Busy Saturday

Saturday we were on a schedule.   We had to get a very important package to FedEX by noon so it would go out that day and not be delayed even more by the long weekend.     The package contained what we have been told New York State DMV needs to register our Jeep and transfer our old plates to it.    Cindy P has graciously agreed to receive the package and to take the contents of said package to the DMV in Geneseo, in person, and take care of the necessary details.    After all goes well (she says hopefully) Cindy will overnight our new registration and we can finally put NYS  plates on the Jeep.   Tick Tock......the Utah Temporary tag is good only til June 16.....tick tock.     Please cross all fingers and toes that this transaction works.     One complication was that we needed to copy the paperwork before sending and, of course, our printer was out of ink.

Just one quick stop on the way.....      We've passed by a small and beautifully manicured farm market several times and yesterday they had a sign at the road -  "SALE" it said.    Rhubarb! I said.   I'd noticed a line of huge and very lush looking rhubarb plants along their fence so we decided this was the time to stop in.    How long could it take?

tender young rhubarb plants

Dave's birthday is next Wednesday, and his traditional birthday pie has always been rhubarb.

The very pleasant and enthusiastic owner, Duane, introduced himself to us immediately and told us he was just about to pick rhubarb....how lucky for us.

he not only sells rhubarb for cooking, but sells plants for growing it

 
 He picked and he picked all the while telling us about his sweet little one acre farm.    He'd retired from his custom cabinetry business and started this place, on a very small scale.   We all know how gardens just seem to "grow" larger and larger and this small property is now chock full of wonderful veggies and flowers and chickens.

this gal looked mighty crabby

good eats in the chicken coop

Duane introduced us to his lovely wife and then invited us to walk around and enjoy the fruits of his labor (labor of love!).

The Miracle Acre sells all manner of vegetables and flowers, along with anything "garden" in the small red garage.   Duane gives classes at the farm and at the community college.      I only took pictures of flowers it seems.   They do grow many other things, onions, berries, asparagus, etc.

All in all a delightful place.    If you ever find yourself on Brosterhous Road in Bend, stop in, you'll love it!

Oh Dave.....

white bleeding hearts

unreal looking poppies

When we told him how beautiful the soil was, he whisked us off to his compost pile and showed off his powered compost sifter.    He started it up and threw in shovelfuls of straw, chicken manure, vegetable cast offs, etc. that he keeps in a neat compost pile in the rear of the acre.      Instantly it spat out perfectly sifted bits of black gold, directly into his waiting wheelbarrow.        He was very proud.

lots of super fresh rhubarb for Dave

 We ended up leaving with more rhubarb than I needed or wanted really, ($5) but Duane told me how to roast it with a little sugar or honey and then freeze the result for topping ice cream, or gelato, or pound cake.     That sounded like a great thing to try and I think Dave will be a happy man for quite awhile!

We made it to the FedEx office just in the nick of time so our package is on its way to Geneseo.   Phew, we weren't sure we'd get there in time after spending a lovely hour or so at the Miracle Acre, but it worked out just fine.

After lunch Dave took the dogs outside to watch him wax Beluga.   They all enjoyed themselves.

Later we met Pam and Vic for another stellar dinner at Brickhouse.  We decided to forgo desert at the restaurant and instead walked across the street to enjoy a small cup of special gelato at Bonta.     To our surprise and delight, one of their varieties was topped with - Miracle Mile's rhubarb roasted with strawberries!   Great end to a busy day!