Just Kit Sunday #137

Kit Kat has been hanging around the barn a lot during Draper's training sessions.  Draper is very interested in what he is up to, 

 or maybe she just can't figure out how there is such a small palomino.

 Because Draper has a white sclera instead of pigmented, she always looks startled or scared. 

But in this case, I think it is Kit that got scared.

This Week In The Garden, Plus Draper Update

When you leave for 6 days, the garden can sure go crazy.  Thanks though to M for doing some hoeing in it while we were gone, or else it would have been totally out of control. 

 I saw vines running out of the beans before we left and said to J that I didn't think these beans were runners but he said they were.  So I tried to get the vines trained to the row.  But when we got back, they were all over the place and running into the peppers.  It was then I discovered it was a morning glory.  That was something to untangle. 

 The broccoli is finally starting to make a head.

 And the okra is beginning to take off. 

 The tomatoes are crazy wild.  J had them staked and looking so nice but now I don't think I can even walk down the rows. 

 And the cucumbers, there are just too many vines.  I had bought a 4 pack, but each spot had 2 plants so this is 8 plants total. 

 And they are going every which way. 

 I spent about half an hour untangling them from the impatiens, broccoli, tomatoes and okra. 

And look what I found, all sizes and shapes.  I thought they were suppose to be Burpless but they look like something else to me. 

 And my flower border is outdoing itself.  Can you tell I am partial to pinks and purples?

As for Draper, she is now the proud owner of 4 new shoes!  (yes, I spend more on horse shoes in a year than on my shoes for a life time, but those are my priorities.) She stood there like a pro.  Hopefully now, I will be able to start some outdoor riding and maybe even a trail ride. 

Vacation 2018

The last cow calved and I had 6 days off so J agreed to go to the beach, YAY!
Plus V and M volunteered to keep watch on the farm for us.  Then E drove Grandma here so she can stay for the month.

I have continued my face collection that I started last year, but this time I am actually picking them up instead of just taking pictures of them on the beach.

The weather and the water have been amazing.  No wind, the water is warmer than ever and the waves are calm.

This is a new collection, I am calling these fossilize fish poo unless someone else knows what they are.
Back to our regular programming soon, too soon.

This Week In The Garden

We have had some unbelievably wonderful growing weather.  A little dry spell, but then plenty of rain for the last 10 days. 

 The beans are blooming and running.

 Still no broccoli heads but plenty of worms.  I have had to start dusting.

 I already gave V 3 banana peppers.

 The tomatoes may outgrow their stakes.

 And we need to get our Tommy toe restraining fence up soon.

 It won't be long now until we get some blackberries.  But the Japaneses beetles have arrived. Hope they don't beat us to them.

And the cucumbers are going crazy.  I have to go out every day and make sure they are going in the right direction.  They just want to run everywhere.   Happy Gardening!

New Shelf Project

We ended up with a lot of plywood and 2x4s from the bridge project last year. 

 We stacked it up in the barn loft to be used later.

 Well, with the hot and rainy weather, I decided to make a little project. 

 A new set of shelves.   They ended up being so heavy I almost had to wait until someone else could help J move them out of the shop.  And no, it is not for my couponing stock pile, just for random things that end up in the barn shed. 

They are a vast improvement over the set I made 20 years ago out in the driveway with scraps from the house. 

To Buy Or Not To Buy

That is the big question.  J and I are both on the fence about this one.  We had previously decided not to buy any more land unless it touched something we already owned or was on the way to something we owned.

 Well, this 64 acres came up for sale and it is about 1/4 mile off the path between two of our farms.

 It all lays fairly well.   They just made the hay off of it and the grass is not too bad either.

 And most of the fences are in usable condition.

 It doesn't have good running water though.  There is a well and two automatic waterers.  J couldn't help himself and had to pull the grass up that was growing underneath it. 

 And it has access to a spring one the neighbor's land.  There is not much water coming into the spring box though. 

I love the neighbor's gazebo with the satellite dish top and what looks like a wheelbarrow fire pit. 

 The working pens need some work. 

But overall, a pretty nice place.   So we have to decide if we are going to be happy with what we have, or go a little bit outside our perimeters and buy more work for ourselves.

Another 5 Hour Ride

V got to ride with us again yesterday.  We went out for another 5 hour ride.

 This was our ususal arrangement, J in front on Jessica, me in the middle on Otoelene,

 And V bringing up the rear on Hank.  Back in the parking area someone was driving past our trailer while we were saddling up, stopped and yelled, "Damit Hank!"  It was one of Hanks previous owners.  He got out and rubbed on Hank and chatted a bit.  Said he was glad Hank found a good home.

 We haven't ridden on all of these trails and don't know where they all go.  Consequently, we did take an unexpected turn that worked out well.  We found a way to avoid riding on the gravel road for so long.

 We had a nice lunch break, then back to the trails.

 I made it out front for a little bit.

 There were some rhododendrons blooming, very pretty.

 Then I ended up in the back.  We past a couple of small groups, one that had a pack of 8 dogs following behind.

 And once again, no drama.

V rode in a different saddle this time and said it suited her and Hank much better.  Then back home safe and sound, so another successful ride.