As the poor East coast (and much of our families in the Midwest and East) battle arctic temperatures, ice, and snow, we are beginning the day with rain and 40 degree temperatures -- quite uncharacteristic for this time of year.  Our youngest son, Ethan, and I had planned an ice fishing trip for today, but the warmer temperatures earlier in the week, coupled with today's rain forced a change of plans.

     "Standing water on a semi-frozen lake does not for a safe or fun day make!"

The result: a lazy Saturday indoors!  With a self-imposed "no-TV" day, we are keeping tabs on fun projects recently started and acquiring new skills!  Our first project of the day has consisted of nurturing our sprouting herb garden.  While the photos may not appear to hold much promise, I assure you, those green leaves you see have taken two weeks and a miracle to grow.  For those of you that know me, I do not espouse to being a gardener of any sort, nor to having a green thumb, or even a green fingernail.  My poor husband, Michael, will attest that during the early years of our marriage, he learned NEVER to bring a home a plant of any sort!

Herb Garden Planting - Day 1

Herb Garden Growth - Day 15

      After lovingly purchasing a hanging plant for me to hang in the front window of the new home we would share together, he got his first dose of "crazy."  As we walked into our new home in North Pole for the very first time, he told me that he had gotten the plant to symbolize the "new life we would grow together."  I was amazed at such a thoughtful gift, but almost immediately burst into terrified tears. Like any new husband, he wasn't quite sure exactly how to react.  He patiently asked if he had done something wrong by getting the plant and surprising me with it in our new home. Through my sobs, I looked at him and cried, "I hope it doesn't symbolize our love because I'm just going to kill it!" No green thumb here...perhaps black is a more appropriate color!  However,  I'm happy to report that even though that little hanging plant perished almost immediately 14 years ago, we continue to grow as a family to this day.

     And, I'm also happy to report that with the advice of some very proficient gardeners on the Blue Ridge Parkway and a plethora of  Pinterest postings, we've decided to give plants another try.  We were hoping for small successes and have achieved those.  Now we await the growth from garden to table for the finale and ultimate celebration; but the progress is exciting, and those tears from long ago have been replaced with happy little dances around the kitchen with each new sprout. It's just a new kind of "crazy"!

     With the herb garden tended, I am finishing a baby blanket for Baby Jackson, the first-born son of my "baby" brother, Matthew, and his wife, Ruthie.  Ethan has opted to work on several sketches for upcoming art contest submissions.  Later, if the rain continues, we plan to pull out the banjo, the guitar, and the Learn to Play the Banjo book.  We're not good enough to have an official "Alaskan Hootenanny" yet -- but just like that herb garden -- we're growing!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2b