Lavender! My First Harvest

After we got hit with the late blight in my tomato containers last Summer, i had heard on NPR that it might not be a wise thing to replant tomatoes using that same container/soil again. At the time, last year, they just weren't sure how or if this thing might winter over or whatever.... Not wanting to repeat that experience again, i decided to plant hardy Munstead lavender

Last year, planting it so late in the season, it was just a pretty but small set of plants in the container. Now in it's second year it is really coming along!

So pretty...and the bees seem to love it!

I love it too, as it brings back memories of my Grandmother Mary...
I remember hugging her and breathing in this scent...lavender....The color reminds me of her too. (i can hear my friend Kate T laughing as just about everything reminds me of my Grandmother!)

Now i have heard that the local garden experts don't worry too much about the late blight coming back thru the soil. But still i am happy with the decision i made to use this big tub as a lavender garden.

I'm hoping to make some sachets from my own flowers...

The Gifts She Gave

Earlier this week i went for a ride with my daughter Kate to Argyle, New York, to pick up some fresh, organic honey for her shop, at Moseskill Marketplace. The Moseskill Marketplace is a little shop where local artists can show and sell their wares. The shop wasn't officially open for business, but we were allowed to look around and make a few purchases!

As you may know, i LOVE dolls, especially rag and folk dolls. So i fell in love with this terry cloth towel dolly. I think i might embroider some eyes and a mouth on her face.

And here is a close up of the "BooBoo Bunny" (one of a pair) i bought just because i couldn't leave without them! It is made out of a washcloth, and there is a little pocket in the back so that you can slip an ice cube into it and use the bunny to take the sting out of those booboos on little knees and elbows. SO cute!
And i found these lovely little sachets made out of vintage fabric and filled with sweet smelling lavender buds. I had three but gifted my Mother with the nicest one! She loves lavender too!

While we were there we got to visit with Katie's in laws Ken and Diana. We stopped by their home out in the country and had a wonderful time looking at their gardens. Here are a few gifts we came home with....

Fresh snap peas we picked right from the vines. They are so sweet, crisp and delicious, we almost ate the whole bag full once we got into the car! They are so good, i won't even bother to cook them! I'll eat them just as they are.... And Diana's fresh cut lavender...I wish you could smell how wonderful this little bouquet smells...Just like heaven! My Grandmother just loved the scent of fresh lavender....Thank you dear friends for gracing our table and brightening our day!