☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ & Shop News~~~

Finally, some sunshine!  Yesterday was a kick a donkey in the butt day...!  It started out slow.  I actually slept in until 8:00am!  My son got a summer job at the local grocery store 15 minutes away.  He is working in Produce so he needs to be there at 6:00 AM or 7:00AM.  The boyo and I are more owly than larky.  (DH is the lark...so over the long weekend I was up early with him even on the boyo's day off)  Anyways, I had a tough time getting going.  I felt more like sitting on a beach somewhere.  I had planned to put my pepper & eggplants in the ground but they looked a little sorry after a cold night of hardening off outside.  So I decided to take on the dreaded task of cleaning out the cold room....

Just one of those tasks that I tend to delay.  A lot of hauling outside, hosing and cleaning.

Also, the ducklings seemed a little crowded to me so time to disassemble the brooder.

The two tasked are linked.  I will use the cardboard in my blueberry patch and all the leaves I packed my winter carrots in from the cold room as mulch.   http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com/2013/10/tuesdays-tip.html

The Duckies were a bit nervous about the change.  They stayed in a huddle most of the day.  I made the change little by little and finally had to get in and handle a few and dip their heads in the water.  

By this morning they were completely comfortable again.  

Now they have some space to runner around as Runner Ducks should!

Cold Room Leaves & Onion Skins

Brooder Cardboard Mulch in the Old Blueberry Patch

I also did some hoeing in the gardens, planted some beans and beets.  I put the final coats of paint on the bathroom vanity...yes we are still working on our bathroom...guess I am behind on all the news!   My sewing room is in complete chaos!  I sold 6 puppets a few days ago and have been contacted by a community theatre to custom make some larger puppets.  So evenings when I have any energy left I am cutting out puppets.  May has been a good month in my shops!  On the way to the mailbox this morning with a bit of Vintage heading to Hawaii a Raven Croaked at me and swooped by....

So I took a little offering to the Raven Tree.  

All has been quiet and empty in the nest ~ seems the young have fledged.  

I do see a Raven now and then though.

Runa was pretty worn out from following me all day!

Cold Room Clean!!

Massive Amount of Laundry Dried!

Took a quick jump in the pond (my second) !

Sun in my eye!

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼

It has been quite wet around here.  Just barely dry enough to mow this past weekend.  Just grey, gray, and wet.  Too wet for my liking.  The weather forecast has not been too helpful when it comes to getting my laundry dry either...

Well at least everything is getting a good rinse!

Hardening off the peppers and eggplants ~ waiting for a dry-ish day..

(I did make my first very quick dip in the pond on Sunday!)

Only one going into the forest is Runa

Thank Goodness for Duckie-ness or this weather would REALLY be getting me down.

One week and they have doubled in size!

The morning ritual of a little pan of water and chopped greens.

On todays menu chopped tender oat grass.

YUM!

Vern...well he has had enough of the rain....

~~~GRATITUDE~~~

Rainy and damp with ankle deep lawn....sooooo MUCH to do each day, each moment!

Making time for ducklings many times a day ... just too cute to resist!!

I am multitasking whenever & wherever I can.  Like reading aloud to the duckies.  I have been reading this book for awhile.  I have been having a hard time paying attention to what I read when I go to bed dead dog tired.  So I started reading aloud to my self!  I spent 13 years reading aloud every single day to my son when he was 0-12.  I had forgotten during the teen years how much I enjoyed it!  But now that the boyo is home it is just too weird (for even me) to read aloud within his earshot.  The duck house is warm, private, and with good lighting.  Plus, I can take a moment while contemplating what I have just read and enjoy looking at the quackadoodles.  +++ the duckies are getting used to my voice...and maybe learning something too! ;)

More of the Happenings.....

Duckies having their morning greenies!

Tomatoes in Desperate Need of Planting!

Tomato Structures Put up Yesterday...

....but will need to wait until the grass is mowed!

Clover "Floor" growing in the Sunflower House

First Sunnie Emerges...being eaten by a slug...akkk!

Slug! Prepare to meet your maker!!

Eaten!!

So what I am Grateful for today?  Plenty to do!!!  And a body healthy enough to do it!  

I choose this life and I embrace this life.  I love this life!

Happy LIFE to You too!

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Everything is Just Duckie!

My sweeties arrived on another grey day in Maine.  They certainly have brightened thing up for me.  More rain on the way for today....I did manage to get 5 loads of laundry dry yesterday...just barely.  Very happy to have this wick cute distraction!

My son got a job at the local grocery store for the summer.  He is working in produce and starts work at 7:00am.  After dropping him off I headed to the post office to pick up my ducklings!

They came in this box via airmail...the only flying these flightless duck will experience.  Home in about 7 minutes...

Here they are soooo cute.  13 ducks ~ they sent a spare.  So the first step is to take them out one by one and dip their bill into the water to be sure they get a drink.  Then they are free to roam about the brooder.

Ok~~ I am a new "mom" so lots of photos.  If these are not enough you can now follow me on Instagram! http://instagram.com/injoyemporium   They are a major distraction!  But I finally left to get some other things done.  But an hour later I came back with some greens.  Chopped dandelion and tender grass.

Duck viewing seats...what can I say?

I also noticed that one duck was acting lethargic.  I picked her up and she had a bit of blood coming out of her vent.  So I separated her from the others but, gave her a little window so she wouldn't feel so distressed by the separation.

Sorry to say she was dead this morning.  Such is the way of things and I am sure plenty die at the hatchery but it does make me a little sad.  I will bury her, funny how that will make me feel better than offering her to the ravens...I didn't mind giving the ravens the vole Runa killed.  We are funny creatures we humans.

I did manage to get some other work done between mooning over the ducks...

Broccoli & Cauliflower Planted ~ Black flies Biting ~ Grass needs Mowing

The Skies cleared a bit in the evening so Runa & I had a little walk.....

~I did sleep well last night~