Bob bought a cow and the corn is ready to harvest.

In order to cut down on our grocery bill Bob decided to buy a cow. He stays out in the back yard during the day but we have to bring him in at night. He sleeps with Coco our dog and as you know Coco sleeps with me.

Because the weather has been so great so early our corn is now ready to harvest!

By the way, I hope everyone has a great April 1st.



Planted Johnny Jump-ups & Cold frame growth

The weather was nice this afternoon and I planted out my Johnny Jump-ups.  I am looking forward to lots of happy faces from them this year! 

Here is a little different view of it.

These are the things growing in my cold frame.  I planted the lettuce and spinach last fall and I keep snitching from them to add to my salads.  The parsley and swiss chard are left from last year.  The little stuff are things I just planted this year.





Rain Barrel

This is the way the instructions said to set the rain barrel up.  In a heavy rain the water bounces off the top.  When it is full the 3/4 inch drain was

 not large enough to get rid of the excess water.

So Bob (my handy gardener) cut a hole for a larger drain.  Then he put the gutter into the rain barrel.  Now it works great!

Here is a close-up view.  Does anyone know if it is safe to use the rain off the roof on the vegetables?  I do use it on the flowers and bushes.  Our shingle roof is nine years old. 

Johnny Jump-ups & Lemon Balm

We had to do errands today so no gardening!  I did buy these cute little Johnny Jump-ups or at least, that is what I call them.  I think they look like little smiley faces.  My son gave me some a long time ago and now I am hooked!  I just love them.

This is my Lemon Balm.  I took this picture so that my friend could see it as she wants a starter.  I haven't gotten it deadheaded yet!  I love the smell of the lemon leaves and it can be used for a tea and other things.

Lavender Circle, Sunhat & Ear Muffs, Lovage

My gardener (Bob) weeded the lavender circle this morning!

I have figured out how to keep my hat on when it is a windy day!  Wear my ear muffs!



This is my lovage with the echinacea behind it.  Lovage can be used in soups.  It can be dried and used in the winter time too.  Heather from the Welcome Home blog is doing a series on herbs if you would like to learn more.

Kale planted & Ranch dressing recipe & Mulching raspberries

My Kale seeds were planted in the dark spot by the Oregano.  This spot does not get as much sun as the rest of the garden and it was old seed.  Since I am not fond of Kale I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't grow!  If it grows I will use small leaves in my salads.  I love Ranch Dressing and like to make my own so there will be less chemicals and it will be healthier.  My friend gave me the recipe and since Bob doesn't use Ranch Dressing I cut the recipe in half.  Here is my version.

1/2 C Mayo

1/2 C Buttermilk. (I use dry mixed with water)

Some chopped Chives

1 tsp. minced onion

1/8 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. minced Parsley

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. paprika

A smidgen of cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Bob mowed the lawn for the first time this year.  I put the grass clippings around my raspberry bushes to fertilize them and help keep the weeds down.  Coco is helping me garden!

Expanding flower bed & Planting radishes

Here is my happy gardener! (not)  He is expanding my flower bed for me.  No comments on how we took some out a couple years ago because we couldn't keep up!!!!

It has to be raked yet, but this is how large it will be.  Then it is my job to divide and transplant the perennials!

I planted more radishes in a middle row of this bed.  Peas are in front and back of the radish row and there is a row of turnips in the back.  I have some radishes up in another bed but am trying to plant some every two weeks as we love them.  Do you know how often and how much to plant to have a supply of radishes for the two of us until it gets too hot??





Carrots/Celery/Mystery flower!

The weather was sunny today and I couldn't wait to plant my carrots in the carrot boxes on the deck!  I planted Danvers Half Long carrots and am hoping for a yummy crop!

I read if you buy organic celery and immediately cut off the bottom inch of the bunch and plant it to half its depth in a pot of moist soil that it will grow a small new bunch of two or three stalks.  So I tried it and here are the pictures.  Can you see the little green growing in the middle?  Harvest when the little stalks are about 8 inches tall because the minimally rooted base won't be able to support a full-sized plant.

I love this flower.  A friend's daughter gave me a starter last year.  Can anyone help me with the name of it???  I thought she said brunnera but looked in my flower book and it doesn't look like the one they describe as brunnera.





Trees blossoming early in March.

Here are some pictures of my peach and pear trees. I was so excited to see that they lived through the winter! I thought they were so pretty I wanted to share.



Peach tree.  I planted strawberries around the base.



My little projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music

I play in the Rusty Pipes Community Band.

If you would like to hear some of our music click on the site below.

http://www.rustypipesconcertband.com/Sound_Tracks-Listen_.html



Getting ready for our Christmas Concert

On Sunday you will find me playing in our church for the morning service.



Views on a summer day.

Our view from our deck.

The little fence around the boxes is so that Coco won't eat the carrots.

Yes, that's a birdcage sitting there.

My carrot boxes

Love listening to the sound of water.

A restful place

Get's good mileage

Baaaaaaa ! My sheep farm!

Lavender

This is how you pick the grapes.

The Hollyhocks are taking over.