Hello friends,

 

We've had an incredible stretch of weather. Two weeks of glorious sunshine and warmth but now experiencing some cooler and cloudy weather.  47 degrees at the moment. Not pleasant enough to be outside.  The UPS man dropped off a package and when he entered my kitchen with the woodstove going, he said.....gosh, how nice in here. He dropped off my strawberry plants.  The beds were made last week so we'll get them in within the week.  I'm just hoping we'll get some berries this year.

 

Well the garden is well on its way with a few more things to plant.  I started the peppers and eggplant indoors so hope they will break through the soil in the next few days. You never know!  Sometimes the seeds germinate and if too much water, they rot. Always a balancing act.

 

My chicken coup is ready for it's concrete pour.  You'd think that would be easy but not many want to come for a building that is 8 feet by 12 feet. Someone has promised to do the pour so we'll see.

 

The last two orchids that were in spike are ready to bloom. I have one red dendrobium and one white paph ready to bloom. Over-all, I am pleased with my orchids efforts although two are struggling. I can hardly wait to get them outdoors.  They always enjoy the summer with the occasional rain.

 

Miss Sydney is well.  I think she thought she might get a nice morsel of UPS driver or at least a tire. But we were one step ahead of her. I think Sydney dreams truck drivers or fast moving tires.

 

Anyway, all is well. Take care.   Bittersweet 

It is a pleasure to finally here that the temps are within "normal" range. A wet, soppy spring, days of wet snow and now some sunshine.  54 degrees but a normal 54 degrees. The next few days will be flirting with the low to mid fifties with welcomed indeed. The ground is saturated but I think we can start raking on Wednesday and Thursday. Raking and trimming is the agenda for this week. I have someone helping me cut the wild roses and brush so at least a start.  Eldest broker offered - maybe I should say twisted his arm a bit, to rototill the garden so hopefully I can start planting some of my lettuce and spinach.

 

The Dog Guard fence people have finally put the wiring into the ground. So all I have to do is start reducing the yellow flags.  Every couple of days and I can pull about a third until there are only a few at strategics places. As I'm writing this I'm thinking of the things I need to do; i.e., put my order in for 5 yards of good garden soil, 3 yards of mulch, and look for another arbor. Perkins and Jackson called to say my arbor is out of stock so I'll need to look elsewhere. Can handle that.

 

I picked up two interesting books; "China Shakes The World," by James Kynge and "About Alice," by Calvin Trillin. Calvin is a writer for "The New Yorker," and "About Alice" are his memories of his wife Alice.  I think I'm having a love affair with writers for "The New Yorker" - at least it seems like that. 

 

Just thought of something else; I have to call the carpenter.   Have a good one.  Bittersweet welcoming spring with outstretched arms.