We're All Winging It

It's fine to figure it out on the fly!

You’ve got chicks in a pile and not ducks in a row? It doesn’t matter. You are doing great. Your love makes up the difference. — Mama Chicken, who needs a vacation

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Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm

It always happens like this: It feels like the garden is just a few tiny sprouts that will never amount to anything and then: poof! You’re overwhelmed and forcing yourself to eat salad for every meal.

This year’s garden got a big upgrade with a new tomato trellis system. Tomatoes come in two types: determinate, which are bushy and never get too tall, and indeterminate, which sprawl ever upwards until the last frost, refusing to be confined to the tomato cages you put them in. These tomato arches, built with the help of a friend, are like six feet tall and should give the indeterminate varieties (most of what I have) support for months to come. As an added benefit, once the tomatoes have grown over the top, I’ll be able to hide in the tunnels when I need a break from *gestures vaguely at the entire world.*

Oh are the strawberries sweet from the dry weather this year. Fewer total berries but so piercingly flavorful? That’s a trade I am willing to make.

And…It’s almost time. Tomato Sandwich Season is coming. Prepare yourselves (with white bread and mayo).

Lastly, I got out last night and picked a basket of elderflowers for elderflower syrup. I think these lacy flowers are just so beautiful — if I ever get married again, I want a dress that looks like elderflowers in full bloom. So sweetly fragrant, I steeped them in warm water with a bit of sugar and lemon. I rarely drink alcohol, so this syrup will mostly liven up my sparkling water all summer long—but it would also be great in a cocktail.

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Here’s What I Loved This Week

Sometimes you just need to make yourself a loaf of cinnamon swirl toast. This recipe from King Arthur turned out really well. Yes, the instant mashed potatoes feel like a weird addition, but go with it. A generous smear of butter after toasting is actually the law, so don’t you dare think about eating your cinnamon toast dry.