Sunday, May 20, 2012

My Lucky Day!

Yesterday, our local outdoor farmer’s market opened for the season.  Oh happy day!  In addition to all the regular vendors, there were a few new ones and of course I had to check them out. 

One of the new stalls was filled to the brim with quality antiques and quilts.  It’s a good thing that I arrived shortly after set up because I’m sure my newest treasure would have made it home with some other appreciative customer rather than me.

An antique J & P Coats spool cabinet!

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I’m not sure if this is where I’ll keep it but until I can find a better place, here is where it’ll stay.

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I thought that one more crate would do it for some of my neatly folded stash but I definitely need another one to complete the stack.

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Speaking of stash, there hasn’t been too much happening here lately on the sewing front.  Taking care of baby chicks, planting flowers and preparing the veggie garden has taken up most of my and Mr. Painted Quilt’s time.

Today, “Les Girls” are five days old…already!  They’ve almost doubled in size since we brought them into our mud room and placed them under a heat lamp.  It was just too cold for them at this age out in the coop in the barn, but who knew?  We’re transplanted city folk and thanks to the advice and guidance of friends and neighbors,  we’re learning the ropes very quickly.

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We’re also in the process of enlarging our ‘kitchen’ garden to make room for some tomatoes, hot peppers, lettuce and onions.  Just to be on the safe side, we’ll be planting those next weekend.  We still get some cool breezes at night being so close to the ocean. 

The Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia is renowned for it’s fruit and veggies so for the two of us, having a large garden is really not worth the time and effort that is required to maintain it.  In season, there is an abundance of reasonably priced organically grown produce, especially at our farmer’s market where you can find me bright and early every Saturday morning.

The rest of our rhubarb crop will be picked today and I can’t decide whether to make some rhubarb crisp or muffins…or maybe both!  What is left over will be frozen to be used as needed.

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All the hybrid roses that I planted last summer survived the winter and are flourishing.  We are also hoping for a bumper crop of apples from the three trees off to the right.

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Isn’t this rhododendron smashing?  Unfortunately the photo does not do it justice because the flowers are actually a deep crimson.

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The tulips will soon lose their petals and go dormant, just in time for the sweet woodruff in this particular spot to take their place.

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This is only the second season for our flower beds and everything seems to be healthy and happy and growing like crazy. 

Both bleeding hearts are enormous and in full bloom right now.  Isn’t the white one lovely?  I think it’s my favorite of the two.

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The many greens of spring.  You’d almost think we were in Ireland!

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44 comments:

Darlene said...

Wow, Les Girls are growing like crazy. Soon they will be big enough to move into their much bigger abode.

Love your 'find' - it's beautiful. I spy a cute tidbit right above the 'find'. :-)

Ali said...

What a great find I bet you were
so pleased.
Thanks for letting us look around your garden you have some beautiful
plants.

Ali xx

WoolenSails said...

What a lucky find, I have been wanting one with drawers to use for mail, so hard to find a nice one, in good condition with full sized drawers.

The babies are so cute, how fun to watch them grow.

Debbie

Siobhán said...

Oooh, great find! Lucky you--that chest is wonderful. I can't believe how fast your garden has taken shape--it's really flourished in such a small amount of time. Beautiful!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Nice score on the thread cabinet! It looks to be in wonderful shape - a definite treasure.

As I was reading this post, I wondered if you read Judy Laquidara's blog, Patchwork Times. You have a lot in common. She's newly moved to 40 acres, has chickens, gardens, and quilts.

Susannah said...

Oh, Kaaren...your lawn and gardens are beautiful! You are having a ton of fun, aren't you? Have another beautiful day today!

Anonymous said...

Jackie, I was going to tell Kaaren that. I already told Judy she had a kindred spirit in Kaaren. They are so much alike in many ways.

sewprimitive karen said...

What a gorgeous garden and yard!

Anneke said...

what a great find is your spoolcabinet. I would love to have one too... But I wouldn't have the space for it, so no regrets.

Love the pictures of your garden, finally Summer is coming, here in the Netherlands we have the same springlike greens.

Janet said...

It is so pretty where you live! I envy you the access to all the fresh fruit and vegetables. Here the rhubarb is barely out of the ground.

Beverley said...

Les Girls are lovely, and so is your cabinet.
My Bleeding Heart died this winter. Not sure why, it was a warmer winter than the last two. Go figure!
Your garden is very pretty.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Great find with the J & P cabinet!

Your gardening efforts are rewarding you with beautiful blooms, fresh herbs and veggies. How fortunate you have a good farmers market and can find affordable fresh fruits and veggies. This is one of the true joys of summer!

gracie said...

The girls are so adorable...I will enjoy watching them grow. Your gardens look lovely....

Allie said...

Wow Kaaren what a score - love that thread cabinet!!!! And your garden just looks amazing, so glad the "girls" are doing well, you really are keeping busy!

marie said...

Your property is wonderful, too big to be called a yard. I miss our 5 acres but am enjoying the convience of living in town. We have a small garden with just tomatoes, beans, and snap peas. Due to the cool nights in the NW I wrap plastic around the square tomatoe cages to keep them warm. I do buy starts and according to the local planted them way too early, (april 15), but they are loaded with blossoms and have about 8 tomatoes the size of quarters. So the plastic works. Also, love your treasure.

Kathy H said...

Everything looks so pretty and the chicks are so cute. I will enjoy seeing your pictures as they grow.

Kathy MacKie said...

What a great score on your thread cabinet. I remember well when it was chick season as my parents would bring home 200 chicks and the first couple of nights they would spend it in our kitchen, it was one big cardboard box full of yellow fluff.

City Krafters said...

Hi,
Love your photo's I'm in the UK it is really cold it was delightful to look at your lovely garden and the pretty chicks.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kaaren,

What a very special find in the Coats cabinet. It looks in such great shape.
The chicks are certainly growing and your gardens are looking wonderful.
Enjoy the holiday weekend. The weather here is almost too hot.
Dianne

Abby and Stephanie said...

Score on the spool cabinet! I would never leave a yard a pretty as yours. Isn't country so much better than city?

Janet said...

I just want to move in to your place. The garden is looking wonderful so I'm not surprised you want to spend time outside. I love your family of chicks, it'll be fun to watch them grow.

SueB said...

That is a great find..those chicks are really growing. Thanks for sharing your beautiful place with us.

Lesley said...

That cabinet is so beautiful and looks new...it sure fits into your studio! Is the grin still on your face? Definitely lucky you! Love the tour of your plants and property...nice to see Spring and Summer actually arriving!

Shirley--Knot-y Embroidery Lady said...

The girls are looking good and warm. Your weather is beyond wonderful since you can grown bleeding hearts like the ones in your picture! Your post is a treat to read and look at. Thanks.

Caro said...

Oh my gosh, that's exactly what I'm looking for to put in my new sewing room. Did they have anymore and if so, can you please tell me who you purchased for,? I have been looking since last September.

Sandy said...

How exciting to find that spool cabinet...lovely! Your gardens are beautiful, I so love Spring!

Needled Mom said...

The garden looks so beautiful. It's a great time of the year, isn't it?

The spool cabinet is a real treasure. I'm glad that you got it early.

The chicks are so cute. Fresh eggs in six months????

Laura said...

Wow! Congrats on the spool cabinet!!
Your garden is beautiful...love the color on the rhododendron! I have many of the flowers you have (but not the rhody), including a white bleeding heart. I like it better than the pink one too, but the pink is hardier for me.

Janet O. said...

Looks like you city folk have transplanted to the country very nicely. What beautiful surroundings!

Claddaughquilting said...

Lucky you!! I didn't even know those existed but I will certainly be on the lookout because I need one of those ( and one of those, and one of those, etc!) Cute little chicks, am going to enjoy watching them grow...and your flowers are beatiful, and neat and clean, no weeds, you must work very hard! I am feeling inspired, so I think I'll head out to my "garden"! I do have a beautiful bleeding heart which is also in full bloom, but it doesn't last long..Thanks for a wonderful update and have a great day!

Ronda said...

Oh what a find!!!! A love that spool cabnet and your garden beautiful!

Barb said...

beautiful cabinet - congrats.
The chicks are so fluffy and cute and growing!
pretty garden shots.

The Tea Lady's Journal said...

You have a beautiful place. So much to enjoy. Happy to see you are busy doing so many different things. We all need a break from sewing/quilting sometimes! As long as it makes you happy.

MoeWest said...

The thread cabinet is a great find! I'm a wee bit jealous. :-)
Your gardens are looking lovely and the little chicks are so cute.

Janet said...

What a wonderful antique find. The baby chicks are so cute. Your bleeding heart is beautiful. Your whole gardens are beautiful. No wonder no sewing going on.
Janet

Deb said...

Wow, what a wonderful score with that spool cabinet. Lucky girl that you got there early because you know that someone would have picked up that beauty!!

Candace said...

I can't believe how fast the girls are growing, Kaaren! But I can believe your garden - you have a most incredible green thumb! Everything looks gorgeous! Now about that thread cabinet - I'm SO envious! I've seen them here and there but they are totally out of reach in this neck of the woods - what a find!! You must be so thrilled!
Cheers!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Those chicks are adorable! Bet they will grow up fast.

Marie said...

I want your Spool Cabinet AND those adorable chicks!

Wow, what a find. You are right, that cabinet would not have lasted long at all.

Love the garden pics

Laurel said...

Hi Kaaren...
Congrats on your latest purchase.....meant to be....for you....a reward for all you've been through for the past several months!..I have been collecting sewing items for over 30 years now and have a collection of 10...ohoh...11 wooden spool cabinets and I love each and every one...
Enjoy!!

Hitchhiker42 said...

I love the bright red rhododendrons! It's so funny, they grow like weeds here in Ireland. The Irish actually consider them somewhat of a pest. The wild ones in Galway grow 12 foot and have cotton-candy pink flowers.

Ter'e said...

Look how gorgeous your yard is looking. My gosh, what a change from when you first moved in. It's just beautimus!!!!!!!

Love love love your new thread find! It's gorgeous as well.

Gosh it's wonderful to hear our old Kaaren back. I'm so thankful!!!!!

Carm said...

Ihope you have better luck with your chicks than we did. Something got in and killed the last 4 of our 13.

Pat said...

Your grounds are beautiful as are your girls girls. Your swap partner is going to be very happy!!