Trail Ride Pictures

Here are a few of the trail ride pictures I promised. What a fun experience that was! I hope to put more pictures on here.

Nancy

Hopeful Things

I've noticed something very exciting going on lately. Everywhere I go people are talking about getting chickens, planting a garden, and canning food. I think that is a very hopeful thing!
Nancy

Old-Time Farming Information

If you are looking for information on farming and farm life from the past, you will really enjoy going to: www.agrariannation.com. How to feed animals, preserve foods, control insects, and more.
Check it out!
Nancy

Trail Ride

We went on a trail ride in a wagon pulled by a team of Belgians that was so much fun. The destination was a church where they served a fried chicken dinner; all you could eat. There was every kind of wagon and buggy imaginable and a good two hundred horses tied up that belonged to the people that road horseback. The weather was beautiful and the ride so relaxing. You really have time to take in everything when you are moving at that pace. The dogwoods were blooming and I marveled at their graceful form and beauty. They seemed to be swirling amongst the other trees and dancing as we road by. When we passed a spring fed rivulet I could see every sparkle on the water and hear the ripples. To let you know how relaxing it was, two people were sleeping in one of the wagons that was with us on the way back. :-)
I took pictures and hope to have them on here soon.
Nancy

The Joys of Spring

Tender and tasty spinach in the cold frame

You just have to try it!

Annual ryegrass broadcasted by hand last fall in the raised bed. All of those wonderful nutrients ready to till into the soil!

Look at these cuties lined up in a row!

Spring is wonderful, isn't it?

Nancy

Journey To Simplify-Part Ten

"You will never have to move again. I'll never let happen to you what happened to my dad.", were the words that my father-in-law spoke to us when we moved onto the farm. Shortly before he passed away his closest friend paid him a visit to warn him that his present wife was not going to do what she had promised him she would do with his farm and estate, according to his wishes. That his children would never see any of it. If only he had heeded the warning. Immediately after his death, his wife went out on the town to celebrate; and our lives became a living hell. To be continued... Nancy

Pruning

We had a stretch of warm beautiful weather and things suddenly started blooming and putting on leaves! The next thing you know, we had 7 inches of snow in one day. So, this morning I was standing in snow pruning the clematis that had begun to leaf out. O.K. That's a first! I started thinking about pruning as I was working and how many people say they are afraid to prune because they might hurt the plant and wouldn't it just be better to let it grow naturally? I used to hesitate myself. But, it really does help. I once had a clematis that grew in a big pot and year after year it just struggled along barely getting any blooms. I knew the potential of this type of plant, so I did various things to help it along; except for pruning. I was afraid to. Then one day I decided to go for it, after learning more about it. The plant grew very well, filled out, and had lots of beautiful blooms.

I think we, as people, are afraid of the pruning that comes to us sometimes. I know I am. We try to avoid the inevitable, not realizing the good that it will bring about in the long-run (or maybe even in the short-run!). We, unfortunately, do not grow very well without it. Yes, it hurts. And, yes, it's scary. But, hopefully, we are stronger and more beautiful afterwards.

Lean into the pruning. Don't be afraid. Let the Master Gardener do His work. You won't be disappointed.

Nancy