Step back to a simpler time.....

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

An unexpected visitor.....and.....What's blooming around the farm?

Yesterday in the late afternoon our rainy day cleared. While looking out at the garden I was thrilled to see a beautiful hawk perched on a garden post. I enjoyed watching him for a minute or two before he grew bored with our visit and with a few flaps took off into the woods. I hope he comes to call again soon...it would be amazing if he could share with me what it feels like to fly.

Today Autumn and I took some photos of the flowers that are in bloom. We enjoyed a nice time visiting the flowers and watching the birds around the gardens until she too grew tired of our mini adventure and took off for the much cooler house. Well that is how it goes....two nice visits I wish had lasted longer...hmmmmmm. It was 84 degrees today, so I'll assume it was really the heat and not the company that sent her on her way;);)

We started outside the workshop and were greeted by a friendly face:)

More happy flowers!

Autumn works very hard taking care of these Marigolds!

We stopped and said hello at the Chickadee residence

Mock Orange---if you have never smelled these, you are missing out. They have this amazingly sweet and intense scent that my nose never tires of.

Scotchbroom

Peonies---another beautiful scent

Miss Autumn's latest artwork

These have been blooming every year faithfully for as long as I can remember

And now, the Iris, which are particularly stunning this year--ENJOY!

A Lily jumped in here, but she was too pretty to ignore

My beautiful Autumn showing off the painted daisies, they are almost as pretty as her!

So pretty

Medeterranian?? Pinks

We checked in on another patch of painted daisies

Autumn tells me in no uncertain terms that she is hot and finished with my shenanigans!! She was in such a rush that she could not be bothered with the steps-- Off to the house for a popsicle!

One last shot to end....the Blueberry bushes are making promises...I hope they keep them!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Late May 2013

It's raining here today. I wasn't planning for rain, but that is what I get for not checking the weather report. Today was a good day to fold laundry and make a run to the deli. This weekend I made 4 batches of shortcake and yesterday spent some great chatting time with friends. Uncle Fred's method for making Meadow Tea was a hit....YUM!! Big thanks to Uncle Fred! Check out the photos of the Strawberries....we've been sharing with friends and still have a ton, there is much to be thankful for.

Mint

Bucket o' mint for meadow tea!

Day 1 of Strawberry picking

Day 2

Day 3--I stopped the daily photos of the Strawberry harvest here......until....

Day 6---WOW--all this from our little berry patch

This was last nights harvest--good thing we love Strawberries!

So my family likes to hike and I am always collecting heart shaped rocks wherever we find them--I don;t know why, I just love them. Anything else I find that is heart shaped I like to photograph.......my son brought me this last night, awwww, very sweet of him to remember me. I ate it this afternoon, it was delicious!

The garden is coming along--can't wait for those fresh veggies!

WANTED:
One squirrel (or two, or maybe three!:)
Crime: Ticking off the Cardinals, Wrens, Chickadees, Bluebirds, etc.... by stealing their dinner!
REWARD: Free Strawberries!

Like I said it is raining, but I will get outside and take some pictures this week of all of the different flowers that are blooming---the Iris are amazing this year!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Some spring photos.....enjoy!

So this week we finished planting the garden, we also started picking Strawberries and haven't stopped! They are so delicious, so far we've had strawberries on vanilla ice cream, strawberry smoothies, homemade strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream, strawberries on cereal, and just plain strawberries warm and freshly picked---let me say--YUMMY!!!! I am making jam next week---we've also had salad with Spinach, radishes, and leaf lettuce from the garden this week--the herbs are all taking off, Dill, Sage, a few different types of Basil, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, several types of Oregano, Chives, Lavender--can't wait to make fresh pesto!! Last summer a friend and I started a Mint bed, we planted chocolate mint, peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, and this year my mom gave me Lemon balm, which is actually a mint with a Lemon smell and flavor to it, I love Lemon!! WOW---we have mint everywhere---the kids are bugging for "meadow tea" which I will be making this weekend and my crystal ball tells me I will be making several more batches of shortcake as well! For some reason my camera has been acting up and won't transfer new photos to my computer, but I will figure out this glitch and post new photos of the berries and the garden later this weekend. For now the first 9 of these pictures are recent and the other are from last year...enjoy!