It is mid-May, but feels like April! The highs have only been in the 50s and we have had a couple of frost scares. I got my tomatoes and peppers planted last week. The seedlings had outgrown my windowsill and I couldn’t wait any longer. They seem to be settling in nicely.
My more hardy plants (onions, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, kale, and broccoli), were planted almost a month ago. I have a few baby heads of lettuce and green onion shoots popping up. My kale, broccoli, and cabbage are looking good. My carrots are finally starting to germinate, I was beginning to think they were a flop but I’m seeing lots of little carrot sprouts now!
The Chicks are Growing Fast
The chicks are a little over a month old now, and I moved them out to the coop a few days ago. They seem to be doing well with the transition. We have been handling them regularly so they can get used to us, and we are already noticing clear personality differences:
- Our Buff Orpingtons – by far the most friendly
- Our Barred Rocks – curious and gentle
- Our Wyandottes – the most skittish and hardest to catch
It is still Anna’s favorite daily task to go and check in on the “peepies,” she is even learning how to pick them up gently herself, which is so sweet.
Spring Cleaning & Landscaping Goals
Elijah and I have been busy doing lots of deep cleaning and getting the yard looking nice so we can actually enjoy being outside. Our goals for this summer are to get the outbuildings organized and decluttered, and to establish some beautiful landscaping.
So far we have planted:
- 4 apple trees
- 2 blueberry bushes
- a red maple
- and a green giant arborvitae
We also filled some small garden beds and hanging baskets with flowers and herbs. The property is starting to look so much more alive and inviting.
Why This Life Feels So Right
One thing I love so most about homestead life is there’s never a dull moment, and there’s always something that could use improvement. A home is a living thing, it needs constant care and attention. The more love you pour into it, the more it gives back.
I used to think this lifestyle would be boring. I assumed that if you weren’t constantly traveling or socializing, life would feel small. Motherhood and homemaking have completely shifted my perspective. Instead of chasing external stimulation, I’ve learned to focus on the things that truly improve our daily quality of life. Keeping a clean, functional, and beautiful home is far more rewarding (and far more work!) than I ever imagined.
Summer Projects Ahead
The homestead is really coming together. This summer we hope to tackle: redoing the porch floor, painting outbuildings, setting up rainwater collection, replacing the concrete sidewalk, adding a wooden staircase to the porch, and finishing the house siding.
I only have about 10 weeks until the baby arrives, so we’ll see how much we actually get done!
