March 29, 2024

Polishing Silver

If you're planning to use the family's special silver this Easter, polish it now - it’s always so rewarding to complete time-consuming chores before it gets too hectic.

This week my housekeepers took on the task of cleaning and polishing my drawers of silver flatware. There are a few ways to clean silver. One nontoxic method is to fill an aluminum pan with hot water, salt and baking soda, stir until it is all dissolved, and then soak the pieces until a chemical reaction occurs that removes the tarnish. This technique is faster than hand cleaning but may cause pitting and remove the more desirable tarnish called patina. Silver cleaning cloths made especially for removing tarnish from precious metals are also available. Many experts recommend using a good-quality, non-abrasive commercial silver polish. I have been using Wright’s Silver Cream for years.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

March 28, 2024

My Charming Geese

We're expecting cloudy skies and rain at my farm today, but my geese don't seem to mind one bit.

I’ve had Pomeranian guard geese for many years, but I also keep Sebastopol geese, Toulouse geese, African geese, and Chinese geese. They all reside in a large enclosure outside my stable, where they have room to roam, a number of dipping pools, and a shelter providing protection from strong winds and a safe place to nest and lay eggs. Geese are very resilient animals and love the outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Here are some recent photos, enjoy.

 

March 27, 2024

Late March Blooms

It's amazing how quickly plants grow - there's something new to see every day.

Here at my farm, the trees are budding and various flowers are bursting with color and energy - Chionodoxa, Puschkinia, Anemone, corydalis, primrose, Cornus mas the cornelian cherry tree, and of course the daffodils. All the beds are coming alive just days before Easter.

Here are some photos, enjoy.