Rejuvenation

If you read yesterday's post, you will agree with me

that Sedona is a spectacularly beautiful place.

However, if you were here with me right now, back on the farm,

you would have to agree that it is pretty darn beautiful right here in

Central PA!

(The pavilion is finally finished... we love it!)

At least, that is how I feel.

(The woods surrounding the pavilion are filled with mountain phlox)

There is a certain peace deep within me,

that only time here on the farm can give.

The tasks, the routine, the time spent with our critters

fills me with a tranquility that I have never found elsewhere!

Remember how devastated I was two weeks ago, 

when we suffered that deep freeze?

I was sure that our strawberries were wiped out, and that our grapes were history...

not to mention my poor burned out flowers and some of the veggies.

Amazingly, during our time away,

(with our friend Kathy's tender-loving-watering)

the vegetable garden has grown like crazy!

The strawberries have pushed out new blossoms...

so our harvest should be pretty good!

The grapes have little clusters of green grape-lets that grow a little each day.

And although the leaves are sparse, the vines are pushing out new leaves each day.

Every meal is now chocked full of farm goodness.

Breakfast yesterday:

A farm fresh egg, over easy, on a bed of freshly picked and sautéed asparagus.

Organic whole grain toast with pesto made from our harvested radish tops.

(Our Amanda made this delectable spread substituting radish leaves for basil....

and it is wonderful!)

These blueberries are store-bought, but by next month...

we will be eating our own.

I am currently reading this book:

It talks about the importance of growing and eating your own produce...

and how important soil health is for our own health.

It supports philosophies that I have held for years...

philosophies that helped to push me to my current life style.

I highly recommend this book!

And last, for today...

I have had several questions lately about how to tell the difference between 

our sweet piggie gals, Ginger and MaryAnn.

For starters....

Ginger has more white in her coloration than MaryAnn.

Most importantly, though, Ginger has a black spot around her right eye.

(She'd rather fight than switch!)

MaryAnn has less white,

and if you saw them side by side, is the bigger of the two.

Although very similar, they do have some minor personality differences.

MaryAnn is definitely the more outgoing of the two 

and loves belly rubbins above all else.

Every once in a while, though, Ginger will drop at my feet
and ask for the same..

So there you have it!

Before signing off,
Maddie wanted to share her philosophy of life with you...

Take time to smell the flowers...
but, please, please, don't eat them!