Weekly Recap

Maybe if I make an effort to recap our week, I can get back into the habit of blogging.

There's always (always) weeding to be done.  And lest you think our property is perfect and we've got it all together, behold just one rock...  The kids decided to decorate the top with pulled weeds, but there are still plenty more to tackle.  We have come a long way, but, please, don't be too impressed.  I don't take many pictures of our messes.

What's sprouting?  Radishes and summer squash are sprouted.  Strawberries and cherries are forming.  The garlic is now waist high.  I didn't even know garlic could grow so tall!  I certainly hope this means we'll have splendidly large bulbs in a few months.  The rhubarb is finally looking healthy, although watering it regularly remains a challenge.

What are we planting?  Tomatoes are two rows down, a million to go.  (Not literally.  There are still eight flats sitting on the deck awaiting my attention.)  I've also planted herbs and flowers.  The basil seeds are high on my list for some soil and water.

What are we harvesting?  Asparagus and eggs are keeping us hopping.  We're trying new laying boxes to foil our egg eaters.  Thus far, I'm disappointed in the lousy boxes, but our efforts are to make them work.  Our two sheep are at the butcher, so I've cleaned out two of our deep freezes while they're empty.  Soon enough, with sheep and chicken, we'll be full again!

What about those chickens?  The layers are now moving to fresh grass each evening, meaning the yolks are during the delicious, deep, orangey-gold that no store egg can match.  The layers-to-be remain in our stationary pen until James has time to build a new tractor for them (and who has time in the spring?!).  Our meat chicks are busy growing too, and while on grass, don't get moved every day (yet) until they can tolerate less heat.

 We are moving along with the business of living and growing!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Fall is Here

I've cooked down the last of the tomatoes worth eating.  From here on out, until I finish tearing out the last two rows of tomatoes, anything left on the vines can go to the chickens.

Oh, to have nothing to do but snap random pictures while someone else does my work.  Instead, Bear Cub Q took a few for me, including this of of the dog.

 We've finally... finally... finally... begun gathering eggs from our Turkens.  I must say, the sight of those two little eggs in the nesting boxes was enough to make me whoop for joy.  If you know me, you know not much makes me whoop!

The eggs made for a particularly rich rice pudding, as evidenced by the fact that two little girls ate an entire batch, leaving only the rice stuck to the sides for DH and I to eat when we came in from chores!

 These are luffa sponges.  When harvested young, they can be eaten, but I'm hoping they survive a week or two more before a frost and mature enough to form the spongy interior.  The one below should almost definitely be successful, but after harvesting one too early, I am loathe to cut anything off!

 Finally, here is the {mostly} tidied asparagus bed.  I won't be pulling out these fronds until they die back.  The new plants are not nearly so sprawling, but look rather pathetic in their smallness, so I skipped taking a picture.

Onions in storage are beginning to sprout, so I guess it's time for another round of onion-chopping!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Canning Exploits

A long day was had by all at our house yesterday.  It began with defrosting three gallons of skinned tomatoes.  They bubbled away most of the day to join herbs, lemon juice, and salt for 15 pints of tomato sauce.

 Meanwhile, culled tomatoes from Tuesday's picking extravaganza (3 1/2 5-gallon bucket loads) were skinned, cored, and chopped to make 5 quarts of salsa.  Everything but the cilantro was homegrown or in the pantry!

We also had some cucumbers that needed attention, and we've been running low on pickles.  I love that my girls like "our" pickles better than store bought!

See how happy they make her?

We even ended the day with a decent plan for dinner, all the dishes washed, and the bedrooms vacuumed, thanks to my mom!

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Yahweh Jireh Acres

pumpkin

acorn squash

not quite sure... the ink has worn off my markers!

Painted Lady caterpillar, devouring our sunflower foliage

We ate this tomato... it was fabulous!

Harvest-yet-to-be

Growing onions!

A Day in the Life...

I found our first tomato of the year this morning!  It is a cherry tomato.  A close second will be a race between this tomato's vine-sister and a large pink Brandywine that is approaching the right shade of red.  I'm thrilled to see many large paste tomatoes on the vines, especially after the heartbreak of the herbicide (we think) damage at SecondHand Ranch.

It was 60 F when I woke up, so I baked pumpkin muffins and bread for breakfasts and easy snacks.  Yesterday, I made whole wheat bread, so we should be able to enjoy some home-baked goodness without a hot house for another week or two.  (I forgot to mention it here, but we turned on our AC on June 22 this year.  Not too shabby.  It still only runs at night, so we are doing better than in years past!)

 We also made maple ice cream.  I fear the maple may be a little too strong for our tastes, but we'll make a batch of chocolate too, and enjoy them together!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

a Gasp for Breath in the Rush of Summer

I have used my vacuum sealer to put up to pints of dried fruit.  While I would love to put up more, the mulberries have not been so popular, and I haven't enough strawberries.  Next year, I will start drying strawberries sooner!

The {almost} daily compost bucket. We have just enough spoiled food (and eggshells) that I don't want to give to the chickens, so into the bin they go!

Onions are bulbing out fabulously.  This year, I'm striving to use onions as soon as I pull them, including chopping extra for the freezer.  Last year, too many onions spoiled through my failure to chop and use.  I know few things that smell quite as horrendous as a mouldering onion.

We are slowly... slowly... slowly beating down the weeds.  While they are still ahead, I think we are making great strides.  I'm not sure the same can be said in the battle against the whiteflies, although a judicious application of neem may help me.

The first garlic has been harvested.  The bulbs are disappointingly small overall, but they were planted too closely, in haste, by a nauseous pregnant woman.  I blame it mostly on me.  I'll save the biggest for this fall's planting (by Columbus Day).

Fava beans, why do you hate me?  Like in a past attempt, many are beginning to shrivel and burn up.  Is it the unexpected heat?

Tomatoes!  I am anticipating the first ripe ones with great delight!

A gift... an unexpected mulberry tree.  It is a weeping mulberry and quite attractive.

We also have apple trees suffering from cedar rust and peaches from oriental fruit moths.  I think our neighbor has not cared for his trees in the past, so we have work to do next spring to handle these issues!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

... Christmas?  It was definitely winter weather for far too long this year, but the plants are enjoying the moisture that came with it.  I certainly hope I have some giant, tasty onions as a result!

Strawberries, 5/5/2013

Rhubarb, 5/5/13

Just to confirm, my helpers assure I am incapable of planting in a straight line.  I've planted the first portion of a row of tomatoes.  Hopefully, they perk up a little more.  They look rough now, but between the wind, cold weather, and a lack of watering in the last few days on my part, it's understandable.

Our first Purple Passion asparagus is up.  Oh, the weeding yet to be done!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Planting Time

Spring is definitely on its way...

Our yard is replete with daffodils planted by the previous owners.  I may be sick of them by the end of spring, but for now, they are a bright splash over color in the dark greens and browns of the end of winter.

We have some bulbs sending up shoots of mysterious hues.  These are the bulbs my mom and I planted last fall, and I don't remember everything.  I look forward to the surprise.

The new trees and the old lilac bushes are also budding out, holding forth the promise that colorful days are ahead.

I've tackled the first plantings in our new garden after James tilled again.  So far, peas, spinach, and lettuce are tucked in the ground, while a myriad of other tasty treats still await.  Planting is a hit-and-miss type of activity, racing to plant while the baby naps, hoping to beat the weather and the tears.  We are due for snow and ice yet again on Saturday.  But today, well, today is a gift, and I think I made good use of it.

Inside, my seedlings look better than in previous years.  Even my peppers, thanks to a heat mat, sprouted and look healthy.  Some of my tomatoes are ready for thinning, and all the slender stems arcing towards the light are beautiful signs of new life.

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Beautiful Day

The day began with gentle rain, just sprinkles really, and a beautifully cool air temperature.

We bought peaches straight off a truck from Colorado.  The Screamer already ate a whole one (she's not a great eater, so this is fabulous) and has been begging for more.

A visit to the land, which added only a few miles to our trip, was in order.  I cut open the survivor tomato we had brought home, but the thing was SEEDLESS.  Seedless, I tell you!  Why does it have to be complicated.

The mother plant is grasshopper-mauled, so there were virtually no leaves left.  Of the leaves remaining, most were suckers hidden in the heart of the plant.  We pulled off three suckers to try to root them and grow three new plants.  Also, we picked the last remaining (ripe) tomato in the hopes that it will not follow its sibling and be seedless.

Walking in the cool weather felt glorious.  We visited our neighbor to the south and discussed weather, weeds (we have too many growing in our erstwhile potato patch), old age (his, not ours!), and watched another neighbor back into his mailbox.

Onwards to the work of the day, making pickles with Myle!  She had cut enough pickles for 5 batches of pickles.  We made two, and she was working on more when we left.  Canning is incredibly easier this year, now that we have a better concept of timing and how to prep for the actual canning.

The Assistant tangled with a bike and lost, leaving a bloody trail at Second Hand Ranch, and is now sporting a fat lip, bloody nose, and bum knee.  We met Chocolate Black, a miniscule mouser.

Next week, we should have peach salsa coming out our ears!  I anticipate the challenge with relish.

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Farming Doesn't Wait for Cool Weather

Neither do visiting friends.

Without further ado, our final potato harvest for 2011, Rose Finn Apples.  Due to several factors, including later planting and being planted in a new place, the harvest was meager compared to our previous bounty.  They still look like fun!

 

 Shooting for great and small...

 And the survivor tomato survives...

Our neighbor asked us where we'd been, and James answered, "It's been too hot for a once a week farmer."  But we've been back.

I think the heat is even frying the poison ivy.

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.