A Quick "Hello"

I start my day as dawn is breaking standing in the open door of our home with my favorite sheep mug full of hot coffee, looking out over the farm. I make a mental plan of what is hopefully going to get done that day. It has definitely been a challenge lately to plan much of anything. Rain, rain and more rain.

We had two days of partial sun and warm temps this past week. Most days it's drizzly and humid or it's pouring buckets. The predicted forecast: rain/showers/thunderstorms through Friday. This weather is wreaking havoc with the farmers and gardeners. Hay is already is short supply - luckily many folks put in extra last year and it will get them through. The hay in the fields is lodging from all the rain and on dry days, farmers cannot get their tractors on the fields for fear they will sink out of sight in the mud.

A notice came today from the Extension service regarding late blight appearing on tomatoes and potatoes. The cloud cover protects the spores from being eradicated by uv radiation. They are advising if you find it to pull up your plants, seal them in bags and dispose of them to keep the spores from spreading. So far I haven't seen any but if it keep raining fresh vegetables are going to be in short supply here in the Northeast.

The days it did not rain we managed to put in 200 bales of new hay (mowed and baled the last three day stretch of good weather we had and stored in our hayman's barn) mowed all the grass on this farm that needed mowing (I see myself changing lawn into sheep pasture:) weeded all three gardens, planted a few more crops and worked in the new farmstand/shop.

Tyler had a friend over for the week and my cousin, Jake was here for the week as well so our house was busy. The boys all get along great and everyone really enjoyed being together. My Mom loved having them all here - she baked and baked. That's her favorite thing to do and of course, everyone loves to eat it :)

Our kittens, Jinx and Jade are getting big and have made themselves right at home as you can see from the photo above. When they are ready to sleep, they land and conk out. No matter who's arm or lap it is. They are tons of fun :)

We have three baby ducks (that's another post and I'll try to get photos) and we also have a new bunny (photos coming as well).

I'm off to the city for a meeting tomorrow and to hopefully find new curtains for the shop. Fabric hunting has been a huge disappointment. The Curtain Factory Outlet is my next option.

I hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods - if you wouldn't mind, send some our way :)