We reached 82F (nearly 28C) today -- that was a first! Was it last September that I was this warm outside?
It was so unusual, so sudden and, looking ahead at the prognoses, so fleeting, that when we got up to open and freshen up the coop, we decided to stay out.
And this is how I find myself doing raspberry field (you can no longer call it a patch) work before 6 in the morning.
(The chipped area is the repaired field. Oreo and Butter are testing the raspberry leaves of a newly transplanted cane.)
We work hard and stop only because the thought of breakfast on the porch is so tempting me that I can't quite shake the image. (This photo is not of the breakfast table, but from the breakfast table, looking out.)
At midday, I ride Rosie (the moped) past fields to the east, still cultivated by a community of Laotian truck farmers.
I'm on my way to check in with my back therapist. It's my second and final visit, so that we may review the exercises that I really mean to be doing. My back is feeling too fine. If I had a twitch at least, I would have an ongoing reminder of how bad it could get. I would slow down and take heed. As it is, I have no twitch, ache or pull and so I continue to work. But, I have made at least one adjustment and it's a big one: I strap on knee pads when I head out to the yard. They remind me to get down rather than lean forward when I need to weed or plant. You gardeners out there, I strongly recommend them. $8.95 at Farm & Fleet.
Later in the afternoon, I have a wonderful iced tea break with a friend. So yes, I do have a bit of a respite. But immediately after, the garden beckons. Ed and I expand the flower bed and, too, we build a teepee for the soon to be planted purple beans...
And I finally tend to last year's strawberries. They are popping with new growth! I have no doubt that our chicks are going to go after the berries once they grow and ripen. For now, we have draped netting over most of the plants. Ha! As if that will keep chickens away! We'll surely have to adjust our game plan as the season unfolds.
Dusk. Take out pizza, I'm that tired. Head full of daffodils and summer mornings on the porch.
It was so unusual, so sudden and, looking ahead at the prognoses, so fleeting, that when we got up to open and freshen up the coop, we decided to stay out.
And this is how I find myself doing raspberry field (you can no longer call it a patch) work before 6 in the morning.
(The chipped area is the repaired field. Oreo and Butter are testing the raspberry leaves of a newly transplanted cane.)
We work hard and stop only because the thought of breakfast on the porch is so tempting me that I can't quite shake the image. (This photo is not of the breakfast table, but from the breakfast table, looking out.)
At midday, I ride Rosie (the moped) past fields to the east, still cultivated by a community of Laotian truck farmers.
I'm on my way to check in with my back therapist. It's my second and final visit, so that we may review the exercises that I really mean to be doing. My back is feeling too fine. If I had a twitch at least, I would have an ongoing reminder of how bad it could get. I would slow down and take heed. As it is, I have no twitch, ache or pull and so I continue to work. But, I have made at least one adjustment and it's a big one: I strap on knee pads when I head out to the yard. They remind me to get down rather than lean forward when I need to weed or plant. You gardeners out there, I strongly recommend them. $8.95 at Farm & Fleet.
Later in the afternoon, I have a wonderful iced tea break with a friend. So yes, I do have a bit of a respite. But immediately after, the garden beckons. Ed and I expand the flower bed and, too, we build a teepee for the soon to be planted purple beans...
And I finally tend to last year's strawberries. They are popping with new growth! I have no doubt that our chicks are going to go after the berries once they grow and ripen. For now, we have draped netting over most of the plants. Ha! As if that will keep chickens away! We'll surely have to adjust our game plan as the season unfolds.
Dusk. Take out pizza, I'm that tired. Head full of daffodils and summer mornings on the porch.
I spy a little statue in the garden...I like that! Where did he come from?
ReplyDeleteEd's mom was an impassioned artist. When she died, he inherited all she ever put to canvas and, too, her bronze sculptures. I don't much care for the paintings (so depressing!), but we do like the bronze figurines -- very much patterned after Degas. They're in secret places throughout the yard. Good eye!
DeleteGood to hear I am not the only one who really means to do my exercises! And I have such a good Physio. I hate counting so she says 'just do a few" - abc she tries to design exercises that can just become part of everyday life eg "do this as you pick up your shoes". Even so ..!
ReplyDeleteYou are warmer than us downunder now. 19C here today. Autumn leaves glorious. Jean
For me, doing exercises in winter made more sense: I'm so much less active then! But to come in from a day's work outside and do back exercises? The last thing I want to do! I, too, have core stuff I could do throughout the day, inside and out. I just need to get in the habit... :)
DeleteIt just occurred to me that from high above, where the hawks fly, looking down onto the gardens of the farmette - the chickens might just appear to be flowers/plants of various hues and shapes... maybe masking them from those predator's vision somewhat. Picking out a chicken in amongst all that flowery splendor I would think would be a lot more difficult for them, so kudos to you both for this solution!
ReplyDeleteThe chicken and egg thing, Bex! Flowers came first! But you are correct: the garden is getting to be so lush now that the chickens are harder to identify. We've seen MUCH less hawk activity in recent weeks. I just hope they hens don't get too cavalier. THey need to be on alert when in open spaces!
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