spring...

 

is almost here...and it just feels so...hopeful. The promise of new life couldn't feel more close to home and for that I am so thankful. 

I ordered some catalogs a few weeks back (6 actually, but who's counting?), and I can't stop looking through them and fantasizing about what I'd put here and there (and everywhere). I know Thomas said he wants to be left to the backyard, to design and landscape it how he chooses, but I really hope he lets me have a few spaces and key elements. For instance, I REALLY would love to have a cutting garden. Growing up whenever I wanted to make a bouquet for the house all I had to do was get some scissors and head outside. I'd love to be able to do that, plus everyone loves to look at pretty flowers. I'd like to have a grape vine somewhere too (champagne grapes to be exact), a little shade garden in the corner where the hammock is, and oh, a secret garden too (in the not-so-secret location next to our house). I wouldn't complain if I could have a million potted plants on the patio with a big table and benches, and some rocking chairs. That would be pretty awesome. I wish we had an extra few hundred/thousand dollars to spend on plants and patio furniture to pretty-up our backyard...it's so nice to be able to enjoy your backyard. 

But until then we'll make do with the generous weeds, who have so graciously taken over the backyard and brought in some bright green hues to admire, and all of the fruit trees we're so lucky to have (and the carrotwood tree too) There are little wild alyssums popping up everywhere and some type of weed with really pretty purple flowers. I try not to step on them when I go out there. My potted succulents are doing well and all of our fruit trees seem to be on the up and up. We pruned them a while back and gave them some fertilizer in hopes of leaves and/or fruit this year. When we moved in the poor things had not been watered all summer (and it was so hot!). They all have leaves and buds on them so I'm pretty excited. I'm hoping that Riverside continues their free tree program this spring/summer. They usually mail out a coupon for a free tree, but you can get up to 5 (i think, or maybe even 8?) by just purchasing them and sending in your receipt. They just deduct the amount from your utilities for a few months. It's pretty neat.

Thomas is working hard to make me a little raised garden area for us. We're starting small and hoping to add another one (or two) next season. It's going to be 8' x 4' and not quite high enough to be Emma proof so we'll have to work on that. I've started some seeds inside (they're about 3 weeks old now) and it's been so fun watching them get bigger and has really helped me to feel, well, better/closer, about/to my pregnancy. I like taking care of them. Sometimes I talk to them and can't help but admire how cute they are...so tiny and green, and soft, and twisty.  Seeing something grow from tiny little seeds and beans is pretty fun, though I admit after the "8th day" I was impatiently waiting for them to sprout. But they did, and I think they'll be ready to plant in another week or so, just in time for their new home.

Pictures to come :)