her able hands

I’m feeling the pull stronger after last night’s dinner, when I popped open the last container of sunflower seed pesto from the freezer, and also used the last quart of slow-roasted tomatoes. I have a pint left, and about ten jars of tomato sauce, one half-gallon of garlic and tomato soup with navy beans, and maybe ten jars of pickles. One pint of pickled beets, a couple of jars of dilly beans, some canned green beans, one jar of peach jam, and two containers of New England Pie Pumpkin puree in the freezer. That’s it. Larder’s getting empty. I feel my pulse quickening at the prospect of a whole new season of making ready for the next winter. I know; it’s a sickness that I’m already thinking about another hibernation time with this one still standing in the door, making its long goodbye.

We’ve been outside since about nine o’clock this morning, basking in the gorgeous sun. First thing we did was move those poor giant chickens to the tractor, and the joyful sounds they’re making as they romp around on the grass, scratching up the dirt and eating bugs is truly the sound of spring. Mix that in with the surround-sound of the peepers in the marsh across the street, and in the multiple ponds on our neighbors’ properties, the hawks crying out to their mates across the deep blue sky, the songbirds returning, and Lila’s constant shouts of her latest discoveries, and it’s loud around here. Happy loud.

Tyler helped me with the bird transfer, and he and Chris will put the finishing touches on the tractor tonight; plywood on the north and east sides, and hinges and a lock for part of the roof panel. I figure we’ve got maybe three weeks to get the next one built, then they’ll be off the heat lamp. I’m a bit concerned about the possum who likes to visit the cat food bowl on the back deck, and hope that the hardware cloth we anchor down on the ground around the perimeter of the tractor keeps any nighttime marauders deterred. Lila made sure the roofing panels were screwed in nice and tight for the day.

You’ll probably think I’m insane to be so excited about the prospect of these birds pooping every 13.5 seconds, but I am. They’re laying down liquid gold. After about six weeks the bedding should be 6-8” deep, then we’ll move the tractor to a new spot to start building up another raised bed. Next spring I’ll have clean, nitrogen-rich, relatively weed free beds to plant mesclun, asian greens, carrots, parsnips, and lettuce. Poop on, dear biddies!

After we got the birds settled, Tyler got the fire pit going so he could try his hand at some blacksmithing.

He’s making a list of items to offer up on Freecycle, and posting a wanted ad for an anvil. Time to find out how much Chris’ friend wants for his old forge. This is an interest he’s held for a couple of years now, so I think it’s time for us to make more of an investment in it. Who knows, he could become a world-renowned sword crafter.

Next up, Tyler hauled all of the branches from the orchard trimming to the burn pile, and we made a dent in the three years worth of brush that’s built up and harbors yellow jacket nests all summer long. I’d like to have that gone before the steady heat returns, so we don’t have as many stings next year. Those bastids hurt.

While the pile smoldered, Lila and I planted two nice rows of Super Sugar Snap peas. I was amazed at how she took to the earthworms, because when a bug lands on her she loser her shit completely. She has a “Mommy! A bug!” voice, and it’s terrifying. I’ve heard it several times a day all week, and each time I think for a moment that a giant mouth with fangs and a forked tongue has opened up beneath her feet to swallow her whole. But she pulled the worms up out of their burrows and let them squirm around on her hand. She even gave a big, fat night crawler a little kiss before she plopped it back down into the cool soil.

Last year, I think I might have seen a dozen worms the entire season, but today I unearthed dozens with every turn of the digging fork. The soil is drying out a lot faster this spring, but we’ll see how it does after the rains this weekend. I still want to plant some Snow and Shell Peas, but might wait until after the rains. Instead I got two more of the cold frames planted with more Mesclun, Nevada lettuce, Pink Chard, Dill, Genovese Basil, Cilantro, and Bloomsdale Spinach.

I’m pooped after so much work, and still trying to knock this sick out of my body. I can feel how I’m right on the verge of overdoing it. Push, push, push. It’s hard not to give in to the urge to power on after so many days of wandering around the property in the cold, wet winter, unable to do much of anything. Now I’m itching to knock it down.

Unfortunately I may have knocked myself out in the process, and there’s dinner yet to be made, and the house looks like a cyclone has spent a month swirling around inside of it. For two days in a row Lila’s skipped her afternoon nap in favor of romping about in the grass, and I suspect we’re heading into a new phase. I’ll miss you, afternoon naps, but I’m sure enjoying our bigger girl. She’s looking pretty pooped too, and I suspect she’s a lot like her father: part cat.

Bookmark It