COLD FEET

Okay, February is moving right along. It is only 5 days until time to plant seeds indoors. But, somehow with snow on the ground (STILL) and 15 degree temps, time moves a little more slowly. I am not very patient. I want Spring to come right NOW!!!!!! So, some of the initial excitement has worn off. I am beginning to doubt.....is all this work worth it? am I going to harvest any vegetables? will this year be another bust? will my compost really decompost and make dirt? Do other gardeners get cold feet like this?

I have such high hopes for my garden this year. I feel like I have done my reading, gotten great advice from experienced gardeners, but the waiting.........waiting is killing the desire.

Right now, I sit with my feet in wool socks cuddled under a fleece blanket and they are still cold. I guess if I keep my eye on the goal of growing my own food and watch that deadline grow closer, I can know my feet will get warmer. With only 49 days until I break ground on the square foot garden of my dreams, I am also dreaming of these feet being in flip flops, pedicured, and nice and warm in the sunshine. I might even flip them off and let my toes wiggle in the dirt a little bit. I am definitely ready for this 'COLD FEET' season to be over and to move onto the next stage....NOW! (i'll quit whining now.)

more fun in the sun.....

It is a beautiful sunny day in Northwest Arkansas today! At least in my imagination it is.....I am pretending it is sunny to keep my mood from being gray and cranky. So, "in the sun", I walked out through slushy snow, in the rain, in my boots to add to my compost pile today. Blah!

My little container had gotten really full so I added, stirred, and got back inside as quickly as possible. It's very chilly; wet and cold do not mix well with me! I am going to now cuddle up and take a quick nap and dream of the what the weather will be like in just a mere 6 weeks......

This composting and gardening thing will be so much more fun in the sun!

GROUNDHOG'S DAY

Well, Groundhog's Day has come and gone this year without much notice from most of us. When I was much younger, I used to anticipate this day and wonder what he would do, what he would predict. This ritual has always made me curious. How could a rodent coming out of a hole and either seeing its shadow or not predict any kind of weather pattern? When, you really think about it, it is ludicrous.

A few years ago, when I was teaching Language Arts in the middle school, I did some research on this national holiday. Turns out, there is no way a rodent can predict how soon a season may begin. There is a history. But, if you think about it, it is a very silly ritual. February 2nd is very early in the winter season. They say if he sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter, but if he does not, Spring will come early! Bologna!!! According to the Farmer's Almanac, in my region of the country, the last frost is consistently between March 15th and April 1st, no matter what the silly groundhog says!

So, for those of us that are trying our hand at gardening, picking out seeds, and anxiously awaiting being able to plant some things........I say ignore the groundhog. He really doesn't know anything. Mother Nature will do what she wants. Spring will come when it comes, hopefully sooner than later!

As for me, I have got my supplies needed to plant seeds indoors on Feb. 15th and cannot wait to start making my square foot gardens for April 1st. Until then, I am staying warm, wearing thermal underwear, drinking hot tea, and adding to my compost pile when I can. According to Contrary Mary, there are still a few more weeks of dreadful winter weather!