All is quiet in The Little Wild Garden this morning. Except for creatures.

Care . . . → Read More: No Words]]> There are really no words.

All is quiet in The Little Wild Garden this morning. Except for creatures.

Care to walk?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on . . . → Read More: Whole Foods and The Little Wild Garden]]> My dear readers, I was thankful for lovely words in my mind upon getting up this morning.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  (Phil 4:8)

Good for copywork, I think.

Yesterday the weather here was really nice.

I took a walk in The Little Wild Garden.  I admired Faithful, our dogwood, realizing that I have not journaled about her again and that I need to.  Coming soon to a blog near you.

Much to my delight, there were snowdrops in bloom around the goldfish pond.  Aren’t they sweet little flowers!  I wandered over to see if the hellebores showed any signs of blooming.  There is new growth, but no sign of a bloom yet.

The sun was so bright!  The air was warm enough to turn the fountain on for the goldfish.  My goldfish pond does not have a heater, so if it’s too cold (think ice) I can’t turn the pump on to run the water that climbs up through the fountain and runs back down.  I do love that splashing sound.

The birdseed fills the feeder that hangs, of course, from Faithful’s branches.  (Note to self:  Journal soon about your dogwood. )   The birds make me happy while I’m typing.

I consoled myself (over the fact that here it is cold February, which sometimes can get a person down) knowing that there will soon be daffodils in bloom in The Little Wild Garden.  The little neighbor girls will ask if they can have one. 

I’ll say, “Yes, take two.” 

They’ll make us all very happy.

Finally, friends, it is quite the chore keeping enough food for a crowd.  Remind me.  Is six a crowd?  I thought so.

Anyway, I’ve been buying the organic broccoli that’s on sale locally and keeping it cut up for dipping in Newman’s Own Ranch Dressing (I could drink that stuff).  I hate throwing out the broccoli stems, and yet they are rather tough and not as delicious as the crowns for dipping.  I decided to cut them into chunks and then run them through the food processor with some sweet onion.   Used in a recipe I have for broccoli quiche, with venison sausage, oh my did it turn out lovely!  I went ahead and made four of them, because three boys gathered around the table can eat one whole quiche as a “snack.”

Broccoli Quiche – Meant to make one deep dish quiche

Pastry or shell for deep dish pie shell
1 to 1-1/3 cups half and half (I use 2% milk)
6 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz swiss cheese, grated
6 eggs, beaten until frothy
1 bunch fresh broccoli — steamed and chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup chopped cooked meat (in my case, venison sausage)

Combine all ingredients.  Pour into uncooked pie shell(s).  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. 

Now, I doubled this recipe, using only 12 eggs, 2-2/3 cups of milk, only cheddar cheese (no swiss)–and probably more of it than called for as far as cheese in total, and lots of venison sausage.  It came out fine.  I made four regular pie crust sized quiches (not four deep dish).   The point is, I think this recipe can be altered quite a bit.  You just need to have enough egg (and milk/moisture) to hold whatever else you’re putting in.  Twelve eggs for four regular pie crusts worked out well, but I did have the added moisture of probably a cup and a half of broccoli and sweet onion for two of them. 

Anyway, I am thankful today for food and the fact that I can easily walk, even, to a local fresh market and get good things.

I’m working on my goal to have 10 new things in the shop by the end of the day.

Enjoy this day.

This week started out with a trip to the orthopedic surgeon so that John could have his cast . . . → Read More: A Fall Update]]> Can it be Tuesday already?? Really? Every day I think I’ll get here and post a big hello, but then every day goes crazy with errands and work, cooking and cleaning, and I go to bed thinking, maybe tomorrow.

This week started out with a trip to the orthopedic surgeon so that John could have his cast removed. Does it seem like it’s been six weeks since the break? He does have to go into a removable splint now for a couple more weeks. He’ll be working on range of motion for his wrist, which is somewhat limited after the break.

I thought you’d like this picture of John and his doctor, Dr. Lark. He’s a very nice man and, we think, an excellent doctor. John especially likes him.  He’s got a really nice way with the children, younger and older.

Remember the bladder campion I got from Yorktown?  It is still blooming and looking ever so pretty in a pot on the porch. 

Do you love it as much as I do?  I am wondering if it would totally take over if put in the ground?  Maybe?  I’ve read it can be a bit invasive.  But then again, the little wild garden has a way of letting things go wild while putting on a air of orderliness.  (I’m quite sure it’s the stone border that the carpenter man installed.)

I believe this yellow jacket is enjoying the edges of some decaying vegetation in the goldfish pond.  I’m not sure if I should go ahead and scoop everything out, or just let it float around until it decays away to nothing.  The first answer seems to make more sense, but then again, it is the little wild garden.  When you let things go, you something see things you wouldn’t see otherwise. 

I love the horsetail.

Isn’t it lovely?

We’ve had violets in bloom again, scattered here and there about the yard.  Not many.  Just a few.  I love violets.  They are good in salads and to snack on.

The bird feeder has just been a blur of activity as black-capped chickadees, house finches, cardinals, tufted titmice and other songbirds land continuously throughout the day.  It sure makes work easier to be able to look out and see songbirds playing and feeding!

I must run.  We have school to do, I must work, we are preparing for Thanksgiving, and I also want to work in the garden!   I have some bok choy I want to plant!

Enjoy this day!

During the lull, I went . . . → Read More: It’s The Rain]]> After weeks and weeks and weeks of hot, dry weather, we are finally getting a rainy week.  We had rain on Monday, and then there was a lull.  We had enough of a lull yesterday morning to get some sun, which made every raindrop glisten.  And now we are getting rain again.

During the lull, I went out to visit the fish and look at the now-clear water.

Looks like a snake, I know, but you can see the tubing to the pond pump.  The water is super clear now and we can see all the fish perfectly!  They are hiding in this picture.  They love to get under the bridge that the carpenter built.  He said they would.  He was right.

The white liner, though not my first choice if I could spend whatever I wanted on this pond, does show us what’s going on with the sediment (or the bottom of the pond) when the water is clear.  I love that part.

We are still enjoying creatures around the pond.  

Pardon me, please, while I dive down into this flower.

One of the arbors is covered in berries.  Is it some type of fruit?  Grapes, maybe? 

Why, no!  It’s poke berries!  (Sorry, mom, to let them grow, but I had to.)

I love the poke berries, and this plant came up of its own accord, grew up and draped itself beautifully over an arbor.  It is filled with mockingbirds most of the time.  How can I cut it down?

Well, must run.  I do have to work today.  

We’ll sit side by side on the little bench and look through my Beyond Five In A Row book of lessons.  We can have coffee and watch the goldfish.

Every Tuesday morning marks the beginning of three days off work for me.  I always think I’ll get . . . → Read More: Join Me For Planning]]> Would you care to join me by my little frugally-built pond?

We’ll sit side by side on the little bench and look through my Beyond Five In A Row book of lessons.  We can have coffee and watch the goldfish.

Every Tuesday morning marks the beginning of three days off work for me.  I always think I’ll get so much done, but then the days become a flurry of appointments, a violin lesson, a co-op or a fieldtrip, cleaning and menu planning, and, well, here we are at Friday morning again.

This Friday morning, I found my spot by the little goldfish pond to be a haven — I got some thinking done and, if nothing else, was able to clear my mind and relax enough to ease into a couple of work days. 

Let’s look around and see what we can find for nature study.

What a very large slug!  I told the carpenter about it and he said I should kill it.  Oh.  I cannot.  Not like this.  It’s a creature.  The carpenter said that’s the whole reason we cannot have a garden.  I love creatures too much.  We do have a garden, but I’d hate to see us try and feed six people from it. 

Not the prettiest of creatures, but fascinating for sure!  Reminds me of a leopard and an elephant all wrapped up in one tiny little specimen. 

There were butterflies everywhere this morning!  I counted about 20 on the front of the house!  They were fluttering all around the garden.   They were landing on my dress.  I had four on the front of my dress at one time!  My mother said it was supposed to be good luck  to have a butterfly land on you, not that we are superstitious or anything, but when it comes to creatures…

It seems the perfect morning for nature study, and we have just enough time to get in a little lesson.

I believe the butterflies must think they’ve moved into a Shabby Chic economy apartment.  You can see the old quilt through the plastic.  I mean, who’s to say they don’t just dig their new home?  They certainly are coming around.  Anyhoo…

Butterflies love tiny bits of water.  Where little drops splash out onto rocks, where little drops are hiding in leaves, where rocks in a potted water plant are moist from the pond water, that’s where the butterflies will be.

This sweet little buttefly looks like she’s looking right at me.  I’m not sure if she’s upset or glad to see me.  I think she’s glad because she sat very still for several photos.

Well, come to think of it, she looks a bit mad.   Maybe she wants her shabby chic home all to herself.

Enjoy this day!  More later on our nature studies, our math program, and our Five in a Row co-ops on Betsy Ross.

Or, well, all of my surplus time.  Okay!  Okay!  I spent all day yesterday outside and we did not do any math.  We focused solely on our . . . → Read More: No More Daytona 500]]> I’ll explain about the racing stuff in a minute.  Meanwhile, I guess I don’t have to tell you what I ended up doing with some of my surplus time yesterday.

Or, well, all of my surplus time.  Okay!  Okay!  I spent all day yesterday outside and we did not do any math.  We focused solely on our homeschool garden and goldfish pond.  I don’t know what Michaela was dreaming of while helping me, but I was having dreams of Charlotte Mason style sketching and of us sitting together on a little bench, reading, and watching the fish, toads, and other creatures.  

Boy did I do some digging!  For those of you who don’t remember, the goldfish pond used to be this size, which is to say about 3 feet x 3 feets and 18 inches deep.   The fish pond is now about 3 feet by 8 feet and a little deeper!  I totally love it!

The pond changed, and changed again, all throughout the day.  My neighbor gave me a bunch of water lettuce and a couple of water hyacinths. 

A little bench made from scraps was put into the ground at the head of the pool so I can sit there and drink coffee.  When I can afford it (or if The Restore has a cheap one soon), I’ll be getting a comfy bench for Michaela and me to sit out there and do some lessons.

Still not done, but I stopped to rest and drink an iced coffee.  Are you wondering about the white liner yet?  I don’t say for everyone to rush out and do this, because I’m not sure how it’ll turn out.  Honestly, I did not have 75.00 or 100.00 to buy the black plastic meant for pools.  I checked our local e-mail loops with free stuff, Craig’s List, and even went to the Restore.   No luck.  I finally bought 6 mil painter’s plastic and doubled it.  Underneath the painter’s plastic is an old quilt to afford protection from rocks and roots.   I know it won’t last forever, especially in the sun’s UV rays, but I’m hoping to get a year out of it.  Or at least a winter.  And I hope it won’t hurt the fish.  I have a book that lists types of plastics, and this seems okay?   Come next spring or summer, we hope to make it prettier and put down a real liner. 

I got a special treat from the carpenter who built me a bridge to go across!  It’ll give the fish some shade from the sun, a place to hide, and me a place to cross from the main garden path to my water barrel.

You can see the bridge above. 

Many plants were free.   I already had the rocks.  Thomas made the bridge from scraps.  The liner was 22.00.   The soil I dug out went to another area of the yard that needed building up a bit.

Oh yeah, the racing thingy.  When we put the fish in their new pond, they swam like CrAzY from one end to the other, over and over again.  The carpenter said, “They love it.  All they’ve had is the Daytona 500 for the past few years.”   You know.  Round and round and round and ROUND.  The fish seem happy now anyway.  As I add rocks to hide the plastic a little more, I’ll be sure and share pictures.

Only one of us had a working camera (oh, those dead batteries) at the homeschool group mom’s meeting at Guglhupf a couple of weeks ago.  So, I hope my friend Leslie won’t mind too much if I . . . → Read More: In The Company of Others]]> It is sometimes a very needful place to be: with others who share some of your most important goals and dreams.

Only one of us had a working camera (oh, those dead batteries) at the homeschool group mom’s meeting at Guglhupf a couple of weeks ago.  So, I hope my friend Leslie won’t mind too much if I borrow her lovely picture taken of us all that day. 

It was a fun time sharing ideas and eating fancy desserts.  (Fancy desserts is not a thing that happens much at my house!)  This is just a few of the moms who make up our wonderful group.  I am so thankful to be a part!

On a gardening note, our little homeschool garden abounds with blossoms and creatures (and shy little garden fairies too, I’m sure).

One of my current favorite “things” in the garden is this birdbath, made quite simply from a mimosa stump and a clay pot’s large saucer.  I keep telling myself I need to clothe that saucer with a layer of pretty mosaic, but the time flies away and it doesn’t get done.  It’s pretty anyway.

Another favorite spot:  the goldfish pond, currently showing off a bright water lily.  It’s a joy to watch the goldfish shake the lily pads as they dart around underneath the surface and come up looking for food.

Today’s a busy day for me and unless I get going I’ll end the day wishing I had not tarried here so long!  Hopefully I’ll bring you some pictures of the day today — I’m hoping it will be special!