Amaryllis: The Showstopper Flower of Winter

I don't know what I did or how I did it, but I am now successful with growing amaryllis. These are things I learned in growing them:

1. It doesn't matter if you order them from a fancy catalogue and pay high prices for them. The ones that did best for me were the 5.00 ones from the big box store.

2. It can't be about the quality of soil because all you do is add the peat moss that is in the box.

3. I did water them as instructed on the box. Maybe it is our well water?

4. Wood stove heat must be a key. Perhaps the warm all day, cool all night is what they like.

5. Light is crucial. Ours have sat in full light since they were placed in the pots.

6. Maybe they like getting their pictures taken. More photos.... more blooms!

I have now grown four this year to bloom stage and two more are about there.Those I bought after Christmas for 2.50. They will probably be as beautiful. Plan ahead next year and try them. They really are a foolproof plant in the winter and so pretty when the skies are gray.

A Winter Ten-Mile Road Trip

 

Today started out with sunshine and beautiful snow. It warmed up, clouded over, but remained snowy. We decided it was time to get the dogs out for a run and take some winter photos. Here are some of my favorites from today. The one above is a shot of Lake Roosevelt before sunset.The one below is Meyer Falls Dam in Kettle Falls.

 

The Marina at Kettle Falls Campground on Lake Roosevelt

We chased the sunset as we circle back home again.

Words

Contentment

Beauty

Still

Exquisite 

Beginnings: Winter, Finally

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you. . . In spring,
summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other;
only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches
when you can savor belonging to yourself." Ruth Stout

Winter took her time arriving this year. I agree with Ruth Stout. This is the time we belong to ourselves. We are enveloped in a cold, quiet world of winter. It is quiet. Not too many people are outside. Even the birds are scarce. It is a beautiful season.

There is a simple beauty in the dried summer bloom sprinkled with snow.

Beginnings: Slowing Down

My body always tells me when I need to slow down. Often it is not the time I want to slow down. I went on a tear last week-end on my extreme home office makeover. I am feverishly trying to wind down the semester at school with paperwork to organize, tests to write, and essays to read. I sometimes forget my limits.

Yesterday about noon I began to realize my limits. I started to feel ill then. I stayed and made it through the day, but ended up in bed for a long nap when I returned home. I thought that would do it. When I got up I realized I was sicker than I thought. My body was telling me something. I decided to listen.

After a day of light food, lots of sleep, tea, and TLC I am not healed yet. I am going to listen to my body again and slow down for another day. In this case, rest is what I need.

Beginnings: Home Office Makeover, Part 1

 

I started weeks ago dreaming about how I wanted my home office to be redone. I didn't want to spent a lot of money. I also didn't want to do much painting. I spent lots of time on Pinterest getting inspired with home office ideas. I looked at magazines and color chips. As I said a few days ago, I knew I wanted something different. I said good-bye to the pink. I said hello to a lovely combination of brown and green for accents and left the walls a light peach color. Everett figured out how to spray paint in the cold weather. He converted some old cardboard striped shoe cuppbies  to a rich brown set for the room. I rearranged the room, and added different furniture. This is a preview of what I did first. More to come!!