LOG CABIN NEWS for SPRING, 2009

“flag iris” originally from great-grandmother

Dear Log Cabin friends:

Spring - ahhhh! It is indeed here! Just when we need it most, spring arrives inspiring everything to bloom & grow, including us.
I picked a few branches of wild plums blossoms, added some pink tulips & bluedrops "skillia" & what a pretty spring bouquet it made - a simple country pleasure. I only pick 2-3 small branches to enjoy, leaving the rest to have plums on later in the year to feed the birds. My mom gave me a start of my great-grandmothers tiny iris, called "flags." They are only 6 inches high & petite little things with a nice sized purple iris that is in full bloom now - mine have spread into a 14 inch. circle with lots of little iris that I can see from my kitchen "sink" window - it is always a wonderful spring surprise to see them pop into bloom - and I think of the generations that have enjoyed this sweet little flower. I'll transplant a few to my daughter's new home in Kansas passing the "flags" tradition on.
We spent the Easter weekend 4 hours south at our daughter's home & spring was in full bloom there. The spring peepers were serenading us as we walked along the edge of the lake, Mrs. Canadian Goose was sitting on her 3 ft. high cattail stalk nest warming the eggs soon to hatch, crab apple trees & redbuds were in full bloom - everything filling the "senses". Spring all around us!
We struggle through the winter that seems longer every year, just to be a witness to the rebirth of the land. Mother Nature seems to be working overtime right now changing the drab of winter landscape into the pretty colors of spring. It's almost too much to take in!

During the long winter I love looking at the seed catalogs that arrive in my country mailbox- thinking, dreaming & planning my garden that is now a blank canvas. The rows & patches of different veggies will change that as red tomatoes ripen, various greens of lettuce are picked & blueberries set on. Perhaps that's why we have winter - to think & plan & rest up for the garden work ahead. I'm always reminded of the saying "If you would have a lovely garden, you should have a lovely life." I believe this to be true - it just feeds the soul as well as the body.
I used to help my mom with our big country garden as I was growing up (the oldest of her 6 children) & she would say "when you are on your knees weeding in the garden, you are in a perfect position to pray" (she probably heard this from HER mother too) I also remember hauling water in buckets from the windmill to the garden & I appreciate the garden hose I use today!

One of my students mentioned to me the other day that they didn't have room for a garden --- one can ALWAYS stick a tomato, a cucumber plant etc. into your landscaping border. This adds interest to your landscape as well as gives you food. And nothing tastes better than a veggie just picked in your own garden. There is a movement in Kansas to get rid of front lawns & make them into gardens - even the White House is now doing it - and I think to myself, "It's about time." I'll put more about this in my Earth Day letter.

This spring I'm thinking not only about planting in my garden, & doing some winter cleanup, but my daughter's family is remodeling their recently purchased home on a lake. I'm also thinking of a close friend recovering from being very ill as she walks in her country yard, their new baby goat following her everywhere, & a friend's home in Washington that will be appearing in a Country Decorating book. I'll sip a cup of Black Current tea (a gift from friend Kathy) after I plant the yellow pansies (from friend Sue) in my front door planter. A spring rest, in my willow chair, will be on the list of things to do today.

Enjoy the simple country pleasure of each & every spring day. Blessings of peace, love & abundance, Twila at The Log Cabin

rhubarb growing in the garden

END OF APRIL CALENDAR
April 20 -" Newbies" Woolkeepers , 6:30 p.m.
April 22 - EARTH DAY --- OPEN AT LOG CABIN, Weds. 9-6
April 23 - Thurs. Applique # 2, 6:30 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m. if you want to get started earlier on this project.
April 25 -"How to over dye wool" workshop, 8:45 - 12 noon. pre-register Only 2 openings left. Call or email if interested in taking it
April 27 - "Oldies" Woolkeepers, 6:30 p.m.
April 28 - Herb Study group (herb plants for sale)

MAY CALENDAR
May 15 - UFO (unfinished wool projects) Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
SHOP Open to public 3 - 6:30 p.m.
May 18-"Newbies" Woolkeepers, 6:30 p.m.
May 25 - "Oldies" Woolkeepers, 6 :30 p.m.
May 26 - Herb Study group at Log Cabin, 6:30 p.m.
Will probably have updates to this, with added open dates.

NOTES
Bread & Butter pickles class
May 15 - 20- Plant cucumbers for "Bread & Butter Pickles" canning class in August.
If you have questions, email me. I like the "Mrs. Pickler" variety of cucumbers but others are fine too. If you want to register for this class, let me know ASAP as this class will be full.

LOG CABIN CLOSING
May, 2009, will be the last month the Log Cabin is open to the public. I am retiring after 25 plus years. The Log Cabin will continue to be open for the groups that meet here every month.
I'll write more about "retiring" in June letter.

UPCOMING COUNTRY BOOKS FOR SALE
The J. Condon series of Country books will continue to be available at The Log Cabin but you must be on our list to guarantee you'll get a book held for you. The books can be picked up at The Log Cabin or can be mailed out. I'll make sure I have an evening open that you can pick them up, as soon as they arrive. The next one "WELCOME HOME - SIMPLY COUNTRY" is coming mid-June. She is starting a new format for the books with a chapter devoted to one house, showing the gardens, porches, out-buildings etc. instead of various pictures scattered throughout the book. She is adding other things to the book as I understand it. These are fun coffee table books to look at often. Many are telling me they have really "dog-eared" their books & about worn them out looking at them. In mid-Sept. the book will be HOME Again - Simply Country. I believe next year there will be a couple of holiday books which is something to look forward to also. There's just NOTHING else out there in the "market" that feeds our country spirit - and these books are doing it, thanks to J. Condon. Don't miss out if you want one! They are wonderful!

Your Log Cabin Earth Day letter arrives soon.

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