Tubby is building a knife

 His first knife. He had to do lots of sanding to clean it up. It was a blank that Patrick just had extra sitting in the shop. So he gave it to him. 

They worked on the start of the handle tonight. He is so proud! I am too. So big and learning a trade. For a few months he has been practicing sharpening knives. He is getting good enough that Grandma hired him on her last visit here. 

    He has focus and determination. It is nothing to see him sit for 20 or thirty minutes focused on sharpening. 

   

Today.

Lima beans planted. 

Weeded 3 rows in the house garden. 

Finished pulling the cabbages that I meant to yesterday. 

Showered. 

 

Now making lunch. 

Then I hope to:

Sew on my dutchmans puzzle scrap quilt. (I'm around half done with the 80 blocks needed) 

Work in the west garden. Mulching and planting more squash. Also weeding around the plants.

Feed and walk Fawn. 

Make supper. Thinking deer chops and grilled potatoes with onions. With sauerkraut. 

Garden June 27 2016

Early this morning, playing with the lite brite. 

Peppers are looking happy. I used 6 hot peppers in s gallon of kraut on Friday. (Today is Monday) 

I also direct seeded some in the other garden on Friday. Hope they come up fast and well. This is no where near enough peppers for us...

Radish gone to seed. Either for this fall planting or next spring. 

Comfrey planted around the apple trees. 

Kale gone to seed. 

Happy apples. Mmmm 

We love these as they bloom all summer long. And need next to no care. 

I need more easy flowers. Though if like some that I only need to plant once...

I weeded this tiny bed this morning. After I finished planting the sweet potato slips. Finally... Only a mth past Shen I wanted it done....

Radish bed. Our smallest bed. 

Cherry tomatoes that Malachi and I direct seeded. I hope to do the same next year. But sooner. Hopefully in a hoop house. 

Horseradish. It grows so fast! We need to pick some of the greens for dinner soon. 

Comfrey. I plan to dig it all up to move it around the apple trees that still need it. It would leave more room here for other things. Or just more comfrey. Either way. 

Daikon radish bed. Also a bit of purselane and a couple green beans as well. 

Happy pineapple. And lemon trees. 

Sad pineapple. Lemon trees. Cilantro. Unknown plant as well. 

Cabbage. The moths are getting bad. Despite squishing the caterpillars we can find. And it is just getting to hot. 

Cutest one. 

I plan to finish picking it tomorrow for more sauerkraut. Yummy!

I am going to plant Lima beans in its place. Not sure how they'll do though. They are more of a spring crop. But I must try it. 

My mil brought me more seeds. Do I planted more yellow squash and cucumbers. Green beans. And sweet potato slips. 

    I lost a pack of green beans. And a pack of watermelon. Oops. Hopefully I find them this week. But I have lots to do if I don't. I wish I had a lb of green bean seeds to plAnt though. 

     I planted sunflower seeds today as well. I am a slow gardener. But I'm trying. 

Pathetic.

The love these to have. Around here we call it pathetic. She must get hugs like this many times during the day. He drinks it up. She signs Daddy's girl anytime she wants anything. Anything. It is really funny. 

Friends!

We had great friends here for 2 weeks. One week was planned. The other was a surprise. But it was so fun and such a blessing! 

    We have been friends since I was 16. There was a little shop in Enterprise ks that I sold soap and candles in. Vicki also sold her crafts there. At 17 I started attending their church on occasion. And at 18 when Patrick and I started spending lots of time with them. It has become a deep friendship. 

   We love them. They were military so at times he was overseas. Too many times. And some of the time we lived in separate states. But we always managed to see each other more than yearly. 

    God has blessed our families. In deaths of our son and their daughter we saw each other grieve. The highs and lows. We took bible studies together. 

   We have taught each other. Her teaching me way more than the other way. ;)

  We have worked together. And played. 

  It was such a blessing having them here to help and for fellowship. As she says there is always work on the farm. They even joked about just staying here. We accomplished so much. Most meals were shared. It was heavenly. Life shared is best. 

   They are traveling the USA with their last child at home. The plan is for a year. Can't wait to see them again!

Water!

Summer swimming. Never thought a baby pool would please all my children. But add in a long slide and we have a game changer. It is wonderful on days like these. Though today is so mild compared to the last several. 

Joelle

Painting has become a big interest of hers again. It had fallen by the wayside for a while. 

She and a friend watched a Bob Ross video last night. While she is using a different medium than he generally did she felt like she learned more. I plan on getting his videos at some point. 

 I'd like to do art classes. But I haven't been successful in finding classes. And beings I have no interest in leaving the house very often.... 

    

    

Beets!

We have eaten piles of beets. It started as soon as the radishes took a break. I had planted a couple weeks apart. To extend the season. And also let some go to seed. (Radishes)

Rhyyan has been wanting to get out to the garden for two days to pick more. But something would keep her attention or interrupt her. So this morning she went out and picked a arm full.  The rule here is if picked they are used immediately. Wilted beets aren't as tasty. So that also plays into when we pick them. 

Here she was playing with photography. 

So fun!

We love beets and their greens. I plan to plant a very large amount this fall. All from this spring are being used fresh. I have considered canning them. But fresh veggies everyday is so wonderful. I still might. Cabbage is ready to pick in a couple days. And I have lots of peppers coming on. Maybe ill ferment a mix up. 

Because she just steals the show around here.

Canning/Fermenting log

I'm hoping to keep a on going log of my canning and fermenting this year. At least of the things that I grow. Obviously we are eating lot of fresh stuff. But I'm hoping to preserve as much as possible. And keep track of what I need to do more of next year....

Canning:

18 pints beet greens

47 qts Apple sauce 

62 qts Apple pie filling 

14 pints pickled peppers 

2pints 1 qt pickled okra 

6 pints 1 qt peaches

1 pint salsa

2 pints tomatoes 

6 pints peach jam

2 pints mint jelly 

2 pints honeysuckle jelly

2 pints watermelon rind pickles 

Fermenting:

1 gallon hot pepper/cabbage sauerkraut 

5 quarts sauerkraut 

10 gallons Apple scrap vinegar 

Dried:

5 gallons Apple slices

Stolen chicken

Daddy's #1 fan girl!

Stole his chicken then paraded it around the house like this before eating her spoils. Too funny. 

Naomi!!

This is her 'smile' or 'cheese' face. I love it!