The garden's in!

I'd mentioned some weeks back that I wanted to enlarge the garden, but it's been too wet this spring to till.  So this week I decided to break down a bunch of boxes and just put those down to kill weeds, and be content with embiggening the garden by just a few feet: 

Covered with shredded pine mulch and straw left over from last autumn, it doesn't look too bad:

While the cardboard-covered areas can't be planted this season, my hope is while that cardboard is killing grass, it will also provide space for some vining things to spread out.  I don't know if I really have enough space on the left side of the garden above, but I've planted a hill of regular pumpkins, a hill of mini pumpkins, and a hill of watermelon.  We'll see what comes of that.  If it grows out onto the grass, Greg said he'll deal with it.  I hope we don't regret this in August.

In the middle of the garden, are some sunflowers, and in the next row over - zucchini and summer squash.  And then two rows on the far right side are green beans, and cucumbers.  There's also a small patch of dill, that, with any luck, will be ready to harvest when the cucumbers are ready to pick and turn into pickles.  Since I'm the only one here who likes dill pickles, what was canned in 2022 lasted nearly two years.  Hopefully I'll have a good crop and can put up a couple years  worth again this summer.

Yesterday, two different cherry tomato plants were purchased to grow in containers closer to the house, but there is no plan to grow garden tomatoes this year.  I still have canned tomatoes and spaghetti sauce from last year in the pantry.  

It was exciting to see the hardneck garlic planted last autumn producing scapes this spring:

The scapes were cut off and are currently in the fridge finding their way into chicken salad, egg salad, and anything else I'd normally put onions or garlic into.  

I find these scapes have a taste that is something between a mild onion and garlic, so they are great chopped up and used in a variety of ways.  

And, once again, the walking onions are doing their thing:

Just as the garden is starting to look like something, the strawberries are coming to an end.  There wasn't as great a strawberry harvest (after thinning them last autumn), but it was the perfect amount for us to eat and have a little to share.  Strawberry muffins were a hit with several friends and new neighbors this spring.

I may have been slow to pick cherries this spring, as when I finally did, there were only enough to make one cherry cobbler a couple of weeks ago.  Ah well...  I'm glad for whatever the birds got to enjoy.  Less work for me!

All the rain we've had has livened up a Japanese Maple that we contemplated cutting down last year, it looked so raggedy:

And this is our fourth spring here, and I don't recall ever seeing this spiraea produce such pretty blooms:

I'm not sure I'd even gone to the trouble to identify this little shrub before now - it's been such a scruffy thing.  So glad we didn't cut it down either!

I hope you're enjoying spring, wherever you are.  

Celtic cross stitch...

I don't know how many posts this spring I've mentioned rain in, but another week has come and gone and we've gotten several more dousings.  A week or so ago, I finally did complete my garden planting (or, at least, I've decided I'm finished for now), so all the rain is very welcome from this point on.

With so much rain and resulting mosquitos, I've come inside earlier most evenings than I might otherwise, and I've found more opportunity to do some handcrafts. Wanting to stitch up a quick project to replace the May pillow that was in my mini-pillow display from last week, I went looking through some books for something that might fit the bill.

I was torn between some floral patterns in another book, and the Celtic knots in the book below that eldest son gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago:

Probably because I thought they'd be quicker makes, the knots won out and I've picked out two to stitch up on this very open-weaved linen fabric:  

I'm here to report that stitching an outline first does not make for quick stitching.  Perhaps especially on an image like this, one can't fudge when filling in later if a mistake has been made in the outline.  The need to do this perfectly meant almost as much time counting, recounting, and often recounting stitches again, as it took to actually stitch the outline.  It was exhausting, and like a kid with a new coloring book, I was so glad to be able to start filling in the design.

For the first knot design, I decided to stitch a dark-ish olive-colored outline, and fill in the two solid pieces with different shades and tints of the same olive color.

Only about half-way finished with this one, I'm really itching to stitch the second knot pattern I've picked out, as it has shading markings and will look more dimensional.  When I started the above knot (which did not have shaded markings in the pattern), I thought to self, "You can add the shading as you go. It's pretty obvious, afterall."  Well, shading with needle and floss turned out to be a huge headache without having plotted out ahead of time where to place the shading stitches.  I know... even looking at the picture above, it's pretty obvious where shading would go, but trying to place those stitches as I stitched (without a reference) was just too challenging for my brain.  So I gave up on that and started over.  At this point, I realize I should have stitched up the shaded pattern first, and I might have been more motivated to plot out the shading on this one before I started it.

But it's okay...  I've been watching Sarah Homfrey on YouTube and she mentions often, to keep stitching instead of ripping out and starting over.  One only learns and improves their stitches by making more stitches and moving forward.  (That's probably a paraphrase of what Sarah says exactly, but it's close.)  Of course, the over-thinker in me wants to argue that point.  I prefer to rip out and do over most mistakes I make no matter the craft, and I know I learn things in that process.  But I've decided to listen to Sarah and just keep stitching away with this.  We'll soon see how it turns out.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to resist other embroidery projects that Sarah's videos inspire me to want to jump into.  The urge to start another new thing is sooo strong.  

Yarny projects update...

I can't believe it's June already!  And I can't believe that in a little over one month, the Year of Projects (YOP) group on Ravelry will start another year. 

Because the group started in July (of 2011), it has kept that tradition of starting mid-year, and I love it.  I find it refreshing to start something new mid-year.  And it's fun to look back when I create a "round-up" post, and it's exciting to imagine what I might end up making during the next twelve months. That said, some members choose to YOP on a calendar year schedule - and I would imagine they feel the same things I feel.  They just feel it in December and January instead of June and July. 😄

A few years ago (in 2022), I think because my hands were hurting and I was looking forward to hand surgery later that year, I decided to just step away from the Year of Projects group - not realizing at the time time I'd be gone for at least two years.  Then in 2024 (after healing from yet another surgery, and cancer treatment), I wondered if it was worth it to come back at all.  I missed the camaraderie of the group, but because handcrafts had gotten pushed to the back burner during moving, and then health issues), I was a little afraid I'd regret putting pressure on myself to post every week.  I waffled right up to the last minute, but I finally decided to just re-join and if I fizzled, I fizzled. I knew there was no judgement in the YOP group.  There was only encouragement. I am nowhere near the participant I was in my earlier YOP years, but I am so glad I decided to take the chance this past year and jump back in.

Even though I don’t post every week, just knowing that the weekly YOP thread will be created, and fellow YOPpers will be posting about their crafts, has (a number of times) prodded me to pick up my languishing handcrafts and do something creative. That alone, has made it a net plus for me. All the encouragement fellow YOPpers offer each other is sweet icing on the cake.

I write all that in case anyone reading this wonders about these Year of Project posts that show up here every few weeks or so.  If you want to know more about the Year of Projects' group and get a feel for how the group members encourage each other, you'll need a free Ravelry account.  With that account, you can peruse all sorts of groups, and join them without any commitment.  You can join the YOP group and lurk for as long as you want as you consider whether or not it's a good fit for you.  If you want to join in on the fun, you'll just need a blog where you'd like to share your crafty progress, and can link to.  If YOPing sounds interesting at all, I hope you'll check it out.

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Projects I've been working on in recent weeks:

A couple of knitted beanies to kick-start a collection of donatable items that will be distributed come autumn/winter.  Rockport Double Brimmed Beanie

While these look okay (enough) in the photograph, I'd love to know if there are any special tricks seasoned knitters have learned for making neat decreasing at the crown.  It seems like my stitches get looser and looser and the decreasing ribs at the crown go a little wonky.  I think my first hats knitted years ago look much better. Is it just my aging hands that make keeping consistent tension more difficult?

One day a week or so ago more crocheted hexagons got made:

When I picked this back up, I decided this is a most excellent project to have in the background, ready to pick up and crochet however many I want whenever the motivation strikes.  Or when I felt no serious motivation to work on anything, just making one hexagon resulted in six more being made before I decide to move on...

And since April I've been knitting dishcloths again. They are great to knit when my hands want to be busy, my mind needs a distraction, and I'm too tired to do much physically - often at the end of a day (or right before bedtime).   Since I now only use two patterns or knit simple garter or stockinette stitch cloths, I've concluded my creativity with these is going to be in photographing them.  This is just fraction of what I've knit since April:

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And lastly... I found (and bought) a fun metal dish at a resale shop last week.  For all I know, this was originally purchased at Hobby Lobby (or someplace home store), but  thinking it might make a nice container for different kinds of displays or table centerpieces I brought it home to play with.

I auditioned it with some of my embroidery threads.

 And came up with this for the table behind our couch:

I'm living with it for a while to decide what I think of it.  Though I realize today I need to change out the May pillow...

I can't believe it's June already!

A couple of small projects...

While I have been crocheting and knitting some simple things in the background, there's nothing in that regard that seems worthy of a post. Instead, I thought I'd share of couple of projects I've finished recently to show I haven't been doing nothing.

Since moving into this house in the fall of 2021, I have wanted to replace the laundry room curtains.  Now hold on.  Lest you are thinking, "Laundry room curtains are worthy of a post and photos?!?"  I assure you...  to me, they are.

Truly, the curtains left behind by the previous owners were so sad, replacing them was among my earliest thoughts. But there were more important things to do, or I was too lazy, so that didn't happen until...

Three and a half years later (i.e. a few weeks ago), I stumbled upon some linen (might be a blend) fabric at Hobby Lobby, and I thought it would be good for the job.  I wish I had taken a before picture so you could appreciate the improvement, but I am happier, and (in this room, especially) that is truly all that matters.  

I decided since the door curtain never needs to be pulled back, I would make that one a single panel.  So much easier and quicker than the two panels for the window.

This window gets opened on comfortable days, so two panels was a must.  They weren't difficult at all, just a bit more time consuming to make sure they matched in the middle.

While now I want to paint the walls (or at least the doors to match the walls), these little cafe curtains that have been on my to-do list for several years make me feel like I've accomplished something every time I go into this room.  The laundry room holds a pantry, and is the pathway to the garage and sunroom, so we are in and out of this room many times in a day.  Such a simple thing, but it lifts my mood when I see crisp, fresh curtains hanging there.

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And this next project, I can't get a decent picture of hanging where it is, but I finally got doilies in a shadow box frame:

The picture above has the frame hanging on a wall that is painted in a (I call it pepto bismol terra cotta) color that inspired me to make a collection of doilies in the colors I did.  To be honest, it looks better in the photo, than I think it does in real life - I think because of the lighting, and how the wall color comes through in a photo.  

Trying to get a better lit picture, I moved the frame to the other side of the room and leaned the frame against a lighter (beige-ish) wall:

While I've manipulated the brightness a bit in my photo editing app, just to get these pictures to show some detail, I think I like the whole thing on the lighter wall the best.  But I've driven nails in the terra cotta wall, and I have nothing else to hang there presently, so there it stays until I either come up with something else to hang there, or I patch the holes and touch up the wall up with the same paint - which I'm hoping we have in the garage.  Nevermind that whatever paint is in the garage is at least 3 1/2 years old. 🙄  Coming up with something else to hang on the pepto bismol terra cotta wall may be the easier solution.

So...  I'm open to hearing opinions.  Which wall color do you think works best with this combination of doily colors?  Let me know if you want to drop by and see what this wall color really looks like.  And the second question is...  am I ridiculously late to the "doilies in a frame" party?

Spring garden update...

Sitting in our home office this morning I noticed movement far out in the back yard.  

Swapping out my computer glasses for my regular glasses, I could see it was two rabbits chasing each other in and out of the garden.  I am reminded that a couple of days ago, I found half of my green bean seedlings were nibbled off.  I imagine now they are finishing off the rest. Yesterday I planted new seeds to replace the chewed off seedlings, and as soon as it's dry enough, I'll replant more, if needed.  And then spread some bone meal to try to deter the voracious bunnies.

Spring has been beautiful here - rainy and lush.  Some hot days in the mix, but mostly, it's been pleasant.  The only problem I'm encountering is because of so much rain, I can't finish getting my garden put in.  Greg reminds me it's still early, but somehow I feel behind.  Ah well, I don't control the weather, and even though it's 60 degrees outside today, and perfect for planting, the heavy rain last night has undoubtedly saturated the ground again.  A commitment tomorrow means Thursday afternoon/evening and Friday are my best opportunities to plant more seeds before it rains again.  Hopefully, the soil will dry out enough to plant, but still be soft enough to easily remove weeds that are proliferating out there. 

Meanwhile, I've given over the asparagus patch to fern for the rest of the spring and summer.  It was a pitiful harvest, but I'm going to try some suggestions I've found online and in comments some of you have left to see if this patch can produce some healthier looking spears next year. I do wonder if it's just growing old...

Strawberry picking started this week.  It seems early, but I'm excited that the patch is producing nicely after thinning it out last autumn.  

Some of the strawberries get taken out daily by critters, but I still pick enough that for the previous two springs, and again this spring, I've decided I preferred sharing over netting the plants - and unnetting, and re-netting every other day or so until the plants finish producing.

The sour cherries are starting to ripen, and itty bitty peaches are appearing, so it's time to get serious about clearing out the frozen fruit again.  In spite of giving away fresh strawberries, eating them to our hearts' content, and baking for others, there is still plenty to freeze.  Add sour cherries and peaches, and we can never seem to manage to use up all the frozen fruit I freeze before the next fruit season is upon us.  That said, I haven't bought frozen fruit for a few years now, so there is that!  Even though I am not a big fruit eater, thinking we'll possibly live long enough to have to move from here someday, I imagine I will miss the easy, and essentially free, fruit.

While I wait for the garden soil to dry out, I'm making plans for what else to plant.

I'm not going to buy and transplant so many tomato plants this year, or even peppers, but green beans, cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash are on the docket, and I'm imaging growing some fun pumpkins and a few flowers again.  Maybe even watermelon.  Though, I'm not sure the garden is big enough for more than one or two vining plants (that need ground space).  And while last autumn I told myself I wanted to till up some more earth to enlarge the garden, I'm not so sure about that at this point.  For now, it's pleasant to imagine summer's harvest, knowing I'll accept whatever limitations (or even failures) present themselves.  Whatever grows that we can eat and share - it's all good.

To close, the irises have faded since the weekend, and I'm so glad I snapped some pictures: