Sunday, January 17, 2010

When Mother Nature Gives You Snow....

I hope all had a joyous holiday and are having a good New Year. Dragonfly Corner was very blessed during the holidays with lots of family and friends joining in the celebrations. We even had 5 of the grands here for a week. Lots of time to just enjoy.

As for my lack of postings and comments, I do apologize. I lost my muse...and of course there is the tiredness factor. I have reached a point where working full time and energy for it are not equal. I do think part of it is the cold and dark days of winter. By 5:00 in the evening, I am ready to put my pjs on and just veg for the remainder of the night. (And I'm not doing much in the way of cleaning house either!)


Hopefully with the days staring to get longer and now a mid-January thaw, I will get some of the 'zing' back. I am looking forward to getting that packet seed exchange seeds. Monica does an all out wonderful job of organizing it. Last year, Rose and I spent a long afternoon going through all the different offerings and planning where to plant the selected ones. We are going to do it again this year when the packet comes. I saved more of a variety of seeds this year to use for myself and to put in the exchange.

And Rose and I are planning our trip to the Chicago Flower show in early March. We enjoyed our trip last year-it was just the thing to get us in a gardening mood. I came home and immediately started seeds indoors. This year I am going to wait a couple of weeks, though. My seeds came up fine but it was too early when they were at the optimum planting stage. Lesson learned!





As many of you know, we have had some snows here and of course bitterly cold temps. Our last snow was the light fluffy kind that did not make for snowmen or snowballs. But now with the warming temps it has settled into a much more agreeable building medium as you can tell in the photo above.

No, I did not build this adorable 'Snoopy' and doghouse. It is just down the street from me though. It was built by the same talented kids who built the elephant last year.



Isn't this fun? If you look closely you can even see his feeding dish in front. Such imagination! Evidently these youngsters have more energy than they know what to do with-way more than I have at any rate. And more cleverness, too. :)
I can't promise this is the beginning of steadier posting, but I will try. Maybe the muse will return with the sun. In the meantime, I am enjoying all of your posts and starting to look forward to spring and another season of gardening.
Let's hang in there, only 2 months til spring. :)

28 comments:

Cindy, MCOK said...

That doghouse is too cute and I'm with you ... I wish I had those kids' energy, too! I hope as spring returns to Dragonfly Corner, you'll find renewed energy and spirit for gardening and blogging about it!

Unknown said...

It's good to see you back blogging again! I know what it's like when the muse goes walkabout, leaving no forwarding address. Here's hoping that spring finds us sooner rather than later.

Kathleen said...

Hi Beckie! So glad to see your name on my comment list & find your new post. I've been wondering how you are doing. I sure understand about losing your muse. I definitely think the extended darkness and cold days don't help. They totally sap my energy & make me feel like a slug! Two more months to go, huh? We can do it. Have fun with the seed swap. I am holding off starting mine until later too.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I love the Snoopy Snowman setting. That took some doing for sure. Glad to see you are back at it.

Rose said...

So glad to have you back posting, Beckie! And thanks to the neighbor boys for restoring your muse:) (I think I know who they are--they are indeed talented kids in more ways than one.) Your header shot is fantastic!

Looking forward to the seed swap, too, and to attending the Chicago Flower Show. A little gardening inspiration is just what we need to get through the winter!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

What a cool doghouse!

I know what you mean about the energy level, I have noticed the same thing, wish I could retire.

About the fennel, for me it re-seeds itself some years but I always plant new each year.

Roses and Lilacs said...

How cute, I love it.

This winter already seems way too long an it has barely gotten started.
Marnie

joey said...

Delighted to hear from you, Beckie. Love your header and Snoopy! Relax and enjoy the quiet of winter ... before you know it, you'll be scrambling outside planting those seeds!

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....it seems ages since I popped over....lovely to have you back, if only for a little while. I do hope the coming spring will being your enthusiasm back. Goes without saying, we miss you.

It will be fun sorting through your seeds with Rose. The chicago flower show is also something to look forward to.
Spring is not that far away.

I love the snoopy house, just so cute. Aren't children amazing....such imagination.


Have a good week......

Wendy said...

Nice to have you back, Becky. But I do understand. I'm not posting as much either and I don't even work. Can't imagine working full time. It does take up a lot of your energy!

I'm glad you had a good holiday. We did too. Hubby is o.k. for now. Not a lot of strength, but we have to take things day by day.

Looking forward to seeing all the spring flowers.
Love your header by the way.
And I also will not plant too early indoors. Doesn't work.
Oh, we do get wiser as we age. LOL!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It's good to hear from you again, Beckie! I wonder if you're not suffering from a touch of SAD. Full UV spectrum light bulbs help a lot. Have you decided what day you'll be in Chicago? It would be great to meet up with you & Rose at the show.

beckie said...

Hi Cindy. Thanks for the encouragement. :)

Jodi, I like that-thinking that the muse has gone on walkabout!

beckie said...

Kathleen, the snow I can take. It's the everlasting cloudy dark days that really get to me. But the, I tend to whine a lot. :)

Lisa, thanks. Snoopy brought a big smile to my face. I hope he doesn't melt before the grands get to see it.

beckie said...

Rose, you must know who they are as you said boys. :) Yes, immersion in flowers at the show will be just what we need. That and some extended girl time.

IGW, thanks for the fennel advice. I really want to have it in my garden again if only so the grands can see the caterpillars again.

beckie said...

Marnie, I totally agree! And I know you have had it worse than we have. Think spring...think spring..

Joey, thanks. The header is of a snow front moving in a few weeks ago. I can't wait to be out planting!

beckie said...

Cheryl, thanks for missing me(said in an Eeyore voice). We will all feel more enthisastic when spring comes. Yes, I am looking forward to the Flower show. We had such a good time last year and it's quality girl time, too.

Wendy, I had been wondering how hubby was doing. I know you rejoice in the good days. I suppose thos year we will have an early spring and my seedlings won't be ready. But those are the joys of gardening. :)

beckie said...

MMD, I do have SADD. Some years are worse than others because of the number of sunless days. I have one full spectrum light bulb in the lamp by where I sit most times. It helps and I would recommend these to all.

We have plans pretty well set for the Flower show, but will let you know closer to the time-just in case they change. It would be great to see you again.

tina said...

PJs and bed at five sounds really good to me in the winter time. Love that Snoopy doghouse! The kids are most talented indeed! Conserve your energy for the flower show-I think that will be a long day.

Anonymous said...

So nice to see you, Beckie! That doghouse is a tribute to time well spent and creativity as well. Hope there are some of our seeds left for you by the time the packets goes through all the stops. How fun to be able to go to the Chicago show with Rose. I wish I could tag along, take lots of photos! :-)
Frances

garden girl said...

Hi Beckie, love the Snoopy and dog house - what a cute idea.

Good to see your post. I can relate to the shortage of inspiration for garden blogging sometimes, especially in the winter.

Gail said...

Hoping you are doung well! Love the Snoopy house! gail

Naturegirl said...

Love love thesnow art! Great idea!
Hang in there girl..only about 8 more weeks before April showers and you know what that means..SPRING flowers!! You need to get yourself a bunch of bright flowers and place by your bed to smile upon you every time you open your eyes..flowers make the heart feel light!!
love and light aNNa xoxo

MrBrownThumb said...

Oh this is so awesome.

Thanks for sharing.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I love the doghouse! Maybe your muse ran off with my muse... I dunno, I'm too tired to look for them, LOL! :) By the way, I'll be at the Chicago Flower Show, too, but during the week on March 10. If there's any chance that's when you're going, let's say hello! (I know you're probably going on the weekend.) I'm not sure where the swap is, but hopefully it will make its way to you soon. Hope we both get more energized and our muses return!!

Nishant said...

Here's hoping that spring finds us sooner rather than later.

Work from home India

Andrea said...

hello Beckie, i am new here, came in via jodi's comment page. I've seen all your posts in the homepage and love every bit of it, the family fun with the float, pumpkins, and the flower photos, wonderful.

While you are still in your cold season and spring hasnt arrived yet, i am inviting you to see lots of colors from the tropics in my site. I promise you will not feel blue. lol. thanks

Dirty Girl Gardening said...

Great dog house!! Snoopi looks cold though.

Mountain Mama said...

The Snoopy dog house is really cute. Someone sure had a fun idea and some nice warm mittens to construct it.