Springtime update

There's something beautiful about coming to the countryside.

It used to be a well known cure for ailments. The clear fresh air. relaxing sounds of nature. Worries and stress are replaced with letter writing and slow paced living. I enjoy just walking barefoot through the sandy driveway...then stopping to listen to the birds. Boring? I certainly don't think so.

~ ~Mother tending to the roses~

"The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies." J.R. Miller
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Sewing Project

*~*My sister has been hand-stitching a cardigan lately. It didn't take long to finish and came together well!

~We're still repairing our sewing machine, so in the meantime, our projects are sewn by hand.

~ Gathering in the back...The pattern for this knit cardigan: Simplicity 2206.
~The Concord grapes are coming in! Grapes are one of my favorite fruits, and all the better homegrown. We have Muscadines as well, but I'm hoping we can purchase more grapevines. We've already planted more fruit trees!
~ Thoughts from the Garden...
I have certainly seen the benefit of choosing to learn 'back to basics' skills and gentle economy from home. It may not be a popular idea, but I'm thankful I have this opportunity. It has been a blessing to decide this course early on and stick with it. To me, success and fulfillment is measured by so much more than what modern society praises.
~The spiced-pear jam turned out so well last year..I'm looking forward to making that again ;)
~ The strawberries were moved to a new area, but are doing great. We've already used them in smoothies!

~~The cottage pathway~
There are so many rewards to living a simple and quiet life.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

Romans 12:2

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~Against the picket fence~

The fragrance of Peppermint and Spearmint drift through the air, as the leaves are warmed by the sun.

I store my seeds in a binder meant for cards {heh..hey it works for now!} The clear sleeves make it easy to somewhat organize. I went ahead and ordered more seeds online for 2 reasons: More bulk organic options for a better price ;) Also I like to support other gardeners who save their seeds as well. So lately we've been direct sowing the flower/veg. seeds in different areas.
~I soaked the pole beans in mason jars before planting out.
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~*~Heirloom tomato plants in the morning sun~*

~ My parents in the garden together-- as my Mother waters the newly sown seeds, my Dad prepares the soil for the next area. Goodness, my row of shasta daisies have grown so much--this will be their second year. The blooms are beginning to form now ;)
~A peek into the kitchen.. as my sister prepares biscuits to go with dinner.
~~I dug up a dozen wild roses to transplant to the front garden..tomorrow I'm going to try to find more! Can you ever have too many roses?~
I've been out of town for the past fortnight to attend a church event. (It was lovely!) But now that I'm back to the everyday schedule of homelife, I'm realizing how important the responsibilities here at the Cottage are-- especially now that the weather has warmed up ;) So I look forward to sharing more updates with y'all soon.

Ah, the comforts of home.