2013: Garden post #2

Ok ok, so I know last time I said maybe this time I'd give you the tour of the house... but I was wrong! 

We went to the garden on May day and I just can't not share my garden dreams... ya see, that place is paradise to me!

We were having a partly cloudy, partly sunny day so do forgive the weird changing light in the photos! :)

These are the ever-rising daffodils. I can't remember now if I've mentioned it before, but we ripped up the old daffodil bed and separated the bulbs (it was way overgrown) and planted two new raised beds. 

Hubby constructed this simple little teepee for me. The plan is to place some chicken wire around the base and plant our seedling scarlet runner beans and peas up this. :) 

It should be a fun little hideout for anyone small enough to fit in there!

 

We had an AMAZING raspberry harvest last year, so no surprise that there were plenty of dead stalks this spring. However, we weren't expecting so many new shoots to be lost to the cold... and now we will probably have a terrible raspberry year. :( 

My dad is our main raspberry farmer and here he is tying the lonely branches to the support beams to stop them from getting damaged in the wind etc. 

He has plans to expand our raspberry area and add some new varieties!

Last year, I would have been helping the hubster turn the soil... This year, I'm not in the best shape for that *wink wink*. 

Here he is turning where we had cornflowers and actual corn last year (and peas!). 

This year, this little strip is going to get a couple rows of potatoes to hopefully help improve the soil quality. 

The tulips are rising rather promisingly.

...As well as the rhubarb. 

Since our new plot has so much rhubarb, we are actually getting rid of this little patch of it. 

FRIENDS: if you would like some rhubarb let me know ASAP and we will dig it up and get it to you. 

This little patch is going to become our new compost spot!

I spent time cutting the dead bits off the strawberries and admiring the little leaves and new growth.

Hubby tore up the chives and garlic area to make a new raised bed there. It happened to be some previous farmer's rock collection so as he was digging we collected them into a pile...

I'm thinking of decorating borders of beds with rocks?

While that construction was going on, I took a moment to appreciate the pussy-willow and blue sky combo.

As well as the windy spring day view of the road and (melted!) lake. 

Here is the new raised bed with neatly planted garlic.

...and a corner of chives.

Something else we have been finding this spring is lots of broken glass. 

I was just going to dispose of it properly, but then I caught a glimpse through the dirt of how pretty and antique the glass was...and now I'm thinking of making some kind of mosaic stone to place in the garden with it.

So I brought it home and washed it. Don't worry, I was careful not to cut myself! :)

My job in home care ended on Monday and my awesome and sweet work friends gave me a little present: lemon balm, strawberry mint, and curry! 

I think these will go on our balcony for our little herb garden I'm going to grow out there. :)

They were also awesome and got me a box of heart shaped doughnuts since that has admittedly been my #1 pregnancy craving... and believe you me, they've watched me eat some doughnuts! :D

Speaking of doughnuts, it's Finnish tradition to drink a homemade "soda" called sima on May day and eat some sugar coated doughnuts.
I take tradition seriously! ;)

Since we went through the trouble of making a yeast dough for the doughnuts, we made a batch of cinnamon rolls too.
Yeah, this is how I started my maternity leave:

Well, that's it for me today.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Spring in a new home!

So after what has been a hectic and crazy-busy February, March has brought better weather (even though it's still sooooo cold!) and a new home! 

With these two wonderful things, I am also finding more time to do things I want to do again... and so much energy and inspiration! 

Now if only that pesky job would end so I could really focus all my time on crafty endeavors ;)

The day before we moved we went to see The Killers in Helsinki. 

Yeah, I know, who goes to see a concert when moving stress is at it's peak? 

Funny how things work out though when you buy tickets months in advance, you never really know what will happen! 

Here is a picture from my phone taken from the Killer's concert. They are amazing live by the way and I highly recommend seeing them if you are the least bit a fan. 

I was hoping they'd play this song "Be Still" (because I'm obsessed with it being prego and all), but as expected, perhaps it was too slow of a ditty to perform live for a party crowd. They did play a lot of my favorites like "Dustland Fairyale", "For Reasons Unknown", and "Smile like you mean it". 

Ah, and Brandon Flowers has such a beautiful, powerful, and conveying voice... surely one of the best in music today. ♥

Is that enough fan talk? ;)

Wanna hear more about the new apartment?

Well I love it for starters!

 We have the furniture in its maybe permanent spots... Still working out the kinks from a few rooms...

I'm just blown away by how awesome a walk-in-closet is to have for storage! Wow, we have near empty closets in the bedrooms thanks to it! :)

Lots of kids live in this area... so our courtyard has several snowmen :)

That's my breakfast view. Urban scenery complete with trains passing. Thankfully, they aren't loud!
And speaking of breakfast, I've been on an oatmeal kick lately. This morning, I ate it with banana and red currants from last summer. What a surprisingly good combo!

I've had lots of flowers to keep me happy in our new home.
My friend brought us these beautiful red tulips last weekend. Thanks! :)

And last Saturday when we went to Ikea, I brought home this orchid and a pot of narcissi. 

And while we were out today shopping, hubby bought me pink tulips to enjoy for our anniversary (two whole years on Monday!!)

There were so many, I was able to take a few and put them on my nightstand. Having flowers on one's nightstand is a total quality of life measurement for me. :D
Aww, you can kinda see us in the background on our wedding day. Oh the happy memories ♥

I've been really into spring and Easter since the stores are suddenly full of daffodils and Easter chicks and chocolate eggs.

I'm loving having a proper dining room/nook now and I smile every time I walk by and see it :)

I'm having so many thoughts on decorating as far as themes and colors go... just kind of taking my time thinking though. I feel like we always rush into putting things together and then get tired so quickly, so maybe if we take our time, we'll enjoy it longer. :)

As is, I'm pretty tired most days when I get home from work. I think it has something to do with working a lot and growing a person inside. 

Here we are at 26 weeks and change. 

She's a kicker, a mover, and a shaker.

And she and I are getting bigger by the week!!

(especially this past week, I've really felt my clothes getting tighter!)

 

Well, I am itching to crochet since I am having a glorious 3 day weekend in honor of our anniversary and since daylight is slipping away, the cozy corner of the couch is calling my name. :) 

Ooh, and I bought some new yarn today which is always the motivator to finish any projects, because well, what's better than starting a new one? :)

Thanks for stopping by and hope spring is finding you where ever you might be! :)