The Garden

We had quite the successful weekend with the help of parental hands.  After a few days and MANY hours at work, the entire garden for the year is planted.  This year's garden features two full bed for the pumpkins and gourds.  We have quite the variety, including mini white casperita pumpkins and big moose pumpkins.  Eric is hoping for a 150 pound giant!

The rest of the beds are filled with potatoes, zucchini, acorn and butternut squash, cabbage, beans, peas, lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, tomatoes, peppers, a small grouping of herbs (basil, cilantro and parsley), sunflowers, cucumbers, carrots, parsnips and strawberries.

The pine trees are continuing to do well.  I think we only lost one, so at least we'll have 9 years worth of Christmas trees:)  Some of the blueberry bushes have flowered, so we may even get to enjoy some fresh fruit this year from them. 

 

Here's a cute video of our very active farm animals!

A little large for a hummingbird, eh?

The return of the hummingbird feeder has been met with HUGE success (no pun intended).  We have more hummingbirds this year than we did last year and apparently even woodpeckers like to drink some sugar-water every now and then.

And yes, I watched the woodpecker actually drink from the feeder!

A pasture update.

Sometimes it seems like we have five goats in the pasture, rather than three goats and two cows.  Elmer and Duncan have really taken to the goats and like to follow them all around the field. It appears that the goats are teaching the cows how to graze.  I've now watched both boys licking the  dandelions and chewing on some grass.  The grass is starting to get pretty long, so hopefully the mooing lawn mowers will get to work soon.

 Winslow loves to nibble on ears and apparently Eric likes to have his ears nibbled on:)

 A final parting photo:  Elmer sticking his tongue out at me...hopefully not on purpose!

Back in Business

A few days ago as I was eating lunch out on the porch when I heard the familiar sound of a hummingbird buzz past my head!  I decided it was time to place the feeder back up again.  This morning when I looked out the window there were 4 hummingbirds vying for spaces at the feeder!  We are back in business!!

Double Trouble

Well we're either really big suckers or fate has stepped in...we now have TWO calves!!!

This is Duncan.  

Duncan was in stall #11 when we went and picked Elmer up last week.  Sadly, Duncan was headed for departure from the farm via "the meat truck" the following morning.  As we pulled away with Elmer, we stopped the car 4 times considering going back for him, but ultimately decided one cow was plenty enough.  

Fast forward to last night and we had a phone call from the farm.  Duncan was still there!  They had a few other heifers still due, so they decided to hold off on the meat truck, so they could send all the bulls together.  Apparently, all the heifers birthed girls this week!  They hated to call the meat truck for one bull calf and asked if we'd take him.  How could we say no!  

Again, fate or suckers?...we're still not sure!!!

Welcome Duncan to Silver Hill Farm!