Happy Valentine's Day To You All!

I know this is a bit early, but I have much to do and want to send a happy wish out to all of you! Thank you for being such sweet blogging friends! From my heart to yours!

Decisions, Decisions

Last night was the first Farmer's Market meeting.

I was asked to bring some of my work to show, so that everyone could make a decision as to whether or not I could sell my embroidery at the market. Everyone was so friendly and loved the embroidery and of course agreed that it would be nice to have something different at the market to sell.........along with my flowers and pumpkins. There were only 4 couples there............in our area, there is not that many who do the market. This is just one reason I have reservations as to whether I want to sell at the market or not. Another obstacle is the economy and the fact that folks in this area are not prone to purchase frivolous things as embroidery. The fact that I also will need to drive 30 miles into town and back every Saturday and Tuesday from July through October.........is also something I am not sure I want to do. However, if I want to sell things, this is what it will take.
I am still in the process of making our place "a farm". Even though I have pegged it as such, it is far from being that. The folks that were there last night, did not have small gardens and big dreams................they have plowed acres, tractors and lots of produce to sell every Saturday and Tuesday. My embroidery work takes weeks to months to finish...........my gardens are microscopic compared to these seasoned farmers. They all were so encouraging and friends also want me to do this.............however.............I am not so sure. I am really thinking about selling my embroidery "on-line". My flowers and produce..........not so sure on that. I have until July to make my mind up about it. So my question to you...........do any of you sell your things at a market? Or are you selling on-line better? Do you travel a bit to get there? How are customers purchasing handmade things? I would love to hear!

Also...........if you love comfort foods, stop by my cooking blog.......My Country Kitchen....http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com

for this great recipe.

Jack Frost And Cupid

Jack Frost has been dancing with Winter across the fields and grounds here on the farm.

He's even stopped to rest on the trees in the woods.

Meanwhile..................in the greenhouse..........another visitor has stopped by......................
Upon opening the door, I am greeted with the prettiest blossoms

of orchids...........in the prettiest colors and designs..............

Apparently, Cupid has made an early call and knows the door to my heart!

How about you? Has Cupid visited you a little early? When he does visit..........what does he bring you? I would love to hear!

Where Roots Run Deep

There's a tree, out in the front yard, ...........an old mesquite, that is as old as I probably am.......even older.

As I work the grounds, I look up at it and think...........there is so much that it and I have in common. It stands, out here, in solitude......watching life, pass it by, yet it is in peace..............

that is how I feel...............

It has weathered the many storms in life.................some storms it saw coming............some it was attacked and surprised by. Once it was hit with a large bolt of lightening, hitting it so hard and splitting it to it's very heart and soul. Such a hard hit, how could it ever go on?.............Yet, it hung on, growing around it's wound, showing it's leaves even brighter.


I have known such storms in life. Not so long ago, life's painful bolt struck me by surprise, leaving my heart and soul,........... broken. The wound is still there,and the pain,............. if I go back and remember............however, when I thought this was the one thing I just could not bear, I did get through it, and time passed, and I once again smiled.




This tree has been host to many visitors and has had the sweetest little family growing within it's arms. Then it has watched the little ones, fly away, following the wind to another tree.............

I also, have watched my little ones grow..................

and leave.................


This old tree has seen new extensions of life grow out on it's limbs, while other limbs have fallen and died away..............
I, too, have seen babes born into my life..........and at the same time, I have lost precious family members along the way.

The outside of this old tree has become harder, from life's enviornment. Preparing it to not get so chipped by the hits and bumps that come along the way.

I too, have become "tough skinned" though life's lessons.

This old tree, no matter how hard life's winds blow, still stretches it's arms up to the heavens, never drooping.... ....never giving up..........

How I wish I could be that strong when life's burdens come weighing down on me.........

Here it stands, facing the road that leads up to our home. No matter what has come against it, no matter what it has weathered, it's roots still run deep, not willing to give up and run. Ready to face each new day, with what ever storms life has in store. Waiting for the sweetness of family to come back to visit..........showing it's love and joy, by sprouting new leaves each spring.

I, too, often look down the road.....hoping for that "someday" when the ones who flew away, will fly back in for a short visit.........

Knowing that storms will also come for me to weather out.......

and always enjoying the new day that has been given to me. I will let my roots run deep, I will stand and face what I have to in life..........and I will enjoy the sweet rewards along the way.

Stock Flower

The first time I ever heard of and handled Stock Flower was a few years back, when a friend gave a bag full of young plants, ready for the ground, to me.

I have loved it since.

Stock Flower, ( Matthiola Incana ) which only blooms during the colder months from February through March, is a hardy fragrant annual.

It grows rather thick and tall and is wonderful for backgrounds and filling in spaces. It stays green all year long. I have quite a bit of this on the grounds.................and as you can see, it is already starting to bloom! The fragrance is just lovely! Since the wind and dirt has died down these past couple of days, I transplanted many of this year's young sproutlings to a long row that runs beside my flower garden. As they grow bigger, they will serve as a natural fence for the flower garden.

They look like this when they fill out and start growing. They are just now starting to bloom, and when they get their full head of blossoms on, I will show you the pictures.

As you can see, the garden will look great with a fence of purple stock flower around it.

By the way...........this is not from the garden book, however, I have found it to be the most wonderful tip...................that came from a dear elderly lady I once knew..........

You can transplant anything as long as the month has the letter" R" in it.........like February. It really does work! Everything I have transplanted during the months with the letter R in them, has always done well.
How about you? Do you have Stock Flower in your area? Is there a piece of sage advice passed down from someone that has worked? I would love to hear!

**********one more note***********

Want a great treat for your best friend???

Go to my cooking blog and get the recipe!

http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com

Spring.........inside

Outside, the wind is howling and banging anything and everything up against the house. The air is full of the smell of dirt from the nearby cotton fields, and the sky is a dusty orange. Typical west Texas weather.

Inside the tulips tell of another day, soon to come............crisp, fresh and full of color.
And as I look at their beauty, I listen to the whistling and banging outside the door, I can't wait for winter to pack her bags and leave.
How about you? Are you tired of cold, damp, blowing wind?

My Shadow Has A Cold Nose

When I get prepared to head outside.................

this is what I see EVERY DAY!

And as I get my outside work done...........she is never far away.

No matter where I am ....inside......outside........

I look over my shoulder........



and this is what I see. How much I love my "cold nosed" shadow!
How about you? What kind of shadow do you have?
I would love to hear!