Shoots Show / Growing Time 2020

Nectarine blossom

Greetings to our captive audience! We can judge how bored everyone is becoming by watching how quickly the number of "hits" on our post climbs. Glad we can be of service!

We're still carrying on here. Apparently spring is also on a "stay at home" order, because it's sure not visiting us! Our weather has generally been cloudy, wet and close to twenty degrees below normal.

Young plants under cover this afternoon

There's another freeze warning tonight, so we've put some protection over the plants in the garden again.

Birthday Bob

The month began with Bob's birthday (April 16). We couldn't go out to eat, as is our birthday tradition, but I made him one of his favorite dinners. Lunette took him for a walk in our woods. As you can see, we had snow for the occasion.







I've gotten all of the cool weather crops planted. Just now some of the peas and lettuce are starting to emerge. They need more than one warm and sunny day every two weeks to really get going.

Setting out seedlings

Here's a list of what's out there, above or below the surface: lettuce, chard, spinach, kale, cabbage, potatoes, tat soi, pac choi, shallots, garlic, peas, mustard greens, carrots and beets.
The warm weather plants are in pots, waiting to be planted at the end of May (I hope).

Our strawberry plants look pretty good. It's hard to believe that they'll have berries by the end of June.

Rhubarb

The currants and rhubarb are looking good. I've got all of the necessary ingredients for my rhubarb sauce. Can't wait for that!









While I've been busy with the planting, Bob's been weeding and maintaining the edging around the "bird garden".

Cleaning the edges

He's removed the large edging stones so that he could dig out encroaching grass. He needs to replace some of the landscape fabric, too.

Wall at the lower edge

He's also gone to the creek bed for more stones. The downhill side needed a second layer of stones to guard against washouts.
When he's done, fresh cedar mulch will go over the exposed ground.









We've had a lot of bird activity lately. Just this afternoon I watched seven (2 female and 5 male) Rose Breasted Grosbeaks sitting in our nectarine tree, not more than 15 feet away from me. We've had two male Baltimore Orioles also visit this same tree daily. There are Robins and Cardinals nesting in our front and back door shrubs. This evening as we ate supper, we watched a White Crowned Sparrow in our bird garden. I'm glad that the birds are free to move about. It's so nice to watch them.

That's about all of the news from here. We're looking forward to some warn and sunny weather more than anything else.
We hope all is well where you are. Keep on keeping on. We don't want to have to delete anyone from our mailing list due to COVID 19 losses!

Till next time,
Be smart, be safe
Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Windy Time/ Awakening Time 2020

Coltsfoot, The first flower of spring

The moon is full tomorrow and brings this month to a close. And what an extraordinary month it's been!

First, let me send hope that you are all well and acting safely and responsibly.
Second, let me assure you that we are well and practicing safety measures here.

Bob modeling one of his masks

Bob is considered an essential employee, so he has to be away from home three days a week. This is the "chink in our armor". We have a sanitizing routine he follows each time he returns home. I just finished making him three masks to wear at work. In his job, sometimes social distancing just isn't possible.









Aside from the "reentry clean up", we aren't too impacted by the stay at home order and shortages. It is our custom to only go shopping once a month, and I did that before all of this "hit the fan". We already had a case of toilet paper on hand, but even that isn't really necessary, since we installed bidet seats in both bathrooms last year.

At this time of year we are generally running low on vegetables and eat a lot of sprouts. Same this year. I would normally only buy carrots and onions. We have over a year's supply of beans, and about 150 pounds of various grains in the pantry. We won't starve. Some of our meals may get a bit strange, but so what. When we run out of extras, we run out. It's not worth risking your life to get cooking oil or a bag of pretzels.

So, we stay home. We're both introverts, so this is no punishment for us. Our life goes on pretty much as it always does. That being said, here's what we've been up to...

A Equinox treat

We welcomed the Vernal Equinox with whole wheat blueberry scones for breakfast.

Our weather has been more damp and dreary than not, but the season rolls on in spite of humankind's problems.







We've been busy with early spring chores.

Bob trims an apple tree

Bob has gotten all of the fruit trees and brambles pruned and ready to get growing.












He's also gotten five shiitake logs started.

Drilling holes for the spore plugs

Pounding in the spore plugs

Finished delft piece

I've finished the cross stitch runner project.

Those dusty ceiling fans!

Then I tackled the spring house cleaning. I've decided that next year I need to break it up somehow. I'm getting too old to clean 12 large rooms in one marathon session (ten days). My joints and stamina can't take it anymore. But, the house is really clean right now!







I've also been tending seedlings for this year's garden.

Sweet potato slips

Sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale, chard, tatsoi, spinach, lettuce, parsley, celery, peppers and eggplants are all up.

Most have been transplanted into pots now.

Flats of tiny plants

Separating out cabbage seedlings for potting

Potting up in progress

I sowed tomato seeds over the weekend.
In the garden, the chives are up and growing big. The rhubarb and sorrel are up and on their way. Won't be long now!

Tired but must keep digging!

Lunette thinks that the soft spring soil is perfect for digging. She comes in with very muddy paws most of the time now.

When you're old, she says, it's perfectly acceptable to do your digging while lying down.







So you see, we continue on much as we always do.
We ask you all to be careful and act wisely. Each person's actions impact so many others.
Be safe and practice peacefulness amid this storm,

Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Hope for all

Ice Time / Blustery Winds Time 2020

Nectarine tree in February

This moon cycle, and the one we are just entering, are times of great changes. The weather shifts back and forth, gradually moving toward warmth and spring. It puts me in mind of that transient state one experiences just before becoming fully conscious after sleep. Almost awake, and yet, not.

Bob and Lunette enjoy the snow

On February 9th, we had about 12" of snow on the ground.
We went out snowshoeing.

Kathleen over looking the creek

On March 9th, it's nearly 70 degrees and the daffodils and garlic are coming up.

Just as people drift in and out of sleep, our days will alternate between spitting snow and sunny warmth. It's all part of the great cycle.

Grackles gather in our trees

The birds are also stirring. We've had HUGE flocks of migrating Red Winged Blackbirds and Grackles at our house. They surround the house and are so thick on the ground that there can't be more than four inches between each one! The sound is amazing. It's a pretty awesome spectacle! I've also seen a Killdeer on my daily walk. In general the birds are becoming more vocal.

This week I'll be starting some of my seeds in the cellar. The time has come.


I'll be starting my spring house cleaning very soon. There's also spring cleanup to be done outside. This will be one of my tasks as well.

Bricks in the herb bed to be reset after winter and dog hunting

This is also a good time to be finishing up small projects before the outside work becomes too heavy.
One of the projects that Bob is working on is the old chimney stack in one of our upstairs rooms.

Chimney closet with stack above

The vent holes were never filled in. Those tin covers were stuck in and painted over.
Cold air leaked around the covers, so it was time to take action.

The grey stuff is cellulose insulation leaking out

Bob removed the covers and caulked rigid foam board in the hole.
Next he needs to drywall over that. Then I'll paint. This could be a challenge. I've never painted this room because the walls have been textured and painted with a gloss finish. Oh boy!






Bob's also begun planning the next house renovation project. This one needs to be done in warm weather because it involves adding windows and removing wallboard. This will be a reworking of the former den, which is our pantry. The walls are paneled, and we suspect that the drywall behind it is either incomplete, or non existent. We feel a lot of cold air coming in back there. We need to address these things if we're to live energy wise and responsibly. Windows will be added to the south wall because it's as dark as, well as a den, back there. I'll include photos of that project in the next update.

So, you see, we're beginning to stir from our winter's rest, ready for another cycle to begin. Happy Vernal Equinox and Farmer's New Year.

Till next time,
Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Just for fun

Birthday flowers to brighten up March

Stay at Home Time/ Cleansing Time 2020

Full moon on February 8, 2020

Yesterday was the last day of Stay at Home Time, and boy it went out will a bang! On Friday morning we woke at 4:30 am (as usual) and could see some ice was on surfaces outside. At 4:45 am, sleet was hitting our windows. By 5:30 am it began to snow and snowed hard until late in the afternoon. Bob didn't go into work that day. The roads were terrible.

The post storm view from our back deck

We ended up with 10-12" of snow on top of the ice. It was indeed, Stay at Home Time!

This afternoon we may break out the snowshoes and enjoy a jaunt on our property.

It's a good time to get some soup on the stove

Traditionally, February 2 is the halfway mark of the winter. Old wisdom held that on that day you should be halfway through your woodpile and your provender. We're pretty good. A bit less than halfway on each. We should finish off the season just fine.

A boy and his dog

The second of February also marks Lunette's "Dogaversary". She's been with us for seven years now.












We've been working on our winter crafts.

The desk in action

Bob has finished repairing the desk...

New stand for cupboard

...and has built a stand for the cupboard. Once the warm weather comes, I'll finish it to match the cupboard color.

Bean harvest for last summer

I've finished threshing the beans. Ten gallons, which should see us through until the next harvest is ready.

Cross stitch project continues

I've also been working on my cross stitch, knitting and harp practice.

I'm taking my time with all three. They are all of a time consuming nature, and I'm enjoying the process.

Aran sweater. Not difficult, but time consuming

That's about all of the excitement from our time of rest. It will be time to rev up our activity soon. Until then, we continue to rest, and hope that you'll do the same. Nature knows rest is necessary, so go ahead and don't feel guilty. You'll just be doing what is natural.

Till next time, we bid you rest,
Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Lunette's always on sentry duty

Cold Time/ Renewal Time 2020

Lunette rests while on a foggy walk

Hello again from restful Thistledown Gardens. Our weather has not really lived up to the name "Cold Time". For the most part, it's been unseasonably warm. Our precipitation has been a fairly even split between rain and snow, I'd say. We have had quite a bit of wind.

Solstice walk at Taughannock Falls State Park

On the solstice we had a nice meal and walked at nearby Taughannock Falls State Park. (We can't take Lunette so she stayed home with a peanut butter treat!). It was cold, but very lovely. You just need to dress for the weather.

Taughannock Falls on the solstice

Bob cleaning out files

On New Year's day we did our annual cleaning out of paper files. We got a lot of shredded paper to use in the compost buckets. We also had clothes, books and household items to be eliminated. All of that was taken into town the first week of the new year. We call those trips, "drop and shops". Ideally we drop off more than we pick up. We did come home with a goody this time. More on that later.






This is our time of rest and renewal, but that doesn't mean we sit around like slugs for three months. We still have a certain amount of work to do. We simply take a slower pace and be sure to include activities that enrich our souls. I have to maintain the home, feed us and keep our clothes clean.
My bean threshing project is almost completed.

Table runner begun

As part of my renewal program, I've begun work on a cross stitch table runner.











Bob still has to earn his wages at Cornell. As part of his renewal, he's been working on some woodcraft. He is not a true "woodworker", but he likes to "dabble".

Harp easel

First, for my Yule gift Bob made an easel for my Reverie Harp. The wood is from a cutting board which we bought at ReUse in Ithaca for $1. The grain is lovely, but the wood that was used had a strong odor. (Some woods have a naturally strong odor.) It made a nasty cutting board, but for this use its smell doesn't matter. All we had to buy was the hinge. Everything else we had on hand.

Easel in use

I think it turned out very well. Bob made it just by looking at a photo of the parts on line. It's nice to have an engineer about, sometimes.

My chair needed to be repaired

His next project was to repair my chair. One day when I was cleaning I noticed that the under workings of my chair were coming apart. Bob disassembled and repaired the worn wooden sections. Now it's good as new.

Some of the areas that were repaired

His current project is an antique desk which we bought on our "drop and shop" trip that I mentioned.
This secretary was just put out on the sales floor while we were at ReUse. It was a desk with a book cabinet on top. They were asking $125, but they were having a 55% off sale that day, so we paid $60 which included the taxes!

Desk "base"

When we got it home and examined it, we saw that it was really two different pieces of furniture cobbled together to make one. This often was done when pieces were damaged or worn. It's a frugal practice we would do well to copy.

Inside view of desk

Both pieces are in quite good condition. The finish is fine. The desk drawers need a little attention.
We have decided to use the two pieces separately. The top portion will be used as a cabinet after Bob makes a simple base for it.
So we got two pieces for that $60!

Top portion will become a cabinet

Bob working on the drawer slides

We've wanted a desk for some time. Right now all of our office supplies are in three different places on two floors. Preparing to mail a bill payment takes quite a bit of running here and there. Now we'll be organized. Hurray!









We'll continue to rebuild ourselves, preparing for spring. The next garden has been planned. The seeds and supplies have been ordered. Just like nature in winter, things may look lifeless, but there is life stirring underneath. Encourage the growth of your own inner garden.

Till next time,
Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Lunette at one of her favorite haunts, Lodi Point Park