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Over due post!

My All Blue potatoes happily growing in the 24-inch pipe Chris salvaged from his job site.








Below the cute puppy picture, my raised bed. I have peppers and tomatoes with a grid of French Breakfast Radishes. I love the grid effect a la square foot gardening.

Homestead stuff

Chris set up a shelving unit with shop lights for our seed starting station. It is perfect and used an item we already had. Cool!



















This sifter has served a variety of purposes. It was originally built as a floor to a cage for "mobile" bunnies (I used to take them to visit at the nursing home). However, it has also been used as a compost sifter and, in this photo, a weed sifter. This bed was full of weeds already, so Chris shoveled it up and we sifted out the weeds. Much easier than pulling and got the weed roots, too

The organic potting soil we got from our friends Henry and Lita. Thanks to them for ordering in bulk! That is the kind of sharing and sense of community we are working toward.

Here's to a productive growing season!

Please comment!

Just a request to those who visit to leave a comment for me! I would love to read what you think or see any requests for new projects! Thanks!

Chicken Tractor and the Indiana Brew Pub Tour continues!

Off we went to Nashville, Indiana, yesterday to visit the Big Woods Brewery. I married into a family of beer snobs, who appreciate craft beers. No Bud or Miller in these houses! Chris's brother and sister-in-law, Sean and Michelle, take their beer seriously. Chris and Michelle ordered a sampler to decide which one to order. I guess sampler beers don't count! Anyway, the brew pub was nice, but very small and difficult to find. It is in an alley called Molly's Lane. We drove in circles until we found it. After lunch, we strolled through Nashville and checked out some shops. After that, off to Bloomington to the Sahara Mart (olive oil, goat cheese, olives, and beer), Butler Winery (wine tasting and, wait for it---beer brewing supplies!), and Worm's Way for coconut shell mulch. The weather was lovely, so we had an enjoyable day!

Chris has finished our first chicken tractor and it is a beauty! It is a working prototype. He has already decided on modifications for the next two he is going to make for our friend Henry. We put our two Auracana hens inside and they are so happy! I love to go out at night to close them in to find them nestled in a corner, ready to snooze. I can just see a whole fleet of these things around the property! No tilling around here, let the chickens do their thing!

Planting seeds today outside on the porch. Spinach, romaine, and a lettuce mix. I've got seeds sprouting on the kitchen table and will start the next batch this weekend. Still trying to decide which chicks to order, but they won't ship until April so we have a little time. Come on spring!

Cold, snowy day off

We've been so lucky with the weather this year. It hasn't been pleasant, but other areas of the country have been slammed with snow and ice. I will not complain-it could have been much worse here!

We are working on some projects, most in the planning stages. Chris has a great design for a chicken tractor. I have been deciding what to plant this spring and where to plant it. My pet project will be my container garden on the front porch. I want herbs, lettuces, and some vegetables that make good patio plants.

Chickens, gotta love 'em. Top is Penny one of our Auracana hens. She and her friend Coco have not given us an egg in about 9 months. They are not that old and we don't understand why they stopped laying. They are both quite docile and tame and like to be carried around and pet.

My friend Helen brought me some squash she was storing that got hit by the cold. No longer fit for human consumption, the chickies sure enjoyed the treat.

I love all those brown eggs! Different shades of brown, some even look a little pink. White eggs just look funny to me now.

We've got a lot coming up. Chris is doing a presentation on February 15 about easy garden construction projects. On February 22, I am doing a presentation on Urban Sustainable Living. Can't wait!

Natural Gardeners Club

I have added a button to the blog to make it easy for folks to join the Natural Gardeners Club group.  We use the group to keep each other notified of upcoming meetings and events. We would love to grow our membership, so contact me or join the group for more info!

Knit, knit, knit!

My knitted dishcloths. Fun and easy, good practice!

My knitting basket with my current and upcoming projects. I keep it conveniently on the couch.

Jasper taking a snooze on the small blanket I knitted for him.

Welcome Gus!

Here is the new family member at Cackleberry Farm. Gus is a Holland Lop. He is friendly, but currently rather frightened at the change in his environment. After I set up his cage and put him in it, he immediately began eating hay, alfalfa pellets, and drinking from his water bottle. I think he will settle in and be just fine. Now Little Bun has a friend! I'll wait a few days before I introduce them.

It is cold here on the homestead, but bunny snuggles keep us warm! All the critters are doing well. We no longer have Randy the Rooster; he killed one hen and injured another, so he has gone to meet his maker. I hate that, but it was necessary.

We have a radiant space heater in the coop next to the waterer to keep the water thawed. The chickies are doing well and the cold does not seem to bother them. When I let them out to range, they happily peck and scratch, finding grass and the occasional mouse.

I am ready to work on seed selection for the spring garden. My Seed Savers catalog came and I am drooling over all the beautiful vegetables!

Heather's wedding

These are candid shots from Heather and B.J.'s wedding. They are an adorable couple. The bride is amazingly lovely and the ceremony was sweet. Heather and B.J. were married on October 10, 2009.



























The reception was at the American Legion in Sullivan. My mother-in-law made the beautiful cake.



First Dance!

Dancing

with Papaw.

Casey danced with

her sister for the

dollar dance!

The bride and

her attendants.

Beautiful

Heather.

With her

proud Daddy.

A smooch

from Daddy!

Heather with

her proud Papaw.

Her grandfather

gave her away.

Mr. and Mrs.

B.J. Everett

The groom and

groomsmen wait

patiently for the

ceremony.






Heather and B.J. honeymooned in Gatlinburg. Love and blessings for a happy life together!

Rededication of the George Rogers Clark Memorial

Shots from the rededication
ceremony for the George Rogers
Clark Memorial.
It was a nice ceremony,
although there was a chilly
breeze from the river.

The Sons of the American Revolution presented a flag and certificates for the flag of George Rogers Clark that was flown over Afghanistan.




The Junior Rangers led the Pledge of
Allegiance.















They were absolutely adorable.























Sons of the
American
Revolution.





















My husband, Chris, looking
professional in his capacity as
a tour guide. He is a VIP, or
national park volunteer.



















The statue of Francis Vigo on the Wabash River.









It was overcast and cool, but the memorial is magnificent, as always.

Today at Cackleberry Farm...

Here is my newest raised bed. I've got the straw in it and will be adding top soil, compost, vermiculite, and worm castings. This is for my winter garden.






This is Scout. She is my baby. Scout is such a docile, friendly chicken. She lets me hold and cuddle her and will make happy chicken noises when I scratch under her feathers. She is also the most curious chicken I have ever seen. She is always first out, loves to examine anything new, and usually is the first to snatch at any treat I toss in the run.

Randy, ready for his close-up. Chris just tolerates Randy. I think he is pretty and I even like to hear him crow. I thought it would irritate me, but it just adds to the farm atmosphere.

Roxie, one of our Barred Plymouth Rocks. Actually, all four Rocks are named Roxie because we can't tell them apart.

Roxie checking out today's lovely eggs. The new girls are still laying mostly small eggs, but they are so pretty. The Rocks lay the darkest brown eggs, they look like chocolate.

Seven eggs so far! I love how the girls share the nesting box.

The gang in the run this afternoon. They gather everytime we come out, hoping for treats. Spoiled chickens! Anyone who talks to me on the phone when I am out back can hear the chickies "talking" to me, begging for treats.

There is always so much to do. I have homework to finish, a dinner to attend, bunnies to care for. I love it!