I keep telling myself...

I keep telling myself that spring is coming. Don't get me wrong, I adore the snow. In fact, my coworkers couldn't keep me in my office yesterday while it snowed. I was constantly heading up front to gaze out the window at the lovely, falling, white stuff. However, thoughts of gardening have been filling my head for a few days.

A few years ago I had an herb garden fit for television. It was gorgeous and if I were to see it on one of the Food Network shows, I would be jealous. But hey, it was my garden! No need to be jealous, I planted the seeds, I raised them, and I enjoyed the fruits of my labor. However, it's been three years and my poor garden hasn't looked the same since. Okay, okay - I have an excuse, NO - it's a good excuse, as to why it's been sad for a few years. I moved in the middle of summer 2 years ago and the plants just didn't survive the move and last summer was a bit hectic what with the cancer situation and all. Sure, my mom, who was the one with cancer, would have argued that you can deal with a sick family member and have a garden (she was the one who hated sitting still, even when recommended by her doctor) but I chose to deal with a sick family member and sit in a comatose state the rest of the time. It's how I dealt, gardening be darned.

But this season brings new hope for all things green (and some things purple, a good purple basil plant just warms my heart). I've already been stalking the gardening sites and making a list, very long list, of seeds I'll buy. My every thought is consumed with fragrant dill blossoms, fuzzy sage leaves, and square foot upon square foot of sweet and savory basil plants. I'm already salivating at the thought of fresh pestos of all kinds. Oh yes, I said all kinds. I don't discriminate when it comes to pesto - any herb is fair game. I'm checking, almost daily, for signs that my mint is sprouting and sun tea will once again be minty fresh instead of just Liptony good.

Yes folks, it won't be long until you can find me up to my elbows in the soil of my front yard.

you will find me out in the garden... but only occasionally. I go through bursts of gardening energy where I'll spend all week outside and then I'm back indoors for a few weeks. Not sure why it comes and goes like that, but at least it comes. The past couple of weeks have found me with a good deal of gardening energy, but unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated. For the past 6 days it has been rainy and for the past 3 days, cold and rainy. Thankfully I managed to get my veggies into pots before the rain came, but my herbs still are living in seed packages. I do have my mint growing in full force where I planted it last year, but a cook can not live on mint alone. I just wish for one sunny and dry day this week.

Is that so much to ask?

I've also found myself with a burst of spinning energy. I joined a group on Ravelry for people going along with the book Intertwined and spinning the projects presented there. I'm really looking forward to what I come up with and hopefully it will leave me with many new projects to show off here and hopefully sell over in my shop.

Well - I seemed to have just run out of energy blogging about just that! I'm off to find something a bit more energy boosting to do.

Garden Plans

Gardening season is well on its way to being right at our front door. Seeing pictures of the herb garden I worked so hard on at the other house makes me a bit sad. I had to leave that house though - it was going to fall in around us. Hopefully whoever is there now can enjoy what I left behind.

The one (and only) advantage to leaving my old garden was the chance to get to start a new one, with new seeds and a new layout. I do know where it is going to be, but I'm not yet sure how it will exactly flow. Yes, one herb needs to flow into the next. I have purchased the herbs that will be started from seed (very easy to do). The specialty herbs (Thai Basil, Pineapple Sage, etc) will be purchased from the local farmers market or nursery.

It's already February 18 - it was this day a couple of years ago when I officially started my herb garden. I need to get out there, dig around in the ground and get started.

You can see my past gardening efforts in my Gardening photo stream over at Flickr.

Sick Days

I've been spending the past two days in bed with some flu like symptoms (I'm crossing my fingers that they are just flu like and not actual flu symptoms). Feeling like this doesn't really leave me wanting to make jewelry BUT it does allow me time to think about my other endeavors.

Other than watching a LOT of Food Network and wishing that I felt well enough to cook just about everything they have been airing, I've also been shopping for my herb garden. I was most proud of my herb garden last year. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my veggies and flowers, but I really liked those herbs.

This year I've ordered Genovese Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley, and Chives. I had some other items last year but didn't use them. I'd prefer to spend the money on varieties of mint and other basils than oregano and thyme that just do not get used. I haven't decided which basils and mints I want to purchase this year, but those will come to me. I'll start with my favorites right now.

And now for your viewing pleasure, pictures of last year's herb garden.