Summer is definitely here, all of the fields are dead and the only green is along the creek where patches of water still exist in deep pools or along the spring path. Nothing can kill the blackberries. They grow along the creek and spring in multiple places on the farm. I have managed to pick 181 cups of blackberries so far this year, so just over 11 gallons. I need to pick about another 10 gallons. We will have plums coming on in next 2-3 weeks and we can pit and freeze them for the wife’s breakfast smoothie. I try and collect 2 cups of fruit for 365 days. It takes a lot more than you would think when you are planning for the entire year.
The grandbaby is turning one year old this month. He is all over the place now and getting into everything. Nap time is still my favorite time. I loved it when our daughter was young and I still love it. Annmarie snuck down while I was “babysitting” this weekend one morning before going outside to do something.
It was time to sort off the sheep. I had two lambs to sell and we needed to sort off all the lambs so we could put the rams in with the ewes. We also traded a ewe for a new ram so I needed to chose that ewe and mark her so we can sort her off in December. The final count after multiple sorting passes is 12 wether lambs (#434-447), 17 female lambs, 2 sold so 15 to add to our herd at the end of December (#439-456), ewe #380 is going to Mr Horse Tamer, we also have 25 ewes that are being bred by 3 rams. We will be eating the lazy ram this winter, he will be made into 100% burger. The Quiet One came out and helped me sort everyone. It took a bit to get everyone moved into the correct pasture. The lambs are down below, the ewes and rams are up with the cows and bull. All the boys got turned in with their respective opposing genders.
I am working shifts at work so I am taking days off mid week to account for days worked and I wanted to get the chicken coop hardened and the fence around the greenhouse. So we put the 6” auger on one of the tractors and got the three 50# weights applied via my custom welded jig! There is just not enough weight if the soil is hard someone used to have to try and push down on the arm and that is not very safe. I bypassed the seat pto safety on the older tractor but I have not done that on the new one yet. It is fairly simple I just have not needed it yet. Eventually I will have to do it. The plan is to get this done on Tuesday & Wednesday of next week. I have no idea how hard it will be do dig the holes. The ground has not seen any water for about 2.5 months, the good thing is it is creek bottom so it should be deep soil. There are not any rock bluffs in the area we are digging holes.
Stewart Creek Somethings 