I'd rather chase smelly pigs than try and keep up with the Joneses.

Taken with my phone - the camera is in the shop.

Up on the hill the apple blossoms are emerging and truly  if you've never smelled an apple blossom you're missing out on one of the sweetest smells on earth.  All around there are cherry blossoms, pear blossoms, and all sorts of assorted flowers.  And sometimes the breeze will bring their scent right to me which makes me stop right where I am and drink it in.

While it's true that farms can be smelly places - I know from first hand experience that this is true - the air on a farm has times when it's sweeter than any perfume you can buy.  I think that is part of why I love farms and why I felt so stifled in a neighborhood.  I love the romanticism of wildness and nature we have here - manicured lawns and double car driveways are not for me.  Give me muddy, smelly boots over the HOA any day.

A little madness in the spring is wholesome even for the King. - Emily Dickinson

We have gone slightly mad.  Already sunburned - never shoed - or indoors.  We cannot get enough of our lover Spring.

That includes but isn't limited to adopting a kitten - Marmalade.  Who could say no to her orangeness?

We also got some foster hens from a friend - which means instant eggs.  I love it.  Yesterday while walking inside with three warm eggs in my hand my heart leapt within me.  I am in love with my life.  30+ hens and counting...

But with that madness has come some interesting DEVELOPMENTS...

Do you know what is wrong with this picture?  Yes, it is slightly obscene - but it shouldn't be.  This pig is supposed to be castrated.  Is he?  No, no he is not.  Which means we can't let him get over 200 lbs(around the time of sexual maturity) or else his meat will be tainted and yucky.  So, Mister Mister, you're gonna be bacon a lot sooner than we expected.  Like in less than two weeks.    I'll take pictures, I promise.

So, farewell Porkchop - it was good while it lasted.

The Player Piano.

My mom is amazing.  Ask anyone who knows her and they'd same the same thing.  She's a painter, a glass worker, a fiber artist, a singer, an interior designer, and because she has perfect pitch she can play just about anything on the piano - in any key you'd like.   And I love to watch her play - her beautiful hands dancing across the keys.   I wish I could watch her more.  Maybe once she and my dad are back from Brazil...(hint hint, nudge nudge, Mom).

And now, she can do it in my home since yesterday we became proud owners of a piano.  We had a piano in the past - a free one - which means it looked and sounded free too.  So once we realized it had became more like a holder of random papers and water cups than an instrument - we got rid of it.  But lately I've been determined to get back in the game with a better piano.  And I found the perfect fit.  It's an old player piano - refinished and it's "guts" removed and replaced with a digital keyboard.  Pretty cool, eh?

I love that I got the satisfaction of having something used and "seasoned" but also something new with little upkeep.  Golliwog's Cakewalk...here I come.