A Gardener's Dream...and Some Other Farmy Stuff

What a busy, busy week we've had! The fact that we broke our record for most days without rain, which was previously 2, should've been the highlight of our week.

But there was more fun in store.

If you missed my post on our new turkey poults, go here. I'm going to give a quick lesson on incubating eggs. The directions say to mark one side of the egg with an "O" and the other side with an "X". Easy enough. But if you get all cocky and say "I already know what I'm doing", and don't read the fine print, you'll miss out on a very important detail.

The marking is to be done with a lead pencil.

Not a permanent marker.

We're calling him X1. He has 4 other siblings, with the same markings, that we are calling X2-5. The two who are mark-free have been teasing the others mercilessly. It looks like we may have to separate them.

Since my back surgery, I've been trying to be careful with my stooping, lifting, twisting, and missteps. I wasn't sure how gardening season was going to play out this year as I have a few more months before I'm officially "released" to be normal again.

Whatever that means.

We had a pile of cedar fence posts that were either too short, or fat, or twisted to use for fencing, so my Mister repurposed them for raised garden beds. I think he wants to make sure he's not stuck with all of the gardening...very smart man!

The beds are 7' x 3-1/2'. The ends were notched to fit together, then a spike was driven through to hold them in place. After that, chicken wire was stapled to the bottom to deter any unwanted critters.

We filled them with some composted soil.

Between the 12 beds, we rolled out some white mesh-y type material. Then we added some walk-on bark. I dare any weed to penetrate that fortress.

Shhh...please don't tell my doctor...I'm just trying to find my "normal"!

Just one more load of bark should do it!

After we had finished for the day, it was time to plan.

Since I'm a visual learner, I needed a visual.

There will probably be a little extra room by the potatoes to plant dahlia's, zinnia's, and miniature sunflowers. Maybe I should put it on the plan?

Finally, the time has come to check Tilly-mook to see if she is with calf. Since we've never checked a cow before, my Mister decided to educate himself with an online video.

Apparently, "How to Palpate the Fundus of a Cow" is an actual subject that requires actual "tools" of the trade. Namely rubber gloves that go up to the armpit and lots of lubricant.

"You want to WHAT?"

Personally, I think we should just ask her and save her the humiliation of a palpating.☺

This post is linked to The Homestead Barn Hop and Farmgirl/Farm Friend Friday Hop.