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!

Finally! We have a flag pole with a flag flying on the corner! Grandkids were here and help Grampa get the pole painted and up. He put large pink trashbags on them and said they had more paint on the bags than on the pole. Then they all went out and raised the pole - looked just the like photo of Iowa Jima! I'm not sure who is more proud of it - me or the grandkids!

Gals from Heritage of Elmwood Nursing Home

Great weekend! Had grandson, Kal, overnight and some old friends from Illinois here on Sunday evening. In between raindrops we went through a lot of raspberries. We watched a lone turkey wandering up and down one side of the patch eating berries as he went. Attempts to discourage this pesky bird probably won't work - a turkey is too dumb to be intimidated!

BURGUNDY CREAM PIE
In sauce pan mix the following:
1 cup each of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar mixed with 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
Bring to a boil and cook until thickened. Cool.

In small bowl mix until well blended and smooth:
3 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar.

Spread cream cheese mixture on bottom of 9" baked, cooled pie crust.
Carefully spoon cooled berry filling on the top. Chill.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh berries.

Strawberry season is over...so short...so fast. We had about 1/4 of the usual amount of berries as so many were lost to cool, wet weather. Kal & Kade picked 7 pounds of red raspberries this morning so we are going into full swing with them. So many of our usual customers didn't get any strawberries or got just a few so we are hoping we can make it up with raspberries.
Tom just finished planting the last round of sweet corn so summer is officially here. Well keep you posted on what we have and when.

We're into the second week of picking strawberries and are quite amazed and pleased with the berries since it was so cool and rainy. There have been lots of berries that spoiled but we've tossed those and found plenty of beautiful ones. The season will not last as long as usual; we anticipate picking through the middle of next week. Grandkids picked red raspberries over the weekend - a least 3 weeks earlier than normal! Raspberries will definitely be a bumper crop. There are a few blueberries ripened but they are always slow to start. Back to the patch...more later...

Day 4 of picking; however today looks like we will pick in the sunshine. All the promises of a warm sunny day yesterday didn't come true until mid-afternoon. The berry patch is so wet. The kids have managed to pick plenty of berries in spite of it and the berries are beautiful. Hopefully the next week will be better and the U-Pick folks can get their share. Our pickers are about the same age - all will be freshman except one. It is so good to see young people who really want to work and can have fun at it.
Potato bugs have invaded the potato plants. They can eat the leaves in a flash. No telling what will happen there. This seems to be developing into an annual curse, not just here but all over. I think it's related to the locust plague. Fortunately the bug is not bright and eats only the potato leaves.
Megan (Jane's oldest) has been here all week. What a delight she is. We took berries downtown yesterday and she enjoyed selling them and figured out the counting change part. I think she was pretty hard to resist for some because she got a few tips. She does like the $$$$$$$$$.
Tomorrow evening we are hosting the rehearsal dinner for Erin Klatt and Bill Burns. Erin's parents are among our best friends. It will be a small group and should be lots of fun. Bill chose Mexican food with related beverages (sangria and dos equis). Saturday is the wedding. Hope it's a nice warm, sunny day.

Rainy week but we are ready to begin picking strawberries on Monday. We could use some sun and warm but won't complain as we needed the rain so badly. All the garden looks wonderful. No matter how much watering is done, none makes the difference that a good rain can make. Raspberries are blooming again (the second bloom?) and look like they will make a bumper crop. The grapevines are loaded with little green grapes. Blueberries are loaded - hope the turkeys stay out! We're anxious to dig that first hill of baby red potatoes and are waiting for our friend, Kai, to bring some fresh peas. The next few weeks will be very busy but so much fun. No more snoozing after the alarm goes off, at least for a while. (Retirees aren't supposed to use alarm clocks. Someone forgot to tell that to Tom!)
Hope to see you in the patch!

June 1 and it's a beautiful day. Garden is planted. Corn is up. Strawberries are blooming. Raspberries are just beginning to bloom. Blueberries are loaded! Had an inch of rain Sunday. Patrick and Jaime are officially engaged. To quote a little Robert Browning:

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn:
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled:
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven-
All's right with the world!