First Day of Spring!

It's the first day of spring! 

The hot topic around here these days has been the weather. It's been the source of disgust and complaint. Us Minnesotans are good at that, complaining about the weather. I think most of us couldn't be more sick of hearing about winter, cold, snow and the lack of spring. But, then again, if we didn't have this to complain about, we'd just find another gripe. Am I right?

It hasn't been colder than this, on the first day of spring, for 48 years, since 1965, when the high was 15. This is what we are dealing with. Today our predicted high is roughly 21. We got additional snow a couple of days ago and it's more than 20 degrees colder than it should be. We are drowning in winter.

That aside, I hold onto the promise of spring and that warmer weather will soon arrive. Even with the extra snow and colder temps there has been signs of a thaw. In the sun, snow has been melting off the roof and from tree branches. Leaving icicles dripping toward the snow packed ground.

It will warm up, it will warm up, it will warm up. And that darn snow will melt. It WILL {eventually}. 

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello getting back to our normal routine after being on spring break last week.

Hello more falling, blowing and drifting snow, that I wish I was saying goodbye to instead.

Hello first day of spring this Wednesday. Warmer weather is just around the corner.

Hello starting some winter sowing sometime this week. I'm a bit behind but it's not too late.

Hello volunteering in my kindergartener's class midweek. It's one of my very favorite things to do!

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Winter Sowing

 Last winter I tried something new...Winter Sowing.

Have you heard of it?

It's a fun way of starting your seeds outdoors in winter rather than starting them indoors. 
I've started seeds indoors many times but with winter sowing you don't have to take up space inside your house. 
It's all outside and nature takes care of almost everything for you!

 I first heard about it in 2010 on a local show, Grow with Kare {here} and {here}. 
I immediately wanted to try it but had to wait a whole year.

So I got busy hoarding lots of empty milk jugs.

Which is easy to do when you have a little guy that LOVES milk!

Once I was ready to sow my first seeds I gathered up all the milk jugs and got to work.

I poked drainage holes in all the bottoms with a drawing compass, which worked awesome. 

Then I used a utility knife to cut along 3 sides of the each jug, leaving one side in tact for a flap.
After that I filled the jugs with about 3" of soil and planted the seeds.

I planted only a few varieties of seeds at first. 
Like kale, cilantro, lavender, lupine, english daisy, poppies, sweet peas and columbine.
{I didn't winter sow all of the seeds pictured above. Some I planted directly into the garden, like the cosmos, zinnias, beans and corn.}

 Once I had the seeds planted I used a strip of clear duct tape to hold the top flap down and 
then placed the jugs on our deck on the south side of our house where there's plenty of sunshine.
Then I sat back and waited.

15 days later, this is what I had!
Lots of fresh little seedlings. It was so exciting!

Then I decided to plant more seeds like morning glories, sunflowers, pumpkins, 

snap dragons, tomatoes, parsley, basil, 4'oclocks, sage, peppers and more.

The milk jugs were taking over our deck!

Another 6 weeks passed and this is what I had in early May. 

Flourishing plants ready to be planted in the garden!

It was such a fun experience! I will definitely do it again. 

Some seeds worked better than others, so here's a rundown of how everything worked for me:

1. Kale - grew beautifully, but the rabbits devoured it once it was in the garden.

2. Cilantro - sprouted well but shriveled up once I took the jug top off in late spring.

3. Lupine - did well but didn't bloom*.

4. English Daisy - did well but didn't bloom*.

5. Poppy - seedlings did well but shriveled up once I planted them in the garden.

6. Columbine - did well but didn't bloom*.

7. Sweet Pea - did ok, not very hardy or strong looking but did bloom one small flower.

8. Lavender - did well but didn't bloom* {still smelled heavenly though}.

9. Morning Glory - all varieties did well.

10. China Rose - didn't sprout at all, I think these were old seeds.

11. Snap Dragons - did well, looked hardy and lush but didn't bloom {which I thought was weird since it's an annual}.

12. Dahlia - did well and had a few blooms.

13. 4 O'clocks - did ok, not very hardy looking but did have a few blooms.

14. Pumpkin - seedlings did well and looked so hardy but in the extreme heat of the summer they ended up dieing off.

15. Sunflowers - all varieties did well.

16. Parsley - didn't do well at all, barely sprouted.

17. Tomatoes - the plants did well but my harvest was dismal, only about 2 roma and 4 cherry.

18. Peppers - seedlings did well but, like the pumpkins, they died off in the garden.

19. Sage - did well.

20. Sweet Basil - did well.

* It's common for perennials started from seed to not bloom the first year. Maybe this summer I'll get some blooms?

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello rain instead of snow! Hurray for warmer weather.

Hello spring break! It's here and I'm looking forward to some lazy mornings this week and quality time with my boys. But trying to entertain these two rambunctious guys can sometimes be a challenge these days. If they could, they'd spend every waking hour playing video games and watching cartoons on Netflix. How did it happen, that technology became much more fun than anything else? Being cooped up all winter can make us lazy and fall into bad habits. I feel like a terrible mommy for ever letting this happen. This week, though, I'm going to attempt to reshape their interests. Good luck, right! But I have some ideas up my sleeve, things I know they'll enjoy, things that don't involve a Nintendo DS or Wii. Like painting projects, baking up a batch of cookies or two and playing out in the snow {since there's plenty of it still around}. They love when I join in and build snowmen and snow forts and I enjoy it too! It's time to unplug from technology a bit more and plug back into a creative and imaginative family life. I can already feel myself breathing calmer and unwinding. Ahhhh...

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Welcome March

Welcome March!

Things have been a bit gray around here.

It's the time of year when things start looking a little dingy.

But there is always hope that spring will soon arrive.

Bringing some bright color along with it.

The other morning winter had sprinkled everything with an 

extra beautiful layer of frost.

Frost ALWAYS brightens up the dullness of winter!

I heard yesterday that meteorologists consider March 1st the first day of spring.

Too bad that early March, here in MN, only reveals itty bitty pieces of spring.

No matter how small though, it feels so refreshing

to have above freezing temps and some melting snow.

And you know that with the melting snow also comes baby buds 

that will soon be bursting forth with new life.

Meteorology speaking...HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

Welcome February

Welcome February! 

Spring is getting just a bit closer.

It was another frigid morning here in Minnesota. 

When I woke up the outdoor thermostat hovered around -20. 

Brrrrr, right?! 

I drove my boys to the bus stop this morning. 

I'm a wimp and I don't care.

This is the point at which I usually start dreaming of spring.

Longing for melty green days.

There's something about winter and being cooped up and cozy inside that's ok, at first.

But it gets really really old come February and March.

I wish it were this green and colorful outside right now.

These are photos from last March when the world was thawing and spring was seeping out.

I'm anxiously waiting for it to arrive again this year!

Until then, I'll suck it up, strap on my snowshoes and endure the cold weather.

Hope you stay warm this February!

Welcome January

Happy 2013!!!

I can't believe it's already here.

Wishing you all a blessed New Year!

Along with a new year, comes a new month and a chance to welcome all the change that it can bring.

Welcome January!

Welcome to a new year full of promise and possibility.

Welcome to healthy days. I'm tired of one or more of us feeling 'under the weather'.

Welcome to more winter. I'm not weary of it yet, that'll probably come in another month or so.

Welcome to turning a year older near the end of the month. I'm welcoming 40 wholeheartedly and ready for the milestone!

Welcome to the feeling of inspiration and the chance to start fresh. I love this time of year!

CHEERS TO YOU ALL!!!

TO A NEW YEAR FULL OF ALL YOUR DREAMS COMING TRUE!

What are your wishes for the new year?

A Merry and Magical Holiday

Disneyland - Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle

About a month ago, over the long Thanksgiving weekend, the four of us went on our first family vacation.

Disneyland - Main Street

Our destination? This enchanting place...Disneyland!

Disneyland - Main Street and Toontown

The moment the four of set foot on the Disney grounds, we were captivated.

Not just by Disney itself, but by the holiday cheer that was spilling out of every nook and cranny.

It was "so tinsel!" {a little Disney's Prep and Landing humor}  :)

Disneyland - Main Street and Main Entrance

And after scouring over more than a thousand photos, these are my favorites. 

Ones that are filled with the spirit of the season.

Disneyland - It's a Small World

Everything twinkled, shimmered or shined.

Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

Especially the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Disneyland - It's a Small World

After the sun went down millions of little lights came to life. They were brilliant!

So brilliant that we asked ourselves, "Gee I wonder how much their electric bill is every month???" 

Such practical minds we have.

Disneyland - Main Street

Snow even fell on Main Street after the Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks show.

Disneyland - Main Street

Undoubtably though, to us Minnesotans, we knew the difference.

It wasn't real snow after all, instead it was sudsy, foamy soap bubbles.

Aww but who cares, we still loved it!

Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

The fireworks show dazzled and brought tears to my eyes. It was moving!

And the way the Sleeping Beauty Castle was adorned in glistening lights was breathtaking.

Downtown Disney 

Taking a break from the theme parks we spent some time in Downtown Disney. 

Where the lights were bright and colorful also.

Disney California Adventure - A Bugs Land

Our next experience was Disney California Adventure. 

In A Bugs Land the holiday decor was oversized and gigantic. 

Because, after all, we were bug sized as we walked through A Bugs Land. :)

Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

And here it was, what we were most excited about...Cars Land...

with it's rustic junkyard charm!

Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

And it lived up to every expectation.

Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

The Cars themed holiday decor was the best!

Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

Draped in hub caps, filters, tires and all things Cars.

Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

Disney certainly doesn't skimp on details.

Disney California Adventure - Buena Vista Street

The moon was nearly full and glowed above the Buena Vista Christmas tree.

Disney California Adventure - Paradise Pier

Oh those lights how they glimmered! 

Leaving us filled with memories that will last a lifetime. 

An extraordinary trip that will remain in our hearts forever.

Wishing you all a Merry and Magical Holiday filled with many 

twinkling lights and glowing memories!!!