March, April and May Ohhhhh MY!

We have been up to a record number of projects since February when I last blogged! Instead of updating my "scrapbook" on all the things we have been doing since then I thought I would just update on garden/homesteading stuff today. 

First, we incubated our own chicks! Five out of nine hatched and have at this point are out in the coop with all the other laying hens.

 In April Justin enjoyed a lot of time playing in the dirt.

 Lance is always willing to get in on the action!

 We have enjoyed two wonderful bonfires this spring so far.

 Hot dogs and smores...the supper of champions

 This Spring I also expanded from two hives to three.

 The new hive is doing OK, not great but OK.

 Here you can see my Queen bee left her cell to join the hive.

 It always makes me happy to see the girls out and about.

 Last fall we took down all of the existing fence in preparation for new fencing this spring.

We are on schedule to install the new fence over Memorial Day Weekend.

 I'm not sure what I like better, the pretty green grass or the fence all lined up and ready to be installed.

 Shortly after we moved in, we were gifted these fantastic laundry line poles. Two years later they are installed and now being used! I'm overjoyed and smile each time I get to use it.

 Last week I harvested my first little bundle of rhubarb. Rhubarb pie is my sweetheart's favorite, so when I get a chance to catch my breath I shall finally make him one.

 My little strawberry patch is all abloom with gorgeous flowers!

 Lots of flowers equals lots of berries....we can hardly wait!!!

 A girl riding with her dad is always a good thing!

 After a cold and wet early Spring, I think we are in full garden mode. Our peas (far back), onions, garlic (not shown) and potatoes (closest). are all up and growing well. We have planted corn, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and I just started putting in tomato plants this week. I also planted a little herb garden that I can't wait to collect fresh herbs from all summer!

 I have added some perennial flowers (lavender, verbena, and bee balm) and some annuals to the landscaping. Now I'm just waiting for them to fill in (so I don't have to weed) and burst with color!

 I'm always looking for cute things to put in the landscape (cheap stuff). I used old chore boots as planters, I picked up this birdhouse for $5 at a garage sale, the milk cans I got years ago at an auction for $1, galvanized buckets (same story).

 Thanks to the previous owners we have an amazing hedge of lilac bushes along part of our drive. Today as I type, there is a lovely breeze blowing their lilac scent into the house! Dreamy...

 We have so many pretty birds, we love watching them so we dusted of the birdhouses, and bought some feed last week.

 I love making my porch warm and cozy feeling. To me, this is cozy.

 The Lord gave the gift of this beautiful rainbow to enjoy recently.......gasp!

 It's mid May so it's time to shear the sheep for their first time. I think it's safe to say Caleb was as wet as the sheep, but I'm happy to report we did not shear him.

 Our most recent adventure is plowing, disking, and preparing the soil of part of our pasture. It's now becoming a one acre (give or take) plot of organic field corn. We plan to use it to feed our animals this winter and beyond.

 I'm pretty sure these two guys are having way to much fun playing in the dirt. I'm glad they are having fun, and it gives me an excuse to take more pictures without getting "the look".

 These three men have been there cheering them on the whole time.

 We also plowed up this little patch. It's the future location for the pumpkins, gourds, and maybe some sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos.

So there you have it folks! We are having a good time checking things off our list, finishing up our school year, planting the rest of the garden, pulling weeds, and working on the 4-H projects!

60 degrees in the Middle of January!

Say what? Topping out around 60 degrees in the middle of January in Indiana just doesn't happen.

It did this past Saturday though, and I took advantage of it and headed out with my neglected Canon Rebel. (Since inheriting my Iphone I've been lazy at getting my "big camera" out and using it.) So here we go on our stroll of the homestead on the beautiful, but unusual January day. I followed my hubby out to woods without him knowing it. I loved this shot of him got hanging out looking over things.

 Flowers blooming in January...seriously? Yep in my little chick trough feeder...LOVE IT!

 I know this picture is a little weird to some, but it's really exciting to me.....COMPOST BABY!!

 When it gets as warm as 60 degrees my girls decided to come out and enjoy the sunshine. I can't even  begin to tell you what an blessing this was to me. I haven't been able to check on them at all since I harvested honey in September. Once the temps stay below sixty your not suppose to open the hive box anymore (to cold for the bees). I still didn't open the hives up this weekend,  but to see so many of them out flying around was just about the best thing ever! The fact that I know they are still alive and thriving makes me so very grateful!

 I love looking across our 24 acre field beside us and seeing GREEN! I has all kind of beans and greens that were planted last fall to help replenish the soil with nitrogen naturally.

 There is something that gives me warm and fuzzy feeling about seeing all the wood piles we have around the homestead. I'm thinking it has something to do with my LOVE of a good campfire. My father in law says it might have something to do with me not cutting the wood, but burning it at a rapid pace. Ya maybe, but who's keeping track right?

 Jasper thought the whole day outside with all his favorite people was quit grand....

 I think this picture should be calle, "Where there is a will, there is a way." I'm sure others might have an entirely different name for it. I think it's awesome: Crutches, feed sack over his foot, and riding one of his favorite toys. I'm thinking this is what memories are made of!

 Our egg laying ladies are so happy to see the snow melt and scratch at the ground again! Our rooster, "Feather Foot" is keeping his ladies close, he's not sure about the weird lady with that black thing in front of here faces following them around.

 Our Ducks seemed to jumping out of their skin with excitement. Quacking the whole days while milling about from here to there. They found a little water wallow where our 4-H pigs were last year.

 I didn't take them but a second to decide it was a perfect day for swim. Unfortunately, warm weather in January was never expected to last and now we have highs in the 30's all week. It was great while it lasted, and I think it's safe to say EVERYONE at the Homestead took advantage of the day!

For the rest of January we plan to maybe visit the farm show, order some flower seeds for our nectar loving bees, amd order our veggie seeds as well. If I get really ambitious I might even start to map our layout of the veggie garden.

 

Preparing our Garden for Winter

I was able to pick up some Everbearing Strawberries the last week of September to extend our strawberry patch for next year. I added 15 new plants.

 After such a hard summer, I can't believe how gorgeous and full both my patches are looking.

 We ripped out the rest of our vegetation a couple weeks ago and began to fall plow.

 Here is a picture of one our hard working tractors doing her job.

 Hubby got the plow all painted up nice and perdy....so he could get it all dirty

 The garden look so nice all plowed and ready for winter. Although Justin and I both commented on how much bigger is looks all plowed up with nothing planted in it.

I'm not sure about your household, but we are already beginning to talk about what to do for next year. We are planning to hold a "homestead" meeting here soon and hash out some goals and projects for the coming year. All I have left to do is get my garlic in the ground! I should have did it two weeks ago...I kinda forgot! I'm hoping at the end of this week to get em' in the ground.

Picket Fence Project completed!

 This past spring around Mother's Day, we started a big project. 

I wanted a picket fence around the fruit garden. 

 Here is the fence is progress.....

 One side done three to go.....

 I just love this picture of my hard working man! (Sorry honey I couldn't resist!)

 All the sides are done, and the gate is up.....Now it's time to paint!

 The weather was SO HOT this summer it made it difficult to want to get outside and paint. We made good time and finished mid-Sept with the painting. It feels good to have this project completed!