There is a giveaway from a very talented Megan at The Art of Homemaking. It is her first giveaway and they look beautiful.

Check it out at:

http://hiphome.blogspot.com/

I am so in awe of anyone who can actually sew. Because really, I’ve made the ugliest stuff I think has ever been sewn in my last year attempting to learn this lost art.

So have fun entering her contest. It closes on Sunday evening. Good luck!

There was a rock aimed at me the other day when I was walking to work. At first I thought it may be a tenacious squirrel, but Pender Island doesn’t have squirrels. Then I thought perhaps a bird dropped it when it realized it was not a nut, but an unedible rock. My third thought was “Maybe a fairy is aiming at me!!”

Then I was immediately sad. There was a distant time in my life where my first thought would have leaned towards an angry fairy instead of my third thought! I am losing my imagination! The vitality of childhood escapes me one practical thought at a time!

When I was a child, I worried about getting a ride to Liquidation world so I could buy another oily sticker for my collection. Today I worry about the mounting piles of recycling that are blocking my doorway. All the while, I watch the cows in the field, chewing grass as if it’s their only thing to do that day. Or I watch the cats stretch out, just to re-position themselves into a deeper fold of their wool blanket. I am missing something, I think. I need more flouncing fairies in my life! I need more grass chewing, more stretching and a little more magic. Or perhaps I need a new set of eyes to see the wonder around me?

Well, it may be a weird way to announce it, but a new set of eyes is what I am getting very soon. No no, not laser surgery. But magic is definitely entering my life in a big way. And it is due to arrive at the end of November.

And this is the first thing I’ve knit for my bit of magic.

 And soon I’ll have my own wee fairy complete with happy dust! Yup, my baby is going to come with happy dust because already he/she has added a lot of joy to my joyful little life. I am very grateful.

There are other small furry things that bring me joy too.

Not sure if there are many things more comforting than a pair of spooning kittens.

It has been remarkably cold for the mildest part of BC this year. The bees I’ve ordered are much later than expected. The tomatoes are dreadfully behind, and our garden has gone to shambles. In the midst of the chaos, between family weddings and family events, our garden has continued growing alongside the weeds. The lettuce has bolted but now we can collect seeds. The radishes have self-seeded from last year and the peas are climbing the trellis, aspiring to be Jack’s “pea-stalk.” Potatoes have sprouted in every corner, despite the cats’ best attempt to dig them up and turn their growing bed into a potty.

Between reading Gabor Mate’s book “When the Body says No” and attending weddings, I have found time to knit a baby vest for a friend who’s having her first born. This friend’s mother and my mother were friends since they were wee. This friend of mine and I are a year apart and grew up together. And finally, she is expecting her first baby. It was with such love and pleasure, I got to knit her this little vest. The thing I love about knitting for others is that it is a meditation for the person it is going to. I can sit and knit and think about the person, the impact they’ve had on my life, and what good things I wish for them.

Even though today feels like October with the weather wet enough to demand a warm up with the wood stove, I am looking forward to the summer commencing. The blueberries have a great set on them and I’m happy to return to the season of plenty as the Farmer’s Market really expands into veggies, fruits and flowers.

Wishing you, dear reader, all the best as your May folds into June!

I am returning from my blog hiatus. In my absence, I dashed off to Calgary for my brother’s wedding, had an adventure driving back through blizzards and rock slides, and now I am slowly settling into the routine back here on the farm. Upon coming back, the peas have grown, the cats have shed copious fur-balls in every corner, the thyme, rosemary and sage are in full bloom and the bees have found them and are happily sucking them dry.

Marc and I have been walking the island every chance we get, with tea in hand, to rediscover Pender in the Spring. The weather has been incredible but still chilly in the morning. We have been savouring the quietness that comes with island seclusion.

On the gardening front, the tomato seedlings are not doing as well as I’d like. They’ve come up but they are just starting to get their second set of leaves now and I fear we will be dreadfully behind. This weekend it is my mission to give the bottom veggie garden a good weeding as the weeds seem to be outgrowing what we planted down there. Also, I must prepare the beehives for the approaching bees!

I am to pick up 15 hives of bees whenever the beekeeper calls, so I have to have their little homes dusted, polished and ready. I’ve placed several beehives at neighbour’s and friends’ houses so that I can spread out my bee empire to ensure they have enough foraging. I also have to treat two of the hives with formic acid for mites, which I’ve never done before. Any of you readers explored this method of mite eradication? Any tips I need to know?

Anyway, I’d love to hear how your week was. As I find my blogging wheels again, I’ll post some more photos.

Happy day in May! Here are some tempting photos from the garden.

Spring is thick upon us. The pear trees are blooming, the blueberries are fertilizing, the morrel mushrooms are fruiting and going straight on our pizza. The cows in the field I walk by every day at work are learning to walk. They are so cute! The lambs are frollicking in the crew-cut grass and the peas are brandishing their new green petals.

We’ve got two big weddings coming up so our focus has been more on arranging that and less on the garden and the bees, it must be admitted. My brother is getting married to his lovely fiancee in a couple weeks in Calgary. Marc and I are flying out at a pukey hour of 5:30am and then we’re staying in a hotel we booked because of the reviews. Get this, it’s my favourite review so far,

Decor strange, staff friendly.

Bring on the strange decor! We stayed in a hostel in Inverness Scotland when we were travelling that could have suited that description perfectly. We’re talking purple walls with technicoloured handprints, lime green baseboards, a red door, zebra striped bedspread on an old iron bed frame. It was surreal. I’m hoping that this hotel brings us close to that experience again. One can only hope.

The second wedding coming up is Marc’s sister at the end of May. That one is a little closer to home, in Victoria. Weddings are such a joyous occasion and I’m really looking forward to them and to all of the planning being finished. Then we can get into the heat of summer with bees, vegetables, Farmer’s markets, pulling weeds in sundresses and sandals.

Pottery is going well and we did our first “bisque” firing at the beginning of the week. This process changes the clay to a ceramic material. It is the stage you do after the clay pots dry, but before you glaze the bowls/cups/plates. So now my works of “art” are rather pinkish, like old bubble gum. And they are waiting for their glaze bath which will come next. Also, we picked up some Earthenware clay. We’ve been using Raku clay which is grittier and for more decorative pots. I really wanted to get into the Earthenware clay because of it’s resilience and functionality. Above most things, I am practical. If I’m making mugs, bowls, and funny-shaped things (that I’ve been told, when it doubt, it’s an ash tray.) I want them to be useful. And did I mention, my teacher is very patient with me. I still have trouble centering the clay and I still ask silly questions, and he dutifully shows up, answers my questions, centers my clay, and generally puts up with my nonsense. Yes, there is lots of nonsense!

Did I mention I bring him cookies? It is my best form of currency… It’s amazing who will work for cookies. So far, my mechanic (which is essential) and my pottery teacher work for cookies so I consider myself a very lucky gal! Let’s see who will work for honey?!

Hope your merge from Winter to Spring is as welcome as it is for me! Happy April!