We had been brainstorming ideas for Dad and Janice’s birthdays when Jill came up with a brilliant idea. The gift of time. Over the last few weeks she had listened as they discussed and compiled their “to do list” to get the house and yard ready for spring and summer. So we picked a Saturday and all gathered at the Farm to lend a helping hand.
Everyone was already working in the yard when Terry and I arrived. We grabbed a sausage biscuit from the kitchen and a brand new pair of work gloves and headed outside. Roy and Lily were working on re-bricking the edging around the pond where it had shifted and become uneven. Jill and Leah were in the herb garden pulling up the black plastic liner to prepare the ground for seed and straw and prepping the raised beds for new herbs. Dad and Janice were manning the tractors while Chris and his day helpers cleaned the outside garden shed. Levi helped by driving Elijah around the yard in his mini-Jeep.
By noon we had all worked up a mighty appetite and Leah had provided a fabulous lunch for us. As we drug our weary bones into the house we were greeted with a platter of deli meats and cheeses, assorted breads and buns, sliced kiwi and mango, chips with Ranch dip (seriously good), and for dessert an assortment of Bundtini’s. It was all so delicious!
A hearty lunch gave us energy to soldier forth. Herbs and marigolds were planted, we finished weeding the garden and getting all the brush to the burn pile, pots of flowers were planted, the watering system was turned on, and the yard was aerated and seeded.
In the midst of all this activity, Roy and Josh rescued a baby bunny. Work came to a screeching halt as we were all smitten with Mr. Bun.
By late afternoon we were beginning to wind down. Roy and Leah had to get back to Franklin for a previous obligation. We tidied up around the yard picking up tools and equipment and headed to the screened in porch to fall out. While Josh was running an errand he went by Tractor Supply and bought formula and rabbit food for Mr. Bun to see if we could get him to eat. Before we headed home, Chris grilled hamburgers for all of us for dinner.
You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect spring day. It was great hanging out with everyone, talking, eating, laughing and working together. In fact, it reminded me of the forced family farm fun of our youth. I’m so happy that Levi, Lily and Elijah will get to experience that same sense camaraderie and fun.
