It has rained for hours now, we might get close to an inch by the time it ends this evening. We have had high winds, but temperatures in the 40’s. It feels wonderful and I have had my window open up here for the stirring of air. I think I saw the rosemary sneaking a peek at the other window, stretching to feel the breeze!

Yesterday was sunny so I got some of the smaller branches cleaned up and got to sit a spell in the garden. Lily was in bliss sitting under her tree, surveying all the movements in the yard and on Mechanic Street. She loves her backyard! On our walk yesterday, we got a show from 3 or 4 tiny baby chippies that sprang out of their hole and dashed around and over the rocks and boulders, chasing and squawking at each other. It was a Hoot! Got us all to laughing and cheered us up a lot.

Paul Parent said today that you could spray some of the horticultural oil on the perennial beds and fruit trees now, to begin ridding the soil of pests. We are still pretty wet in there, but it will work later in the month too. He will be putting a special section on his web page: PaulParent.com,, after the 15th, on fruits and berry plants. I am looking forward to the raspberry selections he recommends for here. He also spoke of a product called “Soil Moist” which he added to his garden soil last summer, and he only had to water 4 times during the growing season, that it helped retain that much moisture even during our really dry season.

I think I will begin to record the notes I take from his program each week, to share and to create a real sense of what happens when in the Midcoast. I will be considering the format I want to use, one that is easy to locate information on.

We have put out to the ethers that we would like to invest in a tiller this year. Karl blessed us last year by loaning his for awhile, and Tom came over and dug a new area for us, bless him too!

We began talking up new things for the garden with the warm temps we have had the last week. We know we want some area close to the back door where we can cook our breakfast in the mornings, so our imaginings are out looking for some type of patio, decking materials that would give a table and chairs solid ground, and be off the ground a little. This is the wonder of spring! New ideas, new plans, new visions.

What was done last year will be intensified this year…like sleeping under the stars…now I can do it even sooner because I know how wonderful it is – from last year! I have learned two new constellations this winter, hope to have a few more down, so that as I lie under the stars, I can talk to each constellation as an individual, crediting them each with their beauty. It feels very safe, like good friends that greet you each night.

The fog is rolling in and I am rolling down the stairs for another cup of coffee!

Sandra