Tornadoes, Hailstones And Rain, Oh My!

It has been a wild month since I last posted. We have had violent and strange weather. The farmers all around us have had a hard time getting into their fields. I'd buy corn futures if I were you. We did manage to build 9 raised beds. Tom has since revised his estimate of 300 raised beds to just 60. Whew! This is what they look like:

First we outline them with the plastic tubing and lime you see to the right. Then we dig them out and pile the dirt in the middle of each bed. They are 20' x 4' and the paths in between are 4 feet so the tractor can go between. Then we put in 2 cartloads of sand and 1 of cow poop (it's composted, don't worry). Then Tom rototills them until he is vibrating. We can do 3 beds a day and then we are wasted and no amount of Aleve and alcohol can cure the pain.
So far we have gotten in potatoes, onions, leeks, tomatoes (40 plants), peppers and eggplant. Tom just planted the first round of sweet corn. And the deer have been wandering through when they think we are not looking.

They don't look as pretty as the ones at Signal Hill but they do the job: they warm up quicker and drain faster. So if any of you have free time this Memorial Day weekend, come on down (or up) to the farm. We'll feed you and put a shovel in your hand. Yep, even made Kate drive the tractor and do a little work too.

In between working like field hands on a southern plantation, we have been bird watching. We like to take our drinks, er, I mean medicine, out on the front porch in the evening and watch the show. We have seen bluebirds, finches, swallows, hawks, vultures, blue herons, and so many others that I have no clue what they are. We hope we have purple martins in one of the houses. We know there are house sparrows in the far right house. How ghetto!

Meet Slytherin the black snake. I hope he eats the mice that have been nibbling on our cars! And the spiders, damn they are big. Yes Mary, the one I almost killed did come back seeking vengeance and scared the snot out of Kate. But I got him this time.

Look we have green fuzz! What a bitch that was to plant. We had someone come in and prep the soil and then we sowed the grass by hand and raked it in and put straw all over. Then a big wind came and blew the straw away and then the rain came and washed the seeds downhill. So yes I am surprised anything remained to sprout. The back of the house will have to wait. We need to have major grading done and he can't come out until it is really dried out. However, in the natural areas we have a fine crop of native weeds and grasses.  No doggies until we have no mud!

Doesn't that look nice?  Until the 60 mph wind came and almost blew them off the deck with the grill.

In other news, Kate is at the Hillmann-Ferry campground at Land Between the Lakes, KY. So if you want to visit, I'm sure she would be glad to see you. She had a bit of a scare this week when the storms went through and they herded the help into the gatehouse. The power went out and there was some damage. But the FEMA trailer is still standing. Kate says it's actually pretty nice. Joe and Tiffany came up for dinner. They are going to the Florida Keys. Mmmmmm Key Lime Pie......And no, we did not scare her off. Tom behaved himself and I was a perfect lady.

Thinking of going to Ireland after the harvest. If any of you have been, send us travel ideas.