Spring and early summer seemed to have merged into their own season this year.

Everything is blooming at the same time!
The lilacs are out two weeks early, and even forsythia is still out!
And everyone agrees we have never seen such a display
of apple blossoms!

It is glorious!

Trillium and Virginia blue bells are lovely together!

Spot enjoys the garden!

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MONDAY- May 26, 2015

The last six months have been very busy. We have listed, and listed, and listed new products. And, while we still have some new fabrics to put on, we have finally come to a place where we can catch a breath. Debbie, that artist of organization, is keeping things on an even keel, giving me time to write. We are so happy!

Hopefully the last of the new fabrics will go on in the next two weeks. After that the hope is to get some long over-due articles written.

OVEN DRIED TOMATOS

In days of yore I used to do a lot of putting up. Due to circumstances, the last few years have not encompassed putting things by for the winter. But, this year I am out of nearly every staple. The preserving year for me starts with oven dried tomatoes. And, as I write five pounds of tomatoes are in the oven.

See how to do your own!

Sewing Notions,
Recipes,
OVEN DRIED TOMATOES

For those of you interested in putting things up, there are several books that one should read. The most important in my mind is “the Bible”. It clearly lays out the joys and dangers of dealing with food for storage.

Putting Food By
by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, and Beatrice Vaughan

is where one should start.
Read it,
and pay attention to the immense amount of detail that is in it.

Putting food up for the winter is a joyful activity. But, it is also something that is not a joke. It needs to be something one takes seriously so as not to endanger oneself or others. “Putting Food By” is into its fifth edition.

Today started out at 42 degrees F. Our spring continues to unfold slowly!

The day is cold and cloudy, with occasional drizzle. Not that pleasant. At 6:30 Spot started barking and barking- a sign that he has spotted something. He went tearing around the end of the barn at full tilt.

I looked out of the window to see what he had smelled or seen. He was staring up, barking. I figured it was a squirrel or chipmonk, but could not see anything.

Then, silhouetted against the clouds, were large hunched forms… turkey vultures! There were five of them. They roost in the oaks. They are a sure sign spring is here!

At 6:45 two of them spread their wings and took flight, doing large circles out over the road. But, they came back. The sun was not warm enough for the thermals they ride. They sat for another twenty minutes, Spot looking up, and they ignoring him!

When it was finally warm enough they took off, flying toward the marsh up the road.

I am sure they will be back this evening…

The other sign of spring is that the Primula vulgaris are in bloom! So exciting! It is the first perennial to bloom here, and gives a full six weeks of color!

PRIMULA VULGARIS

Two years ago a woman sent me small plants of Primula vulgaris sibthorpii, ( Thankyou, Jan! ) but most died in that bitter winter. And the ones that did survive did not bloom last year. I am hoping they will this year!

Sibthorpii is a color variation from the pale yellow primrose…

For more about Primula vulgaris sibthorpii read:
Primula vulgaris, ssp Sibthorpii,
a Tale of Plant Lust

I will keep you posted on the Sibthorpii!