A frantic pace

This is the time of year where priorities are tested. There just isn't enough time or energy or willingness to do all of it. There are seedlings to nurture in the basement, there are seeds to sow and weeds to hoe in the garden, there are trees to plant and yards to mow, there are chicks to care for and coops to clean, there are goats to shear and kids (goat kind) to birth, there are kids (humankind) to love and watch over and drive places and play with, there are meals to cook and a house to clean, there are community meetings to go to and oh yeah, there is that silly other thing people call a JOB. You know, that thing that brings home the paycheck?

It's at this time of year that I wonder what the heck I was thinking. Last year I had a post devoted to this particular desperation. It usually lasts only a few weeks, after which I learn to live with a few weeds, a few failed crops, a few shaggy goats, a few missed meetings and a very messy house.


Here are a few of my seedlings. They are De Cicco broccoli I started from seed in my basement. They would normally be outside sunning themselves on the deck, except that we have 40 mph winds (the kind I mentioned in my last post) today and although they might survive the onslaught they wouldn't be very happy about it.


Here is one of the five apple trees we have in our yard. I think this one is a Fireside. And here is Number Three Son, who ran at the last minute to be included in the photo. I put these posts and fencing around the trees last fall to protect them from the deer. It seems to have worked marvelously. Yesterday I went around with a brush and rag to get rid of a few tent caterpillar webs that I found on the branches. Tent caterpillars will eat every leaf off a fruit tree if left to their own devices.


And here is one of the new fruit trees we have, a Evans Bali cherry. We planted four new trees: two cherry, one Luscious pear and one Summercrisp pear. I'll have to fence the cherries off from the deer as well. The pears are planted inside the chicken run which already has a fence. Apparently Benjamin is trying out his Marilyn Monroe pose for the camera.


Our little munchkins are growing quickly. It's hard to believe they are just less than a month old.


If you look closely at the top of this little buckling's head you can see tiny horns starting to grow.


Several years ago I received a lovely gift from a wonderful woman who lives in Maine, who has written a book and created a forum for family cow owners. Comfrey roots! I planted them in several spots in the yard (not the garden, as I was told that they spread easily) and have managed to keep them alive despite all my neglect. Yesterday I pulled bunches of grass away to encourage them to grow. I've heard lots of good things about Comfrey.


And lastly, we had a visitor to our house yesterday morning -- a wood duck, perched about thirty feet up in an aging ash tree. Obviously looking for a good place to nest. I doubt he will stay, since we have no lakes or ponds immediately near our house. But it was fun to have him stopping by.