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Hi Everyone,

               When Hurricane Debby came through two weeks ago she huffed and puffed and blew over our backyard rose arbor. That rose was given to us by our neighbor who said her Mother grew it up in New England. It is a thorny rose, but it likes to grow and grow. Usually it only blooms once a year—but if it gets stressed or extra pruned by the sheep it sends forth new growth with a new flush of pink and white roses. It is a Rose that never surrenders to calamities.

Our week started out the way our week usually ends every other week—processing chickens. Due to Hurricane Debby we had to cancel our regular processing dates in order to get some things cleaned up. By Monday we were ready to go, and processing chickens on a Monday instead of a Friday caused our brains great troubles—for we kept thinking that it was Friday. Before we were finished with the chickens Papa had to leave to pick up our Azure order (ours and our helpers order). When we finished processing the chickens we went and packaged the eggs. We usually package the eggs on Tuesday’s, but since the Tavernari’s were here to help with the chickens, we decided to go ahead and do the eggs instead of having them come back the next day. It didn’t take long to get the eggs done, and we were finished before Papa got back with the orders. So Mom came up with a wonderful idea—we all came inside and played a game of Parcheesi. They had never played before, so it was really fun to watch.

               While Monday ended on a relaxing note, Tuesday started with our engines revved. We got up at 6:00 and headed straight outside to milk the cows and get the morning chores done. Mom and Papa had dentist appointments again in Clearwater and had to leave by 10:00. As soon as the morning chores were done we came inside and fixed breakfast and I packed them some food for the trip—hard boiled eggs, chicken broth, cheese, and milk. When they left I had to start the process for making yogurt and go over to the milk house to bottle the kefir before I could do the breakfast dishes. Then there were emails to answer before I headed outside to do some stinky business. The chicken houses were in great need of being cleaned out and fresh bedding added, but finding the time for it was difficult. Then along came Hurricane Debby and turned it all mucky and Papa had no choice but to make time. The concrete compost bin was empty (well the last little bit I had Steve empty into two five gallon buckets), so it was ready for a fresh load. We have never emptied two houses into it before, and when Papa was all done I realized that two houses do not fit into an 8 ft. by 8 ft. wide by 4 ft. high compost bin—for it was spilling out in the front. BUT—if there was a front wall on the bin then the compost would fit. I attempted to shovel the overflow on top, but it just slid back out and I didn’t have the strength to really throw it to the very back of the bin. It didn’t take my nose long though to realize that the compost was pretty potent and I would not be using it until next spring. I did manage to dig a trench up next to the edge of the concrete so that I could insert a wall. I took three one inch by one inch wooden stakes and screwed some vinyl sheets to them and then with Steve’s help we hammered them into the ground right up next to the concrete floor. Now the rest of the compost overflow needs to be shoveled into the compost bin—and I am not sure when that will happen, but it better be soon before the weeds take over. I did manage to weed a few beds in the Cottage Garden and I got the green pepper plants and the basil plants staked up after the hurricane caused them to be a little lazy—they were lying down in their beds. While the wall and the weeding only took a few sentences to tell you about—they took a few hours outside in the lovely heat to take care of them. It was after 4:00 by the time I got inside. Then I had laundry to take care of and more emails to answer before I headed back outside to separate the calves for the night. Then I had a bathroom to clean, and myself to clean up before I could cook me some dinner. I can definitely see that there are challenges to cooking good meals for just me. I did manage to cook a potato and onion in butter and then pour some scrambled eggs over the top and have some cantaloupe, a piece of jelly toast, and a glass of milk with it. Once my tummy was full I had the unenjoyable job of putting together the Jacksonville order and having to figure out who could get milk and how much they could get. Hurricane Debby had definitely stressed the cows a little and caused them to not produce as much milk as they were before the storm hit. My parents were expected to arrive home shortly after 9:00, and since I was having not so much fun with the orders Mom told me not to worry about locking up all the animals for the night for Papa would do it when he got home. That was very nice of him!

               Thursday I had a farm tour after milking, and Mom mowed some fields and Papa planted some fields. We dodged rain off and on throughout the day—even though there was none predicted for the day. I did manage to get a little of the beds and walkways measuring done on the first new Market Garden Tunnel. On Friday Mom and I worked on weeding the four foot center pathway, and pulling up some of the bigger weeds. All the tunnel areas were tarped back in the early spring, but when construction started on the first tunnel in May the tarp was rolled back—and the weeds and grass grew back (though not as thick). The tarp was rolled off the second tunnel in July and its weed volume is next to zero. In two weeks planting begins with Irish potatoes, onions and carrots. The potatoes will go in the Market Garden tunnels in order to protect them from the frosts before we harvest them. The onions and carrots will probably go in the East garden and Martha’s Vineyard—where ever they will be deer proof. Lots of weeding to do these next two weeks!

               Saturday afternoon I had the joy of attending a Baby Shower for one of my old piano students. She got married last year, and it was a joy to catch up with her. Getting everything done in a timely manner Saturday morning was a challenge. I slept in a little—which meant I did not have time before breakfast to set up the milking equipment and bottle the kefir. I did manage the milking equipment with Mom’s help, but I had to wait until after breakfast to do the kefir. Then we milked the cows and I packed the Gainesville order and took care of customers. Of course I have a problem of procrastinating things until they absolutely have to be done (or am I just too busy to have them done in a timely manner?) Anyway, I also had to print a card and wrap her package—Soothing Salve for diaper rashes, and a Lotion Bar for stretch marks. I cannot say that I made it on time—but I was only ten minutes late and had a wonderful time visiting with friends I hadn’t seen in a while and catching up with her sisters who I also used to teach piano to.

               It was a good week, and I must close for Papa is at the Men’s Prayer meeting at church tonight and I have to go collect the eggs, separate the calves, feed the dogs, and lock up the ducks and goose (if they are ready). So farewell until next Sunday night!

Serving you with Gladness,

Tiare