Category: 2020

My favorite season is spring. All the new springtime growth, especially the spring flowers that have a very short lifespan. But there was just a little more… than vegetation this week.

Some Visitors

new critters both wild and domestic. There are no new domestic critters, but recently a pair of wild ducks checked out the pond for a week or so. I guess they decided that it was too busy here for them and haven’t been here for 5 days or so. DARN!

Not so wet

In the last post, I showed one of the creeks running full with a springtime rain, and this is what it looks like when the run-off is low and it disappears into the limestone rocks. Nearly taken in the same place!

Wildflowers

One afternoon I was thinking about some of the things I would miss about the yard in town. Each spring the wild grape hyacinths would pop up in the yard. There were only a few when we moved in and by the time we left the population had grown to about a hundred. Later in the day, I went out into the front yard here and to my surprise found a huge patch under the big oak tree! I have also noticed them in ditches and other yards when driving.

A Springtime Wildflower Meadow

Also, discovered that the little Spring Beauty wildflower from the last post not only grows in the forested parts, but there is a rather large meadow of them right outside the backyard fence!!! I have asked that it not be mowed for a while longer, so far the DH is complying, (however, I suspect its because he likes to eat!) The flower of the Spring Beauty is not much larger than a dime, so it takes lots of flowers to create a meadow!

A few springtime flowers from the yard

And lastly some domestic springtime blossoms. A double daffodil and a double ornamental cherry. There are a few clumps of this type of daffodil along the fringes of the treed areas of the yard. The daffs are done in both areas and the cherry tree now is mostly leafed out.

Quilty Gift

Lastly, I did have a bit of creative time. I assisted with the creation of a comfort quilt for a guild member. The Covid-19 issue hampered the creation a bit. “Simple Friendship Blocks” created by members of the guild, with encouraging messages and signatures. A good size throw quilt for on the go or napping. I was able to find the perfect springtime border fabric to make the block shine in Paducah.

The quilt has been delivered just as the recipient received the good news from her physicians! I like to think it was all the prayers and good wishes that went into each of the blocks as they were being made, which helped create a positive outcome.

What is your favorite part of springtime?

More later- Beth

The title is loose, as far as spring on a farm goes. Unless a ‘clowder’ of cats and a flock of hens is farm material.

Springtime Neighbors

As I mentioned last time… with spring and some growing grass new neighbors have MOOOOved in! This morning. There are about 20 cows and 10-12 calves. Several are just a few months old and quite a few nearing a year. One was very entertaining this morning. She did a little cavorting… alongside her mom and aunties. All those cows still have winter coats to shed and mud caked on.

The Wildflowers of a Kentucky Spring

A week ago, after a good rain (more than an inch of wet stuff) and still very cool out, I took a walk in the woods, to look for forest wildflowers. Only found 2. The Cutleaf Toothwort and the Spring Beauty.

The Rains

I stopped by the big creek at the back of the property, sadly it is not on our property, but very close. It was flowing very well. The ground has become saturated from all the recent rain. It immediately runs off filling the creeks and ponds to overflowing.

Our little creek that runs from the pond down to the big creek was also flowing well. Most of the time, it disappears into the limestone rocks for a few yards and reappears down a little way. You know we have lots of water when it is flowing like this… over all the rocks.

Preparations

I hope everyone reading or stopping by is doing well, staying healthy and distant. Here, we are staying close to home and only venturing out for food, as in fresh produce. One day I was thinking… what if I were the one to get sick? What would we eat? Ok, more like what would I have to eat? We stocked plenty of canned soup for power outages and emergencies in the winter, not really for eating when ill. So I made a couple of good hearty soups. Not something you think of as springtime meals. Turkey soup is my all-time favorite soup. For one batch of soup, I roasted a small turkey and turned it into a soup and froze in individual packages. I also made a Pasta e’Fagioli Soup, a bit hearty and freezes very well. I also made Italian Wedding Soup and froze it as too.

Spring Care (we do care about you)

Here at I Have A Notion we are hanging in and waiting for this thing (COVID-19) to pass. If you need anything… don’t hesitate to drop me a note or give me a call. I Have A Notion is not running any COVID-19 specials. The after COVID-19 economy will be new territory for everyone. It is a tricky thing to keep life afloat and on a steady course; especially now with advertising to BUY NOW, BEST DEAL EVER, NEVER to be REPEATED, etc hype. I Have A Notion will still be here when this mess is done and we can all pick up where we need to… If you do order, everything is clean, (maybe a little dusty), and my hands are clean and I take the utmost care while packing. I don’t want to get sick any more than you want to get sick!!! In the meantime, do your best to stay healthy, wash your hands often and then maybe even wash one time. Find new and fun ways to keep your household entertained and busy; probably the most difficult task we’re asked to do these days!

Hang in and come back soon. if you made it this far in reading please share how you are maintaining your household sanity and the diversions that are working best. I have more spring pictures to share, so stay tuned – Beth

I started quilting in the mid-1980s even before there was a National Quilting Day. It was officially adopted in 1991. See the history here.

In Kentucky, The National Quilting Day has gone largely noticed by the 3 guilds I belong to. And to some extent by myself as well. The 1st Annual Radcliff Quilt Show was to be this weekend. I Have A Notion was going to be there as a vendor. It was canceled due to the C-19 virus. I put a quilt with brilliant lime green… on the line in celebration of the day.

Did you celebrate any special way today?

More Later- Beth