New to Lostview

This little guy came to the farm today - he's almost two, and a sweet sport horse I managed to snag for an amazing deal. He's got some draft in him, but won't be quite the Gideon-style wide load, and should be a lovely riding and driving horse. Though I won't be riding him this summer, I can't wait to start working with him! He's a very nice boy. Now I just have to figure out what to call him!

Chaz came, he saw, he charmed

CVS, Child Magnet

Guests who travel the ridiculous number of miles to get here get rewarded with outdoor pizza

Renaissance Man

We were so honored to have our good friend Charles Van Steenburgh visit the farm. Charles and I have been fast friends since bonding over writing and duck chimichangas (among other things) in Corvallis, circa 1993. Musician. Playwright. Screenwriter. Shaman. Inciter. The list goes on. I love this guy! Thanks for coming to see us, Chaz!

Owain and mapping

It's that time of year...

...when I go on and on about how amazing spring is and take pictures of sprouting vegetables and dandelion-dusted fields. This is the thing about writing a blog based on a life that is so deeply affected by the seasons. So, get ready for some repetition. Hopefully, like me, spring continues to be invigorating and miraculous for you too, year after year.

Speaking of miracles, this spinach was grown last year! And I just picked it moments ago! It over-wintered in the garden beds under two feet of snow. The perfect, warm spring conditions brought it right back to life again last month and we've been eating fresh spinach long before the grass even began to grow green again.

Spontaneous cute-children photo op!
(Ellis pictured here, attempting to hold his GIANT baby brother.)

Apple blossoms

Obligatory dandelion-dusted field shot

Know what these are? I'll give you a hint: they're fence posts. These will be anchor posts for a planned deer fence that will surround the perimeter of the house, barn, coop & gardens. Fence-builder-in-residence Charis has been planning and calculating for this large undertaking like a mad-woman. She even used pi in an equation to estimate materials needed. PI! Our high school algebra teacher, Mr. Dorsey, would be so proud. Wait, that would be geometry, wouldn't it? This is one of the many reasons why Charis is the one planning the fence.

Many more trees to be planted. These are little 12" pines that will grow into a beautiful windbreak. By the time the boys go to college.

Ellis and Chris hard at work planting trees.

Can you think of a better way to end a day of hard work and play than by putting on your space ranger pajamas and tie-dye crocs for a sunset swing? I can't.

The beautiful thing about an early spring is that it means we are set loose on the gardens and yard weeks earlier than expected...thus ending any leisure activities that come with cold, rainy days. We are busy around here, and exhausted. Thank goodness spring is also a life-giving season of growth! And that miracle spinach ought to carry us through like modern-day Popeyes.

"I'm strong to the finich, 'cause I eats me spinach!"

Easter Ice Cream!

"Easter ice cream" - that's what replaced "cheeeeese!" to get the kids to smile for photos over the holiday weekend. While we didn't actually have ice cream for Easter, we had a whole lot of other good times and treats together, including a visit from the grand matriarch and patriarch...

Gaga and Boompa are here!!!

Baby's first John Deere

Yes, the grass is already green and yes, it was actually as warm as it looks in the photos - we have had an amazing spring and it's only just begun!

The Easter dinner table: lovely food, lovely people.

Peep peep!

And, what would Easter be without a couple of bunnies covered in coconut and cream? (Not to mention an enormous, delectable coconut cake!)