Der Bauerngarten

 

The much loved Farmer Garden in the Tyrol, Northern Italy.

From the book by Brigitte Griessmair and Anneliese Kompatscher "Vielgeliebter Bauerngarten"

No matter how small, a Bauerngarten always includes a few flowers.

Gardens of the South Tyrol,  Northern Italy,  are the pride and joy of the Farmer's wife

 There is a distinct division of labor, she is in charge of the "House, Garden,  Spinning and Feathered Animals".

He is in charge of "Field, Forest and Barnyard".

All Tyroler gardens have one thing in common; No matter how small or how large they are always surrounded by a fence, usually a picket fence.  Free ranging chickens, rabbits, goats  and deer make quick work out of a newly planted garden.

Gardens are not planted until the "Three Ice Kings" have come, usually around the middle of May.

Space is limited and so is the diversity of plants.  Seeds are saved from year to year.  One thing you won't find in a Farmers Garden are benches or unnecessary decorative objects.  You will, however, find a barrel or some other container to collect life-giving rain water.

 If the terrain allows, gardens are either square or rectangular in shape.  They are never attached to the house but are always nearby.

And sometimes gardens have to be cultivated where the terrain is difficult.

My vegetable garden is open to occasional marauders.  I'm thinking about enclosing it with a picket fence.

It's going to be a while before my garden will look like this again.

Die Drei Eisheiligen  (Three Ice Kings) are coming this weekend. 

Three's company

 

You remember Clyde ?

He's the one who lost his mate Lola recently. 

He was very sad and kept calling for her.  

I finally found a company who would send an Emden gosling.  

In the meantime Clyde began acting very strange.

Clyde is in full mating mode (red eyes) and is courting a Canadian Goose.

Two days ago, five little goslings dropped from the embankment and into the pond.

Clyde immediately took over. 

Clyde insists that he is the Father. 

Now the real Father has appeared.

 All parents watch over the little goslings.  

Will one of the goslings be all white?  

According to an article written in 1914, such a thing has happened.  

In the meantime my Auriculas are beginning to bloom.  

I have waited 2 years. 

Geraniums are ready to go outside. 

Spring has really come. 

Take care dear friends, 

Gina 

Sweet Peas

 There is still time to get Sweet Peas started. 

  My seeds will be planted this week.

At least 2 to 3 weeks before planting start germinating seeds in a plastic bag.

  Place moistened paper towel and seeds into plastic bag. 

 Keep top open and place by window.

Check seeds a few times and rinse them in cold water  (to prevent  mildew) and return to plastic bag.  After  about 2 weeks your seeds will have sprouted and they are ready to be planted.  Sprouts look very tender but they are sturdy and are easily handled. 

"Wiltshire Ripples", everyone's favorite

 

It is the "odoratus"  and "fragantissima" varieties which have the most heavenly scent.  
Among the most fragrant Sweet Peas are the blue varieties.

Sweet peas love to be paired with other garden flowers.  

and Fruit

"Molly Rilestone"  maybe my most favorite Sweet Pea.

Have a wonderful week dear friends.
Gina

Happy Easter

 Happy Easter

Hope you have an extra special day.

Wishing you health and happiness.

Gina

Brigitta knits Baby Hats.

 

My Sister Brigitta knits Baby hats.  

You say what's so special about that?

What is special is that she has knit almost 900 of them. 

And she has knit over 400 hats for the Homeless. 
 
You see, she belongs to a hospital group by the name of
"Healthy Circle."

They usually travel to far off places but you know what happened to that. 

Now that is not the end of the story. 

Brigitta, my Sister, is an expert Lace Maker

Brigitta is called upon to identify lace for Museums. 

Only a few Island of Burano Lace Makers remember these patterns.  

It has become a lost art. 

 Brigitta made this " 's Gravenmoer"  Lace Fan with silk threads from Germany.

Brigitta has published 5 books about lace making.

Her books contain original patterns which she herself has designed.

This Lace Fan requires 200 bobbins.

From her books, easy to follow (for a lace maker) instructions for one of her original designs.

Brigitta is proficient in many Lace styles, such as Russian Tape Lace, Schneeberger, Torchon, Bedfordshore, Milanese, Tatting and more.

Brigitta has many jeweled bobbins.  These plain bobbins are easier to work with when she needs so many.   The painted bobbin in the middle,  marks the only thread that is different.  It is called "gimp" a heavier thread.

My Sister, Brigitta, is a year older than I.  While growing up in East Germany we were taught many skills at home and in school. 

Those skills have served us well allowing us to pursue whatever art form appealed to us.

Gina

Note:  My Sister's lace instruction books are available from her Vendor.  Please contact Trudy Scholten,

 email lacysusanco@gmail.com



Hours and hours for naught.

 

Hours and hours of work

and nothing to show for it.

Broken pieces from large Mural.

I can't replace the broken pieces.

The background was hand mixed, it will never look right. 

On the same day, and at the same post office, I mailed 5 packages.  

Three packages had broken tiles, one package was 2 weeks late, but unscathed

and one package is still lost after 3 weeks.  

This has never happened.

What is going on at the Post Office?

Hope your week is turning out to be better than mine. 

Gina