Speaking of planning...

My husband and I purchased 15 acres of land recently. There are 37 acres in the tract we bought from and, Lord willing, we hope to buy it all at some point.

We're hoping to have at least one cow and a huge garden in the spring. I am already planning my garden. ;) The Pioneer Woman is in the planning stages, too. I'm not sure I'm as ambitious as she is, but we'll see. I don't know if we'll get raised beds and such in this year. I'm thinking simple tilled rows and simple vegetables will be how we start at the new property. I don't want anything too involved that would require a lot of attention since we don't actually live there.

We'll most likely have a garden here, too. I will definitely grow some herbs. I've been learning to cook more and more with fresh herbs and I have to say I like it! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that even my picky eater enjoys fresh herbs. She particularly loves rosemary.

I am also looking forward to flowers. I have an insatiable and undying love for flowers. I think maybe because a few years ago my sister-in-law suggested I go to the grocery store to buy some cut flowers when I told her I was depressed. She said, "Spend five dollars on yourself and buy some flowers. It'll perk you up." And it did! Looking at those pretty flowers in the vase on my kitchen table did something I can't describe to my spirit and I was almost instantly happier. I should mention that it was the middle of winter. Cold, dreary, and dark! I'm not saying flowers will cure depression, but for me they brightened my world and now I'm hooked! There's nothing better than taking a walk around the yard in the Springtime to see tiny little flowers peeking out of the ground. Instant mood lifter!

I also have an issue to deal with this year. Our property used to be surrounded by pine trees on three sides until this past fall. One of the sides has the power lines and the trees were growing into the lines so they had to be cut down. It nearly sent me over the edge to see those beautiful trees have to go. So now I'm trying to figure out what to put in the bare space. We are putting up a privacy fence between us and the neighbors so I don't know if I want to add some trees on our side of the fence for extra privacy or maybe do a long flower garden along the fence line. Any suggestions?

Growing things is just so rewarding and I always look forward to the spring to plant some new things. During January in Virginia there isn't much to grow so I find myself wistfully dreaming of what's to come. I love when the seed catalogs start arriving! I know, I'm so weird. lol

Some of the things I'm hoping to grow this year are:

• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Zucchini
• Squash
• Spinach, Swiss Chard
• Turnips
• Green Beans
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Chives
• Cilantro

I'm not sure yet what I'll add for flowers. I'm still thinking on that one!