Thirteen
Somehow, in the blink of an eye, Hannah turned thirteen. I didn’t give her permission to do this - I’m not ready for my baby girl to be a teenager. Paul and I were excited to gift her this new chair for her room - something befitting of her new...
The First Green Beans
My garden is finally yielding goodies! We've had lettuce and peas, but everything else is finally taking off. We picked our first green beans today. It seems that my green beans are sustaining others as well. In the ten minutes it took me to pick...
Top of the World
Top of the world. To a bantam rooster called Clover. Showing off for the ladies...
The Egg Mystery
Paul and I have been mystified about the recent drop in the egg count. The Girls usually produce a dozen eggs a day and lately we're only getting six or seven. I found a baker's dozen nestled beneath my day lilies! I feel the need to go on an egg...
The Slug Patrol
We're having a much needed rainy day at Downeast Thunder Farm - nice soft steady rain has been falling all day. Perfect Ducky Weather - just right for bringing out the slugs. The ducks spent more time paroling for slugs and bugs than they did...
Turkey Escape
This morning, Paul found an unexpected sight in the garage. The turkey dudettes broke free of their brooder last night. These three were strolling about the garage. Another couple took up residence on top of the brooder. They'd managed to slide off...
Progress with Project Ducky Unification
Two nights after Project Ducky Unification got underway we had a late night disturbance. At 4 a.m. I awoke to the sound of frantic ducks. My first thought was that a predator had made its way into the duck house. A quick poke at Paul and it was...
The Chicken Harvest
We have just finished our third day of harvesting meat chickens. Harvesting. That’s a pleasant way to phrase it, isn’t it? We’ve got 37 out of 49 chickens in freezer camp - about 12 birds a day. A reluctant chicken farmer, this is my second year...
Big Blue Bucket
We had a situation today. Hannah's off camping on Matinicus Island this week, so we're in charge of putting the critters away at night. When Paul went to put The Girls in their run, he came up one Buff short. This little girl was nowhere to be...
Busy Bees
After a long day of working outdoors tending gardens, looking after critters, and landscaping, I spent an inordinate amount of time photographing these busy bees in my lavender. There were dozens of bumble bees randomly buzzing here there. (Click...
Swimming Goggles Repurposed
Hannah has come up with a new use for swimming goggles. They are now an accessory for chopping onions. Tired of crying through the process, she came up with an excellent solution!
Tasty Rudbeckia
I'm not the only one who liked this cheery bouquet.
Reflections
Do you suppose they notice their reflections? Oscar's double reflection as she chases off the ducklings.
Dunkin Ducks
The ducklings have taken up synchronized bobbing, diving for pond goodies!
Have You Hugged Your Rooster Today?
Have you hugged your rooster today? Hannah has!
A Weekend on the Farm
It was a weekend of two weather forecasts. Saturday was beastly hot and humid. Sunday was glorious - a perfect Maine summer day. I spent both days outdoors working on a myriad of garden and critter chores, sneaking in some reading by the pond and...
Project Ducky Unification
It's been a week since we introduced the ducklings to the pond. Since then the big ducks have learned to tolerate the new ducklings and the babies have learned how to hold their ground. The other night I figured they were doing so well together on...
Happy Independence Day
Hannah talked us into taking the day off from home and farm projects. She wanted to spend the day at the beach. I know that Paul is not content lounging on the beach listening to the surf roll in so we negotiated a hike, picnic and short beach...
Feathered Babies Update
I spent the most glorious hour this evening sitting at the edge of the duck pond, sun dipping lower in the sky, with a glass of wine and my book. It was like a mini vacation relaxing away from work and the phone, watching the baby ducks negotiate...
New to the Pond
Three weeks after Puddles and Gabby joined the farm we introduced them to the big ducks. The ducks didn't exactly throw out the welcome mat for them. Hera tried her best to chase the ducklings out of the pond. Then Oscar joined the fray. When...
Rain, Rain, and More Rain!
We've had a bit of rain lately. Well, more like torrential downpours. I can't remember the last dry day we had. My weeds are flourishing and the garden is waterlogged! Here's a quick visual. This is our pond last week when we launched the ducks for...
Hatching Chicks
Almost a month ago I selected a dozen fresh chicken eggs to place in the incubator Paul gave me at Christmas. A few days ago three baby chicks hatched. One didn't survive, leaving Gilfy and Miri - cute little Buff Orpington/Barred Rock chicks....
The Trouble with Country Living
Do you know what is the trouble with country living? It's not the pot holey gravel road on which we live. It's not our looong pot holey gravel drive to the house that we have to plow in the winter. It's not the wildlife that threatens our critters....
I’m a Proud Chicky Mama!
The sound of cheaping woke me out of a sound sleep at 1:30 a.m. this morning. A few moments to get my bearings and I ran to the bathroom where I found this brandy-new chick in the incubator! I woke Paul to share the excitement with him. He groggily...
Launching of the Duckies
The ducks make their maiden voyage in "The Big Pond" today! When we took the fencing down that separated the duck yard from the pond, it took them a few minutes to realize they could cross that magic line. Once they figured out they were free they...
