Happy Spring.

We had a very nice weekend, something we desperately needed after the last few weeks.

On Friday we got another delivery of fruit trees and bushes.  The kids and I planted blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, and twenty sugar maple trees.  Our old house had a half acre stand of sugar maples which we tapped each spring to make maple syrup.  All we have here are oaks, which are large and lovely, but alas do not provide that sticky, sweet elixir.  The planting of the sugar maples is indeed a long-term investment, they will not be productive for at least ten years, but we are patient.

Saturday we had planned to plant our grape arbor, however, it was the coldest, nastiest day imaginable.  The kids and I have been chipping away at the pile of mess that is our garage and we had managed to clear enough space to make a work area for Mike.  So instead of putting in our ‘vineyard’ we spent the day in the garage helping Mike clean and organize all of his equipment.  That night we spent HOURS cleaning the house, a true spring clean that was overdue after the constant stress of the last month.

Today, Easter Sunday, was spent with my parents and brother who leaves for the Air Force tomorrow.  It was a cold day, but sunny and it was very nice to be surrounded by family.  Earlier this week we had butchered one of our roosters after he had tried to ‘mate’ with Charlotte.  We have a strict rule on this farm, and any animal that attacks a person in an unprovoked manner does not live to see the sun set.  I was sad to see this rooster go, but such is farm life.  I took the opportunity to make coq au vin, a la Alton Brown.  The recipe takes two days to make, but it was extremely tasty.  We also had a ham from our friends at Hurricane Farm.  It was the most delicious ham I have ever had, as I was carving it, juices were just oozing down the knife.  It was so flavorful.  I glazed it with a combo of peach and hot pepper jelly that we had made this summer mixed with some red wine vinegar.  We had some lovely asparagus, carrots, green beans, and a spinach salad.  For dessert, blueberry pie, pumpkin pie (my brother’s favorite), and homemade vanilla ice cream that Mike made.  We also dyed easter eggs and had baskets of candy for the kids.  It was a really nice day, a great send off for my brother who will be extremely missed by all of us.