#homestead
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus, Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida by Judy Gallagher
Via Flickr:
Me: *plants some seeds*
Me, five minutes later: They haven’t grown yet, I must have done something wrong :(
I feel this waaaay to deeply!
JLF ARCHITECTS
JLF Architects Announces May 2022 Release of New Book “Foundations” Published by Rizzoli and Featuring 16 Stunning Legacy Houses
JLF Architects’ announces the publication of “Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects” (Rizzoli New York), debuting on May 3, 2022, and offering an in-depth look at 16 spectacular homes designed by the Bozeman, Montana-based firm in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho and New…
Rural life…
Found this tick burrowed in Judas Jr.’s hair. I’ve been checking him daily and pulled about 30 over the course of the summer, but this is the first bloated one to slip past. As much as I love wild lawns, it’s beneficial to keep a play space mowed for kids to deter these jerks and prevent Lyme Disease in the case of deer ticks which are smaller. You can see a big chunk of skin in it’s mouth, which is preferable to leaving behind a buried fang. Gross. The Kiddo was understandably horrified.
These are actually the first ticks I’ve personally seen on our propoerty. I don’t know if weather played part or what but we’ve been lucky to have a very non-ticky experience here since we moved in in 2009. The chickens and other birds we’ve raised have undoubtedly helped clean them up too.
July 8, 2017
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I love this guy and just want to see him happy. Maybe I was just being nostalgic but I felt a pang when he sold his big KLR. It was after a brush with the pavement that resulted in a head injury and a near miss before that thanks to some idiot… Oh, and a bump with a deer, but he didn’t even go down for that. So I understand his desire to step back and having a family depend on you is a factor to consider.
He really needed a bike though, I think life without one was taking a toll on mental health and we all need a way to decompress. It’s slightly cramped but should work until the day when we can dish out for a Vstrom.
It had a big ugly fairing that came off and will get dirtbike-style handlebars. It’s also small enough I can sit flat footed on it, at least in my thick-soled Docs. So if he ever gets the Ideal Bike someday, I’ll get a street bike. Not that I don’t love my TW200 dual-sport, but it doesn’t go fast enough for the highway. =P
July 7, 2017
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I feel like I’m moving through a dream and not entirely present but then I am. I am. I hate that churning clouds of heavy thoughts can distract you from what’s in front of you, blinding your eyes from behind. I love that children, animals, and plants force you into routines and out of your head. Before I had the former I always surrounded myself with the latter.
The ram has knocked a wall down on his shelter. The kiddo and I, with a constanct procession of dogs and goats, play. We watch roses bloom in the garden around the cedar tree and build altars with the things they drop. We watch the garden grow, torn between wonder and dismay at it’s energy and the many small things that eat it. The puppy never holds still for photos and every one I take of her not sleeping is the blur of her constant vibration. She is so excited to be a Puppy and be Alive, a New Thing in the Universe. We vibrate along with her, bouncing around woods on the same frequency. The goats eat the weeds and we shovel their waste into piles to feed plants. The world is beautiful and always busy. So much can happen in a small space. Ten acreas of Happiness, even while uncertainty gnaws… The summer feels fast and will be over too soon. Absorb every moment of these days.
July 4, 2017
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Today was definitely all about the tomatoes … and it was so nice to finally get them into the Polycrub.
We’re growing over 40 tomato plants this year, so I was absolutely delighted to discover this method of supporting them. No more tomato cages …. and that’s a real money saver (made my husband very happy).
Anyway, just get a central wire and hang garden twine from it. One long piece of twine for each plant.
Place the end of the hanging twine, under your tomato plant as it goes into the grow bag. Then as your plant grows, simply wind it around the twine.
So simple and easy … I love it.
We also caught a glimpse of our first cucumber …
Does anyone else get excited, at seeing those little green shoots come up … I certainly do, it made my day …
Yay … the bees have arrived. Absolutely delighted to welcome these little guys … really hope they love their new home.
Had a great day in the garden and managed to complete most of the jobs on my list. That never usually happens …
First job of the day was to feed and water the herbs in the greenhouse. They’ve been growing so well in there, and it’s been a real joy to cook with fresh homegrown ingredients again.
We have been battling aphids though … and in an attempt to avoid sprays, we’ve introduced some lacewing larvae. I’ve never tried this approach before, so I’m intrigued to see how well it works. Guess we’ll see… Has anyone else tried this ???
We spent the rest of the afternoon planting more cucumbers and strawberries, weeding (yuck) … and moving grow bags into the Polycrub, ready to transplant our tomatoes.
Busy … but happy, and back at it again tomorrow …
Finally out in the garden again and I’m loving it. It’s so nice to be working outside in the sunshine, and the brighter weather has really lifted everyone’s spirit.
We’ve kicked off our projects this year with some new raised beds. We had some old decking planks laying around and they were just perfect for the job.
So pleased with how they’ve turned out and we’re having fun filling them with rhurbarb and chives.
We’ve also popped some weed matting down in the Polycrub and are working hard on plans for the internal layout. Really want to get it right, so reading piles of books and doing loads of research … stay tuned …
In the meantime we’re using it for our strawberry bins and the plants are doing great.
Anyway, I’m off to plant some garlic … hope you’re all well and finding smiles along the way …
