Very Busy Summer
Writing to both boys takes up a lot more time than I would have thought. No wonder I don't write so m
Still Homesteading After All These Years...
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The hens are laying now. I sold 10 and kept 15, one of which turned out to be a (mean) rooster. He terrorizes Esther when she lets them out in the morning-she goes in armed with a stick and a garbage can lid as a shield. However, the same rooster can be chased by my little Siamese cat Mochi. The trick with roosters is to never let your guard down, and YOU do the chasing.Anyway, I'm getting about 12 eggs a day now. The eggshells are dried, crushed, and fed back to the hens as part of their calcium. Recycling starts on the farm!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Rain, rain
Esther is down with Laura; Della and I are at Panera's. We were desperate enough that we sacrificed a morning at home so we could come here and use the internet w/o worrying about exceeding the mysterious limit that plunges our speed into the Paleolithic zone.
It's raining, again; and I would have worked outside longer yesterday had I known. Today I was going to buy plants for my flower planters but who wants to tour outdoor garden centers in the rain? The older I get the more cat (and goat) like I become about rain.
Yesterday I did plant my cucumbers and dill. Instead of the wonderful neat "square foot gardening" raised beds, I had 3 pallets wired together (former compost heap). I put a board across the front, filled it with old manure, and so avoided building at least one trellis! The garden is soaked from 2 weeks of rain. Frogs are living in the low spots. It's going to be a while before I can till up any of it. So for now, my raised beds (which I'm trying to add to each year; at the moment I have 3) are the only part I can work on. One raised bed has potatos already planted in it, so I have two to work with the next time weather permits.
It's raining, again; and I would have worked outside longer yesterday had I known. Today I was going to buy plants for my flower planters but who wants to tour outdoor garden centers in the rain? The older I get the more cat (and goat) like I become about rain.
Yesterday I did plant my cucumbers and dill. Instead of the wonderful neat "square foot gardening" raised beds, I had 3 pallets wired together (former compost heap). I put a board across the front, filled it with old manure, and so avoided building at least one trellis! The garden is soaked from 2 weeks of rain. Frogs are living in the low spots. It's going to be a while before I can till up any of it. So for now, my raised beds (which I'm trying to add to each year; at the moment I have 3) are the only part I can work on. One raised bed has potatos already planted in it, so I have two to work with the next time weather permits.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Down in Florida, letting my nails dry and preparing for church...we're going to Christ Community Pres, PCA. Rebecca's off to te gym, Josh is snoozing.
Yesterday R and I went furniture shopping since they've been living in a mostly empty house. She found a black leather dining room set (since she has no kids, cats, or dogs, it may survive). It has a square table and 2 chairs and a curved bench. VERY nice. Also found a couch, which is leather and brown suede (microfiber). We checked the Sal. Army-nothing even for end tables or lamps. We were going to try to fill in with thrift store items but in the limited time I have here, we may not be able to find much. I don't know where the good stores are. Beck needs Laura down here for decorating help!
We had a great drive down, and I checked every ditch we went by for beady little eyes. Good thing I didn't bring Sparky the Australian terrier. I would have been terrified of him getting near the water. This place could turn me into a phobic. I don't mind reptiles except when they are capable of leaping out of the water and eating small dogs and children!
Beading: the only Clearwater bead shop seems to have closed down due to the economy. Sad.
Off to church, Mom
Yesterday R and I went furniture shopping since they've been living in a mostly empty house. She found a black leather dining room set (since she has no kids, cats, or dogs, it may survive). It has a square table and 2 chairs and a curved bench. VERY nice. Also found a couch, which is leather and brown suede (microfiber). We checked the Sal. Army-nothing even for end tables or lamps. We were going to try to fill in with thrift store items but in the limited time I have here, we may not be able to find much. I don't know where the good stores are. Beck needs Laura down here for decorating help!
We had a great drive down, and I checked every ditch we went by for beady little eyes. Good thing I didn't bring Sparky the Australian terrier. I would have been terrified of him getting near the water. This place could turn me into a phobic. I don't mind reptiles except when they are capable of leaping out of the water and eating small dogs and children!
Beading: the only Clearwater bead shop seems to have closed down due to the economy. Sad.
Off to church, Mom
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sparky, Chicks, and Febuary
Lee and the new dog
February has been busy. In January the rhode island chicks came (25 of them). They are now housed in the garage but soon I'll have to think seriously of moving them out to the chicken portion of the barn. That means I'll have to decide what to do with the older chickens; perhaps just give them away. They're still laying but I'd rather start fresh.
Sparky is an Australian Terrier, just acquired last week. So far the worst thing he's done is to get out. He zips out the door unless you fix him with a gimlet eye and say, STAY, SIT, in an I mean it kind of voice. Della has been dying for a small dog but says this doesn't count since he's a family dog, not her personal dog. I give up. Now she's talking about greyhounds and dobermans. Not likely. Sparky made friends with my special cat Mochi, and he an Sarge get along. He's not yippy or hyper, definitely likes to be with people, and I'm very pleased with him.
The third event of February is I have brought my first orchid to bloom. I have 6, but except for the 3 bought while in bloom, I've never had one bloom for me. I went to see a retired couple that have a greenhouse full of orchids in nearby Culpeper and they were extremely helpful. They told me some things I could stop worrying about (because when you read orchid books they make it sound so complicated) I was ready to give up and take them all to Rebecca in Florida on the grounds that maybe they'd like her weather better. These orchids spent the winter in my bathroom, and I guess the low light was ok given the daily doses of heat and humidity during my bath. A wood heated house isn't the easiest place to grow orchids!
This Friday, the 20th of Feb, Larry and I are driving down to Rebecca's. We'll be taking her dulcimer and a few other things that have been languishing under beds and in closets. I'm looking forward to some Mom and daughter time, and Dad's going to play Retired Guy and sit in a lawnchair in the sun with a book.
February has been busy. In January the rhode island chicks came (25 of them). They are now housed in the garage but soon I'll have to think seriously of moving them out to the chicken portion of the barn. That means I'll have to decide what to do with the older chickens; perhaps just give them away. They're still laying but I'd rather start fresh.
Sparky is an Australian Terrier, just acquired last week. So far the worst thing he's done is to get out. He zips out the door unless you fix him with a gimlet eye and say, STAY, SIT, in an I mean it kind of voice. Della has been dying for a small dog but says this doesn't count since he's a family dog, not her personal dog. I give up. Now she's talking about greyhounds and dobermans. Not likely. Sparky made friends with my special cat Mochi, and he an Sarge get along. He's not yippy or hyper, definitely likes to be with people, and I'm very pleased with him.
The third event of February is I have brought my first orchid to bloom. I have 6, but except for the 3 bought while in bloom, I've never had one bloom for me. I went to see a retired couple that have a greenhouse full of orchids in nearby Culpeper and they were extremely helpful. They told me some things I could stop worrying about (because when you read orchid books they make it sound so complicated) I was ready to give up and take them all to Rebecca in Florida on the grounds that maybe they'd like her weather better. These orchids spent the winter in my bathroom, and I guess the low light was ok given the daily doses of heat and humidity during my bath. A wood heated house isn't the easiest place to grow orchids!
This Friday, the 20th of Feb, Larry and I are driving down to Rebecca's. We'll be taking her dulcimer and a few other things that have been languishing under beds and in closets. I'm looking forward to some Mom and daughter time, and Dad's going to play Retired Guy and sit in a lawnchair in the sun with a book.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Quiet Saturday
Della, Seb, and Esther all went to a dance today-Esther's first! They were gone from 12 noon to 10 pm.
Dad and I spent the day puttering on separate projects. He worked on the bankbook, fixing a grill, and fixing Seb's airsoft part. I started to make a candle (recycled wax+a brown crayon for a fall look) but realized I didn't have wicking so put that project off till I can get to Michaels. I fixed a salt spool holder for Della's guinea pig, mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned the downstairs floors (and nobody walked on it while it was wet!), cooked for tomorrow's church tailgate picnic, and organized drawers and my tools. Found several lost items!
A little boring...I had intended to get out to check on an orchid greenhouse but after 4, yes, 4, days of shopping for coats for Della and Esther, I didn't really want to go out again. By the way, we ended up paying $80 for Esther's coat, and $100 for Della's, and I wouldn't call either coat high quality, but passable. Those were supposedly big discounted prices, but seemed high to me. It's not like LL Bean quality, serious warm wear. It's fashion plus some warmth. We also checked out a couple new thrift stores-found one for teens that Esther liked! She's into being a teen these days.
The big news: Della is getting a story published! Do you all realize how many of us have written things that have been published? We do have the writing gene.
Off to bed!
Dad and I spent the day puttering on separate projects. He worked on the bankbook, fixing a grill, and fixing Seb's airsoft part. I started to make a candle (recycled wax+a brown crayon for a fall look) but realized I didn't have wicking so put that project off till I can get to Michaels. I fixed a salt spool holder for Della's guinea pig, mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned the downstairs floors (and nobody walked on it while it was wet!), cooked for tomorrow's church tailgate picnic, and organized drawers and my tools. Found several lost items!
A little boring...I had intended to get out to check on an orchid greenhouse but after 4, yes, 4, days of shopping for coats for Della and Esther, I didn't really want to go out again. By the way, we ended up paying $80 for Esther's coat, and $100 for Della's, and I wouldn't call either coat high quality, but passable. Those were supposedly big discounted prices, but seemed high to me. It's not like LL Bean quality, serious warm wear. It's fashion plus some warmth. We also checked out a couple new thrift stores-found one for teens that Esther liked! She's into being a teen these days.
The big news: Della is getting a story published! Do you all realize how many of us have written things that have been published? We do have the writing gene.
Off to bed!
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