Crazy as it may seem with temperatures in the negative digits and 3 feet of snow on the ground, Spring is in the air! The days are getting longer …it doesn’t get dark until 6 pm now and seeds are starting to sprout. My leeks are coming up! I saw a notice posted in a coffee shop, offering coffee grounds to gardeners. My husband checked in with a local coffee shop near to where he works and if we provide a bucket, they are willing to fill it with used grounds. I finished painting another one of my masonite boards. I got a little carried away with this one but at this point in my life it’s all about the process, not the product. I had a bit of a laugh to myself when it was done because the cherub at the top came out looking like my Mom, totally unplanned. Lol! Art therapy, longer days and spring seeds work wonders to keep high spirits and hopeful thoughts for the coming days, even in the dead of winter.
handmade. homegrown. beautiful life 
I’m intrigued by the coffee grounds Cynthia, since we get through lots. What do you do with them?
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They’re great in the compost. By themselves, I turn them right over into the garden. My Mother used to dump hers directly onto the soil surrounding her hydrangea bushes to insure the blooms came in blue, rather than pink
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My grandfather used to put the cold coffee grounds in his worm bed.
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I had a “worm farm” for a while. I added coffee grounds regularly and they seemed to love them. Sadly, they all froze in my pantry. I hadn’t realized it got so cold in there
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Love that you use coffee grounds too! We get bags of them from local coffee shops and work them in around the hydrangeas and blueberries. Along with sulfur to make up for a pH of 7.5! Yes, spring is almost here and I can’t wait to get my lettuce in the ground. Love your art!!
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My blueberry bushes need a boost. I mulch them with pine needles but they haven’t been doing very well. Thanks for the tip!
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Spring is in the air. . . heh heh. You’re an optimist like me! I went to an heirloom organic garden class last night & now I can practically smell the spring grass. I do love the colors you use when you paint – that pale green background with the pinks & pops of brights. Very cool.
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Thanks! That sounds like a great class..very inspiring, especially now in this desperate winter, lol. More snow coming today, ugh.
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Beautiful artwork. Great way to pass a cold, windy day. It is crazy cold here, too and I can’t really paint so today, I made a dog coat out of a remnant of plaid wool…came out perfectly and all it cost was 2 hours of my day. My dog wasn’t so thrilled, though but she is warm outside, now!
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Sewing is fun on these days too. That is my plan for today. What a cute idea..making a plaid dog coat! My little white dog, Flora, had a skin issue and couldn’t wear collars so I made little dresses with a loop on the back for her leash. I used all scraps and remnants. It was so much fun and she looked so cute.
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Even though I save my own coffee grains for the garden, I never thought about asking at coffee shops and think it is a great idea. Will try and do so for the future, thanks for the tip Cynthia.
I became a grandmother for the fifth time this morning and I am overjoyed of course, another little girl called Willow this time.
Kind regards, Agnes
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Wow!!! Congratulations!! That is so exciting! I love that name.
Happy times and so much to look forward to. You’ve got me thinking about the post you wrote about your Grandmother’s home. How wonderful to be creating memories and passing down gifts from your own. Blessings to you and yours, Agnes!
Of course, reading this I had to pop right over to your site:)
https://gaiainaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/grandmother-once-more/
Yayyyy!!!
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Yes Cynthia, we had a great time today, I took home two of the grandchildren, Ruben and Alice, we did lots of things including planting out primroses, reading from George and the marvellous medicine, and having a dolls tea party. Haha, I am wrecked 🙂
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Sounds like a very fun, very exhausting day!
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yes it was 🙂
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Lets hope some of that warmer sunshine melts the 3′ of snow! Coffee grounds are also great for blueberry bushes as they love really acidic conditions. Even in my acidic soil, I add coffee grounds directly to get a good, sweet crop
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I knew they loved acidic soil but somehow I hadn’t thought about the coffee grounds for them. I mulch them with pine needles but they have been doing poorly the past couple years. The berries are prolific but excrutiatingly sour, as sour as the currants almost. I cant wait to start digging in these grinds! thanks, Matt!
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How I love your painting! You are so talented!!! Love the little geranium looking out of the window;0) Yes, yes, spring is around the corner…but outside this humdinger of a storm is approaching quickly, better put the kettle on again;0)
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I love it too! Cheery as we dream of spring.
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thanks , Aggie. I think I will appreciate this spring and summer more than i ever have before!!
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thanks Johanna! Yes, another storm is on its way here too! Aghh!
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Cynthia, I am a fan of Mary Englebreit and Susan Branch, but I am putting you on the top of the list. Your ideas are completely unique and magical. I love it.
Ginene
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Wow, Ginene! That is such a nice compliment. Thank you so much. I love both of them too..fancy that, us both liking the same thing! (again). Your beautiful blog and your thoughtful comments always brighten my day!
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Oh, you are singing my song! Seeds, daylight, indoor flowers and your painting. Very cheery indeed 🌷
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yes, All I need now is to do a little baking for the storm coming in tonight. Easy to be cheerful now that the end is near and spring will soon be here.
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I always wait until mid-May to do any planting because here in the Northwest we can end up having a freeze.
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Here too. May 31 is our recommended planting date- zone 5
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Love that painting! So cheerful and just what we need right about now! 🙂
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thanks! desperate measures, lol!
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Hi Cynthia, just thought I’d share this with you, maybe you can get some ideas from it?
https://growingarden.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/some-examples-of-eco-art/
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