Looking forward.

I wrote in my last post that I was feeling good...well that was then, and now, the sleep deprivation that inevitably befalls new mothers has set in...my mind is in a fog much of the time, and my baby girl is keeping me quite busy, which is why I have been absent from this space for so long.

It's more than worth it, of course...just look at that adorable face!

Although I'm mostly happily occupied with the wee one, I do find time now and then to think about my plans for spring and summer. I tried to be realistic and not bite off more than I can chew this year, but I am always trying to learn new skills and find new ways to be self-sufficient. It's just the way we live, now.

I believe I have mentioned that my main gardening project for this year is to grow an herb garden, with a mixture of culinary and medicinal herbs. I'm going to just buy the culinary herbs, since I have limited space and really only room for one plant of each variety. But I wanted to try growing the medicinal plants from seed. So far all I have done is plant some lavendar and yarrow in the window next to our back door. The yarrow came up about two days, and much to my surprise, the lavendar followed about a day later (those are the little green specks in the background).

I was surprised because I had read online that lavender germinates slowly, taking up to 30 days. But these sprouts appeared in about 3-4 days. My seed packet from Horizon Herbs also stated that lavender has a low germination rate--only 5 seeds might sprout out of a pack of 100. So of course I planted the full pack, and now it looks like every single seed sprouted. I guess I'll have a lot of extra plants to give away this year, if even a third of those little sprouts survive.

I meant to plant some chamomile and calendula today, but as it's already getting late it looks like I won't get around to it until tomorrow.

One thing we have firmly planned for this summer is to pick a lot more berries than we did last year. It seemed last summer that we were picking a ridiculous amount, and yet our jam has reached pathetically low levels, and it's only April! We have only 1 jar each of blueberry, grape jelly, strawberry, and apple butter, looking all lonely on the pantry shelf.

And the raspberry and cherry jams have been gone for a while. I finally broke down this past week and bought a jar of raspberry jam at the store. It just didn't feel right! This year I'll be sure to make a lot more jam, and freeze a lot more berries as well, since Jasper adores frozen blueberries for a snack every morning.

I can't wait for the local strawberries to be in season!

Another thing I'm looking forward to is starting to sew my own clothes--when I have the time! I recently purchased the book Sew What! Skirts, and the Homestead Blessings DVD on The Art of Sewing, both of which contain easy to understand instructions on making a long tiered skirt. I love wearing long skirts, and my husband loves it when I wear them too. Besides, I really need new clothes...not only has my regular wardrobe gotten very shabby over the years, as I never wanted to spend money on clothes, but my post-baby body fits into almost nothing in my closet anyway. So a few long skirts with an elastic waist are just what I need. I just have to get the fabric, which means finding time to make it to the fabric store or the thrift store...it's definitely on my to do list.

We're also just about to redecorate our dingy looking livingroom, which is pretty exciting since I have loathed the colour of paint in there since we moved in to this house 5 years ago--but perhaps that merits a post of its own. :)

Well, those are the things on my mind lately...with spring in the air I am itching to do so many things, but of course I have to spend most of my time with the baby...which is not so bad at all!

Comments

[Sonja]

She is just beautiful! Congratulations!

[Rain]

I found your blog a few weeks ago and have enjoyed what I've read. Your daughter is beautiful! I have a 9 week old boy (my 6th) and also have been spending most of my waking hours caring for him and my other children. But oh the plans I have in my head. To expand the garden, do more canning this year (esp. jams and applesauce) to finish some knitting projects and really learn to sew!
I also want to make some herbal remedies like elderberry syrup for the upcoming fall/winter-I was caught short this year.
Blessings!
Rain

[Plain and Joyful Living]

Oh, what a sweetie Laura!
I also hope to make lots more jam this year.
I will look into that book about making skirts as the one I tried making without a pattern, just didn't come out....
Thinking of you.
Warm wishes,
Tonya

[Marlyn]

Laura she is still so tiny! So sweet. You are being impatient so you definitely have the spring bug.Everything has to be done yesterday!! Lavender is hard to grow, your books are correct. It is also hard to keep alive over winter up here. Munstand is the only type I can keep for about three years then the cold kills it.( not sure of the spelling). Sewing elastic skirts is simple and will take little time. Well worth your effort. Redecorating always goes on the back burner, unless you can get help from hubby. It always seems like an idea, until cost gets involved and then the actual effort. My experience anyway. Keep strong and be a great mom, right now this is your job. Good to hear from you.
Blessings Marlyn

[angie]

wow so much accomplished with a new babe! Good for you mama! I am in the same boat with the jam! I've had to buy a few jars at the store now and it makes me soooo sad. This year I will do the same, more jam and more frozen berries.

[Teresa]

How precious! Congratulations and Blessings!

[Karen]

What a sweetie pie! And you certainly have lots going on. I would be interested in knowing just how many jars of jam you started off with....we just opened our last one and rhubarb is still awhile away.
I just finished making a basic A-line skirt using a pattern constructed from that book...it turned out perfectly.

[Laura Jeanne]

I made one batch each of blueberry, grape and cherry, and two batches each of raspberry and strawberry. One batch made 4 of the 500mL jars, I think? So we had 28 jars of jam, plus quite a lot of apple butter, I don't remember how much exactly. We go through a lot not only for peanut butter sandwiches, but because we like it on oatmeal too, and sometimes on toast for a bedtime snack.

Glad to hear your skirt turned out well!

[Laura Jeanne]

Munstead is the kind of lavender I do have, so I hope it will do all right!

As for decorating, I absolutely don't have time myself--hubby is doing all of it! He's such a gem. :)

[Laura Jeanne]

Thanks for your comment, and congratulations on your new little guy! I have always been intrigued by the idea of making elderberry syrup, although I don't know if I've ever even seen an elderberry tree, so I don't know where I would get the berries.

[lisa]

I am so glad to hear that all is going well. You have lots of energy Laura! Every year I try to get a few more berries into the freezer and we NEVER seem to have enough to last the year! ~lisa

[Brenda]

Oh Laura, She is so tiny and sweet, enjoy these early days, even with the sleep depravation, they are so worth it, soon she will be sleeping through and your energy levels will return. Your plans though you see them as small are huge, food, and remedies for your family, such a wonderful thing. xxBrenda

[Abbie]

That is a very cute face! Enjoy the time away from the computer and enjoy that little face because it will be a big face in no time at all!
Love all those sprouts, enjoy! Our plants are not fairing quite that well but hopefully we will see many more sprouts very soon.
I am anxiously awaiting the opening of our BIG farmers market next weekend to see what the early spring season for some farmers will bring to my pantry.
Love this season of growing and harvesting!