Perhaps We Could Grow Rice!

Of all the years that I have gardened, I have never seen such a wet spring!  It is so wet that yesterday my husband called me into the barn to show me that a crayfish (crawdad, etc) had burrowed a hole into the dirt in the barn floor.  It's that wet!  Of course our CSA customers are still waiting for that first taste of spring vegetables because it took so long to get the plants into the gardens and now we all have to wait.  While we wait, of course, the weeds aren't waiting and that means triple work when we finally get out of this swampy period.  My only consolation is that all are in the same boat.  Most of the corn and beans in Indiana have not been planted and it is Memorial Day.  People just THINK that food costs a lot now.  Here is how it goes.  The price of corn is at record high right now.  If it becomes a shortage this fall from lack of ability to plant in the mud, it will go up double.  Interesting times coming.  I am not sure how many chickens we can keep with feed so costly. 
     I am keeping busy, though.  I have taken a quasi-vacation week to work on the gardens, but since they are too wet, I am doing the spring cleaning that I never get around to because of the gardening season.  Vacuuming, curtain washing, window washing, cleaning out cabinets and drawers and cupboards.  It does give a feeling of satisfaction after it is done.  How do we possibly accumulate so much!
    Luckily, before the last huge downpour, I did get my plants put in my kitchen herb garden.  Will offer basil noodles for sale along with the regular ones as soon as basil large enough to use.  My tansy has prove to be a handy ant repellent in the kitchen.  Both Mom and I have been using a lot of the leaves. 
   Sprayed for poison ivy and thistles this a.m.  While we hate using any weed killers in our little corner of the world, I make a big exception for poison ivy.  As I walked the perimeter of the property, I found that old piece of grape vine that the former owners thought they had destroyed (cannot for the life of me figure out how people can tear out a source of basically free food) will be bearing a rather large crop compared to former years so we should have enough juice and jelly for the year.  My new grapes are coming along fine.  Peach tree will be bearing like crazy as well as the cherries.  Apples did bloom this year, but I am not sure if they will bear yet given their age.  I have planted 3 gooseberry bushes for pies. 
     Really excited about our new internet service--Omnicity.  Now we have lightening fast service and no threshold (like we had with HughesNet).  AND it is 2/3 the price.  Wonderful.  I will definitely be offering my handmade knitting items online beginning this fall.  I have socks for everyone, baby blankets, neck warmers, fingerless gloves, hats, scarves, etc. etc.  and the only market I have for those right now is word of mouth and the farmers market.  I am also beginning rag rug weaving on the frames that I have. 
    So much to do with so little time..........................................