Well I hope to do a little segment on the blog to follow the growth of the garden. Instead of just posting random photos … I will try to post a few photos following the lives of a few of the little planties

The first set of pictures will introduce the garden

This is the entrance... their are two cherry tomatoes in the green tubs, strawberries in the tan tubs with sunflowers and zinnia in the center. And  a handful of petunias (my new fav flower)

This is the onion/ clover patch...their are mostly red onions but the thick bunchy ones to the right of the photo are OK native wild onions.

 These are the peas, snow and sugar snaps... they are quite tangled but don't seem to be bothered by one another.

These are pole beans on one side of the fence and Radish on the other.  Along with some cute little Marigolds.

This is squash and zuccini patch number 1. This patch we started from seed.

These are the pickling cucumbers and the buckets on the outside of the fence are sunflower, zinnia, and marigold.

This is Squash and zuccini bed number two.  These little plants I purchased at a local nursery.  I also have a run of pickling cucumbers near the back of the bed and a flower bed against the trellis (Snaps, Cosmos, and marigold).

This is the broccoli almost ready to harvest.

This is the Acorn Squash Mound... with a marigold bed in the front and a handful of sunflowers along the lattice.

This is my attempt at a hanging tomatoe plant in a five gal. bucket

These are tomatoes of several varieties...and there are 3 more rows on the other side of the lattice. There are also potatoes in the two far tan tubs.  To the right are peppers, as well as in the near tan tub.

Well I thought I would put a post up about Bella. She is leaving the land of mother hood and getting back into the working horse string! Although, she has been ridden on and off over the last few years…namely by the kiddos taking lessons and trail ridding… she is now official “THE” using horse for Diamond M Livestock. The others, Gyp, Tank, Camille and Squiggy… are in the process of being sold or trained to join Bella in the workforce. She is a very nice mare not only by lineage and parental achievement in a variety of disciplines but also in her individual. She is a one of a kind mare (although, nothing is impossible for God) and everything from her mind to her physique is amazing.

This photo of her warming up is just prior to Aaron roping a hind foot of a few colts, while the boys climb aboard. Bella is sporting a hand-crafted tall curb bit that was made by my uncle, Glenn Schmidt. She really likes the bit and works well in it.

Floral Array

Although, I have mostly been busy gardening in the fruit and vegetable category… I have also put some effort into some floral array around the yard. Not only can some flowers pack a potent punch to pests and other garden intruders but some can really bring beauty to an area. This year has been a great wild flower year and I have seen so many neat flowers all around that God has just placed about.

 I have placed a few bulbs (freesia, hyacinth, and daffodil) along the walk way leading to what used to be our yard (recently removed ). They have been blooming in all sorts of colors, mostly yellow, for a few weeks now.

 But what is really exciting is the Roses! Two roses that Debra got for me late in the season, last year (I think) are heavy with a vibrant fushia-colored rose. They are quite spectacular.

Hope you like my flower photos H2:)

Maybe My Once a week training idea isn't that great!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any photos to post of my little horse bronkin around!!! It has been about two weeks (maybe more) since I had last stepped aboard my little filly. She has been hanging out in a pen eating to her belly’s satisfaction... and when I pulled her in she appeared to be benefitting. Slightly taller and a quite a bit fuller in the belly These set of circumstances may have lent itself to the following events.




I went out early on Sunday, while the Huz and company snoozed through the morning. Camile was eager for me to catch her and seemed “normal” as I grained her, brushed her and saddled her. She is nearly done shedding and the majority of her was sleek and shinney, easy to brush…accenting her beauty Anyway, the Huz suggested that I ride her in the big square pen. So I gathered my bridle and led her over. I decided just to be on the up and up I better spend some time “checking” her out. I grabbed the flag to really to push her envelope. And it proved to really do the trick. I moved her around and she seemed tight…as I approached her with the flag. Finally I touched her with it and bronco sally was unleashed. Camile bucked so hard she fell down in the mud a few times! She finally came to a halt…. White eyed…tail kinked….snorting!!! Hah! So I snuged the cinch and touched her again…round two, a second dip in the mud … and I am beginning to wonder if this is really a good idea



The square pen was a little slick to continue working her so I traveled on down to the sandy round pen. I figured if I was going to hit the ground I would rather it be in the sand!



After 20 minutes of working with her on her flag-fright, we were both breathing hard and sweating a bit! But she really came around. Normally I would quite her there but the Huz’s words of getting more done in one day and him accusing me of being “too slow” with my colts… I decided to step aboard.



Thankfully, she seemed to be remembering her few previous training sessions and we were trotting and loping without a hitch. She is very soft, supple and making improvements. We ended our ride by opening the round pen gate, closing it back, riding across the arena, down the road and we ended past our gate, past the vicious, probable horse eating sheep and in the neighbors drive way. I dismounted and walked her back.



All in all it was very successful…but I think I will make it more of a point to make the next ride in the nearer future

Camile...when will she be ridden!!!

Well, I had started and do have a handful of rides on my next little project filly. She is a very nice filly, smart, easy to get along with and I think she will be quite fantastic! I am inivertantly trying an new training technique…ride once a week!!! Although, this goes against everything I have ever done, Camile doesn’t seem to lose a thing. Of course, I would like to ride her more…but spring time has been busy. I have been making a big push to get the garden and trees in and it has taken up some of my ride time. There are other hurdles as well. Oh well we will see what tomorrow may bring….maybe I will ride her soon.

Garden Pests!!!

I have been invaded by PESTS! In my newly planted orchard I have been combating pests for about two weeks…. I have been successful with a mild dish soap spray, planting bug deterring plants and flowers at the bases of the trees and of course a goat milk barrier every now and then But something bigger and much more destructive has found my little garden spot! It comes in the night….and so far it looks to be after something deep in the soil!!! At first, we had thoughts that it could be an armadillo. There is one we have seen off the back porch (even on the back porch) from time to time. But after last night’s visit I am thinking we may have a small porcine of sorts!!!! So far the only damage is a few snow peas were upturned and some rooting around my blueberries and raspberries. We don’t have visual conformation of a pig…but I don’t want to wait around until he brings his buddies!!!




We are thinking of putting a hotwire perimeter around the whole area…hopefully it works….before the intruder stumbles upon my very young tomatoes, peppers and squash. Everything is at its infancy and what a wreck a rootin pig would be. May God spare their little lives….the plants that is, not the invader!!!

Well it is time to get back into it....

Spring is here and although the days are longer... there is still the sense that there is not enough time to do all that I set out to do... but I plug away at each day...doing what it is that God has available for me to accomplish. 

The most exciting addition to the homestead is a small orchard.  We have 10 tree in the ground and two more waiting to go in.  They seem to be doing well and a few even have signs of fruit! That would be a miracle to have fruit the first year!  But nothing is impossible for God:) 

We have also been able to start a small plot of aged horse manure and soil into a raised mound garden.  We have a little bet of every thing. I hope to have a section of blogging about it's progress.  I plan to do some experimental pest resisting flower planting .... different teas...add in pest and of course use goat milk.  Our six goats have been producing sooo much milk (about a gallon a day or more).  I had read that it helps with the soil, creates a barrier from pests and some fungus:) 
We will see what happens...

I have found one thing...that I would already like to expand:) Gardening has been good for the kids and in makes being outside very productive:)