A Pretty Special Event

I don't do well with chaos.  Usually on either side of a show, the house is rather chaotic.  And then I get stressed. Finally, on Saturday, I got the last of the show stuff put away, and the rest of the house in some semblance of order.  The shows are great, but ahhh..... peace again makes me happy.

The guys have a pretty special event this week.  The opening of the Biodiesel plant they fabricated for the NC Dept. of Agriculture occurs.  Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, will be speaking, along with other notable folks.  Way to go, guys!

Over the weekend, I made more lavender lemonade.  Some friends at the show told me about rosemary lemonade, and cumin lemonade.  I want to try both! 

I also gathered nettles.  Some are drying, and some I'm tincturing for medicine.  I've taken nettles for hayfever for a number of years.  I planted several plants a couple of years ago in a far corner of the garden, and began making my own medicine last year.  Nettles, along with Quercitin, has made a huge difference in my hay fever.  Funny, but I'd never had any allergies until I moved to L.A., then returned to NC.  It was pretty awful at first, but every year has gotten better using the remedies above, sometimes adding in Eyebright, or the Similasan Allergy Eye Relief drops when needed.  I just wanted to pass on what works for me, in case anyone else is suffering from hay fever.  When I researched it years ago, these were at least in part what Dr. Weil recommended, and they really work.

Can you tell what Guinness is carrying?  Joseph has been away, and he grabbed an old glove of his.  I'd say he's missing him, as I hadn't seen him play with it until today.  He is such a sweet boy.  I really had a taste for kale salad last week.  The only thing available was the commercial, non-organic curly kale in the local grocery store, so I gave it a try over the weekend.  Let's just say it doesn't come close to the ones I've made previously.  Tough and pretty tasteless would be kind.  If you're going to make the salad, folks, get some nice organic kale.  Or better yet, some tender, local kale, if you don't grow your own.  Trust me on this one.  Your tastebuds and your teeth will thank me. 

So many things are blooming now, it makes me happy every time I go outside.  I transplanted some Amsonia (bluestar) and some Chrysogonum virginianum (Green & Gold) from down near the creek to the part-shade garden, and a couple of other places.  I've got some pink Speedwell, and a mixture of coleus to plant this week.  Wishing you pretty blooms and a happy week, friends!

Nettles, Hummers and Wintersown Plants

This looks to be shaping up to be a good planting weekend.  The wintersown plants all look like they would like to get in the ground.  I ended up with bachelor buttons double mixed, poppies mixed, bells of ireland, cosmos sensation, columbine dragonfly hybrid, larkspur kaleidoscope, orlaya from Carolyn, and what I believe are a type of crabapple (from a gorgeous hedgerow I saw in the fall).  I also have a spot picked to set out the pink calla lily J gave me for Valentines Day. 

The garden is coming up nicely with peas, spinach, onions, carrots and beets.  The asparagus are poking up more each day.  I'm really looking forward to the first asparagus soup of the year.  We're hoping to see the first potatoes break through the ground very soon.  Last week, I began my first batch of nettle ticture.  I've taken nettles along with quercitin for spring allergies for many years.  Last year was the first time I've grown nettles.  I dried some, but mostly left it to establish itself.  I've been adding several of the dried leaves, crushed up, to my kefir smoothies the past couple of months.  Nettles are full of nutrients and decrease inflammation, in addition to their histamine blocking action. A pretty good plant to have around, I'm thinking.  One of my goals this spring is to learn more ways to use it, particularly in cooking with it.  I know I have soup recipes using it, and some others.  If I have time to experiment with any, I'll share the results.  And if you've used nettles in cooking, I'd love to know.

Yesterday I enjoyed listening to the whir of the sewing machine accompanied by soft dog snores.  While the pups nap, I've been sewing up some rice & lavender therapy pillows and wrapping soap, getting ready for next weeks show.  While washing dishes yesterday, I was delighted to see the first hummingbird at the window.  In just minutes, a pot of hummingbird food (4 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar) was on the stove and one of the feeders put up.  I expect it may not have been one of "my" usual birds, but maybe a scout coming through.  In any case, I'm ready now, and hope there will soon be hummers at the feeders.

Rhubarb & Rain

Today has been another garden day. We planted several types of flower seed that we'll be able to see from the front of the house, should they germinate & survive. We got the tomato cages set up, planted corn & rhubarb. Neither of us has yet tasted rhubarb, but heck, if all else fails, they say you can make wine with it. Our stinging nettles arrived, & we carefully got those in the ground. They're an incredible plant that has a multitude of uses. I flagged them well so we won't forget & accidentally run into them. We're hoping the forecasters are right, & we'll get rain for all our little plants this evening. My cousin Laura & her family came for a visit yesterday. We got to meet her newest addition, Isabella, who is an amazingly good baby. And a cutie too. Why is it I forget about the camera when a perfect opportunity presents itself?