Busy Busy Busy

When you take all of the "Spring Chores" we usually do add a bunch of new ones and them compress them all into a couple of days, you tend to get very very busy.

Since it has been still winter here until about two weeks ago this is what has happened to us. Near constant alternating snow and rain coupled with high winds almost all the time and just barely above freezing temperature have kept us inside for most of March and April. That paired a now 4 inches of standing water has made work outdoors nearly impossible until just a little bit ago.

Standing water was (and still is) every where...

Our local volunteer fire station - sometimes they get goofy and take a canoe out in that water. It's over 3ft deep. 

Hubby kept trying to dig holes for a new chicken pen but as soon as he'd dig them they'd fill up with water. 

We've been up to alot - but at the same we are trying to conserve as much money as possible while completing our projects. Aside from the weather another thing that has thrown a wrench in the works is that our neighbor decided to get his land surveyed. He owns the property surrounding our house. When we bought our place it was not surveyed but he had a "surveyor" come out and show us where the property lines were.....uh huh....

Two raised beds my Hubby made for me. They are 4ft x 8ft and have mesh bottom on them so the dang gofers can't get at the veggies. They also have holders built in them so I can cover them with plastic or netting. After doing some reading I learned I could possibly extend my growing season 3 weeks on either side with the proper use of plastic. I am excited to see how this works. We are bringing in some premium garden grade organic top soil for beds - 1 1/2 cubic yards each. According to what I've read weeding should be a non-issue after one year. Raised beds are supposed to be so much easier on your back I am really excited. If they perform well I will add to more. 


There are also some tires that I am going to plant some squash in, in the background, and a new gate for the pasture which is going to be a heck of alot more easy to open than the old one.

These are my new ladies. They are a Rhode Island Red, a Black Astralorp, and a Barred Rock. I changed it up so I could experience their different temperaments and different egg producing abilities. We will most likely cull the one older hen prior to introducing these girls when they are older with grown up feathers. 

This is Bernie, she is the Barred Rock hen and is so far my favorite. She is almost twice the size of the other chicks and is very brave and mellow. The Astralorp seem to be the flightiest of the group running for her life and squawking like she's gonna die every time I pick her up (kinda like my grown up chickens).  My older hens were given to us by my mother in-law. She has so many they go from one box to another with little to no handling so are rather flighty and nervous.  I don't want my new girls to be like that so I am trying to handle them as much as possible.

Hubby made me a new and much improved chicken pen. We will be adding a top to it soon. We just haven't had time to do so this spring.

So he's decided he wants to sell his extra property as he is sick and can't take care of it any longer. Long story short - we have to move our fence. All the electrical fence stuff I put up last year - 5 acres worth - I have to go take down. I'm pissed. Because I will have to put it all back up again. AHHHHHH!!!! As if between chickens, horses, dogs, garden, and any kinda life we'd like to have we have any spare time.

Okay moving on. If the weather would kindly warm up a little I am super excited to see how our garden produce does this year, we've really worked hard on improving things to get a better garden.

 During one of our rare sunny days I took to planting some extra fruit trees we picked up. A pie cherry tree, a McIntosh apple tree, and a Jonathan apple tree. I also scored some more lilac starts from my mom. These are starts off a bush my paternal Grandmother planted when they homesteaded out where my parents live. I never knew her but her reputation as a master gardener and cook precedes her. While i was planting the dogs were doing this right next to me. Very helpful, thanks shedders!

I think I am going to gather Dandelions this weekend if i have time. I would like to try Dandelion wine, flower blossom honey, and dandelion tea. LOL! I have researched them extensively and I will let you know if I actually get time to go out and gather some. Its preferred to gather them from an area that hasn't been graced my dogs (aka: not my property) and an area far enough away from the road that they can't take up any of the chemicals used on the road (salt, oil, deicer, and weed poison). So I will actually have to go looking.

I am signed up for a soap making class this weekend, but that too will depend on how much time I have. I may have to dismantle the fence instead, but I was really excited to learn how to make soap.