Spring Clean Up

The nice weather and longer days, mean I spend a lot of time outside.  Today I may have over done it a bit.  I still sometimes forget that I am not 25 anymore.  I began some trimming in the backyard this morning, and wound up working out there until 7 tonight.

I pruned, and trimmed....

Untangled ivy that had grown up into trees, and onto bricks.  Raked it all into piles, but by the end of the day, was too tired to pick up the piles and put them into the recyclers.  I went into the grove later in the evening to check out the trees, and see what needs work.  The oranges and lemons and grapefruit are in full bloom.  The fragrance is out of this world.

Walking back in, towards the chicken coop.

The avocado trees are all loaded!

When I reached the swing, the girls started to run to me.   Usually when I come to sit out in the swing, I have a snack.  Popcorn or something like that.  The girls LOVE popcorn.

Sorry girls, no snack today. I found this chicken on a stake the other day and I dropped it into one of the fence posts at the gate of the chicken coop.

I sat down in the swing for a minute under the avocado tree, and the girls all gathered around, hoping for a hand out.  I think Tilly gave me the stink eye when she realized I had no food.

Can you see Dusty peering between the fence posts back there?
Before I went to the house, I gave the girls a scoop of corn scratch to gather them back into their coop.

Usually, I let them put themselves to bed, and I come in and lock up the coop at dark.

Twelve little fluff balls waddled right in to get their scratch.  Goodnight girls.
I put the first coat of paint on my antique wringer washer.  Yesterday, I scrubbed it really well.  Used steel wool to clean it, inside and out.

I need to put another coat on it.  I can't wait to use this for our summer ice chest for outside parties.

 I love it!
Then, before going in, I picked fruit.  The oranges are at their peak of sweetness!  We are eating them with everything.  And anyone who comes to visit, goes home with some!

I took my weary self straight inside for a hot shower.  Greg and I had leftover spaghetti from the night before.  I think it was even better the second day.  Along with fresh orange and avocado salad, and Texas Toast.  The spaghetti was made with the last of my roasted tomato and basil sauce from last summer's garden.  I had enough tomatoes and basil to freeze about a dozen large gallon bags of sauce for the winter.

See you soon!
PS  I wrote this post last night, and nearly feel asleep at the keyboard.  I finished it this morning to publish.
XO  Kris