Hello, Folks. Aunt Eunice here.
Though the weather has been too cold for my old bones and definitely too cold for Spring, signs of the changing season are all around us. Robins and other spring birds have arrived and pussy willows are blooming. The farm has Spring Clean Up Day on Saturday April 6 and we will be grateful for any helping hands. Call before you come if it’s rainy.
As I walked through the farm early this morning there was a definite feeling of expectation, as if Spring were poised on its tippy toes ready to take the plunge. I am sure in just a few weeks we will find it hard to believe we were wearing our winter coats such a short while ago. Another sure sign of Spring on the farm is the birth of animals. One of our mother bunnies had her babies. We knew it would be soon since she made a nest out of hay and lined it with fur she carefully pulled from her own neck/chest area. While the babies are this tiny we won’t see hide nor hair of them. The only reason you know they are here is that the fur in the nest moves around a little. At this point we can’t tell how many there are. A baby rabbit is called a kit, which is short for kitten. A male rabbit is called a buck, and a female is called a doe. Rabbits have a gestation period of around 31 days. The female can have up to 12-13 kits, and as small a litter as one. Some people have rabbits as pets. though they are also raised for their meat. Ever hear of Hasenpfeffer? It is a traditional German stew made from marinated rabbit, cut into stewing-meat sized pieces and braised with onions and a marinade made from wine and vinegar.
Since April is almost here in about two weeks the school children will be running around the farm learning about the 1800s and how things were done back in the old days. The homeschool children who participate in the tour program are very excited about helping out and playing roles as members of the farm “family”. They have had their training day and have been assigned their areas. Duchess, our barn cat, will be so happy to have all of the children around again since they will stop for a minute and pet her. It will be good to have all those youngins’ dashing about! It keeps Aunt Eunice on her toes!
One more sign of the season is the Quiet Valley hens are laying lots of eggs. I am eating deviled eggs (my favorite), hard boiled eggs, fried eggs, egg salad sandwiches, pickled eggs and baking up a storm. I am soon going to turn into an egg, but since I am already shaped that way I guess it doesn’t matter. I have a pretty tough shell, too. I will save some eggs to dye in onion skins for Easter and have a traditional egg tree in front of the house.
Well, that’s the latest news I have for you, but I’ll be in touch again.
Take care and hope to see you soon. Aunt Eunice