Thursday, June 21, 2012

recently













I keep bringing books home from the library, but don't seem to get too far before the allotted 3 weeks has passed {far too quickly} and they must be returned.  However, having still browsed through and done a bit of reading, I can say all 4 books above are very worthwhile.  American Farmhouses: Country Style and Design is an old favorite that I have actually read cover to cover and studied the pictures many a time.  Homemade Living: Home Dairy with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Make Cheese, Yogurt, Butter & More seems just as good and informative as her other books are--lots of wonderful recipes that, hopefully come fall, I will have time to try out.  Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre is full of great information, {even if you have more than a 1/4 acre}, and I found it very helpful when we were putting in our raised beds.  Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life was a Mother's Day gift from a child that knows exactly what Mom likes!  It's everything you want to know about rural living and the illustrations are amazing--eye candy for sure; and this is a book for all ages.

I have been spending time outside instead, weeding and stringing some trellises for the tomatoes, string beans, and cucumbers.  The romaine is providing us with many salads, but other than a handful of strawberries, there is nothing else ready.  The Envy zinnias came up well, as did the sage I planted from seed.  The hollyhocks I planted last year in front of the barn have just begun to bloom. The peonies are out and I managed to cut some before the rain and wind did their damage, putting  my new-old enamelware pot to good use.

Both birdhouses on the pasture fence posts are home to two families--a blue bird couple and their babies in one, and a barn swallow couple and their eggs in the other.  I haven't figured out what type of bird is in the last picture, so I should find my field guide which has been tucked away on the shelf for much too long...maybe tonight I can fit in a bit of reading,

Deb

8 comments:

  1. The peonies have been glorious this year! I am ready for this heat wave to tone itself down...they say soon... summer in NYS, I do love it so!

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  2. Your blue enamelwre is perfect for the peonies. I love them, right now they are my favorite flower. Ours are long gone so I really enjoyed looking at yours.

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  3. My Mother grew Hollyhocks and they always remind me of her. I love your enamelware pot and your screen door and the flowers potted up in the pretty tin. Eye candy. xx

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  4. You are so far away on the other side of the world to me but our hollyhocks look exactly the same!

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  5. I enjoy reading your blog. I also like barnheart.com with Jenna Wogenrich. I think you'd like it too. She has a small mini-farm csa type thing going on. I like what you did the the embroidered towels into the totes and also the book planner. Good stuff!

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  6. I just came across your blog and its absoluteley adorable.
    I'm going to the library to check out the books you mentioned. Your Hollyhocks look great! Mine looked good for awile, but then the chickens ate them. LOL!!

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing good reads. I've added the available ones to my library list. Your enamel pot with peonies is lovely!

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  8. I am going to venture a guess that the bird could be a beautiful yellow-headed blackbird (8 1/2"long, white wing patch is lacking in females and 1st yr males) Farm Anatomy would be the book I want to check out, thank you for the reference.

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Thank you for taking time to leave a comment--I love reading each and every one! I will try to answer any questions you have in the comment section. Due to the amount of spam, I am sadly no longer able to accept Anonymous comments....Kindly, Deb

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