Marching Forward

March is a month of snow here in the Great Frozen North of MN. It is an especially difficult month for those of us Minnesotans who are active (yes, I still consider myself active) in the bloggy world, because we have friends from all over. Those friends from warmer areas are out there blogging pictures of their gardens starting to wake, and the ugly green monster called jealousy rears it's ugly head. I look at my 'puter, seeing pics of green little spikes coming up out of the soil (or worse, actual blooms), then look out my window and see snow...snow....snow.

On the other hand, the first few garden chores of the season can be done now, and I am gearing up to get them done. I can start some broccoli, and onion seeds. I have been fussing with the garden plans, figuring out how much I can grow and where. I have been looking at lots and lots of garden porn. This year, we are planning to add some fruit plants to our little garden adventures, so I have lots to think about. Where to put the (free!!!) strawberry plants, where to put the (free!!) raspberries, how many blueberry bushes can I fit without things looking crazy.... ya know, all those wonderful, daydreamy thoughts of planning your garden. I love the struggle to find the balance between pretty flowers and tasty veggies and fruits. I want my little town lot to have the best of both worlds, and I think I am doing pretty well so far.

Sometimes I fantasize about taking out all the trees in the yard and replanting with fruit trees. I think about how great it would be to have an empty yard where I could start from scratch and use up all the "wasted" space. I would never do it, but it's so nice to think about the fun things I could do if I didn't have to work around what is already here.

Well, I suppose Mr. Barefoot gets an opinion, but let's not tell him that, huh? I almost have him convinced that the yard is completely mine.

I am not letting these snowy, cold days go to waste. I am using my time to declutter Barefoot Manor in preparation for the summer months, when my focus will be more on the outside of the house and I won't have the interest or time to do much indoors. I have made some significant progress, and hope to have the whole house in a condition to pretty much take care of itself by spring. Yeah, I gots me some big dreams!

I have also extracted promises from Mr. Barefoot for 4 new garden boxes, some trellises, and a squirrel proof bird feeder, so I am really looking forward to the day that the snow goes away!