Welcome Comfort Farm

I'm not a Walmart fan, but we stopped in for something the other day and discovered their "Artisan" Breads. This is "Everything" bread, freshly baked and it was surprisingly delicious! I will have a slice for breakfast along with some berries. It is early and there is a chorus of birdsong out the kitchen window. The husband has left for work and my day will begin as well. Laundry, chores, 30 minutes in the garden, a walk with Jen and Ellie, and then off to the studio office. We have a dry day today, ( yeah!) so this evening will find us working in the garden before the rains come again for Wednesday and Thursday. Spring is a such a busy time here on the farm, and all this rain has us a bit behind. Not to complain though. Things are looking lush and our shallow well is sure to be alright for a spell!

My youngest daughter arrived early this morning to the farm and made the husband and I a wonderful breakfast of French Toast with Cream Cheese and Raspberries. Inspired by the gesture and the aroma of the lilacs wafting in through the screen door, the husband brought in a bouquet. I plopped them in an old Mason jar on the table and here we sit, drinking coffee, inhaling good smells, eating great food and enjoying each others company. Life is good :-)

We have had a wet and cool spring and as predicted, it is quite suddenly hot (88〫yesterday) and we are a couple weeks behind with our planting. It will be a busy weekend as the seedlings waiting patiently in the hoop house finally make their way into the soil. I have a sweet potato sprouting in the windowsill, plunked in a canning jar with water, just as my Amish friends instructed. This will be my first year planting them and I am very excited to have homegrown sweeties! I planted the Coneflowers and Shasta Daisy seedlings all along the patio fence and they have taken off nicely with the rain and heat. That fence line ought to be a burst of blooms come this summer! We are also very excited to have Rose Breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles hanging around. Beautiful plumage and song throughout the day!

Got a Facebook news flash that today was "Chick Day" at Voyce's Elevator. I made an immediate call to the husband to stop on his way home from work, buy a bag of chick feed and score some free chicks! We love Chick Days! Thank you Voyce's! Aren't they precious? Now I need to look them up and see what kind they are!

I'm whipping up some Cranberry Crispies this morning to go along with the Turkey Potato Tetrazzini that will be supper tonight. I'm trying a new recipe, only I'll be making my own Alfredo sauce and using freshly steamed broccoli in lieu of chopped frozen.The turkey is simmering on the stove and things already smell yummy in here. It is overcast and cool, making for a good morning to transplant some perennials before work too. Later this afternoon, I'll head over to the Amish farm where the fella that shears our sheep lives. I am certain the sheep are quite ready to lose their winter coat. There are several Gold Finch at the feeders this morning. They have nearly lost their dull green winter coat and will soon be sporting their bright yellow plumage; a sure sign better temperatures are on the way!

While staying with the Amish last week, the ewes started to lamb, making for an exciting and busy time. This group of mommas seemed like a particularly friendly bunch and I regret having to leave before they were well on their way to birthing twins and triplets. I am certain they could use some extra hands and I would have totally enjoyed being in the nursery this week!

I'm spending this week with my Amish "family". Marie and I woke up early this morning and made home made cinnamon rolls. Yum! I ran up to the nearest town to an internet cafe to work just a bit while the rolls rose and baked. Will be back soon to eat them for morning break. Love it here!

I'm leaving the husband behind to hold down the farm for a few days and heading off for another Amish adventure. Catching the train tonight and going back in time to a completely different culture!

Having a wonderful weekend :-) Christopher was in town, so we planned plenty of face time with the family. From a homemade (home-grown) chicken pot pie dinner on Friday night to a big pancake and sausage breakfast this morning, it was a great balance of family time and down time.

On Saturday, while Christopher hung out with Jen, just the husband and I went for a late lunch at Red Lobster followed by coffee and books at Barnes & Noble. After time with the fam, Red Lobster and B&N are my idea of heaven! Now Sunday evening with all quiet on the home front, it's microwave popcorn and a movie in about an hour. Very grateful for my family!

The windows are fogging as lasagna noodles boil. Having never installed a kitchen exhaust fan, we wallow in everything I cook. Not so bad though until it comes to cleaning, ha! But enough about cleaning. The aroma of a huge pot of sauce simmering brings anticipation of supper that is to be later tonight. I'm making a double batch and taking the second to a recent widower. His wife's death was sudden and unexpected and I will miss her. It's morning and the sun is rising, shining on me as I wash dishes and bringing promise to another day. It feels wonderful. My thoughts at the moment are being grateful for Italian cuisine and the ability to savor every bite :-)