Raining!

I've lost count now how many days of rain there have been...the chickens are up to their knees in the muck - poor things!

Everything is drenched and heavy with rain.  Even the bugs are clinging onto plants, where ever they can, just waiting for the sun to come out again.

 

Even this scary guy is fairly unmoving in the rain - I've never seen one like him before..he's so huge!

Everything in the greenhouse is ready to be planted outside - that's my project for Memorial Day if my back will permit me!

My pumpkins and squash are going into the bed where the chickens have been the past 4 years - the chickens are getting moved to a new bed on Monday.  I'm excited to see how their fertilized bed produces!

My boys brought this acorn to me.  It had a root sprouted so we planted it and it's very happy in the green house - our own little oak tree : )

Look at that seed structure, the way the stem comes up out of the root...totally awesome : )

Grey Stripe Knit Maxi Skirt

You just never know what you'll find at the Family Dollar Store!  They had a selection of knit maxi skirts there...I've seen them around and thought I might try one if I could find it for the right price : )  Let me tell you, they are sooo comfortable!  This one is so long it sweeps the ground, but I like that, especially on a rainy day, just relaxing at home..I can always do the old roll-the-waistband to raise up the hem a couple inches if I need to go outside.

This one was so comfy that I went and got an all black one that they had too...I may be headed back to get the turquoise stripe one too..if they still have my size.  But, this one is my favorite because of the asymmetrical bias cut pieces - love what that does to the stripes!

Opening the Shop!

I'm opening an Etsy shop!  I thought it was time to sell a few of my clothes that I've made/altered.  I've just started listing items and I have many more to add.  It will take me a few days just to get everything listed.  I've loved wearing these clothes, but it's time to pass them on to someone who will be able to get more use out of them and enjoy them.  I've installed a little Etsy widget on the sidebar here if you'd like to check it out.  I'm calling it Serophin Studio after my 6th Great Grandmother, Eva Serophin. 
Please, let me know if the Etsy Mini isn't working for some reason.  (Note: you won't see it if you have an add blocker installed on your machine.)
My goal is that someday this shop will be where I sell my own dress patterns, like the Olivia Walton dresses, and some of my own designs...I don't know when that day will come, but I hope it will be sooner rather than later!

Marzipan Bird

My friend, Sarah, made me this marzipan bird and delivered it on a nest of eggs (chocolate of course) with a pretty pot of flowers...I would have taken a picture of it - it was so pretty - but the boys and I couldn't resist having a little taste of it first ; )  At least you can see half of it here: a culinary work of art!

Magazine Cover Monday #12

 

Vogue July 15th 1916

I love gardening...I love the beauty of flowers and butterflies, the birdsong and sunshine, and the smell of  rich earth...  It's the one thing in my life that is constant.  Plants are always the same.  There are always weeds and pests to be vanquished.  There is always the joy of flowers blooming.  Sunshine, rain, snow, and drought...my garden pulls through them all!  A garden is a picture of the rewards of hard work - you cannot have one without the other : ) 

Potting Shed in Full Production!

 My garden shed/greenhouse is in full production - housing all the seedlings for the vegetable garden: tomatoes, sweet peppers, marigolds, cucumbers, squash and pumpkins, etc. The geraniums went out there first, at the beginning of April, to test out how it would work.  They did so well I moved the seedlings out there the beginning of May.

I brought out a little fan for air circulation and a "breeze" to strengthen the stems on my seedlings.  It averages 80's in the shed during the day and 40's at night.  I'm starting some perennials and more annuals now: delphinium, butterfly weed, poppies, zinnias, cleome, and nasturtiums.

Chocolate

Mmmm!  My Mother's day treat!  Chocolate Truffle Cake..so goood ; )

Pear Tree in Bloom