Spring has sprung!

It has been an absolutely gorgeous week here! It has hit 80 degrees for the past two days. Not that I expect that it will last but it has definitely ushered in spring around here.

The crocus I planted last fall are blooming- at least the ones the squirrels haven't dug up!

The bluebells I rudely transplanted last spring survived!

Hurrah! I'm surprised- they didn't look good after transplant.

This afternoon, V picked me up from work and we went to one of the local home improvement stores- he needed a new window for the shop and he had seen something earlier that he wanted me to check out:

Tiny fruits!

They had a great deal on berries. Of course, they are very small- but they will grow! We picked up two Jersey blueberries (to go with our surviving Bluecrop) and two raspberries: a red Latham and a purple Royalty. I'll be honest, these were some that I had considered ordering but hadn't. We have black raspberries and golden ones that we moved from the old house but variety is always good. We also picked up two rose bushes. A red one for us and a yellow rose for Mom. It is her birthday on Sunday. Now, I just need to figure out where we will put another rose.

My seedlings are doing well. I need to repot my hot peppers- maybe tonight- but my little broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage seedlings are outside hardening off. If it doesn't rain too much on Saturday I may plant them.

Seedlings on the porch.

Spring has also brought another passion back to our house:

TRAINS!

With the warmer weather, V has set up a table in the shop for K10 to use for his trains. One of the big selling points for V on this acreage was the huge pole barn. He and K plan to set up a huge train layout- eventually. When it is better sealed and insulated, he is also thinking about heating it so they can play year round.

Let's see, what else is new... We had a fabulous visit with our friend Mike- even though he is "intellectually exhausting". Mike is incredibly intelligent and well read and likes to talk and debate on just about anything. He rarely stops. It is quite intellectually stimulating- in small doses. But, it was wonderful to see him and he finally got a look at our new home. He had a few great pointers- he has been working on finishing an addition onto the home he shares with his mother (since his Dad died a few years ago) and had some construction tips for us. He also gave us complimentary tickets for Silver Dollar City. It is a huge amusement park in Branson, MO. He has worked there for a few years as one of the characters and running rides. As an employee they get a number of free tickets to dispense as they choose. We have been down there twice before and have had a great time. The park is an 1800's theme and they have blacksmiths, potters, basket makers, glass blowers and all such stuff in addition to the rides. Now we'll just have to figure out at time to go. It is about an 8 hour drive so it will probably be our vacation this year. But, with Mike supplying us with tickets, it ends up being a very affordable one. We have, in the past, rented a furnished log cabin from a campground near the park. Since they have a craftsman who builds demonstration cabins at the park- they have to have somewhere to put them. We can get a furnished cabin with a kitchen, grill and fireplace for about the cost of a hotel room and we can cook and make ourselves at home. There is a free shuttle bus that runs from the campground to the park so we don't have to worry about parking. It's fun. And there are rollercoasters!!!! I LOVE rollercoasters.

I also had a phone call this evening that my apple trees I ordered from the local orchard will be in soon and I am to pick them up on the 10th. He will have a short class on planting and care for young trees when I pick them up. I just hope we can get the septic moving soon. I have a good idea of where I want to put the trees and I don't THINK it will be in the way but I'd really like to have large earthmoving equipment done before I plant my tiny trees. All in all, this spring, we will be planting 5 apple trees, 2 raspberries, at least 2 blueberries, 3 bush cherries and strawberries. Yowza, that makes me tired just thinking about it.

I did get the garden all raked off on Tuesday when I was off. I'm debating if I want to till it again this year or just plant. I'm planning to sheet mulch with newspaper and cardboard to keep down the weeds this year. I'm hoping to have a bunch of wood chips to use as mulch (not necessarily in the garden) from our own pruning and from the power company. We got a notice that they will be pruning trees in our area (in front of the house) and we can request to keep the wood chips they produce- Yahoo! I'm contemplating having them take out most of the trees in front of the house- they are NOT good varieties to have planted under/near power lines. I mean, really, who plants hybrid poplars under a power line!?? I would much rather replace them with bushes that will still provide screening from the road but be easier to manage. Who knows.... Maybe next time they come through to trim- I've got enough on my plate this spring.