Sunday, December 23, 2012

Peace

There's a soft dusting of snow outside, just enough to make it truly feel like Christmas. We've set some lights in the garden to show its bones at night and as I sit here and type at the pine kitchen table looking out, the sky is black; stars sparkle overhead. It's a Good King Wenceslas night; the snow lies "crisp and even". Almost time to celebrate a most holy day, the end of the year and this growing season.

The past few months I have not been able to blog regularly. This might go on for a bit but hopefully, this journal will become more active again. The garden is sleeping fairly well, but not totally tucked in. Ten degrees yesterday..imagine! We are still cutting from the raised bed with the cold frame cover and also harvesting some from under the row cover inside the garden fence. It's getting to be slim pickings though. This from yesterday:
Tatsoi, kale, variety of lettuce, garlic greens, arugula
A highlight of 2012 was having our garden in Niki Jabbour's wonderful book, "The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener". I hope you get this from Santa! If I have learned anything from her book and my experience, it would be.."get better organized". We'll see...will try!

Have a wonderful Red, White and Green Christmas. Thank you for following Gardeningbren, for encouraging, sharing and commenting. Our family wishes you and yours, a most peaceful holiday season.


45 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas dear friend. In a year filled with trial after trial after trial, you were the light. You gave me a sense of self and place in this world that I didn't know anything about. You gave me more of a sense of family than I knew possible. You put pieces of my puzzle together making my farm girl look and attitude make sense. I am so thankful to you and for your friendship. I love you Brenda. Give the captain a hug for me too. It was wonderful seeing him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Erin, your kind and loving words mean so much to me. Thank you sincerely. It was fun doing your family history and I am honoured you allowed me to share in that research...farm girl!! The Cap sends hugs back..me too.

      Delete
  2. Brenda, it was a beautiful day wasn't it? We went for a walk at Dalvay, the snow fluttering down. It really felt like Christmas. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and many good wishes for the new year. ~M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a beautiful day. I know Dalvay..how wonderful to walk there, snow fluttering. Wishing you all the best now and in the coming year. Is there a cold frame in your future..think so.

      Delete
  3. You put me to shame! There you are, under a cover of snow and you're still cutting, whereas I, here in a temperate climate have put all to bed. I can see that I will have to pay more attention to planting.
    The scene outside your window sounds beautiful. I have to admit to a wee bit of envy at the thought of a white Christmas. Enjoy yours, and Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pondside, cutting because we have the coldframe and row cover. Otherwise, the garden would be put away much earlier as in my garden history years past. If I lived on your coast again, now would have to think about year round gardening. Too much perhaps? So much of our produce is from California or Mexico this time of year.

      Thank you for your kind Christmas wishes..to you as well. Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  4. Slim pickings or not, it is very satisfying to harvest something from your garden at Christmas, with snow on the ground. Best Wishes for Christmas from me and Jane. Looking forward to seeing more from your garden in 2013. Mark.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Best wishes to you as well Mark, and Jane. Your blog still astounds me, that you write so faithfully with such enthusiasm and daily. Thank you.

      Delete
  5. It feels so Chistmassy with you, with that snow have a wonderful Christmas.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah, thank you for your lovely wishes. Enjoy your holidays..no flooding I hope!! Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  6. It's a Green Christmas over here in England. Have a wonderful Christmas .
    Best wishes from
    Audrey & David (Orchid) Crossley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Audrey and David. I've so enjoyed your outings and your writing. Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  7. Now I have my New hat I feel like an honorary Canajan! Merry merry Christmas Bren, have a groovy new year. Paul:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Groovy back to you!! loved the hat...I am a lumberjack and all that. Yes, an honorary Canajan. Merry Christmas and hope this has been a good year for the company.

      Delete
  8. Beautiful words, from a beautiful person and treasured friend. May your holidays be as special as you are - and may the new year bring growth, strength and much joy.

    Luv ya, girl! Vik

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luv ya too. Thank you dearest Vik. Beautiful and uplifting words.

      Delete
  9. I have that book! Now I want to go through it again and find your garden! Your greens are making me wish I'd set up a cold frame to try some late growing. Have a very Merry Christmas and the best New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nutmeg, I am so pleased you have the book!! There are photos throughout but if you go to page 193 there is a bit about the gardener and some of the pages to refer to and those not mentioned are veg on 77, 117, purple sprouts on page 116, 122, lower pix on 205 and 226/227.

      Hope you get to build a cold frame and try extending your season.

      Wishing you a very Merry Christmas as well and hoping for a good growing year ahead for us both.

      Delete
  10. I'm hoping to try a cold frame in 2013. Wonderful post. :-) Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Staci, hope you do get to try a cold frame. It is incredible how much it can extend your season, and so many greens take the cold better than I thought.

      Thank you for your kind words re the post. Wishing you and your family a great Christmas also.

      Delete
  11. Greetings dear person! I haven't been about the blog much as we have been busy moving every two months! (yep, there is a story in that but I'm tired of telling it - just we sold our dear house and have been living in other's homes until our old place is made livable). So nice to read your blog today and look out at the gorgeousness of this day. My sons are friends of Niki and her husband and Cal just picked up the book to give to someone for Christmas. I had a boo at it and I want it even though I don't have a garden and can't imagine one for two years!!! Your lovely greens look so yummy. Hope you had a sweet day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greetings to you too, dear person! Didn't know about the moves..sorry. Glad you liked the book and hope you do get it as it won't go out of date that is for sure..all relevant, good advice and observations. Hope you also had a sweet day.

      Delete
  12. I hope that you didn't sit out on those chairs or you would have had a sneezy Christmas. Hope you had a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, didn't sit on them ))))). Will bring them in after Christmas. They were a nice pop of red looking out from the kitchen but I don't want to ruin them, even though they are plastic but..just the same.

      Hope you too had a wonderful Christmas. Your blog is delightful and your produce abundant..always inspiring.

      Delete
    2. I'm afraid it was more hospital to and froing!

      Delete
  13. The healthiest New Year is wished for you and your family, Bren. Peace to all in 2013. xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats on being in the book, well deserved! You could also write your own, it would be lovely. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sweetbay. So appreciate your dear comment.

      Delete
  15. Merry Christmas Brenda and Rob. I have been missing your regular posts. I think I know full well the other concerns that have taken up your blogging time. Don't forget to take care of yourself,dear heart. There is only one of you!

    All the best in the new year.
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna...sorry, missing being regular on posts. Yes, lots of concerns. Will heed your advice..take care of myself. Thank you xox

      Best to You and Duff!!Happy New Year.

      Delete
  16. Our snow arrived a bit late for Christmas, but it looks very seasonal now. A fresh salad of greens would be wonderful right about now! Happy new year Brenda!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you as well Jennifer! Looking forward to seeing the frittilaria grow in 2013. Remember to plant your beans ;-)

      Delete
  17. Well Happy New Year Bren - I hope it brings you joy and good fortune.

    Best wishes, Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You Mark. Good Fortune would be appreciated very much. Best wishes back to you.

      Delete
  18. I'm most impressed with your 'slim pickings' - looks more like 'winter riches' to me! Happy New Year :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Winter Riches...I love that!! There's a blog title there VP! Happy New Year to you also and thank you for your kind wishes.

      Delete
  19. Greetings of the Season and Best Wishes from our Home and Family to your's for a Healthy and Happy 2013!
    You sure do paint a beautiful and peaceful winter scene.
    Even when your garden is sleeping it looks peaceful and happy.
    It's wonderful to have winter...gives us time to plan for spring.
    :)XO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your best wishes Nor. Ours to you and family as well. Will hold on to Healthy and Happy very closely.

      The winter scene is even whiter and deeper and still below zero. Time to start sorting garden seeds and as you say, time to plan for spring.

      Delete
  20. Beautiful Christmas scene and greens!! My slim pickings are much slimmer than yours. I planted my cold frame later than I originally planned on, although I'm still able to harvest enough arugula, spinach, kale and bok choy for little side dishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind comment Jessica. Sounds as if you are still getting some nice salad greens. Have you looked at joining VP's Salad Challenge? Her Link is above. You have such a good size garden plot! Bet you are sorting seeds, like me. Spring is just around the bend...Yes it is!! Your March and April blog posts are inspiring. Must look at my own on blog.

      Delete
  21. Hi, just to thank you for coming over and commenting on my blog - I did think about getting the Nikki Jabbour book when I first read about it - it is good that you are still collecting leaves which are under cover - they are hardy little things aren't they. Best wishes for 2013 - I look forward to visiting your site again.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Elaine..thank you so much for your comment and for following. Your garden growing last post was so inspirational. Sincere thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  23. These greens look so delicious! Nice blog, I'll be visiting you! Greetings from Poland!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for your kind comment Dewberry. I will be visiting your blog also. Wonder if you have lots of snow..expect so.

    ReplyDelete