Thus Far

Well, now we've gone a done it!  I suppose it's universal that our dreams are much simpler when they remain dreams, and a whole lot harder when one of them shows signs of becoming a reality.  Ironically, we know this  from previous remodel jobs, 

But alas, like childbirth (pardon me fellas), in time you forget the all too familiar pain and agony and your vows of never again!  So here we are, immersed once again, in what I like to call the PURE grunt mode of prepping the site and laying the foundation. (You know how I like things pure! :D)  Here's the skinny.

The head hillbilly jack hammered these 6-8 inch pieces of what once was a patio, to clear the space where the 14 x 20 ft. addition will go. I stacked them here.  We've pretty much decided they will be recycled into a retaining wall around the addition. But please, I can't eeee...ven go there! At least not until I get a full body massage!

It's so great when a neighbor offers the use of his Kubota!  Here we excavated the area to  the  proper dimensions and put in the framing and re-bar for the footing.

We poured the footing and remembered from past experience (I love it when I remember) that measurements are  never exact no matter how well you try to be precise on this point.  And  when you  have a bit of left over concrete it MUST go somewhere.  Our plan worked perfectly this time, take a look.

Just enough pour left over to fill these stepping stone frames.  

The head hillbilly commenced to cutting block for the foundation.  Check out the blower he has duct taped to the work surface.  It blew the dust clear away, and onto our parked vehicles! I must pause here to mention that me and duct tape?  Don't ever come between us!

Mortar, GRUNT, block, in that order.  

Tap, level, tap, WOO-HOO, in that order!

Mortar mixing and the near finished foundation stem wall with 2 vents on each side.  A shout  out here for the head hillbilly's brother from another mother.  I don't know what we would do without Glen.  Add  his expertise, humor, and generosity to the mix and this grinding work was kinda fun.  Well, kinda :D

 Are you thinking what I'm thinking?  Yeah, permeable pavers!  These remnants created from cutting blocks will be recycled back into the landscape somewhere.  The wheels are turning! I'm open for suggestions. 

I hope your having a beautiful Spring *

Arbutus Garden Arts

In earlier days, in the garden, exuberant flowering perennials and grand splashes of annuals were my youthful hearts desire. But in the passage of time I am acutely aware that the  maintenance of such once-upon-a-time desires have become increasingly  burdensome.  Don't get me wrong, I have great joy working in my garden but the scales have tipped ever so slightly and changes are in order.

I'll always cherish  my  beloved old timers of hydrangea, lilac, peonies, daisies, herbs and the like.  But my gardens are now beginning to transition like me into a slower gentler stage of living. 

Enter.. the very special and secret hideaway garden of owners Norm Jacobs and Deb Zaveson of Arbutus Garden Arts, my inspiration in bringing to my cottage gardens a more natural, water conscious, and low maintenance habitat. Arbutus is truly a hidden gem. You'll find it so worth the discovery if ever your in the vicinity of the tiny town of Yamhill, Oregon.

 I've been pondering a pond to ponder by ever since I saw this one!

One courageous step in my journey is to embrace moss.   I'm finding I do not need to rid my garden of it's persistent green fuzziness.  Since I  love to live where it lives, we need to get along.  

A Bright green with envy tree among the sage hued forest.  At the time of my visit I was sure I would remember it's name.  Same for the following Northwest Native.  What is your name dear lovely?

The lovely Northwest Native that will remain nameless. 

 Ahh... my redemption lies just behind and to the right of the nameless beauty. See the  deep red/brown trunk back there?  It's the smooth inner bark revealed once the peeling bark has shed of one of my all time favorite Northwest Native trees, the Madrone (Arbutus), the favored namesake of this magical garden.

Norm and Deb designed their gardens as a succession of rooms that are only confined by the walls of an extended woodland.  Here I walked through an arbor into one such tranquil room for some precious moments of reflection and inspiration.

 An occasional hefty pot tucked here and there for interest along a forest path at Arbutus Garden Arts.

My congenial and knowledgeable host and garden tour guide, Norm Jacobs. Conversation with Norm is a riveting litany of botanical history profusely peppered with Latin. By golly, it's enough to make a girl blush.  


I left Arbutus Garden Arts with my hopeful new prospects of Hellebores, Epemedia, and a darling Paeonia Obovata (woodland peony). I also contracted a slight case of Latin- itis, but I'm sure it's temporary. :D


And how is your garden growing?

I Love Your Place

I love your place.  I know this even though I've stepped but not one toe in to your home.  I also know I love your garden, like your home, whether it be small and unassuming or grand and expressive.  I know this because you LIVE there!


I've never not loved the places that people dwell. There's a story to each one.  That special something that always tantalizes my senses.  Weird?, maybe, but absolutely true.  I've found beauty in the humblest of places and awe in the grandest of architecture and I love them both.  I love without prejudice both porcelain and reclaimed brick. Oak banistered stairways and creaky old wooden steps. Vaulted ceilings and cubby holes. Marble floors and polished cracked cement. 


But there is one element that truly brings life to any dwelling. People.  It's the folks that make a house a home and despite the myriad of materials  that make up the shelter,  they are the ones who unbeknownst to themselves transpose warmth and meaning to the place they call home.  


That's what I love most, the way a house no matter how simple or grand is just a house until someone who LIVES there makes it a home.  


I hope you enjoy the following sweet tribute.


Best springtime wishes,


Betty
(your cottage woman) 

Via Katie Hutchison Studio

Cottage Snippets

Raise your hand if you're lower back has a twinge in it lately?  Knees a little stiff? Undetermined scratches about your forearms? Mmm hmmm. Isn't it glorious!  In my neck of the woods Spring has made it's long awaited for and perturbing belated arrival.  


The bod is going through those little adjustments to much more activity. But the sun on my back, the birds, the blossoms and delightful scents, the deep rich soil.  Hello heaven!  Now is the time of rampant activity that makes it difficult to pause and share but we must, eh?  


A few snippets of life at the cottage:

In all her gnarly quaintness my rosemary has produced the tenderest new shoots that have been the perfect seasoning for steamed new potatoes. 

I was excited to see my loving care of a mere shoot of Paeonia Obovata (woodland Peony) come forth this spring under my Douglas fir trees. 

I got this sweetie from Arbutus Garden Arts who are local Northwest Native growers who live right in the middle of their exquisite  woodland  garden.   When I pencil in their biannual tour of the gardens I am never disappointed.  

The winding drive and forest canopy that lead to their garden quench my thirst for the hidden, deep wonders of the forest. I could go on about this gem but I may have a new post about this wonderful garden and caretakers soon!

photo by "Norm Jacobs, Arbutus Garden Arts"

Psst...  are you expecting? Don't you think Paeonia would be the perfect name for a baby girl? maybe? just a little? Moving on.

One last snippet of a sublime cottage moment.  Young Wyatt jamming with his Grandpa.  The name Wyatt is nice, I adore Wyatt, and I think I've finally reconciled myself to him not being named CEDAR! 

"Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig

and lifted it's whisper to my thirsty lips:

maybe it was the voice of the rain crying."

~Pablo Neruda

Rosemary

 Rosemary is the honorable lady of my herb garden.  Blessing me with her magical scent each time I brush against her.  Guardian of the medicinal and culinary heritages of the other herbs that grow along the meandering paths that lead to her throne.  And her christened name Rose of Mary transcends the ages of biblical history.  

Rosmarinus Officinalis

My Rosemary has been dutifully keeping a watchful eye over our cottage herb garden some 10 years now, all cozied up to an old Douglas Fir tree stump.  I love the way she has in time managed to gracefully embrace the old stump. She has plentiful blooms that  are a nearly white pale blue.  I have pruned a few aging branches from the old girl from time to time and have found their lightly scented, gnarled and twisted appearance very unique.  I'm planning on using a few as  sturdy handles for my whacky hillbilly baskets.  Rosemary brings an air of dignity to any landscape and would be the perfect herb selection in today's era and ethos of water conscious gardening.

~ Spring Salutations~

There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance.  Pray you, love, remember. 

~ William Shakespeare

PNW 'er

We have been the recipients of two glorious days of actual 80 degree spring like weather in Oregon's Pacific Northwest.  Woo hoo!  But alas, in short order, clouds and threatening thunder showers have returned, bent on a conspiratorial gray and wet spring pattern.  Much like the gray thunder cloud hue of the Navaho-Churro fiber I have been spinning lately.  But hey, it's rugged and durable too, just like the sheep and the PNW'er!


So it needs be that I'll be away for a tad while as I scurry about  tasks between Spring showers.  But it also needs be that I leave you  with a few lovelies that might entertain and inspire you.  Enjoy kind friends!

• The scrumptious Rhubarb and Orange Meringue via The Bridge Cottage Way, a spring recipe celebration courtesy of a lovely growing, foraging, sustainable farmlass.

• Vintage wares of a wanderlust business on wheels. Completely in love with this concept. An armload of xo's to Wanderlust Mobile shop! ;)

• The darlin' urban homesteading, fiber loving ladies via My God Given MIssion Field.  A house full of love & bunnies!

• Our tiny cottage living keeps me ever searching for kindred spirits in tiny places.  Sweet  tiny abodes that shelter the human soul the world over via  Cabin (excuse me) Porn.

A sweet tweetable for you >God almighty first planted a garden.  And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures.  ~Francis Bacon~ 

B*

Homestead Goodness

The Pacific Northwest's  lovely verdant green landscape is courtesy of it's abundant rainfall.  Bless you Oregon!  But can you stop now!?  I'm anxious and patiently waiting like most folks to feel the soft (dry) earth beneath my feet, but alas, a few more days of drizzle lay ahead. In the meantime, a few tidbits of homestead goodness are floating around in my bean, and in need of escape.  

The setting sun reflecting on my found and upcycled wire gate.  I placed it in my veggie garden and planted bright orangey zinnias.  It is reminder to me of the iconic garden gate of long ago days over which neighbors would exchange hellos.  I often wish for such an idyllic encounter.

A snap of a maple and willow garden bench two industrious gardeners built and brought to a recent gardening seminar I attended. They shared a lovely lunch break perched on their handiwork.  It inspired me to create my own outdoor seating.  Do bales of straw count?

Territorial Seed Company  is one of my all time favorites for interesting seed varieties for the garden.   I not only love their Scarlet Emperor runner bean for it's visual stand out and interest  in the garden but also for it's mottled black and pink bean at maturity that I've decoratively   used indoors as well.  So I have in my itching to go garden hands some new varieties to try, Bingo and Yin Yang.  Bingo look like tiny Orca whale.  Fun. 

Yet in all this wetness, plantings are ripening up for the big show.  Like these plump Peonie buds.  See it in bloom here.  It's hard to deny the power of pink!

But  I 'm not alone as I yearn and stretch for a wee bit more sunshine around here.  If the sun is warming your skin, the fresh addictive scent of rich soil is wafting about your nostrils as you dig in the earth,  If with a dampened brow and soil stained hands you feel gloriously appreciative and alive in your little patch of heaven?  Then craps! Do you think you can box some up and send it yonder way!?

Yours Truly,

Cottage Woman

Your tweetable ~  "So will no man be secure who is not sure of a garden". 

Spring Cleaning

Every spring like most folks I get my busy on in the cottage, gardens, and farm.  Dusty sheer curtains need washing as well as the windows and tracks.  The barn needs sprucing up for new baby goaties, the flower gardens tidied and the vegetable garden prepped for seeding. The list goes on doesn't it?    

It was a natural step for me then to direct a little attention to sprucing up my blog just a tad bit.  Just a little shining up akin to a fresh coat of paint to the old wooden porch.  At least it makes me smile and keeps the creative juices flowing right?

Being that I do tend to dawdle and produce as the creative urge dictates, I began with my header.  I loved the simple stick figure drawing of my original header made by my creative granddaughter Madeline.  I didn't want to depart from the child like simplicity it evoked, so with the same theme in mind I drew a little illustration similar to the first representation of our little cottage in the woods. 

 I have always admired the simple line art of  German/Swiss Artist Paul Klee1879-1940. He too was inspired by the beauty and innocence of children's art which was the muse for much of his work.

"howling dog" by Paul Klee

 The method he practiced here was of trying to draw one continuous line to form the picture. He called drawing like this from a single point on a page as "taking a dot for a walk".  And I love it!

I didn't quite fulfill the scope of Paul Klee's method but I'm satisfied with the simplicity I captured in conveying life here at Panther Creek Cottage.  I hope you like it too.

Happy Spring to you! And may God bless you with many creative moments too!

Gak

What's cool, rubbery, drippy yet not wet and loads of fun? GAK! a.k.a GLARP for the uninitiated  to GAK's flatulent alter ego!

The first of Spring has finally arrived but nature doesn't always abide the calendar. So these lingering cold, wet, blustery days have found me searching for new ways to entertain and occupy the wonderful little ones that come to visit.  Well used prang paint sets, crayons, markers, stamps and such are becoming ho-hum.  But then I came across this Gak recipe in my  projects book and it was Aha!  I was just like the proverbial magician pulling a rabbit out of it's hat for an oohing audience.  Three cheers for Grandma!

 If your wondering who in the world would possibly purchase a gallon jug of glue.  That would be me. I was simply shopping for printer paper at Staples, when the jug caught my eye.  It's been one of my best purchases to date, kinda along the lines of a great pair of shoes that provide years of comfort and use. I've had my gallon of glue for about 5 years and it's about half gone as you can see.  I expect it'll last me another 5.  And I think I can say the same for my comfortable Danskos!


Recipe: In a medium bowl mix 2 cups white glue with 11/2 cups water.  Add a few drops food coloring.  In a small bowl or measuring cup mix 1T. Borax powder with 1/3 cup water.  Add the Borax mixture to the glue mixture. Stir and squish the soft forming dough or blob.  When the blob no longer gathers together I remove it from the glue mixture to another bowl pouring off any excess liquid that doesn't adhere.  After a few moments of handling the dough it becomes less wet and more pliable.  I will usually add an additional Borax and water mixture to the remaining glue mixture to get additional GAKS.  You'll want to store your GAK in an airtight container.

Now GAK in the proper hands, like in the case of 5yo Wyatt, can fill the cottage with roaring laughter and hours of fun.  Just squeeze a piece of GAK into a smallish container pressing out the air and well, there you have it.  GLARP!  

And wonders really are that GAK will entertain every age group.  Stephanie spent quite some time perfecting her air bubble to the amazement of the group.  She was rockin' it with the GAK!  

I recently got an email from my daughter and it seems she's come up with a new "keep em' busy" project too for her tribe.  Here is a handful of colorful beads she promises to share soon on her blog, My God Given Mission Field.  They are quick and easy and sure to help fill time till the sun comes out and we can all bust open the doors and let the glorious springtime weather in!

                                          

Trillium

As promised from "Desperately Seeking" the first lovely Trillum of the season. Delicate and bright among the dark earthy browns of the forest floor. It's leaves enlarging with maturity and it's once brilliant white petals casting a mottled purple hue as it fades with Spring;

The delicate and unassuming Trillium holds fondness for me with it's legend of the three distinct petals representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity. It's whiteness the representation of Divine Purity and Holiness. A celebration of that first Easter, Christ's sacrifice, our redemption. Beautiful.

Oh, and I was baptized in the light, finally yesterday, a patch of blue. So may I hear a collective ahhhh from all you Pac Northwesterners. There will be sun!

Trail Log 4.1.11

(no foolin')

Frog love

Last week there were snow plows clearing our roads. One could easily be fooled, maybe even think that we were still in the clutches of Winters icy grip. But no. No no. I'm saying No!

Yesterday we had a passel of children gallivanting and cavorting among nature. Climbing trees, following mossy pathways, froliking in the sunshine and swinging in the big tire swing of our cherished grand old black walnut tree. Rosy cheeked and booted they played the afternoon away.

Winter played her cards last week. But this week Spring threw in the ace, evidenced by my granddaughter when she caught a little frog for all to admire. You see frog love is going on around these parts. The loving embrace between boy and girl frogs called amplexus happens the first week of March and delivers a whoopin' on Winter.

So I will lovingly embrace Spring revealing itself everyday. If frogs aren't hopping in your neck of the woods they soon will be. If you haven't ordered this years seeds, get hoppin'.

And check out my frugal gal's recipe for dirt cheap for starting your newly purchased seeds.

Alrighty then, I'm off to dance amongst the daffodils. Oh happy day!

Home Again

I felt like George Bailey in the classic movie It's A Wonderful Life but in reverse as we journeyed to the airport the morning of my flight to California.

Because of the new fallen snow and icy road conditions we crept slowly up hill and dale leaving home, sweet warm home with it's curling stream of woodsmoke rising from the chimney. Everything moving by in slow motion.

"Goodbye little cottage in the woods."

"Goodbye little town just waking up."

"Goodbye you ol' snowplow, thank you."

In little over an hour flying time I was transported one season forward. And then I was saying.....

Hello sunny California suburbs!

Hello shiny white mercury. You make the sun reflect right into my cornea's. It hurts so good!

Hello delicate pink peach blossom, you make me hopeful.

I'm home now feeling refreshed having soaked up a little sunshine and blossoms in my soul and knowing that surely Spring is just around the corner.

If your dreamin' of being transported too with out booking a flight. Let Chris at

Red Gate Farm dazzle you with the bright colors of summer in flowers and veggies. I think I really really want to try some of her green "Envy" zinnias for Spring. I'm dreamin', I hope you are too.

Push

Remember the Machete and Hand Swather in the hillbilly bag of tricks?
Those tools required swing.
Tool #3?





PUSH!
(Tool # 3 includes a free cardio workout)

This darlin' was a sweet deal. I found her propped up in a corner of the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore amongst the cast off sinks, tubs and other miscellaneous donations. Smith and Hawkin didn't survive our current economy. That's sad for a company that consistently produced high quality garden tools.

But for this frugal hillbilly housewife with 50 bucks in her pocket,

I SCORED!

The whir of the blades gently snipping off delicate blades of lawn grass so neatly seemed a mere whisper in comparison to the roaring sound of my neighbors lawn tractor echoing through our holler.

I heart lawn lines left by the mower, truly I do.

Next post: Tool #4 (the best for last)

Like Confetti

Singular little blades of grass twirling and cascading over my shoulder with every swish of the Machete, just like confetti. I kept up this rhythm for a minute or so, took a little breather, and then began again. Before I knew it I was making my way through the jungle. The green, green jungle that aptly describes our little acreage here at Panther Creek Cottage.

Tool #1,The Machete'
(hillybilly weed whacker)

Good rotator cuffs and a gallon of water recommended.
Cleans up those difficult places to make them look like this:

2' grass and weeds whacked down a few pegs.






Wild Oregon Iris
These dainty lovelies escaped the slaughter.

Great Starts

I am feeling under the gun here to get seeds started for spring planting. Using my own el primo cheapo seedling soil I make by scratch that you can find right here, I have three flats of tomato seeds started. I will only use a few mind you. I'm not completely nuts, yet. But it's so great to share starts with friends and gift someone with a nice heirloom tomato variety like Brandywine or Stupice. Since most of us give in to that innate sense of nurturing and coddling over youngun's, who can resist a fresh green tomato plant with all the potential it holds for splendid summer meals or canning. Just one sniff of a young tomato plant and I know I am hooked. Here what was happening in my laundry room a few weeks back. These babies are now relishing life in my new greenhouse, while basil seeds are taking their place in the laundry room.






The necessary cruelty of thinning out the newly sprouted tomato plants.


And I didn't stop there like maybe I should have. I cleaned up some houseplants and now have young starts taking root in water on my kitchen window sill. No, I haven't gone totally berserk. I have enrolled in a basket weaving class at a local farm with a well respected craftwoman in the art, so I am hopeful I will produce my very own wares to contain these new little plantings.







I deviously stole some time away in my shop in all this spring hustle and came up with this little sign using scrap wood, some rusty plumbers tape, rusty wire, and a little paint.





That's right baby, finding time to do something just for fun so it's not all work. Have a Splendid Spring. Happy planning and don't forget to take time to have a little fun too.