Here are shots of my garden. We have lettuce, lavender, tomatoes and basil. And the rhubarb just stays green all year long. The strawberries are under the cage. The deer came and cleaned me out of my red berries last night; not even a single hoof print. So I have caged up the berries until they can grow back.
My English Roses came in via David Austin Roses. I rushed to make the rose bed and thought I was done. Then I realized I needed to prevent the soil and mulch from washing down the hill in the rain storm. So I spent 4 hours collecting local rocks from my land. The Ozark land is full of rocks and are very easy to find. Just moving the rocks takes time, uphill and down hill. I got a workout. Time to drink some cold iced tea and rest.
At our local farm supply they had baby ducks. I just had to pick one up and pet it so soft. They were all warm under the heat lamp. Maybe next year we will try baby duck raising. This year it is baby chicks for us.
Today after the rains ended, I noticed these strange orange "ornaments" hanging from my cedar tree. They look like some kind of orange octopus and are 2-3 inches in diameter. They hang from the end of the limbs and some is on the branches. Wondering what they might be?
My latest sewing machine adventure is trying to fix a friends broken Minnesota Model A treadle. It seems some kids were playing with it and broke the treadle. We were able to find a welder in town who works in bronze. He said he will join the broken cast iron and make it whole again. Then we need to find a wood worker to make a new shaft. The old original one just came apart from dry rot and use. I need to find a single metal wheel to replace the missing one, but it was too large, back to hunting. We did find the original needles for this treadle and they still make the treadle leathers, too. I will update as we get this old treadle up and running again. It takes a small town to fix a treadle.
Spring is about renewed life. Tree are growing new leaves and the baby lambs born. My husband A. and I got to see newborn lambs at a greenhouse in Cabool, MO called Country Petals. The owner raised lambs for meat and wool, weaves fibers and runs a greenhouse during the growing seasons. We got to touch and smell fresh lambs wool, smelled like wax crayons and grass. And we were happy to learn these lambs get to keep their long tails.
Spring is here in the Ozarks and April is almost heaven. Except heaven does not have ticks. The trees are clothed in green hues and the flowers all the colors want. My drive home is all a ceiling of green leafed trees down a tan gravel road. Birds are making nests in the multitude of bird houses made for them by caring citizens. April is the best time to see the Ozarks!
