Awakening/Growth Time 2024

Bloodroot emerging

It's the time of Awakening and we can see it all around us. Trees are leafing out, others are blooming.

Rhubarb growing well

The rhubarb is up in the garden.

Red currant blossoms

The currants are in bud and bloom. Garlic and shallots are up and strawberries are perking up from their winter rest. 

Our shiitake logs are beginning to fruit (it's called buttoning at this stage). We're looking forward to fresh mushrooms again.

Tiny shiitake buds

We've been out in the garden a bit. The weather has been very rainy and cool. I have taken the winter mulch off of the garlic, shallots and strawberries. The raspberries have had the winter deadened tips clipped off.

Bob cleans out sprouted straw

We've cleaned the planting beds of weeds which escaped us last autumn.

Bob undertook the task of digging up and moving our large shrub rose.

Rose bush in its new spot

Once we had removed the back deck, this bush was in a bad spot (at the foot of our new porch steps). Now it is more properly located.

The cool weather plant starts are being hardened off and are soon to be planted. 

Inside of the house, we each have had our own projects.

Acrobatic freezer washing

I have consolidated the contents of the two chest freezers into one. Both freezes have now been defrosted and washed, ready for another season.

I also have cleaned the pantry and all of the kitchen cupboards and drawers. It's still too cool to wash all of the windows, but I hope to get to this before long.

Bob has of course, been working on the bathroom remodel.

New closet space

All of the Masonite is off of the walls now. The new, smaller closet is framed out and drywalled.

Vanity on its way out

The old vanity is on the junk pile! The next step is to update the wiring. There's a little bit more drywall to install and a ton of taping and mudding to do. The toilet will have to come out before that can be done. He's been putting that off because he is dreading the trips to the downstairs bathroom in the wee small hours. It's tough getting to be old. (I remember a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon where Calvin, afraid to travel to the bathroom, just peed out of his bedroom window (causing his parents to wonder why the rose bushes on that side of the house were dying). Perhaps Bob will resort to this?!).

Wind damage to a large pine

We had three diversions this month.

The first was on the afternoon of the total solar eclipse. It was very overcast here, so we didn't see very much. We viewed this from our meadow and did experience it getting very dark and then becoming lighter again. It was very eerie! This was our first opportunity to look over our property since last autumn. We found seven large Eastern White Pine trees that had been uprooted by the winter's high winds.

A pine, cherry and maple all down together

A few cherries were downed and some smaller maples snapped off by the winds or broken down by other falling trees. Most of these will be left to lie as they fell, but one is blocking our main path. It will have to be dealt with carefully because its trunk is covered with poison ivy vines.

Our next outing was at Buttermilk Falls State Park. It was a lovely day and the Gorge Trail had just been reopened for the season.

Hepatica blooming

We walked both the North Rim and Gorge trails. There were many hepatica in bloom and the falls were lovely, as always.

Just one of the cascades in the Falls

Our third adventure was a very muddy walk to Teeter Pond in the Finger Lakes National Forest, for Bob's birthday. There were only a few birds around: some Canada Geese and a Kingfisher. The most exciting thing was an American Woodcock that walked right next to us, about a foot off of the trail we were on. It's the first one we've ever seen. Sorry, but we focused on the moment and didn't take a photograph. Instead, here's a picture that Bob took of a very photogenic frog.

Phil the photogenic frog

We plan to get out again this coming Friday to walk the Rim Trail at Watkins Glen State Park. A fine day is forecast, so we should have an enjoyable time.

That's about all of the news from here.

We'll continue to work on the bathroom and in the garden. By the time the next update comes out, the cool weather plants will be in the ground and the warm weather plants will be in the process of hardening off. Hopefully the bathroom will be showing real progress, too.

We hope all of you can get out and enjoy some of the gorgeous spring weather and all of the loveliness that it brings.

Till next time, 

Bob and Kathleen

Colt's foot is blooming now

 

Can you spot the Bumble bee?

Stay at Home / Cleansing Time 2024

 

Our creek filled with snowmelt & rain

There goes another month. We stayed at home most of Stay at Home Time, but then, we stay at home most of the time.

During this month Bob's begun the hands-on bathroom remodeling. Aside from a couple of items on order, the supplies have been delivered. Most are in the cellar, but the tub surround currently stands in my kitchen.

Tub surround in a box.

The first step in the process was to remove the plumbing access cover, which is in the downstairs bathroom.

That access cover is heavy!

Next, he removed the Masonite, tub surround, and old gypsum board from the tub area. We were pleased to find the mold in this area to be minimal.

Quite a bit of time was devoted to improving the blocking in that area to make the walls straight. That's an old house (174+/- years) thing.

Tub blocking. That's original wallpaper, folks!

Once Bob and his level had completed that chore, he installed cement board which will back the new tub surround. He just finished that job this morning.

Bathroom on Feb 25th

Next, he'll drywall above the cement board and mend the ceiling in this area. Then it's me and my trusty paintbrush.

He decided to begin with the tub area because it's easily isolated and allows us to use the toilet and sink a little while longer.

Bob at Cornell

The Wildlife Center asked Bob for some more perches, which he was very happy to supply.

They wanted "bark on" perches of specific sizes for the injured critters. It only took Bob a couple of hours and got him out of the bathroom and into the fresh air on a pleasant day. In addition to that, he was able to use a Box Elder tree that needed to come down anyway. He really enjoys doing these little projects for them.

Load of perches ready to go.

I have spent extra time this month on needlework projects and harp practice. 

It was time to refurbish my outdoor winter ware, so I dipped into my stash again and made up a scarf with matching mittens and an ear band (I don't wear hats!) with matching mittens. Then I raveled a pair of mittens (I didn't like the way they fit) and am reknitting those.

Busy needles

I've spent just a little more time on my hardanger piece which I mentioned last month. I finished the embroidery on one end this morning.

One end done.

This month also allows me more time to spend on harp practice. Right now I'm focusing on these two books, while still keeping up on the pieces I've already learned.

My current music focus.

 

In an effort to improve our energy efficiency, we've finally been able to upgrade our plant start lighting from fluorescent bulbs to LED grow lights. I'm looking forward to seeing improvement in both our electric use and plant growth.

New LED grow lights are really much brighter!

Cleansing Time is the other half of our month's designation. This is a cleansing aimed at removing obstacles to growth and vision. It means taking time to think about what we really want in life and considering what is standing in the way of achieving it. Obstacles may be material, emotional, relational, ... Once identified, taking appropriate action is the next step. 

A thoughtful time.

This year, we did not see so many material goods that needed to be shed right now. What we did see was change needed in thought patterns and habits. This is in many ways more difficult work. It will be well worth the effort.

That's what our month has looked like. Great seasonal changes loom just ahead - both in the out of doors and in our internal lives.

Look forward to the change of seasons, while still resting in the end of this season of refreshment.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Ever optimistic Daffodils!

Bright Time/ Flowering Time 2023

 

The harvests begin!

We've been having a very warm week here. The sweet potato plants have been loving it! My rose bush is covered with blossoms. 

Therese Bugnet shrub rose

You can't beat a Therese Bugnet for beautifully fragrant blooms!

The garden is in process. This weekend I hope to plant cucumbers, squash, string beans and half of my corn. Next week, it will be time to plant the dry beans.

Laying out plant starts

I've already set out my warm weather starts: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and flowers.

My lettuce is beautiful right now. We're harvesting heads daily for salads.

Gorgeous lettuce

Also, we're picking spinach, tat soi and rhubarb.

Strawberries are just beginning to ripen.

Our first berry!

We're looking forward to many more of them.

There were few morels this year. That's the way wild mushrooming goes.

Just a small handful

I've made rhubarb sauce to put in the freezer, and there's dill drying in the attic.

In my spare time, I finished off my late winter needlework project. About 20 years ago I splurged and bought a silk and pashmina wrap. It's wonderfully light weight and warm, but the color did not excite me. Even less so since I've lost my red hair. For a few years now, I have planned to perk it up with some embroidery. I finally came up with a design I liked and got to work.

The finished product

I finished it this month and am very pleased with the results.

Bob's been working diligently on the new porch. Of course, it helps that his lawn mower has been in the shop for three weeks. He has had more time for the porch project.

The decking is nearly all on. He ran out of fasteners at lunchtime today. He'll be in Ithaca tomorrow as an event volunteer and pick up more then.

The deck as it looks right now

Soon he'll be on to the post covers and handrails. I think we're really going to like this new porch!

We have taken two "get away" days this month. 

First we went to Letchworth State Park. There we hiked on the southern edge by the lower and middle falls and through the woods. We saw many wildflowers and some great views.

View of the gorge

Lower falls at Letchworth State Park

This week we went to the Chimney Bluffs State Park on Lake Ontario.

Entrance of Chimney Bluffs State Park

It was our first visit to this park and we were impressed by these unique formations.

The bluffs of Chimney Bluffs State Park

Our hike was wooded and cool on this day that saw temperatures in the upper 80s. 

After hiking for two and a half hours, and a picnic lunch, we drove a short distance to Sodus Bay and toured the Sodus Bay Lighthouse.

The light at Sodus Bay Point

We came home tired, but enjoyed a very nice day.

That's all of the news from here. We continue to be busy with the garden and the porch project. It is our busy time of year, after all. This is where we earn our winter's rest.

May you all have good days of warmth and sunshine.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Longspur violet at Letchworth

Golden Ragwort at Letchworth

Shoots Show/Growing Time 2023

Spitzenburg Apple Blossoms

BOING!!  Spring has sprung! Our full Flower Moon has technically brought an end to our month of Shoots Show/Growing Time. But the growth spurt continues.

We've had some cooler and wet weather, but it appears things are starting to turn around. The sunshine and warmth are welcome.

Here's what's up and what's in at Thistledown:

The mushroom garden is done. Now we tend it and wait.

The finished mushroom garden.

Bob seeding the Winecap bed

Our small fruits are coming along nicely.  Red and black currants are blooming. Blueberries have many buds. The strawberry plants are looking good and the rhubarb will soon be ready to harvest.

Rhubarb

   

Strawberries before blooming

In the vegetable garden, I've set out my cool weather plants, planted potatoes and sowed peas, early beets and early carrots.

Pea planting time

Setting out a cabbage plant

The garlic and shallots planted last autumn are up and looking fine.

Shallots and garlic

And I've made my first harvest from my perennial herbs. They really add zest to a sandwich.

Cress, Chervil and Chives

Today is the first day my warm weather plants are outside to begin hardening off. Just one hour of sunlight today, then one additional hour each day until planting time at the end of May.

Regarding other areas of the homefront:

The fuel oil tank from our old heating system is finally gone!

The oil tank, about 6'x4'x3'

We swapped it to an Amish roofer in exchange for some roof repair that we needed.

Tank gone and lots of nice space

 Now we have that out of the way, some nice new space in the cellar and no more leak in our porch roof.

Speaking of the porch, work has begun there.

Here's a photo of the site before work began.

Porch area before, with weird angled, high step 

Bob's cleared the area, removed one concrete step and also the old propane line. Now he's putting in the framing for the new porch.

Bob busy on the porch today

I've finally finished all of my spring cleaning, ending with the windows all washed, the final freezer cleaned and the refrigerator cleaned. 

Outside, I've gotten the rose bush pruned and the flower beds trimmed and ready for new growth. Things look so much better tidied up.

We're pleased that, even with all this work, we've been able to keep up with our goal of at least one outing a week.

We visited Fillmore Glen State Park and saw many hepatica in bloom.

Falls at Fillmore Glen State Park

Hepatica blooming at Fillmore

Next we revisited Teeter Pond in the Fingerlakes National Forest.

Teeter Pond

We made our first visit to Smith Woods in Trumansburg. There we saw many Trillium, both red and white. Also many trout lilies (past bloom) and mayapples (before bloom).

Smith Woods (big Beech trees)

Trillium at Smith Woods

Finally, we travelled to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. There we saw our first Glossy Ibis (sorry, no photos). It was quite a treat!

As you can see, we've been very busy, but our nice winter's rest has prepared us (mentally and physically) for our current tasks. It's good to have the energy we need for this new season.

Take care and my you grow along with the season.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

My Bleeding Hearts are lovely this year

Red Trillium at Smith Woods