Awww a Spring Weekend – What Did You Do?
How did you spend your weekend? We spent the weekend in the dirt. The sky was blue,
the temps were perfect 75-80 degrees with a mild breeze. I put sun screen on all my exposed skin, but forgot the tops of my feet. Guess what— Yep, they got burned in patches through my sandals that look so weird. LOL
Last week, we cleaned out the garden and got it ready to plant. Added several bags of new garden soil with fertilizer and put in seeds for carrots, kale, romaine lettuce, and sugar snap peas. This weekend we picked up five tomato plants and a six pack of Marigolds. We use the Marigolds for pest control. They do a good job and look pretty too. 
My hubby, our chow chow, Mystic, and I spent most of Saturday visiting the local garden centers. Boy were they packed! I guess everyone was like us and decided the warm spring weather was here to stay. Could be a mistake. Since I’m a life-long resident of Colorado, I know better than to plant outdoors before Memorial Day. Nine times out of ten we get a freeze and end up covering up or carrying in all the tender plants. Heck it’s been known to snow in July. But… after cleaning up the yard last weekend and trimming up the bushes, I couldn’t help myself. I needed some color out there. Darn it.
We picked out several plants in varying sizes and colors to fill our empty pots in the front yard. (They’ve been empty since 2016.) I’ve been accused by friends and neighbors of tempting Mother Nature, again. Though it’s been two years since the softball size hail of July 28, 2016 at 10:30 p.m. Yep, I’m still shell shocked after that experience. Lived here all my life and never seen anything like that. However, this year it didn’t stop me from sprucing up our front and back yard. The lilac’s lining the perimeter of my back yard are in full bloom. So beautiful.
I went so far as to start a 
fairy garden. I even planted a pumpkin patch in a spot in our yard I scouted out last year. It 
gets the most sun all summer long.
Wish me luck! Share in the comments what you did this weekend or plans for next weekend. Are you planting? Or do you live where your plants are already flowering and your garden is producing?
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Colorado, Fairy, Gardening, pumpkins, Spring, tomato plants by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Have You Ever Had Trouble Making A Decision?
Let me ask you something and feel free to respond in the comments to these questions. Have you ever had trouble making a decision? Do you let your head and research guide you? Or do you make decisions with your gut, emotions or look for something that just feels right? I had one of those Aha moments this morning. I still am not sure whether my response was the right one or not, guess only time will tell. But in reality it wasn’t a choice but an outcome that left me scratching my head at the decision.
Normally, I see decisions as cut and dried. Either you want what you can’t have, or isn’t good for you, so your forgo that option. Left with a feeling that maybe you should have taken the chance. The second is what is best for you and your life path. Kinda black and white. This morning, to my surprise I discovered another option. Without going into details, I”ll make a long story even longer.
At least once a year opportunities arise that may create a alternative path for me. Each time, I usually check out the opportunity, maybe even stick my toe in the water to see if it feels right. Ultimately, I usually make the decision to stay on the 
current path. Okay, I admit I have been accused by friends and family of loving warm fuzzy ruts, which is possibly true. My hubby is one that hops from one warm fuzzy rut into another new and exciting opportunity, dragging me with him kicking and screaming. Well maybe just figuratively, but kicking and screaming all the same. He decision usually turns out to be correct. Now don’t tell him I admitted he was right. LOL
I considered the upcoming opportunity, studied the options and got a headache from trying to figure out what to do. I’m happy with the path I’ve taken. But is there better opportunities to be had? Yes, yes, I know, the grass always appears greener on the other side, until you get there. I look around and see others successes on that other side, at least for a while. then…. Which brought me to the decision to leave it to fate or a higher power, depending on your faith. If the opportunity materialized in it’s entirely, I’d grab for the proverbial golden ring and see what happened. If not, no second thoughts and maybe I should have’s.
The final curtain has not fallen yet, and may be months before it does, but the message was clear. I was supposed to stay on the current path at least for now. It’s funny but I feel calm and centered with what happened, rather than a ball of nerves wondering if i missed a chance I should have taken. Have you ever felt like that? How did it turn out for you?
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Decision, Fuzzy Rut, Greener pasture, gut feeling, Life Path, opportunity by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
The Spring Equinox is almost here!
Sure enough, according to scientists, astronomers and people who know these things, Spring Equinox will arrive at 12:15 p.m. EDT, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. You wouldn’t know it here in the Colorado Rockies there are still big wet snowflakes blanketing the tulips and daffodil plants that should know better than to stick their tender green sprouts above ground this early. The good thing, when the sun comes up after a coating of snow over night its gone in a matter of a couple of hours.
Did you know Vernal Equinox is another name given to the Spring Equinox or called the March Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. But in the Southern Hemisphere the March Equinox is referred to as the Autumnal Equinox. If that isn’t confusing enough, when September rolls around (I am in no way hurrying the seasons) the equinoxes are switched – the Northern Hemisphere experiencing an Autumnal Equinox and the Southern Hemisphere having their Vernal Equinox. What is the equinox you ask? Well…the equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator.
Whether you call it Spring, March or Vernal Equinox, it brings a plethora of traditions and rituals including more sunlight hours, which makes me happy. I love to watch new life sprout after the dreary, brown last days of Winter. Don’t you? Easter for Christians falls the first Sunday after the full moon subsequent to the Spring Equinox, which this year is April 16th. Others celebrate the Spring Maiden or Goddess who watches over the emerging flora and fauna, a reminder of earth’s fertility. Still others have traditional dances and hunts to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Another sign of spring is the Crocus who is famous for bursting forth and blooming when it’s cold outside, even through a blanket of white snow! This brave little flower can help banish nightmares and generally infuse your dreamscapes with a cool serenity. Because Crocus reminds us of vibrant beauty even in the most wintry landscape, it’s also considered a harbinger and symbol or happiness. Saffron actually comes from the stigmas and styles of a variety of Crocus. Bet you didn’t know that!
As the snow melts, the thirsty ground sighs with relief soaking up the much needed moisture. Boy howdy we need the moisture this year. Hope springs eternal for the promise of warm sunlit days that awaken the budding flowers and bring spectacular color to our world. Happy Spring everyone! Are the early spring flowers like Crocus, Tulips, Daffodils poking up through the ground yet at your house?
Do you have all your camping reservations set? I have a few, circumstances beyond my control curtailed some of my camping reservation dates, gotta get those six months from the date you want to camp, or you’ll be out of luck.
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged camping, Crocus, Easter, flowers, snow, Spring, Spring Equinox, Tulips by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations & Irish Fun Facts!
Every year on March 17, the Irish & the Irish-at-heart across around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday started out as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland but has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture. From parades and yummy irish foods to dancing, and green everywhere you look, its a party.
My hometown, Colorado Springs, welcomes Spring with its annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.The celebration started 33 years ago, and this year it grows bigger. Thousands of runners, hundreds of cyclists and dozens of dancing groups, celtic bands, marching bands, schools, charities, businesses, and more for this IRISH DOWNTOWN CELEBRATION. If you’re in the area on March 17, 2018, join the fun. Be sure and wear your green!
Now, for the Saint Patrick’s Day fun facts!
#1 Did you know that we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day on the day of the saint’s death, March 17th. He spent most his life converting pagans of Ireland to Christianity. His entrance to heaven was March 17, 461AD.
#2. How about this, St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish, nor was he born in Ireland. His parents were Roman citizens living in either England, Scotland or Wales, the scholars can’t agree which country, there’s something unusual, NOT.
#3. Here’s a shocker, Saint Patrick was a slave. He had the misfortune of being kidnapped at sixteen years old by Irish raiders. They sold him as a slave. For several years he herded sheep and learned about the Irish people. By age twenty-two, he’d escaped and made his way to a monastery in England.
#4. Ever wonder why the shamrock became part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Because, Saint Patrick used the shamrock to preach about trinity. Now whether it was supposed to represent faith, hope and love or the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, remains a mystery. However, St Patrick must have been quite the 
inspirational speaker because Ireland’s pagan rulers at the time quickly converted to Christianity.
#5. Supposedly, St. Patrick drove all the snakes from Ireland. But I have to ask, if it was the reptiles “snakes” referred to or… a more figurative reference meaning pagan practices and their religious beliefs. I find it interesting to note that there isn’t any evidence that snakes, the reptile, ever existed in Ireland. Seems the weather is too cool for snakes to survive. This is all conjecture on my part, having never been to Ireland, but it’s on my bucket list!
#6. Everyone knows the color associated with St. Patrick’s Day is Green. Right? Not so fast. Originally the color blue represented St. Patrick. He was depicted in artwork wearing blue vestments. Also King Henry VII used the Irish harp in gold on a blue flag to represent the country. However, now days green is associated with Ireland, maybe due to the plentiful rainfall, creating the green countryside. Today, many refer to Ireland as the “Emerald Isle”.
#7. Nope, the Shamrock is not the symbol of Ireland. Surprised you didn’t I? Actually, since the medieval period, the harp has represented the nation. King Henry VII as early as 1534 used the harp on coins. Later the harp appeared on Irish flags, and Irish coats of arms. During
Ireland’s struggle for freedom, the Irish people used harps on flags during rebellions against England. In 1921, Ireland became an independent county and adopted the harp as the national symbol.
#8. Did you know there are more Irish in the United States than in Ireland? ‘Tis true. No blarney. They may not all be pure-blood Irish, but of Irish ancestry just the same. Mixed ancestry could be due to the troubled history of Ireland and millions of Irish left the county for the US during the potato famine in Ireland. This exodus continued through most of the 19th century until the economic boom of the 1990’s, when more Irish stayed in their native country rather than searching for better opportunities abroad.
#9. What is your drink of choice on St. Patrick’sDay? A Shamrock milkshake? Green Beer? Bet you didn’t know that from 1903 to 1970, Irish law declared St. Patrick’s Day a religious holiday. That meant that all the pubs were shuttered for the day. In 1970 the law was overturned and St. Patrick’s became a national holiday, allowing the beer to flow once again.
#10. Bet you don’t know what the odds of finding a four-leaf clover are. I do, approximately 1 in 10,000. That’s way better than the lottery, may the luck of the four-leaf clover flow your way on this Saint Patrick’s Day!
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged celtic bands, celtic dance, Clover, Green Beer, Irish, Irish fun facts, Luck, Parade, St. Patrick's Day by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
