Life in May

Life is in full swing here at Girasole Farm. 

Remember the ORCHARD we planted several years ago? It's finally getting big enough for us to reap the benefits of fresh fruit.  Plums, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, Persimmons, Pomegranates. 

We've added chickens to the farm this year. 

I can hardly wait for them to start laying eggs. 

Ah yes- the staple of the Farm, horses. 

The 'boys' are doing well, and are fulfilling their duties as field ornaments. 

It wouldn't be home without them. 

The vegetable garden is small again this year, using the four small raised beds from last year. 

Just the basics, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Isley & Jalepeno peppers, Radishes, and some Carrots. 

The rest I need comes from our local farmers in the area. 

Everything else at the moment seems well here. 

The Girasole Lady

Moving Right Along

Spring has officially arrived here at Girasole Farm. 

Everyday there is something new outside, and each day I am excited to venture out and soak in everything bursting with life. 

Peonies are a favorite Spring flower. 

Even more-so when it grows in your own garden. 

There was a lovely patch of wild Lupines growing in our field. 

We took our first trip to Farmer's Market for the year. 

 Caveman is recovering nicely, and things are getting back to normal. 

There is always so much happening. 

Today is Beth's bridal shower. My last little girl, my baby, is getting married in just a few short weeks. I've been up since 4:15AM. There are several things I need to finish up here, before heading up to Tonya's for all the final preparation for today's festivities. 

The skies are a little gray this morning, and we may see some rain. 

I'm looking forward to a day spent with family and friends, and of course my baby girl. 

I'm going to try and keep my journal entries shorter, in hopes I'm encouraged to write more often. 

The Girasole Lady

My Morning View

 I generally like to be up for the day by 5AM. I've always been a very early morning riser.

My days are better just by watching the sun rise over the hills. 

I never tire of the beautiful morning colors. 

It goes something like this...

The Girasole Lady

This Fall

This Fall, so far, lots of things have been happening here at Girasole Farm. 

We are patiently awaiting the arrival of Gran-baby #4- a BOY! 

I suspect he will make his grand entrance this week or next. 

We're still working on the back porch addition, finishing up the roof. We have the posts set and the cross beams up. It's been a work in progress that's for sure. 

Caveman's last day of work for the year is November 15th, and he will return to work on January 6th. 

This is the time of year when the long, long, work days of Summer really pay off. YAY! 

We've collected wood from the mountains, and officially had our first fire in the wood stove just a few days ago. 

 I spent a day baking a cake with Laci and Mia. 

I can cook a mean pie, but cake..well... 

I'm not so good. 

I can certainly make a tasty cake, but let's just say there is severe lack in presentation.  

In my cookbook obsession, I purchased this book on cakes...

Most of the recipes make nice small 6" cakes. 

The pans used are 6" round, 3" deep, although the only pans I could find were 2"deep. 

Isn't that cake on the cover lovely?

Simple, clean, and beautiful. 

That's what I tried to achieve...

but it didn't turn out so well...

Yummy none the less. 

I had positively adorable helpers...

Mia

Laci

We had a really great time together! 

That is what really mattered. 

Then there was Halloween...

 which consisted of a Butterfly
(Laci)

A Little Stinker Skunk

                                                                                                                    (Harper)

                                                                          A Ladybug

(Mia)

 Ryan, Tonya,

Laci and Mia

Kristina and Harper. 

In other non-pictured news-

Cousin Aletha came for a visit. 

I put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

I painted  and re-decorated the Hall bathroom.

My sis and her boys came for a unexpected, Pre-Thanksgiving visit, this past weekend. 

My head is swirling with all sorts of ideas for Thanksgiving.

We are blessed enough to have some extra special family coming to be with us this year. 

My home will be full of family, friends, and LOTS of babies this year. 

Our hearts, as always, will be filled of  love, contentment, and peace. 

I see skies of blue, 
And clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, 
The dark sacred night. 
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. 

-Louis Armstrong-

The Girasole Lady

The Good Stuff

We have been incredibly busy these past few weeks. 

The good stuff around Girasole Farm...

Tomato seeds and Sunflower seeds have been started and growing well in the green house. 

 A few weeks ago Caveman built a couple of planters for me out of an old 55 gallon drum that we had hanging around, and yesterday I planted seeds in them.

 I planted Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, and Oregano, along with Carrots and Radishes. 

 When we added trees to the Orchard, I got some Blueberry bushes too.

Eventually they will be planted out in the orchard as well, but for now I will keep them in a container until they are a little bigger. 

They even have some small blooms.

The Summer garden area has been plowed up

The soil will need to be worked up a few more times and some compost/mulch added before planting time. 

The field is green and has been mowed. 

Soon enough it will be brown from the Summer heat. 

 The Peonies are happy, and doing exceptionally well this year. 

 and one more thing, something you probably wouldn't expect me to post a picture of....

 Caveman has been working on this Shelby Cobra car for about 3 years, and finally it is completed. 

He is waiting for a CHP inspection and then file the DMV paperwork. 

He built it from scratch! It was a kit car from Factory Five. 

I'm excited too, and looking forward to a road trip together. 

I also had the pleasure of having my Cousin Candy, and Cousin Aletha,  each come for a visit. 
It was fun having family here with us, and we had a wonderful time. 

The sun has continued to shine for us, although the few days Candy was here we did have some rain. 
During her visit we took a trip into town and had a visit at 
Mary's Store. 

That about sums it up for now. 

On Saturday Beth and I are heading to the High Hand Nursery in Loomis for a class on irrigation. 


Enjoy the good stuff.

 The Girasole Lady

Orchard Blossoms

Plum Tree Blossoms

The trees in the orchard are beautifully blooming. 

The trees are getting bigger and bigger, and providing more and more fruit each passing year. 

I can't tell you how much we really enjoy going outside and picking the fruits we have grown. 

Truly, there is nothing better than its' sweetness right from the tree and warm from the sun.

Pink Peach Tree Blossoms

 Red Pomegranate

Asian Pear Bud

We'll be working in the Orchard tomorrow, replacing two dead Cherry trees with a Bartlett Pear and a Persimmon tree. We've tried twice to grow Cherry trees and both times the trees have not made it.
Once again, we are having spectacular weather, and will be enjoying the 70 degree sunshine for the next few days.

I'll be putting some seeds starts in the Greenhouse this weekend as well.

Happy Sunshine.

The Girasole Lady

Slush

 Usually once every Winter we get a slushy mixture of rain and snow here at Girasole Farm.

We live in a valley surrounded by mountains that are covered with snow for the most part of Winter. 

It's nice to have the feel of snow in the air, yet not have all the work that comes along with it. 

Although, I wish it would snow just a tad bit more, but when you're at a sea level of about 200 feet, that rarely happens. 

Never the less everyone gets excited about slush.
On Tuesday we had slushy weather. 

Oh how my friends from the 'real' mountains, where you get real snow, must be laughing right about now! 

The following morning everything was frozen

and cold...

and CRUNCHY...

and if I closed my eyes while walking out to the barn, I could imagine there was real snow.

We're back to sunshine this morning.
I'm not sure what I'm doing today.
I had the sutures in my hand removed on Wednesday, so am pretty much back to normal.
Yeah- a working thumb!

Whatever kind of day you have, I hope it's a good one.

The Girasole Lady