A Garden Amongst The Weeds

A Garden Amongst The Weeds

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

November

I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs today. Just keep telling myself it'll be fine... and it will! Augustus, our new heritage bourbon red, teenage turkey, is out with the girls for the first time after his 48 hour stay locked in the coop. He was in a separate enclosure within the coop so the rest of them couldn't pick on him but today it's free reign, AND he can fly... All 4 girl turkeys are busily shoving him around from place to place and even a few of the chickens have gotten in on the action. Everybody has to peck at or shove the new guy. They won't let him eat, drink or rest. Pecking order, what fun...

In other news, the peeps are growing rapidly and starting to show the colors they will be as adults. Nothing guaranteed of course, but there are two that appear to be males. Out of 5? That's a pretty nice little flock :) I'll post some new pics of them soon.

Roody, our new rooster, is enjoying not being the new kid on the block. He's learning to crow and to woo the ladies and doing quite nicely.

My attempt at egg incubation has flopped once again. They are now buried under the bamboo. Rest in peace little eggies. This was attempt #5. LOL Crud. Well, if at first you don't succeed, wait out the winter and try again next spring??~

The wood is almost all in for winter, and not a moment too soon. (We rely 100% on woodstove heat)
It feels rather chilly. Mount Shasta is beginning to get her blanket of white and the colors on our little homestead are lovely. We are getting a true fall this year with several frosts, a smattering of snow and then long stretches of cool, windy days.

I think all of us are proud of our successful harvests this year. Of course there were several complete flops too. We are learning so much and are feeling a bit more confident each day in how to do this whole farm thing.
Taint easy McGee! But that's okay.
I'm in better shape at forty eight than I was at thirty, happier too I think because I'm more content knowing what I'm capable of. Times are concerning, with the economical crisis, the anger and frustration I have seen in so many. My hope is that we can find a way to soften things. The world has become a much harsher place, or it seems so to me anyway. If we all remind each other of what life could be, maybe even used to be, back when we used sustainable means to feed ourselves, perhaps we can instill a hope and longing for a gentler, more cooperative country, one that pulls together and helps each other. That's my hope anyway, all through sharing what we have learned. The successes as well as the failures.


I had a conversation with my mom this weekend that I've pondered over ever since. She's retiring Thursday.
She's not what anyone would ever call spend-thrifty. I suggested to her that maybe now would be a good time to lay in a few dry goods. She hates this subject and cut me off by saying, "I'm an optimist, always have been, always will be. I refuse to change."
Alrighty then, I can relate, I know her well and she simply isn't going to budge on this one. She will survive on peanut butter, Dad will cook potatoes and they will be FINE.

Myself, I look at the world a bit differently, one foot in the past and one in the future, trying to learn from mistakes made (by myself as well as others) and attempting to enjoy the now while fully being aware that I have to plan for whatever may come. Motherhood has taught me that it's not practical to just say it'll be fine, you also have to plan for the eventuality that it might be rough going without a little bit of planning and since a mother's goal is to make absolutely certain that it WILL be fine, I guess I get to set aside even more in the eventuality that my parents may need help just around the corner.

Luckily for me, my kids are a tad odd. Always have been. I'm proud to say they get that from me. David isn't odd. Nope not ever. He's an angel, just ask his Momma.
We've always enjoyed reading and learning about history and knowing the 'how' of things. Long before they discovered pirate reenactment, hobbies like fishing and hiking and growing your own food were a part of their every day lives. Some of my favorite pictures of my children include chickens, fish, deer, crawdads and so on, all with my children cuddling them.

They have branched out and learned things like how to safely forage mushrooms and wild herbs from the forest, through their love of everything pirate, they have been involved in events that include 17th century tool making, clothes making, weaponry, cooking over an open fire, smoking meats and so on. Everything you could imagine that could truly come in handy here in our ever growing peepville.

Thank you wacky family. My lovely clan, for jumping into this venture with us. It seems to have a huge learning curve, doesn't it?! LOL ♥ Peace and good blessings everyone!
 
 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Harvest Blessings!

 


Happy Autumn!
Our first killing frosts have arrived. Not just a little nip in the air but a blackening of just about everything that was in full leaf just yesterday. The air has taken on a chill that holds all the promise of a full winter to come. The focus has been on harvest. Slaughtering turkeys to fill the freezer, harvesting apples and pears, plums and pumpkins. We brought in baskets of green tomatoes, summer squash and seeds galore from everything grown in the garden this growing season.




All of the potted plants are nestled inside. The dining room table is a thing of the past. For the next 9 months, all of the potted plants will overtake the kitchen and live inside next to the wood stove. Next our focus will be on wood to keep us warm over the long winter. Soon will come the dust of ash, the smell of wood smoke and a long winter of chili, turkey and dumplins and stews. Along with it comes a comfort and warmth very different from the long summer months of being outdoors every waking minute, soaking up the summer sunshine and the busy-ness that comes with living on 29 acres and caring for animals.




Snow is not my favorite but I know that it will mean snuggling up to the fire and a nice break from the rush of throwing the doors open wide and throwing myself head-long into the outdoors and all that entails every morning. It will be a time to contemplate what worked this year and what didn't. It will be a time to exchange seeds with friends and plan next year's adventures.






As always, I long for summer to continue on forever. But I do have to admit that this year I am looking forward to the stillness that winter brings. A moment to reflect, to enjoy the quiet.


As always, many blessings of the season. Happy Gardening to those of you who still have the weather for it. I am beginning to put away tools, drag out the sweaters and think about recipes for pumpkin muffins!



Peace and Happy Autumn!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Last Night I Dreamed of Chickens

Yippee, we have eggs!


Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.

They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me.

This wonderful, silly poem I found by
Jack Prelutsky, pretty much sums up my life at this point.













They're everywhere and each one more endearing than the next,
all wanting attention!

I have always enjoyed chickens and their crazy antics.
Each one has such a distinct personality.

Between the chickens and the turkeys,
it's pretty much poultry all the time!

I hope you enjoy their goofy faces as much as I do!








Peace and

Happy Gardening~

Friday, August 10, 2012

Sweet Summer




   Sweet, Sweet Summer




Like a child emerging from a cold Northern Summer's lake,
lovingly being wrapped in a warm towel

Campfires that blaze and burn with the lights
of memories past and times that will be

Summer brings the youthfulness of a naked star lit
Goddess dancing upon a moon lit beach


Summer is the beginning of a newly emerging renaissance,
one that dissipates quite quickly

Children are freed to the Sunshine and laughter that is heard in abundance,
like a tickling of the soul


Nature matures into a fine looking creation
that covers lovers hidden in her grassy knolls


The raptureless times spent out doing nothing,
engaged in the Summer's lazy afternoons

 The trickle of sweat that runs coolly down the spine
and those goose bump chills,
that day's first refreshment


The unnatural way water seemingly tastes
more refreshing than in Autumn,
Winter,
or Spring

Oh - Sweet Summer -


Sweet, sweet, Summer -


What a wonderful thing!

Peace, as Always,


And Happy Gardening!