a man and his hoe

every day is a good day

Month: March 2017

  • Before … After


    Before she lays her egg, Kumo-hime 雲姫 is quiet, patient, alert, meditative. Perhaps she is practicing her grand performances in her head.


    After she lays her egg, she is Julia Andrews auditioning for “The Sound of Music”, Beyonce practicing for the Super Bowl, Maria Callas at La Scala, her full throttled voice ringing over hill and dale.


    Hope of spring arriving is not dead. It is alive. The stinging nettles have pushed out of the soggy earth. Yes, yes, yes! It’s stinging nettle soup tonight! Wear thick gloves when you pick these if you don’t want your fingers feeling like a million microscopic needles are pricking them for several days. A peeled potato diced, perhaps cauliflower chopped, simmered slowly in milk with stinging nettles just picked, and a pinch or two of salt, and you have all you need to make the best spring soup known to humankind. At the end, blend it well, and top with a bit of heavy cream.

  • Spring Suspended


    Spring suspended, camellia blossoms that won’t open, peony buds with fingers clasped tightly shut, fat hydrangea buds turning purple from waiting so long to open, spring is suspended until the sun returns. The forecast says we’ll have a peek at some sunshine nine days from now, in the meantime it’s a chance to watch spring unfold in sloooow motion.






  • Last Year … This Year


    Last year on March 9, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their soft, powdery fragrance filling the warm spring air. This year on March 9, the buds are still tightly closed, waiting for any warmth to arrive. As I type, a snow shower is turning the grass white.

  • There Is Something Magical


    There is something magical about feeling a just laid egg, an egg that is still warm, almost hot to the touch. There is no doubt that it is alive.


    There is something magical about fresh snow capping a mountain. It’s nice to see it up there instead of down here. It’s where snow belongs, on the tops of mountains.


    There is something magical about chickens out enjoying the sun. After days of clouds, snow, and rain, they are as surprised as I am that the sun still shines. That’s magical too.

  • Amused, Not Amused

    deakinandhicks

    It’s always warm and cheery at Tweets in Edison when I deliver eggs on Fridays. Yesterday was especially warm and cheery with Deakin Hicks filling the café with their wonderful music. I could have stayed for hours, I was that amused.

    amusednotamuseda

    Not amused this morning. Nope, not amused. What month is this? January? It’s March. The cherry blossoms are wanting to burst open, but they can’t under the heavy weight of cold snow.

    amusednotamusedb
    amusednotamusedc

    Kuro-hime 黒姫 is most definitely not amused this morning.