It has been a hot dry summer (I don’t like the heat anymore), but a nice change came thru today. 1-1/2 inches of rain this morning followed by a beautiful cool day and more rain this evening. So cool out and it smells wonderful. I won’t have to water flowers tonight.
Early morning rain.
Cool day with amazing sky.
Evening storm rolling in.
Bath time…..and Wylie really doesn’t care for it!
But he turns out pretty well.
I also washed his toys, he didn’t like that idea!
Kids grow up so fast, grandkids grow up even faster, and I’m how old, when did that happen?!? My little chicks are growing up fast too, so fast they change by the hour!!!
Isn’t she adorable. Wylie and I spend so much time just watching them and of course I handle them quite a bit, but I don’t think they are getting any calmer. They’re fast little critters when I’m trying to catch them. They are becoming more adventurous too. Look at this little one up on their water.
Then another one flew up and perched on the feeder. Next thing you know, they will be flying out.
Mr. Farmer designing a top for the nursery to keep those young ones in!
Remember I told you about the hawk that killed two of my hens? We met yesterday with the man who put the fence up for the chicken run and came up with a plan to cover the whole area. They are hopefully going to be able to start that project next week. I’m so glad as that will really protect my flock. Look what was in the chicken run today when Mr. Farmer came home today. He was able to snap this photo of a Cooper’s hawk, not the Red Tail that got the hens, but we definitely have a hawk problem.
Look closely over the back of the tin rooster, he’s sitting in the chicken run. The hens are in a temporary pen, so they are protected from him.
A quick powerful winter storm moved thru yesterday. Started out with freezing drizzle then changed to snow along with 40 mph winds. Made for some pretty good drifts.
Please use the back door, I haven’t shoveled the front walk.
A great day to stay inside and bake some bread. This is a starter that my mother had used years ago. She gave it to a friend of hers and he has been making bread for years. After she passed away, I called him, he was still using her starter and he gave me some. I bake bread weekly and also make a wonderful chocolate cake. Makes the best pancakes too! I love the end of a loaf for French toast and also make Panzanella salad.
Stay warm
Oh my gosh, I am still learning how to post on my laptop, I think it is easier on the phone (Jessica!).
Wylie is 2,556 days old. He turned 7 today. Happy Birthday Wylie!!!
I made his 2 layer “cake” out of elk, peas, carrots, spinach and brown rice, “frosted” with mashed potatoes. I served it on a cherished cake stand that was my mother’s.
I love you Wylie, Happy Birthday
This is the reward for enduring a day with a temperature of 98 and winds gusting up to 40 mph.
What a beautiful morning. We are having a break from our days record highs of 110 and 111. The cooler temperatures are certainly making it so enjoyable to be outside.
According to folklore, for every fog in August, there will be snowfall. We are starting August 1 with fog. Old wives tales tell of moisture 90 days after the first fog, which would make for a wet All Hallows’ Eve this year. Hopefully I can remember all of this in 90 days to see if it holds true.
So many different colors of Echinacea, coneflowers
Wylie waiting patiently for his “reptile”, a little salamander that lives in the butterfly garden.
Swamp milkweed
Assorted annuals
Rudbeckia, black-eyed-Susan
Crepe Myrtle
Farmers burn the wheat ground after they harvest, to rid the field of straw, stubble and to control weeds.
Before they set the field on fire, they disc around the perimeter of the field to form a firebreak.
I started my flock all over again this spring, with 6 Red and 2 Ameraucana chicks. The Reds were sexed so I knew they would all be hens. The Ameraucan were straight run. I picked out my Ameraucanas with the hopes that they would be hens and give us colorful light blue Easter eggs. Of course my girls have names…..the 2 Ameraucana are Lucille and Ethel.
Meet Ricky, formerly known as Lucille
And Fred, but sometimes I still call him Ethel
Ricky and Fred with Reba and Midge
I enjoy sitting out surrounded by the zinnias watching the chickens (hard to see them thru all the honeysuckle).
Last year when I clean up the hollyhock bed, I scattered the seeds along the fence by the hen house.
We are still waiting for our first harvest of eggs. Hurry up girls, we are ready for Farmer fresh eggs!
Binding wheat at the Central Kansas Flywheel Yesteryear Museum, Salina, KS
The binder cuts the wheat and ties it into bundles also called sheaves. It is placed into shocks to dry out before thrashing.
Cutting wheat in the field across the road from us. Pretty dusty, but the combine operators are blessed to have a clean, air-conditioned cab.
Cleaned and ready for the next field.
No more harvests for this old Gleaner combine
Farmer Days 