Of Herbs, Berries & Veggie Plans

Did I wish for snow awhile back?
Hum, I guess I need to be more careful about making such wishes.

Oh well it didn't stick and since I had to be told about it after the fact

(because I slept through it),

I am -- almost sure -- no one else, except my beloved Farmer Boy, noticed those few moments of it either.

Maybe.

-Despite the very confused weather recently, the berries--blue, lingon, evergreen huckle--all seem to be doing very well. In fact, they are doing SO well that my son (and his roommates) will be ecstatic that there will be a bountiful harvest this year. And -- to tell the truth -- I am already dreaming of the day they will ripen and I will fill HUGE bowls full of them.

Here's one variety of blueberries. YUM.

The branches are SO loaded with blossoms this year!

And here, I believe, is another type--most likely one of the two Earliblues...I am beginning to think we just may have to get another blueberry plant this year.

I am sure I can find room for it--somewhere. I always do.

That's because I love and practice edible landscaping--the planting of edibles with ornamentals.

Growing well, but no berries yet -- of course -- are the three types of strawberries, two gooseberries, the salal--and the Anne raspberry which I planted last year in a wine barrel half as an experiment.

I DO love experimenting!

Also doing well are the herbs-most of which survived the strange winter we had. Currently blooming is a rosemary and the thyme is semi-blooming. Soon to bloom are the chives -- I love the way they look currently though; I don't recall seeing this pre-bloom stage last year.

The mints, of course, are ALWAYS well. And contained in a big planter...except that is for the spearmint in one of our transitional, edible landscaping beds.

Other herbs are lavender (culinary and non-culinary), sage, oregano, salad burnet. I will still have to buy basil (what would summer be without basil?), cilantro (ditto the previous question) and some lemon verbena ... and maybe????

And then there is the question of what to grow for veggies this year.

Tomatoes are a given.

There is JUST NO WAY I can live without fresh homegrown tomatoes.

Yellow, sweet tomatoes like last year.

YUM, Sungold tomatoes.

Heaven on earth!

And maybe some Swiss chard and lettuce.

They were really beautiful and good too!

Last year we grew Bright Lights and Redfire.

I want to grow them again.

I LOVE gardening!

So many easy and delightful decisions to make.

But most of all I like eating fresh,

no spray, no chemical fertilizer veggies and fruit

from my garden.

I am SO ready for shopping at our garden nurseries!

ARE YOU?

Blessings, Aimee

Choices

Recently, one evening, I noticed that our deck and everything else outside was bathed with a perfect rosy glow. Above me there were some pink colored clouds (and some gray ones too) in between what was the purest robin’s egg blue sky I have ever seen in my life. It was unreal; it was SO incredibly beautiful that it took my breath away…and I knew it would last only a few moments.
My camera was in the house; I had to make a quick decision.

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So I-

a) hurried inside to grab it so I could capture this perfect, one of a kind moment --this God created blessing--before it disappeared forever?
or I-
b) told myself my camera could never capture such a perfect scene (when really I just wanted to eat the pomegranate frozen fruit juice bar that was inside waiting for me)?

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What would you do?

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What do you think I,

the 'Queen' of the sugar addicted,

who also loves, loves, loves photography and nature did?

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Sigh.

Stupid choice.

A Walk in His Garden: Early April

I have been busy this week cleaning and organizing the home; still so much to do but I feel satisfaction in what has been done and gratitude to God for the grace to be able to do it. Outside we have been having some winter like weather--no snow (as much as I LOVE snow, I really don't want any at this point---maybe:)) but rain, wind and colder temps. Still I have tried to spend some time outside daily as the blossoms are just SO beautiful no matter the weather! Besides it is good to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the birds, frogs and other treasures found there.

So why don't you join me?

By the upper pond--oops I should have warned you of our crazy frog. He likes to jump into the pond when I walk nearby and must love it when HIS jump makes me JUMP because it startles me! I probably will fall in the pond one day from fright; but at least he's not a snake.

Yesterday, during my walk I found these beautiful blue blooms hidden amidst the green foliage of lilies and irises awaiting their time. I know the picture is blurry--remember that S word I mentioned in the prior paragraph? Well they LOVE this area so I tread lightly (and quickly) here. Someday our deck will extend out this way and I will feel comfortable to sit awhile....(yea I know about where you can find snakes, but I am in pleasant denial right now).

A little further away from the frogs and snake place is the berm--home to huckleberries, pieris, a pine tree and more! Here is a Pieris still in bloom and one of the Encore azaleas (a three season blooming azalea). Have I told you just HOW much I LOVE red? Well I do!

I also love pink and I love, love, love these apple blossoms.

These are from our Liberty apple.

And because I love, love, love them SO much, here is another photo of the blossoms.

And last, but not least, are the blossoms of the Prairifire crabapple.Yep, I know we're back in the pond area, but I can't help it. I waited so many months to see these gorgeous blooms again and I am going to spend as much time gazing at them as possible--even if there are critters of the slithery and slippery kind there:)

Hum, I am being sorely tempted to cut some of these flowering branches to bring inside my nice, warm and safe-from-most-critters home.

Blessings, Aimee

In Memory of Those Lost at Montcoal

My grandpa was a miner for many years. He worked in the Rocky Mts and also in Kentucky. It was a dangerous job then and still is; yet in some areas of the US (and world) it is one of the few jobs available for those looking to support their families in the place they call home--a place they love and often have family ties to.

I cannot imagine the courage and determination it would take to work deep under the earth's surface. I can't imagine the pain, uncertainty and loss that many families and friends are suffering right now in Montcoal.

My heart and prayers go out to you today. May God be with you and give you His grace and peace.

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me."

Philippians 4:13 KJV

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Blessings,

Aimee

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Photo: Mt St Helens area, Washington state, after 1980 volcanic eruption (scanned photo)

He is Risen!

Happy Easter & blessings to family, friends & cyber visitors this Easter morn!

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words"

Luke 24:1-8 KJV

Thank you, Lord for Your amazing grace to me -- a sinner once lost; now found. Once blind; but now can see. -