Happy Springeroo !!

A beautiful prelude to the beautiful season of rebirth.  Woke to an amazing 65 degrees at 7 AM ...outside the birds are singing and the skies are blue.  I was out back tending my small flock of chickens when I saw the bluejays and cardinals visiting the birdbath over to the side of the yard.  It's full of rainwater...pure and clean...a perfect beginning to their morning. Right now I can hear a seriously industrious woodpecker drilling away across the road and the squirrels are chittering their little hearts out.

 It's as if everyone knows that spring has sprung. lol  The clematis continues its climb  and the lilies have turned into huge clumps over night.  The Eqyptian walking onions have suddenly filled up their little area and yesterday I went out to see if I could cut enough kale to make Susan's (e-i-e-i-omg!) recipe for massaged kale salad...and the bed is overflowing with beautiful dark green baby kale.   Some not-so-baby...and all extremely delicious. And the salad, btw...was to die for !!

  It's really beautiful out there. Our windows have been open day and night for almost 2 weeks. The weather has been gorgeous...but I keep waiting for a freak snowstorm or something. lol  Somewhere I have a picture of the first day of spring where we had about 4 inches of snow!

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   Today I am going to rip this office apart and clean it and re-arrange some things. There's not a lot of room for anything major in here...it was originally a very small child's bedroom with a monstrous walk-in closet. (Which makes no sense to me, but....)  Now it is an office/meditation room with a monstrous walk-in pantry. The walls got painted last year a buttery yellow color and it's the haven for cats and blogger girls. lol  But it's gotten a little disheveled and is in dire need of a reno and massive cleaning/dusting. There are 3 tall bookcases in here that need culling and dusting and straightening...since there are about a hundred more books than there is really space for. Those cannot be relocated, as they are on the only solid wall in the room. There is an old black rocking chair that my husbands mother used with all 5 of her children (she died when he was 18, and he's the oldest) .  There is an old cabinet sewing machine that used to be the bird cage table, but is topped full of incense, Buddhas, prayer beads and flowers.  There is a long sofa table that my computer tower sits on (at one end of it) and the rest is full of crap. There is a metal file cabinet by the window that could easily trade places with the sofa table, and then it could go under the windows on the south wall. If I put it there it will become a "cats-laying-in-the-sun" table. But...that's okay too, I guess. lol  MAN...I'm getting myself motivated here!!!  (I'd better go lie down a minute....LOL)

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  There's a really nice station on satellite tv here that has all piano and guitar music. It's playing now, and it soothes my soul. I love instrumental music. I love classical music, but this is not that.  It's not so soothing that it makes me want to lie down and close my eyes either.  Once the work starts around here today, I may have to switch it to some more lively stuff. There are about 20 stations or more of every kind of music you could want. I always like reggae to work to...or salsa.  Both are on there.

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  Tonight after supper (and NCIS) the Irishman and I will start seeds. He wanted me to just go through and see which ones I want to start ahead of time. We bought a lot of seeds and so it will take some thinking. lol  Not squash, they grow too easily and too fast here. Direct seeding for them. I'm planting butternuts and maybe a yellow summer squash this year. I have 3 different kinds of tomatoes, including a Purple Cherokee, that I am very excited about. Those definitely will be started. And the Chinese cabbages too, I think. One packet of them for now and then another packet to plant for fall. I'll have to figure it out...I'm really glad he is taking more interest in things around here than he ever has. He was always peripherally involved, don't get me wrong. But the past year he has gotten a lot more excited about a lot more things. Yay! And he wants to be involved more...before he would let me do what I always do and then kinda come on the scene after the fact.  He also wants to start cooking more...and I suggested that he cook the meals on Sundays, since the other days he works and Friday we usually go out and Saturday is his day to spend doing his "thing"...hiking, playing music with his friend Jerry , etc.  I told him to think about what he wants to do and let me know what he needs and I would make sure he has the ingredients. He liked the idea and so we are set.  lol  We'll see how long it lasts....he's a pretty spoiled Irishman....

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  Okay. Time to turn this box off and get busy.  I'm going to be making bagels today too...almost half of the last batch got moldy because they were in the bread box instead of the fridge.  :(   And it turned into summer in March.  Sigh....interestingly, it's only the whole wheat that molded...the one plain flour bagel that was left did not... (yikes).

  Have a grand first day of spring everyone.  I'm itching to get going here....

Namaste.

Day 2 of Month 3.....

  My new Baker Creek catalog came today.  yeehaw!!

   We had a lovely supper tonight with 2 women friends who were intelligent lively conversationalists. They are basically city women. They had no idea about the whole Monsanto/GMO issue...and as we explained it all, they were dumbstruck.  The Irishman and I looked at each other and had that old married couple telepathic moment: How can anyone not know about this ???  It all leaves me wondering : is my own world so small that it doesn't occur to me that everything central to my life is not also central to everyone else's ??  lol  Oy vey.  But you can bet your bottom dollar that we schooled 'em...yes we did, sir !

   I delighted and amazed them with a supper of aglio y olio accompanied by a beautiful mixed salad of all organic  greens and veggies, and freshly made Italian bread. Then we had angel food cake and our sliced peaches and whipped cream  for dessert. It was heavenly. I love that pasta dish!  I used a whole head of garlic and simmered the thinly sliced pieces in about 2/3 cup of extra virgin organic olive oil. Tossed with thin spaghetti, fresh chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese.  Oh. My. God.  

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  It has been a crazy weather day around these parts. From a high yesterday of 65 to a morning of rain and hail and madness. Tornadoes whirling around us, but not close enough top notice. I let the dogs out for their last potty break of the night, and the cars are covered in a very thick frost.  The smart phone says it 36 degrees out there, but it sure feels colder...

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  Been on a spring cleaning frenzy that concluded today. Got all the curtains washed, the slipcovers...dog blankets (don't ask),  furniture vacuumed, floors cleaned....whew.  Did 5 loads of laundry yesterday and hung most of it outside on the line. So everything smelled really good.  Took things off my kitchen counters and scrubbed those, cleaned the microwave, and even the ceiling fans. Got most of my office cleaned up...desk calendar updated for March, bills paid and all the bookshelves dusted. Took the big kennel apart and put it in my car to return it to it's owner tomorrow.  Cleaned it up and cleaned all around where it was sitting.

  There's still stuff to do, but I'm not doing anymore for a few days. I'm tired.  lol

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   It's time for me to go to bed....spent a bit of time chatting with a friend who's having health issues  and now it's way past my bedtime.  But I'm trying to be more consistent about posting here and wanted to stop in and say something...anything....lol

  Going to my sisters tomorrow and we're going to lunch I guess...I don't know where we can eat that will have any decent vegetarian food.  She's  not a very...adventurous...eater.  And there's not a lot of places to go near where she lives. Oh well....we'll find someplace.

  And yes, Kristin---the Irishman and I are embarking on a vegetarian diet. About 2 weeks now, I guess...we were trying to finish off whatever meat we still had in the freezer first, but we're not eating  and there's still some left. It's been going quite well, actually....we've been eating several meatless meals a week for about a year now anyway...

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  I'm going to bed. And dream about heirloom vegetables and planting seeds and making my own way in the world, as much as I can.  Hope your dreams are sweet too!

Namaste.

MARCH ?? OMG--I can barely WALK !!

  Today is the beginning of spring cleaning month. LOL  I have great plans for this day, and it'll be interesting to see how much comes to fruition. As I know better than anyone..."[wo]Man makes plans, and God laughs."

  Generally the plan is to seriously attack the carpets and this office.  Regular old cleaning on the rest. But I do need to take down my sheers in the living room and wash those. They are full of cat and dog slobber and goo.  yuck.   We have a couple of lovely women coming for supper tomorrow night and so I have to get a certain amount of cleaning done anyway. I have an overflowing laundry basket and it's supposed to be in the 60's again, so I could hang the laundry out to dry on the line.  Yesterday would have been perfect--it was so windy all day you could have dried things in half an hour. Today --not so much. But warm and sunny, and that's good enough.  I can clean up the floors and get some general cleaning done and then tomorrow I'll only have to minimally clear up. because overnight, these dogs and this man can undo everything I have done, just by being here. That's just how it is.

  Still not sure what I'm fixing for the company.  They are not vegetarians, but would like to be. lol  So maybe I can wow'em with something that will give them the push they need.  Or not.  It's always fun to amaze people with food preparation...and it seems like the simpler it is, the more they like it. 

  I spent yesterday with my neighbor, so his wife could have a day out with friends and doing some good stuff for herself.  It was a nice, but long, day.  By the time I got home it was an hour before the Irishman got home from work and I had nothing made for supper. So--I fixed breakfast. With yummy potatoes full of onions and garlic and bell peppers, a couple of over easy eggs on top and english muffins.  It was satisfying and filling and delicious.  Problem solved.  I was going to fix omelets full of spinach and stuff....but at the last minute I just didn't have it in me to go that extra step.  And he certainly doesn't care. he is the easiest-going man I have ever met when it comes to feeding him. He will try anything once. he loves almost everything, and he never-ever-complains.  I am especially blessed.

  I think for supper tonight I'll just do an easy stir-fry. I can do all that at the last minute as I still have leftover quinoa. I have a block of tofu in there too...hmmm....Or maybe even cook some lentils.  sigh...the possibilities are endless  :)   BTW--I checked my blood pressure on my neighbors new fancy dancey bp cuff...it was 127/65.  Imagine that....

   It's shaping up to be a lovely day out there, so I'd better get going. Still chilly...37 degrees at 8 AM.  But it's sunny and clear and I am so ready to get the windows open again and let the fresh air blow through. I had them open all day yesterday--it was 50 degrees before 9 o'clock.  So, I'll get 'er opened up and clean some and enjoy this beautiful day...may even find the time to make a run into town and see my sister's new dog and pick up some things she has for me, as well as take the kennel back to the people who loaned it to us when we got Bella.  That will be a major deconstruction...and the cats are going to miss their spot to lay in front of the windows here in the office. I'll have to find them a replacement. lol  There are 3 of them up there right now...

  Alright, campers--get out there and have a good day.

  Are any of you starting your spring cleaning yet? (Your homes probably don't get like mine...8 cats and 4 dogs and a bird and a man....makes for some cleaning opportunities.)  Is it 19 days til spring??  Do I get to use all of those days to get it all done?  lol   Are there ANY rules regarding all this??   

  Glorious sunny days....hope you all have a good one.  

Namaste.

Mad as a March hare...

Always wondered what that meant...I should google it.  brb


Got it. apparently hares breed in the month of March and act all godawful crazy...much like humans. It's origins are in the UK (surprise!) from way back when. And that's all you really need to know.  LOL


LOOK!  Today is really the first day of spring and I can prove it...

The forsythia are blooming in the backyard!!!!

  Not only that,

But the lilies are coming up too!!  I was out walking around the back yard after feeding the chooks, and saw daffodills, crocuses and violets as well. Before long there'll be grass to mow and gardens to plant. I can't wait!  Our high today was 82. It's hot tonight too.


  I spent the better part of my morning doing all kinds of spring cleaning....even got the laundry done.  I hung rugs out over the porch rail to air out, vacuumed, dusted and generally had a darn productive day. Then I was off to MissB's at 2:30 and got home around 8:30.  I made granola bars for the irishman's lunches today and left them in the pan to cut when I got home. Big mistake. The waxed paper was practically welded to them. Sigh...Finally got them all wrapped and in the fridge and then cleaned up dishes and whatnot before retiring to my computer chair. (After watching Harry's Law)


  Once again I'm staying up later than I'd planned. The weather has all the animals crazy and nobody wants to come inside...arrgghhh....think I've got the majority of them in here. Maybe I can get moving towards my bed here in a minute.

  Got a call tonight from the husband of a friend...she's in jail, clearing up the wreckage of her past. He sounded terrible and asked if I'd write a letter.  Of course I will. She's been sober almost 3 years, and this little thing right now is over 5 years old.  Makes me grateful to be sober and to have gotten through that "phase of my developement" a long time ago. Not saying I don't still have to make amends for things...just different things than I used to have to. And for quite a few years now, they haven't involved any jail time. Prayers and blessings for R-


  Okay...I'm on my way to meet up with the Sandman...Catch you on the upswing....


Namaste.

Monday, Funday....

Yeah...Funday...right. Not when you have 4 scheming little demons sucking the life outta you..
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These kittens are running and climbing and jumping everywhere. They are such fun to watch. It's exhausting too, trying to keep up after them. They aren't the least afraid of the dogs, and are climbing and batting them and playing with their tails. What fun...they are 7 weeks old now and are eating kitten kibble mixed with canned kitten food, 2-3 times a day. Mama Kat cannot keep up with them. They are fat little roly poly things and extremely active.

I have had several women out here in the past week or so who haven't been to my house before. Spring is a beautiful time of year out here...the grounds are blanketed in violets and the little spring peepers. Lots of flowering trees up and down our road too. Daffodils and tulips, redbuds and that gorgeous new green of the willow trees. Hyacinths and Surprise lilies, forsythia and lilacs. The irises are about 3 inches tall now and the hollyhocks are getting a good start as well. All my daylilies are looking great, the Liatris is about an inch and a half high. One of my new sponsees is bringing me some old fashioned tiger lilies and some bearded irises (black and deep red!!!!) for my yard when she comes out Thursday. I've been looking for some tiger lilies...not so easy to find anymore. I don't know if they bred them into extinction in the process of creating day lilies or what. When I was a youngster growing up out here, they were everywhere.

I've been thinking about starting a big plant swap here locally. It could really be fun, and is a great way to get lots of diversity for your landscape at no charge. I'll need to research how you'd put one together so it could be organized enough to work. I'll keep you informed as to how it goes.

It's time for spring cleaning. If I could just get the motivation and energy on track I'd be alright. lol I have lots to do... just to get ready for the Gathering this summer. I also have to find the family reunion flyers I made and get them in the mail. awww.... I think I put them into my notebook that I keep all the park info in. It's always the first weekend in June. I already have all the pavillion and campsites booked and taken care of. It's the weekend before everyone comes here, so that will be a little hectic, but not too much. Just have to remember to breathe in and breathe out...lol

Enough rambling. Time for me to visit the Sandman...ZZzzzzzzz.......


Namaste.