Author Archives: amytyndall

I recently read the book Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers. It is full of gorgeous arrangements that challenge me to move beyond my basic mason jar bouquets. The most eye-opening concept in the book for me, however, was the idea of blenders. Using a flower or piece of foliage with more than one colorContinue reading “Blenders”

This afternoon we got home from church and I saw a very large dark-colored swallowtail nectaring on my Garden Phlox. It has been a while since I was completely fluent in butterfly identification skills. At first it seemed to be a Spicebush Swallowtail, or maybe a Pipevine Swallowtail. But the underside just didn’t match upContinue reading “Mimics”

For a music-loving person, I rarely listen to music, or at least I haven’t for the last several years. I find it nearly impossible to do anything while music is playing. It’s like my mind just doesn’t have the space for it. But today I have the rare treat of a day at home alone.Continue reading “Guitar”

When Luke was younger, he didn’t want to play baseball, because what if he got hit with the ball? This year he finally joined a team. He seems to be over his fear of getting hit. He now has three marks on his face, all from getting hit with the ball while playing catch, whetherContinue reading “War Zone”

Yesterday evening we ended up eating pretty early and still had several hours of daylight left in the day. I asked Lydia if she would like to go with me to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield to walk the only major trail there we haven’t hiked yet. Of course she said yes, so off we wentContinue reading “Womanly Uplands Trail”

Although we had a very wet spring here in southwest Missouri, the last couple of weeks have been very dry. On Monday we had a very light sprinkle. It was really more of a mist, and it happened while the sun was shining. It wasn’t enough rain to water any plants, but it was enoughContinue reading “Enough Rain”

Yesterday evening Luke and I were out in the backyard with Jacques. Luke was tossing the frisbee in the air, and Jacques was trying to catch it in his mouth. He succeeded a few times. This was pretty fun to capture on slow-motion video. I love seeing his long fur shift around as he moves.

My cut flower garden is right in front of my common milkweed patch. In hindsight, maybe this wasn’t the best plan, since common milkweed spreads by runners under the ground. I am constantly pulling tiny little milkweed plants up from the cut flower garden. But in any case, the two sections of the garden areContinue reading “Cut Flower Surprise”

Today began a new tradition here at Tyndall Acres. It seems like gourd washing should be one of those old-fashioned farm chores that only happens every so often: barn-raising, lard-rendering, candle-making, etc. For the last couple of years, we have purchased gourds at a local farm for Lydia to decorate and enter in the fair.Continue reading “First Annual Gourd Washing Day”