Latest Garden Project: A Wildflower Style Garden

With so many garden projects to do this year, my best friend and I decided to tackle first one of the easiest--a wildflower style garden. Why? Well I have always loved the wildflowers that are normally found in 'wildflower' seed packets--the columbine, poppies, bachelor buttons and more! Secondly, last year, when we were on the Oregon coast, we ate out at a cafe there which had wildflower gardens around it--I was in 'seventh heaven' walking around their gardens and wanted just a piece of that at our home in an area that needs some 'sparkle'. And lastly, the beds we will be using for this project are made of pressure treated wood and I just don't trust it for growing edibles in.

So today we weeded both beds (one will probably be used for lavender later) and then the fun part--a trip to a farm store and nursery to get more poppies (I had already planted some oriental ones there last year; this year I bought some Iceland poppies to add in).

We also picked up some cosmos (yea, cosmos season!) and - of course - some columbine (I can never get too many of these beauties).

Love them!

LOVE them!

LOVE THEM!

There are still some plants to add and some specific seeds to sow too, but I am one step closer to my wildflower-style garden dream being fulfilled:)

Now if I can just find two sturdy, but not too expensive, Adirondack chairs to put under the fruit tree nearby! I can almost imagine relaxing out there with my Farmer Boy now!!

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Any garden projects you're dreaming of this year?

Blessings & happy gardening,

Aimee

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Photos:

One of the raised beds--after weeding.

(The rose in the last section of this first bed will be moved elsewhere soon)

Close up of one of the Oriental poppies--it's an Allegro.

One of the Columbine plants we picked out.

(I have lots more I could transplant in later from other areas. You can also--barely--make out one of the cosmos we picked up. Most are pastel or white.)

Another Columbine we bought.

(First photo is ours as it looks presently; the next one is how it will look when in full bloom)

A Few Changes

In preparation for the coming farm & nursery season (oops--the season already started!), I've changed the labels on some posts and created a new label: PNW Farm Tour. These posts may also contain --besides photos of produce, plants and the like--pictures of the countryside. Hope this makes it easier for any visitors who are looking for more info on just what makes the PNW area so special--besides its rain and beautiful scenery that is :)

Related to PNW Farms, I still need to put together some more posts on farms I visited last year--including a lavender one located on a hillside, a berry farm near that farm and more! Additionally I am hoping to add more farms in both Washington and Oregon.

I LOVE farms

and

I LOVE my Farmer Boy!

Blessings,

Aimee

National Day of Prayer: May 6, 2010

Next week, on Thursday, many in our nation will pause what they are doing--whether it be for a few moments or a full day--and "turn to God in prayer and meditation". With so much suffering and problems in our nation and the world today, I can not imagine a better thing for we as a nation to do. God bless America & you too, AImee

“If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.“

II Chronicles 7:14 KJV
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Note: For more information on the National Day of Prayer and its history, you can see the Wikipedia article here. Quote above is from 36 U.S.C. section 119: National Day of Prayer. as found on site mentioned.

Of May Flowers

I love the month of May.

Its flowers of pink, white, lilac, red, orange, yellow and other colors

in so many shapes and sizes

popping up everywhere I look

Yep, I LOVE the month of May...

do you?

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Blessings,

Aimee

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Photos: columbine (one of my most favorite flowers; I keep adding more each year)

bleeding heart (a beautiful plant--in all its varieties! I LOVE the hearts!)

azalea (I've never seen as many buds and blossoms on them as there are this year)

another azalea--a decidous one near the lower pond

and, again, a columbine!

The Word on Wednesday

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

Blessings, Aimee

Photo: Gunnera in spring with fallen cherry blossoms

Give Me a Childlike Heart

There is a song I've heard at least a couple times although I can't remember much of the lyrics at all; I don't even know the author or singer who performs it (hence I can't give proper recognition for it here-sorry!). But one phrase stands out in the song, that I do remember, and it is "Give me a childlike heart" ....

-When I think of a childlike heart these qualities come to mind

trusting,

humble (unassuming),

loving,

genuine.

-Lord, give me a childlike heart all the time.

Blessings, Aimee

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“And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them…

whosoever, therefore shall humble himself as this little child,

the same in greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18: 2, 4 KJV

Photo: me (with my dad's arm around me).

Update (April 30, 2010) I was, finally, able to find the artist who performs 'A Child-Like Heart' (CDs-A Mother's Touch & Heart of Worship) and surprise, surprise--she is from the PNW also. Her name is: Bonnie Knopf. Persistance is a virtue when it comes to searching:)

Tempting Fate & Fearless: My Farmer Boy

My hubby, darling man that he is,

loves to tempt fate.

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And he has always been like that--

skipping like a mountain goat on the rocks of a jetty;

while I slowly and laboriously followed,

hanging (clinging) onto those same rocks for dear life lest I fall into the ocean.

And underground, up heights, in water and on land--

no issue for my brave, fearless man

(no surprise that his youngest son is much the same).

I mean this man I married now wants to go on a hot air balloon!

YUCK!!

I don't even want to think about that possibility.

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He is definitely ALL boy that's for sure with his fearless, tempting fate personality.

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And up till now I've accepted this about him,

even thinking it made him quite endearing-

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you know, the whole, opposites attract opposites thing

But now he has taken this tempting fate--all boy thing--to a whole new level

and I feel it must stop

First there was the balancing of his empty plate on the back of our sofa,

right over the new laminate floor...

and now THIS

Sigh.

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Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the Life was the light of men."

John 1: 1-4 KJV

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Aimee

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Photos: Lady's Mantle after a shower

A Walk in His Garden: Flowers, Foliage & Food-to-be

Sometimes if I am stressed out

a walk through our gardens puts me into a better frame of mind.

As I breathe in the fresh air,

surrounded by the sounds of softly falling rain

or the songs of birds,

and as I see, smell and touch the things that God created,

I am reminded, again, of the amazing gifts God has given to all mankind.

And I feel blessed.

Wishing you blessings this Tuesday!

Aimee

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Photos:

Evergreen huckleberry

(a PNW native highly prized for its berries;

this is one of 5 huckleberry plants we have in our garden)

a groundcover we planted last year by the upper pond

(in addition to white and red, I love pink--can you tell?

My oldest son is VERY excited about all the berries we will have this year.

He even took pictures when he visited us this last weekend)

A brunnera

(planted last year; I love the leaves &

forget-me-not type flowers of this shade loving plant)

Lilac flowers

(fragrance, beautiful flowers--

I love our white and our light purple lilacs)

Another Addition to my Fav Blogs

A dream of mine for a long, long time was to go to Norway (and the other Scandinavian countries) some day. I love so many things that are Nordic--the food, rosemaling and other crafts, their folk dancing, bunads, stabburs, some literature and music, and the beauty of the countryside and fjords there (I once met a man who said parts of the PNW were much like parts of Norway)

Well, dreams come, and sadly they also go--at times--because of changes in one's life. I probably will never make it to Norway and the other Scandinavian nations now--but it is fun to be able and cyber visit the places of my dreams and dream of running down a Norwegian hillside with flowers in my hair.

Here is a blog I ran into recently and have been a regular visitor to since. The author's photos and postings are beautiful (Norway and other countries, gardens, etc). Hope you enjoy it!

Blessings from the PNW,

Aimee

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Link: http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/

Photo: flowers from a Scandinavian festival I went to 7 years ago.

First Veggie Planting of 2010

Russian Red kale and...

a Glacier tomato plant

I bought the kale because I thought it was beautiful and wanted to try growing some this year.

Originally, I wanted to get a Sungold tomato --

and still intend to,

but the idea of a cold tolerant tomato,

intrigued me --

And who would have thought of planting tomatoes in April without a cold frame :)

YEA!!

Blessings to you & yours this Sunday!

Aimee

PS: Did you know that Farm Supply stores are dangerous places--

YEP!

because they have lots of beautiful flowers, berry, herbs and veggie plants

and adorable little, baby chicks there...

Talk about temptations!!!

Blessings,

Aimee

In Memory of a Baby Squirrel

So little and cute you were;

you caught our eyes as we drove up the mountain road.

You were such a treat to see

on a warm Saturday afternoon.

And we will remember with fondness the gift you gave to us.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of this baby squirrel.

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.“
Psalms 40:2, 3 KJV

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Thank you Lord for answered prayer,

Aimee

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. -

It Was All About Love

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour, And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst, And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. " Luke 23: 33-34a,44-46 KJV

Wishing you a blessed Good Friday

Blessings,

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

"For God so loved the world, that He gave only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16,17 KJV

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God bless,

Aimee

Beauty in the Storm

Our springlike weather has temporarily taken a hiatus here in the PNW.

Meterologists are now busy reporting snow in the mountains, hail in places, lots of rain and WIND. It's almost as if we were back in winter again! Well, not really because the temperatures - mostly - are about average for this time of the year and we native (and almost native) Northwesterners are not used to sunny springs anyway:)

Ferns love moisture and we NW'ers love ferns.

This one is putting out new growth--the new leaves are the ones in the middle, all curled up.

This weekend brought us the first blooms of the crabapple for this year.

I LOVE, love, love this color and the tree is filled with more buds,

still to open, in His time.

Also, blooming is the flowering cherry tree near the lower pond.

And last, but certainly not least, is Lake Blessings.

Maybe not so pretty, but certainly very surprising to have a 'lake' so very close to our deck;

it did make getting around today a bit challenging though and I was glad when the water receded a bit!

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Well hope you enjoyed the quick garden journey

and

hope you can find beauty in the midst of your storms too.

Blessings,

Aimee

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First photo: blossoms on one of our fruit trees.

Wonderful Post at Autumn Living!

Wow! I just saw the most amazing post on Autumn Living's blog! How beautiful and wondrous is the miracle of new life! Here is a link to the post:
http://www.autumnliving.blogspot.com
Blessings,
Aimee

The Spring Garden: Pretty in Pink

What a wonderful time to be alive!

So many blogs filled with posts about garden plans and blooming plants; so much hope and joy at the ending of winter and the beginning of new life in spring! And soon it will be Easter when we are reminded, again, of God's great and never-ending love for mankind!

Here in the PNW the mountains have snow on them, but the countryside and lowest part of the foothills are filled with the bloom of wild fruit trees. Today I got to take a short trip in the country and was thrilled to get to see (and hear) some Canadian geese! Very cool but makes me eager, again, to get a better camera (soon, soon) with a good zoom lens.

The photo above is that of our flowering cherry tree just beginning to bloom. I LOVE this tree; it was purchased from a dear man who was like a second daddy to me! He is with God now, but I remember him everytime it blooms! Miss him.

At home so many things are in bloom; it is fun to just sit out on the deck or under the apple tree and savor the beauty around me!

Here is a photo of the second of our bleeding heart plants. I am so in love with this plant that I am thinking one of the few plants I will buy this year is another variety of them.

One thing not blooming -yet-is our crabapple; but it is close to blooming and I try, each day, to check it out. I can hardly wait to see those blooms again!

Our camellia is still blooming (we have two--one that blooms in spring;

the other in autumn). It is a perfect pink and just covered with blossoms this year!

And this, I am told, is a seed pod. It is on our rhubarb plant. I don't remember seeing them last year---my best friend cut it out before I saw it. Anyway, I think it is kind of beautiful in its own way and wanted a photo of it before I took the clippers to it:)

And now time for me to get back to some research...

Blessings,

Aimee

The Word on Wednesdays

"Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?
And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?"
Matthew 6:26, 27 ASV

Blessings & peace, Aimee

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Note: ASV=American Standard Version, Copyright 1909 (in public domain). An awesome website for searching Bible verses in different versions is www.biblegateway.com