On the first day of May, I was greeted by snowflakes tumbling softly through the peaceful morning. The grass had warmed enough during the past week that the flakes there turned to dew, but the rough patch of burdock leaves nearby gently gathered the flakes, creating gossamer mounds that resembled clumps of thistledown.

We are back to chilly weather here in northeast Wisconsin. I'm glad I didn't put the cold weather gear away quite yet. We had to pull the frost tender seedlings out of the greenhouse, as we don't heat the greenhouse and the overnight temps dropped into the 20s, which would have killed the tender plants.

Some local greenhouses have opened, but I'm in no rush to plant. We'll be put in some cold tolerant crops soon, but recent years have had freezing conditions to the end of May and even into June. As such, I always have a backup plan to protect cold sensitive crops until then. Our first fall frost dates have shifted a bit later most years, so we usually gain a bit of time at the end of the season compared to "average" conditions.

My husband and eldest son (mostly August V) built new cold frames for the garden. Our old ones lasted nearly 2 decades, which was a pretty good run. The new cold frames will be part of my strategy to protect plants from frost, as well as starting with planting in the garden beds that are on higher ground.

I was talking to Duncan this week about what he's learning in massage school, and he noted that he was surprised (somewhat) about how many people had stiff and flat feet. (As part of his training, he works with the public during clinic hours.)

In retrospect, given how many people spend most of their time in shoes, it's not all the surprising. It's of special interest to Duncan and me because we've been working on my feet. A couple years ago, my feet started getting really sore. My chiropractor said it was due to connective tissue loosening with age, and suggested I do towel grabs with my toes, and wear shoes more. (I much prefer going barefoot to wearing shoes.)

Foot massages helped, along with ankle exercises I do while brushing my teeth, but I got the biggest relief from standing heel raises and drops on the stairs. By combining different strategies, I've greatly improved my foot comfort - without adding to Duncan's list of people with stiff feet. Baby steps, but steps nonetheless.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Protect what’s tender. Whether it’s seedlings, routines, or your own energy, use simple safeguards (like cold frames or lighter workloads) during unpredictable conditions.
• Plan for the “not yet.” Just because the calendar says spring doesn’t mean the season has settled — patience now prevents losses later.
• Strengthen from the ground up. Pay attention to feet, balance, and mobility; small daily exercises build long-term stability.
• Layer your strategies. Combine approaches — physical support, practice, and adaptation — for better results than relying on any one fix.
• Take the next small step. Progress often comes in modest increments, but those steps carry you forward all the same.

Resilience grows when we protect what’s vulnerable and strengthen what supports us — one small step at a time.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This week's featured articles...

We are on the home stretch for pruning in the orchards after multiple weather delays. Our most recent cold snap has bought us a little time, keeping the trees from leaving out entirely. In this article, I discuss the different types of pruning tools and when to use them.

Our lilacs aren't quite ready yet, but I see my friends farther south enjoying these lovely blooms, so I figured it's time to share the lilac jelly recipe. (Don't forget to add these and other edible flowers to your yard and garden this year.)

Hair and skin tonic, adrenal booster, bone builder,  gout healer and more. What is it? Stinging nettle, and early in the season is the best time to gather the greens. You can learn more about stinging nettle here.

Mother's Day Sale!

Use coupon code "MOM26" to get 20% off of your purchase of Never Buy Bread Again. I'll ship within 48 hours of receiving your order, so get them in ASAP for delivery before next weekend. These are the foolproof recipes that our family uses daily to make everything from easy sandwich bread to pancakes.