
Hello from Sunday night
Hi everyone.
How’s the melt going round the old globe?
Yesterday we were at Whole Foods for a little late lunch, in the absolute pouring rain, and I think all of Vancouver freaked out and went shopping. Isn’t that the way of rainy March Saturdays? π We sat inside, (after a ten minute wait for a table to become available), and I looked outside at the indomitable Vancouverite spirit. You know that Vancouverites don’t carry umbrellas and do sit outside in all kinds of weather? It’s true Magoo. I got to thinking that it’s high time I planted my seeds for an early showing, (for the Art in the Garden show). High time I put up my little greenhouse too, but who wants to do that in this wretched weather?
Then, this morning, what’s that I feel on my cheeks? SUN!!! Oh, oh, are we all on standby for spring? π
I walked around the garden and there was wonderful birdsong, so I hung up the little ball full of sheep’s wool, to feather their nests, and look who I found in the lawn crocuses. (Yes I do use the term “lawn” liberally, and generally mean that anything growing there, which is mostly green and gets mowed, equals lawn.)
So into my garage and over to the potting bench, I tipped a bag full of seed started compost into my potting bucket and filled up the little seed pots.
In anticipation of a predicted break in the weather, I soaked some sweet pea, mange tout peas, runner beans and morning glory seeds over night. It’s always a good idea to soak these seeds and also to scarify them. You should have seen me the other night with the sweet pea seeds and a pair of nail clippers trying to nick the little round things. I was ever so careful to nick each one and keep the dark purple sweet peas separate from the white ones, (because both kinds look brown), and, just as I finished and stood up, I tipped the containers and overcompensated for the tip, spilling the peas all over the living room floor, mixing up the colours. You have to laugh…what am I like. π
So as I was planting the seeds I spied Chloe at the little bistro table having a cup of tea. I asked her if she would be happy to plant out some lettuce seeds in the cold frame.
She said she would be happy to and got the package and read the directions…
But then Morgan the Garden Inspector had to make sure the soil was suitable for the lettuce.
I finished putting together my little greenhouse and put my seed trays in it. I gave them a mist of water and zipped them up for the night.
In other weekend news, I finished my bench and established a little silversmithing studio on one side, (the sunny side). I bought some basic supplies and raided my late father’s tools for some more. Mom gave me an old red tool box with a bit of a rusted out bottom, but nevermind that, a bit of cardboard and felt fixed that right up. I love how clean and red it became after I washed the grime off. I also bought a little silver and some cabochon jewels, and put them into my grandmother’s jewellery box. And my ginger jar lamp, which Kerstie rescued for me from the thrift store, this little lamp which everyone loves to hate, but I love to love, has finally found the perfect home.
Adding to that a tall, comfy stool, also rescued. I loved this stool because it’s heavy oak with lovely brass details and brass foot rests. Now that stool has found a permanent place in my home too.
Well, that’s about it from the weekend. It’s been such a busy week; I hope this next week is a bit easier.
I’m getting so excited about spring.
Sharing with Mary at Mosaic Monday and Sunlit Sunday, InspireΒ me Monday and Dwellings.
Tammie
love that wool ball, never have i seen one of those.
you are so prepared with your garden, so inspiring. loved reading your post and seeing your images.
Veronica
Hi Tammie, that ball comes form England. These things are popular there but I’ve never seen them in Canada. It’s a brilliant idea, don’t you think? I bet you could make one from some willow branches or some other pliable garden material. It could be filled with felting or cut up string or something. π
Cindy Cousineau
Good idea to cover the rust off the bottom and it is ready to go. It is great to be able to watch seeds as they sprout about. My guess is you couldn’t tell them apart after you spilled the beans/peas? Like your soil inspector.
Veronica
Hi Cindy, I spilled the white and deep purple sweet peas and both the seeds look exactly the same. Lol, there goes my brilliant idea of having separate plantings of them. π
bj
How fun to be thinking and preparing for your garden. Too cool here at night and early mornings but will plant some when it warms up.
Thanks for coming by…hope you come again soon.
Veronica
Hi BJ, I guess we’re pretty lucky here in the North West. Yes, let’s keep in touch. π
Eileen
I like your greenhouse. A nice way to start the seeds.. Morgan is a cutie. You have reminded me I need to put out some of my dogs hair for the birds, they like to use it in their nest.. Great post, enjoy your week ahead!
Veronica
Eileen, I forgot about dog hair. I used to have malamutes, (with mountains of hair) and I remember how the birds loved to swoop down and pick some of the spring shed fur up. In the autumn we found it in all the nests. π
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow
I like the ball of wool idea. I recently read another blogger saying that she starts to put dryer lint out on the bushes around this time for the birds. Here, when the dogs start to shed, I can brush my one white dog and have balls of her long white hair covering half the lawn and then just stand by and watch the birds carry it all away over a day or two! π
Veronica
Hi Debra, drier lint is a fabulous idea. I had malamutes with mountains of hair. The birds loved that. π
EG CameraGirl
How exciting to be planting seeds! It’s still a bit early for me to do that yet…but soon!
Veronica
I know, but you have the beautiful cardinals around, so that makes up for the season. π
My Little Home and Garden
Spring definitely seems to be appearing in your part of the country, given the breakout of sunshine and appearance of your greenhouse and trays of soon to be seedlings. It sounds like you got plenty done this past week. I’ll borrow a little bit of energy and be off to accomplish some jobs of my own.
Thank you for sharing your projects and sunny day at Sunlit Sunday. (Count me in as someone who likes the ginger jar lamp.)
Karen
Veronica
You go girl! It’s really lovely to be gardening again after a long winter, isn’t it? I’m glad you like the ginger jar lamp. It seems to be a homemade sort of thing from a real ginger jar and is a bit wonky, but I like wonky things. π
My Little Home and Garden
No gardening yet, but I’ll be shoveling after the predicted snow storm comes tomorrow. π
Veronica
Oh no! Hope the weathermen are wrong. They lie like a rug anyway. π
ebbandflo (@pomomama)
What a glorious weekend it was! No seeds for me yet as I haven’t sorted out summer travel plans here … but I am escaping for spring break!
Veronica
Oh, well, Amanda, since I’m always in England over July and August, I’m really the last person who should be planting a veggie garden, but there you have it…lol. At least my adult children and the neighbours have fresh veggies all summer long. I’m glad you’re getting away. Where to? I didn’t really plan on this being a spring break sort of thing because C already had her uni reading break, it was just a time we could get away.
Lorrie
The weather change from Saturday to Sunday couldn’t have been more dramatic. How on top of things you are to be getting ready for planting already. I’m slow this year. Just can’t get motivated. But your lovely photos might be the push I need. And the sun is shining again today. Hooray! Love the sun on your wood floor and the grapes.
Veronica
Thank you so much Lorrie. It was a bit of a turnaround, wasn’t it? So happy when I see the sun shining in the bedroom in the morning. Makes such a difference to my mood all day. π
Ellen
I admire your gardening skills. It is so nice to see new growth popping up here and there. Hope you week is an easier one and the weather continues to cooperate!
Veronica
Thank you so much Ellen; you and me both. I must admit I checked on the seeds yesterday and then though, “what am I doing? As if they’d come up overnight…lol” Gardener’s optimism is a very strong thing, isn’t it? π
Christa
Hi Veronica, I like your grapes photo. Very nice play with the sun light. They look deliciously juicy! π
Cindy
So nice to already have blooms in the garden. (and bee’s too!) I don’t sew many seeds, but I imagine it is so rewarding! Sweet kitty, she seems to be right in the middle of things. Gorgeous shot of the grapes!
Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday…
Blessings,
Cindy
Sara v
I’m exhausted, just reading everything you did! Love that sun-light everywhere. And how Morgan inspects the soil-what a character! Used to live about 20 miles south of the Oregon border (Arcata, CA). It rains so much, that after awhile, you say “to heck with it” and go out whenever you want. π