Archive for April, 2009

Finally! The book is here!

I mentioned way back in September that I was writing a book, right? And then, sometime in January, I showed you guys what the cover looked like and waxed rhapsodic about how great it felt to see my name on it.

Lemme tell you—that was nothing compared to how it felt the first time I held my book in my hands.

I was changing the baby yesterday (with two in the house, someone is always needing a change, it seems…) and I heard my husband outside talking to someone. I figured it was one of our friendly dog-walking neighbors, and didn’t think anything of it. Then he came in with a box. And a huge smile on his face. And on the side of the box, printed in block black ink “Edible Gardening for the Midwest.”

I’ll skip past how my hands shook as I tried to wrestle through the packing tape, and tell you that picking up that first spanking-new copy of my book was almost (not quite, but almost) as sweet as holding each of my children for the first time. That moment, that instant in time, was the one I’ve dreamed of since I was thirteen years old. Of course, back then, I thought it would be my generation’s Great American Novel, but I had no idea back then that I would grow into a completely addicted gardener. It was sweet. Everything I’d dreamed it would be.

So, what did we do to celebrate? We dropped off two copies for my mother-in-law (who very sweetly oohed and aahed over it, as a good mom should) and we picked up coffee at Caribou and ended up at the office supply store, where I happily bought a new pen, pages for my Franklin Covey organizer, and envelopes.

Why didn’t we go to the nursery, you ask? Don’t worry, that’s coming this weekend

So, anyway, the book is now available at Amazon, and your friendly neighborhood bookseller will have it as well (provided they sell Lone Pine books and are located in the Midwest.) You could go out and buy a copy right now (and I’d thank you for it!) but you might want to wait around a bit. I have a fun giveaway planned for next week.

Thanks to everyone who’s been reading this blog for the last three years. I didn’t know when I started that it would lead to one of my biggest dreams coming true.

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Another Sure Sign of Spring

The NHL playoffs are here! (What..you were expecting me to talk about plants?)

Alex is just under 2 months old now, and it’s his turn to sport the Winged Wheel for the playoffs. All four of our kids now have worn this outfit (and we have photos of each one sleeping in it!). It’s now a family heirloom—one of those things I’ll frame one day once it’s not being worn anymore and look back on how tiny they all were once upon a time.

You may be wondering if it’s a good luck charm—well, that remains to be seen. Emily wore it in 2004, and the Wings lost in the second round to the Calgary Flames. Sarah wore it in 2005, but there were no playoffs due to the NHL lockout. But …Elizabeth wore it last year, and we won the Cup. What will happen this year? I’m guessing it will begin with a trouncing of the Blue Jackets, but, then again, I’m biased

Let’s Go Red Wings!!

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, April 2009

I love April. It’s the first month of the year that I’m pretty much guaranteed to have at least a few blooms in my garden for Bloom Day. It’s still quite cold here, and it’s been raining for the last few days, but it’s clear that from the plants’ point of view, spring is here.

The pussy willows' blooms are starting to fade, but I love the way they look at this slightly shaggy phase.

This is the view as I walk out my side door. It makes me happy--I can see the lilac leafing out, backed by the arborvitae. The pussy willow and 'Northern Gold' forsythia are blooming in the background.

A lone hyacinth blooms in the front garden. I really need to plant more of these next year--their scent is just amazing.

Indoors, my primula is still going strong. If you want a long-blooming plant, look for primulas. I'll plant this out in the garden after it's done blooming.

The primula is joined on my kitchen windowsill by this pretty little African violet. I'm pretty sure this one is named 'Bright Eyes.'

Of course, given the time of year, I also have an Easter lily blooming. I got this one from my mother-in-law. I'll plant it out in the garden after it's done blooming, and it'll bloom next summer along with the Easter lilies I've planted out there the last few years.

While they're not blooms, these tomato plants are some of the most gorgeous things I've got growing right now. Here are a few of the 27 varieties I planted this year. They've been repotted once, and are looking very, very happy.

That’s it from my garden. To see more blooms from around the world, check out the Bloom Day post over at May Dreams Gardens.

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