A new year began as a grief-stricken glimpse onto what lay in the back yard. With seven-foot high half-dead tomato plants and a thick layer of green tomatoes covering the ground (enough to make a noise like crackling snails when you walked over them), we harvested the last of the crop (in this case, mostly leeks and carrots buried underneath the tomatoes) and ripped everything out, tilling it over to barely cover up the mounds of crushed cherry tomatoes. However, upon finding that a month and a half away from the compost pile made it into a nice healthy heap of black soil, we decided that it was time to reconstruct the yards to become something glorious. So we built up raised beds in the back, filled them with rich new compost, and planted fresh seedlings heralding the beginning of a new growing season.
Unfortunately, before the beds became anything useful, they were drenched with what became the heaviest rainfall California has seen in a number of years. Three storms in four days meant constant water pouring from the sky, sifting our soil in the gardens and making us realize how many stones we had left behind! A day or two of sun afterward saw thousands of tiny seedlings attempting to sprout in our newly tilled beds. They looked, strangely, like cherry tomato seedlings...
Eventual planning of the next year's plantings led to a few valiant attempts. The first was when Autumn attempted to "move" the spearmint from one large herb barrel to another... although as we know (as did she), the mint does not liken well to being "moved", it merely "replicates". Missing a few grams of spearmint root from the old barrel, we now have wonderful amounts of mint growing in both barrels, hopefully to be trimmed back avidly until we've drunk as many possible mojitos as our taste buds can handle. Here's to forced planning of the summer's drinks!
The second attempt was slightly more successful, when we decided to build a cold frame (or hot box) to allow earlier sprouting of our late-winter seedlings. A few hastily nailed one-by-sixes led to a rough sketch of a frame with a plexiglass roof on top. Success! The lettuce, chard, leeks and carrots planted inside have sprouted since, making us salivate with the anticipated early spring crop that lies ahead. The temperature inside still gets fairly chilled at night, although a humid greenhouse climate likely helps the seedlings during the day. Additional protection against blustering rain and winds, tree droppings, and blue jay foragings is a huge bonus.
The third attempt was entirely successful all around! It included a primary realization by John's mother: "Wait, you mentioned you have an apple tree from last year... but those aren't self-fertile. Do you have a second?" This led to a buying spree at Raintree Nursery, which within the week included a second columnar apple tree as well as a dual peach & nectarine tree at the behest of Autumn, who leads the peninsular chapter of the Organized Citrus Liberation Front. Both arrived well, were planted, and are budding and blossoming! Delighting Autumn every time she walks past, the peach & nectarine tree looks healthy with beautiful pink flowers. What fruit may come, will always be welcome!
Another big event in the Quail Cottage garage was the christening of John's new time trial bicycle. Actually occurring back in November with the help of a great friend Adam, the whiskey splashed across the bow of this Leader was finally put to good use this month as John zoomed into the new year with a few stellar rides, including the best time yet at the first Beat the Clock Time Trial in February. As construction on the bike dwindled, space in the garage increased, if only to house a few new cases of wine that were picked up as the Quail Cottage occupants toured South Bay wineries with friends Kayla & Devin. If not one hobby, then another!
A winter fire in the fireplace commences with a new bellows to help stoke the flame, and dinner parties come and go from Quail Cottage. New kitchen toys are played with, such as the pink Himalayan salt plates which so beautifully seared tuna, beef, and vegetables with Fraser and Eric, and mead is mixed and stored, bubbling in the bottle. Friends unite, part, and unite again, and we try to lend a helping hand, and a helping home, in the meantime. As the first ski trip of the new winter approaches, we look around the Cottage and see some welcomed changes; a new bed frame in the bedroom, more photos posted on the walls, and some fresh flowers in the kitchen. What better way to spend a winter!
An early bedtime, a newly promised early morning running schedule, and a small nightcap of a Scottish whiskey brings the evening to a close. Cheers to new beginnings! To new seedlings, freshly sprouted, and new buds freshly bloomed on our various trees! To friends new and old, and to their continued success with freshly minted relationships. To the promise of a vibrant garden, a healthy summer, and a clean garage, we toast with champagne leftovers and brand new wine club shipments. And if you ever need a place to stay, or some friendly smiles to talk to, we'll be here. Good night!