The Little House of Blooms

Diary of a week

Monday, April 8

I pull the slipcover from the sofa, toss it in the wash for a soapy tumble, rinse, and spin. Sewn from humble painter’s drop cloth 13 years ago, it’s done life with us so well. Well beyond my expectations. Mud, juice, jam, coffee, tea, ketchup, mustard, eye black, dirt - they’ve all met this slipcover, and washed right out (hot water + stain bar). As I dress this boxy lady once again with her fresh, clean cover, I see the places where it’s wearing thin. When it’s time, I’ll make another with the very same cloth.

Tuesday, April 9

While the last of the butternut squash roasts in the oven, cubed and tossed with onion wedges, garlic cloves, olive oil, and fresh thyme snipped from the pot in the window, I plant the last of my forcing bulbs, the hyacinth. And I declare this year to have held the most successful procession of indoor bulbs I’ve ever coaxed into blossom. From January to April, from narcissus, to amaryllis, to hyacinth - blooms, like bursts of light and joy, have filled our house. I do believe, from this day forward, it’ll be known as The Little House of Blooms.

Wednesday, April 10

A white porcelain sink with its original brass faucet; a chrome, goose neck utility faucet with a porcelain soap dish. Found things. Ebay, you always have something good up your sleeves.

Thursday, April 11

A break in the wind and rain, a sun-drenched day. I rake under the willow tree by the creek; Maggie Mae sploshes through the water, holds her breath, goes under. She comes up with yet another big rock, carries it carefully up onto the lawn, sets it down, then looks to see if I saw what a good retriever she is. I did, Maggie Mae. I look at all the wet rocks littering the lawn. Such a good retriever!

Friday, April 12

It was a two mouse night. Peanut carries her midnight catch to the front door, lays it on the doormat, and wakes me with her distinct, I caught a mouse! meow. To which I must get up, go to the front door, open it, and exclaim over her good work. She looks up at me, then at her mouse. So proud. I close the door, go back to bed. Then, a couple hours later, we do it all over again. Her record is three.

Saturday, April 13

I plunge perfect soil blocks into the waiting flat. Perfect squares with perfect dimples in their tops for seeds. Today, nasturtium: Purple Emperor, Peach Melba, Double Salmon, and Yeti. I feel like I’m playing, making mud pies, or, shall we say, mud cakes, from which will sprout living, blooming things. Here, on this sunny, blue-bird day, under the still leafless cottonwoods, I take my first step in the shift toward plastic-free seed starting. It feels momentous and oh-so-good.

P.S. If you joined me at our last Gather, you’ll know I was planning on using these, USA-made, fiberglass trays to hold my soil blocks (recommended by this regenerative flower farmer). However, the company kept moving the ship date out, so I had to cancel the order and, sadly, pick up some regular plastic flats to use this spring. I’ll give the fiberglass trays another go by ordering this fall (and give the plastic ones to a friend for his greenhouse). And in my dreamy dreams, when I have my own one-day greenhouse, I’ll make and use these wooden trays. See them here in the Bloomerie at Patina Meadow. Swoon.

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Loves! Gather is coming up this Saturday! Join me at 10:00 MDT for an hour of slow time together. I’ll be showing, step-by-step, how I shop for my clothing on eBay! Paid subscribers will find the link for the virtual event at the bottom of this Friday’s post (4/19).