Today's Harvest

Can you believe this is just one day's bounty!!! The rain we had the last few weeks has really paid off in great gardens this year. A few days ago, I picked wild blackberries too!!!! The tomatoes are SLOWLY turning red and there are a ton of them, so when they hit I will be canning , canning, canning! My freezer is getting full of corn on the cob, cream corn and cut corn. I have also frozen a bunch of peaches, canned some pickled AND spiced beets. In addition, I put up some zucchini relish and bread and butter pickles. And the grapes you see in the picture are soooo sweet!!! When I think back on how difficult it was to grow a garden in California, I am so glad to be here. Life is good in Ohio.

Abby and Eli Come For A Visit

Abby ahd Eli came to spend Friday and Saturday with us this past weekend. We had so much fun! First, while Grandpa took our amish friends flying, we got to run around the meadow picking berries. Then we came in and watched Sponge Bob and made paperdolls. And ate a little candy.

Abby trying on my "old lady can't see small things" glasses. She actually looks good in them.

Next we had a campfire weenie roast!

This is how Taffy looks whenever Eli is around.

My attempt at the American Gothic, only no one was cooperating.

Saturday we took the kids to an Amish auction to support our new friends the Yoders. Now that was fun. Homemade ice cream, berry pie, funnel cakes (that's just what the kids ate there!) and lots of animals to pet. Abby got a hold of a small kitten and carried it around most of the day. There were ponies, goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, cows...... Plus the fellowship of the Yoders and their family (alot!!!!) and friends. A perfect day. And of course there are no pictures for obvious reasons. Next we went to the County fair even though it wasn't completely up and running. Pouring rain cut our day short but not until we ate a little fair food and saw some more animals. Back home to pack up their stuff and off to meet their mom. This is how we returned them...exhausted!

Georgia

We flew the plane down to Georgia to see Cindy's family and relax a little. Here is Ryan, Chloe, Phoebe and Ron watching a little TV the first evening we were there. Waiting to go to the zoo!!!

The first thing they see when we walk in are the pink flamingos!!!

Here the girls are feeding the parakeets.

Even grandpa gave it a try.

Don't remember what they are looking at, but it must have been good.

The girls pose on EVERY statue that we come across!!

Here they are being monkeys!!

Phoebe

Chloe (I'm showing off that I can tell them apart!)

The baby panda. Ma Ma. This tiger got hot and took a short dip to cool off.

Here they are the next day getting pushed on their new swing set that Ryan made.

We had a great time and really miss spending time with their family. Those girls are so much fun and so very entertaining!

Almost Done!!!

Well we are almost done with the chicken house and it is really great. Not only is it very well built but it has a solar powered chicken door! Opens at dawn and closes at dusk. Now if we could just get the chickens to go in on time.

Here is Ron finishing the gate into the chicken yard. Roosting nests were the next order of business. These didn't take too long to put together and I even can use the top as a shelf for extra stuff. Two of the girls trying out the rock step.

Ron welded iron rods into prison bars that are buried about 6 inches into the ground. Nothing should be able to get them now!

Happy Fourth of July

Friday we had the Elders and Jenn and Chuck's family over for a BBQ. I thought I better take a picture of the table before everyone started moving things!!!

This is Elders Byrd and Lopez. We were so glad they could join us!

Abby and Eli were the first ones to the table.

It was IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone to cooperate for a group picture. I finally gave up and just took one.

After dinner we went to the firework show downtown at the park. They had a petting zoo set up along with booths that sold ice cream and cotton candy. Yum Yum.

This was the softest bunny in the world!!!!

Fireworks started at 10 pm and were great. Got home at 11:30 and fell into bed!! Too much fun for one day. Happy Fourth of July to all of you!!

A Humid Day in June

I thought I would update you all on life here at our place. It is very muggy today, and thunderstorms are expected tomorrow. I took a few pictures from up at the barnyard to post. Here is a good shot of one of our girls in the chicken house.

They aren't afraid of the flash at all.

I think they hope I have a few more worms for them. These are Barred Rock hens.

Here is some of the corn we planted. The green house in the middle of the garden. Behind it are tomatoes and squashes. Some of the corn is from our amish friends the Yoders. They say it is the best sweet corn and I can't wait to try it. You can also just make out the grapes.

A closer shot of the beets, radish and a bit of asparagus at the side. We also planted watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, garlic, collards, strawberries, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, herbs, leeks, onions....did I forget anything?

I mowed a new path through the woods on Saturday. It is fun to go back in there and really feel secluded.

Here is a shot of the skunk hole, yep, the same one that has a thing for metal cat dishes. Tonight I am watching to see if I spy any fireflies. That always marks the real start of summer for us.