Smyth Family Farm Celebrates Easter

It’s been quite a week! Two Easter parties with family on both sides the last two Sundays. My family’s party was a week ago, and Ken’s was yesterday. We’ve cooked, baked, cleaned, decorated with Easter bunnies, colored eggs, and generally had fun. I’ve baked focaccia, choux buns with asiago cheese, prepared jello molds, ham with pineapple and cherries, salads, made twice baked potatoes, cooked asparagus, pasta salad, and vegetable platters. For dessert I’ve made a bunny shaped carrot cake recipe here, a shortbread crust pie filled with cheesecake and fresh  raspberries and strawberries, made a lemon meringue pie with my son Andrew and his girlfriend Shannnon, baked a cheesecake with orange zest sugar, a blueberry compote, and a lemon curd with whipped cream folded in. I was able to form white chocolate bunny molds and my brother in law Dan was able to salvage two of them, minus an ear. I purchased an antique mold two years ago in Yountville and haven’t exactly mastered them yet.

My Mom Diane and Dad Ron having a moment on Easter

Easter is my favorite holiday. We haven’t been to church lately, but I still celebrate family and make it as special as possible. My three week old baby chicks were a huge hit, as well as my older chickens, Mabel, Mary Kate and Bee Bee. We’ve had lots of people naming the chicks. Some of the names are Stallion “Staly”, Lucia “LuLu”, Peepers, Tiger, Peanut Butter, Cocoa, Rocky and Zetrous which I can never remember.

Shannon and Andrew holding chicks Tweety and Peepers

We haven’t had many day trips, as I have had a virus for the last five weeks. Since the weather finally changed and it is now Spring, my allergies are getting to me. I’ve attended the Great Tomato Sale with the Master Gardeners and bought many varieties of tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, artichoke, and herbs. I grew many myself starting in mid February and plenty have done well, others have not. I think I over fertilized them this time. It’s tricky and challenging, but I’m learning. I grew Black Icicle cherry tomato plants, Sparkle Peppers, Peach Jalapeno Pepper, and larkspur flowers. I lost the Peruvian peppers plants which my neighbor Zoila gave me. She recommended growing the seeds in May and I decided to be a rule breaker and plant them too early. Peppers really love the heat and it has been cold and rainy for months. There has been a record amount of snow in Tahoe since the 1950’s. We aren’t big skiers, so we haven’t gone there since last Summer when I went with my sister.

My niece Kendall Choate. She usually hates photos, but let me take this with the French Copper Maran chicks

I’ve planted more wheat cover crops, since the other varieties are already knee high. It’s been a long winter and I’m over the rain. I should be able to plant my seedlings this week as long as the soil is 65 degrees for three days.

Nephew Vince, niece Josie and niece Marie with baby chicks on Easter Sunday 2023

I hope all of you have enjoyed Spring break and celebrated the holiday in your own traditional way.

Seamon/Smyth Family from the back left. Cousin Anthony Caprasecca, son Curtis Smyth, niece Marie Dagnese, cousin David Morabito, nephew Vince Dagnese, Brother in law James Choate, aunt Teri Caprasecca.

Second row from the left: Son Andrew Smyth, his girlfriend Shannon Lin, sister Julie Choate, Brother Rick Scofield, Momther Diane Scofield/Partlow, sister Susan Dagnese, Step dad Tom Partlow, uncle Bill Caprasecca

front row: Uncle Joe Morabito, Me Teri Smyth, sister in law Alyson Scofield and her daughter my niece Josie Scofield. Jasmine Scofield my niece isn’t in this photo since she has cut us out of her family

Sorry about the late holiday post. Having baby chicks is a lot of work. Four of them are possibly boys or roosters. I think Peepers is definitely a boy because we hear a funny crowing noise from him in the morning. Luckily, the auburn ranch where Scooby Doobie Doo ended up will take any roosters for us.

Enjoy what is left of spring. The weather is heating up during the day and will be up to 86 degrees here in Walnut Creek today.

Thanks for reading. Hope to hear from you in the comments below.