Have you eaten out at an expensive restaurant lately? No? Me either. But I have dined at such places. I’ve noticed a trend –perfect petite greens in a tiny mound on the plate. These greens are not a garnish. Despite filling no more than a thimble, they are listed on the menu as part of the entree, often called microgreens salad.

I had some last night. Here is a bowlful, dressed with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. These greens are a combination of Tuscan kale and fancy lettuces. They were delicious. I had more than a thimbleful. They came from my garden.

I don’t grow microgreens on purpose. What I do grow are beds of kale, chard and mixed lettuces.

All of which need thinning.

It’s tedious work. It seems like it might not be worth the bother to collect those small leaves,

and then wash several times in water and spin dry.

But it is. Last night, after a long day in the garden and cleaning the coop, I didn’t feel much like cooking. We had spaghetti and jarred tomato sauce topped with (very good) grated parmesan cheese. We also had microgreens salad, which made it all seem special.

For dessert we had homemade rhubarb and peach crumble, which took all of five minutes to put together before baking. But, that’s for another post.

I wonder why these two were posed together. What do you think the story is?

I do know that under the tutelage of this rooster, that the pup is unlikely to grow up into a chicken chasing dog!

The history behind this photograph has been lost, but this evocative image speaks to me of that moment when you hold a new baby and time stops. This young woman likely had a physically hard and tenuous life (look at the freshly tilled fields, the unpainted buildings and the horizon that stretches on into a flat distance) but she is prospering. She has a companion dog (this is her pet, not a working farm dog), the wherewithal to own a beautiful dress, and a healthy child to hold. This photograph captures that moment in motherhood when the present and the future are all wrapped in an intense love of that new person in your arms. There will be time for trials and sadness, joy and change, but for the moment there is only hope and love.

This illustration is from a 1953 calendar given out by a feed company. It’s rather charming and ridiculous at the same time. (The mamma hens are yellow like chicks, check out their sturdy shoes, and their combs are decorative bows?!) Somehow I find it quite fitting for a Mother’s Day greeting. (I’m not one for flowery prose and saccharin sentiment.) Whether you are a parent, or caring for peeps in a brooder, this is for you.

Each calendar page has poultry keeping information. May Suggestions For Young Stock is, “Don’t crowd growing chicks.” Good advice!

Today is Twinkydink and Edwina’s birthday. They’re eight!

Today is also my blog’s birthday. I started writing about my hens in this space seven years ago and I haven’t stopped. I’ve added a few more characters along the way – the Beast, the goat boys, the dogs, and others. I’ve written about my garden and the flowers in the woodland. I’ve kept it all focused on this small world in my small backyard. Some days I’ve put up two posts, and yet there’s a backlog of tales for the telling. I thank you all joining me on my travels here in my backyard.

I also thank you for your support. This website started out as a way for me to promote my published books.The economic reality of traditional publishing is that I am far from able to make a living at it, and in fact it hasn’t even paid for the cost of running the cams. Meanwhile, my blog and answering your queries have become a full-time job. It’s one that I love and want to continue to do. That’s why I finally put GoogleAds up on my web pages and have asked you to buy me a cup of coffee. You’ve responded! I celebrated by going to a bakery in Chinatown and buying this… teapot cake? coffee pot cake? Whatever!