Temp: 33*F
Feels like:24*F
Humidity:61%
Wind: WNW 13 mph

It snowed today. The frost blankets were still in place over the perennials.

I must've hurt my neck while I was asleep. I woke up and got a shooting pain if I turn my head to the left. It's still there, so I have rested all day and not done anything except update my amazon wish list. I am working on making that the go-to source for all my internet wants.

Also, yesterday was Christmas and I got a couple juicy items for the garden. Like a watering wand, grow light bulbs, a water donut for a tree, and some resource books for canning, preserving, and country wisdom. I also got things for baking. A cookie press, a cupcake decorator, and a creme brulee torch.

I am getting so excited for Spring. However, I was really renewed by the snow today.

Jerry Baker says that today is the day to spread grass seed. He recommends doing it right on top of the snow to gauge coverage.

Also, some flower seeds were added to my wishlist. The sugar maple is on there too. I see the snow, and really wish we were able to be sugarin', so to speak.

I decided that I will take on and adopt a new skill once a year. For instance next year, I am going to learn all there is to know about food preservation. Another year, I may perfect making homemade soap or knitting. And the whole year will be devoting to learning, practicing, and developing that particular skill. From January 1 to December 31.

I am going to spend this year learning and troubleshooting the garden. That is because a couple of our plants won't be fruiting or producing for a couple years, and I need to learn how to make things grow healthy before I can think about preserving them. So, anything from this summer that we have in excess will be given to friends and neighbors. And over the fall and winter, we will buy our food as usual. I just want to be sure to not divide my resources until I have everything down. It will be an accumulation of real, gritty understandings over a lifetime.

I plan to learn, grow and develop organically. To develop myself over time instead of with major projects that fizzle out quickly. The garden has to be first because it has taught me to let my passion run rampant, and give it endurance. Gardening has taught me to research, to plan, and to wait. I am still learning to wait. And to plan.

All in all I picture myself growing, building, making, baking and creating my life and my things. I want a homemade life full of art and life and vibrancy. I want a country cottage home, with flowers, artwork, warmth, texture and humanness. My life will be an exercise in creating it.