Failure to Post

That's exactly what I'm suffering from a failure to post and regularly.  I just noticed it's been awhile since I've updated.

I've been busy writing content for the 60 Day Bird Journal Challenge, and for Almost Stitched newsletter series (24 newsletters plus 6 bonus surprises) that I forget that others cannot read my mind.

So here's a photo of Pepper, our oldest cat, sporting some attitude while sitting atop a stitched story I wrote up yesterday with my sewing machine.  In between bouts of stitching and writing I've been dodging rain storms trying to get the raised beds planted.

Right now I'm at 50% or so completion and I have to say it's looking good.  John brought one of the porch chairs out to the garden area so that I can sit and watch the birds, butterflies, bees, and paint, sketch, and write unto my hearts content.

Lilacs

The neighbor's daughter brought me a huge bouquet of these lilacs, he's 94 and they came by to do some yard work for him.  The heady smell of lilac now wafts throughout the house.  Not much in the way of studio work today, it's the rush to get the gardens planted before the rain falls.  Check out my other blog Survival Kitchen, linky in the right column, to see what we've planted.

Drought at the Marsh

This is the lowest I've ever seen the marsh before.

Update No. 061211

Ever notice my updates are the date???

Anyway.

We had 4.58 inches of rain on Friday so to say that gardening has ground to a complete halt would be an understatement.  We spent the day working on the inside of the house instead.  I'm moving my studio supplies etc into the living and dining rooms, with John's blessings, and turning my design studio into a dedicated office/library for myself and my wet studio well it'll be a wet studio once again. 

Rumor has it I ""may"" be able to get into the garden again come Thursday, it's supposed to rain again tomorrow and again on Tuesday.  Rain Rain Go Away... Go to Texas and Arizona where it's really needed, please.

April Showers

We are currently experiencing rain, much needed rain, yeah I know this is quite the turn around from last year but then who knew we'd have three flood years in a row!  Well it's been dry here of late, lots of grass fires, etc. so when the rain started flying... yes I was excited.  Pictures to be forth coming.

Spring Storm

Sun Down Before the Rain

Wool Bundles

I'm hoping to open my wool bundles tomorrow finally!  It looks like it won't rain tonight fingers crossed, I'm really curious to see what they look like inside.

Petals

Today's Find

Garden Update

Well as many of you know, who live in the midwest, it has done nothing but rain here. Today the mosoon showers have held off for the most part. I was able to get into the tomato portion of the garden - yeah - I pulled off the suckers and threaded the branches through the cattle panel holes. Many of the plants have blossoms, I am hoping for a good tomato harvest this year as I'd really love to put up some salsa. More later with pictures.

Tomatoes and Rain

Well it's raining again... John came home at lunch and we tied up the tomatoes using a semi transparent nylon tomato tape. It's really easy to work with and I can see using this for rouge squash plants, cucumbers, etc. as well.

Jacob Fleeces

I'm off to wash fleeces, Jacob to be exact. I was supposed to do this last year but it never stopped raining long enough to get it done and then life got hectic so... Looks like I will have a three day window to wash some wool and hopefully get some dye pots going as well.

Inspiration

Spring is an excellent time for me to gain fresh inspirations. I've been spending more time in the woods, especially after rain showers, and photographing wet and semi-wet surfaces. The lighting is wonderful and the contrast excellent. I see things in this atmosphere that I'd otherwise miss on a bright clear day.

Clematis After Rain

Sounds like a good name for a beautiful plant that has been recently drenched!

Jacob Fleeces

I managed to clean half of a Jacob fleece today, if it doesn't rain tomorrow I will clean the remaining half. I plan to dye it with madder root when done with this particular fleece, I'll pull the brown/black areas out and set them aside for when I have more of the black color.

Rain Rain Go Away!

The weatherman reported this morning that we will be without rain for the next three days! Cna you believe it!!! So later this afternoon after I get the back yard cleaned up, and it's a PIT, I've plans to start some dye bundles thus taking advantage of the reprieve. I really don't enjoy monsoon season, which was one of the reasons I moved to Iowa in the first place, alas it has followed me here!

Soggy Garden

My garden which is in sore need of weeding but it's to muddy to get in there right now. Unfortunately we have more rain in the forecast.

Tis the Season

Picked 20 morels this morning, good haul after last nights gully washer - one tornado that went north of town a piece yet. Most places got two or more inches of rain last night, we got 1.6 inches in less than an hour. Heard tales while morel picking of some places getting five inches, tis a lot of rain. Too many people walking around in the woods, the place is getting to be really trampled.