A long Winter's Nap....

A dear friend 'across the pond' posted pictures of her lovely garden on her blog today; that truly inspired me to go outside and take some snapshots of my sleepy garden.  The inside of my house is in a tizzy right now as some 'leak' has occurred which has caused a flurry of activity in my kitchen and it's not good activitity!!

So, stepping outside and looking at my garden and getting another perspective was wonderful!

I also challenge any of you out there to do the same and we can all compare our gardens in different parts of the world and see how they blossom as the days progress and get longer.  I'm already noticing a bit of a difference in longer days......are you?

I will start with this dreadful looking spot; it just has some simple rocks as boundaries....but in the months ahead, you won't see the rocks at all, for the GIANT leaves of the rhubarb that grows here will cause a jungle effect of green and red. My rather prolific rhubarb is wonderful in pie.  I grow strawberries, too and the combination is almost sinful in a deliciously warm crust with a scoop of vanilla bean icecream.

The Rhubarb Garden Plot

Next, we have the pond.  Today, I took a sledge hammer and broke away the remaining ice on the pond.  I broke it free and put the heavy slices around my roses- it's so dry here all winter.  Even the snow is typically like powder, so the plants have to be watered from time to time in the winter.  There are goldfish and koi in the pond and we drop a heater in there to keep the pond from completely turning to ice.  Popsicle fish are not delicious.  Sub-freezing temps are expected here this weekend, so removing this layer will allow for new ice to form rather the beginning of a new glacier in our backyard.  I also gave the fish a bit of food; I only feed them 2-3 times in the winter- they sort of hibernate in the cold, icy water.

Remnants of snow and ice around the pond

My English Garden entryway....bestooned with a Christmas light display that I hadn't taken down yet.....I must do that tomorrow!!

This area w/ the picket fence is full of peonies, lavendar, and other lovely things.....I'll speak more about this section in coming months.  The front border is always filled with some new annuals for color and newness.  I also have about 8 or 9 bird feeders in the yard.....I should be declared a haven by the autobon society!

This is a gorgeous rose....I know, I know.....you're saying, "No way."  You'll see!

Shrubs that last throughout the year are pruned and rounded in the warmer months

My large lavendar- has almost white flowers and smells heavenly

this area is filled with sage, iris, and other delectables....many are short-lived but are crazy beautiful when they bloom.  I have a german iris that has gold tips...it's a Siberian that sticks around for about a week and that's it...but so worth it!

Looking from inside the yard to the garden gateway....yikes, it looks troubling to me in the winter.....but I do know what lies beneath.  Here, to the left of the pot, are gorgeous poppies....so big, the size of my hand

And here are 4 rose bushes....a crimson, orange, pink w/white, and deep cranberry....they provide cut flowers for me all summer long to make gorgeous bouquets to keep by my kitchen window

What is sleeping outside in my garden?

I just finished reading one of my favorite blogs.  It is from MozartsGirl - a lovely gal in England who bakes incessantly, walks and cuddles her adorable dog Alice, and shares her life with her wonderful husband Paul.  Rachel recently walked out into her garden and snapped some photographs of what her garden looks like in January in England.....I loved it!!!  Even though this is a 'sad' time for those of us who love to get our hands into the soil as early as possible in the Springtime, there is something wonderful about looking at our gardens in the Winter and knowing what is asleep in this spot and that.

So, I have decided to take some photographs as well.....I shall pull this all together and hopefully, a few more of you will as well! And together, we'll watch each other's gardens, share stories, and be awed by the magnificence of Nature in all her splendor! 

Thank you Rachel for such an incredible idea and for sharing your lovely English Garden!!  xx
Her blog is:  http://mozartsgirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-january-garden.html 

Christmas in Review

I wait all year for Christmas!!  It has always held special meaning for me- it was a time to 'make special' to make joyful, and for family and friends to come together, bake, sing, laugh...as an only child growing up, Christmas was a time of being with adults since most of my friends were spending time with their families, but it didn't matter.  It was what I knew and the excitement of the season was palpable.

My German mother brought the tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve to our household...so how do you surprise a little girl and get presents under the tree on Christmas Eve?  You take her out to look at the Christmas lights!!  To this day, it was one of the 'most fun' things we do around town---just drive around and look at the lights!  I hope the tradition never goes away......it feels so 'happy' to me....I love to see how everyone does it, what colors they use, what yard things they place.  I know the whole world doesn't celebrate Christmas, but the customs around this holy time are incredibly important to me.

My youngest daughter's guiding light: Polaris
We're watching her(the dog) while she (my daughter) and her new hubby are on their honeymoon

Middle daughter stretching out on sofa and looking through my collection of Susan Branch cookbooks

A gift from Pennsylvania from a dear new friend...handmade gifts are delightful, aren't they?

Bakikng little cookies- some filled with apricots; others filled with chocolate

'stuffed grandma' on sofa downstairs....and Moose Ranch sign from my oldest daughter

granddaughters enjoying Christmas morning in their pj's

Visiting my mom prior to Christmas and baking cookies together in our robes!

Grandpa holding the 'girlies' and giving them bumpy rides on his lap

Middle daughter opening a vintage necklace I got her from Old Town orange antique store

Our Tree 2010

Vintage plates, glassware, quilted runner....I love mixing and matching

Everyone in their jammies! Youngest daughter opens one of her gifts on Christmas morning

Middle daughter gets a frame from one of her sisters

Santa leaves some big boxes on the front porch!

Lots of snacks for everyone to help themselves on between meals

Youngest daughter, new husband, and granddaughter

Oldest daughter and her husband....examines a pretty package

Middle daughter rolls out dough for German baking lesson

Kitchen table set with Christmas colors

                                                                 
Well, we didn't get snow for Christmas Day but we have snow on the ground now and it is bitter cold!! But the days are slowly, bit by bit, getting longer, and I can feel the bulbs in the ground resting and readying themselves for my itchy garden fingers!! I will enjoy January today and all through the month.  I will start back to exercising; I will organize the Christmas things in correct bins and boxes, and I will make sure thank you notes all go out this very first week.  It is a time of renewal and it is also a time of reflection and restructuring.  January is a GREAT month for getting things done!!

Sisters playing with their new toys....reminds me of my own girls!

                                                                              
I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that the blessings of the holiday season lifted your spirits and filled you with light and love.  Take extra care of yourselves right now---it's flu season and a time for feeling 'low' after the holidays are behind us.  Don't let sad/bad/regret feelings get inside you--look at today, your life, your beating heart and LIVE joyfully!!