CHICKIES AND IRIS'

So, this is a first for me...months since my last post.  So very sorry about that, it's been mighty hectic around here this past year...well, actually...wait, is it two years now? (seriously? two years already? I thought maybe a year and a half..but no, it began in that July/Aug, two years ago!  Geez!)  since my husband began with his heart issues.  Takes a lot out of you...stress, etc.  In the meantime, we are happy to say he just received his clean bill of health this past June!!  So big relief there!  But the damage was done on my nerves...attempting to get back on track with my own health/body and have a little June time. 

In the meantime, 

Here are a few things to share:

Two new girls to add to the only two
old gals who survived the attack last year...
a couple weeks old here.

The Blue Laced Red Wyndotte on the left,
now four and a half months, Hermione
(yes, Potter head)and to her right, the ever special
Lite Brahma, Chickie Gaga!

Miss Chickie Gaga has some serious attitude..
and when she stands upright will blow you away
with her magnificent size!  Fits her image!

Three new babies arrived five weeks later

How amazing are her eyes!
This is three day old Princess Buttercup,
a Gold Laced Cochin

And this is the Princess at three months old!
She'll have big bloomers!

The Big gal in the middle is Millicent,
(or Millie for short) a Doubled Lace
Barnevelder (her orange lacing
isn't showing up strong yet, but in person is
looking glorious)..she is 13 weeks old,
she will produce super dark chocolate
brown eggs...yay! And the only one without
feathers on her feet or thighs.

And this beauty is a Dark Brahma, also 13 wks,
her name is Gilda (yes, Radner head!)

The Girls!

Will have to keep you in the loop as they get older and more pronounced on their markings...these are all known for their coloring and size...all big fluffy gals, with exception to Hermione.

So, next to chickens, my latest obsession of last year became Bearded Iris'...I bought a couple and built a long bed for them and waited...and while I waited I started looking on line to see what other colors there might be...holy crap!!  I had NO idea how insanely abundant, mulit colored, and amazing these flowers could be.  I searched for hours, building my catalog, picking colors that would go one to the other perfectly...it was a standing joke around here...June's Iris'...that's all I could think about.  So I bought and planted and waited...unfortunately, most of them did not open this season, but the ones that did were spectacular.  Will get better at this, I love them too much (and of course now that iris season is over I'm on to my number one obsession...Vintage Christmas ornaments...it's actually worse than the iris time on the internet...if that's humanly possible.  I used to wait until December, but last year I thought about it in August...and now I just look all the time..!  

These are some of my new Iris blooms from this past spring...ps. going to begin selling rhizomes on ebay!

Dazzling Sarah

Concertina

Rio Roja

Mad World

I Feel Lucky

Ruth Porter Waring

Coffee Trader

Double Chocolate

Here Come The Night

Wine Time

Orange Slices

BORDEUX

CHASING RAINBOWS

So, it's nice to be back...I've missed the community here...will keep in touch better, now that things appear to be stabilizing...ha ha ha..as if THAT could ever happen around here!  Either way, I'll do better.  Have some shots of the garden veggies...and piles of nice grapes coming up...jams, all that good stuff.  Thought I'd piece it out instead of hitting you with everything at once...mucho love to my Besties...hope all are having a tremendous summer thus far! Enjoy! xo juners

NEW LIFE...

I'm going to keep it short and sweet...so much going on, as per usual around here.  Mainly, my husband has really had a time of it with his health..we just got back from the hospital again, today...but all looks like it should be on the mend...let's only hope so! 
Either way, we were able to have a moment to play before things went south...We had a great pre-4th party on the 3rd...tons of food and a lovely day with friends and family.

the patio has not been sealed yet so you
can't see how spectacular the color really
is...all blues and greens...soon!

We got a new kitty...!!  His name is Ziggy...Ziggy Stardust, for obvious reasons...he's a goofy looking little varmint...but loving his guts!  He's easy going and simply hangs on your lap for hours..plays with your face for a bit and snuggles like the dickens...A-dor-able!! 

Then there's the garden...since I'm working on changing things over to make for a more efficient home farm...planning on putting up a small barn down on the road to sell our goodies...I've been re-working the layout and importance of exactly what it is I am planting.  And right now that is mainly Tomatoes..and loads of them.  All amazing heirlooms and getting ready for canning, sauces and pickin right out the garden to eat!

                            

And let's not forget the orchard...first and foremost, the grapes!!  I have a major crop going of Champagne grapes that I can't wait to eat and dehydrate into pounds of currents..one of our favorites around here.  The apple trees, the peach trees...apricot, plum, pear, cherry, fig, orange, lemon...however, not retaining a major crop as expected with the new hell that has become farm life...squirrels!!@!!!  So far this little fuck has completely cleared my plum and apricot..literally not one piece of fruit spared...and now he's half way through my two peach trees...you'll notice the netting surrounding one...it didn't deter him in the least...it's beyond heartbreaking...there are no words...moving on.

champagne

concord! yay!

fugi

figs..ah!

white snow queen..what's left of them!!@@

looking back in from orchard..sweet brick
deck with fountain, potted plants and
drinking water spigot!

front gate from patio down into garden

nice view of back gate with trellised
grapes above.

strawberry patch

overview from backside, showing rose garden
on right and lawn above in back

heirloom, Rhode Island green..

staircase from front lawn down into orchard,
where theres a firepit, a soon to be deck, but for now
 a long bench and horseshoe pit set up...quite the
hang around here...soon to be planted in
"wedding"urns, peonys...concord grapes growing
along grape stake fence...awesome!

And chamomile flowers from the tea garden..yes, I am growing a tea garden...chamomile, lavender and lemon balm.  Will be including, ginger soon...big giant containers to go on the hillside in the back, next to the soon to be extended orchard, and...wait for it...the bee hive, and...still wait..the sheep pasture...don't ask!

The girls are having a fun summer thus far...and that's about it!

from top...Ruby, Penelope, and the old gal, Vida

Miss Monroe..need I say more!

Petunia...!!

The Ladies!

Much love to my besties...taking time to just "be" around here...been a very stressful year to say the least..as I'm learning, however, it seems it's been that way for all of us in one form or another...and I'm sorry to hear about your sadness' and set backs  too...hope all is moving forward for everyone...mucho love to you all..enjoy the rest of your summer....be happy! xox juner