April 9th 2012 “ Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God… thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. …thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers; thou blessest the springing thereof.” Psalm 65:9&10 Well, spring has definitely made it’s very green arrival here among our little hills and hollers. We have planted most of our garden, well, the early spring one anyway- and I have planted some cucumbers, sweet corn and green beans too. This week we are hoping to get the rest of the corn, beans, cukes and some okra in the ground. We have had a bit of a cold snap these past few days, nothing too bad to complain about. I love this time of year-but then again, who doesn’t love springtime? I was reading in my “Farmer’s Wife Harvest Cookbook” {excellent cookbooks, the “Farmer’s Wife” series} the other day and came across an article that was originally printed in the Farmer’s Wife Magazine in May of 1936. I thought I would share it with y’all… “Dear Editor: A friend from the city spent the holidays with us, and upon leaving remarked how wonderful it was to have a few days’ vacation in the country, but how very monotonous to live there-no amusements, no broadening influences, no access to art or literature. Humph! She need not patronize me! Summer- alfalfa curing; the first rooster big enough for the frying pan; jelly glasses cooling in the north window; warm afternoons when the cattle drowse in the willow shade; the men grateful for cold buttermilk and ginger cookies after a turn in the grain field; the young folks coming home from a dip in the creek, their voices sweet in the moonlight.” I am sure I could make my very own list of the wonders and beauties of farm living, but I am afraid the list would be too long to put here. Well, I best be signing off right here, it’s Monday morning laundry day and there’s plenty of work to be done on the farm! As my favorite cowgirl would say, Happy Trail's to you! Cecilia