Making a Homestead: Update in Pictures 4/18/16

             Hey folks! Boy, have we been busy outside! The Indiana monsoon season seems to be on pause for now (or hopefully gone! Not that I don't want water since we need it for plants, but uh, it's one of those “too much of a good thing” scenarios.) and the weather has been perfect! We've really been cracking down on getting things done. Lucky for you, I've been so busy and haven't had much time to get on the computer and write that this update will be mostly pictures and minimal rambling! (hopefully ;) )

             I finally got some pictures of the area next to the walkway that's finished! See that weird spot in the back next to the stones in both of the bottom pictures? Yah. That's the mole hill that turned into a geyser I was telling you about in a previous post. We finally found a new home for those plants and rocks in the background too. ;)

             Here's the other side of the walkway (on the left) that wasn't finished. We actually worked on that this week too. I replanted some zinnias that John and Myka had started indoors. He and I planted a bunch of herbs there as well in the evening Saturday: lavender, hyssop, borage, lemon balm, and another one I'm forgetting.

On the right is right after it rained in the area we had finished. Now you know why I hadn't gotten any pictures of it last time. lol

             On the left, Myka was “helping” me dig up the remaining hostas and giant yucca. I think she was actually trying to cover a worm back up in the picture. We've been talking about them a lot since we've been doing a lot of digging and I told her they would dry out and die if they were out in the sun too long. ;) Top right, we cut down yet another tree. I don't even want to think about all of the other trees and limbs that need cut. Moving on...I worked on half of the garden one day. I weed whacked it and spread some leaves over it. I still need to get a tarp to put over it. I haven't even started on the other half that we planted in last fall. * sigh * (Have I mentioned we don't have a tiller?)

             Speaking of the rocks above that we moved, they found their new home in making the fire pit a little bigger. :)

             We got the fruit trees planted the week before last, if I didn't mention that in the last update. It's not much, but it's a start, right?

             The chickens have grown a LOT this week! We both think one of the Australorps might be a rooster. It's unfortunate for him if he is because he will be the first to go to freezer camp. Myka and I have been bringing them treats of dandelion heads and chickweed more regularly. It didn't take them long to start coming up to us right away when we come in. ha ha One of the Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons are already getting adventurous and trying to be escape artists when we open the door to leave. Oh boy.

             Last, but not least, I present to you what I like to call “the redneck clothesline”. So, the actual metal clothesline pole was here when we bought the place. Who the hell knows what happened to the other one. So, with all these limbs we've had to clean up lately, we decided to make good use of one and use it as the other pole. :D I've already been sunning some stains out of diapers. Woo hoo! If I've never mentioned it, I very much enjoy having a handy husband!

Until next time...