This winter has seemed particularly long and gray. I don’t remember any of our three previous winters here being so gray for so many days in a row as what we’ve experienced this winter. I know . . I’m a chronic complainer about the summer heat but honestly, this winter may have changed my attitude toward summer. Arthritic joints ache in the cold and I don’t think my hands have been warm since mid-September. There’s too much to do around here and even though I love being in the house early in the event, with the short days, we just don’t get things done.
We finally seem to have turned the corner on the gray days and we’re headed toward Spring. The cold isn’t over but hopefully, there will be enough sunny days interspersed in with the cold, gray days . . Mother Nature can keep dangling that carrot in front of my face reminding me that Spring is coming.
Yesterday it was sunny and the high was in the upper 50’s. I played in the garden . .
Seeds Planted
Carrots and lettuce were planted. Last spring’s chard and kale are on their last leg. They’ve provided enough for us to have fresh greens through the winter but they’re spindly and mostly all stems. (Notice I’m wearing a shoe and not a flip flip!)
Chard
I know not to jump the gun with the planting. I do it every year and then I’m out trying to cover plants. I’m not doing that this year. I can keep things in the greenhouse and keep them going til I’m sure the danger of frost is past. I can plant things that are frost tolerant and I plan to get some peas planted this weekend .. if I can convince Vince to till up a spot for me. Soon I can plant potatoes and before I know it, the ground will be warm enough for tomatoes and cucumbers. And . . then it will be August and I’ll be whining about the heat. No . . I won’t do it!
Garlic & Onions
The garlic and onions are doing good. Don’t you love my divider .. PVC pipe. It works.
Sprouts
Last spring when I planted carrots and beets and lettuce, we had a gully washer and all my seeds washed away. Some of them were deposited in the mulch and now they’re sprouting. It’s so amazing that they stayed there all through the summer and now, when it’s time .. they sprout and will try to do what they were meant to do but they don’t have much of a chance where they are and they’re all in clumps. It’s not worth the time or effort to try to transplant them . .e specially since there are all kinds of things mixed together.
Yes, I’m ready for Spring. I will enjoy the next few warm days, knowing Winter is not over yet, but the warm, sunny days have me aching to get out in the garden and work.
Glenda says
Yes!! I was just checking our extended forecast this morning for the Dallas area and we’re not going to have any more highs in the 30’s through the next month. I’m so ready for warm weather. And I’m noticing that lots of trees have little buds coming out on them. If we think and hope and use our willpower it will be spring!
Dianne says
Judy, I’m right there with you!! So happy to see that you have a shoe on and not your flip flops.
I would love 1 good snow and then I’d be over that too.. Just ready for it to warm up so we can get into the garden and the dirt.
Today it is finally a sunny day and is warming up around here. I think the high today should be in the upper 40’s and might make it to 50, that will be like a heat wave! Tomorrow it is supposed to be 55, I’ll be jumping around outside all day tomorrow.
I guess we both will try to be patient for Spring!
Diana in RR,TX says
It was in the news Wednesday evening- of the last month we had 5 days with a little sun (very little) 5 with sun and the rest nada! I think we are all ready for sunny weather, not hot just sunny! This past month really reminded me of a lot of our winters in Taiwan. No wonder we all headed to the beaches elsewhere for Chinese New Year! I was starting think that would be a good idea this year!
Diana from SC says
How has the greenhouse worked out?
Theresa says
It’s still too cold and grey here for gardening, the ground is still frozen solid. Seems like it’s not worth working outside until the daffodils come up.
A couple of things to try for arthritis, one free, the other cheap: when I gave up eating wheat to lose weight a year ago, I lost 14 lbs, but the first thing I lost was what I thought was arthritis. It turned out to be gluten intolerance. The second this is a product called Zeel by Traumeel, it’s homopathic and I didn’t expect it to work, but it is working (on my elderly beagle.)
Rebecca in SoCal says
Those seeds…gardening puts you in touch with wonder, doesn’t it? That they survived and that they are growing when they seem to have a chance is beyond us!
I saw a challenge for an art quilt group recently with the theme “Potential.” I always think seeds are a marvelous example of that.
Gale in California says
Judy, it has been a gray and cold winter here in the desert also. I am ready for spring! I’m always amazed how in the fall everyone says autumn is their favorite season. I always say no, Spring is my favorite season because everything starts anew and we have the promise of warm weather and blue skies.
Jean says
It is also cold here in NH causing arthritis in my fingers and cold hands. I find wearing and even sleeping in Dritz Crafter’s Comfort gloves help my fingers a lot. I use the brown colored ones and have never tried the green type. Usually I wear large gloves but get these in medium for added support. They have no finger tips so you can do most functions with them on. They get varying reviews but I know they help the arthritis in my fingers and I always plan to have a pair around.