Socks About Town

Brady's teaching a gun class, Amanda's reading, Cody's fishing and I'm knitting by the lake at Greene Co Fish & Game Club on a glorious afternoon.

Blackberry Blossom

West Virginia in bloom

Brady had a successful turkey hunting season at our West Virginia mountain home and on this cold and drizzly Mother's Day I slow-cooked the breast meat and made a (ginormous) pot of turkey & amish noodles.  Perfect comfort food for a dreary day!

The garden is half planted - we put out the tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers before running out of steam.  Brady spent the better part of the day tilling, retilling and clearing grass clods. The kids did a quick soil test and found our garden area wasn't just bad, it was pitiful!  No wonder last year's garden failed miserably.  So, two bags of fertilizer and a quick till-under later, we finally started planting until our backs and allergies got the better of us.  By the end of the weekend we'll have everything finished.

Brady leaving flooded WV

May showers bring - a blackberry bounty!!!  We should be able to gather enough between the farm and WV for cakes and canning and freezing.  :P

Yes, Brady spotted Canadian goslings on the farm last week.  :)

Spotted on the farm

There is a Time

The babies

We're still here.  Just sidelined for a few weeks.

I know I've said this many times before, but things have been super busy on the farm lately.  That's how it usually goes at springtime.  Here's a recap of everything that's taken up our time and attention since our last post (gulp) 7 weeks ago! Oh dear, has it really been that long?

DIY Chickens

The Delawares hatched out the first week of April and have taken up residency in the "starter coop" next to the GC Rangers.  By mid-May they'll be ready to move to a larger coop.  Where that coop is located is still a mystery.  :)

After the Delaware hatching came to a close Brady loaded it with Black Copper Maran hatching eggs and a few of our own eggs. They started hatching last week but only two Marans hatched. <sigh>  Back to the drawing board.

On the positive side ... all the coop construction is completed!  Well, everything except the Delawares' next home.

The Goats

The goats are enjoying the steamy sprummer (spring/summer, which I've learned is a season that exists only in Ohio).  As for the website - I have the content, I have the pictures, and I have the site.  Unfortunately they don't all exist in the same spot at the same time.  Time to get busy on that project.

The Bees

We opened the hives sometime in late March/early April and found only three that didn't survive the winter.  We forgot a major step in the winterizing process - venting the hive top - which created a damp, moldy mess.  Fortunately we have several super-strong hives full of honey left!  Brady has been busy busy busy with animal control calls for bee swarms so our little apiary is starting to grow again.  Maybe this fall we will have our first honey harvest.  :)

The Band

Massie Creek had a performance in Bellbrook last week which went well despite the stormy weather.  We have a few more appearances coming up in the next few months.  Sadly, our banjo player Ron has left the band to move back to Canada and we're on the hunt for a replacement.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining Massie Creek, drop Brady a note at brady712@yahoo.com. Serious inquiries only. 

Knitting

Yep, still waiting for the sock picture for my pattern.  "Coming soon".  With everything going on the knitting projects are down to basic mindless socks - something I can set aside and pick up later without losing my place. 

So, what's been taking up all of our time you ask?  Chickens, band practice, doing taxes, chickens again, more band practice, turkey season (special heart-felt shout out to Christie for bravely volunteering to be a farm hand while Brady & I were away in our West Virginia mountain home), more chickens, and more animal jobs than you can imagine. 

Sorry for the lack of pictures lately.  It's on my list of things to work on.  That and getting on a regular blog posting schedule.  Just need the time to sit down and make it happen, lol.

Coming Up

Finish goat website, finish sock pattern (last call), update band website, order band business cards, interview banjo players, plant garden, put out hummingbird feeders (what a list!)

What's Blooming

Goldenrod (achoo!), Dame's rocket, Roses, Black Locust, Peonies (budding)