the last rose (sunflower) of summer

Although it still looks green outside, you can feel Autumn sneaking up. When I go out now I have to ask myself "do I need a jacket?". Along with Fall comes good and bad. The good; sweaters, knee highs, hot drinks, pretty colors, and hats. The bad; winter is on its way, colds *cough*, no more swimming, no more flip flops, no more gardening (besides tearing it up), for my brother school, and it really doesn't matter what color I paint my toenails because no one sees them anyway.

Mom and I were in the garden tonight picking some of the last beans for dinner, and I asked if she minded if I picked a sunflower. I hadn't this year and they are all either facing the wrong direction, bug laden, or dying. Just being out there for the few minutes, the cool breeze reminded me of the upcoming season. I don't know about any of you, but I think of different things for times, or places. Like right now I feel like the Swan River Walk, Choir, chocolate chip cookies, and Little House on the Prairie. I have a feeling next year it will be homework. I'm not overwhelmed yet, but I've never really had to do homework before and I'm going to have to readjust my schedule, because going to bed around one, isn't going to work in the long run. I started piano lessons again today, and I'm almost done with all the dresses for the wedding. So on with the new, off with the old, on with the year.

Getting all wired up for summer

Yesterday I was in a creative mood, so....

I've been wanting to make this sign for a while now, so I finally got around to it. I found my old wood burning kit and decided it would look nicer than painting it. I hadn't tried burning in so long I forgot how hard it is on your hands, and how easy it is to mess up. Afterwards I felt like I had been crocheting a hundred mph all day. These are not weeds, but it is my garden. I know they look small for this time of year, but it was just too cold to plant ant earlier.

The plants in the foreground are radishes.I got a jewelry making book from the library and it had instruction on making a wire bird nest necklace. I had everything to make it so I decided to give it a try. It went really quick and I like how it turned out. All I need now is a pair of bird earrings. Remember so long ago wen I planted some forgotten seeds in a old pot? Well it has been blooming really gorgeous flowers. Actually three different kinds.

My sanity is back!

Finally it feels like spring is upon us and summer is on it's way. I love warm weather, summer breezes, digging in my garden, a good old fashioned sunburn, and going through a day feeling like I accomplished something. Today was the day. After my piano lesson I was able to weed in my garden for a good while (not one of the things I like) and got my potatoes and onions planted. I hope it's not to late in the season, but it's only just gotten warm enough to plant. I would put on pictures but first; I didn't take any. Second; who wants to see pictures of dirt and me covered in dirt and sweat, and third; I don't want to put on pictures of me covered in sweat and dirt. So instead here is a picture I took just for your pleasure from our beds.

It's a jungle in here

Today has been one of those typical Montana days. You all know what I'm taking about, rain, snow, sun, more rain, and then more snow. AND IT'S APRIL!!! I don't really like snow or winter that much anyway, let alone when it infringes on Spring.

This is my bedroom window. If you can see past my jungle (yes, I do I have a thing for house plants) you can tell it's snowing out side. I'm trying to be content and be happy whatever circumstances (seasons) I'm in. So here is some things I do like about colder weather.

1. The clothing. It's fun to try to layer (although I stink at it) and accessorize (not that I do that much anyhow). But It's fun to "imagine" what outfits I could put together.

2. Doing crafts. I have a much better attitude about sewing when it's sunny, but I like to crochet when it snows.

3. Baking and cooking. We made a really yummy Stroganoff for dinner. I know fat and carbs, but it's good, okay!

4. Cuddling up on heater vents. I hope this isn't to weird, I just really like the warmth.

5. Thinking up really funny practical jokes with Hannah. We always seem to be at our funniest when our minds are the iciest (my room is always freezing).

Here is a pot holder I crocheted today (and last night). The colors are kinda weird, put I only had three choices for this size of thread. I got the pattern here. I was pleased with how it turned out, and how quick it went.

A tale of greif, heartache, and victory

About two months ago I noticed at my grandma's house that one of her plants was practically dead. Being a house plant person myself, I asked if I could try to save it. My grandma was happy to have me try because she had given up on the poor thing. I took it home watered it, fertilized it, and slightly pruned it. It died anyway.

I'd had this dead plant sitting on my window seal for a while now. So on a whim I pulled out the dead plant and threw it away. I felt kinda heartless when I did this, but it was brown, soggy, and dried on the bottom, so really dead.

Then I had this pot of dirt sitting there, lonely looking begging me to put something in it. One night about 12:15 a.m., I was going through one of my desk doors I found five packets of flower seeds. They said to use before 2005 and looked long dried up. I looked over at my very lonely pot and had decided to give them a try. I practically dumped five bags of seeds over the dirt and pushed them in. I was pretty sure nothing would happen, but I thought maybe one or two might still be good.

A few days later I noticed one little green sprout popping up. I was ecstatic! I was really surprised that one came up. Within a few days around 15 had grown. I think they are all the same flower, I threw the packets away so I don't even know what they could be. So now my very lonely pot of dirt has friends, and we'll see if they will actually bloom later.

Green!

I love all the green color in the summertime. Here are some pictures I took today. Our yellow squash peeking throughGreen beans!zucchini plantPotatoes almost ready!Spearmint plant attack!

We don't have a salad spinner so our lettuce is laying out to dry.

Summer Weeds!

I love the wild "flowers" weeds that grow in summer. They are so noxious, yet so pretty (a lot like sin). My dad always goes out and weedwacks them, that makes me sad, yet they grow back within a week. They are so fun to make into wreaths and they last a while, I still have mine from last year, though a bit crunchier.