Red Dirt Farm and Studio

Gardening. Spring.

 

Through the smudgy window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have forgiveness in my heart for Mrs. Squirrel trampling my tulips as she has babies on board.

Oh great, just what we need more squirrels running amuck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my gosh all the highs and lows all in one week.  We are all there aren’t we?

Good neighbors.

We appreciate having them, and especially during these difficult times.

Mr. Red Dirt did some work for our neighbor, and in exchange, the neighbor came up with his tractor tiller and tilled up garden space for us.

We then took him and his tractor over to our other neighbor and had him till up garden space for her.

She and I did some bartering.

She didn’t have seeds and I did, but she had fresh spinach and beets.  We made our exchange and both felt pretty happy about the outcome.

The fresh spinach was cooked into chicken soup that night, and the remainder stir-fried with onions the following night.  Tonight I will roast the beets and top with feta and crumbled pecans.

The wildflower pollinator meadow has been seeded.  It took me two days to do this one section.

I used several buckets of seeds, a board and my feet as the planting method, as recommended by American Meadows.

Scatter the seeds on freshly tilled soil, take the board and lay it over the seeds and walk back and forth on the board, pressing the seeds into the soil.

  Repeat, many many many times.

Mr. Red dirt planted potatoes, yellow squash, butternut squash, and cucumbers.

The next day he tilled up another area and started planting corn.

Later next week I hope to get the tomatoes and peppers in that I started back in March.

We are so fortunate to have our land to work and produce food for us, this has been our lifestyle for a long time. Sometimes we are tired and it feels ridiculously hard.  However, we are so appreciative that we can continue to do so, especially now.

I’ve planted dahlias, glads and liatris.   A million and one different sunflower seeds have been planted on just about every surface I could cover.

My vision – flowers everywhere with bees buzzing and butterflies fluttering, hummingbirds whizzing by.

Spring.

She arrived a bit early or perhaps blurred the lines a wee bit as winter wasn’t so much.

Heavy winds, thunder and rain.   High temps, and then dropping temps had me scrambling to cover tender vegetation.  Later tonight we are expecting more storms.

 

Take your time looking at the Coral honeysuckle, for there you will find the first hummingbirds of this season.

 

There is so much talk about putting in a Victory garden and raising your own chickens.  Hmm.

 

The girls have been in lockdown so much these past few weeks with relentless fox attacks, he got two of the girls last week.

  I hate that.

  I really hate that.

Two other girls have gone broody and so the countdown to chicks has begun.

My mind hasn’t been in the place to do much painting this week. Perhaps next week.

  The gardens have been my refuge.

The lilacs are a bit lackluster this year, it wasn’t cold enough for them this winter.  Same with Grammom’s peonies, no matter we enjoy them even if they are sparse.

Boo dog, had another set back this week and scared us just as we were pleased at the progress he had made after his first seizure. He was back to falling down and when he did walk it was in circles.  He is upright today and eating chicken noodle soup that I make especially for him.  He gets sick to his stomach from being dizzy and then does not want to eat.  Just one day at a time.

I hope your place of refuge feels safe and that you can find comfort and look to the future whatever it may be in a positive way.

Some days that is so hard.

We are safe at home.  Missing people and places and experiences.  But we are safe.

Easter Greetings to all.

Home – the nicest word there is. – Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Until next time,

xo kim