One of the benefits of my garden changes

In my venture into permaculture I made several changes around the gardens. One of the changes was to incorporate zones into my gardens. This entailed figuring out what plants/things needed to be closer to the house for easier access throughout the year.

First I moved my herbs to right in front of the house. I have been posting about how much easier it is to get at herbs still growing when they are right outside the front door. Well, that only works so long as you can actually see them. When they are covered by about a foot or more of snow, it becomes a little more difficult.

I can remember my Aunt Ida May, up in Gardiner, Maine, going out into her gardens in the middle of winter to shovel out her Brussels sprouts to serve with a great homemade meal! She would have benefited from the zone idea so as to not have to struggle through about 50 feet of gardens to get to her vegetables!!!

I will work on seeing what herbs might be viable under the snow, but not until after the holidays. Spent about an hour starting to dig out the hot tub yesterday, and that was hard enough with all the snow here!! But once we get it snow free it will definitely be worth it. There is nothing better than soaking in a hot tub in the midst of snow!! And when the snow is falling, it becomes a very spiritual experience!!!

So here follows a picture out my sunroom door. The stairs go out to the garage and then on to the gardens in the back. Luckily I thought far enough ahead and moved an old garbage barrel right behind a lilac bush to provide a place for out compost during the winter.





Now John doesn't have to plow a path to the compost bin!! I found that we needed to drill a few holes for drainage in the bottom. Once I got the snow cleared off the top it was so much easier to use than trudging out through all the snow to get to the larger compost pile!

3 degrees, or Baby, it's cold outside!

As I was noticing a great icicle in front of a window, I thought how nice to try to get a photo of it. Only today, I was chilly inside and decided to take some photos from inside.

On checking the weather I see that it is only 3 degrees outside! Interesting as the sun is already warming things up at 8:00 AM. So it must have really been cold when I first put the dog out at 5:00 AM today!!! LOL (On checking again at 9:30, it is up to a balmy 6 degrees!!!)

Being in a chilly state of mind I walked around the house from window to window snapping photos of what's outside today.

I got many photos before having to recharge my batteries, which gave me time to get some posts started. Two hours later, I am back to get to this post. Photos will have to wait to be downloaded. (What else is new, but really I have lots to get done today, two days before Christmas!!) Just found out last night we need to come up with 9 gifts for a Christmas eve gathering at a neighbors!! Luckily it's a Yankee swap, so we know just what to things to bring!!

Just finished up a very special post for Mia for the day after Christmas. You will have to wait until then to see it as it is a special anniversary gift for Mia. It will be twelve years on Friday since she came to live with us!!! (Joined by a few tears of joy)

A bird playing in the snow

Early yesterday morning there was not a sound to be heard, not even a mouse. Looked out to the glory of the snowfall and caught a movement in the distance. Upon closer look, helped by my glasses, I saw it was a small bird, playing in the snow. It flitted around on the ground and up and down among the low branches.

"Aha," I wondered, "Will it keep playing while I go find the camera?"

To my delight, it did. To my frustration, taking the picture through the window proved a disaster. The flash reflected off the window and ruined the shot. Not to be deterred, I figured I needed to get out into the weather to get the hoped for shot. Went to the sunroom and peeked my head out - the location was blocked from sight!

Went to the cellar and out the door, with snow on the steps, I brushed it aside with my slipper - minus coat, hat and mittens. I reached around the hottub and got the bird in sight. Lucky for me it had stayed playing. Got my photo, froze in the process, but all worth the effort as I captured such a nice sight!



Turns out it was a Slate-colored Junco - I had to wait until later in the day when a group of them came around the house to get bird seed we threw out on top of the snow.

Unable to get a clear close up. Tried my new digital binocular camera that's been sitting around for months. Got photos downloaded, with new software. Hit the wrong key and deleted them all!! Will try again another day!!


So now I had started, couldn't leave it at that. Had to get more photos, more sights to be seen, put on my boots and went out just like that. (in pj's!!) LOL

Forgot that it was so cold - only 10 degrees. Got my photos quick as a wink!!

The Juncos were the only birds out yesterday, in the snow and then in the rain. They are very skittish. Katelyn and I threw out bird seed on the steps, but she kept getting too excited when they ventured any closer and she kept scaring them off!! We settled for watching them from a distance through the windows!

10 degrees

10 degrees outside, and what do I do??
Head out in pj's, with camera in hand.
Start with slippers on the step, then need to venture more.
Change to heavy boots and traverse in the snow!
No jacket, hat or gloves, no, not for this hardy soul.
The thought of the photos I'll get keeps me warm in my soul.

(When I get back inside the 61 degree warmth seems like a sauna!) LOL

New England weather

New England weather is always unpredictable. It is never consistent. This is a picture from yesterday, towards the end of a snowfall of 8-12".




And this is last week, the same view, at the end of a great rain fall where we were totally flooded.



And today it is snowing again, with a prediction of 6-12". We may or may not have a White Christmas, depending on what path our weather takes the rest of this week!! We never know if we will be digging out from under a bundle of snow or running around outside in shirt sleeves on Christmas! But that is the beauty of New England, always keeps us guessing!!! Got to get baking our Christmas cookies today!!

I'm trying

You know how us mothers try to do it all??!! Well, with the holidays, a teenager and my daughter's family of four getting ready to move in, I am finding it impossible to do it all. I'm sure it has something to do with my advancing age, also.

But I have to admit that I am unable to do all that I want to do on any given day! Doesn't that sound odd?? Or oddly familiar to many of you??!! LOL

Anyway, I have given up, and just take each day as it comes at me. Such a surprise to see that I hadn't gotten to a post in so many days. Please forgive. My heart is with everyone out there, just have not enough hours on any day these days!!

We surprised Mia with a complete room makeover, masterminded by her older sister, Paula. What a boost that has given Mia. We had the great reveal Monday night - to her complete surprise, joy and amazement!! Our great friend, Dawn also came and helped out, as did JD, in taking care of the kids while Paula spent so much time working on it over here.

So my apologies for not getting to my postings. There are so many waiting to be done, and I will get to them as I am able.

A path into the woods

Here is the start of yet another new path.



We are surrounded by thick woods on two sides. At this time of year I can easily see into the woods, almost to the brook which divides us from the next lot on the south side. Interesting, right at this moment I can't remember the name of the brook. AHA!! Looked it up on our map it is Meadow Brook. It goes into Crocker Pond, which is a great conservation area off Route 1.

This is pretty much what the surrounding woods look like from any given point around the yard. I have never cleared the area as I have first and foremost wanted it to be available to all the creatures abiding with us here on our little plot of God's earth. This is at the end of the season with all the greenery gone for the winter.




And this is what it looks like at the beginning of the season. By mid summer the wild flowers/weeds get to be upwards of six to seven feet tall, making it very difficult to find your footing to travel inwards.




SO, this past season I got to spend time browsing around the woods, exploring all the flora, seeing what is all about in my own little wetlands. It is very hard to get the area without climbing over and under all sorts of growing things. As I was getting into paths this year, I thought how great it would be to be able to traverse the woods more easily with a set path. Then I could even have an established way in for others to be able to enjoy all that it has to offer (and keep them on a path, and off the delicate plants within)!

So when I was collecting granite for my endeavors I noticed a pile of oval pieces which were from the sinks being formed. And I had one of those light bulb moments! I thought of what great stepping stones they would make for a path into the woods!!




This path will be extended throughout the woods, thanks to the generosity of a wonderful granite supplier.



This is a beautiful section of ferns which are such a beautiful sight on a hot sunny summer day!



And this bed of Flat Topped Aster is so much fun to enjoy!




I will also be needing to do some pruning of dead growth during the process, then it will be much easier to get around! LOL!!



Mia and I had done some this year, but there is always more to be able to look forward to.




And on this snowy day, I look out on the woods and think of the hours I will be spending there in only a few short months!! And the thought that I will now be able to share it with others is the icing on the cake!!

STAY WARM!!!!!