Mid March update!

Well, St. Patrick's Day is behind us, and still not looking at my beloved snowdrops!! We had another foot and a half of snow since last we spoke, but also some sun and rain! Today is windy as the devil, but the sun is bright and temps are supposed to reach the 5oish mark, so the Snowdrops have a chance to make it by Mum's birthday on the 22nd. One of my greatest memories, is of the few times before she passed that I was able to pick a Snowdrop bloom to her on her birthday, and was rewarded with a big smile and usually tears of happiness.
I worked up a "redesign" for the labels for "Mum Fosters Kitchen" including red poppies. Mum and Dad's wedding pattern was Hall's Red Poppy design, http://www.rubylane.com/shop/auntnelliesparlor/ilist/,cs=Pottery:By+Maker:Hall:Hall%27s:Red+Poppy.html and I can still hear Mum reciting the poem "in Flanders Fields by John McCrae.
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm

I don't know where the time has gone, but since I started this post, a week has passed! My Snowdrops did bloom (well at least bud) in time for Mum's birthday! This photo was taken on Sunday the 20th, because snow was predicted!! I have been busy almost everyday substitute teaching, so haven't taken the new label layout to my "sign-guy" yet, but I'll get it there one day! The sun is out, and the wind is blowing still, but the temp is COLD! for this time of year even for us here in Vermont!
Yesterday I got my afterschool group started weaving rag rugs on the little looms the program bought! The kids loved them, and in the meantime, are learning a little history too! The weaving was inspired by Elizabeth Fisk from here in Isle LaMotte. Thank you to the Isle LaMotte Historical Society for letting me borrow this dvd, http://fisklooms.org/dvd.html as well as a copy of a Mrs. Fisk cartoon (this is explained in the video link) and an original Fisk Rag Rug! I can't tell how intrigued my students (3,4, and 5th graders) were with seeing such an old piece. My afterschool program is called "Bits of Vermont history" and my goal was for my students to make a mental and physical connection with Vermont history, during the 6 weeks of this course, and yesterday my goal was definitely achieved!! The kids will continue to get some weaving time each time we meet, and while they are weaving, I'll introduce some little bits of Vermont History! Do any of you have any interesting little bits to add?

Welcome March

Well March blew in with a grand old mix of weather! Sleet, snow, freezing rain you name it we had it yesterday! Today is cold and all the mixed gunk from yesterday is ICE! So guessing the drive to work will be special at best! Oh well, I'll allow a little extra time and hope for the best! There won't be too many more before real spring gets here. Today is the first day of meteorologist spring, spring will arrive on the calendar March 20th, and Spring will arrive in my heart when the first snow drops bloom!! That is a photo of last years first snowdrop bloom, anxiously awaiting this years! I took that photo on March 14th, last year, BUT with our record February snowfall in 2011, I'm guessing I'll have to wait until a little later this year! I've planted 1000's of these bulbs over the years, but thought they never made it, but it turns out I was just looking for them TOO LATE in the season! Well I'm off to work! Have great day, week, or month! I'll post when I can, and hope you'll all do the same!