Muddy Boot Dreams

Dandelions of desire edge us closer to desperation

2013-05-25T04:04:00.000-07:00

We have realized that we are losing the fight against the weeds, and the grass, English style edging is full of weakening resolve, no stiff upper lip here. Like the cat, it is always wishing to be somewhere it shouldn’t.

With the extra moisture spurring it on, the grass has breached the boundaries all those hours of the half spade slicing into edges of garden beds resulting only in sciatica, and a garden bed that is shaggy, and overgrown as a bad haircut.

Turf should grow where it’s wanted, not climbing, and clawing at the edges of my flower beds. Behave yourself I want to tell it, go and grow instead in the mossy bare patches of the middle of the lawn.

Dandelions are on parade, grey haired, bobble heads standing sentinel over the grass. Waiting their turn to blow the white whiskered seeds, with the slightest breeze.

If I were to choose never to buy another plant again, never a bloom to brighten the spots the dandelions have not yet reached, I could yearly divert the garden budget towards landscape cloth, and gravel, with which to cover the grass..the space is too big to do that, and my love and need of flowers bigger still.

Grass is a green eyed monster, would be water sucking if we were to be that foolish. Weed festooned, and always self consciously comparing it’s self to the neighbours. It’s always needing to be cut, pruned, and sheared into submission. I am prideful on perennials…they are my love, my money is on the flowers, divert the eye, that’s my motto.

It’s the dandelions of desire that irk my heart, I wish to stand in the middle of the lawn and tell them that they are all to be made into wine, but they would just laugh at me.

I plan, scheme, think, and dream how to replace this worrisome green carpet that is so needy with something that will not overtake our house. Ground cover won’t do here, the climate is too harsh, to cold, to hot…gravel..loads, and loads of it…I dream of rocks, a weed less carpet of rocks.

The grass merely giggles at my innocence, and creeps towards the garden beds, intent on mischief.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Tail in my tea….TAIL IN MY TEA BOOTSIE!

2013-05-24T04:04:00.000-07:00

I must admit to being perplexed with people who don’t love cats.

I mean, what’s there not to love…warm, sleek, furry, glossy, [scratching the furniture, knocking down the plants…]

Cosy on your feet, purring, [loves to head butt you in the early hours of the morning.]

Waking up at 4 am, makes it so much more special when they let you sleep until 6:00 am.

Bird watching, chirping, doors in, out, in out, in …..out? [Make up your mind, it’s freezing standing here in the doorway, and it’s too early in the morning to do this.]

Brings you dead grey treaties with furless tails…[tries to teach you to hunt.]

Cuddles in the evening, watches TV from your lap. Soft furry meows, raspy tongue.

Underfoot….ouch well it’s your fault your tail was there.

“I’m so sorry, it’s my big feet, here let me pick you up…ouch, don’t bite me, it was your fault, not mine.”

YOUR TAIL IS IN MY TEA! Get your tail out of my tea. Ugggghhh….

Who said you could jump on the computer desk anyways?

Right…me. And here I thought it was sooo cute. Was going to take a photo and put it on my blog.

Don’t whip your tail around like that, you will get the monitor all wet.

Stop please stop, I will do anything if you will just jump down, go....lie down.

NO! I will not feed you again, your tail marks are all over the monitor, now it’s got wet streaks all over it.

Yes, I know that the curser is cute, and looks just like a bug on the screen…oh, don’t bat at it…Boootsiiiie.

Get down, no that’s not the kind of mouse you can catch, that’s my mouse, for MY computer.

When I said get down, I meant get off of the computer desk, I can’t see over you…

Oh….you want to lie down on the computer desk, in front of the monitor…you are such a cute baby…

Sweetie, come look at the cat, how adorable he is…he wants to blog too.

What’s there not to love about cats?

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

2013-05-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

There’s a little drug store in the small town near where we live, and it has the nicest collection of giftware I’ve seen up here yet. Someone has a great eye for display, and it’s a delight to walk in there and see the latest little treasures they have acquired. All displayed in a color coordinated, beautifully layered way that makes you want to take it home with you, or gift it to someone special.

It’s where my stolen moments are spent, the time between errands, the moments I am waiting for my husband to get his coffee and share stories with the local coffee shop. “Take your time I say”….with a grin, you know where to find me.

Although I only purchase with my eyes, there is much to inspire, and temp me in there,I’m a visual person. Stretched canvas prints of quotes overlaying photos of luscious gardens filled with flowers and bird houses, distressed wood signs, turquoise ceramic birds nests that can hold a votive candle, or a egg. Glassware galore, orange, brown, russet hanging with clear speckled glasses, tea towels, all sorts of gorgeous picture frames, and pillows. It’s quite the collection of beautiful items…

But the ones that catch my eye are the quotes…dream, imagine, lake, pond, love.

You had me at meow…oh, those capture my heart.

And the favourite one this week?

A mixed collage stretched canvas that asks:

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

I like to ask myself what would I do?

And I know my answer….

What’s yours?

I wanted to mention two posts I have read this week, that really got me thinking, and I hope you will read them.

First is by the amazingly talented Cindy from Rosehaven Cottage. Cindy’s post the other day titled, Early blooming rudbeckia…struck a chord with my middle aged mind…on how we compare ourselves and the use of our talents to others, especially if you are a mature woman, see if if does that for you also.

The second is Claudia’s post from Mockingbird hill Cottage…On blogging, why I no longer care about stats and competition. Claudia has written about the changes that blogging has gone through in the last few years, it’s not the cosy little group it used to be. Is this a good thing, or not. She doesn’t mince words, stands up for her beliefs, and is wonderfully popular, for a good reason, she’s a great writer, and blogger.

To me, these two bloggers are some of the reasons we love reading blogs…posts that are well written, and while deeply personal, still engaging. I hope that you find them that way also.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

More of to be a gardener

2013-05-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

We bloggers put a lot of effort into posts, and it’s always wonderful when there is a great response to what we have written.

The comments you have left on the post To be a gardener are amazing, truly inspiring.

I could see these put together in a little booklet on gardening with gorgeous photos…who knows, maybe one day.

Since many of us leave a comment on a post, and rarely go back to check the ones that follow, I thought you might like to see what other bloggers wrote also.

Here in no particular order are your comments: It’s a bit of a read, but so worth it.

To be a gardener you are giving life, creating like an artist and realizing that there will be "bumps" along with the "yippees"!

To be a gardener you should: have a strong back and good knees.

To be a gardener, you should: be able to enjoy the sun as well as the rain

.....accept Mother Nature and work with her

...not be afraid of bugs and worms.

...be patient
...be grateful

Have your pulse quicken when you dig up a plant and divide it into several new plants you can share.

Not be afraid to make mistakes.

Find beauty and tranquility in a well tended garden.

Love the smell of compost.
2.Think a great day out is spent wandering from garden centre to garden centre.
3.Buy a plant even though you don't know where you are going to put it but still have to have it.
4.Have a steady income....see point #3

Believe in the power of Mother Nature.

To be a gardener, you should: have a remedy to rid of slugs and other critters.

not plant zucchini ~ strangers will surreptitiously slip a few in your bag when you visit the farmers market.

Be hopelessly optimistic that the NEXT time that plant will survive!

Enjoy the fruits of your labour!

..not get depressed when the spring weather doesn't cooperate and gets unseasonably cold like it is this weekend.

.....have a husband who takes over the hard work of weeding and watering after you are enthralled by all of the beautiful flowers when they first come out in the stores in the spring. I love buying them and planting them but then, he takes over. I am blessed.

Find joy in waking each morning to know the good Lord has brought yet another bud!

come to terms with... you will always have weeds! :-)

...realize the magic of every new sprout that breaks through the earth.

Worry about your plants when a storm comes.

...you should understand that "poo" is not a dirty word and a really good thing :)

...you should realize that manicures are a winter seasonal luxury, and that if you forego them all together, you will save money to buy more plants in the spring, not to mention your nails will be naturally healthier!

...you should save your leftover unused tea for your plants, they like a little caffeine boost once in a while...

...you should remember where you planted biennials and not pull them out as weeds the following spring.

..Be willing to move a plant six inches to make the bed perfect.

You should go out every morning to take photos and every evening too:)

Teach your creatures, "No that patch is NOT for you, Leave it"

I love gardening - I can watch it for hours!

...love the outdoors, the green, the colors, the sun, the rain.

....do no harm

...always be ready to try again when something dies!

Teach your husband, that patch is YOUR patch to weed. :) make it the biggest one. *wink*

I am going with that dirty nails thing. Every year I can't find the old gardening gloves and I get a new pair. But half the time I don't use them. I must love the dirt, then, right ?

Find joy in every new blossom.

A gardener I am not but I admire those who are!

...be willing to work very hard, but make time to occasionally sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

...be able to admit when things don't work out quite right, adjust, and move on to "plan B."

...be prepared for many challenges and much joy!

To be a gardener you should: miss your plants and flowerbeds when you move away and wonder how they're doing. (They never call or write!)

I can add nothing to yours nor the other gals beautiful thoughts ...
They are all mine.

You should be prepared to have itchy eyes and a runny nose!!!!!!

...be content with whatever comes up. I'm grateful that any of my plants return after the winter.

...be realistic about what will grow in your climate/clay soil/shady spots.

...rejoice in other people's gardens while you appreciate your hardy perennials.

...not get discouraged. Keep digging!

To be a gardener, you should enjoy the scents of the plants in your garden.

To be a gardener, you like watching bees and butterflies enjoy your work.

To be a gardener, you enjoy listening to the whispers of the trees in the wind.

To be a gardener, you mother your plants as if they were your children.

To be a gardener, you show off your garden with pride.

To be a gardener, you enjoy the feel of all you grow.

To be a gardener, you should be willing to embrace the fact that sometimes "gardening" is just sitting and observing your garden--listening to it "tell" you what it needs and what it wants to become.

Words to live by, now I am going out into my garden to dream, and reflect.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Birds, Bootsie, and a birth announcement

2013-05-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

Ask me what time I was woken up yesterday morning, since apparently none of the birds knew it was Sunday.

4 am.

Yes, 4 am.

Because..of the birds.

And the Boo…who howled like a banshee at the front door, after the birds woke him up.

Didn’t matter that it was dark outside still. He could hear Phil cawing and was determined to get out. Needless to say, I didn’t get up.

Now to the fun part: the birth announcement.

Sorry, not Phil’s yet, although we are pretty sure they are celebrating the birth of little pheasants by now.

Mr. and Mrs. Chickadee have baby birds in the turquoise bird house in the shade garden.

We can hear them chirping for Mom. And she is getting so used to me being there, that she goes in and out of the nest when we are in the yard.

Congrats to the chickadee’s.

Now Boo, go back to sleep.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Creative crouch–photography

2013-05-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest things coming from having sciatica is how creative you can be in order to get that shot. These tulips are only about 14 inches tall, and the garden bed is full of plants that are happily growing.

I really wanted to catch the sun as it was going down, and thought they would look great in that light. Problem was, there was no way I could get more then one foot into the bed at a time.

And there was no way I could lay down once I got myself in there. Which incidentally if you are over 6 feet tall, is how low tall people might need to be in order to get the setting sun behind a flower. The rest of the world can most likely just crouch down a little.

So I compromised…one foot in the bed, no bending, no real crouching…just a gentle knee bending, hold the camera down by your legs as low as you can go…sciatica be darned. Well…ignored for a few seconds.

Focus on the flower, and do my best to make sure the setting sun was behind them…as soon as the lens focused, I clicked.

It took a few tries, but I am really happy with how it turned out.

Interesting to note that I don’t always have to look through the view finder to get the shot.

Of course my fancy new camera does have a swivel out screen, but I keep forgetting how to take the shot when I use live view.

So I guess I could read up on that, and try to remember how to do it for the next time.

But so far crouch photography is working for me.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

To be a gardener you should….

2013-05-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

To be a gardener you should: have patience, winter lasts a long time.

To be a gardener you should: thrill to the first green shoots in the cold ground.

To be a gardener you should: believe that a flower can come from a tiny seed dropped into the ground.

To be a gardener you should: be willing to have dirty nails, and messy clothes.

To be a gardener you should: be able to stand in the heat and water thirsty plants.

To be a gardener you should: be willing to fall in love over and over with plants.

To be a gardener you should: be willing to share your crop with the bugs, and the birds.

To be a gardener you should…… now add your thoughts.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Green knees, and snitching flowers

2013-05-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

Somehow I went and did something wrong….now it’s sciatica.

Didn’t we just go through this a few weeks ago? Apparently, and then just as I got better I forgot to move the right way.

Sciatica sucks…and the stretches are not helping. I’m not playing for sympathy…just frustrated with this whole thing, it’s cutting into my computer, and gardening time. I can’t sit, can’t stand…you remember the story.

I am still gardening, even though at times I am reduced to doing it on my hands and knees…which is probably the way I should have been doing it before all this happened.

So what’s the story on beautiful blooming shrubs that just happen to hang over your fence, can you snitch a lilac bloom?

My backyard neighbour has a stunning lilac hedge right next to him, and every spring he cuts it back to the fence line…if those were my neighbours…I’d let it grow, and much snitching of flowers would be occurring.

I can only look backwards towards his neighbour’s lilac hedge and dream…because now the good neighbour gate is wired shut, [thanks a lot Bootsie] I can’t even sneak in there to take a photo.

Is it snitching if it’s on your side of the fence?

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Letting it loose

2013-05-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

We’ve been having a good time in last few posts, you are very creative in your ways of putting arrogant Photographers who rant in their place. And I thank you for all of your lovely [and creative] comments..you made me laugh, and you made me realize that I need to believe in myself, not in what “they” might say.

But I have to tell you, it felt kind of good to let it loose and say “take that.”

Really good, and I thank you.

Self confidence is a funny thing, and those voices in our heads have a way of drowning it out sometimes.

Can I say this to all of us, believe in yourself, in your creativity…even if others tell you something different.

And it’s wonderful to know that someone has your back.

Now onto other stuff:

It’s been super hot here the entire last week, I mean super hot, as in over 30 C which is stinking hot in F.

And now it’s cold…again. What’s with that?

We have the heat on now, when we could have used the air conditioning last week, from roasting to freezing.

It seemed that every poor plant that was lurking underneath the soil suddenly pushed it’s self upwards towards the heat, and then couldn’t deal with it without almost constant watering. Think going from living in Alaska to basking on the beach in Hawaii in one day. Poor babies, it was tough.

But they all made it, me..well my arms feel like they are going to fall off from all the watering I’ve had to do. We went from no water restrictions to stage two…no sprinkling, hand watering between certain hours only.

Those hours would be the ones that the mosquitoes are at their worst of course, I’ve already been bitten too many times. And being allergic to almost all natural and chemical sprays makes it hard to find something that works for me. Any suggestions on natural stuff that really truly works?

I’ve been reading about sprinkling granular garlic on the garden, Pinterest pinners are always creative in their ideas…spraying Listerine around the patio, and planting certain plants…does any of this really work, they seem to swear by it? Or am I wasting my time, and my money?

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

My blog readers have my back, so take that!

2013-05-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Ignorant [you call yourself a professional photographer] who ranted at those of us who shoot flowers….

Did you read the comments on yesterday’s blog post? In other words don’t mess with my blog readers…they will have their dog pee on your virtual leg, let you know that you are deeply insecure, and tell you to stuff it in your ear.

Yes, I’ve got great blog readers, and they have my back…..just because we shoot digital doesn’t mean that “everyone who has a camera thinks they are a photographer.”

We don’t, we think that we have a passion for photography, we think that it’s something we really enjoy doing, and love. Most of us even think that we take great shots, no matter how many we take, and all of us know that each shot makes us better. It’s the journey, not the destination.

We agree that we should take photos of whatever makes our heart beat a little faster, be it a barn, children, landscapes, or the poor belittled flower. It’s our camera, and we can do whatever we like with it.

Real photographers do use digital, not everyone has to use a film camera in order to be considered skilled at photography.

Maybe next time you will realize it’s about passion for, and a love of, no matter what the medium used is, and stop feeling so threatened by a world that’s expressing it’s creativity one shot at a time. You do not have the monopoly on that one baby.

Oh, and Dear “I’m a Pro ranting photographer” these flower shots are dedicated to you, hope that you enjoy them.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

They say…and who do they think they are?

2013-05-13T04:04:00.000-07:00

They say: serious photographers don’t shoot flowers, because anyone can take a great shot of a flower.

Not true I think, those of us who are passionate about photography can still take shots of flowers, barns, children, portraits, landscapes. Those of us who love photography can darn well take shots of whatever we want, why does it matter so much to you if our subject has a nose, or a petal.

They say: Having a DSLR is cheating, after taking hundreds of photos, one of them is bound to turn out good.

I say, thousands, and many of them are good, thank you very much. Isn’t it all about improving skills, not about counting numbers.

We are all on a photographic journey, some are more travelled than others.

They say: In the old days we shot film, and never wasted a shot, that made us true photographers.

I say, good for you, isn’t it wonderful that times have changed, and everyone has this ability to grow, and challenge ourselves.

They say: Everyone who has a DSLR now a days, thinks they are a photographer.

I shrug, and go back to taking my shots of flowers. I say if you like it, and it’s your passion go for it, who are you to tell me what to do.

And indeed, why does it threaten you so much that people are falling in love with photography. If they are any good, they will rise to the challenge, if they are not so talented, then they still have something they love to do, and they will not be a hindrance to your “success.”

Things I wish I had been able to say during a conversations with a “real” photographer, who uses a “real” [film camera].

Better late then never right?

Ever had a conversations like that?

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

The great escape, Phil’s a bad influence

2013-05-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that Phil the pheasant would be such a bad influence on the Boo. It wasn’t until the other night when Phil was perched on the chain link fence in the back yard, and a curious Bootsie went to see what this creature was that we had a problem.

Bad Phil, not only are you running around with 4 hens, [you shameless flirt], and having babies right and left, but you’re corrupting my kitty too.

Phil perched on the fence by the back [good neighbour] gate. It has a slightly larger opening between the gate and the fence, but Bootsie has never been adventurous enough to explore it, until the morning after Phil stopped by.

I was watering the garden beds and Bootsie sauntered up all innocence and black glossy fur, as cats are wont to do. Stopped by the gate, and poked his head through it…when he realized that he could put his head, well the rest of his body followed, and the next thing I knew, he had escaped.

The jokes on him, because he only escaped into another fenced backyard.

We have great neighbours…but we don’t know them well enough to have Boo running amok in their backyard.

We wired up the gap, and although the Boo checks it out each time he does his spy kitty rounds…he can’t escape that way.

Should we try to exit through another gate in the backyard, he is in there like a dirty shirt. Phil you are a bad influence…look what you have done to Boo.

The least you can do is bring your 4 wives and the kids over for a visit.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Behind the scenes

2013-05-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

Things are always more interesting

Behind the scenes.

Especially with Bootsie as a gardening assistant.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Phil the flirt surprises Bootsie, and us

2013-05-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

We love Phil the flirt, [pheasant], he’s been very predictable early mornings in the backyard at the bird feeder, he would show up with the girls, they would peck around for a hour, sleep in the garden, and move on.

Phil would return around dinner time to challenge his reflection in the shiny chrome bumper of the truck. It was fun to watch him strut across the front yard, towards the strange male bird who never seemed to leave until he did.

But sadly, Phil the pheasant’s been missing for a few weeks, and we didn’t realize how much we miss his cawing in the background until we no longer heard it. The girls went missing also, it might have something to do with nesting season.

He was gone, we asked around, but no one had seen him.

It saddened me, we love seeing Phil, and just like that he was gone.

I will say I was driving the roads nearby wondering if he was laying in a ditch…that guy took forever to cross the road, and there are many speeders here.

Phil came back after 3 weeks, surprised us and the Boo, who was doing his after dinner Secret Spy Rounds. Boots was wandering the fence line keeping his nose to the ground, sniffing the “exciting only to kitties” smells that he is so intent on following, and Phil flew up on the fence.

We were watching from the house, sorry about the quality of the shots, but they were taken through my studio window at a angle.

Boots rounded the corner behind the garden shed, and walked right under Phil who was sitting on the fence. Bootsie never even noticed Phil.

Phil just sat and watched Boo do his evening walk, and when Boo got too close the second time, he flew away.

Phil the flirt is back, and we couldn't be happier.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

I….never meant to fall in love with you

2013-05-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

I never meant to fall in

love with you. You are a rose

I only take photos of roses

I do not grow them.

I am not a rose person, no

not I.

I am a experienced gardener

that knows roses can be finicky

spoilt, and demanding of perfect

conditions in which to grow.

All of which I do not have, so

I do not grow roses.

I know that roses only break a gardeners heart.

I saw your glistening dewdrop bearing leaves shivering in the morning breeze. Your pink flowers were visible

across the rows of vehicles as I got out of my truck…as if calling to me from a distance.

I knew that you had to come home with me.

It was love at first sight.

I saw no other that called to me like you did.

I am not a rose person, but you make me want to be one.

Live in my garden, flourish, reach upwards towards the roof of our house, beckon to visitors, as if to say..come in,

and you are welcome here.

I cannot do justice to your beauty in a photo, your stunning candy pink blooms, the rich green of

your leaves. Maybe it was love at first sight, but I know that I never meant to fall in love with you.

Not I.

For I do not grow roses.

You will only break my heart.

I never even checked your hardiness zones, that’s how besotted I was with you.

I told my husband I would look after you, forever…even though he told me it would never work out.

But here you are, and here I am.

And apparently I do grow roses, for I am in love.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

It’s your blog, own it [sponsored post]

2013-05-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

It’s your blog, own it.

Might be contradictory advice

coming from someone who is

very selective about letting

people she’s met know that

she has a blog.

When I first started

Muddy Boot Dreams

I told people at work..and

later I regretted letting the

cat out of the bag so to speak.

I read stories about bloggers

being found out, and fired, and

was a little concerned that my very uptight corporate employer might be reading my blog, my personal thoughts,

my description of how my life ran, and it made me tuck my personality inside for awhile.

I only wrote about gardening, after all they couldn’t complain about that. But while it felt great during the spring,

and summer months, my roots were restricted by the feeling that there was more ground to cover. So I started to

write about what moved me, how I saw life, and what it made me feel. And as I loosened up the “rules” I grew.

And I liked it. In fact I love it.

In the early days, I was finding my voice, learning that there was life after hitting that first time scary publish

button. Those early posts are almost embarrassing in the naiveté of the writing, but we all have to start

somewhere.

It’s life, it’s blogging, it’s kind of scary the first time you really put yourself out there, checking the stats,

wondering if anyone is reading your posts. But we get so much out of blogging, that it’s worth it.

Own your blog, it’s what you do, maybe it’s not all that you do, you work, you have a life, you have interests, and blogging is one of them.

Be proud of it.

I decided to make some postcards, and business cards, from Vistaprint to feature my blog, I love how they turn out…In fact I have plans for making more, some will reflect the other parts of my life, these show my blog, my style.

While I am still selective about who in my personal life gets to know I have a blog, it’s nice to have a more polished way of giving out the information then just a scrap of paper with my blog name written on it.

Click here to find out some other ways to incorporate business cards made by Vistaprint into your life.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

The choir of cacophony

2013-05-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

It started at the crack of dawn, usually known as “cover your head with a pillow, can you believe it’s 4 am.”

It was beautiful, as if every bird in the vicinity was warming up together, a world class choir about to start. Melodious, fluid, ethereal…fully in tune, trilling scales of bird tweets, flowing notes of feathered performers outside our bedroom window.

I was swept away, drifting in a sea of bird song.

Suddenly the beautiful choir was interrupted with discordant, and harsh scratching followed by a irritated meow.

Seriously?

Boo, it’s 4 stinking am…you are not, I repeat, NOT going outside. Stop scratching the front door.

Some of the feathered performers must have been up a little to late last night, because the beautiful and harmonious choir stopped chirp by chirp.

There were a few solo singers, but almost all of them drowned out by the sound of “I’m spoilt, and now it’s 4:30 am let me out, I want to play in the front yard,” kitty noises.

I fell asleep after a while. Boo did not, I studiously ignored him.

The birds fell silent as the heat from the sun moved it’s way over the mountain tops.

The neighbourhood started waking, and the strident tones of the ever barking dogs from the new neighbours rattled our windows, and shook our breakfast table. The layered sounds of lawnmower, weed wackers, blowers, riding mowers continued unabated all day. There was no escaping the noise.

Motorcycle engines roaring past, stopping and starting, clouds of noxious fumes spit from their exhaust.

It made it hard to hear the birds…as the dogs barked into the night, the sky darkened, and one by one the lawnmowers having disturbed any sense of rural countryside quiet happily rolled themselves into the garage until another peaceful day came around that needed to be disrupted.

A choir of cacophony…welcome to the country.

And as the sky slowly folded itself into a ball of orange fire, the birds hidden all day in the intense heat, started to sing….the real choir warming up once again.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Getting what you wanted

2013-05-05T04:04:00.000-07:00

I’ve been playing around with lens flare a lot lately…some photos would turn out, some didn’t….well to be honest, it was more of a happy accident when it did work.

I just couldn’t grasp the theory behind the technique, or else I couldn’t put it all together in a way that got me what I wanted when I wanted it.

There were times it all pulled together, through no apparent addition of anything that I did to make it happen.

Oh look, lens flare…I would be doubly pleased that it happed to show up…funny how something that we used to feel once ruined the photo, is now so hot.

I read some books, looked online, practiced, and now it’s starting to pull together.

Last night, I am on the ground, laying half in, and half out of the garden bed, kitty treats scattered around in the soil, trying to convince my rather unwilling feline model to sit in the perfect spot. The setting sun should be creating lens flare behind him.

But do you think he would turn around? All the convincing in the world wouldn’t work, next time he needs to be hungry, he will do anything for food.

It’s all about learning isn't it?

So I got up off of the ground, and shot the newly hatched maple leaves into the setting sun.

If life won’t give you what you want, go and find a backlit leaf….

For those of you who wish to give this a try, here is a easy tutorial I found online.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

FYI, technically, most of these are not lens flare, I was a little too late in the evening to get what I wanted, but Boo has some behind him.

Luminous

2013-05-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

There is just something about a warm spring day, a perfect spring day that makes every bloom luminous.

And in the golden hour of the evening the soft rays of the sun make it even more so.

There are birds, and bugs, light and pollen is floating in the air…

It’s a wonderland out here.

And we are not wasting a second of it.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

In the spring

2013-05-03T04:04:00.000-07:00

It is said…..

That in the spring…

By the end of the day…

You should smell of dirt…..

We do. Definitely we do.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams & Bootsie too.

The dream sequence – Dicentra bleeding heart

2013-05-02T04:02:00.000-07:00

It’s green, more yellow then green, dripping with a trail of hot pink hearts..

Wish some sun, it turns a stunning golden shade of green, contrasting against it’s flowers.

First plant up in the spring, almost as soon as the weather turns, it’s that eager.

Those leaves make dreamy additions to cut flower bouquets.

It’s a plant no garden should be without.

Dicentra “gold heart”, or as it’s friend’s know it, that gorgeous golden bleeding heart.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Excuse me waiter, there’s a bug….

2013-04-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

“Um…”I motion the waiter over, drop my voice into a whisper and say, “excuse me, but theres a bug in my salad.”

“Shhhhh don’t tell anyone, they’ll want one too…”

It’s estimated that we consume 430 bugs per year, now add a few extra hundred to that count if you love kale..kale chips, kale sautéed, kale, cream, and butternut squash casserole…oh it’s wonderful.

My mom used to make us kale and mashed potatoes [the Dutch call it Boerenkool ] and although my sister swears that the high levels of aphids were due to Mom’s poor eyesight, the reason the bugs were still hidden in the kale was because she only gave it a cursory rinse and a shake. Mom grew up on a farm, she probably ate more bugs then we could ever dream of, and to her it was no big deal. But my poor sister, she would practically squeal when she found something in her kale.

When it comes to kale it’s a real trade off of bugs versus health, eat kale sprayed with toxic chemicals, or eat organic, and wash and rinse repeat over and over, and still end up eating more aphids then you really wanted to know about.

Kale is a powerhouse of nutrients, and it’s definitely a good for you veggie. If curly kale is popular, Lactino kale is the superstar of the veggie world, except it probably has more bugs, and whatever else is hiding in those dark green bumps and crevices.

So what do you do if you are buggy about kale? We always soaked it in salty cold water, or spread the leaves and used a strong spray of water to wash off any bugs. I’ve been known to spray the leaves with vinegar, rinse, and repeat.

Or you could do like the Dutch do, and buy your kale in a can, I am sure that any bugs left behind will be well cooked.

Kale is now holding the dubious position of number one on the dirty dozen list of pesticide laden veggies, along

with blueberries, so if you can purchase it organically grown, go ahead, it’s well worth it.

Or is it?

I’ve found numerous bloggers claiming that it doesn’t make any difference if you eat organic veggies, or

commercially grown…

Now I am confused about my crunchies. How do you feel about this, organic versus commercial farming?

Meanwhile I am enjoying my organic crunchy kale…with my eyes closed. What you don’t see, won’t hurt you, right?

Does that bug you, or not?

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

The picture of the Boo is just here for the fun of it, I don’t think he likes kale, but I am pretty sure he likes bugs.

First pick of the spring, and those guys on bikes

2013-04-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Remember the asparagus fields that I said I was going to take some photos of? I did manage to get there before the pickers stopped for the day, even after crashing the antique machinery birthday party. [See yesterday’s post.]

We’ve had high winds for three days, and I’m sure it’s not a fun thing to be laying on a machine close to the ground with the wind kicking you in the face. Asparagus picking machines somewhat resemble airplanes, and I wonder if any of them were almost airborne with the gusts of wind.

The stormy skies make for great atmospheric shots…and I managed to get a few, oh about 600 of them.

That’s a lot of shots.

The fields at Okanagan Asparagus Farm are large, and gently undulating, with beautiful perfectly sandy loam soil…it’s rimmed in the distance by mountains, and it’s simply a gorgeous place to visit.

Do you recall a post I wrote the other day about taking shots in the asparagus fields with my oh so sore back?

And just as I was squatting way down to the ground taking pictures in the field near the almost always deserted road, there was a group of cyclists that drove by, and gave me a funny look?

Well, this time I caught them in action….

The asparagus picker is guided by a long pole that follows a trench in the ground, it slowly chugs along until it reaches the end of the row, where someone turns it around and sets the pole into the next trench. Up to four people lay on their stomachs near the ground, and gently snap the asparagus off. The fresh from the field asparagus is laid in a plastic tote, all spears pointing inwards to keep them pristine.

As the totes fill up, they are left at the end of the row, and picked up by workers, who transport them to the washing shed, before they are stored in the specially built cooler.

You certainly can’t get any fresher then that.

I was so intent on taking photos of the asparagus picking machine coming at me, trying to get that perfect shot, with the moody sky behind them, that I forgot I can’t get up quickly with my back…

Here lies Jen, run over by the asparagus pickers, she was always trying to be green, now she is.

But I made it up at the last second, and dashed out of the way.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Okanagan Asparagus farm is located on Lansdowne road in Armstrong selling fresh picked, hand snapped asparagus that is very popular, Jackie said that they sold out opening day and again yesterday.

People in the area seem to know their quality local grown asparagus is better then anywhere else, since they are always busy at the farm. Tender, juicy, without the typical woody stems of imported asparagus, if you live nearby, be sure to drop in, they are open from 8 – 6 every day of the week, asparagus season is a short lived season, and you wouldn’t want to miss out.

If you are looking for a interesting collection of asparagus recipes check them out on their Pinterest site.

Now that’s a birthday celebration

2013-04-28T04:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we were

on our way to the farm to

take some photos of the

first day of asparagus

picking, but my husband

needed to stop and get

a coffee.

He wheeled into the parking

lot intent on his java, and

we found it full of older men

with great big smiles on their

faces, a wide variety of

colourful farm machinery, and

other “guy style treats.”

There were noises, smoke, exhaust, and engines running, antique cars parked and one full of gleeful old guys

wheeling around the parking lot.

Fascinating collections of old tools, washing machines, and smiles, lots of “oh isn't’ this

fun smiles on older male faces.”

Boy’s toys…

As my husband disappeared into the store, I thought about taking a few shots with my camera phone, and

then remembered that I had my big Canon with me.

What a treat, colors, noises, smiles, back patting, and hand shaking was going on all around.

One gentleman made eye contact and I asked who I should be talking to about permission to shoot some photos.

“Oh that’s me, it’s my birthday and these are all of my friends.”

He explained to me that years ago his wife told him he couldn’t take the day off on his birthday, so every year he

gets all of his friends to drop by the store, with their steam engines, tractors, engines, and anything else old.

They celebrate in style, lots of smoke, exhaust, noise, and camaraderie.

Now that’s what I call a birthday celebration.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Puttering, and making the flowers happy

2013-04-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

You know those jobs that call

out to you as you pass by?

The counters that could use

a swipe, the curtain that

needed to be straightened, the

clothes that should be folded

and put away?

I ignored them all today…

and went outside to putter in

the garden.

Puttering is all I can do

out there, the garden

muscle being the husband

and he was otherwise engaged.

There isn’t a lot that I can do that doesn’t require back power…it’s not worth it to hurt it again, now that it’s

almost healed. But those little outside jobs call to me “move me”…sighs the sad little clump of creeping

phlox, “it’s too dry here. “Stake me” yells the Peony, “I’m starting to grow too tall for you to do it later.”

“Divide us so we can bloom this summer,” calls the daylily.

And so I putter, bend slowly, get up even slower. Learning to creep, and crouch, squat when lifting anything…what

a sight I must be. Who digs holes in the ground when they are down near the ground?

Me, it’ s better that way, there is less stress on my back.

Once I sit down, I get up slightly stiff and somewhat slower then usual, but oh so happy to have those little

puttering jobs all organized before the weather gets too hot.

Or the mosquitoes come out to play…which ever comes first.

So, sorry if I am lagging behind in returning your comments, but I get there as soon as I can to visit your blog.

The flowers in the garden are calling too loudly, and I have to keep them happy.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams