Catching Up on Summer

I was a little shocked to learn I hadn't blogged here since April.

So I figured one big post of the summer

would get all 2 of my readers you caught up.

In May, we had our first camping trip with the new-to-us popup.

It was also the dog's first camping trip.

I'd say it was a success.

We had rain.

We had a lot of rain.

I think we had more rain than the Biblical flooding of Noah's time.

It was definitely more than 40 days and nights.

We salvaged some stuff from the parochial school at the Catholic church.

Yes, we cut out an entire double door entry way.

We had some baseball.

We starred in the town's annual cabaret show

(this year was based on the 60's)

We dug up more garden space and found bricks.

I really hate bricks.

We had another camping trip, this one being a week long vacation

on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

We saw wild ponies.

We burned stuff.

I started a project in the upstairs hallway.  

It's nearly done, 

and I'll post all the before and after photos when it is.

The garden hosted many monarchs.

I had so many caterpillars that they stripped all of the available milkweed.

I'll have to plant more next year.

(I had a lot- close to 20 large plants)

And there were shenanigans.

We also were going through some stressful times

concerning our family's place on the water.

You can read about that here.

So the summer is behind us,

and there are lots of projects ahead for the fall and winter.

(and more time to blog)

Feelin' HOT HOT HOT

Baby, it's hot out there!

While working in the garden one evening,

I noticed several of the chickens were holding their wings away from there body

and "panting".

Having read this was a sign they were getting over heated,

I grabbed a bucket and filled it with cool water.

Then one by one I stuck them in the bucket of water.

None of them were happy about being grabbed, 

but they all seemed to appreciate the cooling affect of the water.

My Jersey Giant Lenore 

.(formerly one of the Heckle and Jeckle pair but since I lost the other JG,

there was no longer a pair, 

so she's named for the woman in the Edgar Allen Poe poem The Raven)

anyway, Lenore wasn't quick to get out the water. 

She stayed in the bucket for a couple of minutes while I splashed water over her back.

Afterwards, they all seemed much happier and began scratching and exploring the grass

in the temporary run.

So remember, when it's hot outside, keep an eye on your chickens

and keep a bucket handy in case they start showing signs of being overheated!