Projects Galore

Oh boy has life just been whizzing by or what!!!  We have moved yet again.  This time smack dab in the middle of town.  Not real crazy about it being a country girl at heart.  I do have enough room for my garden boxes and there is a nice variety of birds and squirrels to watch but I miss the quiet of the country side.  We live on a main street so it's constant cars, oh and less than a block behind a train track which my grandson absolutely loves.  He's obsessed with trains and the crossing gate is referred to as "Nana's gate".  

Anyway you know whenever there is a move you have a project list that goes on and on.  I did have a summer garden but that's over now I have started my seeds and planted starts of kale, collards (to be eaten I'm sure by my veggie loving dog), Chinese cabbage, lettuce, onions, radishes and soon I'll plant garlic.  The deer are actually worse here than they were in the country.  Not sure why that would be but in 4 years there I never had a deer issue and now it's a constant battle.  

We are working on the front porch now.  Well actually hubby is working I'm sitting on the swing watching and encouraging :-)  The house is a 1935 small house and the front porch was practically falling in.  Someone thought it would be a good idea to install these huge columns meant for a much larger house so they have been removed, the floor decked over and simple 6x6 columns are now in their place.  The house was white dirty and peeling all over.  It has been painted "grassland" green with "muslin" trim.  I have a nice wicker swing which is my comfort zone and I found the prettiest butterfly to hang on the wall.  I'm all about some butterflies now.  The front yard is mostly gravel since it's the only area for parking but there is a small section which is on the project list to be converted to a butterfly garden.

Okay so now I have to get some things in order so I can be a little more productive with the projects that I can actually work on.  Gotta go make a LIST. 

Days Gone Too Fast

When I logged on the picture of Broch and Annie tore my heart.  It was January of last year we lost Broch.  It was a quick passing but many would comment "at least it was peaceful."  Not true.  I watched and held him as he took his last breath.  I told him he was a good boy.  It only lasted about 20 minutes the last 5 of which were the worst.  He had shown only the normal decline of an old dog, arthritis, slowing down etc.  I suspect he had heart disease.  He would tire very quickly and not recover very fast.  The last few months I noticed he had taken to laying in the front room alone (but always keeping his eyes on where I might be).  The other two lay in the back room what we call out "Florida room."  He was loving, gentle and above all else spoiled as are all of our pets.  

I have lost dogs in the past and it was always difficult but Broch has been the hardest.  Ha, and he wasn't even "ours" until the last year.  I keep saying no more but I know that's not true.  My home is never the same without fur on floors and furniture and that warm body laying on your feet. The eyes that watch you expectantly from first thing in the morning till night fall.   The squeals (Annie squeals like a pig) when you come home.  So there will be another just not sure if it will be fostering or adopting.  I do know it will come from a rescue shelter somewhere there are so many now that need good homes.

We will be moving from this house soon.  Our little yellow house that I have come to love.  The gardens that have given us so much.  The bluebirds by the dozens.  The two hawks perhaps Mr. and Mrs.  Not sure if they are Cooper's or Sharp-shinned but they are beautiful.  The move will be closer to town to help and be nearer family.  I love that part of it but a town dweller I am not.  For me it's like losing part of my soul.  I will be missing a breath not to mention breathing in more carbon.  I love living out here and love the large walking space and just looking out the back and seeing nothing but trees and nature.  Oh well as we all know everything here is temporary and passing so we must learn to adapt and move along as life requires.

The greatest joy in passing days is watching the growth of my grandson.  He is learning and growing so fast.  There seems to be a spirit about him that is drawing.   He watches everything so carefully and really seems to be thinking intently on everything.  He talks ALL DAY LONG.  Which I know is a good thing and it's funny because his mom was the same way as a small child.  In fact, once we were shopping and the chatter was non stop a stranger commented "you sure couldn't lose her could you."  Hahaha, no way!!!!

Well more to come.  Gonna go pick some wonderful collards, radishes and onions and made a nice winter meal.  

Still plan to have some sort of garden in the city.  I'm sure I will increase my house plants also just to help keep the air clean.  

 

Lifes Transitions

Well it's been a while since I've been here. Life has taken many turns around this little place.
We had a crisis with my mother-in-law which has turn out just fine. Then there was a crisis with my dad that has been somewhat resolved. We just didn't have the time we needed to take care of my precious goats so we sold them. Fortunately we were able to sell Queen Zelda, Jessie and Luke as a "family" and to my knowledge they are still together. Zelda was in milk at the time and was quite the milker. Baba went back to her original owner and much to our surprise she was pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful little girl, a very very healthy little girl too. We sold Zelda's boy, Zippy, on the same day Zelda left. It was so sad to hear her calling across the pasture for him. It's just not right but necessary I know. So we are now goat free. Sad, I really miss their personalities and the life they brought to the pasture.

We also sold the chickens, chickie town and all. A nearby lady had gotten a government grant to start a farm where everything is done organically and as natural as possible. School children will be able to come to this farm and collect eggs and milk cows and see just where their food comes from I miss them too. They were always so busy.

We still have our dogs, in fact we have acquired another one. He is a black lab, 9 years old and has somewhat been a part of our pack since he was a pup. He belonged to my daughter. This is the greatest news of all, not the dog, but why we have him. My daughter and her hubby adopted the most beautiful baby. He is now 11 months old. He's been home for 3 months. Unfortunately the dog, Broch, did not like sharing with him. The baby has been the most joyful thing to happen in our family in a long time. It was quite the roller coaster ride of emotions just to get him here. First all the paperwork, then the long wait to get a referral, then the wait for the first visit, ahhh then they had to leave him there not knowing how long it would be to go back to get him. Finally the call to go bring him home. He was sick with a double ear infections which resulted in ruptured ear drums and they basically go and just have to take him out of what has been his home for a few months. It was a combination of excitement, sadness, joy, fear, uncertainty and so many more emotions not to mention the sleep deprivation of travel and sick baby. Sick baby that is somewhat terrified. They are all doing wonderfully now tough.

Needless to say the road between my house and my daughters (about a two hour drive) has seen much of my rubber :-) I think seeing my daughter be a mom is such a wonderful thing. To see her make such an effort to do everything she can for his best interest is just awesome. She makes his baby food and honestly after tasting the difference I'm not really sure why any baby would eat the jarred stuff except that's all they know.

We still have a small garden and are trying to do everything possible to keep chemicals out of our food. I now understand "why" killing prey bugs which also kills predator bugs only increases the bug problem. So this years I've been seeing a lot of lady bugs all over the place and every time I see them I say "hello lady bug good to see you, eat all you want."

Well hopefully I can post more regularly now. The smoke has somewhat cleared and I have a little more time. I'll get permission to post a pic of my grandson for my next post.

Squash, squash and more squash. Oh it's soooo yummy. I really wish it would freeze better but that's okay we can enjoy it while it's here. Here's a picture of some we grilled. Then to use the left over I just cooked a little pasta, tossed it with some pesto and topped it with some feta. Oh boy is that yummy. Also a picture of poor Rory. We fenced the garden this year to keep her out. She picked her share of tomatoes and collards last year so we thought we would help her restrain herself this year. So now she just stands at the fence with her long pout on. I usually give her a treat maybe a strawberry or something when I come out. Gotta go pick some squash, they grow overnight!!!!!

First fruits!!!

Yaaaa!!! It's just starting. We picked our first squash and zucchini today!!! Hmmm?? How will I prepare them?? I think I will just cut them in chunks toss in olive oil and roast, can't wait. Oh and then at lunch we picked strawberries. Just enough to share and have a little sweet treat. And boy were they sweet. It made me want to plant a whole bed of strawberries. The garden is growing quite nicely. I'm experimenting with some different things this year. I'm trying some of the "red" plastic mulch. It's suppose to make the plants produce better. We decided to plant a few things in the ground as well as our boxes, mostly because we just didn't have enough room in the boxes. So far it's doing well, all except the beans. They obviously are a treat for some insect. I managed to plant squash, tomatoes and cucumbers as plants then start seeds so I will have new plants bearing as the old plants are starting to finish up. I also plan to root some suckers from the tomato plants to have late season tomatoes. I have to watch Vince though he wants to root every one he pulls off!!!!

Bruce relaxes

Bruce, the rooster, is doing great. He has to stay in with the guineas because he's a little younger than the ladies and when they see him they bop him on the back or head with their beaks. I take him in to visit occasionally and he likes it but they are a little huffy right now. So we'll let him stay where it's safest for now. Plus they have most of their feathers already and he doesn't so he still needs a little more heat. Speaking of heat, I brought him in to hold for a bit and decided to lay the heating pad on my lap for a little extra heat. He usually snuggles up in the crook of my arm but he decided to wander down and check out the heating pad. He laid right down and stretched out his legs and laid on his side. It looked soooo funny. He closed his eyes as if to say ahhhh this feels good. I let him stay a bit but then had to get some things done so back out he went.

Introducing "The Boss"

Today we got out first rooster. His name is Bruce, named for "The Boss." He is a Speckled Sussex and my husband is from Sussex County, NJ so that put him in mind of Bruce Springsteen. He is adorable. I think he's going to be a sweet rooster at least I hope so. We put off getting a rooster because I've never met a "nice" rooster. I have read a lot though about roosters that are handled a lot as chicks and they become very docile with people. So that's what I'm going to try. I held him all the way home and he snuggled right down and went to sleep, then he woke up to poop :-/ and went back to sleep. When I picked him up for this picture he snuggled down in my hands.

So far so good. We also got our first ever guinea keets. The are cute, all different colors and I hate to say it but they don't seem very smart. They are much more skiddish that the chicks but hopefully they'll settle in after awhile. They are pretty though at least now. We're hoping they do a job on the tick and bug population around here.

The chicks are growing fast but are not nearly as big as the Orpingtons were at this age. Several of them have their feathers already and are still tiny. The Delawares have names, Della and Stella. Della will let me hold her and she's very curious. Stella doesn't come near. We got these a little older than our 3 day old Orpington and they are not very touchable yet. I don't think I would do that again. I like being able to handle them when they are babies. Okay off to tuck everyone in for the night!!!