Green Hill Farm

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.