Garden Update

What a difference a week makes.

Here is Gordon's garden (named after the scarecrow) a week ago...

and here it is today, one week later...

We had a nice rain early last week which resulted in quite a bit of growth.  The rows are much more distinguished now.

Four rows of potatoes, two rows of cowpeas, one row of okra, one row of green beans, three rows of corn, several mounds each of watermelon, cantaloupe and squash.

Gertie's garden (named after the scarecrow) is also doing well.  Here it is a week ago...

and here it is today...

There are flowers on the tomato plants shown as well as on the green bean plant.

The potatoes are growing tall and hopefully there are lots of potatoes in the ground.  The sweet potatoes have perked up after being transplanted but haven't started spreading yet.  The cucumbers are coming up and the transplanted tomatoes (on the left in the previous photo) are taking off and growing now.  The space to the right of transplanted tomatoes is for the sweet peppers when they are ready to be transplanted.

Overall, we are pleased with the gardens' progress.

We could use some more rain in the next day or two.  If not, we will use rain water collected in the rain barrels to water the gardens.

We also have flowers taking turns blooming throughout the property...

 

Does anyone know what the flowers above are?  They were growing in the grass and being mowed over until they bloomed.  I tried to dig them up and transplant them in a container but the roots were too deep so I cleared the grass from around it so that they won't get mowed down again.

There's a nice patch of these lilies in front of the house and around the property...

They only last for a day so I'm glad there are lots of them and they take turns opening up.

I don't know what this bush is but the bees and butterflies enjoy it...

Several months ago I tended and pruned a patch of thorny plants in the area we call the peninsula just before you cross the bridge.  We thought they were blackberry bushes but as it turns out they are wild raspberry bushes.

This is the first of many raspberry pickings...

We are excited to have raspberry bushes on the property since the ones I purchased and planted did not make it.

There is another patch of thorny bushes growing by the chicken run.  We think they are blackberries.  We should know in a week or two when they are ready to be picked.

To say that we have been truly blessed to be the owners and caretakers of this little piece of God's green Earth is an understatement.  May God give us the strength and knowledge to do it justice.

GoneCountry

Kitchen Update and Outdoor Work

Earlier this week I returned home after a two week trip to Florida where I attended a Sewing Expo and quilt retreat.  I had a great time but, boy, is it good to be back home!

CountryBoy kept busy (in between dealing with another snow storm, cold weather and rain.  Lots of rain, with flooding and boil water alerts.  Poor guy!) working on the kitchen.

He finished out the open ceiling...

framed out the false wall (to accommodate existing plumbing that can't be moved), reworked the electrical outlets and light switches, and framed out the platform for the range...

and the boards for the wall finally dried out enough to hang...

It's coming along bit by bit.

I also came home to some signs of Spring!

Clumps of Daffodils all around the property and possibly even some Tulips!  We'll just have to wait and see what all starts popping up.

Since we would like to have a small garden and get chicks this year we are dividing our time between working on the kitchen and prepping both the garden and the chicken coop/run depending upon the days' weather.

Both the garden and chicken run were extremely overrun with weeds and brush.

weed-filled garden beds

weed-filled chicken run

another view of weed-filled chicken run

view of chicken run from coop

Yesterday was a nice, non-windy day so we worked outside pulling, raking and burning the weeds, fallen leaves and brush in both areas.

They're looking much better now...

The 'thing' standing up behind LizzieBelle is an old piano that we found underneath all the weeds and brush.  It had been burned for some reason and that's all that's left of it.

We even cleaned up the area beside the chicken run...

We're not sure what we'll do with this area but the creek runs by it so I'm sure we'll come up with something!

There's a small patch of briars that we're thinking may be blackberries.  At least, we're hoping they're blackberry bushes!

 More signs that Spring is on its way.  Yay!

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year and believe it or not, it felt really good to be outside pulling weeds, wink!

GoneCountry