Showing posts with label spring

Ground Hogs Day- Southern Style

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, February 03, 2014

Yesterday was all about Family and Football around here and with the exception on answering a phone call or two; I didn’t watch or read any media until the puppy bowl started. 

In the back of my mind I was wondering if Punxsutawney Phil had saw his shadow foretelling of another 6 weeks of winter. If you are like us and I’m betting you are- we are done with winter and need a sign, any sign that spring is on its way.

So once I got the kids on the bus to school- 2 hours late mind you because of the forecasted sleet and snow we didn’t get, I decided to go on my fact finding mission. 

Sure enough, according to the Washington post, that silly northerner Phil had in fact saw his shadow yesterday. But, he was wrong last year remember? He said we would get spring early last year. Instead of leaving as soon as I read spring was another 6 weeks a way according to Phil, I decided to keep reading the whole article and there it was at the bottom- a beacon of hope for this southern lady. 

Seems there is a southern groundhog based out of Atlanta; General Beau Lee is his name and he has been predicting the comings and goings of spring for the Southeast for 33 years.


MyWAHMPlan.com
Source

How in the world did I not know about Beau? 


A quick click of my mouse and Hey! Beau says spring will come early for our region! And Birmingham Bill, (based out of Birmingham Alabama naturally) agrees with Beau. 

 I like these southern groundhogs.

This made me realize maybe you don’t know about your own regional groundhog either and you’d like too. After all, we don’t plant our gardens full of plants out of our growing and hardiness zones, so why should we listen to a groundhog out of our region?

Here is the link to other groundhog prognosticators.


Since there are parts of North America currently not covered by a groundhog, the folks at AccuWeather were kind enough to make us a spring weather map.


MyWAHMPlan.com
Source

I know this whole predicting of weather is a hard thing to do,  so I'll take any signs of hope at this point. It's been such a cold, long winter, we are all ready for spring aren't we?

 I’m looking for signs of spring everywhere. And it may be just wishful thinking, but I swear I see the hint of change on the branches of our trees and a few sprigs of green wild onions coming up in the lawn.


MyWAHMPlan.com


 A special thanks Beau for giving me and all of Southerners much needed hope!  Please share in comments- do you see any signs of spring in your region? Where are you on the above map?

Almost Wordless Wednesday

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Spring was here in all it's glory last week, so when my oldest daughter Tera got done with homework and wanted to go outside, I suggested she "capture" spring for me. I told her I would share her pictures on my next Wordless Wednesday. She was happy to accept this project because she is a budding photographer.
 
Below is Tera's Sunset Spring pictures from our home place. I hope you enjoy them.
 
 
homeplace
Sunset on our home place.

 
leaves
Lilac leaves & buds, front yard.
 
Weeping Willow by pond.
 
 
 
Iris Buds.
 
 
Wildflowers. 
 
 


     Lilac buds, back yard.
 


Apple Blossoms.
 
 
 
 And last, but not least, she even found the beauty of the lowly Dandelion.
 
 
 

 

Spring Cleaning Giveaway- $100 Walmart Gift card

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, April 10, 2013
 Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way to participate in this giveaway. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for shipping/mailing of gift card. All opinions are 100% my own.

If you are like me, you have been busy checking off your spring cleaning tasks and still have lots to do.  I know in some regions spring is just now showing up, so you might still be in the planning stages. Either way, I have the perfect giveaway for you!

Welcome to the "Spring Cleaning" giveaway event sponsored by Tip Hero, featuring some wonderful bloggers and the opportunity to win a prize that's sure to help you with your spring cleaning efforts!



spring cleaning giveaway
Courtesy: Tiphero.com


We've featured many tips here at Tip Hero that can help you save money on spring cleaning. Our free homemade cleaners ebook, for example, features some great homemade cleaner recipes from us and from our extremely helpful readers. But if you're in need of some of the basics for cleaning up or redecorating, a $100 Walmart gift card is sure to come in handy!

This giveaway begins on April 10th and will run until April 24th at 11:59pm US Eastern time. It will be open to residents of the US only, 18+. Use the PromoSimple form below to enter, and be sure to take advantage of the many entries you can gain. You can also come back daily for more chances to win.

Good luck!
$100 Walmart Gift Card



Wordless Wednesday- Blooms start here

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, March 27, 2013


seed packets
Our seeds: Sunflowers, Foxglove, Sweet Pea, Hollyhock, Baby's Breath.


Spring is here! Spring is here! It’s the best time of the year! Those of us who love digging in the dirt have been waiting anxiously for planting time. We’ve dreamed of warmer days for months.
We’ve poured over seed catalogs, visited our favorite websites and sketched up our gardens and flower beds and got out our tools. Some of us who got warm weather last week have even bought some plants in preparation for our gardening season.

But wait! Don’t plant just yet. The USDA changed hardiness zones last year. Now is the time to double check your number.

plant hardiness zone map Tennessee MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: USDA

2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. 

It's easy to check your zone: go HERE, type in your zip code and/or state to see your personalized map. This site puts my hardiness zone as a 7 as seen on the above map.




Better Homes and Gardens (my second bible) has in depth gardening by region information as well. Go HERE to find out what they say your planting zone is and get a free personalized garden plan by going HERE.

 This site puts me in a zone 6.

What does this mean to me? I’m going to follow both guidelines and ask lots of questions at my local nursery if I fall in love with a plant I have not personally worked with before.

What plants are you looking forward to growing this year? My yen this year is Hollyhocks, Sunflowers. My new addition, which according to my ever helpful Better Homes and Gardens regional planting guide says will grow splendidly here, is Fleabane


Fleabane flowers MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: B.H.G.com

Fleabane Description and growing Information:

This tall wildflower produces tiny, daisy-like flowers in great clouds in late summer into early fall. It is often mistaken for an aster, but is easier to grow and isn't plagued by fungal problems. Plants start blooming in midsummer and often continue blooming until fall. The native forms are seldom grown in the garden because they can be weedy, though they're great for naturalized areas and prairie or meadow plantings. However, many well-behaved, beautiful hybrids are available. All are beautiful when cut in big sprays and arranged in a vase.

Light:
Sun

Zones:
3-9

Plant Type:
Perennial

Plant Height:
18-30 inches tall

Plant Width:
18-24 inches wide

Landscape Uses:
Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:
Flowers, Cut Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow. 

Isn't Fleabane pretty?  If you have had experience with this plant, please let me know in the comments and happy spring!





Wordless Wednesday- Spring Blooms

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, March 20, 2013


happy first day of spring
Happy First Day of Spring. I can't wait for these beauties to bloom again this year.

Wordless Wednesday- First Sign of Spring

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, February 13, 2013



Robin,birds
Yes ~That is a Robin in my yard on 1-24-13! Come on Spring!

Wordless Wednesday

in , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Our Pear Trees in bloom 3/16/11

The wait is almost over. Only 19 days until Spring officially arrives! I wonder if I'll get blooms like this again?

Spring Forward

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 10, 2011
Courtesy of www.bhg.com



Since I've been slowly changing the scope and feel of my blog, I thought this would be a perfect time to introduce one of my favorite past times: Gardening.  You may be thinking my timing is off with the cold November winds blowing on many of us, but my favorite magazine, Better Homes and Gardens says otherwise.


They say: There’s Still Time to Plant Bulbs for Spring!
Don’t hang up your trowel just yet! There’s still plenty of time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. In fact, it’s better to plant them late this year than to try to store them for planting next year."

I  am very glad to hear this because I have been itching to do just one more project before Old Man Winter Takes over completely.  Are you a gardener too? Here are some BHG links for you:


Best Tulips for Your Garden

Deer- and Rabbit-Resistant Bulbs

Design Ideas from the Dutch

Add Spring Color to Your Lawn

Planting Tips


The first link, Best Tulips for your garden is where I discovered the amazing yellow Tarda Tulip above!

While you are there, don't forget to grab a free bulb and perennial plan here.  With it, you can plan and dream and have a garden like this next spring.

free bulb and perennial plan MyWAHMPlan.com


Isn't that pretty? It helps take the sting out of this blustery morning! I'd like it if you'd come back and let me know which Tulip you loved. I had such a hard time choosing just one.


Monday and My Plan

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, March 14, 2011
This week is a continuation of projects I started last week.

 March 8th was International Women's Day.  I recognized the day by visiting sites, learning more and sharing a link here, but did you know that the 8th was also National Home Office Organization Day?  I didn't think so.

 I didn't know about this day either until a story popped up on Google!  In the spirit of this day I thought I'd share some of the tasks I did on the 8th and what I hope to accomplish this week.

·           Emptied my inbox. No, not emails. The ever so neat looking "inbox" sitting on the top shelf of my desk with all manner of notes, to-do's , half-finished  projects and the like.  Nothing urgent enough to do ASAP.  I have a folder just for those projects.
   Seems I've let this task go for a while. I unearthed some love notes from my girls and re-read each with a smile straight from my soul.  No wonder they are still here I think to myself.  I’m such a clever lady to have put them back to re- discover them later.
  Hmm, what else do I have in here? Pizza coupons.  The email address to a contact I've already put in my hubby's business contacts,   school fundraiser forms (you know the kind sent home almost daily until the event)?  I know I volunteered or sent in the money/drink/gadget required because,   see?  There’s my check in the top right corner indicating DONE in my world.  So why do I still have the paper? Cause my neat looking inbox hides oh so many secrets.

·          I did a quick eenie, meenie, miny, moe to decide which file cabinet to open first.  Left or right.
 Left being the behemoth holder of ALL and right the smaller less frightening holder of how to manuals, notebooks and trade publications with important articles for hubby.  Yes! I do read them and turn down the corners of interesting articles.   I am his secretary after all and you could learn a lot about the state of our economy by reading what is going on in the housing industry, but let me not stray too far from the subject:  file cabinet on the right was my best option last Tuesday.  35 minutes later I felt pretty good about the overall state of affairs in that file cabinet, but alas, I broke my stapler!  Darn the luck, looks like I'll just have to put off file cabinet on the left until I purchase a suitable replacement.

·            Next, I took everything off my desk and gave it a good cleaning. Not just a dry dusting, nope. Warm, slightly sudsy,   lemony scented water and a nice towel dry.
Okay, you may be yawning at this point and saying to yourself: Boring!  Trust me on this one: a clean and shiny desk in an office that smells good equals a happy work zone.  I also de-cluttered. The pencil sharpener that didn't really do more than gnaw the pencils?  Tossed and added to my list of needed office supplies.

And so went my morning. I had a box of recycling and the lid full of shredding and a nice happy work zone to show for it.
Today I am  still minus a stapler (I was way too busy flying kites and re- learning archery with my family to go running to the office supply store this weekend) so this week:
 I've decided to tackle the sideboard in my dining room that doubles as work/family filing and storage. I'm a bit nervous because I can't quite remember the last time I took everything out of this lovely piece. Wish me luck.

 I'm also going to do away with the ever present basket of incoming stuff that has taken up semi-permanent residence on my kitchen counter. It's full of receipts, coupons, pictures, cards, washers, nails, cameras, and better keeps because this looks important to (insert appropriate family member). 

It’s amazing how much time I have to spring clean my office and home now that I’m no longer working in direct sales. It’s true what they say about less is more. I feel more efficient and in control.  Please try to do yourself the favor of cleaning off your desk and maybe ridding yourself of the clutter of too many things on your plate.  You and your family will reap the benefits.

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