Even though my only 'garden' this year is just three plants in a pot (which have grown noticeably since the last photo I shared!), I've been getting a few cucumbers from the starts I tucked into the neighbor's garden plot, along with abundant extra summer squash from their plants.
Then I got a mess of cucumbers – from the friend who gave me the starts! I stopped by so Poppy could play with her sister, and she asked if I wanted some. She also shared her pickle recipe/technique, so I loaded up four quart jars. A few days later, she sent me home with more – a LOT more. Now there are 16 quarts of dill pickles fermenting on my counter!
The same day I started fermenting the first four quarts of pickles, I baked my second batch of sourdough bread. In between the two batches of bread, I've also made Sourdough Ginger Spice Cookies and Sourdough Lemon Poppyseed Muffins – recipes I'll definitely be repeating.
The seven remaining hens are still providing enough eggs for us and a coworker who buys from me. One day this week I got six – not bad considering that three of my hens are five years old and one is six!
Our hay supply is still holding up, although I'm on my last bale of third cutting. I've been feeding that to Bridget and her young son and also to Spot; after it's gone, they'll have to eat the coarser first cutting like everyone else. The pastures are pretty well spent, so I'm having to feed hay to the horses now, too. I am praying our hay guy calls soon!
Speaking of hay, I decided today would be Boop's turn to get cleaned up and coated to keep as much hay out of her fleece as possible. Even though she has been haltered before, she was a drama queen and a flopper, making my job exponentially harder.
While cleaning her up, I took a look to see if Boop's fleece color is fading like Bling's. Nope; it's still rich, dark brown – and wonderfully crimpy.
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| Good-looking girl! |
I put a coat on Boop, but it looked pretty snug – as did her mother's. So I changed out both their coats for the next size up, and it turns out they wear the same size! Yep, except for her head, five-month-old Boop is about the same size as her dam; amazing.
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| D coats looking stuffed |
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| E coats looking roomy |
That's it for now from . . .
7 comments:
Foodstuffs, goodstuffs! Hoping your hay guy comes through soon. Has the weather been against the hay crops in your area? We haven't spoken with the one actual farmer in our area (you know we're not in "farm country!") but I do know we've been dry again. Not as bad as last year but our garden has required a lot of watering. Your sheep always look to be very healthy which is a testament to the wonderful care you give them.
Mama Pea, we had a long, wet spring which totally ruined the first cutting (ONLY cutting for most around here) hay, and due to not being able to get it off the field, messed with subsequent cuttings as well. Add in additional fuel costs, and what is available, mostly hauled in from Eastern Oregon or farther, is sky high.
Here’s to hoping your hay guy calls soon! It is so anxiety provoking waiting.
The flinging onto the ground shot is still making me laugh. :-D
keeping a good thought about the hay. my hay guy said the first cut was pretty much a loss this year. and thanks for the Boop flop picture. gave me a chuckle. sheeps can be such silly buggers sometimes!
A little late in writing! Boop is really a pretty girl! Her fleece is going to beautiful. I had to chuckle at her lying there, all covered with hay! It's amazing that she and her mom are nearly the same size!
My gosh, that lamb is beautiful! The sheep who board here will be going home soon, as the pasture is almost depleted... I expect them to leave this week. We did not get three cuttings of hay here this year, either... not enough rain.
We have a mystery limper as well, her owner came by the other night to catch her and we both looked and felt... (I held the flashlight) and could find nothing to explain the limp. I will feel better when she is home and in a stall where they can watch her.
Oh, and Michelle, all but seven of the hens still here are ancient... and those seven, a year old, are hiding eggs or simply not laying. I am doing WELL to get four eggs a day, and today, I fear it will only be three. This is it for me, when the old girls are gone, the seven young ones will go to a friend to live out their days.
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