Talked to lots of family today, Cheryl is back from her trip to South Africa, so caught up with some of the family news from there, and Tanya is doing great. Then Jackie popped over to get the comfrey that Teri brought for her and to drop off the asparagus she got for me from Darlene. We had tea, well, coffee for her, and then went mushroom hunting. Saw some cool things in the woods, some deer, mushrooms living on dead wood, new leaves, buds about to bloom. The sun was warm, but the wind rather chilly.
Then Teri called to make arrangements for visiting tomorrow, I feel blessed with the friends I have here.
Started pinning the plastic from the bales to the ground in the berry garden, making gardens to move the strawberries to and new beds for herbs. Checked and it looks as if only 2 of the original 10 hazelnut trees have made it. Also seem to have lost one of the paw paws. The comfrey, tarragon and raspberry bush are coning up, have 6 blueberry bushes and the 3 elderberries. On the grapes, looks as if we may have lost 2 - one is missing completely, the 2nd doesn't appear to have any buds like the other 8, but it may just be slow. Counted 7 garlics, originally planted 12. On the lavender, looks as if we may still have 1 live bush.
When I'm outside I allow the lambs out, but keep a good check on them to keep them from the Japanese maple and my roses. Saw where the lambs were escaping from their pen, so blocked the 2 spots. Anni is really doing a good job of chasing them down when they do escape. She chases them to me and I tip them back over the fence.
Herbie gave the cows a fresh bale of hay this morning and I opened the gate to let them into the main pasture with the pond this afternoon. Intended closing them back up tonight, but forgot.
Tanya's sending me her tweaked tabbouleh recipe, great for cancers and preventing them. Was interested in talking to her about the muscles and ligaments of the upper arm, and she gave me some good suggestions. I only learnt the muscles and bones in the hands and feet, lower arms and legs, face, neck and head, she's done the whole body. Also nice to bounce ideas with her.