There must be about two feet of snow on the ground. I just trudged outside to check on the chickens.  (They’re royally p*@@ed, by the way.) I also broadcast another 15 or so pounds of bird seed onto the snow in the back yard.  Can your ankles get frostbite in ten minutes?

I’m back inside and my heart has finally stopped pounding from the exertion. Now I’m going to go play with my houseplants and forced bulbs and sing this little ditty:  The snow won’t get me down…oh no…The snow can’t get me down.

'Lilac Wonder' in the kitchen window

Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder' in the kitchen window

'Prinses Irene' tulips in the kitchen

Tulipa 'Prinses Irene' tulips in the kitchen

'Prinses Irene' closeup

Tulipa 'Prinses Irene' closeup

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati
Robin
Keep Reading
There are 11 comments
Filed in: Flowers, Weather

I’m not even sure how much snow we have, but we have a lot of snow. So far the power is on. But I don’t think the 100 lbs. of birdseed I bought in preparation for the snow is going to hold out long. The birds are arriving in droves.

See for yourself.

The birds are practically knocking on the back door asking for more bird seed.

The birds are practically knocking on the back door asking for more bird seed.

Harry ventured out to do a bit of damage control to the chicken coop. The chickens are nestled inside where it is heated and I have given them treats of kale and dried corn on the cob.

Harry ventured out to do a bit of damage control to the chicken coop. The chickens are nestled inside where it is heated and I have given them treats of kale and dried corn on the cob.

At one point there were about 25 cardinals outside in addition to all the other birds.

At one point there were about 25 cardinals outside in addition to all the other birds.

The goldfinches have lost their color for the winter.

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati
Robin
Keep Reading

The weather guessers tell us that there’s yet another snowstorm headed our way. We’re preparing for 12 to 18 more inches of snow on top of what we already have still sitting around. Oh joy.

Snow is pretty. But it’s darned inconvenient. Even after the roads are plowed we are still stuck way back here until we can find someone to plow the road that is our driveway. And I don’t even want to talk about what happens when the power goes out. But let me just say this…Without power, we have no water.

red chair in snow

So, we do the best that we can.

The refrigerators are stocked. The wine cellar is full. We have batteries and blankets. If the power stays on we have plenty of entertainment too—books, projects, writing.

I sort of wish that I had one of those jobs that couldn’t be done from home so it could be a real holiday. Alas, my clients will still be expecting their stuff.

foo dogs in snow

What about you? Got snow?

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati
Robin
Keep Reading
There are 8 comments
Filed in: Weather

Right Now at Bumblebee

February 2nd, 2010

Among other things, I’m working on my presentation about “The Artful Vegetable Garden” for the Davidson Horticultural Symposium. Are you in the NC area and attending? Drop me a line!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Robin

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati

January 30th, 2010

My brother has a new gardening blog. It’s called I Suck at Gardening. My brother’s a funny guy. Can you tell?

Make sure you read A Rug for My Yard.

I’m so proud of his new blog. *sniff*

Robin

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati

January 26th, 2010

I spent a bit of time before work this morning tending to the houseplants and preparing for new arrivals. Everyone is watered and clipped. Clay pots are in the dishwasher getting a good scrubbing. A couple will join me in the shower after my morning routine on the spin bike.

Have you placed your bulb order yet? I need to narrow down my choices and hit the “send” button during my lunch break.

Happy day!

Robin

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati

January 19th, 2010

Thank you to my friends at Homestead Gardens, a wonderfully large regional nursery here in Maryland, for asking me to write a guest post for their new blog. You can see it here.

Let’s see…What else is on tap gardening-wise this week? Well, it’s not so very cold. In fact I actually ate lunch outside yesterday with the little dogs.  I plan to head out for some garden cleanup later. And the chickens have managed to dig up some bulbs in the front flower beds that I need to replant and pray over.

That’s all for now.

Robin

Share and Enjoy:
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • FriendFeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Technorati

View archived notes »

Robin Ripley's currently-reading book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

From the Photo Gallery