What a Difference

Dear Mom,
Mother Nature finally managed to bless us with 6 consecutive days of sunshine. I cannot remember a more dismal spring- with November gray days, snow, rain, and wind chills. I was suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) symptoms in April! But what a difference a day or two of sunshine can make. It was still chilly (I was dressed in layers with a wool scarf and headband) but with the sun shining and John, Dear freshly returned from his annual checkup- blades sharpened and spark plugs sparking- I was finally able to get out and mow.

Spring is way behind schedule here on the cul-de-sac. I wander out seeking signs of new growth, buds, blossoms. I see the green spikes of my Lily of the Valley emerging, and the Trillium is up but hasn't bloomed. The redbud trees are just starting to bloom and the serviceberries look like they will any day now.  Early in April, feeling cheated of spring, I ordered 200 bulbs to plant this fall for next spring- If all goes according to plan I'll have drifts of siberian squill and snowdrops in the backyard borders.

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Today, I'll hang sheets to dry on the clothesline.

Tonight, we'll sleep on crisp sheets fragrant with spring sunshine.

The cold weather did allow me an opportunity to wear my most recently finished project. When I started this, I didn't imagine wearing it until late next autumn.

 This is Isager's Tokyo Shawl, in the dark colorway. Rather than knitting garter stitch borders as the pattern instructs, I worked an icord edge along with the body of the shawl so I could hide the yarn tails in the tube created by the icord. 

I've a pretty cardigan on my needles, which I will share as soon as there is something photo-worthy to share. And Donna Reed is getting dressed with a lovely dusty blue and white set of towels.

Off to enjoy the sunshine!

Love,

Kim

Back in Action

Dear Mom,
It stopped raining, the sun came out, and although a bit chillier than normal, I was able to mow the grass and get Peggy (my clothesline) back in action.

We'll have sweet dreams tonight. Drying sheets on the line is one of Life's Simple Pleasures.
Love,
Kim

Sprung

Dear Mom,
I can stop holding my breath.....I think Spring really is here.
Over the past couple of weeks I've searched hopefully for and rejoiced at each tulip and daffodil poking up through the earth; I've tried remembering what perennials were planted where and looked for them, too. But yesterday there were some undeniable signs that spring has arrived here on my patch of the cul-de-sac.

A chippy gobbling up seed.

Pussy willow catching the setting sun.

Forsythia in bloom!

We've been able to sleep with the windows cracked open and wake up listening to the birds.

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.

~ Thoreau

Love,

Kim

Temporary Insanity

Dear Mom,
It's that time of year when I go a little bit crazy. 

These.seeds.are.everywhere.

They are in the grass.

The driveway.

The patio.

The roof  (and soon they will be in the gutters).

Hello...they are in the chicken coop. 

And the chickens won't eat them!!

I am sitting on them.

And soon I will be pulling baby maple trees out of the garden.

These seeds are floating in the pond and glued to the rocks. 

I spied a chicken feather among the seeds clinging to the rocks...and it wasn't until I posted the picture that I realized a frog was sitting there too! 

I know this is a temporary condition.  We enjoy the shade the maple trees provide throughout the summer. 

But WHY do they have to drop SO MANY seeds?!?!

Love, Bonnie Jo

My Prince Charming

Dear Mom,
The appearance of frogs in the pond gladdens my heart!

Which one should I kiss?

Love, Bonnie Jo

Yesterday

Dear Mom,

After too many cold, wet days, we were treated to a beautiful, sunny, warm day yesterday. A good day to spend working in the yard, tending to the lawn and gardens, and remembering.

I always think about Daddy when I am mowing with his John Deere. Now my John, Dear. I remember the time he came out trying to help me figure out what was wrong with my old John Deere, which always worked just fine when he got on, started it up and whipped around my yard at lightening speed, giving me that look that was pretending to be irritated with me for the interruption but the sparkle in his eye, the tilt of his head and the barely concealed smile told me that he was really tickled with the situation and his dumbstruck daughter.

I moved some perennials and planted some new ones. I planted hollyhocks, foxglove, delphinium, shasta daisy, as well as a few that I was not familiar with but looked pretty: silene, soapwort and viola labrador. Now I just need to keep them watered and hope the bunnies don't eat them.

I weeded a bit and cleared up some of the dead stuff from around the perennials. I could spend the entire day today doing the same, but the inside is looking neglected. I need to find some balance. The weather is predicted to be nice through the weekend, so I should be able to manage keeping up with both, and still find time to sit on the porch with my knitting and enjoy it all.

Love,

Kim

Spring

Dear Mom,
I have been unusually busy these past few weeks. I have been weird busy. A photo shoot here, a knitting class there. Laundry, spring cleaning, taxes, knitting, ripping and reknitting a sweater for the store. We have had typical spring weather--busy in the yard between rain storms. We are enjoying magnolia blooms, crabapple blooms, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths. I am hanging laundry on the clothesline and then running out to rescue fresh laundry before the rain again. I am cleaning closets, changing over from winter to spring. Always a reminder that the kids are growing and I am shocked at how they have all outgrown so many things! A gentle nudging to enjoy them TODAY.
It is raining today--my favorite kind of rain. The kind of gentle, steady, all-day rain that feeds the new growth without threatening to blow anything away. I wanted to leave you with a beautiful pot of daisys; a thoughtful gift from a friend who knew I needed the sweet gesture. Now I am paying it forward--enjoy your pot of daisys today!
Love, Wendy

A Taste of Spring

Dear Mom,

Today, we were blessed with 70 degree weather. My garlic is coming up!

The frogs have made an appearance in our little pond.

We are planning our outdoor projects...like how to remove the tree that blew over in the winter wind storm. I even did some weeding, and started thinking about what to plant in the vegetable garden. The maple sap has stopped, which is another sign of spring on the horizon; the sap stops flowing when the trees are ready to bud! Rain is expected tonight and tomorrow, and the temperature will drop to the mid 40's again. The weather today was a blessing!

Love, Bonnie Jo