from the Family Journal . . .

Two of the kids went camping with my brothers.  My oldest brother wants to teach them how to fly fish. I'm taking over the milking of the goats for one of them, so she can have a vacation (I've never taken over her milking other than once and I skipped the Farmer's Market due to how tired I have been).

While we were waiting for my oldest brother to pull in with his airstream camper at noon, we got a text message - still shopping and won't be there until 3pm or so.  At 4pm.  He still wasn't here.  Then we get a text from my younger brother - he's unloading his truck to come get the girls, as my older brother was stuck on the highway with a flat trailer tire.  I texted back - I'll bring the girls to you.  


After we got there, hubby left the keys in the Explorer.  It locked on us and we spent quit a time getting into it.   We got a laugh when the alarm went off too.  Over an hour later we were back in the Explorer.


I think that was chapter 1 and 2 in my new book. Ha ha ha!

I snapped this photo of Tiger.  It's almost as if he's saying "turn out the lights." So cute!

Then I snapped this photo of Jasper.  Oh...such a life to have.

The older two girls drove to town for me and ended up bringing home an abandoned kitten.  The poor thing was panting and starved.  If the girls had not found him, he would have surely died the next day.  Temperatures went up to 100°F. 

Upon further inspection, we discovered the tip of the kitten's tail missing and half of his whiskers missing.  On one of the hottest days here, we drove this little guy to town, and prayed that the Humane Society would take him.  They did (after a long debate).  

On the same hot day (car must have been above 100°F inside, even with windows down), I drove a large box of books to the Hospice Care Center.  They will be given to families that have a terminally ill family member, and need a book to read when they can't sleep etc.

During these past hot days, the wrens haven't been seen nor heard from.  As soon as the rains arrived, they are singing non-stop. I took this photo and will add it to our bird identification journal.

Apricot Jalapeno Jelly

There are many versions of recipes for this jelly.  One of my larger stove top burners stopped working, so I got out my Ball Jam Maker and took a look at the recipes that come with that.

from the Homesteading Journal. . .

Another hen appeared to be egg bound.  We lost one hen this year due to the issue.  We think we caught it in time.  We have given her two baths so far, and her tail is now up.  

I had enough cucumbers, green peppers, and onions to can 4 pints of Sweet Pickle Relish.  I had to use store bought organic carrots, as mine are not ready to harvest yet.

We finally got a few days of rain.  Our green peppers are so small right now, and we are not getting enough squash.  The rain should help.

(before)

(after)

(This is just one of the vegetable/fruit gardens)

The rain brought up weeds.  Somewhere in the top photo is a watermelon plant. I've been doing a lot of weeding.

We finally got the goat fencing.  Next, we are saving up for the poles.

The heirloom pumpkins are starting to produce, despite lack of rain this summer.

The heirloom squash is producing, but our acorn squash died. 

Staked 37 of the tomato plants, and have been spending at least 2 hours weeding every morning, and prior to that, picking whatever is ripe. 

Spotted this hawk while out watering the garden one day.  He turned around just as I took the photo, then flew off.  Good thing my chickens were not out yet.    However, I was glad to see them.  We have mice, rats, and snakes they can help reduce.

Fresh Dill and Cucumber Salad with Honey

I found this easy recipe to use my garden fresh cucumbers and fresh dill weed.  It's delicious, natural and healthy.

Cooking Up Squash

Dinner the other night:  Zucchini Linguine, Squash Cornbread, Roasted beets with thyme, rosemary and onions, and broccoli.

Queen Anne's Lace Galore

 
I canned 5 more 1/2 pints of Queen Anne's Lace Jelly.  If I had more jars, I'd can up the entire field of flowers.  We have it all over the property.

It's growing where my sunflowers won't grow.  Despite watering by hand, the lack of rain is a concern.

It's growing around the barns.

All around back, it's growing in the tall grass.  We have to rotate the goats on tie-outs due to the lack of grass in their pen.

It's even growing in the yard, where the grass is not.  The grass that we mow down is brown and crunches when you walk on it.  However, the Queen Anne's Lace is still growing and blooming.

Bird House Becomes A Home

This bird house was painted by my 13 year-old daughter, and we've had it up for over 3 years.  This is the first that I've seen birds it this one.  It's hanging at the edge of our back patio, and the birds don't seem to mind me out there.  These birds are so tiny.