Spring in full swing

This week on the homestead...

...I hardened off the plants I started from seeds weeks ago, nurtured first in front of the wood stove, and then in the greenhouse.  Many of you have been asking me about transplanting my onions.  I will film and publish part 4 of my "How to grow killer onions" movie very soon.  Stay tuned!

...I transplanted peas and direct-sowed carrots, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, kale and collards.  Of course, as soon as I did this, the weather turned very cold, and the poor seeds are probably freezing their butts off.

... I've been harvesting lots of Asparagus, then steam it for dinner and drench it in butter.

...Between milking goats, making cheese, planting a garden, homeschooling, and writing a book, I've managed to take the kids to our favorite local, wild creek for a swim.  Yes, they are swimming in a glacier-fed creek in April.  Yes, they are crazy.

Luke takes the plunge.

Kai takes the plunge, and you can see from his expression how cold the water is!

...I've arranged many playdates for the kids.  There was a week when I hardly saw my boys because they spent so much time at the neighbors' house when their grandkids visited for spring break.  This left Eva missing her brothers, so she got so spend time with her best friend.  I also put them to work sweeping the barn and playing with the goats, which is not work at all, really. 

...Since we are talking of goats: I was the midwife for yet another goat mama this week.  My friends bought some of my goats last year, and one of them was pregnant (the goats, not my friend). When I got a semi-hysterical call from her twelve-year-old daughter telling me her goat was in labor, I jumped in the car and drove to her place wayyyyy too fast (usually 30 minutes away, but not this time, ahem).  I got there in time to know I should help the goat who wasn't making much progress, so I pulled the babies.  They were both healthy: one girl, one boy.  My friend's daughters wept openly when the babies emerged.  It was such a joy to be part of this experience!

Brand new baby girl with her mama in the background

These girls have since moved into the goat barn. 

Three happy midwifes!

...I'm also finding time to sit and knit by the river, so I can replenish my kids' and husband's socks!

A little butterfly landed on my finger while I knitted.

I will leave you with this picture, taken when I walked into the kitchen the other day.  My kids picked flowers for me and left a note.  It's good to know my kids still like me, even though I've been so busy that I have neglected them.  Am I the luckiest Mom?