The onions are close to being ready to pull. The potatoes and squash are just starting to bloom, and there is a pretty good stand of late lettuce and cabbage right now. The mild winter means the herbs didn't skip a beat, so they have totally taken over their share of the old garden. And it looks like we might even get some asparagus this year - first harvest!
The new garden has quickly filled with assorted heirloom tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, roma tomatoes, bush beans, okra and corn. Big John figures we've got room for 9 more rows - but I figure I've got just about enough to keep up with!
There are birds and eggs everywhere these days. This evening I found the first coturnix egg! So in about 6 short weeks, we've gone from this:
to this:
to this:
The quails' new sand bath pans came just in the nick of time - and seem to make great nesting boxes, as well! We won't incubate the first few eggs - to give the quail time to fully mature and hopefully increase fertility rates, but we might experiment with pickled quail eggs. Yum!
And speaking of experiments, Cloud has been broody for several weeks. I finally gave in and am letting her sit --- on three goose eggs! She's very happy to have a purpose, and maybe we'll get a couple more geese out of the deal. I just hope she's not traumatized if she hatches geese instead of chicks!
Big John worked like crazy this past weekend building a breeding pen for the bobwhite quail we hope to get this coming Saturday.
It was a bigger project than expected, but much cheaper than buying one pre-made. And it looks terrific!
We just need to build the drop pans and add feeders and waterers. We should be ready for birds come Saturday!
The chicks are growing so fast. They get to spend most of every day outside in their playpen, enjoying fresh air, green grass, and all the bugs they can find!
I hope wherever you are, the grass is green and the cattle are fat. There's nothing like springtime in the country!
I am just amazed by your operation. So blessed to have something together in a marriage and with soooo much energy you 2 have. I subscribed to the blog for Sherri as she is a real country girl also. We picked dewberries yesterday and there ia a giant cobbler in the kitchen. Sherri and I want to go out again today and pick. Susan is itching to get here to pick also. Springtime is so peaceful, love it. Cows are fat , babies popping 2 fowl setting. Miss you . Keep me posted as I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI TOO LOVE YOUR BLOG! The garden looks beautiful, organized and lush, the eggs plentiful, happy fowl and bovines...yes, springtime in the country is exceptional (especially in Texas)! Your drive, purpose and ability to create a magnificent homestead is so motivating, and enjoyable at this end of the wire! God is blessing you and John in SO many amazing ways! Love ya! Can't wait to see you!
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