Farm Journal, April Garden Progress

We've had a few cooler nights in the past couple weeks.  I even covered up a few rows when it dropped to 39 one night.  I forgot how pleasant spring can be (when you have one).  It is in the 40's at night and 70's during the day.  It makes working in the garden something to look forward too.  Still have yet to turn on the air conditioner :) 

3 rows Potato Patch

 a couple pumpkin patch sprouts

 okra

 tomato plants

 zucchini squash... will need to thin soon

 spinach

 onions

 carrots

more green everyday

Farm Journal, Intruders

RIP

Longfellow

&

Shelby

 One chicken gone, one dead - stuck in the fence... this is what I woke up to one morning this week while Dan was out of town for a couple days

 So, after freaking out just a bit, I gathered up my trusty helper, Truly,and we borrowed a couple traps.  We put cat food in one, untangled the dead chicken and put it in the other and set to securing the coup with a few more nails.  The chickens, in general, exhilarate Truly.  She acts tough until one looks at her and she runs.

 Another 'little' intruder we encountered this week.  Over 4 ft long... I think this is a chicken snake?

Found this guy inches from Ali as she was about to check for eggs.  He is harmless, but I wasn't at ease until all three kids were behind me.  I heard I could put golf balls in the nests for them to eat and it would eventually kill them since they can't digest it.  Might be worth a try.

 Next morning, double success... raccoon in one trap and possum in the other.  She had babies in her pouch. 

Ben kept the coon's tail.  He wanted me to make a Davy Crockett hat, but we just nailed it to the coup.  The remaining chickens are safe and I have a bit more chicken farmer confidence as I feel like I have defended and protected our flock.



April

Leigh took Wyatt & Ben to the Montgomery Zoo

I love to watch my kids sleep, still. Their room was turned guest quarters, so here they were put, but loved it. Not sure how Ben puts up with these wild sleeper sisters of his, but he is loved.

our birds hatched, grew, and left the nest yesterday... 5 new birds... awesome
got a ridiculously large egg this week... kind of thought it might be another double yoke

Paul and Bekah stayed with us for a few nights... It was great to meet her and celebrate his birthday :)

Easter Weekend 2012

matching girls, for Grammy

Easter afternoon at the Storey's farm... hunting eggs, flying kites, & spending time together

New Life's Egg Hunt

Bittingers, Brashers, & Bevilaquas... ready, set, hunt!

An Addition... our first (real) pet

Meet, Truly

Isn't she *Scrumptious*?
No animal has been adored more by my children than this wee one.

and after giving half a dozen eggs to two different neighbors, I still had around 20 eggs, so we had eggnog for breakfast (12 eggs down)

*To keep this special for Christmas, I use less sugar, less, nutmeg, and no whiskey during the other times of the year. It is a protein packed breakfast.

The Garden... the learning year

herb garden started from seed in a strawberry planter

lavender, cilantro, chives, basil, parsley, oregano, & dill

my sad, empty compost box

here she is!

the hay covered rows will be our potato patch

the heavily mulched mounds to either side will be our pumpkin patch

free labor come summer weeding

zucchini squash showing

since theses were taken, we have onions, carrots, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, & spinach sprouting

Everything was started from seeds this year... I'm taking notes on my garden experiment in hopes for success; either in the harvest, or in knowledge earned for the next experiment.

(or both)