Sunshine and summertime

Remember me? The girl who used to post at least twice a week?

 Yes, well, needless to say I have been up to my eyeballs with lists of things to do. Have I accomplished any? Yes, in fact.

 my feet in the new turned soil

First of all, we got the garden planted last Saturday. I do hope everything has time to grow in our Northern climate, but our late planting was inevitable because of heavy rains that caused much flooding and strife in lower areas of the country side.
 I was very eager to plant this year, and to plant lots and lots so that hopefully we'll have a surplus this year that I can sell. However, with our late start and baby grasshoppers already starting to emerge, hopeful is all I can be for now.

 Here's some early lettuce that cropped up. Besides lettuce, Mum and I also planted sweet corn, green and wax beans, five rows of tomatoes, three or four rows of peppers, several kinds of squashes, carrots, cucumbers, and little brother finely got his wish and planted a big row of pumpkins and watermelons in the low lawn. I have yet to build 'teepees' for the peas, and, alas, my kitchen garden boxes that I've been talking about since last fall have yet to materialize. But that's next on my list.

I don't know why exactly, but suddenly I really love to garden. There's just something about digging in the dirt and harvesting the fruits {or vegetables} of your labors in the autumn. There's also something incredibly rewarding about working with horses, too. But you knew that, right?

My Roanie has become fat and sleek on the rich pasture grass -- and a three week leave of duty did not help. I couldn't ride her for three weeks because she developed bad sores from a rubber cinch my Da used when he rode her once. I forgot she had such sensitive skin. Plus with her new, thinner summer coat, it was probably at its weakest. Shyanne also caught something that had her coughing and gave her a runny nose. We're still not sure what it was -- maybe an allergy of sorts? But all that's in the past now, and I had a wonderful and eventful ride last night.

can i just say i love how this one turned out? thank you.

First, I taught Little Brother {from now on LB} the importance of positive enforcement. With his piggy pony you do have to have a firm hand, but people would not believe the difference a little encouragement and praise can do to for a horse's attitude. On the topic, look for a new Horse Logic coming soon! Now that I've said it, I'll have to find time to finish it.

Roanie was an {almost} angel last night. Her break seems to have refreshed her outlook on working somewhat and she was excellent at obeying the more acute commands { side-stepping, backing, pivoting...}, and her lope{or canter} was divine. I never felt like I was fighting her to stay in control. A first. However, when we decided to go up to our neighbor's big pasture, all the scaries came out to get us. In her mind at least.
 There are several big hills in that pasture, most of them dotted with rocks and badger holes so you have to go carefully if you're going to go any faster that a trot up them. Well, we got separated from Da and his horse and LB and his pony.... I've never galloped up that steep hill, nor have I ever been on a galloping horse going up hill when it jumped a large rock. I think I'll try to avoid it from now on.

Also in the news: My sister's friend is terrified of snakes. A pity. Because I happen to love chasing people with snakes. It all started with a campfire and then on the way back LB pointed out a two foot garter snake laying in the grass. I of course did the natural thing and scooped it up. I turned to show my sister and her friend, but her friend was no where to be seen. I couldn't believe it. In the maybe five seconds it took me to grab the snake he was already half way to his pickup {some meters away}. It has to be a land speed record.
 Oh, the above it not the horrifying snake. It is not even a snake. It is an estimated{by me} to be a two month old painted turtle. With all this rain we've had our creek its once again flowing well, and our pond is close to overflowing again, like it did back in March. So we've also been getting a variety of aquatic creatures: mallard and wood ducks, a heron, millions of noisy frogs and toads, and of course, turtles. I love turtles. They make me happy. Can't get enough of this little guy? Click here.

My fro chickens now really have their fros coming in. And it's hilarious. Especially since they seem to be the fighters, even though they're the smallest in the coop. I was cleaning the coop today with LB, and one chicken refused to leave so I had to pick it up. I was then bombarded repeatedly by one of these crazy kamikaze birds, the little rat. Its brethren seem to have the same disposition toward humanity as well, attacking our shoes a boots if we get to near. You can see the malice in their eyes.

I got my hair cut early this morning at my favorite hair shoppe. Privacy denies a before/after photo, but I shall do my best to describe it. I've begun a sort of exploit by refusing to have my hair cut the same way twice. For as long as I have good ideas, anyway. I see life as too short to be going around with the same hair style all the time. Last year I radically hewed off ten inches and enjoyed a light summery, jaw length cut. This year I'm going long. My hair has already grown to past my shoulders since last time, so I just had the stylist leave it as long as posable and add lotsalotsa layers so its not... blah anymore. And I love it.

I'm also involved in my church's VBS this week as assistant teacher to 13 wild little Pre - Ks. I've got to tell you, 8  to 11:30am is the longest period of the day. Whew, they keep you busy.

Well, as I see it, I've had a good day, about to get better with a viewing of one of my favorite movies, Sherlock Holmes, perhaps a quick drawing or painting, and a new read from the library.

Ní bené, friends!

-Gwyn