Ladybug Wisdom

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insight. Proverbs 18:15 msg

I love to learn new things. Books are helpful and the internet is nice to have around but to learn how to do something from someone can be very special.

I have a favorite pottery place I like to visit. Sara has been cranking out pottery for over 20 years. I do not question her prices and I save up to purchase them. I am not just buying a mug or bakeware I am buying art. If we visit her shop and she's turning the wheel its a special day.  If they are offering homemade punch or coffee in handmade mugs its icing on the cake. Sure I can run to a chain store and buy a mug for $1 but when I hold my $15 one from Sara I remember the purchase, I remember the story of where she gets her clay and how she mixes it, how she showed us how you make the handle and how to glaze. She shows you the kiln. I wash my pottery with care because it isn't cheap and I appreciate the hard work that went into making it.

I seriously doubt I will ever be a potter like Sara. I will guarantee you though we are surrounded by people like her with knowledge we don't have. People who will want to share their knowledge and want us to share ours with them.

It looks as if spring is finally here in Kentucky. I am actually sitting outside writing this. The chickens are foraging, the birds are coming and going from the feeders, the squirrels are waiting for me to go inside so they can come down from their trees. So here's a little tidbit of advice from me. The picture below is of one of our raised beds. We planted the onions last fall and covered them through the winter. About 6 weeks ago we planted the spinach in the back by the onions, the kale in the front and the leafy light green lettuce. We cut and it grows over night it seems. The key to success with this crop is placement. This spot gets morning sun but during the strongest sunshine it's shaded. By the times its too hot for these plants we will have eaten them up and planted something that loves the heat of summer. In late summer we can plant spinach and kale again and harvest it as long as temps arevt lower than 20 degrees. We are giving serious thought to trying to winter gardening.