Updates On Lots Of Things

The previous post took me a couple of days to finish since I had forgotten to bring my camera and was waiting for Linde to bring her camera to my house so I could upload the pictures from our Death By Chocolate party. So I thought I would update a few things today, which means two posts in one day. Just pretend that the previous post was post a few days ago cause that's what was intended.

I just received an email from my Level 5 instructor.... 93%... ha ha ha ha ha.... That's hysterical laughter with a whole lot of relief for those of you who don't know me...! It feels really good to know that it is done. I ended up deciding to spin flax for my level 6 dyeing day... yes, FLAX... from the I-Hate-Flax person. But my latest edition of Handwoven magazine came in and in it was the neatest tunic and transparent wall hangings woven with flax and then over sewn with wool... the linen gives the background plain weave on which to make a picture... I got a brilliant idea that if I woven flax... bleached it and then dyed it with indigo it would make an awesome background for fallen white leaves in plain white cotton for summer or plain white wool for winter.... (I'm thinking cotton for summer). So that's what I am spinning.

I am not weaving cause I've given up on getting anything done for June on the Shadow Weave project... that's my summer project.

I'm still knitting on the surprise shawl but that is coming only very slowly since Teapot and I have moved into the yard... gardening is now our priority. Four nights ago I lost all my tomato plants to frost... but otherwise every thing else is coming along nicely. Teapot has turned the garden and put in two kinds of potatoes and is as I write putting in the beans and peas. We are using the large red barrels that used to be on the deck for the peas and beans. After he finishes that he is going to put in a new bed for carrots and at that point we will assess how we are feeling and where we are time wise. Meanwhile I am up on the deck taking care of deckor (get it ha ha decor... deckor!!! Gosh gotta hit you over the head with that one!) I was late this year buying my annuals so I ended up with very little to choose from so yesterday I went to the local grocery store and blew a wad on petunias. Just petunias ... which is kind of not my style but petunias are showy and easy to care for and in a way I'm kind of glad that I didn't by more varieties and put them in earlier... for sure I would have lost some to the frost that got my tomatoes. So petunias it will be... as boring as that may sound... lots of colour though.

I've convinced Teapot to help me get things sorted out on the deck too... we are going to build that screened porch finally. So as a result I am planting and preparing the deck pots accordingly. There will be a lot fewer pots to plant flowers in and it hopefully will look charming while providing us with an oasis in the middle of summer. So far this is what I have done.

I still need a little something for the top of that log on the left.. but the wind chime has been painted and is looking pretty good. Once those flowers thicken up and grow I'm sure this will be lovely.

It was a lot of work to move those huge heavy logs over. And I think the whole thing looks pretty darn good.

I love the fact that the wee sheep looks like it could take out the gnome quite easily by rolling over. I can only imagine what the gnome is thinking! I still have to plant the square planter on the chair...and I need a couple more planters down in front of the rocking chair but that's how far I got yesterday before I ran out of steam. So today I have to carry on with that planter and around the corner to the side of the house where I am hoping at some point this summer to put a fountain since our fountain died last summer once the pump froze early in the fall.

This is our horse shoe shaped potato garden. In the middle stand one of the strawberry boxes. There are about 8 Strwaberry plants in there.

The other 22 strawberry plants are in these boxes in the front of the house. I guess we really need to think about putting some siding on the house... hmm I wonder if we can suffer through another winter or maybe we should get to this in the fall. Oh for heaven's sake I have to get the flooring finished before i start to think about the siding... really!

Anyway the deck is calling and the day is calling and the sun is shining and the wind is whispering and the birds are twittering as they swoop past the window... I need to get myself organized before the day is over and I  wonder if Teapot wants help with the planting of the peas and beans.

I'm off ... till next time.. I hope your spring is blossoming into a lovely summer of lazy days and restful evenings. A little more business for me and I'll be happy to enjoy lazy days and restful evenings...