Kaseys Korner

Punched windows

I'm back to paper again this morning.  It always circles around like that for me.  A little of this and a little of that but then back to paper.  The two constants in my life, gardening and papercrafting.  I was thinking about this old layout last night.  How much I enjoyed using my rectangle punch on my not so great photos.  The punched pieces are like little windows into the garden.  The side effect is that less than perfect pictures look much better this way.  Just punch out the best part.  Sort of a metaphor for life ~ remember the best parts and don't dwell on the worst... The layout is one half of a two pager that was published in the Winter 2002 issue of Scrapbooks, etc. magazine by Better Homes & Gardens.  Even tho it's dated, it's another one that still appeals to me six years later.  I can't say that about all my work.  and oh how I wish I still had that shooting star!!!

Fishin' & Wishin'

Yesterday I chaperoned my daughters middle school class on a fishing trip.  Luckily for them, it was a beautiful day.  Not so much for me.  I was having a case of the "rathers."  I'd rather be planting, I'd rather be working in the yard, etc., etc. until I finally got with it by reminding myself how many more great days were ahead.   I have to admit it was a very picturesque area, perfect for photography.  I snapped this photo moments before the pier was swarmed with 8th graders armed with fishing poles.  A different view looking in another direction.

I was not the most popular chaperone on the field trip because of one Canadian goose sitting on eggs right next to the road (unfortunately for her).  It was also a rude awakening of how little most kids know about nature and sadly their apathy about it.  See the rocks in the foreground ~ they were throwing them at her.  That's where I stepped in and became the bad guy until one of the landowners could rescue me.  I can only imagine her relief when the buses were loaded, rolling away and peace restored. 

Ending on a bright note, all was not lost for me as I was able to spend a little time puttering around my yard and managed to plant a few violas at the end of the day afterall.   :-)

Sunday smorgasboard

A mouse, a bird & some tulips.  What do those have in common you ask?  They were all found in my garden yesterday afternoon.  I'll start with the tulips in case you have an aversion to mice!  Isn't the world a better place because of them?  In my yard, they are in their prime right now and oh so beautiful.  I didn't plant any additional bulbs last fall and now I wish I had.  I need to make a concentrated effort to do that this year.  The fuchsia tulip is glorious.  I wish it would spread and form a bigger clump like some of my others have.  I always leave the foliage until it's yellow & limp in an effort to feed the bulb, (hoping it will propagate) but no luck so far.  Next there's a group shot of the close-up I shared last week.

I LOVE these tulips.  I think they are my favorite in the yard ~ maybe it's the fringed edge of the petals??  By the way, I felt like a kindergarten photographer yesterday, lining all the various tulips up for shots, except I'd have to say they were more cooperative!!   I still didn't get them all.  I get distracted easily.   

Birds always distract me.  I've been known to give chase to a grackle or two because I find them totally annoying.  However, that is not the case with this bird ~ a white crowned sparrow foraging underneath the thistle feeder.  They've been back in our yard for several weeks now.  Another welcome sign of spring.                              

and lastly, a mouse!  A mouse you say??  Yes, it is indeed a mouse.  My daughter and I were sitting on the front step, enjoying the sunshine yesterday afternoon, when all this rustling began in the bed next to us.  Jumping and darting thru last falls oak leaves, appearing to not have a concern in the world, was this little mouse digging thru the sunflower remnants looking for a meal.  What an interesting day and I never even got around to telling about our greenhouse finds.  It'll have to wait for another day.  Most likely tomorrow...

Java junkie

  "Chocolate, men, coffee - some things are better rich."  ~Author Unknown

I couldn't agree more.  ;-)  Unfortunately I'm missing one of the three.  Bummer.  Definitely needing a little "Joe" before heading out the door.  Happy Sunday!  Hope it's a good one.

pink jewels

  I know how this plant got its name.  It's clear as crystal to me this morning.  A result of sorrow incurred when tiny snowflakes pummel it sideways, when bright blue skies turn gloomy and gray and when wind shreds thru its lacy foliage.  In despair it shed tears from the stem tips that froze in lovely heart shapes.  Okay, okay, that's not really the true origin but thanks for playing along with me.  It fits the day.  Although maybe a touch too dramatic even for me??  Perfect prelude for this pic tho.  I took it yesterday, when it was altogether a different day.  The bleeding hearts are only about a foot high but they all have tiny dangles of flowers dripping from their stems.  I found them fascinating as a child and almost equally so today.  I don't even mind that they leave gaping holes in my beds once they're done blooming.  It gives me the opportunity to fill in with annuals, such as these zinnia seeds just sprouting.

Hoping by June, when these little ones go out, the weather will have calmed.  What a wacky spring.  I saw someone else write that they may have to push their last frost date back and I'm thinking that's true for our area too.  It's normally May 10th but that's only days away??

reality check

Posting another card I made a while back, mostly as a reminder for myself.  It's a continual process for me to try and simplify and remember what is truly important.  I tend to get a bit caught up with the extraneous then have to bring myself around and get grounded again.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Someday, I'll get it down pat.  The bird stamp is one of Martha Stewarts, isn't it cute?!

Lovely Spring

What a difference a day makes!  Yesterday I noticed tightly balled (but still green) tulip heads bobbing above their foliage.  Literally overnight some had infused themselves with color.  Maybe spring listened to me yesterday when I asked if we could kick it up a notch?  Whatever happened, I'm taking it and loving it!!!  Here are a few more photos from around my yard.

Fern heads furled but slowly unraveling. 

A Sarah Bernhardt peony spreads it's "wings."  Happy Spring day everyone.

tortoise speed

Slowly but surely spring is creeping into the garden.  Sometimes it seems more slow than sure but no matter my feelings the signs are undeniable.  My nannyberry shrub (viburnum lentago) is loaded with buds just waiting for a warm day to burst open.  I need to read up on nannyberries.  Mine is approx. 10' high, well established, the only one in my yard yet the blossoms never set berries??  Does it need another to pollinate?     

I also just noticed buds on the two lilac shrubs when most years they are blooming by now.  I'm not sure what variety these are as the previous owner planted them but I just read a really interesting article on lilacs in the Spring 2008 issue of Country Gardens Magazine.  Apparently, I have a lot of work ahead of me after they bloom.  The article says to maintain their height at 8 to 9 foot to most enjoy the blossoms/fragrance.  I see the wisdom in that advice being the owner of lilacs that have never been pruned (the majority of my blossoms are beyond accessible).  I will definitely pull out my ladder after they finish blooming and give them a big shearing if it means being rewarded next year.

Last, but definitely not least, another daffodil photo just because they're so bright & cheery.  Now anytime you feel like it Spring, you can switch it up a couple notches to hare speed!   

Earth Day

  A couple weeks ago, I happened upon a small group of magnolia "Jane" trees/shrubs while wandering the aisles of Lowes greenhouse.  My first reaction was excitement which was quickly tempered with skepticism regarding their hardiness in our region.  I have a soft spot for magnolias (I grew up with them on the east coast) but we all know soft spots are not always conducive to making good garden choices.  *ahem*  guilty of that many times over!  The tag information stated hardy to -40 which would definitely put it in my zone (later research on the Internet supported that claim).  Long story short, the bud pictured belongs to one magnolia Jane that has been gracing my patio while patiently waiting to be planted.   I think Earth Day is the perfect day to do just that.   Now I have to decide if I'm going to put it in the ground or in a container (one of my container gardening magazines suggested magnolias were good small trees for containers)??  I haven't ever planted a tree in a container but I'd love to have some extra screening on my patio area and a small tree would help me accomplish that.  I wonder if Mother Earth would mind an experiment?  What is everyone else doing to be kind to our planet today?

Shake it up

Something is SO wrong about this project.  But I just couldn't resist.  Maybe it will help me learn to like snow better if I watch the imitation stuff swirl around my butterfly photo?  Ya think?!!  This truly is quick & easy crafting, just pop off the bottom of the preassembled snowglobe and insert whatever photo you like inside.  That's it.  The snowglobes can be found at most craft supply stores (I bought mine at a scrapbook store).  A fun alternative for a nice photo other than storing it in an envelope!!  Have a great week.