Not So Silent Spring

It's true. It's been very quiet on the Tifftown news feed. Sometimes we are so busy living life that there hardly seems a moment to document it! Also, I confess to being "one of those" people who watch others drop around me each winter with all the viruses that seem to stream through schools, offices, grocery stores and the general public and say things like, "I never get sick!" Well, that kind of hubris beckons for some karmic comeuppance. This year it was my turn. Influenza kicked down the door of my immune system. And before I could repair and replace it, every virus running through town came through and looted me. So, when there was a moment to catch my breath, I was quite literally catching my breath instead of writing about the goings on over here. I've spent a good deal of time sideways on the couch or at the acupuncturist trying to deal with the craziness visited upon me.

But I would not have you all believe that I didn't have bouts of wellness that allowed quite a few adventures over here. I will recount them for you below. And I look forward to a gorgeous, busy spring filled with good health and fresh air for us all.

Our first adventure this year was the girls' road trip to San Francisco I took with Valerie, Amira & their friend Madelyn. We kicked our day off with dim sum at Yank-Sing (in honor of Cee Cee and all the wonderful lunches we had there while I lived in San Francisco. I'm paying it forward). We walked all over the entire city from Rincon Center to Union Square to Pier 39 and then finished with dinner in North Beach. Amira was wearing her new fit bit and clocked over 20,000 steps that day. And it was a fair day in the middle of many rainy ones for us. Perfect! I don't feel like I can ever turn down a trip to San Francisco. Our back up plan if it was raining was to spend the day at the California Academy of Sciences in GG Park. I love that place. Well, maybe next time.

January also brought us a visit from Michael's cousin, Kendra along with her mom, Leslie and her young daughter Isadora. (We did miss Markus!) It was cold and damp while they visited but that did not stop us from having a great gathering with strolls through the Upper Park and much faerie house building and story telling from Isadora. Here are the cousins gathered here.

Here's Michael, Amira, Kendra, Alan, Isadora and Leslie next to the creek in Upper Park. We had to catch some vitamin D anytime the sun came out.

Amira and I attended the women's March in Chico together. It was a fun mother-daughter adventure that culminated with lunch at Priya Indian Restaurant. Nom, nom, nom!

February first Amira and I hit the wet ground running as she tried to meet her sales goal of 250 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. She sold door to door, out front of super markets, on-line and at school. She exceeded her goal. So, thanks to everyone who supported her effort. She is really enjoying her Girl Scout Troop. We'll be looking forward to a Camporee in Redwood City in April and June Jamboree when school gets out. Yes, I'm known for being a five star hotel camper, but I will suck it up and sleep outdoors with the scouts this year. But the understanding is that I get first shower when I get home and I'm likely to drain the hot water tank getting all of that nature off me. Actually, we have all the scouts coming over here next weekend to work on their Camporee skills. We'll be camping in the backyard. That will be so difficult knowing that my nice warm bed is just a few feet away. But at least I will have access to decent coffee in the morning.

In other news, Amira saved up a lot of money on her own to attend the Twenty One Pilots concert in Sacramento. This was her first concert and I was honored to be a part of it. On the plus side, I actually like the band. So I enjoyed the trip too. She knew lots of kids from her school who were going to attend the concert as well as her favorite "YouTuber". I tried to explain to her how large Sacramento was as well as how many people the venue would hold. I tried to explain that she should not get her hopes up to see anyone unless they were seated very close to us.

As we walked near the Capitol building in search of dinner I was admiring the camelia blossoms and oranges still on some of the trees. It was colorfully stunning. Amira started to jump up and down, "Tay! My friend Tay!" Across the street from us stood one of her friends with her own mom also strolling through town in search of a place to have dinner before the show. So, we hooked up with them and had dinner at a Hawaiian seafood placed called Coconuts. It was pretty awesome. Here is a photo of Amira and Tay. And, for the record, she also found her favorite YouTuber and got a photo with him. He was sitting a section over from us. And after the show another mom I know with two more of Amira's friends found us exiting the seating area (heading for the concert swag center!) So, I stand corrected. She pretty much ran into everyone she thought was going to be there.

Valerie has been very busy (as usual!) Below she is seen with her friends Sarah and Josh. Valerie took first place in an impromptu speaking competition. She will be attending the regional competition in a few weeks. We are very proud of her! Sarah and Josh also placed in the Creed contest and will be going on to regional competition too. (Josh's mom is Valerie's sheep mentor. Sarah's mom has been coaching these guys in livestock judging). Go team!

 Here's the livestock judging team down at UC Davis. Judge those critters!

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have been watching spring bloom everywhere. The almond blossoms have come and gone but we still have the forsythia and quince. Our artichokes are preparing to make a show. Our red buds are ready to bud. I love this time of year. It's like a fireworks show. Just as the magnolia blossoms pass we know the dogwoods are just around the corner. 

Just look at those artichokes, Kevin! Pretty soon we'll be eating them every night with dinner. And when we can't stand anymore, they will bloom into huge purple thistles. The ones pictured below are volunteers. They are pretty amazing.

Yes, there is still plenty of poultry in the back yard. This is one of our more feral hens that hatched out last tax day. With all the rain this year, these birds have been loving all the worms that have been washing up. It's been a good year for them. And now with the days starting to get longer (and the sun starting to shine) we are getting more eggs again. Of course, Michael is now off traveling to support all of these adventures. He is our number one consumer of eggs. He is gone for most of March. Right now he is in Geneva and then goes straight from there to Las Vegas before coming back home. Don't worry honey, we'll save you some eggs and take care of the ranch and not break (too many) things while you are gone. (Michael is the number one poultry farmer and fixer of all broken items on the ranch. He is also the number one wage earner and father-husband extraordinaire!)

Valerie just brought home her market sheep, Summit. He is the one peering over the fence. Her friend Madelyn is raising her market lamb at our house too. Hers is wearing the blanket. Valerie will be taking Summit to shows this spring to prepare for the Silver Dollar Fair in May where he will show and go to auction.

Buster!! Could she be any cuter? I love when I walk by Rex's room some mornings and I see her up on his bed with him still sleeping. Of course, sometimes she is just up on his bed when he is not even home. Rex says she has been eating his bed. Maybe it is pica? Well, mostly she is an attention hound. She loves to be pet - a lot! And she sure wouldn't turn down any treats you bring her way. 

Here is Rex getting ready to go to paintball practice. It's winter, so he's wearing a shirt. 

Rex is still loving playing for the Norcal Kings. They recently went down to Southern California for another tournament. Below is a great action photo (taken by someone else!) of Rex and his team. He is number 12 and is the second one from the left, running toward the camera. It's hard to tell them apart in all that gear.

Rex has trained Ramon to beg. At night when we sit down to dinner, Ramon runs over to the side of the cage and stares at us. Rex tells him to "ring your bell!" Ramon runs sideways across the branch and rings his bell and comes back over to the side of the cage for some spray millet. Then, if we ignore him, he runs back over and rings his bell and runs back to the side of the cage. He's so adorable that it's hard to ignore him. I think he knows that. He is spending more time on my desk during the days when I work from home. It's important to have an office pet. Of course, I let his wings grow out so he is enjoying some flight -- right back to his cage. He loves his toys and his bell so much. He has toys and a bell in my office on the desk, but it's not the same I guess. In any event, he is a pretty social guy. He will sit on our shoulders and give us little kisses. He is a kind and gentle bird who sings along when Valerie plays the piano or Michael plays the guitar (depending on the song. He has his favorites).

Bambi & Ettabelle are back. They are each due with twins within the next couple of weeks. Bambi doesn't look very round. Ettabelle looks very round. I just hope that Valerie is home when they give birth. They are due about 5 days apart, as I understand it. 

Our plum trees have just passed blossom time but our nectarines and peaches are putting on quite a show. Spring is such a treat around here.

Pretty soon I'll be planting my potatoes. I've already put in my order for sweet potato slips. In April there will be a flurry of planting in the garden (that looks bare now). It will be the season of hanging laundry out on the line and weeding, weeding, weeding. And camping. And sheep showing. And, as always, laundry and dishes and cooking. That never ends.