Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings.

Spring is getting closer each day,

as this carpet of daisies shows.

The seasonal beauties are popping up all over.

Here's some of what we're discovering in our gardens.

candytuft

hyacinth

tulips

iris

phlox

The purple muhly grass is coming back

after a hard prune last week.

This ornamental grass has a lilac hue,

which sways whenever the wind blows.

The sedum, lamb's ear and salvia are all returning

in the front porch bed.

Most of the lamb's ear will be transplanted elsewhere,

and the sedum will be allowed to ramble.

The Yukon Gold potato bed is hoppin'!

We had a couple of days of rain,

which gave them all the moisture they needed.

Chicken wire supported by rebar has been added

to the inside perimeter to keep curious chooks

and pesky squirrels outtathere!

A new whole wheat bread recipe was tried just yesterday,

and I think this one's a keeper.

The flavor and texture are both delightful.

This will most likely be my go-to for weekly sandwich bread.

It's so wonderful to be able to enjoy REAL bread again!

It's been a rough couple of months.

A few weeks ago, we lost Buttercup, unexpectedly.

This week, her buddy, Saffron joined her.

They were both around five years old,

and I did what I could to help them,

but it wasn't enough.

It's so hard when you don't know the cause to their illness,

and they go downhill very quickly.

I just pray that they enjoyed their time with us,

and that they are together again.

 

These four babies (they are two years old) will have to get used to not having access

to the raised beds for a while.

Winter sowing is going strong, and soon these beds

will be filled with transplants that will be off limits to the chooks.

Insect netting is used in the warmer months to keep them out.

It's possible they could talk me into letting them have one bed

for snacking, chatting and the like.

They will also have to learn to take in Henrietta,

who now has no coop mates.

I'll tell you something about Henrietta

that's pretty doggone amazing.

Yesterday was the first day that she was put into the run

with the four younger girls.

Now, we estimate that Henry is at least 8 years old,

because she is the only member of the original flock

who is still with us.

A few hours after I had put her into the other run,

I went to check on things, see how everyone was getting along.

I found this egg in one of the nesting boxes.

We know this is her egg because she's the only chook

who lays blue eggs

(it may look white, but it is a pale blue).

Now, mind you, she hasn't laid an egg in close to two years.

She had stopped laying one other time and then started again after a couple of years.

Needless to say, she never ceases to amaze me.

I think Buttercup and Saffron would approve.