It is cloudy and cool this morning, dark and quiet, and I’m smiling because we had a bit more rain in the night. The world smells good and fresh and alive. Bear is pottering in the kitchen making us toasted egg rolls for brekky, and we are excited because Spring is nearly here.
Seed packets are scattered all over the dining room table, waiting for me to finish up writing assignments and decide what to put in the ground first: rosellas, sandpaper figs, or dragonfruit, ground hog radish, mouse melons, or strawberry beans, perhaps spiky cucumbers or curley dock. Gardening is my relaxation, the thing that grounds me after hours spent over a keyboard, and I’m looking forward to this weekend when I can dig in the dirt and plant all sorts of good things.
Our Kalahari Red goats are doing beautifully in spite of the drought and we’re thankful. Five of our young ones went to a new home last week and they’re now happy as clams, settled right in and growing like weeds.
All the birds are doing well too. The chickens LOVE their new palace Bear built them. It looks more like a beautiful art installation than a chook pen. Bear may be a farmer now, but you can’t take the artist out of him. The ducks have settled nicely into their new pen as well, luxuriating in daily baths in their new large water trough. And the geese have gone broody! I’m so excited to see goslings toddling about in a month or so.
This week we finally got to start eating from our gardens and it’s been marvelous! Snow peas, Napa cabbage, and asparagus, radishes, kale, and silverbeet, and yesterday I spotted the first of our Purple-podded Dutch peas. I can’t wait to shell bowls of those beauties.
This weekend we’re fencing in two orchards and planting apples, plums, assorted citrus, hazelnuts, grape vines, and chestnuts. When they’re all done we’ll move in families of ducks and geese to keep the grass and bugs in check. Bit by bit things are coming together and it feels wonderful.
What projects are you working on around your house? xo
Lovely signs of the new season!
I’m so glad you like them too, Tracy. 🙂
I will be baking! Have fun planting the orchard 🙂
Thank you, @tandysinclair:disqus 🙂 We got drenched and covered in mud, but it was fun. 🙂
What, what an exciting project, Krista! You seem to have a way with plants, too 🙂
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I am learning about gardening through lots of mistakes, @GourmetGetaway:disqus 🙂 Once I realized that gardening will always be a series of losses and triumphs I really started enjoying it. 🙂
It sounds like everything is lovely on the farm…happy times indeed.
It is a beautiful time of year, @karenbackroadjournal:disqus . So much life and growth. 🙂
We had an emergency pipe repair for water, then had the driveway installed in the winter seal coated. Working to restore the lawn that the lawn guy’s didn’t seem to know how to repair. Harvesting our first-crop of blueberries; also tomatoes and basil. . .there’s a hint of fall in the air. Time to stock the larder. . . Have a great week! Lovely photos today. Hugs. J.
You’ve been so busy, @disqus_WseMqaTPwi:disqus 🙂 How wonderful to get all those projects crossed off your list. Your harvest sounds delicious. 🙂
Wow Krista – sounds like you have a busy weekend planned. Have fun 🙂
We did, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 It was fun to work together in spite of the storm and mud. 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you, @adribarrcrocetti:disqus 🙂
What a beautiful way to start the day… love that spring is on its way.
I’m so excited too, @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 It’s lovely to see the brown turning to green. 🙂
Beautiful signs of spring!! While I’m happy you are getting spring, I’m not so happy to be losing our summer as we head into fall. I’m every so lucky here in San Diego as my summer will really last for a long time, and our winter is more like everyone else’s fall, but I do so treasure these summer days. We could use some of your rain here in California too! I love that shot of the drops on the flower.
I’ve been thinking of you so often as we both suffer the severe lack of water, @kimlivlife:disqus XO I hope you get heaps of good, sink-into-the-earth rain very soon.
How lovely to have your own chickens and I’d love to see a photo of their new palace. Your vegetables look really good and I’m glad you can see signs of Spring. It’s been so cold, wet and gloomy in Sydney I’m not feeling like Spring is as close as it is xx
Bear is almost done the chook palace, Charlie, and I will take pics for you as soon as its done. 🙂
Oh yay for more rain. 🙂 I was talking with my uncle last night, he said that we are in for another drought. I didnt realise you lot had been suffering already.
Projects around my house, I have the most amazing material from Vietnam I plan to cover 2 foot stools with, and I really should finish the painting for my lounge room. The days are just flying, so not getting to all the lovely things Id like too. Anyways, I do hope you are having a wonderful weekend. xoxo
Yes, it’s been wicked dry here, @disqus_o9c9vkchcC:disqus . So thankful for a good rain this weekend. Your projects sound delightful and inspiring! I hope you will share pics when you’re done. 🙂 xo
So fun to read of your
excitement for spring as
we begin anticipating our
autumn! As my girl gets
ready to head back to
California for her second
year of college, she is a
bit mournful that she will
once again “miss” the fall,
since they don’t really have
seasons in Southern Cali!
I think I’d miss the rhythm
of a year without them.
Gorgeous pics!!!
xo Suzanne
I sure feel your girl’s pain at missing out on fall, @suzannewalcher:disqus I felt the same way when I lived in California, and was so happy to move further north so I could have a real Autumn. 🙂 xo
all sounds so gorgeous, we’re eating from our veggie garden as well. Sam and our workaway guy are fixing up the house next door, I’m working on my book and keeping the kids entertained from June to Sept for school hols arghhhh, sending love xxx
I’m so happy you have your workaway guy to help lighten your load and speed up progress, Lisa. XOXO You guys work SO hard and I’m thrilled that you have some new support. 🙂 XO
I’m working on project old people. There’s no way to keep an angry, demented woman happy but I keep trying. 🙂
The farm sounds like such a peaceful place.