weekending

 

away

    

I hadn't intended to be away from the blog all summer.  I started working outside of the home and well something had to fall away while I adjusted to new rhythms.  All of a sudden it was October.  I do not really know what happened to September, I blinked and it was over.  The garden is over, mostly.  There are still a few things making a comeback.  Like the basil, green onions, Tulsi, stonecrop, and comfrey...  which all waned a bit in the heat of August but a new flush as soon as the cooler temps (80s) arrived.  The Moonflower is just now blooming, as I planted the seeds quite late.  I sunk them in the hot earth mid July and the vine took it's time, but she's here now and the blooms against the night sky are nothing short of spectacular.  The Harvest Moon rise with moon flowers glowing.  Magic I tell you. 

I got 10 chicks accidentally from the local farm supply store on the town square.  By that I only mean that I hadn't originally planned to get fall chicks.  I had a text from a friend that "Russell's has 5 week old Easter Eggers" oh and 2 Buff Orpingstons... and well I went and rescued them from their wire confines.  Even if we don't keep them, they are here for now, on earth.  Messages came in when I shared them with my Instagram, questions.  You got them and might not keep them?  Yes.  Did you have to ask your husband?  No.  you see I asked my husband one time back in 2012 if I could get chickens.  He trusts my knowledge and care for them and leaves me to manage the flock dynamics. He doesn't worry about or micromanage the details of who comes or goes out in the hen house. He does see to the pine needles that the neighbor threw away and brings me the bags for them and helps peddle the eggs.  

I hope to be in this space more often as the decline of Instagram continues.  The transition from what it used to be to what it is now is apparent for all to see.  I feel it's a struggle to maintain any kind of audience in that space.  I see folks with large audiences struggling to reach the people who want to see them, for the most part.  There are those super popular accounts that still have reach, but for the little folks over there it feels more and more like a waste of time.  I continually feel like posting in a space like the blog might prove to serve me better.  BUT then with news of platforms like Typepad closing it's doors and SO many wonderful blogs I read over there being GONE~ well I'm not sure even how long Blogger with keep it's doors open... 
Well thanks for being here and following along with my little corner of the internet.  Happy Autumn.  Happy October.  

~tina

lessons and reminders and lavender

 

 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

May showers

 

It's raining, again seems to be May's theme.  These snapshots are in between the rains, outside and during them inside.  They say April Showers bring May flowers.  So what do May showers bring? Hopefully June vegetables.  The tomatoes, zucchini, butternut (must remember to remove pots from on top of them), cukes and potatoes all seem happy.  I do believe that when the sun finally makes an appearance, everything is going to explode.  The Herbs are all happy too.  

I have been going outside as much as possible to check on the gardens and the chickens (and chicks) in between storms.  There is mud, a lot of it.  Not to worry though, because soon it will be HOT and the wet cush of the spring will only be a memory.  

Inside during the storms I have found a lot of time to spend cleaning, rearranging and stripping beds (tackling laundry piles).  How about you? How are you spending these last few days of the month? How's your weather?