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| November~Bounty |
Yes, it took me a while longer than usual to stitch the latest design, but I'm happy to say it is indeed complete! I am very happy with how it stitched and I think it captures the feel of a vintage placemat that might have been saved for use on that special family gathering on Thanksgiving Day.
It is posted for sale on my
web site and will soon be available through ICG's Everything Cross Stitch and Creative Poppy.
This year we've filled the huglebeds Terry made in the garden last fall and this far into July they've been as fruitful as we hoped they might be. Here are a few pics of our raised beds and huglebeds in what can only be called 'Combat Gardening' style. What is combat gardening? It is putting LOTS of plants everywhere and then letting them fight it out! lol
Like this -
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| Borage & Nasturtiums battling it out! |
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| Two huglebeds planted with corn, beans, squash and Lots More! |
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| My dear Terry, the one who does all the work! |
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| Brussel Sprouts & Fennel and I think the Sprouts are winning! |
July has also brought some additions to the Gracewood family. We had a pair of black and white 'Tuxedo' cats for many years that were littermates and terrific hunters that kept the pesky critter's population low. We loved them loads and couldn't bring ourselves to replace them as they aged and passed on.
Until, a few weeks ago when we saw chipmunks disappearing under the truck and we know that chipmunks/mice, etc., can do expensive damage to a vehicle. So we knew it was time to look for a new generation of hunters and were so happy to find another couple of Tuxedo's who are also brother and sister.
Meet Nan & Bert (I'll send some Gracewood calendula salve to the first poster who knows the literary source of those names :) - at 8 weeks they are still inside till they are big enough to head outside. They were very quiet the first days, she had an eye infection and he was extremely shy, thankfully, now they are all well and are having a ball playing with each other and learning how to hunt. Definitely a couple of rascals!
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| Bert is on the left and Nan has the black nose |
Hoping all is well with you in your part of the world!
What are "huglebeds"? Never heard of those before. Your gardens look wonderful! And the kitties are SO Cute!! Nan and Bert rings a bell, but I can't think of where I have heard of them before. Oh, your finished piece is pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri. Huglebeds/hugleculture gardening is a method that instead of regular garden beds you first dig a ditch then put in lots of old dry wood, branches, and leaves. Then the dirt is put back over the bed to form a mound that is covered with a thick mulch - woodchips, straw or old hay for instance. The beds 'settle' for a season and during that time any moisture - rain or snow - is thoroughly soaked up by the wood filling in the ditch. Rather like a giant sponge.
ReplyDeleteWhen you plant in the mounded bed the next spring the beds are full of fertility from the mulch and moisture from the soaked wood in the center of the bed and you end up with a very rich soil that doesn't need much water or fertilizing.
Generally the beds are planted with lots of variety of plants that will also enrich the soil with their diverse qualities. Some plants such as comfrey are important to include due to their ability to bring nutrients from the soil into the area around them.
I hope that explains it a bit, there are quite a few you tube videos about them that explain it and show you how to create them. This is our first year planting into them and so far they've exceeded our expectations.
We'll see if anyone comes up with the Nan & Bert reference, if not I'll tell you in the next post :)
Bingo, Di! Bobbsey Twins it is, lol. And our Nan & Bert are having as many adventures and as much fun as their namesakes did in that old favorite series. When I make a new batch of calendula cream in a few weeks I'll send you some!
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