Spring Happenings on the Farm

Spring is happening everywhere on the farm. I am forever in awe of the colors. Even the animals seem to realize there has been a big change. The cats hide in tall grass awaiting anything that will skitter, hop, fly or walk by taking pictures.

Even the dandelions tell a tale. The goats love to graze on their gorgeous yellow flowers. They provide nectar for the honey bee and a bouquet for small children who love to bring their blossoms into the house for moms and Nana's everywhere.

They pop up at every turn.

Our drive is edged by lovely crab apple and sand cherry trees. They fill the drive with their colorful beauty.

Up close the colors are an array of pinks and reds.

Apple blossoms fill every branch with their light fragrant scent drawing bees from everywhere.

What a perfectly pure white flower.

Even the Lilac celebrates the season. Our lilacs bloom for about 2 weeks perfuming the air with the most heady aroma and then they are gone.

It seems that any house that I have ever fallen in love with is near a cemetery. They were either across the street or right next door.

I guess it was destiny that we call this farm home. Much love and prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly

Spring Happenings

We hope that all mothers had a very special day regardless of being human or animals. The kids loved having extra hands for bottles. Tarah was home from Thomas College and had a great time feeding the goaties.

Ted spent Mothers Day installing all my new gifts. We will leave it at that. He and the kids coordinated the most spectacular Mothers Day of my life. I am still in awe. My mouth is still agape.

Thank you to Sue, Tiffany, Teddy, Tarah, Leah and Ted. We all feasted on 35 lobster. I did not mind steaming them at all. What a great feast. We have lobster meat in the freezer for a nice dinner of lobster rolls later on. Nothing tastes as good as Maine lobster. I hated to see them return home and I love each of them dearly.

We started working in the garden. Alex, Ted and Jasmine (my 6 yo granddaughter) made scare crows this weekend. Notice the scrubs.

They have pin wheel hands, pirate hats, googly eyes, cushion stuffing for hair. I don't know about the crows but they look kinda scary to me. Now every time I look out the window it takes me a second to realize that some strange people aren't in our garden.

We now have corn, peas, collards, cabbage and tomato plants in. The soaker hoses are doing a great job. This way we can water without having so much evaporate and not benefit the plants.

We plan on working on fence next weekend. The goats are able to come out after they get their morning bottle to forage on the new leaves. They eat and then get sleepy just like human babies. They had to take a nap. Soon they will have pasture and forage just for them. Fences will keep them out of trouble and our garden.

The true sign of spring in our yard aren't these beautiful lilacs just coming into bloom. It is the thousands of dandelions that are blooming everywhere.

I just got an email that my 2 nucs of bees will be in this weekend. Before I pick them up we have to go and pick up another hive body and all the foundation necessary to get them going. I'm still behind. It is wonderful to have spring here but we will be so happily busy working on the farm. We work for the next 3 nights at our real jobs and look forward to time to spend at home after. Best wishes and many blessings from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly

One Step Closer

It's best to look at things in steps so we don't get so overwhelmed. We are one step closer to having a garden. Last year the weeds and bugs got the best of our garden. They completely took over and won. This year we are fighting back. We have added a Huskee 8hp walk behind tiller to our arsenal. It is a bright pretty red. A little dusty right now from the tilling that Alex did on Monday. Today we had a nice slow rain that will sink in and get the ground ready for plants. All we need now is for Mother Nature to crank up the heat.
Here is another step. We have fencing. The pastures beckon. The goats need room to roam. We are in the market for any strong backs to help put this stuff up. Any takers?

And today we got one more step in this process. The rolls of fence have been distributed into the pasture to await our next 4 day stretch off to put it up. It comes in handy having a truck to move the rolls. They weigh a ton. Well, not quite a ton, but they sure are heavy.

We are back to work for the next 3 nights. Things will have to be in limbo for that time. Alex went shopping today and bought plants for the garden. They sit on the outside table awaiting planting. We have plans. We have to work to support our habit. Our homesteading habit that is.

Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Pole Cat Sighted in Bradford Maine

Never fear it is just Oreo purveying his holdings like the King of the homestead that he is. I have always thought they have springs in the legs. This picture just proves it. I think that he must be a guardian cat, keeping hens safe from low flying chicken hawks.

We bought 2 trees the other day, 1 Bing Cherry and 1 Black Cherry. They evidently need cross pollinators, otherwise knows as lovers. Who knew. However, there is a law on our homestead that says anytime you dig a hole you get treasure.

Well maybe not gold or jewels, but rusty stuff.

This turned our to be a rusty old kids bike. We know the last owner used anything as fill, this just really proves it. After much rock removal we were able to plant the trees. Here Alex and Brianna are at work.

And after every job well done comes the deserved rest.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm. Kelly