The morning started out simply pleasant. I donned my white sundress and the embroidered cream apron before slipping my stocking feet into the usual garden footwear of black muck boots. They do not stay on long. Mostly something to cover my feet as I tromp into the hen yard with their Morning scratch & feed.
Ming has now become familiar with the sound my feet slipping into those boots, so she raced me to the garden. I propped the Run door open and allowed the chickens to free range all day. It may sound pleasant, and surely it was, until they got into my garden...
I'll save that tidbit for later.
I grabbed my double sided Hoe and proceeded to scrap & rake up the flower bed. Loosening all the little green weeds which had germinated. I will need to keep at this for another month before I put the flower seeds in. That way I can eliminate majority of the weed seed and cut down on issues later on.
The heat came on early today and despite the weather guy claiming it at 80 F degrees, I swore it had to be 85. My body is not adjusted yet to the higher heat. So I forced myself inside around Lunch time and did not go back out for a few hours. I grabbed some cardboard egg cartons from my egg stash cabinet for which I began the acorn squash {Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato, to be exact} as well as an Italian Zuc and my husbands joyful Chinese 5 color peppers.
I planted the Tall Telephone Garden Peas zig zag both sides of the Bentwood trellis.I finished up the weeding of in & outside perimeters of the garden. Now I need to just keep an eye out for any creepy invaders but not worry too much being I made a 4 inch trench between my garden & the grass.
The insects were out as though it were Summer. I saw a beetle bug I, at first, swore it was a Lightening bug. I smiled & felt giddy that I would see one so soon out here swaying amongst the willow tree greens.. After closer inspection, I knew it was not- unless their glow lanterns become all black in the early season and their head is sort of appendage like. Lightening bug head & bodies are in one sleek form. Even the lady bugs were gathered in the willow. The light breeze swayed the wispy branches around me, causing a ladybug to land on my apron as I stood still in the moment. Can you spot her in the photo?
The afternoon heat became a bit overwhelming for Ming the Peke. The children accompanied me into the garden after school and Ming went straight to her "cooling rock". My Hypertuffa Burdock Leaf in the cool weather crop corner. She rarely fails to cause a smile with behavior.
Although her relaxed mood is interrupted with the the cackling which begins to echo from the woods, just beyond the Bee Yard. The Ladies were all in a fuss. I am sure someone had shoved another out of the BEST dust bath...  Possibly the bugs which they have found to be abundant in those woods, have begun to go scarce under the thick wild grapevines meandering across the grass & tree edge. An argument ensuing over the tasty morsel.. Whichever it may be, Esmeralda was soon the target of Ming's "I'm the Boss" attitude with the checking of her chickens. My son & Youngest soon rescued her as I gave Ming a stern talking to {of which I do believe she ignored... Typical Pekingeses. Think they run everything}.
Just before we had to head in for Dinner { a spicy meat lasagna}, My little one & I planted the Chives our neighbor brought over. We watered all the young plants as well as the newly planted chives with our Comfrey rainwater tea. My green bucket holds this mixture all year round. Should the water dissipate between uses, I simply fill it back up from the rain or snow, should it be winter.
I brought a gallon jug of my Garden gold into the house for watering of my seedlings. I do believe I heard a sigh of joy as I gently poured this nutrient packed rain water onto their cells. O.k.. Maybe not from them. More like I was the one sighing. Sighing over how I had dreamed for months to be in that very moment upon which I found I was finally in.
A Simply pleasant day in every way.
Sweetest Dreams,
~Tammie