Spring Cleaning Better Late Than Never


The holiday 3 day weekend last weekend started it all.  I had enough time to slow down a nd look around my home and it was apparent that our home needed spring cleaning and I should lead the way.  I began by organizing my craft area in my bedroom-emptying project bags, putting needles and patterns away and putting odd bits of leftover yarn in their rightful place.  When I finished that I was so pleased I went on to my bedroom closet (aka the other yarn spot)  and organized patterns and books.  From there I opened up my summer clothes and sorted into the 1.  need ironing pile, 2.  the give away pile and the rest on hangers.  I then refilled the summer bin with winter clothes to take back into storage. 
Today my daughter and I started to work on her room.  As a teenager she has little time between sports, 4-H, trap shooting and school event to do a thorough cleaning.  We started with her chest of drawers, then to the closet hanging items, closet shelves and around to her bed.  At about this point we both needed a break from sorting and folding and went for ice cream and to purchase more storage containers.  What the world would be like without lidded storage containers is any ones guess but I know my house would not look near so tidy. 
P.S.  No, I will not be sharing the photos- just know if this cleaning and organizing streak continues I will likely be back for more plastic bins...

Today has been a beautiful day.  We finally have abundant sunshine and temps are to be out of the danger zone for frost.  I put on my hand knit long sleeved pullover yesterday as it was STILL cool enough.  Last night my husband and I  covered up some of our more tender vegetables growing in the garden and in the hydroponic area.  I smelled the blooming lilacs for what I thought would be that last time this season as we were under a frost warning.  To my delight It did not frost last night.  I awoke this morning to the sun coming up and  the temperature was 38 degrees.
One of the volunteer activities I am involved in includes serving on my local conservation board.  I am relatively new in this group and today my husband, daughter and I drove to the various locations that the conservation board manages.  We saw lots of beautiful greens from the leaves on the trees, the grass that is growing to the many native plants.  At one location we caught sight of a scarlet tanager.  We have not seen one of those birds and they are as pretty as they sound and quite red indeed.  In an attempt to best use the land we manage we need to start our plans for the next fiscal season.  I wanted to be more knowledgeable about the existing facilities, locations and opportunities for each so a field trip was in order.  Some areas are to continue to be in native prairie and we need to look at better control of invasive species.  Other locations could benefit from improved parking and access to the bodies of water for canoeing or fishing.  We enjoyed our hiking and when it was time for lunch we grabbed sub sandwiches and ate at the next location on the list.  A great day was had by all.  We came upon one family fishing, another out on a nature walk and some likely looking for the last morel mushrooms of the season.
When you have the chance to visit one of the parks, lakes or prairies please think about how you too can become involved to make it a better place.

Spring has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung!!

This weekend we worked on several outdoor projects.  In the garden we planted butternut squash, zucchini, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, several herbs.

 They are in among the rhubarb, asparagus, potatoes, and onions.  I picked the first batch of asparagus today.

My daughter started working a hydroponics project with peppers.

The tomato seedlings and lettuce seedlings are growing nicely in the house near the window.  

The single surviving grape plant is blooming.  Our pear trees and apple trees are also in bloom.

 Our biggest lilac bush is also beginning to bloom and around here the rumor is when they bloom it is morel mushroom season.  I have yet to go out looking but I likely will.  The only negative about morel mushrooms happens to be the proliferation of ticks this time of year...