Getting things done

The 'to-do' list seems to be finally shrinking, a bit. My dirt garden has plants in it! A few anyway. Hopefully in a few short weeks it will be bursting with greenery, and not thistle or morning glory vines which are attempting to choke out and smother my berry bushes.

Sage! My favorite variety, great fried alongside zucchini blossoms.

Basil is just peeking out

As are the beets

Perspective is key. This tomato is about 4 inches high and somewhat sparse. Some creative cropping and filtering and voila! A thriving tomato plant!

Seem to be a little late this year, raspberry season is one of my favorites.

The blackberries aren't far behind.

In the house, many of our plants die slow withering deaths. Orchids are pretty safe because they only need attention once every week or two. Even one week can turn into three or four  so you can imagine my surprise when I saw that one is getting ready to rebloom!

This one bloomed continuously for about 2 years, its been dormant for around 6 months. These bloom cream to yellow with pink centers. Apparently, neglect is the key to successful orchids!

I've never successfully rebloomed an orchid after the first burst. I was  actually getting ready to trash this one as even the broad thick leaves we're starting to die off. So now there's hope for my withering Christmas cactus- seriously, who can kill those?? I can...clearly. 

I googled 'withering christmas cactus' and found out that I should just leave it alone for a while. Still withered, but blooming like crazy.

Oink oink, snort snort...it's starting to smell like bacon around here! 

Still cute for a few weeks.

After a few weeks they still haven't learned to appreciate our company but boy do they come running when the first splash of warm milk hits the feed trough. They dive in feet first and suck, slurp and gurgle until it's gone. Two boys and a girl this round, still unnamed besides Acorn, the one with the erect ears. We should have a few hundred pounds of pork just in time for the holidays. 

Very sleepy after they finish their milk.

The gross meat chickens are ever expanding, the sudden heat has caused some premature deaths, which is to be expected but usually we lose only one or two close to the butchering date. This year we've lost 6. It's really quite frustrating, firstly because you don't want animals dying in your care and secondly, this close to d-day we're losing meat! And feed costs! I can't imagine how difficult this is in a barn of 10,000. We're going to have to increase our July order to make up for the losses. 

Eat, eat, plop, sleep. Eat, eat, plop, sleep. Eat, eat, plop, sleep.

No more of our Delawares have bit the dust, they're adapting to life in the coop and daily assaults by our rooster. 

He is soooo annoying...

Behind our chicken coop we threw last years dried sunflower heads and it looks like about 10,000 or so sprouted. If they reach maturity and don't fall victim to the birds, they can drop right into the chicken yard and double as food.

We finally made it to one goat show, the Buckeye Classic. As usual, I intended to take pictures while everyone was in their Sunday best and I didn't snap a one. We did well, with kids ranging from 1-3 place and adults as well. Loading up was torture in a downpour and show whites are not very flattering while wet! Good company, good food and lack of sleep made for an enjoyable weekend at the show. 

The babies aren't babies any more. Here is Isadora (daughter of Luna) and Lila (daughter of Luci) giving Kaelyn the side-eye on our evening walk. 

Delfina and Sofia, last year's babies all grown up.

Gemma, Massey's baby from February. Identical face, identical laid-back personality, definitely a keeper.

All of our keepers. Lila (Luci), Gemma (Massey), Emerson (Emilene), Isadora (Luna), Carolina (Cammile), Sabine (which of these things is not like the other), Calliope (Claire) and last but not least, Chicory (Charlotte) peeking out the door.