Here is a photo of the outside garden boxes. Onions in front, with squash and corn at the other end. The next two boxes are potatoes and the 4th box has beets, peas, green and yellow beans. Each box if 4′ x 32′.
The upper hoop house has sweet potatoes (experimenting) and tomatoes fill the other half. There are some unhappy banana plants on the potting bench and some citrus that are recovering from sunburn.
On the left the empty spaces are harvested greens, then purple Chinese cabbage, a green bok choy, carrots, radishes, salad onions, lettuce seeds, and the raised part at the end is strawberries. On the right, the cabbage and celery got burned due to my misunderstanding of the on and off buttons and we had a hot day and the fans were off. They are starting to recover. There are some healthy weeds at the far end and up front chives, harvested “cut and come again” lettuce and parsley.
The hanging basket has tomatoes, another experiment, while there are red, orange, and green peppers below. There are beets and broccoli at the far end. On the right, the cucumbers didn’t make it, so have some squash in the back and some melons in front There is another box on the far right which is not yet filled with new dirt and a box across the back from which we have harvested some garlic. The garlic is only okay, so will find a new location next year.
The upper hoop house, outside boxes and two of the lower hoop house boxes are new this year and we started late. Hopefully next year, I will be able to start planting at the proper time.
This is the 4th set of black twins this year. Both are ram lambs and will be sold as fiber pets. Apparently this hen wanted to be in the photo and if this is what it takes, she is willing.
Now to get three more boxes to take to the studio, which is where we keep the food for the dog who guards the sheep in the lower pasture. I picked those boxes up and went around to the studio, delivered them, and then decided that it was a mess around the door. So I loaded the peat moss , some garbage and the water trough that I will be using for the boys in an upper pasture. Off I went to take the peat moss to the upper hoop house along with some other items. On the way, I left the garbage in the garbage house, the trough near the gate in the upper pasture, and the peat moss in the hoop house.
The ducks are finished and the turkeys started. These are essentially small quilts and the binding is put on the same way as a large quilt, which takes a bit of time.
Chicks moving day finally happened!. They are now in the barn in a safe cage and out of the sewing studio. I know they weren’t in here very long, but they don’t belong in here. They belong in the barn and now that they are feathered, that’s where they are. They also have perches and more room, so win for all.
Many of the apples are ready to pick, so I spent some time picking 5 grocery bags full. I don’t climb ladders, therefore I tried to shake some down. I will pick more tomorrow and then the rains will be back. It seems at this point, I’m running out to do what I can on the days that it doesn’t rain. And it wasn’t that long ago that we were wishing for rain. It would be nice to have alternating days.
The last three days, I worked on this scarf during appointments and free time, but decided there are things, I don’t like about it, so raveled it and will start again. The white is angora rabbit plied to black wool, so it is very soft and warm and I anticipate wearing it during the cold this winter.
These are small kennel quilts. The photo is the front of one and the back of another to better show the minimal quilting. The people who rescue small animals during a crisis such as floods or fires use many of these in the small kennels. Finished 12 x 18″ is the only size they accept and are so easy to make. Cut two pieces of fabric 12.5 x 18.5″ plus batting. I used an old mattress pad to give it more cushion on these. Put the bottom piece right side up, the top piece upside down, with the batting on top. Pin as needed and sew around the entire sandwich minus 4-6″ to get your hand in to turn. Turn right side out , press, and if you topstitch a bit less than 1/4″, you may be able to catch the opening in the top stitching. On one I did a big x from corner to corner and on the other, just 3 lines on a diagonal. The part that takes the longest is choosing scraps that are large enough, but not so large as to waste fabric, and cutting it out. If you click on the red “kennel quilt”, you will find more information about these. They are extremely easy and if you don’t sew exactly perfect, the small pets won’t complain.
The young boys are moved away from their sisters and mothers. One here seems to think the trip was just too hot and tiring. They and their mothers have “baa-ed back and forth all day about how evil we were to separate them. Such is life on a farm
Then I picked some overripe apples as I’m out of applesauce and it makes a great sweetener in baked goods. I was able to can 10 pints. I picked a lot more apples – or rather shook them out of trees. I’m not sure how ripe they are. I’ll test them tomorrow.
While the apples were processing, I cooked some quinoa in broth. In another pan, I sautéed onions and added broccoli until just cooked but still green. Then I made a cheese sauce. I mixed it all together, reserving half the cheese sauce, put it in a greased casserole dish, topped it with the rest of the cheese and that will be our casserole for the weekend.