Staying Busy and Loving Spring

Hello from the hills!
Masses of violets are all around the house this year.

The azaleas are budding and ready to burst open.

My white peony is budding, too, so it won't be long until it blooms.

This volunteer mullein is looking great.  The leaves will be picked in a month or so and kept for respiratory teas when needed.

Be sure and check your gardens for cleavers, aka the velcro weed, for yourself and especially if you have pets.  Young dogs love them and they're very beneficial to their health as they cleanse the blood of toxins.

Read about cleavers here.

Here's our Rat Terrier, Tillie having her tonic (fresh cleavers) for the day. (Yes, Rat Terriers catch mice and rats.)

So, I was grilling burgers with a little friend.  We think it's a tree frog.  Linking with Eileen at Saturday's Critters.

I've been working on a 6 pound batch of soap this week.  I make a basic batch then hand-mill the soap and add oils for fragrance and beneficial properties.  This lavender soap is great for it's antiseptic qualities and it smells heavenly.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Dear America, This Too Shall Pass

Hello from the soggy wet foothills!  We're still getting a lot of rain, but it sure beats none.

Hyacinth

So, we heard there were major protests in China with all kinds of people on the streets protesting.  Remember that?  The next thing we heard a lot of the protesters are unaccounted for then we heard a novel virus killed most of them.  Hmmm, that sounds a bit suspect to me.  Then our own "trusty" media started blaming the president for the virus, lol, while simultaneously blasting fear into every household that doesn't yet realize their "news" may not be exactly trustworthy.  (This might be a good time to turn off the TV. )  Tell me, does anyone know anyone who truly has the virus?  I don't.  In fact I don't know anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone that has it. And I refuse to buy more of anything than I normally would at the grocery store.  Besides that we have a promise as such that should give us peace. Psalm 136, the whole chapter is amazing, but verse 25 in particular should be a comfort to us just now.  It is to me, anyways.

So, you finally decided to bloom. lol

We have to remember that thousands die of the flu every year in nearly every state in the country.  And while we don't like that, yet it is a part of life.  So, I hope we'll just calm down out there and think about something besides clearing out our grocery stores.  Planning our gardens or reading a good book might be the best way to get through all the craziness going on right now.

This bird bottle has been hanging on the eastward side of our back deck for many years but has yet to be home to a single bird.

You can imagine my surprise when I noticed it has a nest in it.  I'm not sure which bird made the nest, but I'm looking forward to finding out.   There are no eggs yet, but I'll keep watching.

Have a GREAT week y'all!