemon buttercream frosting

my idea of perfect...with coffee

(from 4.4.10)

Naptime

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Spring!

Greta and I have been enjoying the outdoors every day we can. On sunny days we hang laundry on the clothesline and work in the garden to get it ready for the plants. Last week we filled the birdbaths and leveled the garden beds and pulled the first weeds. We even got the raspberry patch cleaned and thinned. When Caleb comes home in the evening we haul dirt and take walks. Caleb even used his smoker for the first time last Saturday to make the most delicious smoked pork for Resurrection Sunday dinner with our families, and we had our first lunch on the patio.


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A real, live Spring flower!

::'~

When it's time for a snack we come inside and have tea and a quesadilla. :)

rainy afternoon and tea

Beautiful Sunrise

Picture taken by my wonderful man on his way to work last week.

He Is Risen!

::'~ Greta in her bee-yew-tiful new outfit, ready to walk to church with Caleb and me. From yesterday morning. ~'::