Homestead Happenings

Welcome back to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's going on here

on our Piedmont homestead.

We've been visited by many yellow swallowtail butterflies,

and I learned that this is a male because there are no

blue markings on the bottom of the wings.

These critters love our butterfly bush.

I'm excited to announce that the first monarch

was spotted this week,

so we look forward to a multitude of caterpillars

performing their magic on the milkweed!

The pumpkins continue to sprawl

every which way.

So far, it seems we are lacking proper flower

development, but there are signs of hope.

Several of the Seminole pumpkin vines

are sporting little gems,

as seen here next to the arrow.

I'm hoping to be able to store some

through winter, as these make fantastic soup!

There are turnips coming up nicely.

These are mostly grown for the chooks,

as this variety is grown for the greens,

rather than the root underneath the soil.

Another bed of mixed salad greens was sown.

It took only a few days to germinate.

There are other beds where lettuce seeds will be sown,

so that we can have a succession crop deep into fall.

Carrots are also getting established,

and I even remembered to thin them out!

This bed shares space with onions and lettuce.

Recently, beets and snap peas were also sown,

and kale is next on the list to be planted.

Then the fall garden will be complete!

The green beans are beginning to scale up the bamboo poles.

These are Jade green beans,

which I have heard from other homesteaders

are quite prolific.

It would be so wonderful to have home grown

green beans on the Thanksgiving table.

Jade green bean pods

For the first time, I am attempting to grow

chick peas, or garbanzos.

I'm not really sure what to expect here,

as I've never seen anyone grow them.

We'll just continue to monitor them 

and see what develops.

I eat chick peas so often that

this would be one crop well worth growing.

These are rattlesnake beans,

which are grown to use as a dried bean.

In the next few years, I would like to

continue to experiment with growing a larger variety

of drying beans.

As I don't eat meat, beans are an important part of my diet.

They're also great for sprouting!

The ginger has been blooming for the past week,

and I've enjoyed the tropical look it gives to this corner.

We have been enjoying bringing in small bouquets

of zinnias, mixed with other treasures we are finding in the garden.

Summer is my least favorite season,

but the flowers help to get me through it.

I asked for a retractable hose reel for my birthday,

and Big K came through!

A neighbor installed it for us,

and it's been working quite well.

Sure is easier than dragging a hose

all around the garden.

The only thing I don't like about it,

is that it is mostly plastic.

On the front part of the yard, under the maple tree,

another hose is handy for watering and

cleaning the chooks' coops.

This metal hose has so far worked well.

It's flexible, lightweight, and doesn't kink.

Summer seems to be winding down here, 

even though next week is predicted to have 

high temperatures in the 90s again.

It won't last long.

Everyone here is ready for autumn and its cool mornings,

absence of mosquitos and less humidity.

I hope you are counting your blessings,

 no matter the season.

"We cannot direct the wind,

but we can adjust the sails."

~Dolly Parton

Homestead Happenings

Welcome to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's been going on 

here on our zone 8A Piedmont homestead.

The gazebo frame is being covered in morning glory.

Unfortunately, the loofah that I had planted (twice),

never took off.

We'll try again next year. 

The garden is a bit of a mess at the moment.

The temperatures here have been blistering,

as in much of the country,

and motivation to be outside has waned.

With this weekend being a little cooler,

I am hoping to give some attention to filling the raised beds

with adequate growing material.

There have been several disappointments this season.

This Seminole pumpkin that I had great success with

the last two years, has not produced even one gourd.

I think that it is too late in the season to expect 

any recovery, so another thing to look forward to next year.

I guess it's not surprising,

as even the nasturtiums,

seen here in the bed next to the round strawberry bed,

have withered in the heat, despite hand watering.

The Red Ripper beans never disappoint.

They are starting to take off and dry on the vines.

These red beans have a mild flavor,

and are great for using in chili, sloppy joes,

and anywhere you might use meat.

These store amazingly well, and, in fact,

I recently just finished last year's harvest.

Some things currently growing are green beans,

leeks, okra and turmeric.

Fall seedlings will be started soon.

Although their timing is a bit off,

these volunteer pumpkins did exceptionally well,

despite the scorching heat and humidity.

These three were harvested yesterday and brought inside,

and are absolutely beautiful.

There's no way they will make it until fall

left outdoors.

As I don't know the variety, I was planning to keep them

for decorating the front porch.

We'll see how well they do.

The morning glory is vigorously adorning the compost area.

For some reason, it seems a lot of folks in this state

don't care for it.

The heart-shaped leaves alone are so pretty,

and the purple flowers just add to it.

There are a number of orbital spiders residing here.

It was mesmerizing to watch as this gal

turned this moth into her silk to trap it.

Nature is fascinating.

A few of these yellow fuzzy caterpillars 

were found on the baptisia this week.

It may be an American dagger moth caterpillar.

I'm so grateful that critters can find a home here.

Our neighborhood groundhog (?)

has been visiting the garden as of late.

I wonder if s/he could be the culprit

eating one of the green bean plants?

Something not as welcome are the bag worms,

which infest our persimmon tree every year.

These insects are a true menace,

and can defoliate and destroy many types of plants.

Just look at the inside of one of the sacks.

It is best to remove the entire bag

and dispose of it in the trash, not compost.

These gluten-free almond flour muffins

were made this week.

I tweaked the recipe just a bit,

and they turned out great!

This will definitely be going into

the family recipe file.

You can find it here.

There is some good news to report.

All of our girls are together again,

enjoying ranging time as one unit.

The two chooks who were broody,

despite our efforts to dissuade them,

broke their broodiness all on their own.

It's such a blessing to see them all 

hanging out together again.

~~~~~

For those of you who were thinking about our son C,

his surgery was a bust and he is scheduled to see

another oral surgeon next week.

Fingers crossed that these folks will be 

 able to help him.

He's been so patient through it all.

We are looking forward to having it behind us.

Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's been going on 

here in the Piedmont of North Carolina.

Yes, folks, we have pumpkins.

Don't ask me why.

This volunteer just popped up

and is apparently enjoying the summer weather.

Doesn't it know it's supposed to be a fall crop?

Although the weather has been scorching,

(mid to high 90's),

a few maintenance tasks were completed

in the early morning hours.

The border in the front beds was redefined,

as grass had started to encroach the beds.

The summer blooms are relishing every ray of sunshine.

The combination of the purple and yellow

in the pollinator bed is a favorite.

This bed has admittedly gone a bit rogue,

because it's just been too dang hot 

to get out there and get it under control.

There are so many coneflowers that have multiplied

here in this side of the bed.

It's such a treat having fresh flowers to bring inside.

This ajuga is a new favorite.

Once the heat subsides a bit

and we will be expecting rain,

I plan to transplant some of this plant

to use as a front border.

Its undemanding demeanor makes it a breeze to grow.

Something I noticed about the yarrow

that I have heard happens is that

the pink variety seems to be reverting back to white.

I'm not sure if it is simply white yarrow

mixed in with the pink,

or if it is indeed changing.

Have you ever had this happen with a plant?

The elderberries are beginning to show some color.

The white blossoms fall off and

the berries start off green,

and then turn a rich, magenta.

Shortly after, they can be harvested

to make syrup.

There are a few scattered okra plants

that are finally starting to grow.

As I'm the only one who eats it,

just a few plants are needed.

Any surplus that I can't consume,

will be offered to neighbors.

Red ripper beans surround a tomato cage

repurposed for this crop.

These are my favorite drying beans,

as they are prolific and keep well.

The garlic is finished curing,

has been trimmed and is ready to use.

There is more than enough for sister and I,

so we will find a home for the rest of it.

The largest bulbs were put aside

for planting in the fall.

Yet another symbol of the abundance

in our lives.

This click beetle was found this week.

Though these creatures look a bit menacing,

they are perfectly harmless.

You can learn more about them here.

Matilda is having a tough time.

She has been broody for almost 3 weeks.

I've tried all the tricks I know to break her

of her broodiness, to no avail.

She is sequestered in this wire cage,

so that she doesn't overheat in the coop.

(Broody hens stay in the nesting box

because they want to hatch eggs.)

With the temps we've been having,

I didn't feel comfortable letting her stay

inside the coop all day.

I've also tried giving her a cool bath,

without success.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Saffron and Buttercup

These two have the right idea.

We have woods on three sides of our property,

so there are ample expanses of shade 

for the girls to rest in during these dog days of summer.

Things seem to be cooling down a bit

here toward the weekend,

and we'll do our best to keep everyone safe.

*I'm asking for prayers, good thoughts

and positive energy for our young man, C,

who will be having surgery next week.

It's a very challenging experience for us,

as his autism makes it difficult to deal with

anything out of the ordinary.

Thank you from this momma's heart.

~daisy

Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings!

To be truthful, there isn't a whole lot going on here,

with summer heat taking its toll.

The beautiful blooms are one of the best things

about my least favorite season.

Beets were harvested and enjoyed this week.

These were purchased as seedlings

from our friends at Piedmont Farmstead,

where I buy some of my fabulous organic produce.

The Cushaw squash is still growing well,

with absolutely no signs of pest interference.

Seeds will be saved from this crop,

so that it can be grown again next year.

This is one of two new squash varieties 

that I am trying this season,

and they were chosen for their resistance to 

the dreaded squash vine borers.

So far, so good!

The sweet potatoes have finally decided 

to do something.

We did have a bit of rain over the last week,

and I guess it was just enough to get things moving.

I also added some rabbit fertilizer to the bed.

I'm happy with the way the herb bed is coming along.

We have basil, chamomile, lemon balm, 

parsley and thyme planted here.

I'd love to put some pesto in the freezer for winter.

These random pumpkin/squash plants

are taking up a lot of real estate.

No worries, we are blessed with ample room.

So far, I am hard pressed to find any fruit.

The beans have been resown a second time,

and a few varieties are growing.

These are drying beans,

which will be used in the cooler months

for soups and stews.

Scapes were found on some of the leeks.

They can be used just as a scallion would be used,

so I'll be snipping these off and cooking with them.

Love me some leeks!

Some of the lettuce has bolted,

and purposely left so that seed may be gathered.

This is the Amish Speckled Butter lettuce

that was grown for the first time this year.

Everyone that I shared seedlings with 

seemed to enjoy it immensely.

It's a keeper.

Matilda

The transition of the new chooks to the coop

is still a work in progress.

The barrier I constructed with cardboard and a screen

is keeping them separated at night for now.

Each morning, these are removed so that the nesting boxes

can be accessed.

We only have one hen laying at the moment,

but the babies should be starting very soon.

Hopefully, two more weeks of separation

will help to get them used to sharing the space.

Our summertime Lego camper display

is nearly complete.

We have one more large set to construct

and make room for on the mantle.

Big K has collected so many campers,

that we now have an overflow area in the office.

I love this tradition.

I hope that you are enjoying summer

however you see fit.

The blessings are many,

and we appreciate each and every day.

Bee well.