Catching up is hard to do...

I know I am supposed to keep posting to this blog, even when there is not a lot to post about. However, sometimes I just don't feel up to it. I have felt that way for quite some time now. I don't know why. So here is a sort of "catch-up" of all that has happened since my last post.

First - my ewes all lambed. I don't have that many - four to be precise. All twinned except Littlest U, who had a singleton. The photo is of Momma U, one of my original girls, and her twin daughters. The colored one is called Fancy Pants and I will be keeping her.

We finally finished the hoophouse. Yes - all that nagging finally paid off. It has plastic on, doors built and everything. I celebrated by planting brocolli, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and beets which are all doing well.

I started off a lot of seeds. I could have started the tomatoes earlier. I was probably about right with the peppers and eggplants. I should have started the beans and squash later. But one of these days I will get it just right. I have a black thumb, but I don't let that get in the way of my ambitions to be a self-sufficient gardener. I am now frantically playing catch-up on the re-potting of the seedlings. That seems like a never-ending chore right now.

I bought some fruit trees - two apples, a peach, a plum, a fig and on a whim I ordered a "five in one" pear tree. I am not convinced that it will actually do well, but it was intriguing so I succumbed. I also ordered a couple of bush cherries. I see a lot of pies, jam, wine and canning in my future.

I hatched some more eggs. I hatched a dozen and all the chickies were doing well. I put them out a week ago, and two days ago one of the LGDs killed 9 of them. I was furious, and he knew it. I suspect that he will be VERY wary of anything with feathers after this. I don't understand why he did it though. He never bothers the three ducks and the several adult chickens that free range. Maybe he had a brain freeze.

I am currently incubating some Black Copper Marans eggs. I am very excited about them as they are a dark, dark brown. They look as if they are made out of chocolate. I also threw in some eggs from my chickens. They will be mixed breed, but meaty.

I have taken delivery of some nice alfalfa to last me till this year's first cutting and have got this year's round bales ordered. Last year I didn't get enough and I was scrambling the last few weeks to find anything at all that didn't cost an arm, a leg and my first-born. It will be nice to know that I won't have to worry next year.

I think that is about it. Up to date. I will have to add some photos later.