I spent most of the day outside. After Hubby left for work and the kids left for school and my breakfast and chores finished, I washed a load of clothes. While waiting for the clothes to finish washing, I had to sit on the deck steps and play with the kittens. They are such cute little fluffy balls of fur and so much fun to watch and cuddle!
So when the clothes were ready, I used my "solar dryer" to dry them. You know.....a clothesline. I love the clean, fresh smell of clothes that have hung outside! I especially love crawling into my bed made with clean, fresh sheets that have hung outside in the fresh air and sunshine all day! My electric dryer should last me until I'm no longer here in this world because it doesn't see much use unless the weather is too cold, snowing, rainy, or freezing. Even in the late fall and early spring, I would rather hang my clothes outside than to use my dryer. Plus, my "solar dryer" saves on our electric bill and that's always a good thing.
So after I hung clothes out, I drove to our nearby small town to do a few errands, came home and ate lunch; then went back outside. First I weed-eated in the garden. Then I got my rake, shovel, and hoe and headed back for the garden. Spent some time raking up debris that should have been raked up this past fall. Then I decided that kids could do that. They started on that job sometime ago, but haven't finished yet. Took the shovel and wheelbarrow and headed to the barn to scoop goat poop from the composted goat poop pile. I scared the goats when I went through the barn. Silly things, I guess I was making too much noise, or maybe they didn't like my hat. They ran outside of the barn and watched me for a bit and went back to browsing. Which is fine because I thought they might decide to "help" me and get in the way and slow me down. I did take a few minutes to go outside the barn where they were and petted and talked to them. They're like big puppy dogs and love attention. Guess what I was doing wasn't very interesting because they went to the woods and left me to my shoveling. I pushed about 4 or 5 loads of manure up one slight hill and over to my garden. I can't push the wheelbarrow when it's fully loaded, but it was enough for several of my raised beds.
I have a few veggies planted in the garden already and I enjoy looking at them and watching how they progress from small plants or seeds into whatever they're supposed to be. My son is in 4-H and gardening is his project this year. I helped him plant garlic last week and the garlic is starting to pop up now. He is excited! He hopes his garlic does well enough to sell at the farmers' markets that we belong to. He will also be able to enter his garlic in the fair.
We've been eating asparagus for a couple of weeks now. I should say, my #2 daughter and I are eating asparagus. Hubby and son don't care for it; though my son says it's "okay". #1 daughter would eat it, but she's away at college. For the first time ever, I planted my potatoes the day after St. Paddy's Day. Normally, I don't get them planted until later in the spring. Anyway, my potatoes are coming up. Sweet onions are planted and looking good, as well as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage---both green and red. Some of my lettuce is up, probably ought to replant. Spinach didn't come up and I will replant it after supper tonight. I have tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers (sweet and hot) that I started from seed. Not all my seeds sprouted, but I can buy what I need from the vendors at the farmers' market or from the Co-op.
I suppose I've "talked" enough for today. Still need to slice the soap that I made yesterday and pack up soaps for the Holistic Fair where I will be selling at tomorrow. Supper will be easy---leftover baked potato soup, salad, and bread.
