new fence, happy sheep I’m not doing very well on my promise for more frequent updates. We are busy managing multiple projects, as usual, and the days are just not long enough!
The lambs continue to grow and are healthy and happy. Our normal pasture rotation has been somewhat disrupted due to all the fence building, but we’re not complaining. The entire perimeter is now complete, and most of the interior cross fencing as well. It should all be done by the end of September. It’s so gratifying to see the progress and the nice new fences standing up straight. It will take some doing for any predators to get through these!
The lambs continue to grow and are healthy and happy. Our normal pasture rotation has been somewhat disrupted due to all the fence building, but we’re not complaining. The entire perimeter is now complete, and most of the interior cross fencing as well. It should all be done by the end of September. It’s so gratifying to see the progress and the nice new fences standing up straight. It will take some doing for any predators to get through these!
4th of July We took a few days off to celebrate the 4th of July, which was big fun. Family and friends were here to watch the parade in town, then we all came down to the ranch and spent the afternoon at our local swimming hole (temps were 100+), followed by a BBQ on the lawn by the barn. It was really just a perfect day.
We also made time to attend one of our favorite annual events- the Methow Chamber Music Festival. It features world class musicians who spend 10 days performing chamber music all over the valley. We went to the opening night concert and the closing night performance as well. It did not disappoint!
We also made time to attend one of our favorite annual events- the Methow Chamber Music Festival. It features world class musicians who spend 10 days performing chamber music all over the valley. We went to the opening night concert and the closing night performance as well. It did not disappoint!
Electrifying! Then it was back to the grindstone. The main project for me was to clean up and organize our laundry room. It was full of junk and hadn’t really been scrubbed out for years, so I emptied it all and pulled up the old carpet. This revealed the old rotten floor, which had to be torn up, so it ended up being pretty much a complete overhaul, down to the studs. Not my area of expertise at all, but between Bill and I, we are getting it back together and it looks pretty good. Just need to assemble and install cabinets now, and touch up some final painting. It’s taken over a month, but will make my life so much better.
At the same time, we finally got around to getting electricity to the new barn. Bill dug the trench, and the electrician came and buried the line and hooked it up just yesterday. We now have outlets all over the place and can put the extension cords away. Another job checked off the list!
At the same time, we finally got around to getting electricity to the new barn. Bill dug the trench, and the electrician came and buried the line and hooked it up just yesterday. We now have outlets all over the place and can put the extension cords away. Another job checked off the list!
New mothers I don’t have much going on in the garden this year. Since the compost pile burned up, I didn’t fertilize and it shows. A few of the essential things are doing OK- tomatoes, potatoes, beets and carrots are all thriving. Beans aren’t doing so well, but that may be because the chickens have found a way in and have been scratching up everything like crazy. We can’t seem to find where there are getting in- suspect that they are jumping over the top, but haven’t caught them red-handed yet.
Speaking of chickens, our chicks that were hatched in April are getting all grown up now, and I’m starting to hear at least of couple of them try out their crowing. That means some more roosters for the stock pot. And for some reason this has been a banner year for broody hens. I had two more go broody, so I let them have at it. The both hatched out chicks within a few days of each other- one had 2, and the other had 4. I have put them together in the small pen, and although they tolerate each other, they don’t really get along. The Cuckoo Maran is definitely the dominant one- she will jump all over the Red Sussex if she feels that her space is being infringed upon. They are both very good with the chicks, though, and are all getting enough to eat and drink, so as soon as the chicks are big enough to avoid the cat, I’ll let them outside.
Speaking of chickens, our chicks that were hatched in April are getting all grown up now, and I’m starting to hear at least of couple of them try out their crowing. That means some more roosters for the stock pot. And for some reason this has been a banner year for broody hens. I had two more go broody, so I let them have at it. The both hatched out chicks within a few days of each other- one had 2, and the other had 4. I have put them together in the small pen, and although they tolerate each other, they don’t really get along. The Cuckoo Maran is definitely the dominant one- she will jump all over the Red Sussex if she feels that her space is being infringed upon. They are both very good with the chicks, though, and are all getting enough to eat and drink, so as soon as the chicks are big enough to avoid the cat, I’ll let them outside.
Mr. Frog We continue to see changes since last year’s fire. The hillsides were green with new growth this Spring, but unfortunately much of it was the dreaded mustard weed. They are dried up now, and any time there is a gust of wind, they form tumbleweeds which for some reason all end up in our driveway. At one point, there was a wall of tumbleweed about 6 ft high! And our irrigation diversion box has a lot more algae in it this year. We figure that since the trees that used to shade the creek are gone now, it is exposed to sunlight which has increased the algae growth considerably. There is one little guy who seems to like it, though. I clean the screens daily, and for the past few weeks have seen a small frog clinging to the screen and sometimes sitting on top, as in this photo. I know there are many more like him around here, because at dusk and on into the early evening it is a symphony of frogs and other insects.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the next update!
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the next update!
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