End of April~ Beginning of May~

~And suddenly you know..
It's time to start something new
and trust the magic of beginnings~
~Meister Eckhart

Please note it's RASPBERRY almond;)

As soon as our Secret Garden sprouts Scillas..we know Spring has arrived..  crocus bloom and snowdrops..hyacinths make way..and garlic garlic everywhere.
Iris..and peonies and rhubarb and tulips stretching through the earth..
Miracles.
Wet and rainy..garden chores were on standstill for a few days..I finished my Orla Kiely wannabe blanket..Amanda at Eight By Six shared it..I knew right away I wanted to try..Marie made it..another reason..she said it was wonderful to make.I love Eight By Six..found her on IG..so MUCH inspiration on IG!!

It is a fun project....but honestly..I knew at one point I needed 9 colors and a 4mm hook..I made it w/ 8 (4 I already had for a next yr scarf..added 4 more..) and for some reason picked up my Susan Bates 5MM hook because I like the rubber grip.

I learned a few things..like recipes..read everything!!  Before starting;)
I learned a Picot edge..how cute is that?
I learned to roll my yarn into BALLS..see that purple?  From the first day..it started out in knots..worse that Christmas lights..it took me well over 1.5 hours to get the knots out and roll:( Oh lala..

and because I used the wrong needle..and 8 skeins lol..I started running out of yarn:(
Oh well..I know how now..although these are not my colors..(I can't get the proper wool here..)and I found it hard to pick 8 colors that go ok together..Orla happened like a hippie little blanket.
Still I like her...
The 2 orchids you see are my rebloomers♥
So I guess I will keep them up..the 3rd new one since my bday in Feb from Nancy is still of course in bloom.

The girls are home..♥Although we're not quite sure they are in fact Caramelle and Bécassine.. my heart  knows Bécassine is one of them...she was the smallest always.
They are very talkative now ..lol..I think they miss their OTHER family;)

I've baked and cooked a few new things..
Still enjoying all my teas..  my coffees.my glass..es of wine~
w/rose thorns up my arms and hands..getting a facelift for Bella..

One meal I made was ..wannabe tacos w/ home made Naans..
I sautéed onions and my garlic..browned low fat meat..and added a heaping tbsp of these nice spices..from Pattie..
I was misiing Worcestershire powder..added liquid;) I had the powdered  tomatoes!!
 I have sun~dried too..anyway these spices are good:) 

I made home made RANCH dressing..it was OK so I won't share the link and made Marie's Naans ..the only thing I would do differently ..I would make the Naans earlier:) I did everything AT dinnertime..the spices and dressing were made previously..
I have made Naans before..but wanted to try Maries..I think hers are prettier;


Another..being a recipe that Terry my Gardenbuddy sent me.. 
from Sally's Baking Addiction..
Raspberry ~Almond~Crumb Cake

easy peasy deliciousness..I only had frozen raspberries..next time I will make sure I have fresh too ..to pop on..

Gradens are keeping me focused~



Garden Journal~

Above is what is blooming this first week of May..along with some 

Anemones..and Pulmonaria Raspberry Splash.

No leaves on trees..

Irises poking up.Some tulips and daffs..all is so late this year..so much is still UNDERGROUND:(

I still have 2 small patches of snow in the front..don't ask.

Ranunculus are planted..I soaked the corms..

Basil and lemon verbena and curly parsley are bought.

2 yellow Dahlias I saved from last yr are planted.

All the leaves are gone..almost..
Some pots are filled w/ fresh potting soil..


ripped out more hydrangeas..poor shoulder..

Mulched Rose Cottage..
Linda's perennial sweet peas..(2) are planted..the ones I started indoors..fingers crossed..

Tomato seedlings are doing very well!!

Grass has been aerated by Jacques..