Rainy Day Excursion Part 2

Con't. from yesterday!

After our visit to Chocolate Flower Farm

we made our way North to

Cultus Bay Nursery



Cultus Bay Farm House

From the Website's FAQ page


"How Old Is the House?

The Victorian – style farmhouse was built by my husband Tom. He started it in 1984and it’s been a gradual process towards finishing. Since he followed old building styles, many people think it’s really an old home. He built it all – even the windows!"



Strolling among the beautiful garden finery
dispite the pouring rain.



As you walk thru the delightful maze of plants,
you think you are walking thru a garden
but in fact, all of these plants are in pots that
sit on benches throughout the nursery.



The Knot Garden



Just as the clouds covered the early summer sky,
so does this cloud of honeysuckle vine
cover it's trellis.



Our day ended on a happy, soggy note.

We came home with a wagon load of

new goodies for our gardens

and a new favorite for our

garden purchases.

If you are ever in the area, I encourage you
to take a trip to Whidbey Island and
visit these lovely nurseries. If not in person,
go to their website and enjoy the next best thing!
~*~
"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"
Isaiah 55:10

A Rainy Day Excursion! (Part 1)

T'was a very rainy birthday celebration

for Farmer's Daughter #1

on our day trip to Whidbey Island.

We checked out some delightful

garden nurseries.

The Grand Girls' first ferry ride



Welcome to Chocolate Flower Farm (click for link)




Big umbrella for big rain!





Taking shelter while petting the
piggy garden greeter.




Most of the plants at Chocolate Flower Farm are
chocolate colored, chocolate scented, have a chocolate name..
well, you get the idea...



Anyone know the name of this plant?
Looks like a foxglove with wee chocolate
colored flourets.



How about this tree with blooms
that look like white roses hanging
from the branches?





Iris





Exotic!



Pepper, the cat!







~

Please come back tomorrow for the

rest of the story!

~*~

"Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,

and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."

Leviticus 26:4



The Lighthouse



Sometimes, the Gentleman Farmer and I

like to go 'adventuring' to nearby

places that we have not been before.

Saturday, being a bit gray and blustery,

we journeyed to the little islands

Vashon and Maury.

The Lighthouse
Pt. Robinson Park
Maury Island





Caretakers Cottage




Barn swallows sail above us
as we stroll the walk between cottages.




This odd contrivance, once used to pull boats
on and off the beach, now plays the part of
picnic table.
It still rides the rails that travel down to the shore.



This charming little swing
(which the Gentleman Farmer said he thought he could make me one of)
sat at the bottom of a cliff that was an avalanche
of blackberry blossoms.
A lovely way to ponder the day.

~*~

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 8:12





Where can I be found?

Just so you don't think I have stopped blogging here ~

with warmer weather with us at last,

you will probably find me in The Garden,

or cooking up something in The Pantry,

or perhaps stitching up something for those

I love in The Sewing Room.

I am also busy taking care of 'the girls and boys'

out in The Barnyard ~

Please stop by and say 'hello' won't you?

I do enjoy our visits so!

~*~

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. "

Selected verses from Proverbs 31

Beholding Beauty

...at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens.

(This is a shared tradition with my eldest

daughter and now her daughters, too!)

~*~

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple."

Psalms 27:4

Joining the Homemaking Link-Up

at Raising Homemakers

Cottage Garden Party #1 at Fishtail Cottage

Deborah Jean's Farmgirl/guy Friday!

Little things...



...have been keeping me busy the last couple of weeks.

Last weekend, Gentleman Farmer and I traveled

to Puyallup, WA. home of the Western Washington

State Fair, one of the largest in the country.

We just had to go watch our granddaughter play

her violin with the...

South Sound Suzuki Violin Group!



Top Left ~ Little Miss R. playing her solo
Top Right ~ Miss R. showing her two new teeth
Bottom Left ~ Miss R. and Miss M. taking a rest in the Floral Barn
Bottom Right ~ Miss R. playing with the group







Miss R. showing Grandpa her loose tooth.







Oops! How'd that camel get in here?

(Camels are one of my favorite animals! I have
never seen one at the fair before, so just had to
get a photo of her!)


Back at the Farm, I have been keeping busy with many little
food preserving and culturing projects.





Fermenting!
Clockwise from top left ~
Red Cabbage Sauerkraut's, Sourdough Starter,
Ginger Beer, Apple Vinegar



The Sauerkraut was made at our church's

Back To Basics class.

Trying my hand at Sourdough starter again.

Last years attempt was a flop so we'll see what

happens this time!

Thought I would try apple vinegar ~ ran across the

recipe when I was reading about the Ginger Beer

at Down--to--Earth Blog.

I love Ginger Ale but rarely buy it and again

thought I would give this a try.

Drying Apples

Apple chips are a great healthy snack ~

perfect for lunches!

~*~

Those are some of the little things

that I have been doing.

What little things have you been up to?

~~*~~

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much"

Luke 16:10

~*~

Joining Deborah Jean for

Farmgirl Friday.