1st fire pit of the year

Juju gave her dad Color Cones from Plow and Hearth for Christmas.

So for 10 minutes we had green, purple and blue flames by tossing in 3 coated pinecones. VERY COOL.

It's so easy to get smug, until . . .

Earlier this year I was reading a blog where the writer was lamenting that rural neighbors found her small functioning farm an eyesore in their rural neighborhood. During dinner I talked to Hubby about how easy having a beautiful and productive yard is to us. We, I am sure, went on for some time on how many admiring comments we hear from our neighbors, how many questions on what we are growing and how nice it all looks etc etc.

Then the snow melted.

Still I went along with my rose colored glasses, smiling at the hens scratching in the leaf mulch around the yard clucking happily. I noticed the vinca and green shoots of chives in the landscape and little patches of green grass among the brown in the yard. I heard the spring calls of birds and watch Butters poised on the fence surveying his domain. I hear Hubby in the garage using the newly cleaned space as a mini blacksmith shop. Thinking how well his new interest fits with our urban neo-farm idea of life.

But this morning I couldn't find the sidewalk.

I took off my glasses.

There is detritus everywhere. A plastic bag of aluminum cans leans half open by the fence, forgotten on the last run to the recyclers. Miscellaneous cut and painted wood from the partially finish kitchen remodel last summer is stacked in small piles by the garage, where it was evicted from to make room for the anvil, and along the wood fence to the N and stacked on yet unused containers of soil all over the rest of the yard. Toys, forgotten from the last time the girls played outside, or possibly from the last ice age lay scattered among the leaves. Leaves that in the fall were mulch and now are spread all over hell and breakfast by the hens who are eating EATING! the chives and the freshly dug up flower bulbs.

I set down my coffee and still in my PJ's go out and sweep the walk. Rake all the leaves back into the landscape beds. I bring the hens fresh water and crumbles + throw some scratch into their yard to entice them back into the fenced area. I smile at my accomplishments and go back inside pick up my book, pour a fresh cup of coffee and settle in for another hour until the family wakes up.

A while later Hubby is awake and preparing to start his morning coffee in the garage/shop routine.

"I swept the back sidewalk" I announced proudly.

He doesn't say anything for a minute.

"We need to keep the hens in their yard," he comments finally as he goes outside.

I frown and go to the kitchen window. The sidewalk was again covered.

My yard is an eyesore.

Sighing I go upstairs to wake the girls. It is the Sugarbush Pancake Brunch at the Minnesota Arboretum today and any yard work will have to wait until this afternoon. Between laundry and cleaning inside the house and getting in a bike ride from my health and happiness.

I sigh again, no longer feeling self rightous.

Feed Store

Yesterday I went to Anoka Ramsey Farm and Garden to pick up supplies. I love this place. It is a family run business and the only place I have found with organic feed. It feels like I imagine a mercantile would feel back in the time before Walmart. There are always a "barn" cat or two roaming in and out, demanding attention at the door and the counter. They raise and sell fresh eggs and whole chickens. Rabbits are also available. I pick up feed, scratch and straw which they carry out. One of the teenage sons was removing the straw from last years potted shubbery that will be in pristine condition come planting time in May. The first order of baby chicks and ducks were in peeping away behind the seed racks. The sign out front says "come in for lawn advice now" and the patriarch was giving sick chicken advice to another customer when I walked in. They are always friendly and thankful for my business.

This is where Mesha saw baby bob white quail last June and she has been reminding me about them ever since.

I don't buy my "farm" supplies anywhere else.

Next time I go I will see if I can get pictures.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Spring is here!! The snow is gone!!














The irises are poking from beneath last years fallen leaves. Correction, the hens are removing said leaves from the young irises.



Most importantly, the heat, save for a few hours in the am and pm, is off in the house.

In the chicken yard, the annex has been dismantled and a heat light put into the coop for rainy days.

Not that they go inside - except to lay 3-4 eggs a day. Woo Hoo!!

They all laying again!

Jane Doe, Shelly and one of the Naked Necks. Hubby said that the first two were in separate areas of the annex, but Shelly collected them into a single nest before laying her own.

The ugliest season

Early Spring is the ugliest season.

In another month, the grass will be growing, daffodils will be facing their yellow heads to the sky, peas will be planted (even if only in a window box)

But right now all Mother Nature has to offer is a reminder of the clean-up I failed to do last fall. Our small parking spot is a swamp of dirty melted snow - My kingdom for a good pair of Wellies! The weather warms like the little engine that could (I think I can. . . I think I can . . .) and covers the basement floor with little rivulets of water. The yard that has been emptied of snow cannot be stepped on - any pressure will cause me to slip and tear out the fledgling new root system of grass.

You - the ones back in Washington - jealousy seethes through me. Your nightly temperatures match our daily highs. You have planted lettuce, spinach, kale. . .

Then the henlets called from the back step. They are so happy to be out of their winter yard. They cluck and call and scamper about.

And I am smiling again.

After all, the street are almost clear of snow. I stand on the back step, finishing my coffee. Then I take my bike out and go for a ride in the glorious sunshine.

Queens of the Compost