Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Last day of winter

DJan and Leo on last day of winter
I took this picture at the coffee shop, holding the camera with my right hand and pointing it in the general direction. I was quite pleased that I managed to get us in the frame at all. I needed something to mark the last day of the season, since the first day of spring is officially tomorrow! From now until the end of June, the days will continue to get longer and longer, bringing the best part of the year here in the Pacific Northwest.
Since the sun was shining so dramatically yesterday, I went out to tackle my garden plot. It's the one in the middle here, with a brown section that took an hour of weeding to get this far. All that green in the middle left is going to go. I've got a new gardening neighbor on the east side of me, you see that place that is perfectly manicured and already planted? It was me watching him out there doing all that work that prompted me to get going.
Look how perfect his plot looks! Those are cement blocks strategically placed all across the plot; I don't know his plans, but I will be very curious to see how it all works out. That green on the right needs to come up so I can plant in there again; it will take me a while, and I'm sure I'll learn something new this year. I learned plenty last year from Clint, my gardening neighbor on the west side. I've bought some peas and planted a pansy in the community garden section. It's not much, but it's a start!
:-)

23 comments:

  1. You've planted a pansy and I'll be digging out another storm tonight and tomorrow - perhaps the last one - probably not - there are those late storms in April after all. That is such a sweet photo of you and Leo, both beautiful smiles. So nice to see the earth turned over. We are going to do a raised garden in a good portion of yard this year. Am getting excited, especially since you already started. Have a wonderful evening DJan, and yes, we will be roasting chestnuts (NOPE) - FRESH CASHEWS by the fire side tonight WHILE THE STORM BLOWS ROUND ABOUT US, Eh! :)

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  2. Love that photo of you and Leo. He's just adorable. Gardening already, eh? I'm watching the snow fly... sigh!

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  3. oh my...he has been busy already...ha...um...yeah...i might give up at that point...smiles...nah...have fun gardening...and that is a great pic of you and leo....

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  4. Me & SaucyKod, diggin out. Cannot believe we're having such a huge snowstorm.

    Your neighbor gardener is Type A to the mas. "Not that there's anything wrong with it." It's enough to make me put down my hoe and say "F--- it!" Who can compete? Those concrete stones are probably little headstones for unfortunate creatures he uses to fertilize the soil.

    Your grandson is adorable. What a sweet smile. Lucky you and him!

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  5. You better get caught up with your gardening..that guy will spur you on! It looks like he planted a Kale plant..
    Lovely photo of you and Leo!

    The sun is shining here but the wind is blowing and wind chills are way below zero..we went out to the mailbox to take some photos. Spring seems a long way off:)

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  6. oh, his garden plot makes me green with envy! wowza! good luck keeping up with him! :)

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  7. and i love the pic of you and sweet leo!

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  8. I'm impressed! I can never take a self-photo. All the kids do it..why can't I?????

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  9. What sweet faces to greet me when I clicked over!

    I'm wondering if the cement squares are his stepping stones so he won't squish newly budding plants?

    Spring is teasing us here on the East Coast. Today was a balmy 60 but they mentioned the dreaded words "wintery mix" in the future forecast this morning. *sigh* C'mon Spring!!

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  10. As usual, I admire your resolve and energy. Way to go, DJan! Say hello from me to Leo the next time you see him.

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  11. We will be greeting spring in the rain tomorrow, so around here you have to make hay while the sun shines. Tom and I worked in the yard all day yesterday and all morning today. It felt good to get back to gardening. We haven't planed any seeds in the ground yet, but Tom is growing starts in the greenhouse, and spaded the first of the garden boxes today.
    You have some work to do to catch up with that garden plot neighbor. Looks like a perfectionist at work there. Good luck. Just remember, it's supposed to be fun.

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  12. The photo of you and Leo turned out perfectly, what a great way to mark the end of winter.

    I spent part of the afternoon cleaning up a section of my yard but looks like it might be a few days before I get back to it. We will be greeting spring with wind and rain tomorrow. I hope your day is sunny!

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  13. Wonderful photo of you & your buddy Leo. That dude with the perfect plot may need to be brought down a little. He's a bad example. I feel sure he's out to make you feel bad. Don't let him. Just keep smiling & whistle while you're pulling those weeds.

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  14. Leo is quite the charmer!
    I haven't even thought of gardening. Things grow very quickly here when we do plant as we get such long days.

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  15. Can't wait to see what your garden yields this year. And your little guy pal...I think he has a future in the movies. I mean, really, look at that face, those eyes...

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  16. I am ashamed to say I haven't been out in the garden once. I'm very much a fair weather gardener. I take my hat off to you as you seemed charged with energy ready to tackle your plot.You produced some amazing veggies last year so can't wait to see what is grown this year.Good luck with your very keen, organised and methodical neighbour.

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  17. Gardening becomes addictive very fast (and I have been addicted for some time now). I think the concrete blocks will allow him to step into the garden (to weed or harvest) without crushing any plants. It does look professional.
    You and Leo look wonderful together - soul mates.

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  18. It's always hard work at the start of the season. I was hoping to get out this morning and do some of mine, but it kept trying to rain and it was cold and dank so although I had my trousers on (only for gardening!)I didn't get out at all in the end. I only wear trousers for gardening so for the rest of the day I've felt like I'm walking about in my pyjamas. Lovely pic with Leon. You took that perfectly.

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  19. you and Leo look wonderful
    great job on taking the photo, I always mess up getting me and Hope together

    that garden looks amazing

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  20. Beautiful smiles captured of you and Leo. If you hadn't told me that you took it, I wouldn't have know. Good job, Jan.
    And...I must say that your gardening neighbor looks as though he might have a touch of OCD. :))
    I can't wait to watch your garden grow, my friend. Spring is here!!
    Love being here!!
    Hugs,
    J.

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  21. Well yes good luck. And thinking of getting my gardening going I looked out and... wait a minute two feet of snow...:(

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  22. Okay, okay. I'm on my way outside, in these moments of sunshine, to weed my strawberry bed.

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  23. Wow! I can hardly believe you took that photo yourself. There are such beautiful smiles. You make a beautiful picture together.

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