It's time to start the spring thing! Even though spring is not officially here, today was the beginning of getting ready for our spring work. The robins have been fluttering in every bare spot of ground they can find and eating the little apples off our Flowering Crab Apple trees. They also like the red seeds on the Sumac. I guess they know what they are doing coming back north in February! We pruned the apple trees at a balmy 42 degrees with a real feel of 32, very windy as predicted. We worked up a little sweat considering the snow is up to my knees, (yeah, yeah I know I'm short) pulling branches through the snow is a workout for the first spring job. I see the weather is going to dip back into the single digits this week. Just another break to knit, sew and enjoy Cook'n by the Creek before spare time is scarce. All too soon our days will be outdoors doing what needs to be done. My hands will look like "man hands" until October. Still it is refreshing to know winter will soon be just a memory, spring green and beautiful flowers will be the view from my kitchen window. Not to mention, birds singing during the day and peepers chirping at night to us. A cool drink or coffee outside in the evening is another thing we look forward to by winter's end. Country life...........it does have a place in my heart.
Another good thing is happening in our basement. The fig trees are starting to show leaf buds which means they get moved from the dark back room to the front room for the
spring sunshine. This will be the second year we have had the fig trees and are hoping they will produce even if it is just one fig this summer. Just give me a sign we are caring for them the right way. I really like figs. On a trip to NC I had my first taste of fresh figs from a friends tree. Oh my gosh, I really need to get back there in the summer and pick a bushel! I probably ate 10 pounds of them that week. There are so many things to do with them including delicious fig filled sugar cookies.....I doubt mine will ever produce enough that I could do much with, other than a snack.
This afternoon we took a hike on our back hill and started a little campfire for a hot dog roast..We even took enough hot dogs for our dogs to have one. Nothing worse than eating something so good and having 6 eyes staring at your every move. I am not a hot dog person unless they are burnt and cooked over an open fire. I stay away from bread but there are times like a roasted hot dog that requires a warm roll to complete the "ahhhhh" taste. Spicy mustard is all I need for a gourmet lunch. ;) From the camp table you can see my other favorite to take along, coffee. It makes a great end to a beautiful walk, lunch out and enjoying the warm sun.
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| Our view down the valley, "Old Baldy" |
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| The view up Clara Valley |
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| The fire to roast hot dogs |
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| The only way, burnt with mustard! Yum |
