The grandson’s visit was a treat. The weather was perfect, with the sun shining, and for a bit we sat on the deck and visited with our daughter while they went into the pasture to visit with the pond, the geese and the new ducklings. (tragically, there are now only three). Then I took them (they are nearly 12 and 13+). up to the barn so they could help catch sheep and read number tags. They had a lot of fun doing that. Of course whenever we have to catch sheep, it is a circus which the boys enjoyed. The Cormos don’t mind, but the Shetlands do not want to be caught.
The tomatoes took some time, because they haven’t had all the attention they needed, but they now are standing straight without suckers. The cucumbers are trying to take more space than I have allowed them, so they need at least every other day attention. The rest of the plants in the hoop house are doing what they are supposed to do, except for the beans which need to be replanted. I’m not sure why they didn’t want to grow.
Later today, the fence was electrified and the dogs tested it. No, they didn’t get shocked as they are smarter than that, but they pushed over a weak fence post. It is now repaired and time will tell how long it will take them to figure out a new way to go visit neighbors.
The garden is watered and has the added attraction of slug bait, since the slugs have eaten all the squash and pumpkin plants. Sometimes It is difficult to keep up with everything that needs doing.
I am delighted with the netting that has finally been installed over the blueberry bushes on the left and in the middle. Grapes on the right were not properly pruned, so will get netting next year. So far in addition to eating about 5# of berries, I have also put 15# in the freezer. For an idea of volume, I can get 5# in a gallon freezer bag and it barely zips. There are many more berries out there and the birds (who got them all last year) lose this year.
In the hoop house starting at the left, the celery, Swiss chard, and walking onions are doing great. At the end, are planted one of the carrots, I think. I don’t remember now which is where. But they were planted today. On the right nearest is watermelon, with no fruits set yet, cantaloupe are next down the line with zucchini at the end.
Another full row of tomatoes, mostly volunteers plus 6 cucumber plants. On the right , the rest of the lettuce which bolted in the heat has become chicken food and lettuce and beets have been replanted. There are a few beets half way down the row, which were too crowded by the lettuce. Winter cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts seeds were started today as well.
Sunbonnet Sue quilt #1 FINISHED – well no label, but whether that happens will depend on who eventually gets it. The batting said it was good for a 10″ spread and these squares are 8″, so I decided not to mess around inside the square. It is backed with a pink flannel that matches the light pink on the front and is soft and cuddly. The finished size is 52 x 63″ – just perfect to wrap around a young lady and/or have as a bed covering.
Summer and it’s produce have official arrived. We are scheduled for an 80 degree week and we have started picking zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. The tomatoes and zucchini, I’m fine with. And I can make some pickles, but these plants are loaded. Besides pickling and eating fresh, how else does one save cucumbers.
And we now have 12 cups and 1 pint of strawberry jam. In this house, it’s not good to run out of strawberry jam or peanut butter and we ran out of both. Therefore, tomorrow must include a run to Costco for their Kirkland brand organic peanut butter.
Linking up to 
Washington state quilters to finish the Sparkling snowmen
These are the tomatoes. As you can see, they have become wild. Plants are growing so fast, one can almost see it happening.
These baby maple trees are from last fall’s “helicopters” that the big maple scatters. If I don’t get them pulled now, by next year, they will have such a root system, I won’t be able to pull most of them out. It takes about an hour an a half to pull one section of these. I have mentally divided the blueberry and grape area into 8 sections. Yesterday I pulled one section, today I pulled another. If I get out there in the morning the weather is perfect for crawling all over this mulch and pulling them out. Hopefully after my gym lesson tomorrow, I can get another section done. It will look and feel good to get this area cleaned up.
For lunch today we had a red, white, and blue potato salad. The blue are potatoes from the garden this spring. Red peppers were in the freezer from last years harvest and the white was tofu. It was good and there will be enough for another meal.
The pond is drying up, but I still love being on the deck taking all this in. The last two days, this scene has been a place of tranquility for me. The temperatures have been good, with just the slightest bit of breeze as I sat on the deck and took this in. It is so peaceful in a world that isn’t.
Mother duck did a great setting job and today she was off the nest just long enough to show me these 5 cuties.
I got a bit carried away planting lettuce this spring. It’s the first time I actually planted enough and then I planted too much.
And once again, there is a tomato jungle. I only put in 12 plants and then the volunteers started coming up like crazy. I have a difficult time throwing them out, and the next thing I know is there a jungle in there.
Here is some Swiss chard, celery, and walking onions.
In the front are watermelons, then individual sized cantaloupe. Further back, are the zucchinis. On the other side of this row we will be planting winter broccoli and cauliflower and cabbage. Across the back are currently some potatoes, that will be coming out soon to make way for the beets and carrots.