My Crazy Life

The hollyhocks are blooming 

The cats leave me presents 

I added lights to the gate posts. 

Of course they are chickens 

Took me 2 weeks to get the cooler cleaned up to use 

Milking time. Even Giotto has to get in on it

There were a few blue potatoes ready but I haven’t had time to eat any yet!

A Vernassage tomato 

Chocolate pear tomato

Principe Borghesi

Some big red cherry tomatoes 

Planting out squash

All the kids got their CD&at vaccine 

Cleaned up part of this junk pile

Fixed up the little house 

And moved Big Mamma and her foster chicks in

Cut down the pea vines and left them for mulch 

1st sunflower 

What a jungle. 

Got it cleaned up. I was waiting for the ladybugs to move on from the cilantro.  Most had gone over to the fennel so I collected cilantro seed. Been trying to get this replanted but haven’t made it yet

I think I’ve hatched way too many chicks 

Posie is giving me 1/2 a gallon of milk a day even with her kids still on her. This is after 8-10 hours separating her from them. 


This morning some friends came and helped put this up. Trying to make a big enough flat spot on the hill to build a real goat house. Thank you Mindy and Chad!

In other news the truck wouldn’t start and the van had a flat and needs two new tires. The gas station was out of everything but Premium. 

But I have all the eggs, meat, cheese and milk I can use. The gardens are starting to get going. And we are headed in the right direction even if it is slow going. 

#appreciation

Today I appreciate friends and helpers. That job would have taken me a month or more by myself 

Oh Boy! Monday Again!

My store bought sweet potato is sprouting. Work was crazy towards the end of my shift. Then I came to water and do chores. Posie dumped a quart of milk just as we were almost finished milking. 

I just thought Posie was a drama queen. I have been milking Caramel in her pen fairly easily with the kids close to her. But today they were playing at the other end and Caramel became a bucking bronc worthy of the nationals. When I hobbled her she acted like her legs were rubber and melted into the ground. Which meant starting over with udder washing.  She managed to fling her grain all over then pen and even laid down on top of the bucket I put under her to keep that from happening. It was quite a workout. But eventually we were done.  I brought the milk in and strained it right into the cheese pot to make some chèvre. 

I didn’t get any more pics today but I did get some things watered and planted some chamomile in the orchard garden where there was a bare spot. It’s getting warmer and dryer so watering is even more critical. 

Still really loving this flower combo. Going to plant tons of bachelor buttons for next year!

#appreciation

Today I appreciate that I pour the milk into a jar as I milk so not all was lost. 

Just a Sunday

An almost ripe Principe Borghese. Yum tomato season is almost here. 

Posie’s twins are almost as big as she is. 

A friend gave me the drum of an old dryer and I painted it. Going to use it as a planter. 

Spent the morning mucking goat pens. I put the waste hay and straw in the chicken pens. 

They love scratching in it for seeds and fly larvae

Midnight is too fast for the camera

I cleaned up some of this mess. Forgot to take an after pic. 

Played with the new kids   And my son and his family stopped by to see the new babies too. Discovered my oldest grandson is now taller than his dad. 

#appreciation

Just appreciating a nice day, the abundance I have and how at least some things are coming together. 

Glad That Week is Done!

Caramel’s udder is very lopsided. It was that way before she kidded but now it’s even more pronounced   The kids do mostly drink from the smaller side because the teat is smaller and it’s easier for them to latch but I’m not sure it produces much. 

I made a batch of Fromagina cheese but was not thrilled. I think I got it too hot. 

I did not pick this flower on Friday after I spotted the “aphid lion” aka ladybug larvae. The lady bugs are starting to breed on the flowering cilantro and spreading around. 

Really loving the mixed colors in the bachelor buttons. 

Especially with the bright yellow and gold of the calendula 

I made another batch of cheese. This time Fromage blanc. I was super busy and drained it too long so it’s a bit dry but good anyway. 

I picked almost 9 pounds of snap peas. I suspect that will be the high for this year and expect production to go down now that it’s getting hot and dry. 

I delivered eggs and peas to Superior on Friday and set up at the Globe-Miami Farmers Market on Saturday. 

I came home, unloaded, did chores, miked and worked in the garden. 

The gladioli are coming up and I spotted some cosmos seedlings popping up. The sweet alyssum and calendula are starting to take off. 

The kale mix and other things I planted are sprouting. 

Doesn’t look like much yet but I put Trombonccino squash along the arch trellis and some zucchini and green scallop squash along the fence. 

The big mesquite growing by the driveway is blooming and smells like honey. Almost dark. Time to close up the shed and greenhouse and go in and feed me and Giotto. 

#appreciation

Just appreciating a nice day

What Else Happened

Lots of eggs for market. 

Still have a few tomato plants for sale

Chicks hatched on Sunday. The mesh bags and boxes are to keep them separate until I toe punch them for permanent ID. 

A fat little Black Copper Marans chick

An unusually marked olive egger chick

The new garden got kale mix seeded down the inside of one tomato trellis. The other side got patches of purslane, giant red mustard and collards. Covered with shade cloth to stay moist and foil the birds. 

And of course on Monday we had the crazy day with the new twins. 

Also on Monday Posie gave me half a gallon of milk

I still had feed to unload (which I finally finished Tuesday morning)

And Monday evening I made up more seed starting mix.  I made up a tray of soil blocks and seeded cucumbers, gourds and pumpkins. 

Mmmm. I know I didn’t drink enough water and actually don’t remember eating dinner either. No wonder I’m hungry. 

#appreciation

I so appreciate that everything turned out well with the kids