Monthly Archives: June 2014
New babies
Bantams at the age of 4 months already trying out their crowing sounds. It is rather funny listening to them learning the crow.
A still wet baby arrived and the mothers are co-parents. They shared setting duties and now the baby will be under one for awhile and then the other. There are 3 more eggs, so maybe each mom will get her own baby. Can you see the bantam mom in the back and the baby nearer to her? The eggs were from large chickens.
The other baby is an artichoke. I don’t know if it will grow larger or when the time to pick is so will wait and watch. I’m sorry, somehow I hit the gray setting on the camera.
The weeds grew so fast when the warm weather came, that we hired two fellows from the high school (couldn’t get them before school year ended). So they spent 7 hours here today with half of that cleaning out the chicken house and the other weed eating the weeds between the garden boxes. I’ll get a photo of that when the sun is shining. We zonked out today.
Melons, cukes and worms
This photos was difficult to get as there are just too many weeds behind them – a problem which hopefully will be solved tomorrow. I have hired two 17-year-old young men to help me get things back under control. I had to wait until their school year was finished for them to work, but somehow the weeds did not get this message. These melons sat in the greenhouse too long as they are now in bloom, but I mulched them heavily as I planted them and am hoping for the best. I also planted some tiny lettuce starts and tomorrow must get the kale starts planted. Oh, and I did finally tuck some zucchini seeds in the ground. l want to get beet and carrot seeds, planted, but my grandson and my brother’s granddaughter will be here starting Wednesday and I’m thinking that will be fun for them.
Can you see the worms? I’m excited to have a worm bin going once again. Last time I left it in the greenhouse and the day was too hot for them. So now a couple years later, I’m starting over. I’d like to just let them go in the ground in the greenhouse, but the chickens get in there occasionally and I’m fearful for the lives of the worms.
Aurofil #6 and “The Harbinger” book review
I love the Aurofil BOM with Pat Sloan. Each block is simple and yet put together with the same colors, I’ll have a nice Christmas quilt.
I spent today relaxing and reading the “Harbinger – the ancient mystery that holds the secret of America’s future” by Jonathan Cahn It was difficult to put down. He puts his facts in the form of a novel. He shows comparisons between ancient Israel and today’s America with facts to back it up. Israel and America were both very blessed and both started with God at the helm. Then both turned from Him. God gave the Israelites warnings as to what would happen if they continued in rebellion. Are we receiving messages as well and ignoring them? Some of our top government people used words from Isaiah that foretold of Israel’s destruction if they didn’t turn back to God. But they apparently didn’t read the whole passage as they used them as words of hope instead of warning after 9/11 and the events which have followed. It amazed me times were so specific – even to the dates of the stock market and bank collapses. After reading this book, I am definitely inspired to go back and read ancient Israel’s history as recorded in the Bible. There may be more in there with double meanings.
Strawberries n Bees
Strawberries!. This is one of the reasons we garden. There is nothing like very fresh strawberries (and other fresh foods). These are picked, rinsed, stemmed, sliced and eaten over zucchini bread asap. We aren’t yet growing enough to keep us throughout the winter. So in 2 weeks, I’ll be buying a hundred pounds from the local farm and freezing them. That will be a long working day to get them in the freezer. When it’s ugly outside, summer fruits remind us there will be another summer with better weather.
This is another of “our” crops. Actually we let the bees do the work. I painted some new boxes for them today. Here, I’m checking to see if the bees need another box yet and the answer is no. Notice I’m not holding them too close. I found the hive to the right in the photo no longer has bees in it. I don’t know what happened, but did take the box apart. I will check the bees again next week as I see the blackberries are in full bloom and that is their primary crop.
Some corn and string beans went into the ground as well today. You will get to see a photo when they show their little faces.
Have you ever broken a VitaMix? I use it so often that the bearings came out of it yesterday. I love that machine. So today I called the company and will have a new blade assembly in about a week. They were so very pleasant and helpful on the phone. He assured me that is a rare occurrence, but was happy that I am using it so much. And I am happy that I have two jars, so that I can continue making smoothies and other foods while the new one is in route.
I
Tomato tying
The Mittleider gardening system has yielded good gardens for us in the past. I like that I can plant closer together and get a great looking garden and lots of food when I pay attention to details. Notice that a double row is tied so that one side twines opposite the other, so all get good light and air. This year, I have the outside tomatoes planted as he suggested and about half of the inside ones. (In this photo, not all plants are tied, but the twine is up) I don’t have the other half of the inside ones trellised yet. So we spent several hours tying tomatoes and replacing tomatoes that died or were just not happy. We must have about 70 plants outside and about 15 let to put in the ground. That row was full and we ran out of energy. And we had to run to the stre for Sluggo as the slugs feasted on the broccoli (I blamed the chickens, but I’m now seeing slugs) So watering done, Sluggo is going around all the broccoli and cauliflower. I’m not sure that I can still save them, but I’ll try. The bending parts of our bodies need to work again tomorrow, so we will have a nice warm soak and go early to bed tonight Tomorrow, we will finish the last of the tomatoes and put in beans and corn. We will do the rest as we can.
Early June gardening
Tomatoes are happy plants in the greenhouse, so happy they are flowering and setting fruit
Apparently the slugs have found their way to a happy hunting ground as well. So today was “Sluggo” day in the greenhouse. 
The Bananas are extremely happy. I will be bringing them in the house this fall with added lights and see if there is any chance of having bananas this far north.
And most of these plants are waiting to get planted outside, though a few of the lettuce and kale will remain inside as “cut and come again” plants.
How is your garden doing?
Move over, Rosie!
Mary, my friend came over to “play” to day. We were going to work on treadle machines, but decided that we really didn’t want to. Then we walked into the family room and I asked her if she could put the motor on my honey extractor. She never turns down a challenge and it was a real challenge including two calls to the company. When I purchased the motor, the salesman told me it would just take a few minor adjustments to put it on. NO WAY! The machine had to be taken completely apart and an old fitting had to be hammer out (think really hard to do). The new parts were put on and the machine is ready for this season and more. This took a good two hours, but Mary persevered after which we went out to lunch.
“Tell it to the Stars” block 6
The blocks I finish this month will finish half the blocks for this year 2014. Difficult to believe we are that far already, isn’t it. Here is the first of the ones I’m doing this month.
And here are the ones for the year so far.
Mother Earth News Fair
This is a terrific fair! I always learn so much about living without making such a big footprint. Come with me as I share with you a few of the photos I did remember to take. I usually forget to take photos when I am so enjoying the moment
First of all there were the organic seed companies which I enjoy perusing.
This was the first time I’ve seen a freeze drying machine which could have been all mine for “only” $4000.00.
And of course there were the chocolate and other food companies displaying their latest temptations
We saw a variety of composting toilets much improved from the old “out house”
Soft hot tubs and I can only guess that this way of living is going to make one’s muscles need soaking. But when would one have the time?
There were lovely folding shopping bags for when one would make a shopping trip — not often because most of this show is geared to “backs to the land”
These women are promoting the North American Wool Association
LOOK! these are the baby Cormo lambs I purchased a month ago. The Association wanted some Cormos on display so my babies were happy to oblige.
I had not seen sisal made into rope before and this man was demonstrating how it was made 100 years ago.
It’s always fun to have period costumes when one is doing a craft that once was a necessity.
Although the fair had so many other things as trees and bees and soaps and books and a myriad of marvelous things to see, I leave you with the delighted look on the face of my daughter who was a 4H-er for many years
as she looks at these pygmy goat kids.
