Summer Evening, with Camera in Hand

 As seen through the eye of my camera, of course. 

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July 4th, 2012

4th of July celebration this year: worked in the garden (because growing our own food celebrates a freedom that ripples), sipped spiked lemonade (try this!), good food, a surprise visit from a friend driving through town (I love good surprises like that), and watching fireworks.

Family Garden

A family that gardens together, eats good food together!

I love this time of year in the garden, so much potential and hope.

This spring, Lance began to transform our garden into raised beds. We have a large garden and he was only able to complete 4 of the 12 rows before we (he) ran out of time and we needed to get plants in the ground. Once the beds are in place (maybe this fall?), the irrigation will be top of the list. Not including the 4 new raised beds, we water through irrigation pipes and gates. Not efficient at all. Soil is constantly moving. Raised beds will also help keep our soil warmer, extending our growing season.

We are constantly thinking about the health of our garden soil, so last week our plants got their first drink of compost tea! I was very (very) excited about this. It can only get better from here! 

Oh soil, I heart you!!! (you too compost tea!)

SuperMoon

 My SuperMoon photos, looking south over the back pasture.

Finn Moves the Cattle

Finn helping move the cattle to the back pasture. See his legs running and his arms flying as he hollers, "Yah Yah!!" Such a sweet little farm boy.

Big Egg!

Check out that huge egg! We get at least one of these every day.

New Coop in the Orchard

Another coop finished last night. Trying to relocate the chickens that insist on roosting on the barn rafters, making a mess of things below. We'll keep these egg producers and their rooster (Big Red) cooped up for a week or two, pushing them to make the new coop home. All this also in preparation for baby goats to born! Not to mention these unruly chickens like to lay eggs in silly places, looking forward to collecting eggs in one place! (or 3 if you count all the chicken coops we have)

Juiced!

Afternoon delight... freshly juiced with 5 carrots, 2 apples and a chunk of ginger. 

Just what I needed, love our Champion!!

Greenhouse Sun, How it Goes....

Oh man, I can't believe how long it's been since my last post! It's not like I haven't been blogging either, it's just that all my computer time is used up for work. That's how it goes, I guess, especially when you have a toddler. I miss this space terribly though -I miss the personal journaling. And I can't just pick up from today, I must share the beautiful afternoon we spent with friends straight after publishing my last post -you know, the one where I was feeling the woes of winter...needing some sun. Sooo, with that little preface, here we go: an excerpt from that afternoon back in February....  

"Weekending" ... I've heard of people doing this, but we're always so busy on the farm to enjoy a break. Family & friends, Home brew, hot springs (Roxie's 1st skinny dip!), greenhouses (bananas!) and ladybug sex -perfect weekend get away. 

And there you have it. I am back to blogging (that really does sound silly to me, I blog everyday!)

Sun Shine Down...

Needing sunshine...seems to be the case whenever I feel overwhelmed with responsibility - yup, I yearn for the sun. For that empowering fire ball to bestow its glorious love on me. 

I have so many happenings to blog about! Honey, rabbits, barns, remodels, babes getting older, recipes...and I never seem to get back to this space. I love blogging! But I suppose it's one of those luxuries I grant myself only when "this and that" is complete. Totally a mom thing to do - to put myself last. I am trying to get past this block. Trying to find the balance I crave and need.

So with that, I will share a favorite photo of the sun shining down on me on a beautiful summer day, and then give myself the "mama break" I deserve. (yes, I said deserve -just like all busy mamas do)

On the Farm: Can you say Wabbit Satay?

On the farm: 5 more fat baby rabbits, and a craigslist trade: one of our 13 week old does for this handsome, albino male -for introducing new genes into our rabbit family. He has been named "Big Al" (albino). Supposedly, he will throw some awesome colors -just like his dad. Lance will be building him a proper hutch this weekend.

Dispatching (and cooking!) our first round of rabbit this weekend! Can you say Wabbit Satay?

Honey Harvest...

We seem to have lost our bees and now have empty, yet full, bee boxes. We are going the easiest and cheapest route for the honey harvest: heating it all together and straining. I'm pretty excited about it.

"Fresh" Dilemmas...

I have a love/hate relationship with our Food Saver. I love it for the "fresh" garden vegetables it provides in the middle of winter, but dislike (hate really is such a strong word) it for consuming plastic.

Walk Through the Barn

  ...Out to feed the rabbits, stopping to say hello to the goats...

Outtakes...

 ...the outtakes are usually the ones I love most...