Fun

It's been a week of fun and mayhem on the farm.  Let's forgo the latter and focus on the former!

The new outhouse in the middle of the woods.  One employee was making far too many frequent and lengthy trips back to the office to go potty.  Rather than issuing Depends, we uprooted a tiny garden shed from one end of the property and relocated to another.
For a bench, I used the former manager's dining room table.  Poetic justice, I say.

Last year, the barn was fogged four times a day with noxious fly spray, coating the worker, horses and their water, I've eliminated that system.  And replaced it with the barn swallow squadron. 

Six swallows live in the barn now and swoop around the horses to eat flies.  Since I've forbidden the use of 2-4D and the barrage of other chemicals the previous manager was dumping on the property, we now have wild flower meadows, bats around the barn, tree frogs are making a comeback, everything is coming back on line.  Mother Nature can't be controlled, why do people fight so hard against her, when harnessing her powers is so much more rewarding?

Example of a reward:  Tall Bearded Iris called Starring.
Another reward:  the barn swallows provide Cole with endless entertainment.

All that herding of birds can make a boy hungry.

He loves helping me when I mix three brands of food to make his custom mix.  A helpful lad.
Two other helpful lads:

The guys who make running this farm possible. 

Jared has a wicked sense of humor.  He had a tooth pulled and wasn't supposed to bend over.  He wanted to change the blade on the mower, so he picked up this 150 lb commercial mower and set it up on a bench.  "Are you happy, now, I'm not bending over?"... what can I say???
Even the horses around here are helpful.

Oreo offered to hold himself while the farrier worked on his feet.  Wouldn't it be nice if I could walk off and get back to my leisurely pursuits:

I've decided to build scrapbooks for my iris and day lily collections.  Like I needed another project...

Anne-Marie

A snowbird landed at the farm over the weekend.

Anne-Marie quickly metamorphosed from Toronto urbanite to ranch hand.

Riding with Trail Boss, Tommy.


Bonding with the John Deere:

Auditioning for a role in my coyote annihilation posse.

Study material:

Passing grades:

All that work can make one hungry.  I received a look of disapproval when I dumped a can of peas onto our salad and attempted to sprinkle Kraft cheese on it.  Anne-Marie is a chef, nationally acclaimed cheese judge and culinary arts professor... I may be a decent camp cook, but she raised the bar sky high.

For two solid days, my kitchen was besieged by the Canadian Julia Child.

Instruction was given on the making of a proper 6 hour chicken stock.

Not only did my house smell good, but the aroma wafted out and greeted me in the driveway when I came home from work.
It wasn't all work though. We toured the famous drive thru art museum.

The outing was intended as a joke, but Anne-Marie was gaga about the folk art! 

My childish side preferred to ride the wrecking ball art.

Maybe that's what spawned the idea that I should mount my previously never ridden draft horse.

Step 1: find a ladder to climb aboard.
Step 2: Jerry rig a bridle with twine.

Step 3: Take his best friend along for the ride...

...since Bella's death, Axel won't leave his protector's side.
Like ever:

Crazy Glue has nothing on them!
Nor us:

Best friends since 10!
Now BFF with the extended family too.

Anytime this snow bird wants to migrate back down South, she's welcome.  I guess I'll just starve until then:(

Minus One

I'm sad.  My father has returned to Canada.  He made his escape from the farm Friday morning.  He assures me it had nothing to do with the 12 hour days we were working here...

He's promised to come back in the Fall for another month.  He's a glutton for punishment.

In his absence, I've been trying to cheer myself up by wandering in the garden.

Death by Gardening

If I die this year, put out an APB for a fenced one acre plot of sandy loam, goes by the names:  Jamie's Garden or Devil's Acre.  It's trying to kill me.

My ambitions or copperheads will do me in.

Sunday, this copperhead snake and I had a brief argument about the rock I was trying to steal for my chicken coop. He won.
On the topic of signs of doom... there's been a lone vulture circling above my garden.  Could it be the dead fish?

Nah.

Three day old bass buried in 70 holes to act as fertilizer for my corn hills.

My field of dreams using the three sisters planting method:  corn, beans and squash. Note all the weeds.  Anyone wishing to learn how to weed can apply for free internship now!
Like right now.  Operators standing by...
Fine. Be like that.

Apart from all the flowers, there will be some edibles.

Greens for the chickens:

Carrots for the horses:

Corn for the cattle:

Fodder beets for the cattle too:

Food for the bees:

Rutabaga for the mama:

As practical as vegetables are, my passions lay elsewhere.

Caught reading my smutty magazine.

I need professional help.

Is there a support group for iris addicts?

Real Quick

Events from the past two week-- real quick:

Dad's been an asset to the farm, working on whatever project comes up.

More irises received!

Angus and Axel are now a firm part of the main herd, Angus having swiftly established himself as head honcho (with his wittle side kick always at his side).
Last week, we celebrated the 29th and 30th birthdays of two of our Super Senior horses, with carrot cake, of course.

So it is around here:  the three W's. 
Work at the gym.
Work on the farm.

Work in the garden.

Tip toe through the tulips...

In this case, it's irises.  The blooming has officially begun!

The first to show:  Root Beer.  One of the new additions to my flock from the 53 new irises I ordered last year to add to my collection.  And yes, it smells of root beer too.  Be still my beating heart!
The tide is a changing down here-- finally.  Things are looking up.  My Dad arrived from Canada yesterday!!!
No picture of him, he crashed after our 5 mile walk in the woods last night.  Welcome to Jamie's Boot Camp.