Grounded

Middle of May in northern Colorado.

The winter deadfall has been cleaned out of the yard (finally), and the early blooms are going strong.  There are enough for a fun bouquet for the kitchen table.

A seed display at the hardware store sucked me in a few months ago. I planted a few things indoors, and even planted some directly outside.  Well guess what.  Mother Nature winning!

Peas

Lettuce

carrots

While my shorter iris were blooming when I got home from my trip, Silverado, my consistent first bloomer, opened May 15th with a perfect bloom, under cloudy skies and rain drops.

And we may have a tenant in one of the birdhouses.

I can believe that I am going to be sitting on my patio after riding home from work on my bike by the end of the month.

Holiday Post-Mortem

December is done and past, and the holiday trifecta of T-day, Xmas, and NewYears is over.  I didn’t think I ate too much, and thank goodness I practiced moderation, because the scales tell me I ate plenty.  The décor (inside) is down and stored. That’s my part.  Outside (The Guy’s part) will wait for the temps to rise.

We celebrated Christmas in Utah, instead of New Years, opening gifts with the Middle Daughter and Fam.  We ate Christmas dinner with Dearest Sister and Car Guy in their Tote-er Home at the KOA.  It was the VIP KOA…all upscale RV-in', doncha’ know!

New Year’s Ever brought the local Grandbebes over for another sleepover, and silver dollar pancakes for breakfast.  I think it was another good experience for everyone involved. It is believed the girlies looked forward to coming over, and were sorry to leave.

And now with the solstice behind me, I can’t help it…I look toward spring.

Which is crazy, because there are more months to the last freeze of winter than from the first hard freeze last fall, but I can’t help it.  I look forward to the backyard thawing and green shoots and warm earth!  We have only had our first real snowfall of the season and my north lying backyard will likely be covered with the white stuff for weeks, and I won’t venture out there for at least that long…so yeah…crazy talk.  And it’s still dark at 5 PM.

But the promise is there.  It’s a new year, and spring is on the horizon.  It’s a ways away, but still...it's coming.

I am thinking of starting seedlings in the basement with grow lights this year.  That might hurry it up just a mite.

Remains of the Season

Cool nights and warm days, even if the warm days bring no rain, give a certain vibrancy to my yard. While much is way past prime, some blooms are coming out fresh and bright and worthy of the camera.

The asters just started opening this past weekend. I am looking and watching for just the right time to cut them. All the dried flowers in the house (that have been there for…ummm…some years) are being replaced this year.

I didn’t get as much monarda cut as I wanted. After I made my first ‘harvest’, I saw how much the hummingbird was liking it, so I let it go. I am a sucker for the wild things. Hopefully there will be enough asters to compensate.

Or maybe I will just have empty vessels. Because the old stuff is leaving! It is time. Past time!

Fall Is Coming

School buses are on the road. Kids are on the bike path early with bikes, skateboards, and backpacks. The sun’s angle is just a bit different, and it is rising later each day. And setting earlier, too.

And I just harvested my first two tomatoes last week. This picture is whackadoo!

Also not really so comfortable for me.

I know. I know. There are plenty of warm days to come. This past weekend was in the 90's and H.O.T! I am planning to clear my bike-riding miles goal with no problem. However. Today and tomorrow? Ju-u-ust a bit…not…warm, with a hint of the change of the season.

And I am not ready.

I am really really glad I am not suffering with a month of 100 degree (and humid) temps typical of the midwest (where I lived for many years of my life). And yet, it does not seem like my summer lasts quite long enough where I am living now.

Maybe it wouldn’t seem so bad if school held off until Labor Day, and the school supplies in stores were banned until after the first of August.

But. Since that isn’t going to happen, I better just buck up, and get ready. Aspens will be turning in a month.

No Matter What

There are still nippy days…

With chill winds…

But those days are fewer and farther between.

The signs are around.

Spring is coming.

What’s Going On

I have dishclothes with matchey matchey tribbles (for some). I have figured out the smaller skeins of Sugar and Cream (2.5 oz) have enough for a cloth and a trib. The larger ‘super saver’ skeins have enough for 2 cloths, but no tribs. But they still need sewing up...

Alpaca fleece update. Done spinning! Done Plying! I have ‘wanna be’ yarn. Four and half more skeins, for a total of 10 and half. Yardage: approx.(still uncalculated) (and not all left as I have already knitted 2 pr of socks.) All that remains is the twist to be set. Not yet finished...

I have a quilt for Granbebe Girl Two waiting patiently for my fleece to be finished. (I am coming, Quilty Two….soon, I promise!) Upon Dearest Sister’s visit (This weekend! Sister is coming this weekend!!!!) there will be cutting on Quilt Three. Agh. Further and further behind she falls…

I have made graduation cards, a wedding card, birthday cards, and two ‘thinking of you card’ in the past couple of weeks. Checked out the price of cards lately? Ka-ching! More money for fiber. Which is good, because I zoned on the need for Mother’s Day cards…

A quick trip to one lys which is having their semi-annual sale this (birthday) weekend provided some sock yarn, and the Estes Park Wool Market is coming up in June. I know, I know…blah blah blah…goals, knitting/spinning up stash....

The yard in shape, finally, little by little after dragging home from work. Still transitioning, I guess. Progress has been made there, and I am ready for some sitting, visiting and sipping of cool drinks while Dearest Sister is here.

Anyway, now the yard clean up is complete, and lookin’ good. Tomatoes are planted!

Pots are planted!

Other than the yard, I have a whole lotta’ of’near dones’, and that is trying for me. I like accomplishment! I like seeing something for my time! I am trying to be patient and cut myself some slack as I ease into this new place, new job, new routine, but ya know…the older I get, the longer it takes.

Seriously! Then, Bam! Eldest Daughter shows up! What a great surprise, and what schedule breaker…she may have to help me vacuum…

We are having everyone over for dinner tonight...

This is my happy month and it’s going before my very eyes, too swiftly for me to enjoy nary a moment, hardly at all. Woe is me.

So the long and short of it…the unread posts in my Reader pile up, and my own posts are fewer and further between. One might hope there would be more substance in the latter instance. One would be warned to not hold one’s breath.

Have I covered all the bases…unfinished goals, progress on the yard, smooth sailing at work, and a raggedy edged transition…and upcoming excitement with Dearest Sister’s visit.

PS I was reminded by Grandbebe Girl’s people at Mother’s Day breakfast, that Dearest Sister is traveling with Galaxie Guy. I am looking forward to seeing him, too. And they are not coming to just visit me. They are visiting Wonderful Guy, as well.

PPS Yeah right.

Spring?

This is from Snow #1

3/26/09

This is from Snow #2

4/4/09

On the upside, we need the moisture. We are way behind, and I don't want to do the rationing thing for watering the yard.

I made it to my lys and spent money like I am celebrating...which I am. I bought yarn for 40% off, getting ymmy stuff I have not bought because of the usual cost. Wait til you see. Oh, I already have photos! I am just pacing my posts....

Also, it is Grandbebe Girls birthday #2 and we are going to go celebrate.

Three Nights of Sub-Freezing Temps

Earlier pumpkin....

And the growing season is over. For me. Excuse me while I wipe away a tear…or two..or three.

To everything there is a season, and for a garden that is necessarily true. Doesn’t have to mean I have to like it, or like a growing season shorter by a few weeks than what I think is 'normal'.

This past weekend, and the last few days, have been really chilly and mostly cloudy, and my normally cheery outlook has taken a hit, I do believe.

A few days of sun and some temps in the hi 60’s, or even low 70's, and I will get the slimy leaves out of there, get things winterized and put to right.

I just need to get my routine adjusted. I need to get exercising back in the routine since bike riding seems to be a thing...to look forward to. Swimming at one of the city pools has an appeal for me. I have always enjoyed swimming. Our fair township has a number of pools, and after watching the Olympics, I am sort of stoked towards such an activity.

Today's Pumkin...

It’s only the middle of October. It’s not winter yet.

I wonder if this will be the year I get back on the skis.

And now for something completely different. Remember this? Well, Little Miss Phoebe is quite the internet star now, and there is simply no living with her! She's been featured on The Witless Wanderer and Bellgirl. Best Dog Ever and The Cat Who Would Be Queen say 'Whateva!'.