Garden post 4

Wow! What a month!

May has been the month of stress for me...which is a shame because I usually love May! 

However, I've been waiting for this day...the sweet last day of May. Woohoo!

Although I suppose there isn't much for celebration since I'm SO BUSY with work and life. But at least the life part is exciting, right. ;)

I spent last weekend in Tallinn with some friends for my dear friend's bachelorette party. Fun! I'll have to share the pictures another time...when I get more time... Lol!

But for now, here's the going-ons from the garden. I haven't really had much time for anything else but work, school, and garden. All three things are taking precedence over everything else. Or have all been at crucial points. Boy, I'm tired! 

Here are some pictures from May 22nd.

Lily of the valley! 

Blooming "tuomi". 

Pheasants at the garden. They haven't done any damage to our garden so far this year. And now there are at least two males with their girlfriends...can't wait to see some babies! :)

 

Here are some pictures from May 24th...

Tulips in a vase at my parent's house.

 

Dandelions. They can be pretty when they are just on the side of the road in a ditch. But they should know better than to welcome themselves to our garden as they often do. 

 

More "prunus padus".

 

There is so much pollen in the air... thanks to these guys. I feel bad for those with allergies, I'm so lucky to not have any! This year is apparently a record year for pollen...

 

By May 29th, the second batch of tulips were blooming. These are the same kind we had last year (I believe the variety is "angelique") but this year they are a deep pink instead of red. I love them, they are like peonies! 

The lily of the valleys are finally blooming!!! Or well, I'm sure they've opened by today.

 

Ah. Forget-me-not. How could I?

 

My dad's great idea to transport the tulip bouquet in rhubarb leaves. Kinda cute!

 

Ah, rhubarb. Yum!

 

Remember when I said we started some seeds late... Well here are the brussels sprouts. I had no idea that they would come up so quickly AND have heart shaped leaves!

 

And here are the AMAZING pumpkin starts. I swear these look different every day, in the difference of morning compared to evening. It's like magic or something!

 

Sigh.

I wish I could putter around the garden every day.

Alas, it's off to work within the hour for me. 

Hopefully I can get back here soon so I can share some pictures of Tallinn!

Hope you're having a nice week! Thanks for stopping by! :)

pansies

This is pretty self-explanatory.

Pansies are gorgeous!!!

Aaah. ♥

Garden post 3 + thoughts on life

I'm boring and I harp on about the fact that I am super stressed out. I'm just exhausted.

That's why I was reallllllly naughty yesterday and didn't work on my thesis. I sat there with the books open, the computer in front of me, and the best intentions... but I just couldn't do it.

And you know what I did instead?

I crocheted.

And then we went to the garden where I had some photo and dirt therapy. 

Just what I needed!

I'm so happy that I remember I should listen to myself sometimes and recognize that sometimes I just need to do what is best for me. It's selfish and indulgent but reinvigorating and calming at the same time. 

The way I see it, there will always be a list of important things that need to get done, but who else is going to look out for me and say, "this time the list can wait till tomorrow" if I don't myself?

Exactly. No one.

So I took immense pleasure in seeing the lily of the valley buds...

Joy in how big rhubarb can grow in a week. (again)

 

I found pure inspiration in pansies. I took so many pansy pictures that they'll make their own post all together.

 

I found peace in composition.

 

Felt sadness for the daffodils that had been mercilessly attacked by what seemed to be a swarm of newborn snails... ick.

 Gardening isn't always so glorious.

But rejoiced to see some perfect specimens were spared. It made them that much more precious!

 

I admired perfectly majestic tulips.

These ones are rogue and pop up every year for some reason.

 

I breathed in the scent of grape hyacinths. It's like heaven.

 

I was excited to see the progress of the currants in just one week again. Soon we'll have bushes full of buzzing bees....photo gold. 

And let's not forget the currants these will become!

 

I found sweetness in almost fully blooming forget-me-nots. 

 

I had a rush of adrenaline from the seed collection my mom brought along. Look at them all! Oh the potential!

We split them up into piles of this year, next year, maybe if we have room. (here they aren't in any order though!)

 

And when we got home and I took these following photos, I found pride. In myself. 

 

No matter what happens in the next 6 months to a year... no matter how much I stress and struggle to see this degree through and become a nurse... I will do it. 

Because it's not in my nature to quit.

(Even though I'd love to!!! Lol!)

But I take pride in seeing things through. 

And now that I know what I don't want to be, and how little a decent salary and steady work mean in the long haul if you aren't happy or passionate (or even interested!).  I did what my brain said, maybe I need to focus next on what my heart has said all along? I think knowing what you don't want is incredibly empowering and gives so much drive and ambition into achieving what you DO want.

Who knows how it will all play out, but isn't the journey what it's about anyway?

Thanks for reading if you stuck with my philosophical and silly rambling. Although for me this was none of those things, but  in fact happily clarifying.

It's funny how much more things make sense when you see them in black and white. 

Tee hee. 

See ya very soon. With pansies!!!

WAAAAA!!!

Ferns and the forest

I love spring. 

A lot.

I love the woods. 

A lot.

I love Saturdays.

Yeah, you guessed it, a lot. 

Ohhhh, and I love taking pictures, too! :)

 

Ferns for my sister.

 

We took a little detour on our morning woodsy walk down to the water's edge to take some boat pictures. 

 

I'm loving the bright lime green birch leaves against the black and white of the tree trunk and against the blue sky. I see where marimekko get's their inspiration from!

 

"The stump". I follow the seasons according to the stump. Lol!

 

It's so very green from the window now. I loves it!

 

I baked my favorite lemon and coconut bars today... And added some fresh grated ginger to the crust, YUM!

 

What do I not love? 

School.

Work.

Feeling pressed for time to get ANYTHING done.

But one must remember that:

a) everything is temporary

b) things could always be worse

c) being grateful is a choice.

I'm grateful for the time I've had today to walk in the woods, take pictures, bake and eat something yummy, and spend time on skype with loved ones.

Hope you're having a nice weekend! :)