Yesterday, while working in the garden, I heard a funny screachy sound. I looked around to see what it might be. I then realized it was our rooster. His first crow. He was so proud. He struted in front of all the hens with his chest out, and his head held high.
I might say though, that he needs some more practice. His voice is like a teenagers, who’s voice often cracks. Or perhaps he would do well with a throat lozenger.
As crackly as he is, he is proud, and we think it is a beautiful sound.

It is hotter outside than one can bare naturally. I went out at 6 a.m. just to get some garden work done, and I was spent by 7 a.m. It is now just 75 in the shade, but the humidity is extreme. You sweat just thinking. In the sun it is about 95 or better. Luckily, it will not be staying with us long, and should be gone by Tuesday. Fans are running full speed, and the dogs are layed out on the cool floor. It is a day to stay inside by the fan.

For the last day and a half, it has been raining. The rain for May was down almost by 2 inches, so we needed this rain. We could use some more. Good on two counts. It gives my back a much needed rest, and it makes things grow. Our mustard greens, and lettuce are ready to pick. The salad mix (mesclun) is not far behind. To me, it is like giving birth everytime something springs up in the garden. I know, it sounds silly, but it is so cool to plant a seed, and then watch it sprout. Then later it will give us food to eat and to sell.

We are actually done planting the hundreds of seedlings from the green house. The only thing we have now left to plant is the squashes and pumpkins. It feels so good to be done. I never thought we would get to the end of the seedlings.
We had so many seedlings, we are selling some of them in the shop. All organic, and mostly heirloom. What ever we don’t sell will go in the garden with the rest, and will  be sold. For next year, we are already making plans as we go to change some things…but let’s get through this year first.

Finally, we have the orginal floor exposed in the kitchen. It took a lot of work, and my arms are tired, but it was worth it. We figure it is about 70 years old. To most, it is would be ugly, but to us it is what we needed to continue our journey on back dating the kitchen to the late 1930’s- early 1940’s. At some point, we would like to open the ceiling up and expose the beams and the window that is up in the “attic” of the kitchen, but that would take much more muscle than we have right now. (more…)

Wow, I am actually seeing the end to the planting. Only a few more packets to go. Yesterday we worked on the “Crabtree” garden. It is called this, because it butts up against their property. Each garden has a name. That way we know what is where. I also have maps of where everything is planted. (more…)

For anyone who has seen the movie For Richer, For Poorer with Tim Allen and Kirstey Alley, they would understand why you would take in total strangers around planting season. It it hard work. We still have one garden we are working on, and another we haven’t even removed the sod from. (more…)