Friday, July 29

Animal and Plant Update

We grew concerned that the geese were not getting enough food, spending most of their days in the pen where they didn't seem particularly interested in foraging and competing with the ducks for oats in the evening. So they now spend their days in their own pen, which we move every day. They have lots of delicious things to eat and already seem larger and healthier. Success! and happy geese.

Lady says, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."

Mick had given the rabbits some munchies, and they sat together in their shelter enjoying the treat.


Happy rabbits!

Roscoe found the most awkward position I could imagine.

"Come here," said the spider to the ant.

Roscoe (again), this time in the one patch of shade he could find. Thank goodness for utility poles!

Watermelon puree is really pink! It made for delicious and refreshing drinks during a relatively nasty heat wave.

We planted two rose plants this year. Roscoe ate one before it even got started, but the other has grown beautifully!

We wouldn't call it "Almost Black," as advertised, but the flowers are a beautiful color.

I also admired the beautiful curl to the petals as the roses opened.

I hope the driveway will be lined with a significant amount of roses someday!

These clouds rolling in from the north signaled the end of our lovely visit with Steve and Nancy.

To be more specific, the downpour accompanying these clouds signaled the end of our visit.


The sky tonight was beautiful too.




Cheers!

Bilco Door

The folks from the Bilco door company brought the cast unit on a large truck.

The truck had a crane attached to it.

They maneuvered the unit off the truck and onto the ground. At this point, I (Sarah) was really confused about how that unit could be oriented to serve as a proper Bilco door.

They drilled holes through the concrete foundation with a mega-drill.

Then they lowered the unit into place. At this point, I was no longer confused about how the unit was supposed to be oriented.

They added the doors and were on their way.

Until we have final grade, it is actually harder to get into the basement than it was without the Bilco door, but it's nice to have the basement closed off!

Baked Beans

Our new favorite food:
baked beans, cooked in cast iron over a fire.

Mick kept the fire going.

He used sticks to move the Dutch oven in and out of the fire, and to remove the lid when it was time to stir.

This batch included pinto beans and black beans (pre-soaked), molasses and ketchup, and bacon and cheap hot-dogs.

Delicious!