Settling In

The usual busy hustle and bustle that is normally our world has finally died down to a much quieter, more peaceful pace. Sigh…. No longer in the fields harvesting flowers from sun up to sunset, and then packing orders on into the night, we now only need to pop into the greenhouses each morning and then again in the evening to cover and uncover all of the baby plants that are snuggled under their protective frost blankets for the winter.

Ranunculus, anemones, icelandic poppies, sweet peas, foxglove and old fashioned pinks are planted in such abundance that I feel a little anxious imagining just how many flowers we will be swimming in come Spring. It is certainly going to be the most beautiful and abundant ones we’ve had so far!

But for now it’s time to rest up and recharge in preparation for the floral insanity looming just out on the horizon. This is the one and only window of the year that we truly get to kick back and take it easy for a bit. I of course am terrible at chilling out, so I’m keeping nice and busy inside with all of the projects and plans that have been sitting dormant through the long growing months of the year.

It has been bitterly cold here this past week. Thankfully we got the last of the dahlia patch dug and tucked into storage just in time! Temps have been hovering in the teens at night and hanging in the 20’s during the day. Super cold for us here in the temperate pacific northwest.

The kids have been bundled up in their winter gear, making sure the chickens have plenty of thawed water, hunting for icicles, skating on frozen puddles, crafting and playing christmas CD’s from the library on repeat all day long. Perfect weather for getting in the holiday spirit.

While we try and avoid the commercial craziness of the holidays, it is always such a joy to have a fresh tree in the house. Just a mile down the road from our house is a u-cut tree farm and the kids wait in anticipation all year long for the day we get to finally stop in and chose our treasure.

Jasper spotted this years tree less than 5 minutes after our arrival and is finally big enough to saw it down, all on his own.

Later this week we’re making up a ton of bouquets for a holiday party in Seattle. I’ve been hunting high and low for fun ingredients to include in the mix and so far have rosehips, pinecones, a dozen types of evergreens, birch and filbert catkins, dusty miller and more.

In addition we have ranunculus and anemones coming up from a grower in California, tulips from just over the border and a big ole batch of garden roses coming in from Peterkort in Oregon. While it may be nearly winter, we’re trying to source the flowers as close to home as possible. I can’t wait to get my hands in all of the crazy flowery goodness!

In anticipation of the holidays, we’re doing a killer giveaway on the blog later this week. I don’t want to spoil the surprise but I will say this, it would be the number one thing I would gift to everyone I know.

So, be sure to keep your eyes peeled late Thursday/early Friday for the details and a chance to win something super, super awesome!!!