Saturday, July 16, 2016

Just me and the Critters

The husband took off for a two day adventure with guys he grew up with in our little town.  They went to Lock Haven for a car show.  For the love of seeing all the old cars that remind them of who owned what when they were young and what they had.  I'm sure if ya could see their memories there would be some pretty shocking moment......not these three......way to innocent?  NO

I enjoy my time alone with the dog, chickens, horses and doing what ever I want at anytime of the day.  Silence can be golden when I am along.  Yes, I do talk to myself, have many thoughts along with memories floating through the brain waves.  Even the animals get to hear what I am thinking.  Today I discussed the rain with the horses while wetting the ground around their drinking tub.  The farrier came the other day to make their hooves look beautiful.  They were in bad shape with chips out of them.  We know it is because of the lack of rain for so many months that cause hooves to dry and chip.  By wetting the ground down at the watering tub twice a day it at least gets their hooves moist.  Better than nothing.  How dry has it been and is it?  The garden is in sad form.  Morning and night I walk around the garden with the same disgust on how it is growing. Like the pea vines that stayed short but did produce a couple quarts (usually we get 8 -10 qts) the beans, cucumbers, and squash are also half the normal height.  I was very surprised to see blossoms on all three.  The cucumber vines have a total of 5 leaves but still blossomed.  Apparently nature takes over so the plant will produce.  It will be interesting to see what the cukes are like.  I predict, short and skinny with a tough skin. 

By the end of the month we should get plenty of rain, after all the Millport Fair will be in full swing and it always storms that week.  I have a feeling many will not mind the rain this year.  Heck, I was coming out of Walmart last week when one of those 3 minute downpours started.  People were coming and going and not hurrying to get to the cars or store.  Almost looked like a bunch of ducks enjoying getting wet.  Yes, that is how bad we need rain.
Wild raspberries, what  delicacies.


One thing, the wild raspberries are beautiful.  We drove on a back road Thursday night and picked 2 quarts.  Unfortunately it is highly inhabited with BEAR too!  I told my grandson where we went and his first comment..........it is loaded with bear up there.  We had the pistol and I made sure to stay close to the guy carrying it.  I have never seen a bear picking wild berries and I don't want to.  We will be going back Sunday night to pick a couple more quarts.  That should do it for a couple batches of raspberry jelly and Dick's delicious Raspberry Brandy next winter.  Yes, just like the squirrels and chipmunks we gather for the winter months.  Just puts a smile on our face during those cold, snowy winter days for something to do which usually brings on a conversation of remember the day we picked these.  The seasons come and go so quickly at this time of my life.
Whoa Mr. 38 on your hip.............you are too far away, come a little closer to me!