Blossoming Inside and Outside!

Yes, the kitchen is blossoming into its final form and the apple trees in my neighbor's orchard are in bloom as well.   There has been a big construction delay because the electrician expected to do the project has failed to start at all.  The crew installing the cabinets and doing all the other tasks have done a great job working around this problem. It will not be ready by Memorial Day for sure but I might get lucky and have a sink at least and the cook top in place and functioning. The granite countertop by the window is to be installed on Thursday the 26th and the plumber and gas company are to come on Friday to finish the install of the sink and cook top.  If onl;y the electricity work was done as well so the hood fan, lights and dishwasher on that wall also worked for the weekend!

No new ceiling lights are in place yet, of course so the ceiling and the floor refinishing has to be delayed as well.  Hence the project will certainly linger on well into June.  But I love the look and am anxious to make some rhubarb pies from the rapidly growing rhubarb. In early June the first of the strawberries will be ready for jam making and the canning season will begin.  A functioning kitchen better happen fast!

The weather here has been cold, rainy and endlessly cloudy with minimal moments of any sunshine.  Hence any seed planting has triggered few emerging signs of growth. We really need some sun and heat!  No late frost or flooding as in past years but really no better gardening results with the weather we did receive. I continue to do what I can with wood cutting, weeding and garden bed preparations but yearn to just be planting seeds and veggie plants and watching them grow.

Progress in the kitchen and the gardens

There is a lot to report about for the last ten days. First of all, the kitchen work began again after a long pause with no action.  As you can see below, the new cabinets have started to be installed. Next week should be full of activity with the appearance of the electrician finally so the work can now rapidly progress. I am hoping to have it all done by Memorial Day weekend but that might be a close call.

The weather continues to be very nice with not much rain and slowly warming weather. The May full moon will not bring a late frost as was the case last year. As the weather has been a lot chillier than 2010, the flowers, blossoming trees and early veggies are about two weeks behind "schedule."  My glorious border of tulips along the Raised Bed Garden is in full bloom now and the fruit trees are just beginning to flower. My first asparagus pick finally occured and various seeds have now sprouted: lettuce; peas; turnips; broccoli raab and the first beet seedlings. The onion plants have adjusted and are standing up nicely but the seed potatoes haven't broken through yet. I continue to work on my firewood supply for next winter and now have over two cords stacked and covered.

Even though I am mentioning this last on this post, the most exciting news of the past ten days was my first experience with an exploding airbag and the death of my trusty 1992 oldsmobile.  Yes, a car crash happened but no injuries occured except the death of a long time (since 1995) family friend, the olds. Another car turned into me at a bad intersection and my car is not worth fixing. I still have my reliable pickup truck but will miss this comfortable vehicle that ends its use for me at 192,000.

Check back soon for more kitchen pictures will be posted in a few days!

Blooms Abound and Veggie Planting is in Full Swing

    When the magnolia tree is in bloom the joy of spring dominates the landscape here at the Schlaver Seed Farm. The daffodils, hyacinths are blooming as well and the tulips are beginning to open and sport their bright colors.
     Grass cutting has even begun after the mice nest was removed from under the mower's engine cover and the moveable parts were oiled and readied for use.
    The rhubarb is growing nicely and the garlic gets taller by the day. I look hopefully for the first asparagus sspears to emerge. But it is time to plant the spring crops that don't mind chilly weather at night and spring rains. So the following crops are now planted: peas, beets, carrots, radish, turnip, broccoli raab, lettuce and lots of potatoes and onions. The Brussels sprouts and kale stalk left in the garden last fall are growing again!  The last image is the potato patch and rows of onion plant protected by landscape cloth to protect them from the devestation of weeds and grass that stunted that crop last year. The potatoes total 125 feet of them in six short rows. Approximately 250 onions are in.