The First Week of February

 The first week of February brought some pleasant changes in the weather, just about every day began with sunshine. My walking the wheel of the year is much more pleasant when I can step out early and not have to plan a walk around the rain.

Imbolc came on a cool quiet morning bringing a surprise in my garden. Under the bird feeder there is an old planter where seeds from the birds drop. I first noticed a plant growing up in January, I imagine all the rain we had helped what I thought was a new weed until it had a large bud, I suspected a sunflower from a fallen sunflower seed.

Yesterday morning to my delight she opened and sure enough I have a beautiful sunflower growing in an old planter that actually serves to hold up the shepherds hook where the feeders are hanging.

This morning she was open full and greeting the sun, isn't she just beautiful?

I prepared an avocado pit for sprouting today, I had it soaking for 2 days in water, then peeled the outer skin from the pit, rolled it in paper towel and dampened the whole thing, slipped it into a zip close bag and now I wait for it to sprout. 

 Last year it took about 2 weeks to sprout and unfortunately the plant didn't survive too long after I planted it.  This year I am hoping for better results.  Time will tell.  I can feel Spring is in the air and with the passing of Imbolc we are nearer to Spring and I have the urge to get things planted.  I'm going to go slow this year to avoid any physical mishaps that will keep me from tending my plants,  I will most likely keep everything in containers until I feel more confident in my physical ability.  I don't want to injure myself and not be able to take care of my plants.  

Yesterday I had an ultra sound on my carotid arteries and Friday I have an echo cardiogram and the following Friday I see the doctor for my results.  I am hoping I won't need to have another stent put in the other carotid artery. 

I also have an eye exam coming up this month and surely I will need new eyeglasses cause right now I have trouble seeing with my current glasses. 

I am off for a walk later today after I go to the post office, I did the American Cancer Society walk for 31 miles in January which helped get me back into a daily walking routine, which was quite a challenge with all the rainy days we had last month.