The Last Couple Days

We have been transforming the ghost of a former silo into a beautiful, fragrant, tasty herb garden. It's going to be wonderful to grab a little bit of zest for dinner from here.

I'm headed to the city this weekend for a very special occasion.

In preparation, last night after work...

I changed my bike tires for smooth riding through the city streets (always my preferred method of transport for visiting friends, running errands, going out and anywhere it makes sense.)

And I hemmed a dress (a pretty vintage find, but much too long--a whole foot past my feet) for that very special occasion. I am so excited to celebrate.

Have an absolutely beautiful weekend, rain or shine.

Chicken Adorned

This week's box! --they just keep getting prettier and more delicious.

aaaand.....

I said I'd do it and I did. In this post--I confessed my desire to fashion a knit chicken hat and a scarf.

Here it is! Modeled by a charming, not super-excited about it, hen.

(No chickens were harmed in this photo shoot--only accessorized.)

Isn't she lovely?

Makes you want to go watch Chicken Run, no? Yes.

Have a peaceful night

and a bright new morning

Happiness and Harvest

There are some really good reasons I haven't posted yet this week--and they are all family.

The newest member of our close-knit, love-full bunch draws us all in even closer together and makes everyone of us smile.

She looks so cute (always and also) in her Lilac dress and hat.

...she is sooo fun to knit for

she just really has a hold on me.

Today was our second harvest, a much longer, rainier day than last week.
The time passing I hardly noticed, the rain's mud though, was impossible to miss.

We harvested the same delicious items we did last week, plus these wonderful additions...
Pac Choi

Rapini

and tasty Hakurei Turnips

It was really pleasant to be out in a warm, soft rain. As the day went on the weather put on a stunning show for us. It brightened the mist, cleared and then, breaking out in sun with all sorts of fluffy or stormy clouds moving in, interspersed in blue sky --making the light beautiful everywhere it touched.

The Dandelion Wine is still in the works --finishing up fermenting before corking. When the balloons remain deflated for 24 hours it's done and in 6 months we'll see how it tastes.

Last Friday night I went into town to listen to a local band and was floored by what I heard. Left Wing Bourbon is definitely worth a listen--an absolutely timeless blues sound. Highest recommendations from me.

Love love love!

The First Delivery

The first box of the season!

YUM.

The boxes were delivered Thursday, fresh and full of flavor. It is astounding how good fresh food tastes. There are so many reasons to eat locally. It's more environmentally sustainable, it supports local farmers and communities, it's healthier.... but also,

it tastes so good. Really, really good.

It's a very special ritual to eat with the seasons. Eating as much of what's fresh until you can eat no more, and then it's time for next tasty veggies. There's always something delicious to look forward to. We just planted winter squashes and pumpkins (some of my favorites, but with so much ahead of them to look forward to) and I couldn't help think how fast my time has been here already, almost 2 months already and the fall will be here sooner than I think.

I think it is time to start planning next steps, let the brainstorms thunder, follow or forge the path I'm on and see where it takes me. That's fun to look forward to too. All the while trying to remember to indulge in every present moment.

First Harvest

Oh boy was yesterday hot...

But not too grueling--we weeded in the morning and spent a portion of the afternoon pouring warm, golden honey, a perfect day for it.

After work, in preparation for the harvest day mid-morning snack (we start an hour earlier on harvest days, so it keeps us going until lunch) I made some ginger snaps (recipe from Savoring Seasons Of Northern Heartland) to be served with refreshing rhubarb sodas.

Today we harvested:

Red Lettuce

Green Lettuce

Spinach

Pea Shoots

Arugula

and Radishes

everything was picked, bunched and washed

--ready to be packed up in the CSA boxes tomorrow.

Aren't the radishes beautiful? They make such a pretty bouquet.

CSA Members will also be getting 4 potted herbs in their boxes for them to plant and use as they grow all summer long. A great resource for every kitchen.

Our first harvest was a good excuse to break out my two awesome prairie bonnets made for me by two dear friends. (Don't I just have the best friends? Yes. Yes I do.)

Bonnets make farming even more fun.

After the long day I made a super fresh, super local dinner. Pasta with mushrooms, spinach, arugula, green garlic, and home-made ricotta (made with milk from the dairy down the street.) It was dee-licious.

Buster is losing weight (I think) and seems to be resting up here for his next big pounce.

It's much cooler here now--quite the shift. It amazes me how quickly things change, how fast time moves, how much there is to do always. But it's steady and good. It doesn't get overwhelming--it's a lovely work/life balance. I feel lucky for the quiet time I have after work to learn, to explore and to create. Even though there's so much I'd like to do I have few commitments, it's such a lovely thing to not be busy. And you know, it's not boring at all--it's pretty great. It's so hard to be bored in this world where there's so much to learn and read and see and do --I think boredom is a choice we can all decide to pass up on. Yeah? You bet!

A good night to you all!

Crushing Heat and Crushing Bugs

The morning welcoming committee:

The chickens are getting bigger, so they eat more and because they eat more, they're getting bigger and friendlier--because they like to eat. My co-worker (who has chickens of his own) told me he can tell they will lay soon, because he heard some of them sing the chicken song, the "bock-bock-bock-ba-BOCK!" is apparently the song they sing (and practice prior too) when laying eggs. He also told me that, much like my Buster, chickens can catch mice! They don't like them in their space and will catch, eat and fight over them. Things I didn't know about chickens..... but glad I'm learning!

Friends brightened my already lovely weekend. Sunday, after such a nice Saturday, a stunning wild flower and foliage filled walk, I caught my first fish of the season on the Kinnickinnic.

A small mouth bass ("A male bass," my Grampa would say, with his mischievous smile, "all the large mouth bass are female." Always with a quiet chuckle, always a kind, happy soul. I miss him much.) I thanked the fish and gave him a kiss before releasing him, for choosing my bait and for putting up with some trauma for my enjoyment.

The Kinnickinnic is such a beautiful river. A little bird danced for us as we patiently waited for the fish to bite some more.

Yesterday and today were legitimate scorchers and we're looking forward to cooler weather tomorrow. It's a big week--we'll have our first harvest and it's so exciting to see how big and how edible things are getting.

And the Tomatoes and Cucumbers in the high tunnel are thriving and will be ready soon.

Watch out for these guys! We spent a good chunk of time yesterday squashing potato bugs. They're neat looking, but they are mean to our potatoes and we can't have that--so, they must be crushed.

Stay cool as a cucumber! (but watch out for cucumber bugs!)

2 Down

1 am. I am awoken by a big ruckus under the bed. I turn on the light... and there it was.

I could tell something was up when I arrived home late and there was no hungry, whiny cat at the door, --nor was he making his way there. I walked upstairs to find Buster under the armchair, repeatedly prodding at a fabric tote bag filled with knitting --like a cat. But not like my cat. My cat whines for food and rarely plays contentedly for very long --never when there is a chance to beg.

His eyes were wild and alert. He was smelling the ground--on the hunt. After a few minutes I noticed his gaze following a moth around the room and figured that must be it--he had been chasing a grounded moth. Maybe so. Or maybe.... he could sense there was small furry intruder lurking nearby.

Ladies and gentlemen, after mouse no. 2, I believe there is no mistake, no fluke, no lucky break. I believe I have myself a real mouser. A 23 pound... chronically weezy... mouser.