June 2, 2009
Cultivating joy, a mid year check-up
Late May Garden
Originally uploaded by kerner
Around New Year's, I wrote a post about how I was not going to make resolutions this year. Instead, I was going to pick a theme for the year and try to live it out to the fullest. My theme is also my Style Statement, Cultivating Joy.
I also chose this snippet of Kerouac that encapsulated the theme: "to be in a state of beatitude, like st. francis, trying to love all life, trying to be utterly sincere with everyone, practicing endurance, kindness, cultivating joy of heart."
So, now that we're well into the year, how am I doing? I made a list of small steps that I thought would go along with the theme for the year.
Read more fiction. I discovered the local used book store and I am having great fun selling old books for store credit and discovering what they have on the shelves that day. Very rarely is there a new book I just "have to have," and I've been a real slacker in the reading department for about 5 years, so there are lots of older books that are still new to me. I have learned by lesson though - if you see a book and you want it, don't assume it will be there when you come back!
Take better care of my veggie garden and our native plant gardens. I'd say I'm doing pretty well at this if I do say so myself. My peas and lettuce, which I'm growing for the first time, are doing great. I need to weed the flower gardens and put new mulch down, but hey, I'm still a work in progress, right?
Spend more time studying the Bible and in prayer. I always have room for improvement in this area, but I have joined a weekly study with some other people by age at church, so that helps keep me on track, at least on a weekly basis. We're getting ready to take a hiatus for the summer though, so I need to find a daily devotional or something to read. I don't do very well just winging it on my own.
Knit more gifts for others; less for myself. I've been doing pretty well with crafting for others at least as much as myself. I even made an embellished tee for my sister to wear this summer after she's no longer "great" with child.
I have a couple more Russian dolls left to cut out of the fabric, so I will reward those of you who managed to read this far into this ridiculously navel-gazing post. If you would like a tank top with a Russian doll on it, leave me a comment saying so, and what shirt size you wear at Old Navy (S, M, L, XL etc.) First three commenters get shirts!
Third Time's a Charm
Originally uploaded by kerner
Posted by zarah at 5:09 AM | Comments (7)
May 10, 2009
A Knitter's Garden
A Knitter's Garden
Originally uploaded by kerner
Yes, a knitter lives and gardens here. I think the strands of red sock yarn on the trellis give it away!
This picture was taken on one of the few sunny days we have had around here lately. It's rain, rain, rain, but the peas seem to be loving it! I have not had to water a single time since I planted those seeds. I put in a bell pepper plant and 3 tomato plants this weekend, so hopefully the sun will show it's face soon.
I am really enjoying trying out some new plants this year in the garden. The lettuce is doing well too, although I've seen some suspicious looking rabbits hanging around the backyard, so hopefully they will let me share.
This was a nice relaxing weekend - I always have errands to run and just normal "life" stuff to do, but I do my best to cram it into Saturday so Sunday can be for rest, rejuvenation, and creativity.
Posted by zarah at 8:14 PM | Comments (1)
April 27, 2009
Pretty flowers
Pretty flowers
Originally uploaded by kerner
Since I forgot to take a picture of my progress on the red baby dress I started knitting on Sunday (that's the red yarn with my coffee & computer in the last post), I am distracting you with a picture of this flower.
Ooooh... pretty.
Actually, I'm looking for some advice. I planted several these flowers either last fall or the fall before. They seem to be doing really well this spring and I was wondering if you think I can divide them? They seem to be growing in clumps and I would like to just split each plant and replant half in another place, so I can have twice the number of plants!
Oh - it's called a Golden Ragwort in case you were wondering.
Posted by zarah at 8:04 PM | Comments (2)
April 22, 2009
Happy Earth!
First of all, thank you soooo much for commenting yesterday. It is wonderful to know that I'm not just writing this for my mom (although I'm happy to have her as a regular reader and commenter!) I am looking forward to visiting all your blogs and getting to know you better.
Between Earth Day today, and Arbor Day on Friday, I was inspired to plant a new tree this week. I decided that an addition to the shade garden was in order.
An addition to the shade garden
Originally uploaded by kerner
After 2 more summers, it's looking great (and I predict this will be the year of the hosta explosion), but it's lacking a little... height.
Serviceberry Shrub
Originally uploaded by kerner
Enter the Serviceberry. (See it there with the white flowers?) Grow Native describes it as a "Tall shrub or small tree bearing clusters of fragrant white flowers in April. Flowers give rise to very flavorful, purple-black, berrylike fruits relished by both songbirds and people. This lovely tree has colorful fall foliage in a blend of orange, gold, red and green and is a Plants of Merit winner."
Sounds pretty good, right? I'm excited to see how it turns out. We've had really good with the native plants - they are perfect for low-maintenance gardeners like us. I just need to remember to water it a few times so it can get established, hopefully before it gets too hot.
I felt like I was representing happy hippies everywhere as I drove this native tree home from the nursery in my Honda, with the branches sticking out the back window! Happy Earth Day, everyone.
Posted by zarah at 7:36 PM | Comments (2)
April 20, 2009
Garden Update!
Pink garden
Originally uploaded by kerner
Hmm... I don't remember planting anything pink!
Oh, that would be the redbud blooms. Oopsie.
My garden is still mostly bare, but there are some signs of life along the back row. (I'm holding off on the fun stuff, like tomatoes, peppers, and beans, until the last chance of frost has passed.)
Pea tendrils
Originally uploaded by kerner
The peas are still doing great. This week they shot out the little tendrils that will hopefully help them climb up my makeshift trellis.
Is that lettuce?
Originally uploaded by kerner
Last but not least, I think some lettuce finally sprouted from the seeds that I haphazardly threw into the garden and pressed into the ground about 3-4 weeks ago. On the other hand, it could be a weed. Who knows?
Posted by zarah at 6:19 PM | Comments (1)
March 19, 2009
Waiting...
Freshly planted garden
Originally uploaded by kerner
I planted my garden last Sunday after my dad helped me put in some stakes to hold this trellis up. I am trying some new veggies this year - regular peas and sugar snap peas, and I figured I might as well see if I could get any lettuce or spinach to grow as long as it stays relatively cool.
But so far, the most exciting part has been watering, which involves a freakish dance to avoid getting wet. I think I *might* need some new connectors for my hose and spray nozzle.
In more exciting news... the first day of spring is tomorrow! Does anyone know what that means?
Posted by zarah at 4:39 PM | Comments (2)