Spring has Sprung!

The calendar won't admit it, but spring is definitely in the air. I always plan to get lots done during winter, like watercolors, collage, and digital art, but somehow time just grinds by with little to show for it, and though I have more time on my hands, I do fewer blog posts, and finally we make it back to spring. Spring renews me; I don't think I'd like living where they don't have defined seasons.




We've already been busy outdoors. Remember Harry? The beautiful wisteria that covered the arbor and bloomed profusely in spring and shaded us in summer? I planted him 7 years ago, a spindly little brown sprig that just growed like Topsy and tried to take over the world, despite weekly trimmings all summer long. Well, we cut his life short, for several reasons, one being that he was trying to undermine the house, and while I loved Harry, I love my home more. Also, the blooms are poisonous to dogs, and you know I love Marley far better than any plant. We spent all Sunday afternoon cutting down Harry with a chain-saw and loppers and dragging him off into the woods; jobs like that, I realize I'm not as young as I used to be. We've ordered some knitted shade cloth to stretch over the top instead. I'll show you when we get it, though it won't be as nearly as pretty.
Rest in Peace, Harry.

My fruit trees are budding and flowers are peeking out, not many blooms but soon. The pansies and decorative cabbages stayed pretty all winter, and now I need to till them up and replace them with herbs, big plans for herbs this year. I planted elephant ear bulbs, hoping to get some gi-normous leaves for playing with hypertufa. No residents in the bluebird box yet.


We went to the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, and one of the ideas I borrowed was a pretty little table and chair set for our screened-in deck, a nice place to sit and drink morning coffee. I mentioned it to Jim, and the same day he was building the table. I have one bent wood chair that I'm going to use, and I'm looking around for another one, unmatched, hopefully a ladder back with woven cane bottom. And then it dawned on me, most anything can be made to look more special with some cut glass mosaics stuck on it, so some parts of the chairs will be mosaiced. I've already sanded the chair and had no qualms about making it my next victim. It's the world's most uncomfortable chair. Now you may say, and rightly so, that sticking bits of glass to the seat won't improve on its comfort quotient, but if I get it nice and smooth, it can't hurt much, either.

Marley has spent a lot of time on his little stool at the window, watching cars and walkers come down the hill. When he sees a red truck, he always thinks it's Jim and goes racing to the kitchen door, yipping and crying as if it's been a year since he saw him.


So, these are my latest projects. I'm just so much happier when I've got projects in the works, especially when I can do them outdoors! I'll share my progress as it comes along.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love,
Cat & Marley