Daily Notes- January 2nd

Sunshine again, here in Maine.  Melting whatever froze overnight.  A pattern.

I had gathered this photo from one of the online free images websites for the holidays but it didn't get used.  I think it might just have wanted to wait until January.  I love the old bowl--possibly wooden- the mosses and the candles.  Looks like January feels.  Promise of green growth but still needing light around 4 pm.  I need to remind myself to collect mosses for a garden bowl.

Christmas trees are on the end of driveways.  If we had had one--ours would have had all the branches cut off (here in the house) and then had the branches piled onto the compost bins or around plant roots that need a bit of protection.  Not on the roadside.  I might get G to drag one back here (from the neighbor's houses) to our house and garden.  Waste Not.  Want Not.  My Grandmother's Wisdom.

I cleared the wicker table in the vestibule this morning to make room for the asparagus fern that is still in the garage.  Soon, it will be too cold there.  The vestibule stays around 30 to 40 during even the coldest days.  The geraniums are still blooming out there--plenty of windows for heat and sun.  It's actually more like a greenhouse than a vestibule.  Love that word.  The three fig trees (heavily pruned) are overwintering there as well.  We are getting too old to carry them into the Magic Attic (47 degrees) for the Winter.  My figs are zone 6.  We are zone 5 here in Maine.

I watered everything-- the citrus is full of tiny buds that will open into flowers and perfume the air with their sweet smell very soon.  I am spraying with an insecticidal soap spray.  The citrus gets mites so easily and then drops all it's leaves and the tiny fruit.  Some leafy being is growing on the surface of the soil in the citrus pot.  Time will tell if it's a flowering something or a weed.  Acting as a mulch right now.

Made two kinds of sauce last night for supper.  One that G likes and one the J likes.  We even like different pasta.  And different cheese.  Total opposites.

The news gets more upsetting as this government stalemate continues.  So, we will stop watching.  Just keep MSNBC on low volume for Riley.  Best tranquilizer ever.