July 21, 2012 Saturday, My Twins’ Birthday (Abby and Marcia)
‘Twas another very fine day, perhaps a bit too warm for much exertion. I got steamy while digging in my eggplant border. I am not good for much more than a half hour. I am preparing a spot for a lavender plant that Nancy gave me. The crab grass has such a lock on every un-dug section, that planting something is not straightforward. Another year I will put the eggplant below the granite wall, if I grow it and use this hot area for heat loving herbs. I already have rosemary, tarragon and sage doing well. Even mint is surviving thanks to an occasional bucket of milky rinsings. It has established itself inside of a great big phlox that keeps it cool.
DD Abby has been away in Blue Hill for six months caring for an elderly lady with Alzheimer’s. Grace passed away this morning about 6am. So Abby will soon be back up here near the farm.
July 22, 2012 Sunday
Another hot day. Things are beginning to get very dry. I carried water to my peppers. The tomatoes looked like they could hold out another day. The mosquitoes are still bad but not as bad as last week.
This morning in the barn I spotted one hen with her eye gleaming out from a crevice in the hay. I had to move six bales to get at her nest and it only held six eggs so there must be a couple more nests hidden among the bales. Hens can be so aggravating. Mitra reported today that a little hen whom she thought had been eaten by the fox emerged with 13 tiny chicks. She called them pencil toppers. I supposed that is what I too must expect. It sure is amazing how a dozen eggs can turn into a dozen chicks merely by having a hen sit on them for 21 days.
Today I am 84.
July 23, 2012 Monday
Very hot again today. I did a little gardening and a lot of watering. The kitchen was unbearably hot. I could scarcely think.
The power went out for a couple of hours beginning just as I was about to open the door and let Fern in for milking. The machine was already running. I postponed everything until 11 o’clock. Fern was totally relaxed about the delay.
I had a notion that DD Abby would leave Blue Hill sooner than she earlier stated and I was right. She is on her way here now. I expect her any minute.
July 24, 2012 Tuesday
The day started off hot and sticky but has gradually cooled.
I made two more loaves of bread.
Abby set up additional fans that she managed to locate. Later we went to the lake to have a good look at Marcia’s camp. She has a beautiful garden there with much in bloom including late lilies, ligularia, campanula, bee balm and on and on. I waded in the lake while Abby checked on the (damp) cellar and arranged things she had brought.
We also treated ourselves to a bit of shopping at a local antique/used junk store. Abby bought a little folding table and small rug. I bought a lovely wool bedspread and two teapots. For the latter, no case could be made that I need them. But I could tell they wanted to come home with me. They were about $5 each. One says Satsuma on the bottom, Japanese of course, with a fine peacock decoration. The other is a small Staffordshire.
I spoke to Don Houghton who just finished bush hogging for me. Tomorrow morning he is going to start on cleaning out the deep bedding in the beefer pen.
July 25, 2012 Wednesday
The weather today was very fine.
Don Houghton mucked out last winter’s deep bedding from the beefer pen. Now there is a fine new pile of manure at the edge of the North Field.
DD Abby went shopping and brought home lots of fruits and vegetables from Rumford, also an antique chicken feed dispenser, much needed for my free range birds. It is just like a modern one but 3 times as heavy. My chickens range great distances but there are now so many young ones that some extra feeding is needed.
Shireen also brought fruits and vegetables. Some were from Sam’s Club courtesy of her grandmother Marie. Some were dazzling local tomatoes, two of which she grew herself along with a bunch of her own Swiss chard.
She also brought me a birthday present of an oil pastel she had done. It is a 20” x 14” view of my house, all framed.
July 26, 2012 Thursday
Damp and overcast today with some drizzle.
Fern pushed down the veg garden fence to reach a patch of comfrey and then climbed into the garden. I found her enjoying the grass around some young apple trees. She knew she was naughty and raced all around throwing her feet in the air. But then when Abby opened the gate for her she exited politely. We propped the fence with boards which won’t last long.
So far as I can tell I have no apples this year.
I made a dinner that Abby really liked. I boned a (mature cow) chuck roast and made chicken fried steak. That may not be the correct name; maybe it is Swiss steak. I dredged the pieces in well-seasoned flour and gently browned them on both sides in olive oil and beef fat in a cast iron skillet. I covered them with well flavored chicken stock and wine and simmered them in a slow oven for 3 hours. We served the steak with mashed potatoes and the resulting gravy. It is really hard to match the flavor of good beef cooked this way and mashed potatoes are the perfect accompaniment. I also served the Swiss chard that Shireen grew and it too was delicious.
July 27, 2012 Friday
Very hot again today, partly because I was in the kitchen. I made bread and blueberry squares. I ground the wheat last night for the bread and soaked it overnight. It turned out exceptionally well, as did the squares.
DD Abby and I joined DS Martin and DIL Amy at the lake for a dinner of fresh caught haddock from the fish market in Biddeford. I brought my blueberry squares. Our message to Shireen somehow did not reach her so she did not join us. Such a shame.
Blueberry Bars The crust: 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 cups all-purpose flour, scooped and leveled 1/4 tsp salt zest of 1 lemon 8 oz cold, unsalted butter (2 sticks) 1 egg, beaten
The berrymixture: 1/2 cup sugar 4 tsp non-gmo cornstarch Juice of 1 lemon 4 cups fresh blueberries
Special Equipment - a well-greased 9- x 13-inch pan
Making the crust - Preheat oven to 375F. Whisk together the sugar, baking powder, flour, salt and lemon zest. Then using your fingers or a pastry-cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. (To save time, you can pour the ingredients into a food processor, as I did, and pulse the butter into the mixture).Stir in the beaten egg.
Forming the bottom crust - Turn half the crumbly mix into the greased pan, and pat it down with your fingers to coat the entire bottom of the pan.
The berries – In another bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch. Then stir in the lemon juice. Add the blueberries, and gently move them about with a rubber spatula until all are coated with the sugar solution.
Finishing the bars - Spread the berry mixture on the bottom crust. Then sprinkle with the remaining crust. Bake on the lower-middle rack of the preheated 375F oven for 45 minutes, or until the top crust just begins to color. (only took 30 minutes in my oven) Don’t let the top crust brown all over, as this will indicate the bottom crust has burned.
Allow the pan to cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack
From: A garden for the house (blog)
Monday, July 30, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
July 14, 2012 Saturday
July 14, 2012 Saturday
Very hot today, over 90F.The mosquitoes continue in clouds. I managed about a half hour of digging grass clumps out of my eggplant patch but did not make it down to water the tomatoes. Nancy reached under the potato plants and pulled out a half dozen beauties.
Martin and his friend Brett Shifrin rode their bicycles in the 100 mile loop around Mt Washington. I don’t know how they endured the heat. It is mostly highway riding and not so very appealing. They don’t plan to do it again.
Shireen came home mid-morning with three young co-workers and practiced her viola while one of the boys played the piano.
I am not getting many eggs but apart from that the animals seem not to be suffering.
Ruth Snell brought me 6 quarts of blueberries. She sells them to me every year. What a treat.
July 16, 2012 Monday
My goodness, another hot muggy day. The humidity is so high it turned to a wet mist for awhile. I heard on NPR that most of the bats have died and I realize I have not seen more than one or two. The speaker said this is why we have so many mosquitoes. Each bat will eat 1000 per night.
I feel mean bringing the sheep in at night. It is for their safety and they want to come in but it is so hot in the barn.
I made five quarts of rhubarb sauce this afternoon. I finished digging around the eggplants and now am in a hurry for them to grow. I have a new recipe for eggplant Parmesan that I want to try. I tried a new method of making cottage cheese involving rennet. I don’t think much of it.
DD Sally says they have been catching lots of Sockeye out in front of her house and she is canning and freezing. They are extra big and red this ear. She in on the Chilcoot.
July 18, 2012 Wednesday
On Tuesday the humidity finally curdled into rain which fell for a half hour or so. Then the sun came out and all the plants looked happy but the heat returned undiminished. If the crows or ravens had not eaten my corn it would have been audibly growing. Nancy put in some replacement sprouts she had too many of. We have renewed hopes for them. The folks out west have lost 30% of their crop, so I read. I feel like if we have the conditions for growing corn we ought to at least keep trying.
I finished reading The Devil in the Milk, a discussion of A1A2 milk by Keith Woodford. He has followed the story from the beginning and knows well or has met personally with most of the scientists and dairy people connected with the matter. The book is exhaustively referenced and quotes relevant statements and publications. A1A2 refers to two forms of casein found in milk. The A1 form can cause gastric distress and bloating in some people. If it passes through the gut barrier and enters circulation, it may result in inflammation to veins and prompt destruction of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas as well as other damage. Affected persons need to avoid all dairy products that contain casein; alternatively they can drink milk from cows which are homozygous for A2 casein.
I had a visit from Tracy Wilkerson and her nice kids. She is farm manager at the Gould Academy farm. They are considering adding dairy animals. They arrived early in time to watch me milking.
Dr. Cooper stopped in and I gave him lunch. That is always a pleasure.
The only gardening I did was to harvest my marigold blossoms for drying.
When Shireen returned she brought me a gift from her Grandma Marie, some unbelievably delicious oranges she had brought from California.
I made a pan of scones using granddaughter Helena’s recipe. They were good but hers were better.
July 19, 2012 Thursday
At last, fine weather. It did not get above 60F, the sun shone and there was a light breeze. Dear Cousins Holly and Richard came over this morning and picked currents. What joy to get them picked. Holly brought muffins and we had them with tea and my scones. Here is a nice photo of me and grandkids Hannah and Henry, taken by Holly when they were here last week helping put up hay bales.
Out in the paddock garden, the individual sprouted corn plants, seeds really, that Nancy set out mostly look good. The crows seem not to have noticed them.
July 20, 2012 Friday
Very fine weather again today. The mosquitoes remain bad.
Ella and Milton have pretty well finished the grass in their paddock. I started today to feed hay.
I got tired of not having anything but store bought bread and made a couple of loaves. Shireen and I used it for our hamburgers for supper.
She is pretty tired. She and Roshan and DIL Mitra went to the Batman movie last night at midnight, the night of the Aurora massacre.
Very hot today, over 90F.The mosquitoes continue in clouds. I managed about a half hour of digging grass clumps out of my eggplant patch but did not make it down to water the tomatoes. Nancy reached under the potato plants and pulled out a half dozen beauties.
Martin and his friend Brett Shifrin rode their bicycles in the 100 mile loop around Mt Washington. I don’t know how they endured the heat. It is mostly highway riding and not so very appealing. They don’t plan to do it again.
Shireen came home mid-morning with three young co-workers and practiced her viola while one of the boys played the piano.
I am not getting many eggs but apart from that the animals seem not to be suffering.
Ruth Snell brought me 6 quarts of blueberries. She sells them to me every year. What a treat.
July 16, 2012 Monday
My goodness, another hot muggy day. The humidity is so high it turned to a wet mist for awhile. I heard on NPR that most of the bats have died and I realize I have not seen more than one or two. The speaker said this is why we have so many mosquitoes. Each bat will eat 1000 per night.
I feel mean bringing the sheep in at night. It is for their safety and they want to come in but it is so hot in the barn.
I made five quarts of rhubarb sauce this afternoon. I finished digging around the eggplants and now am in a hurry for them to grow. I have a new recipe for eggplant Parmesan that I want to try. I tried a new method of making cottage cheese involving rennet. I don’t think much of it.
DD Sally says they have been catching lots of Sockeye out in front of her house and she is canning and freezing. They are extra big and red this ear. She in on the Chilcoot.
July 18, 2012 Wednesday
On Tuesday the humidity finally curdled into rain which fell for a half hour or so. Then the sun came out and all the plants looked happy but the heat returned undiminished. If the crows or ravens had not eaten my corn it would have been audibly growing. Nancy put in some replacement sprouts she had too many of. We have renewed hopes for them. The folks out west have lost 30% of their crop, so I read. I feel like if we have the conditions for growing corn we ought to at least keep trying.
I finished reading The Devil in the Milk, a discussion of A1A2 milk by Keith Woodford. He has followed the story from the beginning and knows well or has met personally with most of the scientists and dairy people connected with the matter. The book is exhaustively referenced and quotes relevant statements and publications. A1A2 refers to two forms of casein found in milk. The A1 form can cause gastric distress and bloating in some people. If it passes through the gut barrier and enters circulation, it may result in inflammation to veins and prompt destruction of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas as well as other damage. Affected persons need to avoid all dairy products that contain casein; alternatively they can drink milk from cows which are homozygous for A2 casein.
I had a visit from Tracy Wilkerson and her nice kids. She is farm manager at the Gould Academy farm. They are considering adding dairy animals. They arrived early in time to watch me milking.
Dr. Cooper stopped in and I gave him lunch. That is always a pleasure.
The only gardening I did was to harvest my marigold blossoms for drying.
When Shireen returned she brought me a gift from her Grandma Marie, some unbelievably delicious oranges she had brought from California.
I made a pan of scones using granddaughter Helena’s recipe. They were good but hers were better.
July 19, 2012 Thursday
At last, fine weather. It did not get above 60F, the sun shone and there was a light breeze. Dear Cousins Holly and Richard came over this morning and picked currents. What joy to get them picked. Holly brought muffins and we had them with tea and my scones. Here is a nice photo of me and grandkids Hannah and Henry, taken by Holly when they were here last week helping put up hay bales.
Out in the paddock garden, the individual sprouted corn plants, seeds really, that Nancy set out mostly look good. The crows seem not to have noticed them.
July 20, 2012 Friday
Very fine weather again today. The mosquitoes remain bad.
Ella and Milton have pretty well finished the grass in their paddock. I started today to feed hay.
I got tired of not having anything but store bought bread and made a couple of loaves. Shireen and I used it for our hamburgers for supper.
She is pretty tired. She and Roshan and DIL Mitra went to the Batman movie last night at midnight, the night of the Aurora massacre.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
July 08, 2012 Sunday
July 08, 2012 Sunday
Saturday was so full of adventures that I did not have time to write. I got the milking done an hour early. In fact I could have skipped it entirely had I known that I was to discover Ella in with her mom. She and Milton had escaped their paddock and she had of course drunk most of the milk. She left me three quarts.
Nancy came down at 9am and drove me up to the village to Dot Mason’s house where Steve Brown picked us up in the Model T. There was a little parade for Carthage Old Home Days. Martin and family and Shireen were among the onlookers. There was an extensive flea market but the sun was so hot that I did not shop. Martin returned me to the house.
At 2:30 another 200 square bales arrived on two wagons. Holly and Richard, Martin and Amy and their friend Brett and of course Ernie, who is staying here, were a wonderful crew. All I had to do was make lemonade. I also had a big bowl of Mitra’s Kettle Corn popcorn for them.
Then as if that weren’t enough, Martin and Amy invited me out to the lake to have supper with them. Martin took me for a sail in the Hobie Cat. There was a brisk breeze and we skipped along amazingly. Henry (4) was with us maintaining a tight hold on the tiller.
Brett’s wife Sarah joined us for dinner bringing a beautiful quiche-like tart and we also had some sausages and ground beef patties and salad. Hannah and Eli, Sarah and Bret’s son, served a gelatin dessert they had made.
Sarah had just returned from nearly a month in Tanzania where she is working with a group attempting to establish schools and libraries. They are pretty much starting from zero. Few know how to read and that includes all of the women. The women are virtually slaves. The men get all the meat. The women are given only the guts. The dogs are fed better. The women do beautiful bead work which the men sell and then keep the money. One good thing; quite a few of the homes have cows provided by Heifer International. Things are better in these homes.
Back home, I succeeded in getting Ella into her old calf pen and this morning got about 1 ¾ gallons of milk, what Fern had accumulated during the night. I let Ella loose for the day but separated her again around 3pm. I need someone to find the breech and repair the fence.
The weather today was very lovely. I went to the garden to weed and harvest but could only take the mosquitoes for 15 minutes
July 09, 2012 Monday
We had beautiful weather today. For much of the day there was enough breeze to dispel the mosquitoes. The only gardening I did was watering my many potted plants because the hay crew was here again and I made lunch for them. I made a big batch of mac n’ cheese. I got another 75 bales. Holly and Richard helped out again. They spent a few minutes picking currants and gooseberries. I am hoping to have enough time to make a pie.
I now have over 500 bales.
Ernie repaired the paddock fence and he and Martin’s friend Brett got the critters sorted so that Ella and Milton are once again confined. Fern is very upset about this.
Shireen has gone home for a couple of days (her days off).
July 11, 2012 Wednesday
It was a sunny day and reached about 80F.
Fern is still doing a lot of mooing for Ella thanks to their two days together. They can touch noses over the fence but that is not good enough it seems.
It was so sunny that I had to water everything on the deck twice. Sally’s pot of fluffy carnations and the nicotiana and scabiosa are all blooming well. My Peace rose has its third big bloom. The sweet peas are struggling in the heat.
I am now leaving the door open for my family of hen and chicks and they are beginning to emerge but all scuttle back when they see me. They expect to be fed in their room.
The sheep are so funny. They want desperately to be let into their loose box by 6:30 at the latest even though it is still broad daylight. Two of the lambs, the twins I think, are a bit foolish and don’t come with the others. Instead they run under the ramp and I have to reach under with a broom and poke them out.
Ernie and Shireen were both here for supper. We had pork chops cooked by Shireen. Ernie brought a bunch of live crawfish from the river and boiled them. Apparently the river is full of them. Who knew? I had never eaten them before and had to be persuaded. Of course they were very good.
July 12, 2012 Thursday
It was hot again today, quite debilitating. Yesterday Nancy staked up the tomatoes and today I carried water to them. The plants look good and many have green tomatoes. Such a thrill to see them.
Ernie left today for California taking the little dog, Whiskey. I never got to see the dog.
Old friend Lester Averill dropped off a huge amount of rhubarb for me. I somehow missed seeing him.
Don Houghton, who has been bush hogging the fields, reported that one of the front tires on the Kubota degenerated around the rim and must be replaced. So no more field work until Martin gets a replacement. In fact he intends to replace both of the tires now. Martin and the kids came by on their way to camp and picked me up to join them for supper, once again a cookout with the Shifrin’s. It was lovely at the lake, not as hot as here. Amy stayed back in Biddeford so as to attend her exercise group that meets on the beach, and a board meeting. Shireen brought me home when she got off work.
July 13, 2012 Friday
Another very hot steamy day.
Fern is back up over 2 ½ gallons.
Nancy worked today, mostly weed trimming. She also cut out most of a rapidly growing patch of sumac and pitched it over the river bank. I did not get down to the lower garden but worked around the house a bit mostly watering. I stewed one of the Coburn Farm roosters from the freezer and cooked garbanzo beans. I am making progress in the A1A2 book, Devil in the Milk by Keith Woodford.
Shireen has been lent a very nice viola by Laurie K. She immediately began practicing when she got home from work at 9:15.
Saturday was so full of adventures that I did not have time to write. I got the milking done an hour early. In fact I could have skipped it entirely had I known that I was to discover Ella in with her mom. She and Milton had escaped their paddock and she had of course drunk most of the milk. She left me three quarts.
Nancy came down at 9am and drove me up to the village to Dot Mason’s house where Steve Brown picked us up in the Model T. There was a little parade for Carthage Old Home Days. Martin and family and Shireen were among the onlookers. There was an extensive flea market but the sun was so hot that I did not shop. Martin returned me to the house.
At 2:30 another 200 square bales arrived on two wagons. Holly and Richard, Martin and Amy and their friend Brett and of course Ernie, who is staying here, were a wonderful crew. All I had to do was make lemonade. I also had a big bowl of Mitra’s Kettle Corn popcorn for them.
Then as if that weren’t enough, Martin and Amy invited me out to the lake to have supper with them. Martin took me for a sail in the Hobie Cat. There was a brisk breeze and we skipped along amazingly. Henry (4) was with us maintaining a tight hold on the tiller.
Brett’s wife Sarah joined us for dinner bringing a beautiful quiche-like tart and we also had some sausages and ground beef patties and salad. Hannah and Eli, Sarah and Bret’s son, served a gelatin dessert they had made.
Sarah had just returned from nearly a month in Tanzania where she is working with a group attempting to establish schools and libraries. They are pretty much starting from zero. Few know how to read and that includes all of the women. The women are virtually slaves. The men get all the meat. The women are given only the guts. The dogs are fed better. The women do beautiful bead work which the men sell and then keep the money. One good thing; quite a few of the homes have cows provided by Heifer International. Things are better in these homes.
Back home, I succeeded in getting Ella into her old calf pen and this morning got about 1 ¾ gallons of milk, what Fern had accumulated during the night. I let Ella loose for the day but separated her again around 3pm. I need someone to find the breech and repair the fence.
The weather today was very lovely. I went to the garden to weed and harvest but could only take the mosquitoes for 15 minutes
July 09, 2012 Monday
We had beautiful weather today. For much of the day there was enough breeze to dispel the mosquitoes. The only gardening I did was watering my many potted plants because the hay crew was here again and I made lunch for them. I made a big batch of mac n’ cheese. I got another 75 bales. Holly and Richard helped out again. They spent a few minutes picking currants and gooseberries. I am hoping to have enough time to make a pie.
I now have over 500 bales.
Ernie repaired the paddock fence and he and Martin’s friend Brett got the critters sorted so that Ella and Milton are once again confined. Fern is very upset about this.
Shireen has gone home for a couple of days (her days off).
July 11, 2012 Wednesday
It was a sunny day and reached about 80F.
Fern is still doing a lot of mooing for Ella thanks to their two days together. They can touch noses over the fence but that is not good enough it seems.
It was so sunny that I had to water everything on the deck twice. Sally’s pot of fluffy carnations and the nicotiana and scabiosa are all blooming well. My Peace rose has its third big bloom. The sweet peas are struggling in the heat.
I am now leaving the door open for my family of hen and chicks and they are beginning to emerge but all scuttle back when they see me. They expect to be fed in their room.
The sheep are so funny. They want desperately to be let into their loose box by 6:30 at the latest even though it is still broad daylight. Two of the lambs, the twins I think, are a bit foolish and don’t come with the others. Instead they run under the ramp and I have to reach under with a broom and poke them out.
Ernie and Shireen were both here for supper. We had pork chops cooked by Shireen. Ernie brought a bunch of live crawfish from the river and boiled them. Apparently the river is full of them. Who knew? I had never eaten them before and had to be persuaded. Of course they were very good.
July 12, 2012 Thursday
It was hot again today, quite debilitating. Yesterday Nancy staked up the tomatoes and today I carried water to them. The plants look good and many have green tomatoes. Such a thrill to see them.
Ernie left today for California taking the little dog, Whiskey. I never got to see the dog.
Old friend Lester Averill dropped off a huge amount of rhubarb for me. I somehow missed seeing him.
Don Houghton, who has been bush hogging the fields, reported that one of the front tires on the Kubota degenerated around the rim and must be replaced. So no more field work until Martin gets a replacement. In fact he intends to replace both of the tires now. Martin and the kids came by on their way to camp and picked me up to join them for supper, once again a cookout with the Shifrin’s. It was lovely at the lake, not as hot as here. Amy stayed back in Biddeford so as to attend her exercise group that meets on the beach, and a board meeting. Shireen brought me home when she got off work.
July 13, 2012 Friday
Another very hot steamy day.
Fern is back up over 2 ½ gallons.
Nancy worked today, mostly weed trimming. She also cut out most of a rapidly growing patch of sumac and pitched it over the river bank. I did not get down to the lower garden but worked around the house a bit mostly watering. I stewed one of the Coburn Farm roosters from the freezer and cooked garbanzo beans. I am making progress in the A1A2 book, Devil in the Milk by Keith Woodford.
Shireen has been lent a very nice viola by Laurie K. She immediately began practicing when she got home from work at 9:15.
Monday, July 9, 2012
July 01, 2012 Sunday
July 01, 2012 Sunday
The crows have eaten every single corn plant. Very discouraging. I don’t think I will try to replant, it is so late now.
The cabbages are badly damaged by something, slugs I think. I dusted them with DE and sprinkled Sluggo around them.
My first calendula opened. I have a nice row of them and they are doing well. The tomatoes look good. I visited the lower garden very briefly. Eventhough I sprayed myself well, the mosquitoes were terrible. I raced around picking a few last asparagus spears and ran for cover. I have certainly never seen them this thick.
The planters on the deck that Sally planted with carnations and nicotiana are blooming splendidly and scenting the night air.
I had a box of exceptionally good strawberries and decided to make biscuits and make myself strawberry shortcake with whipped Jersey cream for a lonely supper. Delicious.
Sally called. She told me that her DS Rafe in Haines AK is getting a new tractor tomorrow. There are many bears around.
Shireen called from work when her shift ended. The campers are having a bonfire and she wanted to join her friends in the company of a young man.
July 02, 2012 Monday
It has been another blistering hot sticky humid day with clouds of mosquitoes. But nothing like the suffering in some other parts of the country. However there is something about too many mosquito bites that fries my disposition.
Fern gave 2 ½ gallons. She and the two young ones are beginning to accept their new reality (separation!) and are doing less bellowing. Fern went farther out in the pasture to graze. She has been hanging close by. The lambs are getting a lot better about charging in with their mothers instead of orbiting off in silly directions when I open the door to let them in. I am going to let out my hen with 10 chicks tomorrow. They are getting restless in confinement even though it is a big airy room. Some of the chicks keep squeezing out through cracks to explore.
DD Marcia in CA now has layer pullets, ducklings and bees. She is about to get meat birds and after her visit here next month plans on rabbits. She also had a veg garden and is canning wild fruit. She has a big crop of grapes coming along too. But there is a pack of coyotes in the surrounding woodland.
DD Sally in Haines AK was walking along the beach yesterday watching her feet and almost ran into two young male grizzlies. Maybe she should just move to Tia Juana where it is comparatively safe.
July 03, 2012 Tuesday
Not so hot today. Mitra’s folks, Marie and Alex, came over with Shireen’s new car so she could test drive it. They will keep the car during their stay in Maine. We had tea and cookies that Shireen made.
The baby chicks and their mother did not choose to go out after all so tomorrow I will just keep them shut in.
Nancy thinned out some trees near the road.
Wednesday, The Fourth of July
The day started out rainy but cleared about 11am.Holly and Richard picked me up and together we went to Martin and Amy’s camp for a cook-out. Holly brought quinoa salad, Richard brought strawberry buckle, I brought ground beef, beans, ice cream and raspberry sauce, Marie brought pre dinner snacks, Mitra brought potato salad and cole slaw, Martin and Amy had local sausages made in Biddeford.
Martin took people out for boat rides. Roshan played with the little kids for hours as usual. Shireen was able to break away briefly from work in the kitchen at Kawanhee Boys’ Camp. Everyone had a fine time. Neither the heat nor the mosquitoes were so bad at the lake. It started to rain again about 4pm after I was back at the farm. Neighborhood fireworks caused me to bring in both dogs and hold Willie in my lap.
July 05, 2012 Thursday
Hot and sunny today. My grandson-in-law, Ernie, arrived for a 10 day visit with the commission to pickup one of DD Marcia’s Chihuahuas that she is getting back. Friends dropped him off here.
Mitra stopped in as did Shireen, and they went to the DMV for their licenses. Afterwards we all harvested a big bag of comfrey for Nellie. The consensus among experts studying her symptoms is that she has a uterine infection. While in the garden I was able to pick some marigold flowers for my tea.
The chickens are really hiding their eggs. I only found 3.
Nancy came for a few hours and vacuumed. She even vacuumed the driveway where I broke a glass jar.
July 06, 2012 Friday
Today went well. Ernie setup my A/C window unit. I had him put it in my office window. Now my fingers don’t stick to the keys as sweat runs down my face. The unit easily handles this little room. What with the A/C and taking showers, I gained the courage to suit up in mosquito proof pants and shirt and worked in the garden for nearly an hour. So far this year the potato bugs are few. The Japanese beetles are hitting the roses. I observed the chickens springing into the air, pecking at a rose to knock loose the bugs, then all pouncing on them. Useful chickens!
I have to get up early tomorrow so as to be at the fire house by 9am. Saturday is Carthage Old Home Days and Dot Mason and I will ride in the flivver.
©Copyright 2012 Joann S. Grohman
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