Mid-April update: seedlings, chicks, pig prep and Easter fun

This may be the last time I appear in this space before we turn the calendar to May! It's my last little "lull" (not really a lull at all...) before the mad rush and lead up to graduation and then the start of our Summer Peacebuilding Institute. Those two major work things also coincide with two major home things - us hosting the CJP graduation party and then, because we can't help ourselves, hosting a house concert the following weekend! On top of that it is spring so there are things to be planted, things to be weeded (oh my are there things to weed!), things to be harvested, incubators to be tended, chicks hatching and, again because we can't help ourselves, pigs to prepare for (which for us means I'm into cheese making again!). The other day for fun (or to convince myself there was a good reason I was feeling a tad overwhelmed with what Jason and I are trying to keep up with) I counted all our gardens and we have a dozen now (many of those with 4 rotations included). Just for historical record keeping I'll list them here: welcome garden, front walk garden, Kali's garden, Nora's garden, Alida's garden, Terah's garden, spice garden, kitchen garden, main garden, new garden, root field,and dry land garden. Phew!

So here's a few glimpses into life of late and at the end a good aunt K fix of THREE videos!

Kali is still treating us to amazing meals. Here's her layered polenta pie and we are eating spinach salads with red buds, violets and hard boiled eggs about once daily!

I'm loving watching Kali play soccer this season - once again learning a lot from my daughter who has steadily and non-anxiously improved each season and had fun all the while. 

Terah is a great spectator, though she sometimes cheers for Da Da rather than her sisters. She is always ready to get in the car when it is time to go to soccer. That's a relief, because if there was resistance this "soccer mom" might not make it through the season!

Alida's enjoying her team too, choosing to play on an all girls team this season. Both girls have new coaches and mostly new teammates. 

Our littlest is growing up before our eyes. When she has two little pigtails in her hair, it's hard to call her a baby anymore. And when she is practicing her jumping skills, it is clear she has big plans to grow up as fast as possible!

Speaking of things growing up, the 39 chicks have outgrown their kiddie pool in the common room - they were about to fly out of it! Here's the proud "papa" carrying them out to their new home (though I guess I take as much credit for this hatch since it happened mostly in his absence!).

I love this site! No additional words needed!

Never have I been so fond of violets. They are gorgeous and plentiful this year! We are eating them often and enjoying them providing a beautiful ground cover in a number of our gardens. Go violets!!

The red buds in Nora's garden are also a site to behold, and we are enjoying the flowers with our eyes and taste buds!

We hosted our neighborhood potluck this week and had a gorgeous evening to sit outside. When we were getting ready Terah kept handing Kali one ponytail holder after another - I think she had about 8 sprouts on her head before the potluck began!

Terah enjoyed her first "real" Easter egg hunt yesterday. That said, Easter eggs have been a focus on many play times over the past few weeks. This mommy is about ready for them to head into the attic again! And I think Kali might be soon too, as Alida is asking her to do Easter egg hunts about every hour!

We enjoyed having friends over for brunch and to join the Easter egg hunt fun! I think we found all but two eggs - hopefully they aren't the ones with chocolate chips in them!

It was another beautiful morning and I keep irrationally worrying that this means all the nice weather will be used up and we'll have rain for our big events. Time will tell!

Last evening Jason had collected eggs and was getting out egg cartons. Terah got very animated and, as she often does these days, pointed to herself and said "me, me." She wanted to put her eggs away too!

Like father, like daughter - oh my there are many instances in which I can say that not only about our youngest gal!

About a month away from the main garden planting time! These little plants are looking good!

And here is what Jason is up to today: building a holding pen for our pigs - three should arrive by Friday of this week!

Another "growing up" picture. She was pretty cute wanting to sit in a "big person seat" this morning at breakfast, with just her little head peeking up above the table!

Ok, time to get Terah down for a nap. She is doing her milk sign and saying "moh, mo." I should note here that at 18 months she finally seems to be in a stretch of sleeping better. Not wanting to shout it from the rooftops just yet, BUT feeling grateful to have spent about the last week of nights in bed...all night!

Here's the videos. Enjoy!

I call this yellow thing a thneed, but I am not sure what it is supposed to be. It looks good on her!


Here's the chickies fighting over some grass or clover, AND escaping Terah's grasp... Her fall into the pool has not slowed her down or deterred her from reaching for them.


And, finally, Alida still is best able to get Terah's great belly laugh going. Love it!