Fruits of our labor . . .

My Monday morning . . .  A garden is hard work, but the rewards . . . . wow, I am so grateful!    You honestly can't get any better or healthier than this!  This morning was tomatoe sauce day!  I have been flinging bags of tomatoes into the freezer , we were running out of freezer space.  This all actually started with the planting of our garlic last fall!  We grew EVERY element that is in this sauce . . . from the tomatoes, onions & red peppers to the garlic and oregano. I use red peppers in my sauce . . . as they give a depth of flavor and a richness that is amazing!   The house smells so wonderful as the sauce is cooking right now!  This evening?  Eggplant Parmesean..... YEP, we grew the eggplant too!  :-)

Have a happy day!

Lori Ann

Happy 4th. !

 May you Fourth be happy and safe !

Lori Ann

I'm Excited!

Let me introduce you to Judy Condon.

Judy is the author of the

"Simply Country"

book series.

Her books cover real country homes, decor and seasonal decorating.

2 years ago she published her first garden book.

Simply Country Gardens

it was such a hit with readers that her second garden book,

Just Country Gardens 

was released this year!

The reason I am so excited ?

(Aside of course, from being greatly inspired by all of the beautiful gardens).

Our own humble gardens will be in her 2013 garden book!

(Judy hasn't chosen a name yet, but I will definitely keep you up on the title and 

release date once it's announced !)

In the mean time you can order and of Judy's books thru

Marsh Homestead Antiques

Enjoy and tell your friends!

Lori Ann

My thirsty little helper!

Lacy has been "helping" me in the garden.

She works so hard , often checking the perimeter for strangers,

 running along the fence with her dog friends

checking on me now and then and sunning herself on the deck.

She gets very hot and loves to have a nice little drink from the

freshly refilled bird bath!

I guess the birds won't mind!

Tomorrow is the 

"Quailcrest Garden Fair"

in Wooster, Ohio

FUN!!!

http://www.quailcrest.com

Have a sunny day!

Lori Ann

Spring blues . . .

Just a couple photos to share of the earlier "Spring Blues".

I love when all the blues bloom together!

Siberian Iris, Spiderwort, False Indygo and Columbine.

Bird girl looks quite content!

In the "Wild" garden . . . it does need tamed a bit this year!

Cranesbill (2 kinds of hardy geranium) more Siberian as well as 

other Iris and lots of Columbine. 

Enjoy!

Lori Ann

Garlic and gardens going's on!

Hello everyone!

Finally, I am getting in gear with the gardens and the blog.

I've had a bit of a slow start this year, but the kitchen garden is mostly planted and growing nicely!

Clean up and (never ending) weeding commenced, 

along with scrubbing the deck & planting the "pretty" pots.

I so enjoy being out doors, even if it is in the 90's!

We warmed up quickly this year, which means my asparagus has slowed to a halt!

Oh Compost!!

(That's garden cussing in case you didn't know!)

Still hoping for a bit of cooler weather,

it is only May for goodness sake!

Hard Neck Garlic

The photo is of our own freshly dug GARLIC!

This is about half of the first small bed, with another bed to dig soon as well.

All planted in the fall for an early harvest this year, then we plant a second round too!

(Yes, we put garlic in most everything!)

I'll be back soon with more pics and a list of favorite Garden books!

Happy digging!

Lori Ann

To share my favorite quote:

"In the Spring . . . at the end of the day,
you should smell like DIRT "

Margaret Atwood

* * *

A few more for you to ponder:

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.”
― Virgil Kraft

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”
― Marty Rubin

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

Robin Williams

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.

 John Muir

The garden is the interface between the house and the rest of civilization.
nature quote by Geoffrey Charlesworth

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.
 by Standing Bear

And to end . . . 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.  
 Lao Tzu

Happy digging!

Lori Ann

It's Spring!!

New beginnings . . . 

Such an early spring we are having . . . 

it's still March and I am already feeling a tad behind!

Spring Garlic

For now we are enjoying the spring blossoms &

awaiting the first crop of spring garlic.

We are already eating the first tender asparagus!

Tasty Asparagus

Life truly is good!

Lori Ann

See you in the Spring!

The garden has gone off to bed now, she is in need of a rest after such a busy summer.

From time to time I will post photos of

her in all her winter splendor!

Sleep little garden . . .  sleep . . . 

Lori Ann