Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
6.25.2010
6.10.2010
6.08.2010
5.18.2010
5.06.2010
4.22.2010
early morning musings
this morning i am sipping coffee and blogging before riding my bicycle to work.
it's earth day and thus, get to work green day. its cold and blustery and riding my bicycle does not feel very enticing. but the ride is short and regardless of random holidays, my intention has been to bike more.
the house seems quieter with puff the cat gone but maybe its just different.
i hope that he is finding a home better suited to him and while i feel bad i also feel elated that i will not be cleaning up cat piss anymore.
last night we caught cholo (my lionhead bunny) finally and he has now been deposited in the hutch with moses (the grey mini-rex). it's already given moses more to do and beyond keeping the garden safe, it will be a better bunny experience for the both of them and that makes me happy. i'm realizing i can feed them the weeds from the front yard and likely kitchen scraps.
the garden is looking good.
i was impatient and pessimistic but things are starting to grow. more than anything i remember not harvesting in time, so i think my expectations were for wild, uncontrollable growth. i forget, that isn't until the heat comes. there is now steady rows of beets and carrots, arugula and radishes. i even see a few parsnips and salad greens coming through. the peas are sparse, i may plant again this weekend.
i'm trying to decide if i should be concerned about cross polination in my squash, melons, cucumbers and corn. thoughts? it mainly affects where i plant things.
the potatoes in the drive way are starting to poke through—i am not sure what elias has planned. on easter i came home to find my neighbor getting the driveway bed ready and when he mentioned he would plant potatoes i went running for my box of sprouted farm-grown potatoes. yes! potatoes are something i have wanted to grow and are somehow intimidated. i've never done it right yet. now he can be their primary caregiver and i will reap some of the benefits.
the grass is growing, the maples have leafed out.
the birds are twittering. for that matter, so am i. @agrowinggirl—either small garden news or interesting articles. you can find it to the right and you can even follow me. i find its a great way to share related information without a full post.
enjoy earth day. spend it outside, even if its raining.
it's earth day and thus, get to work green day. its cold and blustery and riding my bicycle does not feel very enticing. but the ride is short and regardless of random holidays, my intention has been to bike more.
the house seems quieter with puff the cat gone but maybe its just different.
i hope that he is finding a home better suited to him and while i feel bad i also feel elated that i will not be cleaning up cat piss anymore.
last night we caught cholo (my lionhead bunny) finally and he has now been deposited in the hutch with moses (the grey mini-rex). it's already given moses more to do and beyond keeping the garden safe, it will be a better bunny experience for the both of them and that makes me happy. i'm realizing i can feed them the weeds from the front yard and likely kitchen scraps.
the garden is looking good.
i was impatient and pessimistic but things are starting to grow. more than anything i remember not harvesting in time, so i think my expectations were for wild, uncontrollable growth. i forget, that isn't until the heat comes. there is now steady rows of beets and carrots, arugula and radishes. i even see a few parsnips and salad greens coming through. the peas are sparse, i may plant again this weekend.
i'm trying to decide if i should be concerned about cross polination in my squash, melons, cucumbers and corn. thoughts? it mainly affects where i plant things.
the potatoes in the drive way are starting to poke through—i am not sure what elias has planned. on easter i came home to find my neighbor getting the driveway bed ready and when he mentioned he would plant potatoes i went running for my box of sprouted farm-grown potatoes. yes! potatoes are something i have wanted to grow and are somehow intimidated. i've never done it right yet. now he can be their primary caregiver and i will reap some of the benefits.
the grass is growing, the maples have leafed out.
the birds are twittering. for that matter, so am i. @agrowinggirl—either small garden news or interesting articles. you can find it to the right and you can even follow me. i find its a great way to share related information without a full post.
enjoy earth day. spend it outside, even if its raining.
4.13.2010
3.27.2010
3.12.2010
2.11.2010
1.16.2010
1.13.2010
the new housemate
mingus
she likes corners, knocking things off shelves, the fish bowl and nobody else
12.09.2009
ice on the inside of my windows
its almost hitting the pre-teens. yikes.
(and yes, there is ice on the inside of my windows)
yesterday i remembered that the farmer's almanac predicted a bitterly cold winter and resigned myself to a very cold winter. its unlikely that this week is an aberration and so i took early precautions for my fluff and feathered friends.
after three years i finally caved and bought a heated watered for the chickens. i just can't justify watering them three times a day for the rest of winter. so i went all out and picked up another light, a bag of scratch grains and a bale of grass hay. i've got to say, the chicken yard is looking pretty luscious—it is now the greenest spot in my entire yard.
haven't fully set up the bunnies for the winter yet, not sure what to do about water. and i think the cats might need an outdoor haven, although they are wising up and have spent most of the week indoors.
as have i. with a fire in the fireplace and the kitchen in full swing.
in the last few days i've succeeded in making butternut squash manicotti, cream of broccoli soup and cleaned my kitchen and bathroom top to bottom. i have to say, i'm cold but i'm feeling good.
everyone is still happy and alive. just chilly!
(and yes, there is ice on the inside of my windows)
yesterday i remembered that the farmer's almanac predicted a bitterly cold winter and resigned myself to a very cold winter. its unlikely that this week is an aberration and so i took early precautions for my fluff and feathered friends.
after three years i finally caved and bought a heated watered for the chickens. i just can't justify watering them three times a day for the rest of winter. so i went all out and picked up another light, a bag of scratch grains and a bale of grass hay. i've got to say, the chicken yard is looking pretty luscious—it is now the greenest spot in my entire yard.
haven't fully set up the bunnies for the winter yet, not sure what to do about water. and i think the cats might need an outdoor haven, although they are wising up and have spent most of the week indoors.
as have i. with a fire in the fireplace and the kitchen in full swing.
in the last few days i've succeeded in making butternut squash manicotti, cream of broccoli soup and cleaned my kitchen and bathroom top to bottom. i have to say, i'm cold but i'm feeling good.
everyone is still happy and alive. just chilly!
11.09.2009
one of the best fall weekends
after a frustrating week at work i took friday off to catch up at home.
what an excellent idea. got some nagging home projects done (closet cleaning, dishwasher repair, etc...) which then spurred me to clean. its monday and i am still excited when i go into my clean bathroom.
the rest of the weekend was spent getting the backyard into better shape after weeks of inattention. over-grown grass trimmed down, rabbit burrows and dog holes filled in, various garbage picked up and my shed tidied.
picked up a bale of alfalfa hay to supplement the rabbits diet this winter. they are now living under the shed, wandering around the yard during the day and snacking. trying to get a nice weather-proof feeding set up for the for the winter, we'll see what i come up with next weekend.
for the chickens i am switching to flock raiser, hoping the higher protein content will help egg production. will be running a light out to the coop soon too—the girls are already going to bed around 5, yikes!
using a potato fork i forked up the beds and then used the leaves from the yard as a mulch. its a haphazard attempt to do some re-invigoration of the soil over the winter months. in the spring i can till everything in, and do some hardcore weed recon before planting anything.
it felt good to get so much done and spend so much time outside. and if i can get some compost work done this week or weekend, and clean out the chicken coop, i should be pretty well set for the winter months.
fall has its benefits.
what an excellent idea. got some nagging home projects done (closet cleaning, dishwasher repair, etc...) which then spurred me to clean. its monday and i am still excited when i go into my clean bathroom.
the rest of the weekend was spent getting the backyard into better shape after weeks of inattention. over-grown grass trimmed down, rabbit burrows and dog holes filled in, various garbage picked up and my shed tidied.
picked up a bale of alfalfa hay to supplement the rabbits diet this winter. they are now living under the shed, wandering around the yard during the day and snacking. trying to get a nice weather-proof feeding set up for the for the winter, we'll see what i come up with next weekend.
for the chickens i am switching to flock raiser, hoping the higher protein content will help egg production. will be running a light out to the coop soon too—the girls are already going to bed around 5, yikes!
using a potato fork i forked up the beds and then used the leaves from the yard as a mulch. its a haphazard attempt to do some re-invigoration of the soil over the winter months. in the spring i can till everything in, and do some hardcore weed recon before planting anything.
it felt good to get so much done and spend so much time outside. and if i can get some compost work done this week or weekend, and clean out the chicken coop, i should be pretty well set for the winter months.
fall has its benefits.
10.29.2009
man's best friend
i'm snuggling on the couch with rupert.
i am looking at his adorably snuggly face and i am thinking how lucky i am to have found this pooch who is just perfect for me. for all the times i have wanted a puppers, for all of the times i looked and talked. i used to want a boyfriend that would give me a puppy for a special occasion but i am so glad that i was able to choose him for myself. there was no other way to know.
so when i said yes and brought the boy home, i shook my head at myself and wonder what i've done.
but i was lucky. or smart. i chose well.
he's a snuggle-bug. he's eager to please and smart, which means he listens. he's a goof-ball and a lover and a big kid. he frolics in the leaves and investigates everything. i love it. it makes me smile to be with him.
he's good in the car and good at the farm. good loose. good with other dogs and good with people. he is playful with the chickens and cats—in their mind a nuisance but certainly not a danger.
i'm so happy he's in my life.
i am looking at his adorably snuggly face and i am thinking how lucky i am to have found this pooch who is just perfect for me. for all the times i have wanted a puppers, for all of the times i looked and talked. i used to want a boyfriend that would give me a puppy for a special occasion but i am so glad that i was able to choose him for myself. there was no other way to know.
so when i said yes and brought the boy home, i shook my head at myself and wonder what i've done.
but i was lucky. or smart. i chose well.
he's a snuggle-bug. he's eager to please and smart, which means he listens. he's a goof-ball and a lover and a big kid. he frolics in the leaves and investigates everything. i love it. it makes me smile to be with him.
he's good in the car and good at the farm. good loose. good with other dogs and good with people. he is playful with the chickens and cats—in their mind a nuisance but certainly not a danger.
i'm so happy he's in my life.
10.28.2009
fall weekends
spent the weekend in portland. wanted a low-key weekend in portland, no-strings-attached. wanted to hit up portland nursery for the apple/pear tasting (the week before, but fruit is for sale for much longer) and wanted to see how the pooch handled a trip.
the conclusion?
portland nursery was devoid of pears. and apples (mostly). all in all, i came away with nothing and i didn't hit up the farmers markets for any either. but i did pick up my favorite cider from the hillsdale market and some fall-themed groceries from trader joes (pumpkin waffle mix, un-crystalized candied ginger, sparkling cranberry juice).
my fall flavor was drank up in the trees and leaves all over town, i didn't do much in portland besides continually wonder at the beauty of the trees. how is it possible that i do not remember ever noticing them when i was in college? i don't remember paying attention to fall until two years ago. silly me.
and rupert? he did wonderful. fantastic in the car—spent his time sleeping or peeking out the window. one break for a run and to go potty, and off we went. we took walks, ran around in the backyard and he was lavished with love by my aunt and grandmother.
my only note is that he is easily excited in social situations and i need to learn how to train him to not jump. then we will be money. farmer's markets, downtowns, parks. it will be lovely. he's a lovely pooch, just learning.
the conclusion?
portland nursery was devoid of pears. and apples (mostly). all in all, i came away with nothing and i didn't hit up the farmers markets for any either. but i did pick up my favorite cider from the hillsdale market and some fall-themed groceries from trader joes (pumpkin waffle mix, un-crystalized candied ginger, sparkling cranberry juice).
my fall flavor was drank up in the trees and leaves all over town, i didn't do much in portland besides continually wonder at the beauty of the trees. how is it possible that i do not remember ever noticing them when i was in college? i don't remember paying attention to fall until two years ago. silly me.
and rupert? he did wonderful. fantastic in the car—spent his time sleeping or peeking out the window. one break for a run and to go potty, and off we went. we took walks, ran around in the backyard and he was lavished with love by my aunt and grandmother.
rupert, looking out the window
my only note is that he is easily excited in social situations and i need to learn how to train him to not jump. then we will be money. farmer's markets, downtowns, parks. it will be lovely. he's a lovely pooch, just learning.
10.20.2009
10.12.2009
(un)manageable tasks
saturday night it froze. as promised i was at the farm sunday to harvest all the pumpkins. 'sure thing. no problem.' i said to sarah last week, and then thought to myself all weekend.
well, about three hours into it i realized—not a job for one person!
thankfully i was not one person for long. thankfully person #2 had a truck. so while we sliced up our hands on prickly stems, the dog worked off some energy barking at the pigs, chickens and cats.
at some point i decided to let the pigs out to roam—which in hindsight wasn't so bad but a 200# pig galloping towards you takes some getting used to (trust me, some very girlish screams took place.) the closest thing to a disaster was a pig trying to climb into my car. in the end, no one got hurt and everyone got back to their respective homes happily worn-out.
two lugs of tomatoes were awaiting my attention at home and i just couldn't do it. so i did the next best thing, sorting the remaining tomatoes into various piles: pristine ones for canning, imperfect ones for roasted sauce, unripe ones for ripening, and firm, ripe ones for immediate consumption and distribution.
hopefully my efforts will pay off tonight in some streamlined tomato activity.
well, about three hours into it i realized—not a job for one person!
thankfully i was not one person for long. thankfully person #2 had a truck. so while we sliced up our hands on prickly stems, the dog worked off some energy barking at the pigs, chickens and cats.
at some point i decided to let the pigs out to roam—which in hindsight wasn't so bad but a 200# pig galloping towards you takes some getting used to (trust me, some very girlish screams took place.) the closest thing to a disaster was a pig trying to climb into my car. in the end, no one got hurt and everyone got back to their respective homes happily worn-out.
two lugs of tomatoes were awaiting my attention at home and i just couldn't do it. so i did the next best thing, sorting the remaining tomatoes into various piles: pristine ones for canning, imperfect ones for roasted sauce, unripe ones for ripening, and firm, ripe ones for immediate consumption and distribution.
hopefully my efforts will pay off tonight in some streamlined tomato activity.
10.02.2009
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