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!

Comments

jaz@octoberfarm said…
your gardens are amazing! i am glad things have rebounded for you. through years of nonstop traveling, i picked out aspects of things i saw and incorporated them into my property. i find few reasons to leave it these days! i never thought of making pesto with radish tops. what a good idea!
Jill said…
Glad your back safe and sound. There's no place like home.
Rain said…
Dorothy was so right Bev.... There is no place like home....
:)
I'm interested in the radish top pesto. I was wondering if it had a bitter taste or just had that great spicy bite of a basil pesto?
Lynne said…
Yes indeed . . . a visit to Bee Haven Acres is just as enjoyable as Sedona . . .
Gone Country said…
What a nice surprise to come home to a more lush garden than when you left!

Your strawberries and grapes should be nice and sweet because of the cold-snap/freeze.

Does the Farmacology book go in to any detail about what types of foods/herbs are good for different health issues? I'm always on the lookout for books and/or tips on what foods to eat for heart health.

Give Ginger and MaryAnn a belly-rubbing for me!
Unknown said…
Love it all...so glad you are back home...enjoy.
Junebug said…
Doesn't a little time away make home that more special. Your garden is looking wonderful and pesto from radish tops??? That's a new one for me. I finally got my garden all planted, it turned really wet on us. Now I can't wait for thing to start growing. Ahh, life in the garden, can it get any better then that? Here's to a great week, Hugs!
This N That said…
Mollie has that same philosophy...Your gardens look wonderful..Pretty soon all those flowers will turn in to fruit..I have 6 flowers on my tomato plant..LOL
Anonymous said…
I do love all of your greens in PA, much more than all that rock.
Country Gal said…
Wonderful post and photos ! Everything looks great and growing nicely ! I bet the critters missed you guys and vise versa ! I think your farm is wonderful as is this blog which lets us live or relive in my case farm life through it . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !
Unknown said…
Nice post! The gardens look fantastic and the critters are sweet! The pavilion looks great too! it is tucked away in a perfect spot!
Anonymous said…
It is Mary Ann I Have on my fridge!!! well they are both cuties anyway.

Annie v.
Robyn said…
LOVED this post.. I love the pigs.. They are SO adorable! Who could not love those piggy noses and piggy kisses. I had 2 pigs and they were such cuddle bugs and clean at that!.. I am SO glad your gardens have come to life again! I felt so badly for you after that frost but everything looks beyond beautiful..
daisy g said…
Wow! You have an abundance of strawberry blossoms! Enjoy it all-it looks magical!