Those Wonderful Berries
  Well, this update is coming out a bit later than I had hoped. I have just returned from a tropical excursion. My younger brother Joe got married this past week and he and his lovely bride Maggie decided they would like to do so on a cruise ship, so I had to break away from the farm and do my “duty” as a good sister. It does not take long to grow accustomed to tropical weather and it is a bit of a shock to the system to wake up to such a crisp North Texas morning.
However, the berries are absolutely loving this cool weather and we continue to watch with growing excitement as they begin to form on the bushes. Everything is blooming and budding, even the garden beside the house. Truly, it’s amazing to watch the handiwork of the Creator and be a part of the process as well. We are looking forward to having all of you out to participate in that process as well as you harvest the bounty.
Don’t forget the mayhaws will be ready mid-May. We won’t be open, but you can call at 903.564.6228 toward the middle of May if you want to schedule a time to come out and get your mayhaws.
We are still anticipating a June 1 opening, but that will be blackberries only, as the blueberries won’t start really ripening until mid-June. We’ll keep reminding you that we’ll be open Saturday and Sunday, plus Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am – 3pm.
What’s Doing Now?
Just because we’re not open at the farm doesn’t mean you have to wait to see us! We’re going to be out at Farm Day at Perchaven in Sanger, TX this weekend, May 1 from 9am – 6pm. Perchaven (www.perchaven.com) is an Animal Rescue which focuses mainly on horses, but they have been known to assist other animals as well. They even have a zonkey – his name is Cheesy!
Farm Day is their once-a-year event when they invite folks in to experience farm life in a broad variety of ways. They’ll have so many activities for the whole family and we’ll be set up with our preserves and canned goods by the garden center. We’d be delighted to see you and your whole family, and you’re sure to have a blast with all the activities. There is no admission charge and all donations (from vendors and attendees) go to support the care of the animals in 2010.
For more information or directions, visit their website at www.perchaven.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Friends Down the Road
Also, don’t forget our friends down the road at Lavender Ridge Farms (www.lavenderridgefarms.com). Their season starts a little before ours, so they’re a great opportunity for you to get out and experience some spring sunshine and enjoy a little bit of the outdoors. They also have a nice café and gift shop, so you could make a lovely afternoon of it.
We’re coordinating with the folks at Lavender Ridge and also Red River Peach Orchard (www.redriverpeachorchard.com) for a full day of activities on June 19…the day before Father’s Day. If you are looking for a way for your family to celebrate the dad in your life, mark your calendar for that Saturday and plan to come out and visit on that day. We have already scheduled Lannie Jo the Cowboy Story Teller and we’re getting other entertainment lined up for that day, too.
You Don’t Know Me, But…
We didn’t just land at the farm, we have lives that have led us to this point. I have been called a “plate-spinner” more than once, and certainly I have used that term to describe myself. Both Erick and I are project-aholics, which means we very rarely ever have a handle on that slippery little concept called “spare time”. I have been very blessed over the years to have had the opportunity to participate in wonderful projects with amazing people. In 2002, my friend Michele Gorman and I co-founded Refuge House (www.refugehouse.org), a foster care and adoption agency in Dallas. Since that time, we have also opened a San Antonio office. My role in the organization has been primarily the business and operations side, as my degree is an interdisciplinary Business Admin and Computer Information Systems, while Michele’s background is the Social Services and Psychology side. That organization continues to be a huge part of my daily life, because I have developed the operations software (which grows and changes weekly) and do the bulk of the contract preparation each year. We have been blessed with terrific families that care for the children entrusted to our agency, which averages out to be between 225 and 250 at any given time.
Erick’s interests are no less varied. In addition to a passion for horticulture and a devotion to our dogs, Erick is an artist and works in a variety of media – his favorite being airbrushing. He has painted everything from t-shirts, to city signs, to hot rods and is really hoping to do some sailboat sails. He would gladly try to slap paint on just about anything he could pull his air compressor up to. When he’s not busy getting dirty, Erick loves to read and study theology…and not the light stuff either. More than once he’s sent me off on an electronic wild-web goose chase to find a book referenced by another book, only to find out that book is out of print and even then never translated out of Dutch. Needless to say, Erick considers technology my realm and leaves the cyber-world in my hands.
No Offense
 I mentioned my beloved BRTs (Black Russian Terriers) in my last newsletter and I had a response that rather surprised me. One of our readers wrote saying that they were offended that I included the dogs in my newsletter and seemed to think that I am running a puppy mill. I apologize if anyone else got the same impression and would like to make sure that everyone knows such is not at all the case. In fact, I feel that puppy mills are an atrocity and that treating animals in that fashion is a criminal act.
We have four adult Black Russians and three of them are co-owned with other breeders/ trainers/ handlers. They are beloved family pets and companions. My two girls that just had litters three months apart are actually littermates, one of whom I co-own with my friend Michele in Dallas. Laika and Mya are 3 years old and neither of them has ever had a litter before. We are going to watch these puppies grow up and see how they develop, watch their temperaments, see if they develop strong physically and mentally. We fully expect to see champions, service dogs and therapy dogs, as well as family friends and guardians. If the puppies do not develop into top-notch dogs, then these girls will not be bred again ever, and even if they ARE top-notch puppies, they will not be bred for at least two more years.
Sorry for the Delay
 I know some folks have sent emails and inquiries and it’s taking a little bit of time to get back with you. I apologize for that! We are still transitioning and sometimes the coordination of emails has to go through a couple steps before I get back to you. Thank you for your patience and know that we’ll get it all in hand shortly. Also, we hope everyone will become a fan of our facebook page. We’re also considering a blog and twitter. Please give us some feedback and let us know if you’d be interested in those media to stay in touch.
As Always, the Recipes
 Since the blueberries aren’t yet ripe, I’m including a recipe that uses frozen blueberries. If you still have some in your freezer, you can have a nice springtime treat in anticipation of picking them this summer. Click HERE or on the Recipe Box for this week's recipes.
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