April This & That

Hello, friends.  On two of the cool days last week, I canned black beans and vegetable broth.  The local wildlife has been notable.  First, the hummingbirds arrived.  J noticed one Sunday evening.  I quickly made up some food, and was rewarded by the first one at the feeder on Monday.  A pair of wild turkeys were seen on our walk one evening, and four deer were playing on our pond dam another evening.  Two of them skirted the asparagus patch we recently fenced, so we were happy that had been done.  I've been concerned, being many of them were munched off last year, so they weren't able to make ferns, and put energy back into the roots.  Many of the plants have sent up asparagus so far.  Though some are very skinny, they're alive, and can put energy into growing future years.  

I made an online purchase, using a 30% off code, and got another 5% back by going through Swagbucks.  The majority of the Swagbucks I receive are by going through them for online shopping, which can add up.  That purchase got me 275 Swagbucks, equivalent to $2.75, and is a company I regularly buy from anyway, for food, toiletries and supplements.  I  started cucumbers and eggplant, and the cucumbers were jumping up the next day.  Vegetable soup was made on a rainy day, with our canned veggies, one of the recently harvested small cabbages, a jar of black beans that didn't seal, and the soup container of bits of leftovers in the freezer.

I harvested asparagus and the last of the chicory.  Some of the bolting collard stems, and dandelion greens were gathered, to chop and use in the pup's dinners.  Catbrier tips and violets were added to a salad.  Laundry was dried on the line.  Compost and biochar were made.  Paper and cardboard were shredded, which will be added to the compost or the chicken coop.  Shopping on senior day gave me 5% off my grocery bill.  Herb seedlings are pretty expensive.  When I saw a hydroponic basil plant, around 10" tall at the grocery store for $3.95, I decided to get it.  I'll use some, and plant it when it's warmer, and have a head start on my basil.  It's been nice being outside on warm days, planting, harvesting and weeding.  Wishing you a lovely week.