Animals
How about your summer?
Have you had unusual weather this summer, too?
Pigs do not tolerate heat well.
- A Little Of This, A Little Of That
Today is a rainy, rainy day here on the farm...so, yesterday I tried to get as much done outside as I could.Mornings have been exceptionally cold...temps in the low 30's. Afternoons warm up to the 50's...so that is when extra outside chores are...
- Autumn Harvest
Sadly, the summer gardening season is coming to a close...quickly!We are having nights in the 40's now.Frost is just around the corner. Our hay is cut and drying. If only the weather would cooperate.(It is to rain for the next few days.)Hopefully...
- Blackberries
Weather has not been optimal this summer for many of my vegetable garden plants. We have tomatoes on the vine, but they are very slow to ripen and do not have the best juicy texture. Vine plants such as squashes and cucumbers have yielded no fruit....too...
- A Garden Gone Wild!
A very moist summer has made excellent growing conditions for our most prolific crop....WEEDS! We have had a fantastic berry harvest this year. Even the wild blackberries that line our woods are bursting with plump ripe fruit (watch out for chiggers,though!)....
- Garden Explosion!!
It seems like just yesterday, I was planting seeds in tiny pots in the greenhouse. Now, months later, cold weather is just a memory and the dog days of August are upon us, and those tiny seedlings are mature plants bursting with produce. Thirty tomato...
Animals
What Happened to Summer?
I have to tell you...
it's been a weird summer!
The weirdest (although I am not complaining one bit) weather I have experienced
in all of my life has been ours all summer long.
Cooler than normal temps with more than average rainfall has
made this summer spectacular.
I swear we have had only one really hot week.
It's been great for the electric bill, as we have not had to use the air conditioning.
And now, in the middle of August, when we should be at our hottest,
the days have been in the 70's and the nights in the low 50's.
(Actually, last night was even colder than that!
I am out doing morning chores in sweatshirt(s)!)
How about your summer?
Have you had unusual weather this summer, too?
Although the extra rainfall has helped tons of weeds to grow in the garden,
pulling them is not so bad when the weather is as cool as it is.
I spent several hours in the garden yesterday afternoon and evening doing just that...
pulling weeds!
pulling weeds!
With my trusty friends...
Sam...
Oakley...
Maddie...
and Moll to keep me company,
I filled the back of the gator twice with weeds pulled from the garden aisles
and "spent" plants removed from the boxes.
It feels like Autumn is just a breath away.
The tomato plants still have more fruits to ripen; but the plants themselves
look like they do in September.
I've planted fall veggies.
Broccoli plants will grow over the next two months....
as well as carrots, beets, spinach and lettuce.
Kale, peppers, cucumbers, chard and squashes continue to produce...
giving us ample harvested goodness to fill our table.
The sunflowers have grown so large that their heads hang down to their knees.
Once dry, they will be food for the birds.
I found this fellow in the garden...
it's the first praying mantis that appears to actually be praying!
(I think he might be asking for a warm place to sleep on these cold nights.)
Our hayfield is cut and drying. Breezy afternoons have helped the hay to dry.
Today we will be raking and tedding the hay.
Hopefully tomorrow we bale it and stow it in the barn for winter.
Keep your fingers crossed!
I am happy to show you that Ollie, after having been bathed on Tuesday,
remains clean and white.
This afternoon will be Red's turn for a bath.
There is no one happier with this summer's weather than Ginger...
and MaryAnn!
This summer has been very piggly perfect!!
- A Little Of This, A Little Of That
Today is a rainy, rainy day here on the farm...so, yesterday I tried to get as much done outside as I could.Mornings have been exceptionally cold...temps in the low 30's. Afternoons warm up to the 50's...so that is when extra outside chores are...
- Autumn Harvest
Sadly, the summer gardening season is coming to a close...quickly!We are having nights in the 40's now.Frost is just around the corner. Our hay is cut and drying. If only the weather would cooperate.(It is to rain for the next few days.)Hopefully...
- Blackberries
Weather has not been optimal this summer for many of my vegetable garden plants. We have tomatoes on the vine, but they are very slow to ripen and do not have the best juicy texture. Vine plants such as squashes and cucumbers have yielded no fruit....too...
- A Garden Gone Wild!
A very moist summer has made excellent growing conditions for our most prolific crop....WEEDS! We have had a fantastic berry harvest this year. Even the wild blackberries that line our woods are bursting with plump ripe fruit (watch out for chiggers,though!)....
- Garden Explosion!!
It seems like just yesterday, I was planting seeds in tiny pots in the greenhouse. Now, months later, cold weather is just a memory and the dog days of August are upon us, and those tiny seedlings are mature plants bursting with produce. Thirty tomato...