Easter in Review

It was a three day weekend together! And we were productive, though never nearly as much of our to do list gets done as we'd like. Manual labour is intensive! Lol. What did you think? Homesteading is a breeze? No, it was not. We were considering the work and the tools available to the brothers who tamed our piece of land. They can basically be summed up as heroes. Yep, heroes, and that goes for all the persevering, ingenious survivors who built our country. We have become rather soft now that standard life comes with so many automatic features... 

I can't really explain the natural lighting phenomenon we enjoy here on the farm... It's surreal at times in a daylight nocturnal lilac aurora borealis kind of way. That probably doesn't look the same to you in your mind's eye right now, but I promise it is interesting. And it occurred the first day we looked at the property together. It was weird moment of knowing here was right. 

Outside we probably did the most. Our sights are set on berries. Raspberries in particular, but I'm sure we'll also plant strawberries and elderberries since all three should do well in our zone and we love them! So, we cleared an area which must have been where the Burns brother's garden once stood, the one which grew all the produce (potatoes we hear) they ate. This involved mowing and clearing grass above ground and aerating as well to let the heat in. The ground is still very cold and hard despite the warm temperatures we enjoyed. The next step will be to kill the grass. It was a dilemma how to go about that, but we can't just remove it by scooping it away because we will loose too much of the precious top soil, so it'll be pesticide. It's not my first choice in general but it will be clean by the second year of fruit production (according to organic rules - three years free), and free of effectivity in two weeks according to Round-Up's label. (I'd wait a good triple that before licking the ground, but eh, as you wish) Also we have neighbouring crops receiving all kinds of help - if need be - on all four sides, so we'd never qualify as organic even if we wanted to have such a farm. (Even if they don't waste such expensive dust on areas they don't own... But rules are rules.) Now we just need to decide if we want to clear the whole acre or so of space at once, or expand at a later date.  

We have an existing section of about 600 square feet of tilled garden. It may have been used last summer, and maybe not... Anyway we decided we should weed it and then we'd have the choice to plant it up should we want to. And planting will be the easy part - even watering will be nearly effortless - compared to the labourous overturning. So far I've gotten through about a tenth and that took all afternoon. But I enjoyed being in the sun in next to nothing. Jordan liked that, too. The weather Sunday was perfect! 

We've moved a tree in order to have a proper vehicle entrance, resurfaced the driveway, turned the compost and have been working at cutting and fastening poo trays for the rabbit cages. 

On a food note, we had just about everything I was hoping to taste. We also went to a diner we'd been looking forward to for a few years, and it sadly did not live up to any standards, though it's a fun diner-car-alien idea. I actually couldn't believe how many times afterward Jordan remarked upon us having eaten bad food. I'll take that as a compliment ;) as well as the fact that he liked my baked artichokes! Can you believe it? 

I can't. 

I still think I may have been dreaming, although I am now dreaming of giant artichoke because on re-reading the recipe I loosely followed, I see they had artichokes weighing a pound each!!! They're called Lyon Artichokes, so perhaps that's the norm in France. 

We will see. 

Well, I will see. 

If you've not had anything other than caned artichoke hearts I encourage you to try the fresh version. So pretty and tasty! 

I felt crosses were not necessary. But butter, oh yesssss. Hot (cross) buns....

Quail eggs are so wee and beautiful, I thought I should blow them out in order keep them for years to come, though after blowing 23 of them (I got help with one, and sadly I broke one) I was quite light headed, which may have made them look extra pretty. The quail decorate them for us to enjoy in such attractive blotchy-splotchy browns and creams. I have been enjoying them just the way nature delivers, as it goes nicely with the farm-house theme, but I imagine they'd also look spectacular with a dye-job in pastel hues, or with speckles of metallic paint. I made a quiche from them, plus some chicken eggs since they are pretty darn small, even if you have 23! 

Easter is a time for beautiful arrangements derived from nature 

and here is a lovely example made by a dear creative friend of mine:

Lastly, but not least, we were delighted with our little Georgi, 

who brought us his very first mouse. 

The Easter mouse. How appropriate! 

Happy Easter!

It's an astonishingly early Easter and it has taken me almost by surprise. 

My preparations mostly involve food.

Eggs are predominant, but I have chosen artichokes as my something special. 

Our babies are a big focus of course, 

which may be why I have been neglecting Easter and spring. 

However, since the weather is so balmy we've been enjoying outside...

Wishing everyone a lovely Easter weekend - now scamper to the hamper, 

or wherever your clues tell you to hunt! 

******

Another two cakes for another two birthdays! 

I haven't heard about the results of this one above, 

an ode to the peanut butter-chocolate cake from last summer, 

but chocolate chip cookie-chocolate instead just in case of allergies,

but the one below was confirmed to be tasty since I did have the chance to 

eat a couple slices myself. ;)

I love the old-fashioned elements in this cake. 

The inside is raspberry whipped cream between three layers of white cake.

We enjoyed it with fresh raspberries on the side. 

There was actually a third as well, 

but since it was an ice cream cake, 

and the melting factor was a critical element of it's intact arrival, 

I had to leave it wrapped up. So no photo. 

Which also reminds me of my general lament of not taking 

a 'slice missing' or 'on a plate' photo, 

but it is just plain rude to open a cake before the recipient does so themselves! 

Meow

Chick Show

Here are two growing poults, posing prettily. 

They're now just shy of three weeks old.

No two birds are exactly alike in their growth process. 

Some are larger than others, too. 

The top photo shows one of our lighter girls still sporting some chick fluff.

While the bottom photo is of one of the larger, more developed birds. 

Her wings are growing faster than her body so these days she's enjoying a bit of flight. 

That won't last for long, I suspect, but no doubt she was one of the escapees 

Jordan discovered the other morning.

They'd made a jail break from their baby house, causing much ado. 

Once all caught they graduated to a larger, cooler box where they are now 

pecking, chatting, eating substantially more and therefore, also pooping away. 

Strudel Doodle

If you can't decide what type of strudel to make, just make two. 

One sweet and one savoury, and don't forget the bacon! 

And try to import some Topfen. Or make your own ricotta. 

Or do whatever insipires your creative heart. 

While we took a break from adamantly trying our best sales pitches on Miss Marts, 

(we want her to stay forever and Canada is great!), she made us some strudel.  

The dough surprised me similarly to how the tortilla dough did. 

Super stretchy, quite forgiving. 

My favourite part, though, is the roll up technique with the cotton towel. 

Reminiscent of sushi? 

Delicious! (Lekker!)

Thank you Miss Marts! 

Very toothsome, indeed. 

I'd better make my own before I forget the instructions! 

Barn Door

I'm getting behind with posting again, but it's been busy around home. 

Most extra time is spent doing useful tasks, like replacing this old door:

It was one of our barn doors. Not too likely to keep anyone in, or anyone out. 

Safety for all our animals will be important, 

no matter how cute a fox is or how beautiful a coyote may be. 

And a pack of howling coyotes in your yard is not pleasant, ever.

So we built a new door.

We used all the old hardware which still works well. 

While we were at it, we also rebuilt the wee escape gate with some salvaged wood. 

Not exactly complicated but I did make it myself, and I think it looks good as well as functions well.

Yes, the barn is self widening... 

So your eyes are fine, even if they feel a little crossed trying to look at the angles, 

it just made us have to think a little to get a nice flush close on our new door. 

Sometimes we really sigh at how much work (and money) needs to go into our barn, 

but it's in pretty good shape when we look around the countryside, 

not to mention how many years of real work it's done. 

Hope we put it to use again soon! 

28 Babies!

Meet our first baby, Georgi. 

He's just a kitten but already scaling the tallest of our trees. 

(Careful or he will climb you!)

I can't wait for his first mouse! Or bird. 

I do hope he gets one of those super cheeky magpies... 

They've been teasing him mercilessly. 

All paws and fluff. He's more affectionate than any cat I've ever met. 

Just the kind that comes from a kitty store. 

(I always knew there was one of those, mom.) 

He was brave enough to go out in the dark this morning, 

which may be more scary for me who knows and remembers about the coyotes...

I love this wee meow-meow, his Lynx like ear tufts, big cat coat markings and all, 

so he'd better be there when I get back home! 

Now please meet Rori, our new puppy. 

(Georgi wasn't particularly impressed at this point) 

She's a little rescue pup. The smallest of a litter of ten. 

Part lab and retriever on the mom's side, but the dad is unknown. 

Any guesses? 

Training has already started, and we are glad about her easy-going attitude. 

Three months old, teething and needs to go out for a pee at least twice a night... 

We're a bit exhausted with that and all the daytime puppy energy, 

not to mention the fact the kitten and puppy were mortal enemies until yesterday, 

when they started playing, albeit play-fighting. 

I'll have to have well forgotten about this tiredness 

before I would ever be willing to consider a human baby. 

But the fur baby is so cute!

We do have happy grand-puppy-parents who will take her 

for a bit of sitting now and then, 

and best of all I had my best friend for a whole week to help me out! 

Now please meet our feather-puff babies, known as "the chickies". 

They aren't actually all that stinky. They might even sleep more than they eat or poop. 

I love their eyelashes. Lol, did you know? No teeth, but they've got lashes! 

My favourite part, other than petting their soft fluff, is listening to them peep. 

I forgot to take photos when they first arrived but, on day two they got combs:

These little girls (or so they are meant to be) should grow rather quickly into laying hens. 

So far they are one week old and they have real feathers growing in 

(all now have wing feathers and 15 have tail feathers, too!) 

and they're more than double their original weight. Weight gain has a bit of a spread at the minute.

By a bit, I only mean 14 grams, but that's substantial when you only weigh an average of 79 grams.

They are getting faster on their strong, lengthening legs.

On day three, they got feathers:

All 26 brown leghorns made it through the post without casualty. Phew! 

Hopefully we can do our part to keep them safe and healthy. No kitty, no!!! 

(This is when coyote looks really nice as a coat/hat/moccasins/mittens etc.)

We are going to need to start an egg business come August! 

And before long I'm going to have to buy a sack of chick grower 

as they'll have eaten all their starter! 

Georgi and Rori (for the most part) come when called. 

I wonder if the chickens will at all? For now everything startles them.

I love all my babies!!! ❤️❤️❤️