Green Hill Farm

April 3 and still not great evidence of spring. The snow is melting slowly, it's mud and more mud, the pond has a circle of water around the edge to tease the geese, and we are getting very anxious! It has been the longest, coldest, most difficult winter we can remember. Some of the misery may be attributed to age but deep snow, ice, and bitter cold are hard on everyone and everything! The last storm blew the horses' shed over so they need spring more than we do!

Lisa, Kyle and Cody were here over their spring break. We planted tomatoes, herbs, cabbage, brussel sprouts, pansies, petunias; had to bring them into the sun room after they sprouted because it was impossible to keep the greenhouse warm enough when the temp was around zero. Yesterday the flats went back to the greenhouse so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be ok this time. My usual lettuce box and onion box are doing well; we should have salad in a couple of weeks and green onions about the same time. Fresh produce in the market is so expensive as well as not top rate so we are really anxious for a good, fresh salad!

Lambing is done for the first group, an average year, not the worst and not the best. The market has been up for so long that we are wishing we had lambs for the Easter market. But, we will have to wait until August to deliver our orders and have some for ourselves. Tom belongs to the WISBA, Wisconsin Indianhead Sheep Breeders Association; this year they sponsored a recipe contest and guess what!? I am published! My recipe for Lamb Shanks was one of six chosen for publication in the brochure/booklet to be used for marketing/publicity. I won a copy of the booklet, $10and a year's membership! I have lots of copies of the booklet (yes, I know you aren't' surprised); if you would like one, let me know. I will even autograph it.

Tom as survived his total shoulder replacement extremely well. He can now put his wallet in his back pocket. That may not sound like much but it's a real accomplishment. He is more than ready to get back outside and play in the dirt!

The whole family is headed to Seattle in June for Patrick and Jaime's wedding. We are all excited and so very happy for them. The nephews will be ushers and the nieces will be flower girls. Needless to say they are feeling quite good about that! Alex is most concerned, wondering what shoes to wear and how to fix her hair and so on and so on.

If you've never seen a pileated woodpecker, google it. We have 2 that come to the bird feeders in the front yard. They may not be as rare as they used to be but are very elusive. I have tried to get photos of them but they aren't cooperative. All winter a male pheasant came to scratch around under the feeders; he is the fattest pheasant we have ever seen. Thankfully we have had any turkeys there yet!

Keep checking back. It's been too long since we've been in touch. Think SPRING!