CLOSER AND CLOSER

February can be heartening to winter-weary souls. This is the time of year that the Parade of Hope begins.

While we had another bout of below-freezing temperatures, and even got some snow, we also heard the first calls from Spring Peepers (frogs) and spotted blooming daffodils. Both are sure signs that Spring is around the corner!

The winter garden, as limited as it is, has been doing well. The garlic shoots are still green and growing. The pansies, despite the frigid days and nights over the past couple of months, have continued blooming! I’ve always loved pansies. The fact that I can grow them here in the winter provides a bright spot of color throughout the dreary winter.

I was ill for part of the month. As miserable as it was, there were worse things going around that I, thankfully, did not catch.

I was delighted when a friend brightened my month with flowers. They added a spot of “pretty” in my home for a week or so.

The chickens are doing well and have been steadily laying eggs through the winter months. This, as you can imagine, makes me very popular among those who don’t want to pay the grocery store price for eggs. It sure is a shame I’m allergic to eggs.

I also was able to meet my goal of finishing another quilt top this month. I’ve had the material (Janet Rose) since 2009 so, besides being able to work through more of my fabric stash, I now have this beautiful quilt top. The pattern is “Wedding Rings.”

Garden planning begins in earnest next month. I’m not sure how extensive my garden will be this year, but I will definitely do something … planting stuff is one of my happy places.

Into March we go!