This month is full of expectation. Especially in the garden.
Every day (Ok, I admit, usually at least three times a day) I look around to see if anyone’s watching if the kids will be ok for a minute without me, and I run out, barefoot across my new patio stones…
(‘love, love, love’ my feet cry with every step)
…and go to check on my garden.
I’m expecting my broccoli to start to build a crown any moment.
I dream of the Zucchini Fudge Cake we will make from the fruit of this plant.
I expect a bumper crop of scapes from my garlic.
And every day another handful of strawberries turns from white to pink, pink to blood-and-diamond sparkles.
My garden is a physical stress reliever. All I have to do is walk between the beds and stress slips off me like rain off a tent fly. I think it’s cause when I’m in my garden, my mind is set on expectation. Because every thought is centered on hope.
I think I should make my whole yard into a garden.
Linking up to Gypsy Mamma’s Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt: “Expectation”. You should try it. (It’s also a great stress reliever ’cause it helps you create something beautiful in 5 min., despite a busy, messy day of motherhood.)
We are growing several things in our little garden and it’s so rewarding to just send my daughter out to pick romain or something for dinner. Hey – I like what I can see of your house! Is it an old house? Those are my favorite – so much character. 🙂
oh, I love my little, vintage house! if you search the blog for ‘house tour’ I’ve posted a room by room tour of the downstairs. 🙂
Thank you so much, Trina!
Yes, we will be going to visit my family in July. I don’t know if we’ll have time for a visit, though. We are only going for a few days for my brother’s baptism AND my sister’s bridal shower. My husband and I are in the process of adopting 2 children from Russia, so we are desperately saving our vacation days at all costs.
I would love to meet you at some point though. We are also going to NY in the fall. I will see if I can get some time on one of those trips. It would be awesome to cook up some Russian “Real” food that is healthy and delicious too.
Thank you so much for the invitation:)
I can’t wait to go to NY. It always feels like home to me, since that’s where I grew up.
Hi Trina, you have a lovely blog. I love gardening too, even though we dont have a big space to garden in our small back yard, but I see the little land that we do have as a gift from God, and use every inch of it, for flowers, for vegetables, even planted some fruit trees…:) We just finished eating radishes, and snap peas… so good! 🙂
Oh, Lena, your yard sounds lovely! wish I could come visit. Thanks for stopping by!
So refreshing!!! My hubby is the gardener around here…I really should go out there more!
I wanted to thank you for putting me onto the “No brainer Wardrobe.” It was a very timely help for me! I really believe it was providential that I happened upon your blog and that ebook as well as your real fast food when I did. The Lord really is gracious in bringing me to the right resources when I’m ready for them! Last year we went to Brazil with our 18 month old, and there found out we were pregnant…so cool. We came home and the sickness set in and I was in survival mode for the next 7. 5 months (I’d been trying to rid our home of processed foods before that but suddenly all food made me feel sick). Then our son starting coming at 32 weeks and needless to say, the survival mode continued with 2 weeks in the hospital before his birth and 2 weeks in the NICU afterward…followed by a long six months getting his reflux under control and finally at 6 months realizing that he was intolerant to dairy (I was a cheese o holic!) Poor baby.
Now finally…starting to breathe, finally starting to be intentional in my kitchen again and along comes your book to ease me into a few more doable baby steps toward more wholesome cooking. God is good. It was RIGHT on time!
Amy – it’s a delight to meet you and to hear your story! Amen – God IS good! I’m so excited and will be praying for you on your journey! (Oh, man, I’ve got to get a post up about the No Brainer Wardrobe, don’t I? It totally changed my life, too!!! Love it!)
Would like to learn of your no brainier wardrobe.
Well, I would love to tell you, Sharon! I hope to get a review up of this lovely ebook soon – meanwhile, you can click on the link in my sidebar to check the book out for yourself 🙂
Your garden looks great! One day I would love to grow some of my own food. 🙂
Hi Trina!
I discovered your blog though Passionate Homemaking, and I love it! You have a great writing style:).
I can relate to your love for your garden. I grew up in Central New York where my parents own 100 acres of land and every year they would plant a garden. It really is so peaceful and calming to work in a garden. I especially enjoyed it in the early mornings or evenings. The best part was walking through the rows, picking fresh vegetables and making something for dinner with my treasures. There’s nothing quite like it. Since I got married and moved to a big city apartment in Florida, I now stroll through the the farmer’s market and dream of one day having a garden of my own. Thank you for reminding me of such beautiful memories. I can’t wait to visit my parents this summer:).
Olga, your blog is beautiful! What an amazing food photographer you are. I might be a little jealous LOL
I was without a garden the first few years of marriage. Makes it all the sweeter when that season comes again.
So, you’ll be in NY this summer? Would love to meet you – it would be fun to cook up some russian dishes together!
Your garlic looks great. I just started picking garlic scapes two days ago–picking them early this year cause in the past I’ve always waited until they where all pretty and curly, but a also somewhat tough. Love your patio stones!
hi Trina!
… running barefoot outside is reason enough for anyone to relieve some anxiety! one of the very best things about summer!
i got so excited this morning when i saw your question on twitter. thank you for following me back, and i hope i answered it correctly. twitter is completely new to me, i set up an account in hopes of building my tiny, little blog just a bit.
off to click away on your pretty site!
Love,
kathi
It all looks wonderful!
You’re going to have to give me the 411 on garlic…we have our first decent planting this year and have no idea how/when/what to do with it. It’s about as tall as your’s is.
Basically, you pull or dig it when the tops start to die. I usually harvest mine in mid-July. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Help Trina! I’ve recently harvested my scapes (some were huge!), and my tops are already starting to die. This seems way too early to pull the garlic (although we have had unusually warm weather this spring). How dead should the tops be before I pull them? I’m eager, but don’t want to jump the gun.
Erin, I usually harvest when the leaves are mostly brown, but the stalk is not yet completely dry. You could always take a picture and send it to me, or snap a photo on a cell phone and send it to mine, and I could give you a visual opinion. 🙂 It could be ready this early – I’m thinking mine is going to be done sooner than usual, too.
Beautiful pictures! I could almost feel myself walking along with you to see your garden. I do hope you will share pictures of the harvest to come. I look forward to seeing the rest of you blog.
Thanks for joining me on my walk 🙂