Brighter days

I started my new job a week ago, and I’m still settling in. It helps that I freelanced for the company for four months — I think I will settle in faster. But I am on a new schedule now, too, which is a big adjustment.

So far, so good, though. This new role really plays to my strengths. I love it, and everyone I’ve “met” (remotely, of course) has been so incredibly nice and welcoming. We’re all getting together in Baltimore next month, so I’ll actually meet everyone in person then.

Anyway, farm updates…

I spent Sunday morning cutting down the ugly shrub in front of our house. It was dying anyway — a complete eyesore. I used my brand new Black+Decker Alligator Loppers, which worked great until the chain came off on one of the thicker branches. LOL. I need to fix it. Thankfully, I found some YouTube videos showing me how to do that because I learn much better from visual demonstrations than written instructions. I plan to use it a lot. Once I fix it, of course.

Hubs got out the chainsaw to take care of the trunk, which he cut to ground level.

You’ll see a lot of ground elder and various weeds in these photos. My next task is to clear all of that and put down mulch. We still have that pile of wood chips from all the tree cutting a few weeks back.

This will greatly improve the curb appeal of the house.

In other news, apple harvesting has started. I have two trees bursting with apples of unknown variety. They are small, pockmarked, and often misshapen. But I think these are cooking apples, so they will work fine for applesauce. I picked the first two yesterday. I was checking on them and they pretty much came off the tree right into my hand when I touched them. The other apples weren’t quite ready yet.

I cut one up and tasted it and it’s neither sweet nor tart. It really doesn’t have much flavor at all, which is why I suspect these are cooking apples. I have a recipe for freezer applesauce — I don’t have the time or patience for canning this year — and maple syrup is an optional ingredient as a sweetener. I’ll give it a go.

The blackberries are coming in, too. Though I don’t think I’ll get as much of a yield as I did last year. I severely cut back the blackberry bush last fall and it’s not as full or tall as it was last year. It’s fine, though. We have wild blackberry vines sprouting up everywhere, and I need to get them under control.

We decided to put the new barn on hold until next spring. Now that I am working full-time again, we want to take some time to save up some more money first so we don’t have to get as much financing to pay for it. But at least the tree work is done. The stump grinding took place on Monday.

Our neighbor has told me of strange cat sightings in our yard. The only cat I have seen is hers. They have a barn cat, Momo, who hunts in our yard. I was out front last week doing some work, and a strange cat jumped up on our front porch demanding belly rubs.

I am allergic to cats, but I obliged. Stranger kitty moved on after a few minutes and hasn’t been seen since. I sent this photo to my neighbor, and she doesn’t think it’s the same cat she’s been seeing in our backyard. I have yet to see that cat.

To close, I’ll share some random photos I’ve taken recently.