Friday, March 30

Spring!

On a run through the woods last week,
Mickey discovered the wild lilacs in bloom.

We hiked down together for Mick to dig some up for us and for his folks.

While he dug, I took pictures.

Quite the scene, these bushes poking out of his bag as we walked back up!

We stopped to sample some birch twigs.
Yep, they smell like wintergreen all right!
(You can also see Mickey's new shovel --
all metal, heavy duty -- he loves it!)


The scene as we came up from the woods.
OUR YARD IS GREEN!!!!!!

It may not look like much to you,
but after months of brown, stones, and construction rubbish,
we are thrilled to see the green tinge!

It feels much more home-ish.

We have planted snowdrops, crocuses, and myrtle
along the east and west sides of the cabin.
Mick dug up some of the snowdrops from his folks' (thank you!),
and we have been transplanting many things from the trailer.

Snowdrops and crocuses next to the stairs.

One of the lilacs, transplanted to its new home.

It is now part of the food forest that Mick has been laying out.
The logs (from felled trees) mark pathways,
and the little mounds mark trees and shrubs.

The stone circle currently holds peas,
and is surrounded by crocuses, lavender, and yarrow.
The bush in the foreground is an elder transplanted from the woods.
Mick has also fenced off the forest garden,
where we will grow most of our vegetables
(at least until the back yard is in full production).
It is now officially bird-proof!

with a beautiful stone stairway.

Our bush cherries very enthusiastically flowered
after a few days of temperatures in the 60s and 70s...

...which was right before an evening of 19 degrees.
Yes, that's Fahrenheit.

This apple tree has also been enthusiastically leafing out.
Our first spring here, we discovered a single blooming tree back in the woods.
Now it is out in the open and soaking in the sunshine!

Leeks, trout lilies, and spring beauties in abundance (among other things).

May apples

yellow violet

We hope you'll come and visit soon!

Stained!

Mick has finished paneling the hall closet.


And we have begun the task of staining the interior of the cabin. (Do you have any idea how many wood surfaces there are in a cabin?) We have targeted the bedroom as our first room, and here's how it looks after one coat (two afternoons) of stain.


The logs look rather red and quite a different shade than the paneling. We love the color, and will make no attempt to try to match the logs to the panels.




Two coats of poly, and the walls will be done, and the bed ready to receive its mattress!

Tuesday, March 27

Le Chat, Mon Roi

The herbs, comfrey starts, and black locust seedlings have been moved outside to harden off, but the plant stand did not remain vacant for long.


Gerard quickly claimed the space, finding the plant stand much higher and closer to a window than the rocking chair. He quickly settled down...



...and went to sleep.



Then there is the impossibly cute "see no evil" sleeping position



Of course, after a long day of being awesome, it was time to relax.



Looks kinda awkward to me...



...but he seems happy.