geese

Well I finally got two barn kittens from my friend Amos.  They were ready to leave their mom and have settled in nicely.  Basically they frolic all day, chasing anything that moves.  I think they will become excellent mousers.  Gracie, my dog thought they were new toys or substitute squirrels. As in she almost killed one, BAD DOG!  I have to be extra vigilant to keep her away, far away from the kittens.

The female Brown Chinese taking a dip.  I need to get a real kiddie pool for the waterfowl.

Have been tackling a list each day of tasks that MUST be done before WINTER arrives in earnest. I feel like I am racing against a clock that is rigged to put me behind! Once it sets in... the opportunity is lost. Aaron and I have also been planting more garlic this week, still another 3/4 bushel left, going in Friday.  Ah, soooo much to finish! How to get it all accomplished???

Baby Napoli and Yellowstone carrots

Columbian feathered Wyandotte eating overripe cukes

Brown Chinese goose doing perfect ballet move

Royal Palm turkey

Coreopsis

Finally water!!!

Not quite ready toms

Fantastic helpers Lauren and Emily

Oh! What an everyday tool for other produce growers, drip irrigation.  Not so for me, for years I hauled water from down the road.  Our trailer location has 2 water hydrants.  The Spring was so cold and wet that drip irrigation was not on my radar. June brought week after week of no rain, and temps in the 90's created stress for the plants, and me. I kept thinking it'll rain, it'll rain!  No, not a drop fell from those clouds.

Today I went to Nolt's and got "fitted" for my garden. All the line, connectors, valves, pressure regulator etc. to give my plants a drink. Now I know nothing about the particulars of drip tape.  I feared I would not be able to do it correctly.  Voila! It went together quite easily, and as I write all my plants are having a nice root soak.  Arrrggh, why didn't I do this weeks ago??? 

CSA members have been wonderful and very gracious concerning the absence of zukes and peppers in their shares.  This time last year the shares had squash, eggplant and artichokes.  I doubt the chokes are going to make it.  They are over at the other location without water.  It has been a less than ideal growing season.  Growers who have drip tape and greenhouses are the ones who have loads of toms, squash, peppers and cukes.

Perseverance is a plan.  I don't waste time (well not excessively) dwelling on all the stuff that's going haywire.  Instead, I plod slow and steady trying to remedy one problem as it appears, and ward off future catastrophes. This week will be a scorcher, stay cool mentally and physically.