It's the Big One for Her, Too! (And Only Two Days Late)
Our One Clump of Tulips in the Front Yard Almost Always Blooms for Easter
Want a bigger bouquet?
4/16/06: Easter Greetings to You
4/16/06: Dogfoot Tiptoed Through the Tulips
4/16/06: Time Lapse Tulips
And you'll find lots more flower photos here and here and here.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the rainy foodie farm blog where today's April showers should bring us even more cheerful flowers—well, except for the water that's falling through The Shack's old tin roof and kerplunking into the large dishpan beside me.
Does Anything Say It Better than Daffodils?
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the cheerful yellow foodie farm blog where a quick count this morning estimated the number of blooming daffodils in the yard (which faithfully appear year after year without even the slightest bit of assistance on our part) at around an astonishing 400 flowers—including a small clump that has jumped over and popped up next to the flowering quince (another no maintenance favorite), as well as two cute little rows of blooms that are marching their way across the lawn under the clothesline. What a perfect excuse not to mow the grass.
There Are Usually Dogs (At Least That's How It Works Around This Farm)
Calling All Owners of Rescued and Adopted Dogs: Your Pet Could Be One of the 2009 Faces of Love!
How can you not love somebody who proudly calls herself a 'crazy dog lady?' That would be my dear friend and talented artist, Leigh Jackson, who says in her bio, "I found the loves of my life—except my husband—at animal shelters." Leigh's affordable modern dog portraits, which wonderfully capture the unique spirit of each beloved animal, are in hundreds of dog-loving homes worldwide (including many Hollywood celebrities') and have been featured in such publications as Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and the Miami Herald.
Leigh's latest project is called Faces of Love, and you're invited to submit photos of your dog for consideration (with no obligation to purchase a portrait). "I am looking to paint all the wonderful rescued and adopted dogs out there: big, small, furry and not so furry," explains Leigh. She wants to share their stories, too, like Jak's, who is pictured below. He's a "foster dog extraordinaire" who "has raised upward of 50 kittens and helped rehabilitated 5 injured dogs. . . and even helped raise a baby squirrel."
Ten percent of purchases from this year-long project, which includes paintings, prints, a 2010 calendar, and a compilation book, will be donated to A Place to Bark Animal Rescue, Bernie Berlin's amazing sanctuary in Tennessee. I've written about Bernie and her tireless efforts to save hundreds of unwanted dogs and puppies from certain death before. She is a true inspiration, and I thank all of you who have generously made donations to A Place to Bark. You can learn more about Leigh's 2009 Faces of Love project here, and you can see the dogs she's already painted—along with the photos that she painted them from—here. I know many of you have welcomed rescued and adopted animals into your lives, and I hope you'll let me know if your dog becomes one of the 2009 Faces of Love!
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the laid back furry foodie farm blog where even if the dogs are sitting right on top of the flowers (which is what Bear happens to be doing in this photo), we still wouldn't trade them for the world. And besides, at least the dogs don't eat the the flowers like some of the critters around here do.
The First Daffodils in the Front Yard are Up!
Need a Bigger Bouquet Today?
You'll find all sorts of colorful blooms here and here.
© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the warm and toasty foodie farm blog where the heat is once again coming from the woodstove rather than the blazing sun (which is the way it's suppsed to be this time of year), although we're not quite sure about another snowstorm. They did take the predicted 2 to 4 inches of accumulation out of the forecast, which is probably just fine with the daffodils.
What a Lovely Little Surprise
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the naturally color coordinated foodie farm blog where a huge display of flowers is always gorgeous, but around here more often than not just two little ones will do (especially when they're bulbs you planted years ago that only bloom once in a while)—and the reason I'm still awake this late is because I have a pear cake in the oven (and a cookbook deadline looming). But at least I know what will be on the menu for breakfast!
Just as Busy as the Bees
See the comments section for notes about my beloved point and shoot camera and how I took this photo (no technical expertise required!).
© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the echinacea is so popular we've been seeing pollinator pile ups on the brightly colored blooms — which are also called purple coneflowers but are actually quite pink.
I'm in love with these beautiful blooms.
There is nothing like the scent of lilacs riding on a warm breeze. The other day it followed me all the way down to the barn. There I was, lugging a hay bale to the starving sheep and sniffing the air like a dog.
I never take our lilac blooms for granted, as they only appear every few years because of our crazy weather. Last spring our two lilac bushes were covered with tiny buds, and I was hopeful (what timing—see the link below to my farm photo from a year ago today), but a hard frost destroyed every one of them. This year we've been lucky.
On Tuesday I snipped a handful of blooms, brought them into the house, and arranged them in a neglected crystal vase. There's something about freshly cut flowers--put some in a room, and I fail to see anything else. The ridiculous clutter, the dusty shelves of books, the incredibly ugly fake brick paneling on one wall of the living room--they instantly vanish.
The problem is, though, that the stems on lilac flowers are more like woody branches than stalks. Even when I crush their ends so they can absorb water more easily they don't last long indoors.
Today I wondered if this might have been by design. If the lilac flowers have to remain outside, the lilac lover is forced to stop whatever she is doing, walk over to the blooming bush, and bury her face in the flowers. She has no choice but to inhale deeply—the kind of deep breath that instantly soothes and relaxes every inch of your being. That lets you draw in one last little bit of scentillating air, even though you know your lungs are full. You feel your head tingle for a second, and you wonder if your brain is trying to capture the heady fragrance and store it as a memory.
For how nice it would be if we could summon up the scent of lilacs all year long.
A year of Farm Photos ago:
4/5/06: The Lilacs Are Coming! The Lilacs Are Coming!
4/4/06: Babies Chew On Everything
WCB #43: Molly Doodlebug & The Cat Cabin
And A Sweeter Sheep You Will Not Meet
