Muskovy Ducklings All Grown Up

Well, almost grown up. It's hard to believe this was one of those little fluffy things I posted a picture of just a few weeks ago. Her name's Lily. I think she has the most beautiful green eyes. The others don't have eyes like her's. They're living in the horse trailer for now. We just started letting them free range during the day. They paddle around in the creek for a while then they go under the workshop where it's cool. Our weather has been extremely hot. I hate to wish the summer away but I just can't muster up any energy when it's so hot.

Sprout Wings and Fly (1983)

Building a Garden Dovecote From a Packing Crate

I was given  four of these old packing crates. Two of them became planters in the garden but then I had the bright idea of turning the other two into dovecotes.

Just build the roof gabels, cut out some cubby holes with the jig saw, add perches and paint.

Add a floor to make two levels.

Nail on the roof.
Next will be the roof shingles.
The two gabels are tied together with a ridge pole and purlins but I forgot to take a picture of that step. I will when I build the next one.  It just has a coat of primer right now but will go over that with white exterior barn and fence paint.

Raised Bed Garden with New Gravel Paths

The gravel paths have made such a difference in the garden. We're really happy with them. The wind was blowing pretty hard here and the plants were all taking a beating, as you can see.

Carolina Chocolate Drops "Cornbread and Butterbeans"

Ken and I can't resist dancing around the kitchen to this while making supper!
The Carolina Chocolate Drops have performed down in Floyd a number of times and we still havent been to see them. We will next time though.

White Hydrangea

I always say I don't like Hydrangeas, but we saw these white ones at the store yesterday and I just loved them! Not sure where it's going to go yet. The deer have always demolished anything planted around the house. This year though, we haven't seen many deer at all. Even the Bleeding Heart out back managed to bloom this year. I think I'll put the Hydrangea by the back steps and just hope it makes it. We do intend to put a tall picket fence around the house at some point so that we can have a nice flower garden.

Just a bunch of photos

Thought I would put up a bunch of photos. Summer is finally here and everything is blooming.

We're busy renovating the garden area. I made some quick raised bed boxes last year, just to see if I liked them. Well. let me tell you, raised beds are the way to go! So much easier to manage. Now we are  putting gravel walk-ways between the boxes. It's looking really nice. We still have a regular row garden at the back, for poratoes and other things that we need to grow a lot of. I planted eggplant for the first time this year. It's doing great. Ken bought me an Excalibur dehydrator last year (it's wonderful!) so  I'll be dehydrating a lot of stuff. We started late with the planting so nothings quite ready yet. Having trouble with my back. It's taking twice as long to get things done.

I took some pictures of Christal and Shady, the horses, today. They're down in the "Weight Watchers" pasture because they were getting a bit too chunky.

Well, Ken just got home from work. He stopped and bought us a lovely peach pie from the farm market and then picked up a truck load of hay. He also took my fiddle to be re-strung today. Everyone's in for a long 4th of July weekend of torture :)

Susan, if you're reading this. I got your e-mail. Will be writing back.

Ken in the garden and Fiddlesticks the cat.

Koinobori

Dill

Tomatoes, Marigolds and Morning Glory

Our old store/post office

Christal  (Welsh/Arab)