March 1st

Didn't happen, exactly. For months I have been planning for a March 1st planting day. My unofficial last frost date arrived and I woke up to frost on the roof tops and an 18 hour weather forecast that predicts 31 degrees tonight that will feel more like 22 degrees. 

When life hands you lemons, or just really cool weather............you make popsicles (?)

Or in this case, you put your brand new cold frame to use and call it a day.

Finally!

In the past I've shared about my desire to improve my writing through practice. That is one of the reasons I maintain this blog.  However, it is incredibly easy to allow the cares of life to filter in and distract you from doing what you know your supposed to do.

Sometimes, it is easier to procrastinate or do "just a little" to feel acomplished and then never complete the project. My personal goal for 2013 is to complete the unfinished projects of 2012. To focus on what I know The Lord has directed me to do and set aside the things that he hasn't.

As Terry Savelle Foy puts it "Procrastination is just another trap to keep you from fulfilling your dreams and goals." Terry goes on to explain in her March 2013 letter how procrastination in the small things carries over to the large things in our life. So, by choosing to not write a little on a daily basis I am actually procrastinating on a dream to write on a larger scale later in life.

Enter Speedbo. Speedbo is a 31 day writing challenge held by the Seekerville blog that motivates aspiring writers to put aside their inner critic and just write! Each writer sets a daily or weekly writing goal with the focus of completing an entire book. I will be aiming for 1k words a week. I know....not a lot considering that I should be able to write 1k in a hour, but I've got to start somewhere!

So here is to more than just goal setting, here is to goal obtaining!

Tromboncino Squash

Every year is a gardening adverture and I like to try something new each season. This spring, I will be growing Tromboncino Squash which I learned about on the Urban Homestead Blog.

 

From what I understand about this Squash, when picked early it can be sweeter than Zucchini but if left to mature is similar to butternut squash. Personally, I just like its unique shape and look forward to having some different growing this summer.

What is the most unique veggie you have ever grown?

Just a few of my favorite Pins....

I must admit, I'm addicted to Pinterest. Particular, the gardening section. 

If you follow me on Pinterest, you will see A LOT of gardening related Pins. Basically anything that grows outdoors and looks good in a picture will appear in my stream, even multiply times. I thought it would be fun to list a few of my favorites below.

 

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What are you some of your favorite Pins?

Four more days to go!

Friday, March 1st is my self declared last frost date, and its just around the corner. The actual last frost date for my area is March 15th, but I'm living dangerous this year and starting two weeks early. It looks like the temps will be staying in the low to mid 40s at night from March 1st on which is pretty common for this time of the year.

Over the past two weeks I've been preparing my raised beds for Tomatoes and all the other goodies I'll be growing this year.

Will you be planting on schedule this year?

Joe's Garden

Last summer I visited my husband's family to see my newborn niece for the very first time. She is adorable and I fell in love with her instantly. It was love at first sight!

While I was there, I got to visit my brother-in-law's garden during the height of summer when everything was in bloom and growing - It was spectacular! I intentially saved this post for the winter, knowing I would need a splash of summer to hold me over until spring. Plus, I didn't download the photos until last night.....

Joe's Garden is where it all began for me. As a girl raised in the 'burbs the closet I ever got to a garden was the flower beds in our neatly landscaped front yard. Until I moved to North Carolina in 2005. While staying with my future husband's family, I got to taste a homegrown tomato for the first time and never looked back. Soon, I spent every morning visiting Joe's Garden to see what had sprung up overnight. I found peace and joy there with just God and the plants. When I moved to Texas a few months later, I determined to grow my very own garden one day.

For his 2012 garden, Joe choose to simplify. Focusing his efforts on Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers and Beans, he remained disciplined in growing large quantities of the same plants instead mixing up the variety and having to maintain multiple growing environments. He used manure from a nearby barn to prepare his garden space before planting and choose not to fertilize. With the exception of a litttle Seven Dust to help with the bugs, Joe relied on water and sunshine to grow his healthy garden.

He makes it look so easy.

3 weeks to go!