The First Day of Autumn

We have spent the past several days laying out our garden.  This includes an attempt to give "bones" to a space that, for many, many years, has served as a riding circle for horses.  That is to say, the ground is hard-packed by horse hooves, and riddled with weed seeds from their leavings! It is a veritable challenge.  Our first efforts have been geared toward development of a pleasing layout for the beds and paths, and the creation of a pergola under which the gardener may retreat from a harsh NM sun.   The small vertical vigas are now in place, and we have only (only!!) to bolt and lash the horizontals to these 4" vigas, and then lay the smaller latillas on top. We will plant grapes as soon as we can locate the varieties that will thrive in the alkaline NM soil - and we will hope these vines and fruit will create shade! 

A Tree for "Baby Bird"

When Nate & Sara announced that they were having a new baby in the spring, I knew we had to celebrate with something special.  So Nate & I went together to Plants of the Southwest and selected a beautiful Arizona walnut tree to plant at Little Bird Farm.  We will tell our first little grandbaby that this special tree was chosen by his or her Daddy and Grandmama Gigi on a very special day.  The Arizona Walnut is indigenous to New Mexico and should be very much at home here at LBF.  Happy and healthy, just like the new grand!  

A Series of Big Events!

Houseguests with big NEWS, the 1st annual LBF Labor Day Wine Fest in the Orchard, and Papa's birthday party!  Late August, early September has been busy and FUN.  Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have kept The Commander away from Little Bird Farm, but the activity in his absence has been robust, to say the least.  Most notable: Come April there will be a new grandbaby in our life! Our first!  BIG news indeed!  We are thrilled!  Thank you, Nate & Sara.  Won't it be such a JOY?  Springtime is a perfect time for a new baby.

Also of note:  Our family, friends, and neighbors (our new friends) joined us in the orchard for a Labor Day grill-out and wine festival.  It was low-key, being the "first annual", but we will get better at this.  Seems to me if we wait until Little Bird Farm is actually party-ready, we will miss out on a lot of fun, meanwhile.  So, the partying continued...with Papa's 78th birthday bash; a sit-down dinner on the front porch.  We set up two long banquet tables, seating for 16 of us.  Papa's requested menu:  Steaks on the grill (we still use charcoal and a Weber), baked potatoes with all the trimmings, salad (Aunt Connie brought an Asian salad), and deviled eggs (Granny and Aunt Margie made these for us).  Gary and Mel brought two fabulous French wines from their cellar, which were perfect with the beef tenderloins.  Sara and I made Papa a Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream frosting and sugared lemon curls.   We served it with Granny's homemade vanilla ice cream and an Imperial Kir that Nate provided - excellent!  

Maybe the partying is over for awhile.  The houseguests are gone, the dust is settling from all the fun, and now the work of taming the acre continues.  It was good to have the break from the overwhelming work of moving in, unpacking and fixing-up.  But Little Bird Farm is ready for more parties any time!  Say the word!  I think a party will be in order with the return of The Commander!  A "welcome home" soire, for example!  Soon?