Yesterday it was starting to get warmer out. It got to about 60 degrees. It was great.

I went out and planted some lettuce up by the house … also spinach and some other greens. Then I took some pots and planted cauliflower and broccoli … put them close up by the house on the south side. In Iowa we could safely get another snow storm before spring. So I am not starting my big garden yet.

I have a big wooden table right outside my dining room door. So yesterday I gathered my clay pots up and filled each with potting soil and then planted herbs in them. I planted black cohosh and St. Johns wart. Also Angelica and lavender.

I had a package of lemon balm seeds so I planted them in a pot to give away as a gift to a friend. I have lemon balm aplenty in my yard and it will come up again this spring. It is great in ice tea in the summer. I just stick it in the tea after I have rolled some leaves up tight and released the oil. Just fresh leaves — you don’t boil it — just throw it in.

Anyway, I put the potted herbs in a box and brought them inside. The weather is too cold this morning for herbs. It’s probably back down to 40 this morning. I will just bring them out when it is warm … until it stays warm and I can leave them out in the sunshine.

I loved going barefoot outside and feeling the soil beneath my feet. When Papa got home from work, I was resting in his chair holding my hands away from the chair, as they were black with dirt. He looked at me as if to say, “It’s spring. Praise the Lord.” I brought him out and showed him what I had been doing and then he started to pull some weeds away from our apple tree. I went down and looked at the rhubarb and it isn’t even starting to come up … it’s still really early spring here.

My heart is so full of emotion this morning. I long to see my old fashion sister roses bloom.

I pull close to the kerosene burner as if I am afraid to let go of it and embrace spring. I had to be very diligent with watching the burner and conserving heat … can I let go of that burden now and go on to a glorious time of spring? How many times adversity has blown hard upon us … and God has brought us through. I never even realize at times that I am under His marvelous grace until He has set me safely upon the shore. Some people laughed at us because we only used 25 bucks worth of gas heat in one month. Why did you pull a stunt like that? It wasn’t a stunt … it’s called survival. Hello?

Today I plan to fix up my window sills of spring. I have some little clay pots and I will plant seeds in them … just to watch them grow. I put plastic wrap over the tops of my seeded pots to keep the moisture in. Probably today I will plant poppies and some other flowers in the little window sill pots.

Cucumbers … I can never get them to grow in pots. I just plant them from seeds when the ground is warm and stays warm. Also basil … it has to be warm and stay warm for basil to grow for me.

One more Item and then I have to get Mary up for school. Last year I bought these garlic seeds. They looked like a little head of white popcorn. I planted the seeds last fall and they are now coming up. Usually I plant bulbs. Well, I have seen seeds … but these are like little kernels.