you're more curious than i, love
i can't say i care much about seeing
what the world is like
a thousand years from now.
at least, not alone.
but, if you're going to be there
sailing around on the sea
that was once the san joaquin valley
then i think i would like to join you.
i'll make sandwiches.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
parking lot picnic
had a nice afternoon out with my two favorite guys...
lucky for me, zane prefers sandwiches and chips over bananas---that and he'd already helped me finish a chicken breast so i was no longer of much use to him in the snacks department.
 |
| partying outside the health food store |
lucky for me, zane prefers sandwiches and chips over bananas---that and he'd already helped me finish a chicken breast so i was no longer of much use to him in the snacks department.
question and answer
all my life i have been wishing.
and by wishing i mean the pure prayers a child makes.
wishing to know
asking
who will save me from myself?
and by wishing i mean the pure prayers a child makes.
wishing to know
asking
who will save me from myself?
this one thing we all need.
and love can bring it
in all its mysterious manifestations.
and loss can bring it
in all its raw and honest declarations.
life, the universe, is always
listening
always answering.
and it was with loss that i began to
hear,
to see,
to open to the answer.
and it was in this opening,
in the countless fractures of the
heart,
that the universe answered.
and a man answered
and i, myself, answered.
and the heart goes on breaking and
opening,
asking and answering,
in its own ever-brightening faith.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
chicken delivery
a few days ago we lost a hen (leaving us with only one)---possibly to a coyote. i often let the birds out of their run in the afternoon so they can forage for bugs and other goodies. i was in and out that afternoon (mostly out) but didn't hear or see a thing. when it came time to close up the birds for the night i found one very anxious hen pacing on the roost and after looking around a bit i found some feathers strewn around on the ground near the mill office.
i didn't want our remaining hen to be lonely so i asked the friedlands if they could spare a hen for a companion. they generously agreed and yesterday fred drove up with two lovely black australorp hens. they're hens i raised from day old chicks when i was living at the ranch (the australorp hens and my dark cornish hen actually shared a brooder when they were chicks) so it's kind of neat to be reunited with them.
i kept the birds in separate runs for a couple hours so they could get reacquainted and i could make sure everyone was going to get along.
about an hour or so before sunset i let the australorps into the other run with the cornish and the three of them did quite well together. the australorps were a little hesitant about going into the tractor to roost for the night so staal and i quietly guided them in when it was time for bed. it'll probably take a little time for everyone to adjust but i think it will work out well for all.
hopefully some time this year i'll be able to get some chicks to raise for layers and maybe some for meat. we'll see how it goes. for now i'm very happy to have the hens we've got. thank you, friedlands!
i didn't want our remaining hen to be lonely so i asked the friedlands if they could spare a hen for a companion. they generously agreed and yesterday fred drove up with two lovely black australorp hens. they're hens i raised from day old chicks when i was living at the ranch (the australorp hens and my dark cornish hen actually shared a brooder when they were chicks) so it's kind of neat to be reunited with them.
i kept the birds in separate runs for a couple hours so they could get reacquainted and i could make sure everyone was going to get along.
 |
| getting reacquainted |
 |
| enjoying a "welcome to the neighborhood" snack |
about an hour or so before sunset i let the australorps into the other run with the cornish and the three of them did quite well together. the australorps were a little hesitant about going into the tractor to roost for the night so staal and i quietly guided them in when it was time for bed. it'll probably take a little time for everyone to adjust but i think it will work out well for all.
hopefully some time this year i'll be able to get some chicks to raise for layers and maybe some for meat. we'll see how it goes. for now i'm very happy to have the hens we've got. thank you, friedlands!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
potting succulents and bench additions
pretty cold out today but nice and sunny. when the cold air started getting to me this afternoon but i hadn't gotten enough sunshine i headed for the greenhouse. i had fun repotting some succulents and as i worked i made a few additions to my bench to make things handier.
i like the interesting forms of succulents. i also like that they're easy to take care of and easy to propagate.
succulents in the crassula family lose their leaves pretty easily if bumped---once those leaves hit the soil they start sprouting roots and become new plants (see below).
others, like agaves and aloes, grow offshoots from their bases (pups) complete with their own roots---all you have to do is cut them from the mother plant.
as i was working and the ergonomics became clearer. i hung a bucket of potting soil within easy reach...
and put up some hooks for often-used tools.
it was nice and warm in the greenhouse today and working in there was a pleasure. i'm not the only one who has been enjoying it...
i'm hoping to get tools and supplies organized within the next couple weeks so i'll be ready to get to work starting seeds for the spring. it's exciting stuff.
i like the interesting forms of succulents. i also like that they're easy to take care of and easy to propagate.
succulents in the crassula family lose their leaves pretty easily if bumped---once those leaves hit the soil they start sprouting roots and become new plants (see below).
others, like agaves and aloes, grow offshoots from their bases (pups) complete with their own roots---all you have to do is cut them from the mother plant.
 |
| an aloe with a healthy litter of pups |
 |
| a cluster of pups |
 |
| pups separated from the cluster pictured above |
as i was working and the ergonomics became clearer. i hung a bucket of potting soil within easy reach...
and put up some hooks for often-used tools.
it was nice and warm in the greenhouse today and working in there was a pleasure. i'm not the only one who has been enjoying it...
 |
| jack already has a favorite spot on a shelf |
 |
| a nap in the sunshine |
i'm hoping to get tools and supplies organized within the next couple weeks so i'll be ready to get to work starting seeds for the spring. it's exciting stuff.
spruce
yesterday we got our little christmas tree in the ground---just off the front drive in a nice sunny spot where we can see it from the front yard.
it's a beautiful little tree. i hope it'll be happy here.
it's a beautiful little tree. i hope it'll be happy here.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
hello, 2015
2014 was an amazing year and i can't believe how quickly it passed. staal and i put in a lot of work (most of it felt more like play to me) over the last year and our little homestead is shaping up quite nicely. in addition to the little things we do every day to make this place more comfortable and more functional we had some major projects in 2014...
the 2500 gallon water storage tank
the hand pump for the shallow well
the raised beds in the kitchen garden
the deer fence
fruit trees
more fruit trees
the greenhouse
it was a bountiful year in the garden.
and wonderful fun with these guys...
couldn't imagine making it all a reality without a certain blue-eyed someone. so grateful for the hard work, love, and companionship of my beautiful husband.
a very happy new year to all!
the 2500 gallon water storage tank
the hand pump for the shallow well
the raised beds in the kitchen garden
the deer fence
fruit trees
more fruit trees
the greenhouse
it was a bountiful year in the garden.
and wonderful fun with these guys...
couldn't imagine making it all a reality without a certain blue-eyed someone. so grateful for the hard work, love, and companionship of my beautiful husband.
a very happy new year to all!
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