After the Rain

After a good all day soaking rain, everything in the yard is happier.

There is nothing important to be said in this post, just practicing using my camera as I try to learn new photo skills.

Around the Garden

Spring is such a lovely time where everyone takes in the lush new growth and beauty of the garden. 

  A few, and I mean, a very few wisteria survived the cold freezing temperatures of a few weeks ago.  The vines were loaded with buds, but this is all there is now.  Each one is enjoyed all the more for beating the odds.

Normally my backyard smells like heaven this time of year when the wisteria, honeysuckle trees, and the lilac all bloom at the same time.  The bumblebees go into a frenzy over the wisteria blooms.  But this year, even the lilac blooms are sparse, but at least they survived the cold.

The girls are enjoying the lovely weather and being able to get out and forage around the yard.

Sometimes all you can see are their tails in the air as they  meander around the herb garden.

And they love getting into the compost bin, eating the bugs, and kicking out all the dirt.  

Home is my happy place, and there is no place I'd rather be than in my peaceful gardens with my girls.

Why Didn't I Think of This Before?

Do you ever buy herbs from the grocery store and while you only need a little bit, the rest of it goes bad in the refrigerator before you can use it again? Well - I don't know why I never thought of this before, but if you cut off the bottoms of the bunch of herbs and then put them in a glass of water, they will keep for a very long time.

My window sill isn't wide enough to set them on, but I can still set them near good light which they love and thrive in.

My kitchen is white and green, so they make the perfect addition to the cupboard under the window.

Now, the spring greens don't seem to respond to this method as well as the parsley, cilantro, and even spinach did, but I'll take 3 out of 4.

My girls are laying a fresh supply of eggs every day, more than I can eat, so it enables me to sell them to friends and relatives to help pay for their food and the treats I love to spoil them with.

They think everything and everyplace in my yard is especially for them and no place is sacred.  They will even sneak onto the screened porch if the wind blows the door open.

My little button fern is growing very well.  This pot originally had a beautiful topiary in it, but I killed it, and all that is left is the button fern they had planted as a ground cover.  But it makes me smile every time I look at it, and I'm glad it survived in my kitchen even if the topiary didn't.

All in all, the whole vignette of fresh greens makes me smile and feel like I have a little herb garden right in my kitchen.

Springfield Extravaganza

Our show was well over a month ago, and I have finally found the time to sit down and post some pictures from the show.  I must admit, I did not take any of these photos.  I was so stressed from getting everything ready to go and set up that I totally forgot to take my camera.  These few photos were taken by my daughter and are from her Facebook page, Rustic Market.   Here we go - I'll let the photos do the talking . . .   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  We sold about 95% of our merchandise, but have some beautiful things still left.  The smaller remaining items that can be shipped will be listed over time on my Etsy shop, which can be accessed at the top of my blog, just under the header.  My daughter is also listing some of the larger remaining items on her Facebook page. I'm also now making maps of states other than Ohio if anyone is interested.  If you don't see your state listed, please don't hesitate to ask.  They were big sellers at the show and make lovely gifts. Linking with ~ A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday  

I Love Trays

I have a thing for trays.  Not sure why - I just love them.    My daughter and I are getting ready to do a show at the Vintage Market Place on May 15, 16 & 17 at the  Springfield Extravaganza, in Springfield, Ohio. So, I've been busy making trays and more trays.  I wanted to take 30 trays to the show.  And here are a few pics of what I've been creating.  

 

A lot of these trays have been made from wood pallets and leftover scrap wood that I've had in my garage.

My daughter likes the rustic, industrial look, so I've been trying to make trays along those lines.

 

Can you tell I also have acquired a "thing" for pulleys and metal wheels?  One just never knows what their tastes are going to turn to next.