PhD in Snow!

Every day we get more snow; it gets piled high and deeper (PhD).

We were able to 'get out' the other day to visit the library and The Crema. Here you see Alina and Evan reading up a storm. They hardly took time to eat their cookies! They are avid readers...just like their mother! We enjoyed a Peppermint Mocha and a visit before the next onslaught of snow. Every day it snows more, from sand-like flakes to spectacularly large ones. It warms up a little in the afternoon with blue skies and sun peaking through to melt a layer, and then the sky closes up again and begins to fall on us. The icicles are dangerously long and heavy outside my classroom studio.

The little boys, William and Wyatt love to build paths for me. This one winds out to the garden for me to dump the compost. This morning it was covered over again. We have about 18 inches in places, more where it has drifted.

The Piece de Resistance (said with a French accent!) is this little primrose I uncovered this morning. Last month I'd gone out to take pictures of the blooms on all the Primroses, and then it snowed. Since then it has snowed all month long almost every day. I needed a pick-me-up and donned all my snow gear to wade into the drifts to push away the snow in order to inspect the bed. I was difinately rewarded with the promise of spring.

Fortunately our snow is feathery light, so piles of it aren't breaking anything, like this bird watering station.

PhD in Snow?

Piled higher and deeper!

My Heart Sings!

After a fabulous lunch of Fish Tacos (with chicken instead of fish) I suddenly felt like the serious low-down blues had taken hold of me. After a sunny morning where we were supposed to have snow I was delighted to imagine a brisk walk, but a sudden downpour of rain, sleet and hail prevented me. It lasted only a few moments, but just long enough to convince me I needed a ride to the store for a maple finger. Now, doesn't that beat all?

Anyway, the library is always a nice retreat, and I found an interesting article in the paper to copy for my students, and then I came home to sew, but my machine wanted to throw a conniption fit. Feeling even bluer than blue I stepped outside for a breath on the patio. My eyes spotted a tiny bit of pale green.

Wonder of wonders there are surprises coming up in my yard that make my heart sing. Before we get to that, however, this is some of the soft, bamboo yarn for the next socks. My dear and sweet friend, Stacie has ordered some in brown or green. This is as close as I have, and I think there may be too much blue in it for her...she'll tell me in the comments; I know ;).

Okay on to the surprises in the yard. Below is the first one: Iris, which is coming up all over where I set them out last year.

How about these velvety, thick and fuzzy Hollyhocks. These are in the nursery bed I began last year. I believe they are a dark, rich red.


Below is one of my favorites in the 'first' department: Leopard's bane. It gets tall stalks with bright yellow daisy-like flowers. When I saw these I KNEW spring was near!

Below is the tear-jerker. You may already have all kinds of stuff up, but in the high elevations of Idaho, this season is S-L-O-W. Can you see the small red buds appearing on these Primroses? I really did get tears in my eyes when these presented themselves for inspection.

And, last, but not least, below, Snowdrops are popping out: little, tiny, dear things that make my heart sing songs of praise to our Maker for all He has done for me! Giving me the nod to go out, to inspect, to be lifted up in this long winter of greys and browns.

I don't think I'll need another Maple finger for awhile. They are about a third the size of a maple bar...perfect for a snack when you are bluing things up royally. I'm going to get new hair tomorrow and plant lettuce on Friday.

I'll beat you to the garden; my heart is singing new songs!