cRAZZY wEAtHer

Okay, so this is a crazy-weather Spring going into Summer. Really, truly "crazzy" as Lana would write. Perhaps theis is the pretty side of climate change; perhaps I'm more attuned to the skies thatn I was last year. Tumultuous clouds, brooding horizons, even humidity from all the precipitation. The other day in the feed store, a metal-shelled warehouse, the shell suddenly rattled with a bolt of thunder. A brief silence followed as people stopped talking, and rain like a thousand hammers pounded the roof. Very unusual.

The horses get wet and cold, and the next day flies cover their faces. The goats complain, complain. They don't have shelter and they don't know where to stand and they are confounded about shedding out their winter coats. And the chickens are just plain talky.

Fun news - cousin DARCY came to town on tour, and I saw her last night... in her last performance ever with that band (Straightjacket Striptease.) And I got to meet her fiance to boot.

AND MORE fun news - I go pick up Lana on Wednesday, and she'll come back to California ALL SUMMER LONG! We've got swimming lessons lined up, beading with Amy, talking to Jackson-the-Goat and visiting with Grandmom and cousins. Plenty to do, including volunteering at the lilbrary in the huge kids' section... So you all can BET this will be a site on which to follow Lana.

May Showers Bring Late Flowers...

It's a heck-of-a-Spring here, with cool temps (Hooleys, it's safe to come back) and rainy forecasts, though not much actual water falling from the sky. The extra-long Springtime (eg "normal") has been a nice start for the garden: roots can get established before they blister in the heat. Unfortunately, the pastures are a mess -- the grass is dominant and its roots have really dug in, but they are protecting the weed roots.

Another positive effect of the rainy Spring is the redworms. I've come across "nests" of them digging in the new vineyard area. Of course, snails are out in record numbers as well. Fortunately, they are not a big threat since they are easy to remove.

Between what's growing and what's planted, we now have:
1- artichokes
2- lettuces and sorrell
3- dill, basil, other herbs
4- chard and collards and broccoli (ok, just a few)
5- sunflowers
6- watermelon
7- corn
8- eggplant
9- okra
10- golden raspberries

and all the fruit trees.... The nectarine, in only its second year, has DOZENS of stone fruit already! And the pomegranite has put out twenty or more blossoms. The figs have had fruit for a month now, about the same time the almonds put out their first nuts.

The horses are a bit confused with the weather. One day they have flies over thier mouths and nostrils and eyes; the next day they can be soaking wet and cold. The weather is confusing for all of us -- the dogs inside or outside; the goats miserable or content to roam; do we cover or uncover the hay?

More to come soon. Lana will be here this summer and I have a feeling she'll want to contribute a blog or two!

An "Inconvenient Spring," with deference to Al Gore.

Soggy clay. Earthworm colonies. Exploding rosebushes, heirloom corn seedlings just waiting to be transplanted.

A dozen grapevine clippings have taken root. New fig trees, from clipped branches, are expanding as I type this. Nectarines are on a two-year-old tree. The almond trees are taking off, thanks to the goat droppings that roll down from the goat pasture. Our new goat stands on a large doghouse, balancing as she reaches for the lowest oak leaves. She's also learning to walk on two legs (see photo.)

Wildflowers and pollen waft across the valley, and the bees have been busy for several weeks already. Plenty of bees here.

Another week or so and the green (see photo) will turn to brown, and the reptilian residents will take over the landscape.