Dear Mary and Steve...........

Dear Mary and Steve, We walked to the post office and received your wonderful Easter card. I just love it. That rabbit is great. Thank-you so much. Love, Mom and Dad

Waiting for the plumber.........

We have a leak under the kitchen sink and the outside faucet doesn't work. The plumber said he would come this morning at eight o'clock. And so we waited. At three o'clock Mike waited for the plumber and I set out on a hike to the other end of town. I planned to get a picture of the house where I grew up for my blog. When I arrived and looked at the dirty windows and the dirty porch I didn't want the picture. This was not a good idea. I took a picture of the crocuses by the back door and headed back. I felt sad as I walked home. As I trudged up the last hill the plumber's truck was pulling out of the driveway and I was feeling better. Sue

Red head radishes, ladybug tomatoes, cosmic purple carrots.........

Thank-you Holly. I received your package of gardening catalogs and magazines today. My head is already spinning with new seed varieties and great new ideas. Parisian green geans, summercicle radishes, nasturtiums, and bright scarlet chard to mix in the perennial border. Sue

Red head radishes, ladybug tomatoes, cosmic purple carrots..........

Clean windows............

The sun came streaming in this morning and motivated us to get outside and finish raking. We washed the windows this afternoon and the world looks brighter. Sue

Wishing for rain..........

The sun feels warm this afternoon. I'm peering into the garden like I do countless times a day. I'm wishing for rain. Sue

Brown eggs...........

I love the farmer's co op this time of year. I bought french breakfast, crimson giant, and sparkler radish seeds and two dozen beautiful brown eggs. Even Martha should approve. Sue

Dinner is almost ready...........

A cold north wind is blowing. It's blowing through the cracks in the walls where I peeled away the wallpaper. It's blowing the neighbor's leaves into our yard. It's blowing the winter's sand and dirt from the road against the windows I washed yesterday. Mike has a roast and sweet potatoes in the oven. The weather forecast says warmer for tomorrow. Dinner is almost ready. Sue

Once upon a time..........

With my paint scraper in hand I peel away layers of faded wallpaper from the bedroom walls. I ooh and aah each time I find another pattern. How pretty the rooms must have been once upon a time. Sue

Under the apple tree.........

We are raking and cleaning up under the old apple trees. Great compost material. The sky is just so blue. Sue

Grateful for morning.............

Mike was in Suttons Bay last night. I chose to stay behind and like always I was afraid. When Mike gets home he'll ask, "What were you afraid of?" I'm afraid of the dark, of the noises, and the lack of noises. I'm happy it's morning. Next time I think I'll go too. Sue

till-er noun a person who tills land; farmer

I don't like to rake. Raking hurts my back , but I love tilling. Mike and I purchased our garden tiller in 1973 to put in our first lawn and garden. It has helped us put in many lawns and gardens since then! I can till for hours. I am a tiller. Sue

March............

I woke up determined to work outside. I dressed in layers,however my warm clothes were no match against the north wind. We've been celebrating beautiful weather for several weeks, but today I realized it's still only March. I retreated back to the kitchen, made more coffee, and planted sweet peas. Sue

Quitting time...........

We have worked outside all day. It was nice, but a cold wind. Still cleaning the garden and raking. I took a break and planted sunflowers at noon. My back says it's quitting time. Time to get dinner started before we are too stiff to move! Sue

Wait for me............

I noticed a crew tearing down an old house at the end of our alley this morning. I got dressed and rushed down to see. I had visions of finding a claw foot tub and wonderful old sink for our bathroom. I found a lovely bird nest built on a window sill.........nothing else. Sue

Shop fresh.......shop local.......

Good morning............

It's been another beautiful sunny day. We have been getting up with the birds, working hard, and going to bed with the birds. Good night. Sue

I'm tired.............

Worked in the garden all day. Sue

Pulled up all the sunflowers. Raked leaves. Found carrots.

I like white...........

I like white............

The garden in march...........

The giant sunflowers even look beautiful in March. Mike and I put in this 50' by 35' vegetable and flower garden in the spring of '08'. We neglected it in '09' as we were busy in Suttons Bay. We will be working very hard to bring it back to life. Stay tuned for progress reports. Sue

Primitive construction..........

No lath and plaster in this house. These are the walls. There are layers of wallpaper over the boards. Sue

Abandoned..........

I never knew my grandma and grandpa Johnston. I never knew their house when it was well cared for and surrounded by my grandfather's roses and hollyhocks. My mom said that is where I got my love for gardening. Sue

The yard work begins. Sue

Keeping busy................

Washing winter away. Sue

A clothesline............

I was drawn to the white housse because it was abandoned and it was white. The construction is rough and primitive. It has large square rooms, hardwood floors, lots of windows, a sunporch, and a laundry room. It sits part way up a hill overlooking the main street. Outside are lilacs, large maple and cedar trees, an alley, a sunny spot for our garden and a clothesline outside the back door. Sue

The kitchen............

We have our table and chairs in the corner where the wood cookstove once stood. Sue

The back door...........

The back door opens into a six by six foot entry. I painted everyting white after tearing out carpeting, paneling, layers of wallpaper, and hundreds of nails. Sue

The front door.........

The front steps and the front door of the white house are not visitor friendly. The steps are narrow, steep and have no railing. The door opens out. Asking vistors to back down the steps so we can open the door or directing them to the back door always seems awkward, but amusing. Sue

The sledding hill............

It's 46 degrees! Winter is giving up a little at a time. The melting snow is streaming down the sledding hill as I make my way up. I have to stop and catch my breath. How many times I climbed this hill growing up. The city blocked off the side streets on weekends for sledding. We stayed until dark and pulled our sleds home with hands and feet nearly frozen. Sue

Too easy................

In the apartment I opened my eyes to the sun coming up over the bay. This morning I woke up in the white house. I put on my coat, scarf, hat, mittens, and climbed a steep hill to see the sunrise. Life in the apartment was just too easy. Sue

Beautiful day...........

Our long narrow summer porch is flooded with sunlight today! What a welcome sight after a cold and frosty night. Sue