Homestead Happenings ~ Garden Season Begins ~ Surprise Mail

Spring is finally here, so the new door mat is now out.  I have another on for the camper too.

This is our first year to have so many blossoms on the peach tree.  I am hopeful this year.  The snow did not cause any harm.


Rain barrels are going back in place.  Two are out, two to go.

Shell and sugar peas are planted.   I have 20 pounds of Red La Soda potatoes, so I started planting those too.  They were the only red seed potato I could find in stores that were non-gmo (shipping is high to order them).  The rains arrive today or tomorrow.  Hubby helped me plant the last 50 when he arrived home from work.  Even though he had gone in to work at 3am (a call out), he was eager to get them planted.

If we can locate any white non-gmo seed potatoes in stores, we'll add another 50 or so plants.  

I have been drinking hot ginger tea (from fresh ginger) to alleviate sore muscles.  

Ginger recipes here:  Hot Ginger Tea, Ginger-ale


New recipe: 

Beet and Barley Risotto (Feta cheese on top).  It's in the root cellar book I posted about.  This takes longer to cook, but healthy.  Every kid but one ate it.  Of course the one kiddo who claims to be a vegetarian is the one who won't eat beets.  Or sweet potatoes, or many other vegetables.    

I never got my croutons made on Monday, so I saved it for these rainy days we are getting soon.  And many other things on my to-do list.

I was so tired my first day in the garden, I had pajamas on at 5:30pm.  Literally.  I plopped on the bed while Hubby took a motorcycle ride, and realized I had more work to do with the chickens.  When he arrived back, he gladly took care of my chickens (whew! thought I would have to go out in my jammies). 

I have pinto beans to plant this year too, so I must make some sort of weather proof marker.  Hubby never knows what I plant when he's at work, so this will eliminate another bean picking mishap.  

One last bit of happy news!  I got surprise mail.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you!  This totally made my day!  I'm going to go through patterns on the next rainy.  What a great way to end my day!