Spring flowers

Spring is winding down and I am just now getting my spring pictures organized.

We had beautiful spring flowers - irises, peonies, and a beautiful clementis!

We were so pleased that our peonies finally bloomed. We planted them years ago and was just about to give up on them. Finally, we had two bushes loaded with blooms! I thought they looked spectacular under great-great grandpa Heinrich's (Henry) and grandma Katarina's portraits. The black and white picture on the left is of my dad's family when he was around five. The cake plate on the right is great-great grandma Katarina by way of Cousin Betty.

These irises knocked my socks off! One day we went out into the yard to find this beautiful blossom with the purple edge. I couldn't help but bring the flowers inside to enjoy for a few days.

I am looking forward to my sunflowers shooting up some more and the black-eyed susans taking off. The summer flowers are always so much fun.

The hunt for bees

Several weeks ago the packet from the Great Sunflower Project arrived. The packet had the Lemon Queen Sunflower seeds, instructions for planting, and the data collection sheet.

My sunflowers are starting to have a good stand in the garden. The recent rains and some help from my husband with a watering in between, have given them a nice start.

I am looking forward to seeing the first blooms and starting my observation of bees.

Spring at Prairie School Farms

We are so blessed to have had exceptional weather this spring. The rain has been in the right amount and we have had plenty of sunshine as of late.

Our clementis is loaded with blooms. The side that faces east was especially full where blooms were on top of blooms! I originally planted the clementis with the hopes that it would grow to cover the post holding up our cast iron bell that Jer's parents gave us several years ago. Finally, it looks just like I imagined.



Wes was enjoying a hay snack on a sunny afternoon. It was so funny to watch him eat with such gusto! I really enjoy just being around the alpacas this time of year. The weather is so beautiful and the animals are always up to something.







Manny was lounging one Sunday afternoon and using a pile of hay as a pillow! He looked so comfortable that I couldn't help but take a picture.

Too cute!

B on Main in Ventura, California was the cutest shop! We made a small purchase and it was packaged in a cute brown lunch bag stamped with their name and a bee on the back with light brown and light blue tulle to close it! What a great idea for simply wrapping a gift.

I loved their merchandise, though I had to resist my compulsion to organize and straighten. It was a tad shuffled - put like things together, people!

A must-see in the cute, historic downtown in Ventura.

Why I love living in the country

Our house is at the edge of a field that is at the base of a beautiful hill. We are really fortunate to witness some amazing sunrises. This photo was from Friday morning. Jeremy was out doing chores and yelled in to take a look at the sunrise.

Sunrises are really important to me. I call my Dad on the drive to work to comment on the really pretty ones. Dad is a notoriously early riser. He gets up early as a regular practice and also lives his life in a way that puts an emphasis on the little things - like a beautiful sunrise.

Shearing time

Ok, so everyone was curious about how the two new boys would look without all that fiber. Well, here they are!

All of our alpacas look skinny and gangly after shearning, but Wes and Magellan really look small. They came to us with several years' growth on their front and hindquarters. The fiber from both of these ends is not usable because of the hay and brambles. A farm visitor who grades fiber told us that if it is "crunchy" when you touch it, the cost of cleaning the fiber for processing would be too much. Next year, we will have lots of usable fiber from both of these boys. This year, just the blankets will be used.

We are really anxious to send all of the blankets to Phillipsburg for yarn and roving. New fiber fresh from the mill should be here in about 6-8 weeks.

Good neighbors

Jeremy and I are blessed to have the best neighbors! Today, they played Easter bunny and brought us the sweetest gift that was waiting in the garage after work.

A couple of weeks ago, we shared 18 eggs in an oversized carton. Today, our neighbors returned the carton with our bantam egg shells filled with pansies. Each egg cup had Easter grass and if the cup did not have an egg shell with a flower, it had a chocolate egg! What a sweet (and absolutely perfect) thing for them to do!

It reminds me of a story from several years back that my Grandpa Harsch told me. A young farmer and his wife moved down the road from his farm. (Grandpa lived in town, but still farmed and had his old farm house, equipment shed, a garden, and all the makings for a full-scale operation just outside of town.) The young farmer needed to borrow some equipment and my Grandpa gave the go ahead. When he returned the implement, the young farmer took out his checkbook and prepared to pay my Grandpa. My Grandpa refused and said, "Let's just be good neighbors."

I have carried that sentiment with me. It's simplicy speaks to the best of rural life. I love having that story as part of my legacy and we are so blessed to have neighbors share the same value.