Oh What a Wonderful Birthday!

I must be the luckiest girl out there....I had the most wonderful birthday and wanted to share some snippets of my special day with all my friends out there in blogland!

How to Save Big Money Each Spring

It was a frigid 12 degrees when I woke this morning and I'm so glad I put my little pansies and strawberries indoors! They would not have been happy in that serious cold - brrrrrrrrr!!!

Seed Starting in the Snow

Winter has returned to the mountain top after Mother Nature decided she was mad at me. 

It is what it is. I can't change it so I just have to continue on with my spring dreams. 

Counting My Blessings

We had a crazy thunderstorm yesterday evening which is not common for us at this time of year. Normally our thunderstorms are in late spring and summer. 

It all goes hand in hand with this bizarre weather we've been having.

Waiting Ever So Impatiently

Here we are just days away from the official start of spring and the weather has gone from spring to winter back to spring so many times I feel like a yo-yo. 

I bet that's how all the trees and animals feel also. 

A Fabulous St. Patrick's Day Menu

Did you know I was supposed to be born on St. Patrick's Day?

Surprisingly, I was two days late.

Which is weird, because I am NEVER late.

Sweetie, stop laughing. I can see you. 

Me vs Mother Nature

It's a cold, blustery, damp, miserable day today...nothing like the unseasonably balmy temps we enjoyed this weekend. 

And it's my fault. 

I did this. 

I angered Mother Nature. 

I tried to rush Spring. 

In my defense, it's not really my fault. 

After all, so many of the spring birds have returned - even the grackles. 

My blueberry bush is budding. 

My garlic is growing again. 

The spring bulbs are coming up all over the place. I found so many that I thought had been eaten by the critters when I cleaned out the perennial beds on either side of the garden steps this weekend. A very welcome discovery, indeed!

The roses I am training up the new obelisks are starting to bud. 

So how is it that our nighttime temps are going to be back in the teens next week?

That's not good. 

What will this do to the awakening gardens? 

And the budding trees? They are just starting to bloom on our road. 

And what will happen to these: 

I cheated. 

I brought pansies and violas back from New Jersey, which is 2 hours south of here. 

And obviously in a warmer gardening zone. 

We're not quite ready for pansies up here yet. 

But I couldn't wait. 

I just had to. 

And now Mother Nature is mad at me. 

She's going to punish me by pushing spring off just a little bit longer. 

But I can outsmart her!

I put my pansies in pots. 

Which means I can put them in my trusty wheelbarrow and push them into my little garden cottage if things get rough around here. 

And I've got my trusty little helper to lend a hand....or a paw. 

Bring it on, Mother Nature!

You will not win. 

Spring is coming....no matter what you do!