This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

The Simple Things…

April 21st, 2012

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand,
Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”

-Eleanora Duse (Italian Actress. 1858-1924)





The dandelions have been blooming beautifully in the driveway and earlier this week they set their seed heads. Brings back memories. Who didn’t LOVE blowing the seeds off of a dandelion when they were little?

What simple thing are you enjoying today?

16 Comments to “The Simple Things…”
  1. Jennifer Fisk on April 21, 2012 at 6:23 am

    You are so far ahead of downeast Maine. On Wednesday, I was able to dig a mess of dandelions and hopefully there will be enough to do so again today. Even in the sunniest warmest areas the dandelions aren’t even budding yet. That would be the simple thing I’d be enjoying today.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

    • Susy on April 21, 2012 at 6:26 am

      These are the ones in our driveway, they just set seed this week. Most of the rest are still in bud form. I think these get some serious radiant heat from the gravel & all day sun.

      We’ve been enjoying dandelion greens too, so good! Keep thinking of digging some roots to roast as well since we love the tea but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. tj on April 21, 2012 at 8:20 am

    …Oh my goodness, these photos are spectacular! :o)

    …Our dandelions are all gone, all we’ve got left are spent empty stems.

    …I’ve got a climbing rose that is in full bloom right now, it grows up the end of the lean-to on our big barn and when I go out to feed in the morning I have to walk right by it. I marvel at it everyday, it’s such a simple thing and I love it.

    …Have a lovely day Susy!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  3. Heather on April 21, 2012 at 8:32 am

    I have always loved dandelions. Now they get fed to the chickens, so I love them even more.

    Reply to Heather's comment

  4. Terry on April 21, 2012 at 8:46 am

    I love dandelions! They are pretty and free food!

    Reply to Terry's comment

  5. mistresseve on April 21, 2012 at 10:02 am

    Today I plan on enjoying some simple quiet time with my family. Life has been so crazy busy lately.
    By the way, I was just reading your posts from the last few days. I too have a thing for hosta. So beautiful, so many varieties, so easy to care for. But what I love the most is the way they so gracefully accept the abuse of division (and drought, and too much sun or rain and-oops-being run over with a lawnmower). No need to wait for those tiny seedlings to grow-divide the mature ones you have, and you will double, triple or even quadruple their numbers instantly. In a couple of years you can do it again, and the hummingbirds and bees will love you for it!

    Reply to mistresseve's comment

  6. Isabel @ Fennel and Fern on April 21, 2012 at 10:31 am

    I had an amazing forced dandelion salad with ham hock a few weeks ago when out for supper with a friend. The dandelion was sweet and spicy all at once. I’m forcing some dandelions myself now from plants I dug up at the allotment.

    Reply to Isabel @ Fennel and Fern's comment

  7. elaine on April 21, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I didn’t realise so many people cultivated dandelions – I regard them as a weed and dig them out wherever possible.

    Reply to elaine's comment

  8. Sincerely, Emily on April 21, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    I only found a few dandelions in my yard this year, but I was able to get the seed heads and a few more from friends so I can grow more next year. This morning I picked up a truck load of compost and have spread it around the fruit trees. Next, spreading it around in the vegetable garden and what ever is left – around plants and herbs. Love the photos of your dandelions seed heads. I think I liked picking the yellow flowers better than blowing the puff ball. We had a plant with a really big puff ball on it when we lived in WI, it was about 7-8 time the size of the dandelion puff. I don’t know what the plant was, but we used to pick them and use hairspray to help keep it intact so we could bring it inside to enjoy longer.

    Reply to Sincerely, Emily's comment

  9. Karen on April 21, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    The other day, I was driving my daughter home from school and excitedly pointed out the field of dandilion puffs. “Oh, look! Isn’t it wonderful?!” Of course, she’s 13, and I got an eyeroll. But it was followed by a small smile, so I think she’ll come back to me soon.

    Reply to Karen's comment

  10. Maybelline on April 21, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    Air conditioning. It’s possibly the very best invention EVER.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

    • Susy on April 21, 2012 at 7:51 pm

      Mr Chiots completely agrees with you on that one!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. KimH on April 21, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    Today, I took a much needed nap… a very simple thing indeed, but one I only get once or twice a year..

    I love dandelions and I still love blowing on the puff balls.. especially when I’ve got one of my sorta grands with me..

    One of my favorite pictures I took was of my oldest daughter, who was about 26 at the time, & one of my sorta grands when she was about 3 in the front yard blowing dandelion seeds to Kingdom Come.. ♥

    Reply to KimH's comment

  12. Joan on April 22, 2012 at 7:05 am

    Our dandelions just bloomed for the first time yesterday. You are definitely a bit ahead of mid-coast Maine!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  13. josie crafter at Homemade and Happy on April 22, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    Such wonderful photos !
    And a perfect quote – thank you for sharing :-)

    Reply to josie crafter at Homemade and Happy's comment

  14. Blair on April 23, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Watching my chickens preen, hearing birds chirp, planting the garden.

    Reply to Blair's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Friday Favorite: The Garden in April

April is that month here in my zone where everything seems to burst forth overnight. The tiny seedlings start to...

Close