Early Spring Walk Around The Yard

Last year a friend gave me some native bleeding heart starts.  I wasn't sure that they survived the winter.  They not only survived, they thrived.  We had these growing up in Maltby, and it was always a sweet surprise to come upon them in the woods. I am so happy to have this right outside my door.  Thanks, Emily.

The bleeding hearts are in an area with ferns and other natives, so I think  they feel welcome.

Western Native Bleeding Heart -Dicentra Formosa

One of those other natives is wild ginger.  We have two large wild ginger plants.  The flowers are tucked away under the leaves, and can't be seen unless you lift the leaves up.  The plants were used by Native Americans to treat headaches, intestinal pain knee pain, arthritis, indigestion, tuberculosis, colic and as a general tonic.  Who needs aspirin?

British Columbia Wild Ginger -Asarum caudatum

Another native is Kinnikinnick.  I have always loved this little evergreen ground cover with its pink springtime flowers.  Might be that I just love saying the name.  The leaves were used as a traditional herbal medicine.  The berries were dried to be stored for winter soups and fried in salmon or bear fat.

Kinnikinnick -Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 

Still have not found any elk shed.  However, our neighbor took pity upon me and gave me a pair of shed that he had found. Not sure what I will do with them, but I think they are beautiful.  Thanks, Tom.

And one last picture.  Found this under the Sumac Tree.  I love the blue of a robin's egg.  However, this one most likely taken by a damn starling.

Robin's Egg Blue

Isn't it amazing what you can find when looking?

Farming in Yamhill County...

There are lots of challenges to farming here in Yamhill County.  Like everywhere else we have development and urban growth knocking on the door.  Sometimes it feels like the big bad wolf breathing down our necks. 


Besides the normal array of developers to contend with, we have Waste Management, the largest garbage conglomerate in the whole frickin' world.  With one of the most gigantic frickin' garbage dumps sitting on the banks of the Yamhill River.  Well, anyway, I can write about all this stuff, but better yet, I want to link to a farmer/friend of ours, Ramsey McPhillips.  Show you his beautiful century and a half farm on the banks of the Yamhill River, yup, right next to the garbage dump. You will be amazed that in this day and age this putrid mountain of unsorted garbage is allowed on the banks of a river that flows into the Willamette River, through downtown Portland and then into the Columbia River.  You will be more amazed to know that Waste Management with the blessings of the 3 neanderthal county commissioners wants to take 100 more acres of class one soils to expand the dump which is scheduled to close and be at capacity in a year.  But wait, I am not finished, Waste Management also wants to build a dike around the dump so that it will be able to grow up as well as out.  I may be venting, but I am not exaggerating.


Anyway here is a link to the video about Ramsey's farm.  You will need to scroll down until you see the VIMEO with the guy in the red plaid jacket. Ramsey is just one of many "Davids" who see the absurdity in expanding this dump.  They spend an incredible amount of time fighting this international corporate Goliath.  Hopefully, the collective slingshots will do the job.

"My Product"

When my son was first learning to read, he came to me and said he was looking for "his product".  I had no idea what he was referring to and said something like, "Product, what product?  What are you talking about?"

At which point he said, "You know,  MY PRODUCT!" His frustration with my lack of understanding  more apparent every moment.

Later he came to me with a little stuffed animal that his Auntie had given him.  "Here it is, Mom.  My product!."  Now this little stuffed creature was not a person, not a bear, nor any other kind of animal that was readily identifiable.  However, in the seamline was a little tag that he had read, "Product of Japan."  Hence, his Product!

That same son and I were in a children's store recently looking for baby gifts for a friend. There were all kinds of hand-made "products", all very expensive.  I said (silly me), "I can make those!" And so, here are my products.

These are all made out of left-over wool yarns, and stuffed with old wool sweaters.

This first one I followed a pattern for the bunny, but added my own touches:  eyelashes, the flower tail, and the carrot.

I got a little more adventurous with this one, but was following a pattern that I found online from the Green Dragonfly.

Then I decided to make another bunny.

 Pretty much like the first, only a little bit bigger, different eyes and ears.

 And instead of stuffing it with old sweaters, I left the bottom open and stuffed it with....

....a strawberry, a pear and a carrot.

Now, here is my favorite.

 No pattern, nothing purchased, not sure what he is....

A true PRODUCT!

I have really been having fun with these.  Such a nerd!

 I hope they bring as much fun to the children who receive them. 

P.S. Pussy willows are not the only sign of spring here on the farm.......(music from the movie "Jaws" begins to play)

Yup, the rubber boas are back!