Animals
- Four Days And Counting
Yesterday was mani/pedi day on the farm.The farrier got everyone's hooves in shape with a French manicure (kidding). I clipped bridal paths and brushed manes and tails. I had considered giving everyone baths,but knowing that that would just make...
- Berry Time!
One of our favorite times is here...and by now you know that we have many favorite times around here! It's berry season. And that makes us berry, berry happy!! Strawberries, big and juicy... lusciously sweet...are appearing daily in the new strawberry...
- The Fruits Of Our Labor
This week marks the official entrance of Summer. After weeks of rain, we are finally in the midst of a warm, dry spell. We have more strawberries than we can possibly use. Finally, our fruit trees and vines will have a warm sun to help them ripen. If...
- It's Strawberry Picking Time!
Oh, how I would love it if you could reach through your computer and help me pick strawberries! We have thousand and thousands ready for picking. I picked for a short while and before I knew it had 12 quarts filled...and never made a dent in the patch....
- Minerva, Master-weeder
Amazingly, since Minerva has taken up residence in the garden, it is virtually weed free (we won't mention that I spent the entire past week on my hands and knees). Regardless, the garden is the best it has ever looked at this point of the season....
Animals
What's Growing On
I want to thank all of you for your concern over the Edith situation.
Order is restored and the threesome are back to their usual routine...
following me around the farm.
This stretch of hot and sunny weather following a very wet spring has
helped the fruit trees, vines, and bushes to burst forth.
The blueberry bushes are netted to protect the ripening fruit.
You see, the trouble with sharing with the birds is this...
the birds just don't know when to stop!
So, nets keep them away from our precious fruit.
The apple trees are loaded with tiny apple-ettes.
And the grape arbor has filled in with quite a bit of foliage.
Amidst the vines and leaves are thousands of teeny tiny grape-ettes!
I am hopeful that the kiwi plants from last year flower and bear fruit.
But since I have no prior experience with these,
I am not sure what to expect.
The strawberries are ripening.
I've been able to pick a quart each day for the last several.
In about a week there will be more berries than I'll know what to do with.
For now, though, we are enjoying strawberries on icecream, in our salads,
and in strawberry rhubarb sauce
(which, I might add, makes one delicious sundae!)
Lastly, I thought I would introduce you to an herb
(this is what I will send you, Anke)
that is great to have in your garden for the purpose of reducing unwanted
pests such as aphids, etc.
In the back of this box (TomTom being in the front) I have planted
fern leafed Tansy.
Tansy is a non-edible herb with delicate, lacy leaves that blooms with yellow blossoms.
It attracts garden pests such as aphids,
and can help to keep those insects from attacking your precious veggies.
I warn you though, a little bit goes a long way...
this herb has a tendency to try to take over your garden.
Keep it contained, or your garden will turn into a tansy patch!
And lastly....
my faithful buddy...
Hickory.
Every story that I tell you is witnessed by this old gal,
as she is always by my side.
She may be the smallest of our dogs,
but she has the biggest heart.
She is almost 16 years old and still fancies herself a puppy.
Running, just as I imagine she did in her younger years,
to catch up...always ready for the next fun activity.
She is now blind in one eye, with the second soon to follow.
She is not as limber as she once was,
but nothing gets her down.
She is always ready to plant a kiss on your cheek when picked up.
I think she loves her present life....sadly she has only lived with us on the farm
for the past year.
I pray she has a few more years to share with us.
Among other lessons, she has taught me that even as our bodies begin to fail us,
our hearts and minds can stay young, vibrant and enthusiastic.
- Four Days And Counting
Yesterday was mani/pedi day on the farm.The farrier got everyone's hooves in shape with a French manicure (kidding). I clipped bridal paths and brushed manes and tails. I had considered giving everyone baths,but knowing that that would just make...
- Berry Time!
One of our favorite times is here...and by now you know that we have many favorite times around here! It's berry season. And that makes us berry, berry happy!! Strawberries, big and juicy... lusciously sweet...are appearing daily in the new strawberry...
- The Fruits Of Our Labor
This week marks the official entrance of Summer. After weeks of rain, we are finally in the midst of a warm, dry spell. We have more strawberries than we can possibly use. Finally, our fruit trees and vines will have a warm sun to help them ripen. If...
- It's Strawberry Picking Time!
Oh, how I would love it if you could reach through your computer and help me pick strawberries! We have thousand and thousands ready for picking. I picked for a short while and before I knew it had 12 quarts filled...and never made a dent in the patch....
- Minerva, Master-weeder
Amazingly, since Minerva has taken up residence in the garden, it is virtually weed free (we won't mention that I spent the entire past week on my hands and knees). Regardless, the garden is the best it has ever looked at this point of the season....