Spring Projects

The weather is warming up here in New Mexico, and while storms are approaching next week, it's a nice preview into what's in store over the next few months. We have so much to do to prepare for springtime:

- Finish our indoor projects: American clay on the walls of our common living areas, replacing baseboards, and finishing a painting or two to hang on our new walls!

- Set up our guest house as my new art studio: we haven't used it since we moved here over a year ago, and the garage was completely uninspiring. The house has heat and a swamp cooler, so it will be more comfortable for artistic endeavors. Plus, there's a bathroom and a kitchenette where I can clean my brushes, etc.

- Set up gutters and water tanks for rain catchment on our detached garage and the house

- Choose vegetable and herb seeds for our new garden area in the back (4x the size we planted last year--we're growing, literally!)

- Read up on keeping chickens (for next spring--not this spring) so we can begin converting part of our horse barn into a roost

- Read up on preserving and canning vegetables so we know what to do with the huge harvest we'll likely have this summer and fall

I planted bulbs in December and can't wait to see them peek through in about a month. Apparently, it's the gardener's secret: sprouting spring bulbs give you some gratification while you wait for warmer weather to grow the rest of your stuff. I like this idea, and can't wait to see the tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths peeping out to greet us.

That's all for now, folks. Until next time....