Spring Has Arrived At The Farm...

Hickory Hill Farm Old Apple Tree

We have a few beautiful, old, apple trees on our property. This branch belongs to the one closest to the farmhouse.  I've shown it to you before...with the lilies that adorn the base of it all summer long.

Our Farmhouse

The tree is located just across the drive from our house. I've placed six hummingbird feeders from the hooks that were already on the porch. (One is hanging from iron double hooks outside the kitchen windows.) We're planning to replace those windows - on the far left - with a bay window. I love our kitchen view, and would love one without the post that divides the two current windows.

We've got three tiny hummingbirds visiting so far, but I'm confident we'll have more over the summer, as they spread the good news to their little friends. There's also an oriole feeder hanging from the other hook in front of the kitchen windows. We have two pairs (gorgeous Baltimore Orioles) that visit to eat the oranges and grape jelly that are suspended from that feeder.

Indigo buntings, tree swallows, bluebirds, chickadees, sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, nuthatches, finches (goldfinches and purple) and wood tits also visit the feeders daily. We've got suet and fruit/grub blocks that interest the various species.

Old Farmhouse Sink/Planter

Remember the galvanized double sink we added to the farm last summer? It's a raised planter now. (That's why I wanted this one!) Handsome and I placed the legs on pavers to give it added stability, lined it with weed barrier fabric and then filled it with soil.

Pardon the weeds under the sink. I've been purposely keeping the dandelions for the bees, and have to pull the grass, too. I'll get to those soon (along with the weeds growing in the flower beds around the porch), but I needed to get the plants in the soil first.

Tomatoes

Last summer, I was paying $35 a half bushel for tomatoes! I was shocked, to say the least, so I decided then that we'd grow our own this year. There are six "Celebrity" variety tomato plants on the left side of the divided sink.

There's also a large tomato plant in the wooden planter next to it, which will give us a head start on fresh tomatoes this summer. I may have to thin them out as they get bigger, but hope to have another galvanized planter by then.

Yes. I do have the double galvanized sinks on the porch, but my plan is to find liners for those sinks and plant them with red geraniums. They're in pristine condition - like they were made yesterday - so I just can't bring myself to plant directly into them. They'll stay under the protection of the porch roof to keep them that way.

Cucumbers and Tomatoes

There are three cucumber plants (for pickling) yet to be planted. I'm looking for a long, drained, wooden planter to set on the ground in front of the sink for them. For now, they'll be here so I can water them with the rest of the plants.

On the right side of the planter, there are four "Roma" varieties for canning and cooking. I've also added two varieties of green peppers and one red pepper plant. (My own "salsa in a garden"!) There are also two cherry tomato varieties in pots next to the "friends and family" entrance to our home.

We also have cilantro, rosemary, basil, mint and chives growing in the herb garden next to the house. The lavender is getting big and the hostas we planted last year are already growing, too. I'll show you that area again after we finish cleaning up and installing the edging we bought yesterday.

Rhubarb

  The rhubarb is nearly ready to pick, too! We'll harvest some, and then wait until fall to cut more. This is its second summer at the farm, and I want it nice and strong so we can split the hills and continue to have them grow along the front of the compass barn as time goes on.

I'm back in the studio now. I have guests coming on Sunday, and I'm making special gifts for them. We're having a reunion of sorts with some of the ladies who used to work for me at Stitches (my needlework shop in the late 1980s-mid 1990s). I'm so looking forward to it, and want them to leave with a reminder of our time together. I'll tell you all about that after Sunday.

Today, I'll sew while all the newly planted vegetables grow. It's (always) a good time to be at the farm.

Jellies and Jams...

Hickory Hill Farm Lavender

Yesterday was a "make Lavender Jelly" day. I harvested lavender flowers before the sunlight was directly over these perfect, little flowers.

Friday's Harvest

I didn't need many, and when I brought them into the house, they filled the kitchen with a wonderful aroma.

Lavender Flowers Detail

 Perfect, tiny flowers.

Lavender Jelly On Toast

By 10:30 am, all the jars were in the canner, processing. I scraped the last of the jelly from the pot, and sat down for a late breakfast...Lavender Jelly on toast, of course!

Lavender Jelly

Before I could finish my tasty breakfast, the timer went off and I pulled the jars of Lavender Jelly out of the bubbling water. I tried to combine food coloring to get the jelly to be more lavender, but even though blue and red make purple, it didn't turn out as I planned. I'll try again next time. Thankfully, color had no effect on the taste of this jelly. It's heavenly!

Strawberry Jam

I also made six half-pints of Strawberry Jam...

Sweet Basil Jelly

and four half-pints, plus three "smalls" of Sweet Basil Jelly. I think this will be if for canning basil this season. I'm going to let the rest of the plant go to seed now.

Pantry Shelves

 

My pantry is filling nicely. Top Shelf: Regular Dill Pickles; and canned Sweet Banana Peppers. Second Shelf: Bread & Butter Pickles, Salsa, and Chopped Tomatoes. Bottom Row: Sweet Basil Jelly, Strawberry Jam, Lavender Jelly, Strawberry-Rhubarb and Pears in Light Syrup.

I'm going to the Farmer's Market with Aunty Margaret and Uncle Dick today. If I find Roma tomatoes, I'll be bringing them home to can this weekend. Otherwise, I'm going to be making aprons in the studio! 

 

Enjoy your weekend, my friend. I sure will.

One For The "Win" Column...

Sweet Basil Jelly

I'm writing this post at the end of the day on Thursday. I had a loooong, productive day.

I'm going to share photos, and "stats", but few(er) words. I'm good tired. 

This Sweet Basic Jelly is tasty!

Use it any time you'd use mint jelly, or pour it out over a brick of cream cheese for a

sweet/savory appetizer, served with your favorite crackers. That's how we'll try it here.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

 I haven't canned strawberry jam in forever!

This is the Strawberry-Rhubarb version. mmm mmm

Salsa (Ole'!!)

I purchased seven pounds of tomatoes on Wednesday. This is what I made with them.

Salsa. Now, where did I put those tortilla chips? I'd better wait at least until it cools, right?

More Pickles

  I saw pickling cucumbers at the farmer's market on Wednesday, and couldn't resist.  This is just a portion of the pickles I made. Grrrrr. They're floating. I really dislike it when they float! If I'd packed them any harder, I would have broken the jars.  Frustrating, even though they'll be just as tasty either way.   Here are my totals for today: 6.5 half pint jars of Sweet Basil Jelly 14.5 half pint jars of Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam  9 half pints of Salsa 2 quarts and 10 pints of Pickles (bread & butter and dill)
I still have strawberries left, so I'll make Strawberry Jam today. I also want to make some Lavender Jelly, so I'll see if I can get that done, too.

All in all, I'd say that yesterday goes into the "Win" column, and all these jars are going into the pantry! (giggling)