temperatures are supposed to hover around 70 degrees this weekend – another day in central valley paradise 
. so, i am prepared for another great couple of work days out in the back yard. we have veggie beds to build, a chick coop to get ready for next week’s arrivals (25 barred rocks and 25 buff rocks), plus the regular weeding, sweeping, and clean up. this morning, i snuck out of the house with my camera and took a quick walk around the yard. below is a quick photo essay of why i love living here.
one of my favorite things about living in the central valley is the access to fresh fruit. if you haven’t visited “straight arrow farms,”(logo forthcoming) we have a variety of crops to offer you throughout the seasons: cherries, apples (x3), peaches (x2), apricots (x2), key lime, tangerine, meyer lemon, oranges (x2), lemon, red flame/thompson/black monuka/concord grapes, plums, pluots, nectarines, pears, grapefruit, olives and soon to be planted petite syrah wine grapes.
“pre”-aches
plum jelly – step 1
plum jelly – step 1, continued
if you haven’t raised chickens for fresh eggs, you don’t know what you are missing. abby is our chief egg-collector and typically comes in heralding the daily totals. i love to crack and scramble these newly collected eggs…the yolks are vibrantly yellow and the flavor is unbeatable.
omelets – step 1
breakfast for dr. seuss
it may look old and rusty, but just seeing this piece of equipment reminds me of our excellent soil that we have in our orchards and planting beds. it is like coffee grounds and the shovel digs down at least a foot with a simple push of your foot. my dad always says, “our soil is so good that i am afraid to leave a rake out in the dirt, because it would probably sprout limbs and start growing…”
tractor tiller
kendra is faithful to provide very beautiful pots all along the back porch. it’s my responsibility to provide the water (easy in the rainy season)…not so easy in the dead of summer, so enjoy these pictures while you can.
back porch pots
back porch pots again
i include this final picture, just so you know that life is not a “bowl of cherries.” we have our share of weeds out here!
weeds!
Posted on March 7th, 2008 by Fletch
Filed under: Living in Mangoland
Hey Fletch, Whats your thoughts on what is going on in CA regarding homeschooling?
Susan
I am SO JEALOUS! Blessings on the garden…may it be as fruitful as those who tend it.
Paul
The windchill was 13 degrees here today, and it was snowing. Our patches of ice and snow are every. bit. as. beautiful. as. those. flowe..waaaaaaaaaaa!
I see your previous post’s title and I echo: “Yippee for you.”
BTW, I had already signed the HSLDA petition to depublish the court’s ruling when I received Kenj’s e-mail. We’re watching closely, and we’ll do whatever we can to bolster the cause for you guys.
[...] Fletch’s blog today is full of the delightful promise of Spring. While it continues to snow here in the Midwest, his photos are a physical reminder that life is soon to return in all its vivid fullness–and someday our bodies will also find Winter turned to Spring. from I Corinthians 15: [...]
[...] « spring work day [...]
Lovely. Lovely. Thanks for sharing the photos.
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Mary Beth