Picture Sizes

I should like to apologies for the mean size of the photos I often post. If they follow the text it means they are something I've photographed with my fancy new phone whilst going about my daily business. I have no control over the size, placement, or order of the photographs when I then take a break from laboring to write to you via this miraculous device.

Posts with pictures interspersed with the text, such as the Martin's Station post, are written on my 'big' but hugely annoying laptop. (It has gotten very creaky.)

If I carry my regular camera I will forget to share these things with you so I hope you will appreciate my intent to share things as they happen even if the photos are dinky.

Frog Eggs!

Our anemic pond which refuses both to hold water or completely dry out so we can line it has been showing signs of amphibian habitation. Most nights we hear a frog or two chatting with the ones on the near creek. I have even heard the distinctive "plunk!" when they jump into the water to evade chickens and cats.

Today Mr. Fuzzy's keen eyes noticed a mass of eggs at the water's edge. There is rain in our forecast so perhaps there is hope for the tadpoles survival.

The birds sure would like that. They love eating toads

Lettuce Eat

But before we do, photograph it.

Garden Workhorses

When you get into the organic gardening groove you begin to see things a little differently.

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Planting outside a fence is especially precarious business when you have dozens of chickens marauding about in search of a new place to dig worms. My previous solution was to use ugly garden mesh held up with hrade stales but I have since found 24" prefab picket fencing. I think it looks nice enough and the chickens think it looks impenetrable. The mint in the photo below was almost gone six weeks ago.

This morning, when I opened another roll of fencing from the stash I keep in the garden what did I find but 100 newly hatched spiders still in the fluff that surrounds an egg case. Now, you all might be thinking "eek!" but my first thought was "more pest eaters!!!!!"

I will post again when this new bit of decorative planting is complete.

gardens in full swing

The decorative garden around the patio and the food gardens are in full swing with these hot (81F today) summer days. The heavens have been merciful and yielded rains just when needed. Yesterday a brief downpour was a delight for the plant life.








This corn is a rare heirloom developed by the Cherokees, "Hickory King." Our source, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange says "85/110 days. [Pre-1875.] In the hills and hollows of Virginia this corn is still appreciated as a roasting and hominy corn. It is considered the best variety for hominy because the skin of the kernel is easily removed by soaking. Also good for grits, corn meal and flour. Makes a nice roasting corn (the old fashioned way of eating corn on the cob)... This variety grows extremely tall. Our stalks reach 12'. Some people use this variety for providing support for pole beans. Produces about 2 ears per stalk. Ears have very large, flat, creamy white kernels. Husks are tighter than most varieties and give excellent protection from beetles and earworm. Has good tolerance to northern leaf blights (H. turicum) and southern leaf blight."











The "Alibi" cucumbers, which were transplanted only The "Alibi" cucumbers transplanted just16 days ago are already blooming. Their neighbors in the garden, "Tender Grey" squash, are beginning to bloom as well (photo to the right). The Fuzzies planted "Tender Grey" a couple of years ago and it was a runaway success. The instructions said to let the fruits reach 24 ounces or more before picking; and indeed, they were correct as the flavor develops with size. Some of the tastiest weighed over 32 ounces. Mr. Fuzzy planted them last year but they were overwhelmed by insects, alas, We hope for better this year.


A few of the "Espanola" chile plants are also blooming even though the plants are still only four inches tall. Ah, how we long for fresh New Mexico chiles on the table...

The patio gardens have been under Mrs. Fuzzy's watchful eye and are stunning the eye with beauty.

baling out

Ah, the time has come, the bales have dried after Monday night's rain and the farmer who buys our hay is loading it up right now; looks like we may have exceeded last year's yield.

The forecast is for rain on Monday night or Tuesday so Mr. Fuzzy will set out the remaining sweet and bell pepper plants this afternoon. Most of the seedlings transplanted last weekend are doing well; the cukes and squashes planted a fortnight ago have grown very nicely, thank you.. One Edmundton cucumber has a bloom on it today.

So far, so good. But never count your cucumbers before they are pickled.

making hay whilst the sun shineth

The hay has prospered this season from abundant moisture as well as abundant sun light. Some farmers starting mowing two weeks ago but the wet weather and dodgy forecasts caused many to await their time with patience. Today it was sunny, dry and 75F - with a forecast for dry days in the immediate future and so Bob came with his sickle mower and made quick work of the large pasture. A day or two to dry and then bale.

Today would have been my father's 95th birthday - but he barely lived past retirement. Pop, I've been thinking about you all day. Thanks for so much.