Summer Sunshine

It feels like all the seasons happened early this year, and were mild for the most part so far.  Spring became summer and days became hot.  Summer is such an interesting time of year on the farm with life brimming over everything.

Dirt gives way to plants in the spring, and in summer the plants seem to be in ceaseless motion from all the bugs that come to visit.  Entire bushes buzz with bees and small bugs make a home in the center of every Queen Anne's Lace bloom that cover our fields.  The sky hums during the day and in the evenings the swallows and the bats and even the dragon flies hunt and bring quiet.

Well, nights weren't so quiet this year, as the coyote population seems to have been on the rise based on all the howling.  We also had a rougher year with predators on the chickens, but after Craig built some better quarters for the little ones, we seem to be ending the year without our total population numbers having fallen.

The orchard bloomed richly and our summer crops were well enjoyed by all.  Well, not all, as the robins realized that the grapes were ripe before we did, so they ate them all before we got our share this year.  The robins are still visiting, but fall is edging in and soon we'll be hearing the geese honking during their travels.

Our yearly planting of baby Christmas trees also had a better summer than the last.  Craig planted about 400 seedlings, and with previous years learnings he planted them mostly in the shadows of larger trees.  He also found that the "plugs" were better fit to survive than the bare root seedlings.  They have a bit more developed roots, and smaller branches, which seems like a better strategy.  We were very happy that this year's planting fared will out of the direct summer sun, and with a bit more rain than last year we had a great survival rate.  

Deek and Tux, enjoying the sun shining through the woods One of the lovelier insects visiting these flowers Craig was psyched with how strong the new bamboo shoots are in this grove. This mama found a great spot in the barn  to sit on her clutch. Putting in another fruit tree Smooshing noses with Paco. Western tanager peeking out over the hedge Robin enjoying the cherry feast Hummingbird sipping I just like this picture.  The bees love this bush. For a while the hawks were the leading suspect  in our flock loss.  Hawks don't like shiny things,  so I sewed some shiny capes for the hens.   We didn't lose any hens wearing capes,  but we aren't fully convinced of the  protective value of their wardrobe,  although they looked fabulous. Craig built this 7 foot tall scare-hawk to stand near the coop.  He seems to be a good guard. Well, at least I am regularly startled by him as I walk up the hill. Such pretty tiny pink blossoms. Freshly sheared, looking so much smaller After shearing, they love to lie in the bushy daisies  and rub their backs on trees. Peeps! Delicious blueberry crop this year! Tux relaxing while he scans the sky  looking for something to bark-worthy Cherry season! A mama finding a shady spot to  relax with her brood Peeps peeking out from under their mama  peeking out from her barrel nest The alpacas aren't the only ones  who like to rest in the daisies. Craig made another fantastic chicken shelter  for the little peeps and their mama. Sphinx moth!  This photo doesn't do it justice.   It was huge, and in flight you could see  bright pink markings where its wings part. I keep trying to get a better photo of this, but  they always get off as I approach and I'm not  very stealthy.  The peeps like to sit on top  of mama.  As they get bigger, it gets all  the more ridiculous.  Adorable. Ladybugs! Climbing up to fly away Quietly passing through Three kinds of plum in one picture  (pink, purple, and gold in the back) These are samples knitted from our alpaca fleece!   We sent the raw fiber to our friend who has been  processing it.  She washes, brushes, spins, then knits.   These are samples of her work.  The white one  on the right is pure alpaca, and as they  go left (and more grey), they include more  sheeps' wool.  So soft and pretty! Craig cultured some plum kombucha (plumbucha) that was so delicious. A particularly colorful (albeit stinky) snake