Just another week

Well... maybe not.

Saturday we finally got around to weighing the lambs. One month after weaning they averaged 52 pounds, or approximately 0.3 pounds per day. This is not great, but it's about what we usually get on our pasture. They had no supplemental grain until weaning. Next year we're going to try creep feeding them and see if we can pack a few more pounds on early and try to help out the lambs who have mamas with lower milk production. The scales worked out pretty well, but we need to work on some enhancements, like perhaps a cage around the platform with front and rear guillotine gates.

Sunday we enjoyed a day to ourselves, birthday dinner, a little shopping, and browsing at the book fair (okay, we didn't just browse, we bought some too!). Monday we celebrated Brian's 35th birthday, actually celebrated is probably too strong of a word, but anyway it happened. Tuesday an earthquake shook much of the eastern US. The epicenter was about 80 miles from here. I felt the tremors but we don't seem to have any damage. I was surprised at how loud the rumbling was, like a freight train headed straight at you or a helicopter descending directly on you. I don't really remember seeing items shaking, but I am pretty sure I saw the deck lurch. It was an experience I won't soon forget, but I was actually glad to find out it was just an earthquake. My initial thought was that something in the basement was about to explode. Now there's a hurricane headed for us, but it doesn't look like things will be too bad here in the mountains. Interesting timing because the new book I'm reading is about Hurricane Camille and the devastating flood in the county just east of us (that was in 1969). Today's Thursday, and I just got word that our new nephew, Easton, has arrived. Looking forward to a trip north in a couple of weeks to meet him and see the rest of the family. We also picked 5 five-gallon buckets of tomatoes this week, had our first sweet corn, dug our potatoes, and picked two buckets of cantaloupes. So, all in all a pretty exciting week! 

The broiler chicks at 1 week. I didn't get a two-week old picture, and today is three weeks, so I will have to remember to take the camera with me when I feed this evening.

 Brian made another batch of mozzarella, and we fried some to use up some of the pizza sauce that is still hanging around in the fridge. Thanks to Tammy for a fabulous recipe and for the milk that we used to make the cheese! This was an incredible treat.  Above, before frying; below, the ooey-gooey fried deliciousness. Note, if you do this, don't put the fried mozzarella on a paper towel because the cheese sticks too much.

 We've been grinding our homegrown wheat and trying out the flour. So far, so good. Very good. Brian's biscuits in particular were delicious.

 Still picking red raspberries! 

 And still seeing all sorts of wildlife. We've seen the turkeys less often, but here they are crossing the electronet again.

 Hummingbird coming in for a landing.

And momentarily perched.

Bountiful Summer

Here's another picture-heavy post that gives you an idea of what's been going on this week.

The tomatoes are ripening now, and we'll probably need to make some sauce this weekend.

Heirloom oxhearts

The white peaches will also be ready soon. They are bigger than usual this year.

Red raspberries! None of these made it to the house...

Zucchini has finally done well this year. I tried this zucchini chowder recipe from the Simply In Season cookbook, and it was delicious!

The ewes and Leroy are now at the farm we rent, where they will have plenty of grass and plenty of space.

This is a butterfly bush planted right outside the kitchen window; I love their scent and it is so much fun to look out the window and spot butterflies and other insects.

Different bush, but it's been a favorite spot for butterflies this summer too! All my work in the flower beds is starting to pay off!

We planted these zinnias on the edges of the pepper garden to help attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.

I'm pretty sure this insect perched on the sunflowers at the pepper garden is a beneficial, but I haven't taken the time to look up what kind it is.

The hummingbirds were slow in arriving this summer, but they are here in droves now. I caught this one taking a break in the mimosa tree.

The mimosa has such interesting blooms and it is extremely attractive for hummingbirds and butterflies.