Well, halfway through "official" spring, it has finally sprung in Maine. Coldest, longest, snowiest winter I can remember in my brief life, that's for sure. I think it's really only been warm enough for Dad to sit outside a handful of days so far. As a matter of fact, this past Memorial Day weekend was the first time we were able to keep the screen door open it was so warm out. Prior to this we have still maintained the heat in the house. Yes your blood thins as you get older and become less active, Dad being the prime example of this.
Needless to say with winter a somewhat distant memory (they did get a light dusting of snow up in the "county" over the weekend), preparations for all things spring and summer have been keeping everyone (me) busy. The lawn is back to weekly mowing, the flower beds are riddled daily with pluckable weeds and the asparagus bed, now in it's 6th year (?), continues to produce tasty Flintsone size sprouts of delightful yumminess.
I upgraded my grill this spring. With all the cooking we do and trying to keep as much as what we eat unprocessed and homemade it made sense. Everyone thinks I'm crazy and Dad laughs knowing it was only an excuse to get a bigger, better grill. He may or may not be right about that one!
We lost another chicken this past spring, this time while I was away on vacation. Nothing like hanging at an airport for a layover when you get the text at 7:30 in the morning that your chick is dead. My brother, who had been watching my parents, felt horribly guilty, thinking he had done something wrong. He hadn't. If you don't know the signs or what to look for, it just happens.
That left us with only two chickens. So I went out and got six more baby chicks. State law requires they sell six minimum. I guess that minimum requirement deters irresponsible parents who think it's cute to get their kids baby chickens, bunnies, etc, for Easter. It makes sense to me.
We have had these little ones for almost a month now. They are the same as the big girls, so they are all Easter eggers, as they're called, for the pastel colored eggs they lay. So far so good. The mistakes made last year are sure to not be repeated.
Now, Dad will have eight chickens to talk to when he goes outside this summer. I'm hoping this time next year to be able to give away eggs to friends and family.
We've made some improvements and additions to all the flower beds this year (flower garden photos to follow in a later blog).
I am determined to have a successful vegetable garden; unlike last year, where I cheaped out, didn't till anything, didn't add any nutrients and just stuck some veggies in the ground. No this year's bounty will be fruitful with rutabaga, kale, arugula, beans, green pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, red lettuce, green cabbage, butternut & buttercup squash, yukon yellow potatoes and three tomato plants. I try tomatoes every year and am usually disappointed. What allows us to not need an air conditioner in the house does not bode well for tomatoes who like it hot.
Spring is busy. There is so much to do. So much to prepare for. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day between this and that. PJ posted a photo of his dinner, asparagus and filet minon, noting the asparagus came from his sister's garden. No it didn't. It came from Dad's garden. I'm just staying with Mom and Dad, trying to maintain.
Needless to say with winter a somewhat distant memory (they did get a light dusting of snow up in the "county" over the weekend), preparations for all things spring and summer have been keeping everyone (me) busy. The lawn is back to weekly mowing, the flower beds are riddled daily with pluckable weeds and the asparagus bed, now in it's 6th year (?), continues to produce tasty Flintsone size sprouts of delightful yumminess.
I upgraded my grill this spring. With all the cooking we do and trying to keep as much as what we eat unprocessed and homemade it made sense. Everyone thinks I'm crazy and Dad laughs knowing it was only an excuse to get a bigger, better grill. He may or may not be right about that one!
We lost another chicken this past spring, this time while I was away on vacation. Nothing like hanging at an airport for a layover when you get the text at 7:30 in the morning that your chick is dead. My brother, who had been watching my parents, felt horribly guilty, thinking he had done something wrong. He hadn't. If you don't know the signs or what to look for, it just happens.
That left us with only two chickens. So I went out and got six more baby chicks. State law requires they sell six minimum. I guess that minimum requirement deters irresponsible parents who think it's cute to get their kids baby chickens, bunnies, etc, for Easter. It makes sense to me.
We have had these little ones for almost a month now. They are the same as the big girls, so they are all Easter eggers, as they're called, for the pastel colored eggs they lay. So far so good. The mistakes made last year are sure to not be repeated.
Now, Dad will have eight chickens to talk to when he goes outside this summer. I'm hoping this time next year to be able to give away eggs to friends and family.
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| Little girls are just over a month old |
I am determined to have a successful vegetable garden; unlike last year, where I cheaped out, didn't till anything, didn't add any nutrients and just stuck some veggies in the ground. No this year's bounty will be fruitful with rutabaga, kale, arugula, beans, green pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, red lettuce, green cabbage, butternut & buttercup squash, yukon yellow potatoes and three tomato plants. I try tomatoes every year and am usually disappointed. What allows us to not need an air conditioner in the house does not bode well for tomatoes who like it hot.
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| digging it all up again |
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| planted and ready to grow |
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