Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Another Eggstra Special Thing About Spring

We are in that rare time that we enjoy so much - Spring.  It doesn't last long.  It is not cold, but it is not hot - YET.  We relish these days, working in the yard, enjoying the green growth, smelling the earthy scent of the soil, hearing the buzz of honeybees and the sound of chirping birds.  It is as if creation has come alive.

The live oak trees have dropped their leaves and fresh, kelly green growth appears on the branches.  Almost simultaneously, the flower of the live oak tree appears.  They aren't showy or pretty.  They are small brown tassels and they drop to the ground in thick mats, carpeting the ground.

They are full of yellow pollen that cover the ground and any hopes of keeping a vehicle clean are suddenly an impossible feat.  This yellow pollen wreaks havoc on my sinus and enrich the makers of ibuprofen and Peppermint essential oil.  The pollen will pass in time.

One really nice thing about spring are the fresh country eggs.  The hens are laying in abundance like they always do in the spring.  We have a sign out by the road announcing "Fresh, Free Range Country Eggs For Sale."  Passersby stop in and purchase.  Spring eggs are rich in taste.  The yolks are a darker color.  We had eggs and bacon and potatoes for supper tonight.  It is good to have breakfast for supper from time to time.

The eggs from the young hens are still a little on the small size, but they are getting larger.  We've been collecting about 30 eggs each day.  Some of the new hens lay their eggs in all sorts of strange places.  We find hidden nests all over the place.  One "Easter Egger" hen had to be quarantined in a cage. She had taken a liking to sneaking in to the garden and scratching.  In the process, she buried a tomato plant and dug up my Dixie Speckled Butterbeans and cucumbers.  I'll have to replant them both.  Argghh!

As I was walking back through the garden with my basket full of eggs, I set it down in the carrot patch.  You can see there is lots of oxalis in the carrot patch.  Tricia told me it is edible and she was munching on some oxalis.  She said it tastes like sorrel.  Anyhow, I thought the basket of fresh eggs made a nice photo against the greenery.  I bought this old egg basket off of e-bay many years ago.  Its wire construction coated with a rubberized coating helps guard against breakage.  

You can see the Easter-egger's eggs.  They are the blue and green and pink ones.  When we package eggs for sale or giveaway, we always try to put a blue or green egg or two in the carton.  It makes for a nice looking dozen of eggs.

Nice to look at and delicious to eat!

No comments:

Post a Comment