In which we dance on the cusp of spring with spicy stews and fresh bread, tender asparagus, the garden starts raring to go, Blackbird flocks and nesting Bluebirds, pollen flying and a flying Belle, a hidden snake, Life in the Time of Covid, iris blooms, and seed potatoes.
CURRY
Comfort food comes in many forms. This one involves coconut milk, peanut butter, cauliflower, and greens. We serve it over rice with chutney, canned fruit, and dried nuts.
BRING IT ON
As we begin to worry about what to pair with scalloped potatoes on Sunday, our asparagus patch rises to the occasion.
COVID DIVERSIONS
We have plenty to keep our minds off the approaching apocalypse. See what kinds of things, here: Life in the Time of Covid
BLACKBIRDS
Bob identified this reoccurring flock as female Red-winged blackbirds after significant research.
RARING TO GO
Our plant starts are extraordinarily healthy and eager to jump into the garden, but we have asked them to wait until next month. We will be planting nine kinds of peppers, including Doug Jones’ inimitable Sweet Jemisons, tomatillos, ground cherries and Sun Gold cherry tomatoes.
FLOWERS, WILD AND TAME
Camille brought home a Trout Lily bloom to show Bob who must stay tied to his desk during the work week. The roses are looking very good so far. We will see.
MAY QUEEN
Baby May Queen lettuce promise many salads to come. Those are beets beyond. We had run out of lettuce but were unwilling to go shopping. By the end of the month, we were harvesting a couple of leaves from each plant for side salads, and we have signed up with Red Roots Farm for their Spring CSA to begin next month. No grocery stores needed.
POLLEN
We don’t get out much these days, as evidenced by the pollen sheen on Val and Oliver.
POLLEN BARREL
A bit artsy, no? This is the before photo. Camille waited until after the pollen phase was over to scrub the barrel clean.
HARBINGERS
To the dogwood and the redbud we say, “Ahhhh – welcome!”
HANK AND DOROTHY
The older we get, the more we model ourselves after Bob’s Uncle Hank and Aunt Dorothy. That’s phlox in the background.
BRINGING OUT THE IRISH
Just past St. Paddy’s Day, Bob picks up a knife and, with an impish nod, slices up our seed potatoes. A few days later, Camille planted them out: German Butterball, Huckleberry Gold, Red Thumb, and Yukon Gold.
THE ROYAL FLOWER OF SPRING
We leave most of them out for curb appeal, and bring a few in to fill the house with fragrance.
SPEAKING OF CURB APPEAL
Some places have it. Some don’t
FAIR TRADE
Camille traded this loaf of bread for these gorgeous eggs, a more-than-fair trade. Cheap protein we don’t have to go to the store for. Thank you, Helen, Ted, and Judy!
____________________________________________________________
THIS MONTH’S QUOTES:
“The coronavirus doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican. It will not discriminate based on national origin, race, gender or your zip code. It will touch people in positions of power, as well as the most vulnerable people in our society. We’re all in this together. This is a moment for each of us.” – Joe Biden
“I just went to a crowded Red Robin and I’m 30. It was delicious, and I took my sweet time eating my meal. Because this is America. And I’ll do what I want.” – Katie Williams, former Ms. Nevada
“After more than a generation of a culture that idealized individualism and said selfish greed was good, the coronavirus is forcing us to evaluate whether that is what we want to be as a government, and as a nation.” – Heather Cox Richardson
____________________________________________________________
The easiest way to locate a page or photo from past issues is with this handy Search Engine
Explore the back story and much more on our blog: Plastic Farm Animals