Update

I've been taking pictures since my last post but never getting around to posting them.  So here are a few things that have happened since the last post.

The trees have blossomed and I covered the two beds underneath until the tree looses its blossoms.  We asked our neighbor if we could remove the tree since the tree grows over our property because of it's placement next to their house.  They gave us permission but want to make sure the roots will all be removed because they are going to then plant another tree to help shade the house.  We decided it wasn't worth the work if they are just going to replant a second problem for us.  Since we don't plan to stay here long term we will just deal with it until we move.

I have seen a few cabbage moths around since it has warmed up so I made sure to cover the kale right away.  The right side of the tunnel has lots of extra fabric so that once the peas are pulled if I want to extend the kale or other brassicas I can easily cover them too.

 If only the things I planted as quickly as this Canadian Thistle that sprouted in the last week.  I have to get on top of them otherwise I will be growing weeds and not veggies.

Seedlings

It's always exciting when the first few seedlings start to pop up.  I was starting to worry that all my seeds were duds but it was probably the weather because the recent warm up got things going.

 Radishes

 Lettuces

 Kale

Peas

Cleaning Out the Hive

Since our hive is empty it is time to work on cleaning it out.  I spent a few hours this past weekend cutting out the dark comb and scraping off propolis.  The dark comb like below needs to be changed out to keep the hive healthy.  

A few of the frames still look light enough to keep in the hive and will help give the new package a head start not having to building out comb in the entire hive.

Scraping the propolis off will help me get into the hive easier until the new bees propolis the hive again since the bees use propolis to glue the hive together.

Before scraping

 After scraping

I only got through 2 of the 3 boxes because it took over 2 hours and my hands were starting to hurt.  I will get to the third box hopefully next weekend.

Stove Top Popcorn

Lately my new thing has been making stove top popcorn.  I've never made stove top popcorn before and had no desire to.  That was until our nephew, a boy scout, was selling popcorn this fall.  Of course being a good aunt and uncle we had to buy some.  That was until I saw the order form and prices.  A box of microwave popcorn was $20 and the tins of the caramel covered stuff was around $30.  Being that we don't really ever eat popcorn, $20 for a box of 4-5 fake butter drowned microwave bags seemed outlandish.  So we bought the bag of popcorn kernels for $10.

When we got the popcorn it went into the pantry and has sat there since I had no idea what to do with a bag of kernels.  Growing up we had an air popper and I loved putting the butter in the top cup and watching it melt from the heat of the popping.  Then came microwave popcorn and the air popper I am sure got tossed along the way.  I wasn't about to buy a piece of equipment for one bag of popcorn kernels.  So last night after months of the bag staring at me every time I opened our pantry I decided to break down and learn how  to make popcorn on the stove top.  It turns out it's actually not difficult and dare I say better than the microwave stuff.  In the past 24 hours I have made two batches and am tempted to make more.

Peonies

The peonies are finally beginning to come in which always makes me smile!

Garlic

Seeing something green growing in the garden while I am waiting for everything else to come in helps to make the spring garden feel alive.

Trouble with Wildlife

This was the lettuce bed early Friday evening after planting.  We have had bad luck with lettuce the last few years.  This year I sowed the seeds a bit more thinly than in the past.  I didn't spend too much time because we have had such bad luck when I have taken much care I figured this year if I didn't worry about it too much maybe we will get a good lettuce harvest again.  But at the same time I tried to space the rows appropriately, spread the seeds and covered carefully with a thin layer of compost and manure.

When we returned on Sunday afternoon this was the bed trampled by some sort of animal.  It seems that it might have been a deer but it's hard to tell, the tracks weren't clear.  Of course it could have been an overzealous squirrel too.

It seems that at least once a year after planting seeds one of my beds gets trampled by the local wildlife.  I attempted to gently move the soil back how it was, but we will have to see how badly the planted seeds were displaced once they start coming in.

Harvest

These were the final few carrots left from last year's fall plantings that I dug up when I cleaned out the garden on Friday.  They aren't pretty but they are super sweet and delicious, I will definitely be planting Napoli carrots again this year.