Garden update, new chicks, pressed flowers... the fast way.

It has been one full week at home since I retired.    I had to "learn to walk" from all my sitting and driving to work. Just plain stiff.  I was unbalanced at first and had trouble walking very far.  Now, the dog and I walk a mile twice a day  with no problem.  It's a start. 

I thought the days would drag but so far they are full and flying by.  Tonight I looked at Dude and said, "What, it's 7:07pm already?!" And we are still going. 

There is  a never-ending list every day. Here was mine from today.  I got it all done except the coop...procrastinating on that one.  

I love the way my new little kitchen garden is coming along. Even the little fig trees are doing well.  This is the one that I didn't till but rather planted it by building up the soil.  I will continue to do more of these.  I had posted in a prior blog where I saw the idea and another one that does this is with videos from Back to Eden Organic Gardening.

This raspberry plant was almost torn out by Dude last year. He kept saying it was dead, I insisted it wasn't and give it another year … and here it is, thriving. 

The greenhouse. A lot is almost done in here and will be replaced with other veggies... probably peppers since it is so hot in there. I can only work in the mornings or evenings with the door open since it is so hot. 

The flowers are loving the heat. I have been using them in arrangements and today I pressed a few.

I also used some carrot stems. 

The first batch. It is wet because I cleaned the brick.

I dried them between a brick in the microwave for a minute. They turned out okay. 

We acquired some new "chicks" today. A friend had too many and we were given a few.  They got home safely, despite being a bit frightened. 

Tomorrow I will make it a bit more homey and they will be able to go in and out of the bird house without other hens bothering them.  They are beautiful birds. 

That's it for today. 

peace

Canning and greenhouse update.

Wow! What a gorgeous day!   I know, I know enjoy it while I can it is going to be a harsh winter. Well, not sure if it will but I am, indeed enjoying the Sunday Funday of 80*.  A good example was last night Hunter Moon walk we took with the animals last night. Perfect sweater weather.  The only strange thing is we haven't heard the coyotes the last few nights...but I'm not complaining.

No coyotes but I do believe spirits of the plains were with us. 

Greenhouse update

We still have stuff growing. We will pull up any radishes left over and plant lettuce. The collards are loving the weather.

Carrots and tomatoes need to come out. 

Yep, picked MORE spaghetti squash. 

Glad there is some spinach still producing. 

Nasturtiums for salad and drying.

I will use the corn stalks for decoration or the goats. They love them. 

If the animals new fur coats mean anything then Winter IS Coming. 

Brought out some snackages for the animals. They came running.

God forbid we leave the horse out!

Bees are still active and I will get one more lavender cutting tomorrow.

Salsa making today. 

It turned out ...FABULOUS!

We brought in the sunflowers to dry. We will use for the birds this winter. 

A friend gave me strawberries and raspberries from her garden. We grow them we just don't eat them, she said. What?? Yes, I will, with much gratitude, take them off your hands! So today I made jam, combining them both. 

Turned out sooooooo good. (And yes, mom, if you are reading this... I forgot the pat of butter to reduce the foam. But it is scrumptious! )

I did manage a nap. I am one of those people who takes a 15 minute nap that felt like hours and feel great. 

Dinner came together in minutes. Veggies from garden as stir-fry with chicken over spaghetti squash instead of rice.

I will have this quilted tonight.  Determined!

peace, health, and happiness.