8.20.2013

Apple Antics

Used to be, when we moved the goat pasture, Farmer Fin drove the truck that pulls the sheds while I ran behind shouting encouragements, tried to manage the livestock, and hooked and unhooked the sheds to and from the truck. We recently discovered, though, that it all goes more smoothly if I just take the goats down the hill and distract them while Fin does all the other stuff. Naturally, this arrangement works for me! And what better way to distract a herd of goats than hanging out under the apple trees. 
Jasmine Looks Apple-Crazed

Bluebell Gets a Little Help From her Mom

Jas and Jade Need No Help

Even the Littles Are Big Enough to Reach Some Apples

Pansy Is in Apple Ecstasy

YUM!

The apples are getting ripe. It's a good time to be a goatherd.

8.14.2013

Cucumbrance

In June, I planted cucumbers, as I always do. Shortly after the plants came up, they were eaten by rabbits. I cursed the bunnies and replanted, certain that there would be no cukes in my garden this year. Boy, was I wrong. I ended up with nine pickling cucumber plants and four slicers. Now I am harvesting every day, and even still, there's always a cuke that hides beneath the leaves and grows to be a big fat monster.
Granted, my hands are small, but still!
Today I pickled at least eight pounds of cucumbers. I like them garlicky and dilly, fermented or fresh.
Today's Batch
Here's my pickle inventory so far, minus the jar of sour dills in the fridge. In the foreground, today's fresh garlic dills. In the background, a crock of sour dills ferments, to be canned in a week or two. And on the right, two quarts of spears ready to start fermenting.


After this, I think I'll have to get creative. Luckily, this year, the monster cukes won't go to waste. The pigs love them almost as much as they love watermelon.
Watermelon Smile



8.07.2013

Higher Ground

The goats have made it to the top - the highest pasture on the hill, "where the air is fresh and clean," as the Tom Waits song goes, and where the big rusty old farm implement is, for Bluebell's enjoyment.