Friday, March 04, 2016

In Like a Lamb

March has arrived, gently and softly, like a lamb.  Willow's Week has been mostly uneventful with just 'the usual' activities of work, church, small groups, Bible study class, farmers market, and spinners/weavers guild monthly meeting.  These are the best and brightest spots--my Five Fave which like always I share as Friday Fave Five with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.  Here's the link.

My Fave Five from Willow's Week:

1.  A bit more gardening was done.  Mucking around in my garden is at least as much fun for me as harvesting the produce.  I planted kale and spinach next to the snap peas.


2.  I also planted six sweet potato starts.  This is a first for me, so I've made a little experiment to determine how best to grow sweet potatoes in my garden and planted three different ways. After watching several youtube videos, I still couldn't decide on how to plant them.  So I thought, "I'll just try all three."  It'll be fun to check out the results in about four months.


3.  Saturday was a beautiful day!  We hiked in the Satwiwa area of the Santa Monica Mountains.  It's very mountainous (hence the Santa Monica MOUNTAINS) and so after we left the valley, it was all up and down.  (I'm planning a more detailed post on the area since I've hiked it several times since the May 2013 Springs Fire which roared past my home and on into this area, burning all the vegetation to the ground.)

Satwiwa Meadow



4.  The poppies are blooming everywhere now.  I love these cheery, cheeky flowers--our state flower.


5.  I love our nightly walks.  We decided that if we are going to walk every day, it would have to be in the evenings since our schedules are dissimilar and every day of the week is different.  We often meet the same people out walking which is always pleasant.  And best of all, for the first time ever, I'm taking some interest in astronomy.  Finally, I (sort of) understand how the moon works, how it changes moon rise through the month.

It may still be winter, but it's March.  Soon, soon, it will be spring with more garden and more hikes and more poppies.

13 comments:

Barbara H. said...

I'm not a gardener, but I do understand the joy of seeing those plants sprout and grow. My son grows some things with hydroponics but is hoping to expand into a garden more later this spring. What lovely places to walk! I've been going to a gym since the end of Jan. and have found the same thing - running into some of the same people at the same time of day. We don't have anything blooming here yet except that daffodil leaves are coming up - they're like the first sign of spring here, and I am looking forward to their blooming.

Jerralea said...

What a beautiful week! Love the mountain pictures - and the poppies.

Do you feel safe walking at night? I think it would be good in summer because it would be cooler.

I think it would be fun to plant something 3 ways and see which is best. Next year, you'll know for sure!

Julene said...

It looks so pretty in the hills! Fire can be helpful and it looks like it cleared the way for new growth, fresh new growth. I like the idea of planting sweet potatoes. It will be interesting to hear which method worked best for you. I'm glad you had a nice week with some time to be.
Have a great weekend!! Somebody's almost a year older!! :)

Gracie Saylor said...

It is so wonderful to see the mountains and meadows around you...green! I mucked up my hands planting some more Primroses yesterday...no gloves...my fingernails are shattered...but it was so much fun to plant the plants :) I was once surprised to read somewhere that sweet potatoes grow best in the south. I have grown a sweet potato vine in the house but have never tried to grow sweet potatoes in any of our gardens. I will enjoy learning what you learn. xx

Wendy said...

Enjoyed your post. Lovely pics

Monica said...

I really missed taking part in FFF... Just getting around to visit.
I love preparing the garden beds to plant, planting, and then the wonderful harvest. But I have decided this year not to garden. Life has been so busy that I just had to cut something. I will prep my beds, feed them, and let them rest for a year. Take a break.
Your area is beautiful and I always enjoy seeing your pictures. Can't wait for your detailed post on the Santa Monica Mountain area. :))
Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Karen said...

Your region is about two months ahead of us in the gardening department. I love seeing the fresh soil and the landscape greening up in your pictures!

A Joyful Cottage said...

I love California poppies. So pretty. You have such a great place to walk, and to hike. I like your solution to how to plant the sweet potato. Hope you'll keep us posted on what you did and what worked best. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. ~ Nancy

Mereknits said...

It sounds like a beautiful week.
Hugs,
Meredith

Fashions said...

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Tracy said...

VERY exciting you plantings for good things to eat later in the growing season, Willow...mmm!! :) Will look forward to seeing/Hearing how your garden grows. March came in like a lion here--it was snowing most of the weekend. Spring is waaay far away, it feels like! I'd turned off the comments at my place as it seemed like there was not much to leave a comment on--ha! Some tough days at the moment, so it's been hard posting much lately. Also, my current creative projects are slow cookers too, so not a lot "new" to show yet. And in between it all trying to enjoy Lent and prepare for Easter. Just needing a little breather... A vacation would be lovely about now! LOL... All the best to all of you there! I'll be around... :) ((HUGS))

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Willow!

The views from your mountains reminds me of the walks we take in the foothills over our neighborhood. We have the most marvelous trails here and the views are so wonderful. I struggle with the ascent, but once I get to the top I feel so good! Isn't it amazing how the hill recover from fires? We a big fire here this past summer on the hogback that rims our neighborhood--a few tense hours we thought we might have to evacuate. Thankfully Denver fire sent helicopters that picked up water from the reservoir and dosed the fire quickly

I wish I could garden, but too many critters where we live. The deer eat everything! My brothers are avid gardeners and have been successful harvesting sweet potatoes and potatoes. Kale is the healthiest vegetable --enjoy watching your crops grow!

nikkipolani said...

Oh, fun! Gardening adventures :-) There's nothing like seeing that fresh green pop up. I hope your sweet potatoes will do well for you. Looking forward to reading your reports.

Yes, Saturday was a beautiful day for hiking -- as evidenced by your smog-free photos! Lovely views.