The Orchard Is Starting To Break It's Buds

Things are coming up and bursting out it is hard to capture them all. The orchard is starting to bloom. The first honesty (money plant) is coming up and blooming. The hyacinth's look and smell wonderful. Fairview has many varieties of hyacinths.

Cold Start

It was freezing this morning. The house temp fell down to 62*. A bit chilly of a start to the morning, quickly lit a fire in the wood stove. Decided to water the peas from yesterday's planting. The ground in the garden was frozen. Would go back later in the day after it had warmed. All the seedlings had to stay inside until noon when the temperature rose to 62* F. outside. They stayed out until 3 p.m. ( a little shorter today than before). Picked more daffodils that had been blown over suffering from stem crease.

Spring Has Sprung

Glory, glory, glory. It is a wonderful day, planted 1/2 lb of snow peas this morning, about a dozen snap peas and a row of red curly leaf lettuce. Wild flowers are popping up all around. Baby blue eyes are a favorite here at Fairview. Of course more daffodils are just beginning to bloom. The daffs the Smith family gave to Fairview back in January are starting to show some color. Some of the poets narcissus are blooming.

It Is Good To Be On The Planet Today

It is one of those fabulous spring days that everything seems to be going perfect. Planted 2 more flats of tomatoes and a row of arugula. Transplanted some aloe vera into larger pots and the same for oregano and thyme. Spring is coming out like gang busters. The trees are blooming profusely. The cherry has come out today. Turned the soil over for the planting of snow peas tomorrow.

New Moon In Aries

Oh it is really warm today. On the deck it is 78* at noon. The warm temperature are making the dandelions come up and bloom. The orchard floor will be filled soon with a mass of yellow. The pear buds are about to break as well as the peaches. Praying that there will be no heavy downpours or freezing temperatures while the trees bloom. Noticed that the bell peppers that were planted a couple weeks ago are now starting to emerge with their cotyledon leaves, like the tomatoes. Picked many more daffodils that have been stem creased by the grapple from Monday. Inside the house is filling up with all shades of yellow and white with a little pink daffodils.

Blue Skies

It is a great day to be alive. More and more buds are starting to break. The tomatoes are now emerging from all 5 flats. It is so exciting to watch this miraculous adventure. Hopefully will be able to can some for next years use and possible sell some at the farmers market.
Noticed the crabapple tree is blooming and will post an image of it later. The crabapple has come from the golden delicious root make 2 types of trees. Really don't have the heart to remove it because of the blossoms it has on it. On further inspection this year the blooms on the crabapple are not that spectacular, it is leafing out while some appear on bare branches.

Pretty In Pink

Everything seems to be in a pink glow today. What does it all mean? Surprisingly the flat of red and yellow pear tomatoes have started sending up the first two leaves of the plant. Certainly was fast since they just hit the dirt yesterday. Took them outside today for some sunshine; however, not much direct sun, slightly overcast. Spent some time outside taking images of the landscape. Yesterday the organic supplier of seeds and all sorts of gardening items called to say the order of peas had arrived. So today journeyed up to purchase the 1/2 lb of snow peas, seed inoculant and rock phosphate. Probably will plant this Saturday since the moon will be in Taurus and going towards the full moon, an excellent time for planting crops that produce above the ground.

Planting Tomatoes

It was a beautiful day today, very warm able to remove shirt and pants and plant 5 flats of tomatoes. Varieties are Brandywine, Roma, Yellow and Red Pear, Beefsteak and Large Cherry Red. Saturday will plant 2 more flats one more of Roma and the other flat of Super Marmande. Started the seeds a few days ago when the moon was in Capricorn. They had sprouted and had to be put into dirt. Today the moon is in Pisces. The moon is moving towards the dark of the moon; however, treating the seedlings like perennials. Who knows somewhere in the world they are aren't they? At least in greenhouses.
The other part of the day was gathering more creased stemmed daffodils such as the image that was taken. It has a pink trumpet. Mother wanted a space for only pink flowers. Tried however did not succeed. Too many gardeners in the plot.
Have been thrilled that some fellow bloggers are discovering Fairview.

Daffodils On A Bright Sunshiny Day

Well the sun is shining brightly however this morning was 24*F. The poor daffodils were flatten down to the ground, some were even snapped off, while others merely creased somewhere up the stem and others were only arched over with their heads touching the ground. The grapple was too much yesterday along with the snow. Looking forward to a warming trend.

Mo' Snow

Somehow the snow was not around upon waking this morning; however, it waited till 8:30 a.m. and dropped so far 1" and is still snowing. Last night's weather news said it would be over by noon today. The radio weather news this morning said it would last all day and clear tomorrow. Just proves weather is not an exact science.
Walked out in the snow to the storage tank to let the water flow into the well holding tank. On the way decided to snap this image.
It most certainly has been a real transition of a day. Had a couple inches of snow that melted when the sun came out. The sun disappeared and grapple fell from the sky and again the sun came out melting the grapple. Again the sun disappeared and again the grapple fell. The sun reappeared and the grapple fell while it was out. It is going to last through the evening.
Yesterday a wild turkey came to visit Fairview. Not to happy about it though it was marked beautifully. Apparently it spent the night, witnessed it this morning having breakfast on the slope. Very unusual to see them solo.

It Is Happening Again

Collected some wood from the back 40. Cut it up into burnable pieces and started to stack them in their designated spots, upon placing the last armful it started to rain. Has been very cold today only reaching 50* F. on the deck. Rumor has it that upon waking in the morning, snow will be on the ground and covering the little pretties (daffodils). Probably it will be a photo opportunity.
The wood stove is going making the house warm. Already at 1 p.m. the temperature has dropped down to 46* F. It must be snowing in the mountains. This is supposedly a short winter storm that will drop 1' of snow at the highest elevations.

Happy First Day Of Spring

It is finally here the first day of Spring, yippie doodle. Noticing that some of the wildflowers at Fairview are coming up and blooming.

Last Day Of Winter

It is surprisingly beautiful and warm today. By noon the temperature is 74*F. A day to lay around naked in the sun absorbing all that vitamin D. Tried just a little this afternoon when it was 76*F. It is great to be alive.
Snow is predicted for Sunday morning. Seems to always happen when the daffodils are looking really good and in full bloom and then wham a snow storm to crush them down to the ground.

Had somewhat of a quiet St. Patrick's Day. It was one of the few celebrated without alcohol. In bed by 9. Starting to even get bored with myself.
It is a warm day today and feeling a bit lax. It is one of those days to lay naked in a field of wildflowers.

Erin Go Braugh

Happy St. Patricks Day

A gray day. Drizzle, misty and foggy. The daffodils certainly stand out on a day like today. Not much work done today, feeling a bit on the lazy side. Managed to make dinner.

the Ides of March

Yep it is a day to remember. It is raining at Fairview. Lightly raining, which is the best kind, since, it soaks in. This is good for the seeds that were planted and the daffodils. Planted fourteen 6 packs of bell peppers so far. Running out of potting soil. Planting by the moon phases and it's astrological signs is a technique that Fairview uses.

Preparing for the next rain. Loaded the house with wood for the fires. This next rain is not expecting to be a severe storm, only very light. Did water the new pomegranate and nectarine. Was it mentioned Wednesday a pomegranate variety sweet was purchased along with Shirley poppies and tuberose. Tried to buy 1/2 lb of Chinese peas; however, the supply store was out so ordered them. At Fairview it is an old custom to have potatoes and peas in the ground by St. Patrick's Day. Waiting for the phone call to pick up the order of peas, while there probably will purchase more seeds like tomatoes, corn green beans and whatever seems appealing.
Going to plant some bell peppers in six packs tomorrow. Can't get enough peppers. This is a 1st to have started them by seed. Soaked them on a paper towel, then put them inside a zip lock plastic bag. Waited for them to sprout (which has happened) and then plant in 6 packs with potting soil . If there are too many probably will sell the plants or the product.

What A Beautiful Day

Today it has been warm, just the perfect Spring day. Cut all the oak limbs that were collected from the previous storm and stacked them on the wood pile. Tomorrow has been predicted to be a cold and possibly rainy day. Sore from yesterday's planting of potatoes. It is just so beautiful outside that it is extremely difficult to be inside.

Spring Planting

Getting a head start on planting this year. After going to the hardware store for hardware wire so the gophers will not eat the roots or root crops finally the potatoes are in the ground today. Started soaking the bell pepper seeds. Had to water the daffodils that were planted in January since there has been no rain for a week. Supposedly it will feel more like spring next week. The average rainfall did catch up however, now it has fallen back to 2" below average. Certainly Fairview needs more rainfall. Last year the rain came to a complete stop after February.

Colder than a Well Diggers .....

Yep another cold morning. The poor daffodils. Had to pick some more today. It seems that when they are freezing they bend down to the ground and the bugs find them and start eating them. Not liking that at all.

Today is very cold. It is good since it will keep the orchard in dormancy and also the Lilacs. The daffys were all bent over this morning from the freezing temperatures. Some of them had to be picked because of the stem being bent with a crease so the water will not transpire to the bloom. O, well they do add some color to the inside of the house. The daffodils are definitely making a show with much solid yellow ones blooming (Dutch Master and King Alfred). The other varieties are beginning to bloom. Not sure of their varietal names.
Feeling much better today and taking it on the easy side. No relapses. Looking forward to Wednesday, planning on purchasing some potato starts and another bareroot fruit tree. Maybe a mushroom kit, probably portabella or shittake. Might even buy some vegetable seeds for planting in spring and summer.
Fairview's garden begins around St. Patrick's Day with planting of potatoes and peas. This is established by the old timers of the area. Most other things are planted in May and finished planted by Memorial Day (May31). It can snow here unil the middle of May and on occasion on July 4. That is what happen last year a very late May cold snap that ruined all the blossoms on everything in the orchard. No peaches, walnuts, pears, figs, and grapes. Praying that will not happen this year as it would be the third year in a row.

International Women's Day

Slept most of the night. Before bed took a couple more Advil, since the lower back pain came back around 8 p.m. It seemed to work. Fell fast asleep. Woke up knowing the time change happened and there was no lower back pain only the dreadful thought of changing those damn clocks. Really do not understand all this change of time spring ahead fall back. It just is not right. Keep the same time all year around.

It is good to be alive

What a night to remember. Much pain in lower back and down the backs of both legs all day and night. Before bed took some Advil and fell fast asleep only to be awaken by that awful pain again, after tossing and turning for some time decided to go downstairs and find that bottle of Advil. Took a couple and managed to crawl back upstairs to bed. It was 4:45 a.m. Laid down and fell fast asleep. Awoke at 6:45 a.m. No pain all better now. It truly is good to be alive today.
Decided not to waste the beautiful day and go to work. Loaded the house with more firewood. Got that back pack blower going and blew all the litter off the roadway and around the house. Let the water run from one storage tank to another. Drove to the store to get supplies. Truly is great to be back.

It is a better day, today. That ugly cold is leaving, leaving, leaving. Joints sometimes ache so badly must lay down for a couple hours then bounce back to do some work.

California Sunshine

Today is like the perfect California sunny day, a little brisk, however, the temperature will rise. The ugly cold is slowly going away. Piled on the blankets last night. Woke up and fell back to sleep all night long. Did a truck run over this shell of a body? Feels like it did. Not able to concentrate much when being this miserable. Good night.

Sicky

Woke up many time last night with a sore throat. A full blown cold has raised its ugly head. Gypsy Cold Care being consumed by the gallons.
It snows on and off all day.

One More Night of Hell

Have been awake most of the night with the wind rattling, howling and whistling. Upon ejecting from the bed this morning decided if the pillows were plastered against the closet door it might stop it from rattling when the wind blows so forcefully. By golly it seems to work. Maybe tonight only the sounds of silence will be heard, making way for perfect sleep.
Received two bottles of wine from the neighbors, a late Christmas gift. Thinking of opening one of them right now and drinking the whole thing. Perhaps, then sleep will follow. Yeah, then wake up in the middle of the night with great thirst and run around looking for the water downstairs. This scenario has been played out before, after a couple hours then return to bed and toss and turn for another couple hours before finally falling asleep.
Well this posting is after one bottle of wine. The second is being worked on and there is no sleep in the forecast. Have been able to drink much of this wine and never received a hang-over because of being sulfite free and organic. It tastes very good and is like grape juice with a zinger. The zinger can be good. Is this called perving? Don't know. Maybe too old?

Sleepless in Fairview

Feel like it was a knock down drag out over night. Not much sleep since the wind was so strong and kept blowing and blowing all night long. Whistling and howling, rattling, clanking and just making such mayhem. Praying that the roof would stay on the house. At least no worries about a tree falling on the house again just pine cones hitting the windows. Probably will sleep this afternoon after lunch like a fat pig.
The rain just keeps coming down. Most of the daffodils filled with too much water are face down in the dirt. If this continues for a long time will be forced to pick the beauties. This goes against all appreciation of the beauty they make when looking at the meadow or wherever they maybe growing and blooming. Outside their magnificence is much desired and besides they last longer than when picked.

Woke up late this morning. Stayed in bed 12 hours. Feeling the effects of yesterday. Sore arm and leg muscles. Apparently not in the best of shape nowadays. Will work on shaping up over the next few months. By the end of cutting wood season can work all day long without noticing.
The rain is here again making it a perfect day for some housework, running the vacuum, maybe dusting and mopping floors. Maybe by the end of these several storms the house might be spotless and not needing anything done to it until summer. lol