COLD OUT BUT SPRINGTIME IS STARTING TO HAPPEN

 We had 3 days of weather

in the 60's and some rain too.

Things have really turned green.

Now it is back to cold:

I took these photos through the

downstairs window....

50 degrees feels colder than it did

before it got in the 60's!  ha ah!

TEA BY THE WINDOW NOW THAT SPRING IS OFFICIAL

 It's so exciting seeing several days

of rain turn the lawn green and

the bulbs pop out of the ground.

I set up a little tea today right by

the window.  Yesterday I made some

Lemon Crumb Muffins (click for recipe)

so please enjoy!  It is 60 degrees and

 breezy today.

This winter I have watched ever so many

garden videos and of course, I love the

ones where footage is taken at some

lovely garden in England.  But it is time

to spend some time in my own garden.

Things are just starting to pop....

I have gone out 3 times to hoe out the ground

cover weeds which seem to explode in the

spring.  Of course, if the ground is rather

 wet, too much dirt gets wasted when 

the weed comes up.  Right now the

chickweed, dead nettle and Veronica

seem to be in a explosion mode.

Does your garden have a theme?  This

is something you might consider doing.

Everyone loves the "Secret Garden" as

a theme.  Back in 2009 in Colorado,

 I started calling my small flower garden

 a "Beatrix Potter" garden and I will be

sticking with that since we invested in

past years in some quality garden

 statuary.  Most of mine are still under

heavy plastic bags but soon that can

be removed.

Have the birds returned to your garden

yet?  And what about those unwanted

ones?  Yes, the Grackles are here again

and I am glad to see my bird feeders close

up under their weigh and they give up 

trying.

Well,  I wish you great success

 this year in your garden.

  

SUNDAY CELEBRATION

 

"TEA AT DOWNTON" by Elizabeth Fellow

 

I have several tea books that have

recipes regarding the PBS series,

Downton Abbey.   This week I started

looking at the paperback copy of Elizabeth

Fellow's book called "Tea at Downton".

Now don't get confused here as Julian

Fellowes is the unrelated writer

of the television series and movies.

To hear her speak through this book is

 to know that you are hearing from 

someone who has done her research.

Some of us who have teas enjoy sharing 

 the story about Anna the Duchess of 

Bedford and the birth of the custom of

Afternoon Tea.  However, Elizabeth

has added other details that I found

 delightful to hear about for first time.

And for those who still struggle with

the institution of Afternoon Tea versus

High Tea, Elizabeth Fellow has a

 wonderful way of explaining the differences.  My husband and I recently watched the shorter series "Belgravia" which actually shows Anna serving Afternoon Tea and comments are made in the film regarding the fact that she is the first to do this.  I found this

so interesting and the fact that Julian

Fellowes included it in the production.  This was the online photo of the actress portraying Anna in the series "Belgravia". 

 What a tiny waist she has!

I have to say that I am not done reading

this paperback but I am really intrigued.

I will definitely be trying some of the

recipes.

These were the very first spring blooms I picked in my front south facing yard today.

The pussy willow out front

 is definitely

starting to bud out.

In closing I also saw this fun

video on YouTube of a quirky

couple who take you to see

Highclere Castle.

SPRINGTIME JUST AHEAD IN THE GARDEN

 

I have started the process of hoeing those

naughty ground cover weeds out of the

 flower beds in the backyard.  I think

 I am now half way across the back. 

 Common weeds here are Veronica

 Speedwell, Chickweed and 

purple Dead Nettle.

I want to share a few YouTube

 Videos

I have come across.  

SUBURBAN HOMESTEAD is

an amazing channel.  This young

man is super talented with his garden,

home and an artist too!

Another channel features a young 

woman in East Yorkshire, England 

who grows cutting flowers and this

 is her channel:

BLOOM & GRAY FLOWERS

I thought this was a wonderful idea

she shared for those who have an

abundance of garden flowers you 

can sell them in your own Honesty

Box:  click here

You will see many other helpful

videos she shares.