Finally!

Oh my goodness! I've been wanting to write a garden journal since March, but I couldn't just find the time, and now after having uploaded the pics for a few days, I take that brief moment of quiet at 10pm, for sitting in the kitchen, siping a coffee, and looking back, at those last few weeks.

The flowers from March, some of them did well, some others disappeared, and you have to just go with the flow, you can't really be mad at anyone when it rains, or when there is wind, or hail, or both, or not enough rain.

The apple trees have been consistent, even if I've been told that they might have a disease, they are still producing flowers, and fruits.

As I was saying in my previous post, I didn't really focus on growing too many veggies this year, because we will be travelling around.
Though, with the current crisis, we decided to just plant a bit more than we were supposed to, just for safety measure.

Down below was the blueberry bush at the end of March.

My youngest daughter is always walking with me around the homestead, that's a part of the homeschooling process, even if I am not always the best teacher, I don't mind saying "I don't know" and google it. I wish my parents would have said "I don't know" more often to be honest, I think it's a part of the French heritage 😆 the arrogance to think you know something.

This down there, is our pear tree, and it's a damn miracle.

Climbing vines are dying on their own, and I don't have an explanation for this. Of course, I've cut some, but it's clear that something magical is happening, as I said earlier, I am not in charge of mother nature, and she is the one taking care of us, I am just enjoying the ride and feel that we are all free loading on this earth, at the same time, the world is plentyful of small treasures, like this pear tree.

I've been told by most farmers that the climbing vines, aren't good for the tree, that they are a sign that the tree is dying.
However the other day on the radio I heard the exact opposite, that they are a complimentary biosymbiosis and live in harmony, that man shouldn't even touch lichen or moss on a branch.

I don't know what to think, I am not a specialist. If I see a branch suffering under the pressure of a climbing vine, of course I am going to do something about it.

To be honest, we had so many cold days, I didn't do as much as I would have liked to, and we were kinda busy with other things. I am sure the trees will still be here next month, we can always cut the vines. What do you guys think? Do you cut your climbing vines on your trees?

I Love Cherry Trees, but it's a given

This was at the beginning of April, the weather wasn't wonderful so I apologize for the light quality, but I was pleased to finally see some flowers on our cherry trees. The big one (not on the pic) is the first one to bloom, and these 2 little ones on the pic, follow. As it's all being delayed, I think we might have our cherries in June instead of end of May, interesting, isn't it?

What's our plan with the cherries? I am looking for a good flash dryer, or flash freezer ^^ . It's a bit pricey though, if anyone know a guy, just lemme know!

This Lawnmower that changed my life!

I think I am going through an early midlife crisis, because I felt the need to get a flashy, yellow work of art on wheel, that just moves forward on its own. I actually don't even need to press anything, it mows the shit out of everything, and it's also a reminder that I am such a dad, happy to buy a lawnmower, a younger version of myself would probably have a good laugh about this.

But my present version of myself is too busy making cool cinematic shots for my brand new lawnmower, check this out:

"Does it throw the stick?"

It sounds easy to switch it on...

Let's get it started!!!

Cinematic angle!!!

POV Angle

That could totally be a videogame, called "Mowerman", where you go through different mowing levels, it gets harder and harder the more you're progressing, eventually you get a robot mower and retire.

VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

OH! Regano!!

Alright I think I have an attention disorder, I get distracted very quickly. Right now, I found Oregano, or I daresay I remembered that there was some under that bush, I know the dog pee on it, but it can be washed, right?

That's enough for the lawnmower, let's move on with the rest of the month.

We finally finished the chicken fence, I saw that other people have much higher fences, which makes sense I guess.
Interestingly, after spending a few months killing our chickens (one each), I think the dogs both grew tired of chasing them, and very often the hens fly over the fence (I trimmed their feathers), can be seen under the fruit trees, the dogs seem to understand that I won't handle another chicken death very well, and for now no accident. Though I am super careful since the last incident, you can often hear me whistle for my dogs, just to make sure they don't have blood on their mouths. Farm life!!

Because of the kids, we decided to replace the metallic rusty fence with a plastic one, unfortunately our cat loves to climb and use the poles as a cat tree 😄, she loves to poop in the chicken coop, she get chased by the hens. I am not entirely sure what's going on, but they seem to tolerate each other.

Then some time in April, we finally had fruits!

And also no fruit!!!

This is our plum trees this year, it took some good weather, and some frost to completely mess up the natural order.

Just one small flower remains, I am going to cherish it!

To give you an idea, here is me balling in July last year:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRWi_tnr9_9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

But we'll see. I might be surprised and get some!

Starting Small (again)

I am a bit late of course, but I have a few babies going, tomatoes, butternuts if I remember correctly, and I just got new seeds today for tomato, zuchinis, chili, lettuce.

The Potato circle of life

I grew more potatoes that needed last year, and I am going to use the sprouts this year, it's brilliant!
It's a breed called Mona Lisa, and they tend to maintain their genetic traits for at least 3 to 4 generations, then it starts going sideways a bit.
I'll get some brand new sprouts next year, and try something different. I might also contact buyers before the harvest, because I've got a feeling that we are going to get a literal ton.

Just say it, you missed that level of entertainment on Hive!

We are thinking of travelling as you know, and we might just take our hens with us to Spain, they are formidable layers, and I am not ready to miss the proteins in the morning, I am not ready to admit that I am going to miss them though. 😉

For now, we aren't sold to the idea of getting a new rooster, I think they can sometimes be a little bit stressful. We might in the future.

After a whole day, I lost the cap of the fuel tank for the lawnmower. I have to go back to the shop tomorrow...😞

Oh Regano returns

So, you remember that Oregano earlier? That was totally a set up for the end of the post, watch me transforming this post into a cooking show.

Bonjour! Today in "cooking with chef Edouard", we'll learn how to first wash off the pee of the oregano, before thinly cutting it with garlic, that will be for the marinade, add olive oil, pepper, salt, balsamic vinegar, sweet soy sauce, lemon juice. ⬇️ It's already in there

Boil your water, add a cube, while you're cooking mushroom with your left hand. If you're a woman forget about multitasking (booooooo), ok girls calm down it was a joke. 😁

Cook in oven until it smells like...this

Then you can add the yellow thingy in the stuff

You wanna see a magic trick, Thanos style?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh....

Tcha!!!!!!!

Dinner's served! Kids!!! Switch off your damn consoles!!!