Memorial Day Weekend - a memorable weekend indeed! Lisa, Jane, Mike and all the grandkids here. Thanks to all of them, tomatoes, cucs, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, brussel sprouts are all in the ground. Just a few squash and pumpkins are left for Grampa to plant plus the onions and seeds (beans, carrots, beets, etc.). Potatoes made it into the ground last Thursday with Charl and Alex's help; sweet corn and field corn are planted. The deck is clean and the furniture is out. The screen porch was perfect for the kids - it's their outdoor restaurant. The outdoor shower is complete with soap, shampoo and scrubbies just waiting for a warm afternoon. The pond has close to several hundred less tadpoles after umpteen trips with a jar full by wide-eyed, grinning, muddy little people. A few baby kittens were found and quickly hidden again by their moms. Plans for a campfire got rained out but burgers and hotdogs are still good when everyone's been outside all day. Not sure whose fault it is but somehow a bucket and a half of ice cream disappeared! Chocolate chip pancakes are really the breakfast of choice for the kids; their parents didn't fair badly with omelets and sausages! A brew and a glass of wine are so much better shared with people you love.
Just 4 weeks from today we will all be in Seattle for Patrick and Jaime's wedding along with some of our favorite people. Although it will be a short week, we are all excited and so happy for them.
This coming week is to be warmer so the asparagus may really be at it's peak. Strawberries are blooming and the fruit trees have all bloomed. We think there are many less blooms on the fruit trees than in years past but we will see.
So much to be thankful for.

STRAWBERRY
FESTIVAL
KNOX GREEN HILL FARM
SAT. - JULY 2 - 10am-2pm
FAMILY FUN - GAMES - PRIZES
TASTING - EATS & TREATS
U-PICK & WE PICK BERRIES

Just back from Tom's 55th high school class reunion. Amazing how people change/don't change/think they haven't changed/still need to make some changes! I even had a great time meeting some new folks and visiting with some I've met before. It's also amazing how 500 miles south can make such a difference in spring; trees were completely leaved out, lilacs blooming, flowers everywhere, corn up about 6" (not much even planted around here); the whole drive is one change after another. Over the years we've always tried to make a stop at Mona's Restaurant in Toluca, Il. for lunch or dinner. We made it there early afternoon. Tom had his usual tortellinis with sausage; I had mostaccioli; salads are simple and covered with creamy blue cheese and topped with grated blue cheese. Throw in a glass of red and heaven is here. Anyone travelling down I-39 should make a quick turn to the west at Illinois 17 for a taste test. It's well worth the trip.
Today is errands and mowing. Spring truly has arrived with the feeling we are already about 3 weeks behind.
Asparagus is growing - seems to taste better this year than ever.
Our morel mushroom friend, Tony, hasn't had much luck so far so it may be a mushroomless house here. Heard they were thick in Illinois and Iowa.
Plans are growing for the Strawberry Fest. More on that later.

Picked 2 baskets of asparagus this morning - we will founder tonight!
Watch the finches, indigo buntings, rose-breasted grosbeaks, orioles, hummingbirds, chickadees and a few I can't name (probably sparrows) - all the bird feeders this morning. Such beautiful little creatures!
Need to mow the alley-ways in the garden tomorrow. Spring really is here.
Daffodils are beginning to fade. Magnolia tree has virtually exploded with blossoms. Violets all over the place. Love this time of year!
Any ideas for the Strawberry Festival are welcome.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
SAT. JULY 2, 2011
10am - 2pm
PRIZES
GAMES
TASTING
CLASSES

WATCH FOR MORE TO COME!

On a very sad note, we lost Casey on the Saturday morning before Easter. We knew he was old (14x7=98yrs)but were far from ready to lose him. Casey, like most border collies, was never a bother. He was always glad to see you, rarely barked, stayed his distance, protected little ones from geese or ducks or whatever. One afternoon he stood between Gracie Draxler who was about 3 and a menacing goose. He knew when and where he was needed. During the winter he usually slept in the basement (the floor is cool and it's not too hot down there.) In the morning he was always quiet until we were up; after wiggling and "talking" to us he was ready to head outside to inspect the farm and make sure every critter was still there and where it should be. He hated storms and loud noises; somehow he learned to open the front door and became our best weather predictor. If he came in, we knew there was thunder somewhere and, sure enough, it would soon be audible to us and headed our way. Hunting season was hard for him; he wanted and needed to be outside working but gun shots made it very difficult for him. We could see he slowed down and decided to get Belle. She was good for him; he would run with her and romp around like a pup. He began to slow down again and now he's gone. Katie said through her tears that he was her very favorite dog and her best friend. She said it all. We will miss him. He lies between the maples in the spot after Sanford. He left a warm spot in all our hearts.

Just spent a wonderful week in Solvang, CA with friends, Paul & Frances. Tom and Paul lived together their first years of teaching so there's always lots to reminisce and talk about. Frances & I just laugh and listen to them. Paul taught across the hall from me; for some reason my desk was usually rigged to scare the devil out of me. Wonder who did that? Had lunch on the ocean at Moro Bay and at Santa Barbara. It all looked just like the pictures in a travel magazine. Weather was in the 80s with clear blue skies and flowers blooming everywhere. The area is gorgeous, Solvang is charming beyond words. Being in Solvang, one would expect everyone to be speaking in Danish; it looks like a Danish village, the pastries would make a believer out of anyone! The wine culture has invaded the area; grapes are growing everywhere. North of Solvang are acres and acres of fresh veggies and strawberries. We went to a strawberry festival at Santa Maria and brought home lots of fun ideas. A visit to our patch this year will have some games and prizes! We ate fresh berries and greens, fresh seafood and lots of pastries. P & F could not have been more gracious hosts! We came home with the "I could live there feeling." Sorry the weather was so horrible here but not sorry to have missed it. An overnight in Las Vegas (our first) was fun but it's way too busy for these old folks. There's a lot to be said for the midwest!

The asparagus is still struggling to come up. At this time last year, we were picking 50+ pounds a day. The strawberries are coming up through the straw; Tom will rake the straw ASAP and hope for the best. Perhaps this next week will give us the warmth needed. The plants in the greenhouse look great. Thanks to our friend, Bonnie Cronk, who watered and babied them while we were gone.