garden pruners for me!

When my Beloved was working with his teacher on learning to make blades, he bought me hand forged Japanese sewing scissors.  They have been the best.  They also make every other bladed tool I have seem like a second rate tool.

Last week, I came across a pair of Japanese hand forged garden pruners.  This was after working on the Teahouse and looking at what needed to be done in that corner of the yard.  I treated myself.  And I am so pleased!

I should really be on the computer for many hours today but it was a week of dealing with an application upgrade at work.  I do not wish to be on here long.  Instead, I ran errands, which I really did not wish to do either.  But I have all the materials now for another project, materials to try a new skill, and a way for me to get my boat around a little easier.  I also did a bit of grocery shopping and got to the libraries.  I am ready to sit and sew.  I get to empty those boxes!

And see the pretty flowers from my garden?  They were the first thing on that I used my pruners for.  And much prettier then anything I could buy.  Makes me very content.

having difficulties

I am having real difficulties coming back from the mountain this time.  So are Small Mister and my Beloved.  We lived outside while we were there and now we are back in the city.  Dealing with people, traffic, noise.  It does not help that we now have a trailer that sits on the mountain.  We do not have to worry about where to stay or how to get it to the top of the mountain.  I also now know we can take a rental car to the top if it is dry.  Craziness.  

I would have to say the best I have been these days back is when I was in the garden with Small Mister.  He was helping me with my fork.  I have plants and weeds to take out.  I found him a shovel his size.  He dug and fought plants and just had a gay old time.  When I am out there, he does not wander far.  He wishes to help and sometimes he does.  But there are other times there are battles to be fought or music to be played.  The noises that shovel makes!  I just wish I knew what he was imagining.

Today should be a day at the computer and errands.  There is not much to eat in the house.  But I am thinking it may be sewing, dough, dirt, mud, and libraries.  Things that help being in the city. 

I would make such a great hermit!

garden mishaps

Do you like Veronica?  I have seen it called both a broccoli and a cauliflower.  It looks similar to both when I fix it to roast but I have to admit that I like the fractal pattern best.  One of the best in nature.   I am excited that I am able to grow it, because if you can find it at the grocery store or farmer's market, it is pricey.  How hard is it to grow?  I threw the seeds into the garden.  It is about as hard as broccoli.  The only difficult part is not growing enough.  Need kale?  It just keeps multiplying.  

My vegetable garden had a small problem with a truck on Saturday.  One of my most beloved family members was not paying attention and took out the most beautiful broccoli plant while backing out of the driveway.  Some kale and chard were also maimed.  In the grand scheme of things, it is not a big deal.  But I am still having some problems dealing with the cleanup.  I was devastated.  A friend who understands about gardens said betrayal would be a good word.  He is right.  It also made me realize how tired I was.  I started crying and could not stop.  I went back to bed and fell asleep.  I woke up a bit a couple times and found I was still crying.  My body finally stopped reacting like that after about five hours.  A huge hint that I need to take better care of myself.  I am not the best about slowing down and taking care.

Small Mister and I will probably get back out in the garden again tomorrow.  I will dig a bit and he will help.  We will spread a few seeds.  He shows off to everyone the areas he has helped dig.  There is always more digging to be done. And he is a great cob dancer.  Maybe some cob dancing we go on too.

figs

I bought myself flowers again.  I just had too.  Life has been that busy.  I kept welcoming people to chaos on Saturday.  It was a good description.

At the farmer's market, I picked up some fig cuttings.  I am going to try to grow fig trees.  If they work, I am going to take more cuttings and start more trees.  They will go to Washington with us.

The farmer told me just to stick them in the dirt so I did.  Okay, they are pots but....  I am also trying the same with the rose bush I have in the backyard.  The on My Beloved says is taking over his forge.  But it smells so good.

And because it is cheaper then a bouquet, I bought myself a patio rose to enjoy.  I just need to be better about cutting the flowers I am growing.  I did cut a few zinnia yesterday and sprinkle the seeds of the ones I had let go to seed around the garden.  I can hope for more flowers.  I wish I grew flowers as well as I grow kale and romesco cauliflower!

the garden is growing!

I have been spending a lot of time in the garden.  Between getting beds ready, weeding, thinning, planting, the time just flies by.  I am surprised how many of the seeds have come up.  Every day I turn around and the plants just seem to get bigger!

When we thin the garden, we have been adding the greens to our meals.  My Beloved usually starts the day with a green smoothie.  He has been adding a handful of garden greens to it.

This weekend, I scrambled eggs with the thinned greens and green chili haberno salmon jerky.  Tasty!

It is just nice to know I can go to the garden and fill the salad bowl.  We finished the last of the store bought lettuce today.  It will be a while before we need to buy more.  I am hoping the broccoli will start to catch up.  I cheated and got some plants from the farmer's market.  I am trying not to be too overwhelmed with all the harvest at once, like the pumpkins!