Planting a garden = hope in action. Our garden has been underway for a few months now in one form or another. Both in dreaming and in doing. Early peas, beets, carrots, lettuce, and a variety of tomatoes are already sprouting up---most of it, still under-cover or under the gro-lite inside, safe from danger of frost; always a possibility here, even in May. I'm actually shivering at the moment, watching a cold wind ruffle the trees outside.
In between storms there's been a little sunny weather though, like on the day I took this picture. And a beautiful Saturday it was too! Spent mostly outside preparing beds, digging weeds, and dragging myself around gasping and wheezing from the exertion of it all. After a cozy winter curled up with hand-stitching and books of every sort--not exactly in ship-shape. It happens that I forget to remind myself to ease back into the yard slowly. . .I get so crazed with excitement that I never remember until it's too late. It's annoying sometimes, to accept the fact, that I'm no spring chicken anymore. (ahem!) A languid two-hour soak in a hot bath after wards, with all the windows flung open, smoothed my feathers and revived me though. A 'just reward' for all my toil. I was like a limp noodle when I finally crawled out.
And now, I am totally re-considering an outdoor bathtub like this one, pictured from MaryJane's Farm Bed & Breakfast. Some ideas take time to warm-up to. I read the article entitled, 'the art of outdoor bathing' in the April-May 2010 issue of MJ's Everyday Organic Lifestyle magazine, with dreamy photos and directions showing how one can rig-up an "outpost bathtub", heated with a propane tank. Looks easy enough.
But while I'm daydreaming about that claw-foot bath tub nestled in the trees off the beaten path, we will be building instead, a "hot house" designed for tomatoes. And I'm pretty happy about it. Because here in the northwest, tomatoes NEVER seem to ripen in ANY predictable way. Or in abundance before summer ends. And I'm hoping for abundance, so we can make ketchup and chutney and marinara sauce, and yummy stuff like that to fill the pantry shelves.
I just love this photo. Happy gardening Vicki!
Posted by: Christy | May 04, 2010 at 05:54 PM
LOVE the basket! That is a LOT of seeds! I am the very same way...in my exuberance and celebration of a lovely day in May, I kill myself raking, tugging, digging, pulling and then I get so sore that I can barely move! Lots of tylenol...lots of movement...keep going...keep going.
xo, Cheryl
Posted by: Whosyergurl | May 04, 2010 at 07:54 PM
i would love to have an outdoor bathtub! it makes me think about hot spring~
Posted by: Chase | May 04, 2010 at 10:13 PM
You shall be busy indeed, judging from the amount of seed I can see.... may you have a wonderful crop!
Posted by: SmitoniusandSonata | May 05, 2010 at 01:45 AM
Your basket is so pretty. My son just started a garden last year and it was alot of fun. It is alot of work though-can't imagine having a large garden. The tub would be nice!
Posted by: Leslie | May 05, 2010 at 06:58 AM
That is a perfect basket for organizing your seeds, and I love the color. It's been chilly most days here, too. We've had hail twice this week!
I too always seem to overdo the first time out in the garden, and I'm in the worst shape of my life, right now. One of the wonderful things about having a garden though, is after those first few days of aches and pains, we do start to feel strong again. Sometimes, in more ways than one.
I love those Mary Jane bathtubs. They look perfect for daydreaming. I have all her books and subscribe to her magazine, plus I have saved her very first magazines. I find her so inspiring, and she loves the same old fashioned sorts of things that I do.
Love the glimpse of your helper too. It's nice that you have someone to garden with, especially with such a large space. Someday, I'd love to live on a large property, but then, I worry, will I be too old to enjoy it, when the time comes? I hope not.
That's a great idea for the tomatoes.
xo
Lena
Posted by: Lena | May 05, 2010 at 12:13 PM
I so love this post, it puts me there with you, and I feel this is a wonderful place to be.
Posted by: bs honey | May 05, 2010 at 06:38 PM
Ahhh...bliss. Your bog is my dream escape! So glad when a post pops up, and this one is perfect for the longer, sunnier days of spring-almost-summertime. Good luck with the tomatoes...
Posted by: Magickwyrds | May 06, 2010 at 12:48 PM
I wish I could pipe some of this warmth and long garnening time to you. My tomatoes are already producing... a few small ones. Here in Georgia we have such hot long summers. One thing I miss about the north is the definate change in seasons. Autumn is my favorite, but I miss snow too. I guess we can't have it all. If we could,I would have that beautiful claw foot tub to bathe in too. Might as well dream big. :-)
Good luck on your garden. I wish you many many many tomatoes!
Posted by: Velma Meredith | May 06, 2010 at 03:21 PM
Gardening is the result of faith, hope and hard work!
Your photo is beautiful. We are also enjoying the beginning fruits of our labors.
Warm wishes, Tonya
Posted by: Plain and Joyful Living | May 08, 2010 at 05:26 AM
Your green basket looks so pretty and like you, can' wait to plant. Our lilacs are out way to early and now it's gone very cold.
I love your embroidery and recently started embroidering again making post cards. I also use oil-paint sticks and glitter glue to keep the muslin from fraying. It's sucn a satisfying craft.
Posted by: sandra | May 08, 2010 at 10:30 AM
What a lovely day to take pictures. An outdoor bathtub sounds like and ingenious idea in my opinion.
Posted by: Sneaky Sal | May 14, 2010 at 04:25 AM