A lesson thank goodness we didn’t have to learn the hard way yesterday. It could have been very, very bad and a hard lesson. It certainly was a strong reminder- one can never be too careful when letting their flock free range, in a fenced backyard, that a predator can strike at any moment. You see in the first picture a pit bull that does not belong in our quiet cove if 12 homes- but rather quite a few streets away- but still here he was, for over an hour AND he was in my garage- staring at my chickens through the cat door- thankfully somehow I managed to have the door closed from the garage to the backyard- which on many a days- just like this day I often keep it propped open with a cast iron tea kettle. I’m in and out and back and forth- Somehow though, on that day I closed it. Mental note and also one spoken to all who live here “if the chickens are free ranging- be sure to close the door”. You just never know when a dog will be somewhere that it’s not supposed to be.
In other news:
I was talking to my mom recently, and she said it’s still too cold to plant their vegetables in Maine! So this morning, I found myself hoping that they get some better weather soon, because a tray of vegetables just waiting to go in the ground at the end of May isn’t fun! Certainly by June she can plant? I just looked at her 10 day and the daytime highs look nice but nights are still dipping into the 40s…A general rule in Maine is to wait until after Memorial Day to plant!! She is eager.
The winters are so cold and dark and long there, that planting the garden is just such a bright spot in the spring.
Meanwhile, in my own garden, things are starting to dry out, but we’re still waiting for the sun to show its face. The blackberries are starting to show a tinge of blush and I think as soon as the sun comes they will ripen quickly.
I’ve been steadily harvesting my lavender in between rain, storms, and have bundles of it hanging to dry here and there throughout the house. Each time I walk by there’s a gentle scent. It’s so good.
I just know that this last cool snap of May will soon be gone once June arrives. There aren’t very many cool snaps after June in our area of Tennessee.
I’m trying to finish up some outside projects this week, that have been idle with all the rain, but that need doing- before it’s 90s and scorching. I’m juggling my to do list, getting soaps ready for the shop restock June 1 …and leaning into the new rhythm of a new job. We all are adjusting to me leaving here and there for a few hours of work “outside” of the home. Breakfast bagel this morning from my “work”. So good!
It’s a dream job though, really- YES!
More on that later.
~blessings!
-tina