Bring on the warm weather!
The boys and I thrive in the warm weather. When it isn't raining, my middle and I will jump on the trampoline. My youngest helps me in the garden daily, and my oldest is constantly building outdoor "shelters". We've been to the playgrounds multiple times already. I think this summer is going to be our best one yet.
I've planted all of my seedlings in the garden now, and I have new seeds starting. So far, my potatoes, onions, snap peas, black eyed peas, strawberries and asparagus have taken off and been doing well. I rearranged where I planted everything this year in hopes to keep a good thing going. I hope to get my tomatoes growing sooner this year, but I'm not sure it is going to happen. The seedlings I planted stayed under my greenhouse and still didn't last through the frosts. If I can't get my next batch to work, I will have to purchase a starter plant, which is fine. There is a local organic plant sale down the road from us in a few weeks, and I already have it marked on my calendar for the plants I can't get to grow from seed. I did plant a peach tree and a muscadine vine this spring, which I have wanted for years, and I am so excited! We have wild muscadines in our woods, but the vines have grown all the way up to the tops of the trees. I can't pick any of them. The only way I found out about them was by looking down to see where they had fallen. I hope to contain my vines in the garden along with the raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. This year's garden is going to be so colorful!
As for the older hens, I have been containing them with some old fencing. I just move it around to wherever I want them to be in the yard. For now, this works with the three of them. I am outside with them while they do this because there isn't a covering to protect them. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to let them free range again, but I am just too scared to let them go just yet.
We've been letting the baby chicks walk around in the garden when it's pretty outside. They are growing like weeds, and there's ten of them. The garden makes the most sense to keep them all confined. They are so sweet. I can't wait for the one rooster to start crowing. He is going to help me out so much. I have been taking extra time with him to build a relationship so that he won't come after me when I'm around the chickens. I hope this works, and he doesn't suddenly decide he no longer likes me once he begins to crow!
So far, this spring, we have had two get togethers with some cousins during this pretty weather. The first time, it was so windy, we couldn't sit all the way outside. We set up our chairs in the garage where there was sun shining on us, and the kids ran around us. The second time, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day. I made the kids some green-filled, crust-less sandwiches and some green Jell-O. I made the adults a Rueben casserole, cucumber salad and a lite key lime pie (recipes coming soon). The kids made rain sticks on the front porch, and we all enjoyed the sun. We are ready for all of the outdoor activity over here!
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