Monthly Archives: May 2016

Let It Go

Posted on May 31, 2016 by

These little chicks are having a hard time keeping up with their mother. As far as she is concerned, her mothering days are over. They aren’t ready to be on their own. Since yesterday, they’ve been running around, looking for … Continue reading →

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A Little Tenderness

Posted on May 29, 2016 by

Old Billy, the tenderest rooster of the bunch. He is the father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, great great great grandfather, great great great great grandfather, and great great great great great grandfather of many of the chickens here. … Continue reading →

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Potato Flowers in May

Posted on May 27, 2016 by

Barrow Alaska’s record early snowmelt has been in the news recently. Snow at NOAA’s Barrow Observatory started to melt on May 13, 10 days earlier than the previous record for Barrow. An equally astounding, much-earlier-than-usual phenomena are the early blooming … Continue reading →

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The Benefits of Going to Seed

Posted on May 25, 2016 by

Last year I found this variety of arugula with small serrated leaves. I let some go to seed and this year I have it coming up in droves. With a little effort and luck, I’ll get an established bed of … Continue reading →

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The Enthusiastic Garden Help

Posted on May 24, 2016 by

I can’t complain about the garden help’s enthusiasm. It seems to have no bounds. Happiness is infectious. If you’re trying to avoid catching it, keep happy dogs a long ways off. Their happiness is especially contagious. “Anything else?” Takuma 拓真 … Continue reading →

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Other Worlds

Posted on May 21, 2016 by

Bees live in a phantasmagoric world of shapes and colors and fragrances we can’t fathom. For brief moments, following them buzz around flowers, you can get glimpses of what their world is like. Imagine getting your dinner by sticking your … Continue reading →

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Life Stages and the Origin of Celtic Art

Posted on May 19, 2016 by

Let your kale go through its full life stages, and you get these stunning, brilliant, red hues when the plant enters old age. Kale goes out, bursting in flame. With leaves ablaze, the flower stalks which reached up high to … Continue reading →

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Foxgloves

Posted on May 16, 2016 by

So beautiful, so deadly, the foxgloves are blooming. It’s not toxic to bees, which frequent it in droves. But it is deadly to humans and many other animals, so deadly that it is also called Deadmen’s Bells.

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It’s a Dog’s Life

Posted on May 15, 2016 by

Salmon berries are ripening. The much sweeter thimble berries aren’t far behind. I’ll nibble on a few salmon berries, but leave most for the birds. I’m spending hours in the garden every day, and the birds sing the entire time. … Continue reading →

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To Be as Fat and Light as a Bumblebee

Posted on May 14, 2016 by

Oh, to be as fat and light as a bumblebee. It must be fun to be so rolly-polly and still float effortlessly through the air. The news about bees disappearing is distressing. At least here at a man and his … Continue reading →

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Food as Art, Art as Food

Posted on May 12, 2016 by

This may be a pinnacle egg. Cognac laid this masterpiece yesterday. Is it food? Is it art? I think I should sell it to a psychologist to use in place of Rorschach cards. “Connect the dots in any order. There … Continue reading →

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Busy as a Bee

Posted on May 10, 2016 by

What could possibly be as busy as a bee? Two dogs helping me weed a bed to plant potatoes, that’s who. Takuma 拓真 and Ena 枝那 spent hours yesterday, and much of the morning today helping me prep a potato … Continue reading →

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Baby Potatoes and Peonies on Mother’s Day

Posted on May 8, 2016 by

It’s the beginning of May and there are baby potatoes in the garden. Dust them off, pop them in your mouth, and they are like little crunchy sugar bombs going off in your mouth. Takuma and Ena aren’t interested in … Continue reading →

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Dig, Dig, Dig

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

They are diggers. We found that out yesterday and today. Moles and gophers be forewarned, Takuma and Ena are here. In the woods and in the garden, Takuma and Ena dug deep, trying to find whatever it is that they … Continue reading →

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A Cat and Its Cow

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

This is what you don’t see in your large box store. This is one of the cats at Belfast Feed Store, a local feed store a few miles from us where we get many farm supplies, milk, cream, and honey. … Continue reading →

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枝那-Ena and 拓真-Takuma

Posted on May 5, 2016 by

The dogwood buds look like they are ready to take flight, or burst out in a chorus. May should be called Dogwood. It should be forbidden to build a house or apartment where the residents can’t see a dogwood. If … Continue reading →

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New Protectors of the Chickens

Posted on May 4, 2016 by

The new protectors of the chickens have arrived. They are settling in well into their new home. They were part of a pack of seven dogs found in Okanogan, hanging out near an airport. The pack ended up in the … Continue reading →

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The First of the Year

Posted on May 3, 2016 by

The first chick of the year pokes its head out from under the warmth of its mother’s feathers. Tonight it is sleeping quietly under her, listening to her steady heartbeat. This is why every chick deserves a mother. I was … Continue reading →

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Serious Business

Posted on May 2, 2016 by

The chives are in bloom, it felt like August today. It’s the hottest May day I’ve seen in the eleven Mays we’ve been here. The hens take their egg laying seriously. They are adept at warning me with their eyes … Continue reading →

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