Our Hay Bale Garden

Here we are way back in May at the beginning of our growing season

There's plenty of garden space at our new place
... mostly all in the shade.

So instead of using beds or pots, we planted our starts into soaked hay bales and plopped them right down onto the sunniest parts.

We bought four bales.
Two for the patio and two along the side of the house

Things began to grow for sure! A wide exotic variety of mushrooms popped up between our green bean plants. We decided NOT to harvest them.

Then the green beans took off!

So did our tomatoes broccoli and basil.

Now at the end of the growing season, when the sunflowers have already bloomed,
and my baby is in his full plumpness, we appreciate another garden that fed us and taught us a bit more about how our food grows.

The Jesus Thing

Her: "Mama, do you think my caterpillars are dead?"
Me: "Honey I have no idea what's going on in there. It's a miracle. Let's wait and see."
(In my mind, I think they are total goners. The chrysalises are turning from brown to black and the prospect of beautiful painted lady butterflies looks bleak.)

Peeking caterpillar and friend already in chrysalis

We've been watching them for a week, watching these caterpillars grow exponentially everyday. All of them will soon hang from the top of the jar and change into chrysalises

That's the way, but doesn't that one on the bottom look like it's in trouble?

Then there was yesterday, we sat on the couch and witnessed the last butterfly emerge from her chrysalis. This is a butterfly kit from the local drugstore from this site.

The amazing thing about watching something like metamorphosis take place before my very eyes, was how I lost all hope. Even though, we all know and have all been taught how it works, I thought, "This time it won't work. We messed it up somehow. Our caterpillars are broken." However that little voice inside me said, "But you know this is what happens, they look dead and then after a while butterflies, emerge." The non-believer voice said, "Yeah well not this time, sorry." My husband reminded me, it's the Jesus thing.

Vernal Equinox Tea Party and Other Springtime Rituals

Little Ita received an invitation in the mail to our second annual First Day of Spring Tea Party in the backyard. Happy Vernal Equinox!

Guests:

• Baby
• Mama
• Little Ita
• Two friends

On the Menu:

• Nettles tea
• Sliced banana
• Amaranth graham crackers
• Chickpeas in olive oil with salt

One of the guests was at perfect sniffing level.

The day after that appointed first day of Spring, the sun came out to make it official.

I was then able to use that which marks the change of season to me, my beloved clothesline. We've been apart for nearly five months and look at her, strung up with diapers. How glad I am to have part of the family chores be outside, folding clothes that smell like outside, nothing compares.

Next on the agenda for Springtime rituals, filling the bird feeder.

But what is one to do when the birds don't know it's there?

Why send out a written invitation of course!

Urban Rivers

After yesterday's thunder and lightening hail and torrential down pour,

we needed a boat for this river.

Let's use some bamboo!
Fold over one third of the leaf. Peel two slits into that fold

(tearing through only about 1/4 inch length.)

Insert one side into the other leaving the middle part flat.

Repeat the entire process on the other side

One little bamboo boat.

Go boat go!

I remember the days when I was fascinated by

gutters and drains coursing with freshly fallen rain,

and soon he will be too.

Making Mud

It Must be Spring.

• Little Ita is outside "making mud."
  
• The rain comes down harder than ever.
• The sun blasts out for a bit too.
• It's 6 p.m. It's still light.
  
• I'm more than delighted.

How do you know it's Spring?

A Down Comforter in the Sky

As we were driving east to the mountains on a dark January day, I was mesmerized by the cloud layer. It was like looking at a down comforter in the sky. The patterns created by the clouds were quilted and puffy going on for miles and miles. And that's exactly what it has felt like living in Seattle these last few weeks, like living under thick covers. So in order to beat the blues, we tried something new
bundled up the entire family for an afternoon on the slopes at the Summit
and gathered family for an indoor adventure at the REI Pinnacle.

Rock on Sister!

Then Mama promptly requested a potted spring bulb from the store and pulled the amaryllis out of hiding. Little Ita decided she would take matters into her own hands and dig up a bulb from the backyard. Atleast now, while we continue to live under the cozy clouds of winter, I have spring on my table... and so we wait.