May showers

 

It's raining, again seems to be May's theme.  These snapshots are in between the rains, outside and during them inside.  They say April Showers bring May flowers.  So what do May showers bring? Hopefully June vegetables.  The tomatoes, zucchini, butternut (must remember to remove pots from on top of them), cukes and potatoes all seem happy.  I do believe that when the sun finally makes an appearance, everything is going to explode.  The Herbs are all happy too.  

I have been going outside as much as possible to check on the gardens and the chickens (and chicks) in between storms.  There is mud, a lot of it.  Not to worry though, because soon it will be HOT and the wet cush of the spring will only be a memory.  

Inside during the storms I have found a lot of time to spend cleaning, rearranging and stripping beds (tackling laundry piles).  How about you? How are you spending these last few days of the month? How's your weather?  

the fourth spring

 

About four years ago, right around this time, I was at Kroger.

Out front, they had one of those seasonal plant displays — you know the kind, right alongside the overpriced ceramic pumpkins in the fall or all the beachy trinkets they roll out every summer.

Usually I walk right by that stuff.

The plants weren’t anything special.

But tucked in there, almost hidden, was a plastic bag with a small rose inside — labeled John Davis Climbing Rose.

I knew that rose. She’s a beauty.

I told myself no. I was there for groceries, not plants.

Got what I needed, went home, started putting everything away…

and I couldn’t stop thinking about that rose.

It was one of those moments where your gut doesn’t whisper — it shouts.

I googled the rose, read everything I could, and paced the backyard looking for a spot she might like.

I grabbed my keys and drove straight back.

And there she was, still waiting — one tiny green tendril poking out of that plastic bag.

This time, I didn’t hesitate.

I wasn’t there for groceries anymore.

I was there for her.

The advice said: don’t prune for the first three years.

Let her sprawl, climb, get wild.

I loved that idea — a little bit of feral tucked into the garden.

The first couple of years, she was shy.

The third year, she bloomed like she meant it.

And this spring, in year four, it was finally time to shape her a little — and wow, did she ever respond.

Now she’s nestled between the lilacs and the comfrey — full, wild, blooming like she’s always belonged here.

A small moment of listening, a few years of patience — and now, every time I walk outside in April, she reminds me.

When something calls to you:

buy the rose.

this week

Blueberry Smoothies Forever

                                                     Soap restock mailed to Home Place Pastures

Hutch Love

ESPRESSO FOREVER

                                                    Waiting for SPRING

                                    Naturally colored soap

                                                    3 out of 9 isn't great

                                            Herbal Infused oils for soap

                                            NEW Rosemary Dish SOAP

                                                More Coffee 
 

what we made

               Soap on the Winter Solstice 

Solstice treats for the feathered ones. 

Peppermint Bark (more on that below)

 Cottage Pie.

          Lots of hot things in our mugs.

                    Cookies!

          Maple Nutmeg and Gingerbread 

            Dog Treats. 

Clay Ornaments. 

O Christmas Tree. 

M & M Bark.

1 Sock (ahem) 2 Pomanders.

Egg Salad Sandwiches. 

Chili and Cornbread. 

Paper Bag Stars. 

Finished a chicken started long ago. 

Started cutting squares for a quilt... 

We have been busy welcoming 2025 and everyone is now back to school and work.  I was MIA on the blog over Christmas.  I really hadn't planned to be away for so long, but life gets so full sometimes.  I thought I would update with a little recap of a few of what we made. 

We made our annual Peppermint Bark, from here. We gifted some and kept some and topped coffees and hot chocolate.  It is SO good.  December, year ending and January, year beginning has been a good and nice time full of making. 

I hope you had wonderful holidays!

~tina