Long Time no visit....

When I say my life is busy...I'm not fooling.  I thought we were supposed to relax now that we're in our sixties?!
ANYwho....our main focus has been on the landscaping, flagstone patio and two, yes two, DG patios off the main flagstone.  The one on the left will have a fire pit and the one on the right sits under a massive oak that will be filled with lights to sit out on warm breezy summer nights with friends at the big wooden dinning table...ahhhh!!

Some new girls to the pack...and one boy..damn!  But too cute to send away...yet..ha ha.  Some garden shots...things are blooming around here.  PS. Don't forget, I'm the Tomato Lady...35 planted so far and six more coming soon...I LOVE canning them for the autumn/winter months...Enjoy!

This is a small shot...this DG patio of 20 feet long
and pretty wide...it goes to the gate entry...the hydrangeas
are coming in wonderfully.  The oak above is huge...it's
simply lovely here.We sit here every day for lunch..
too bad huh?

The flagstone is not set yet, and once finished will
have a sealer on it so you will see the deep deep
blue/green color of these stones...soooo pretty.
Step down to this fenced area where a Pit to come
will be on the right of the wide space in the middle...
looks awesome!

Mr. Big...a lemon cuckoo orpington,
who is almost 5 mos here...
can't wait for that tail to come in.
It will be a brown stripe eggs-travaganza...
see how I did that?  Right now it's softer in tone
and not bushy or long...

The newest cluster of chicks..
the front one is Hermione a blue splash orpington.
 Amazing blue color in person, I wish you could see it.
 Behind her to the right,
is Sweet Pea, who was originally
Mrs Big..or Ms. Bradshaw, aka Mrs. Preston...
who turned out not to be the lemon cuckoo female,
but a Buff Columbian cuckoo...so she's still just
Sweet Pea..and Buckbeak is hiding out in the back..
a black orpington.  And Mr. Big on the left.

This is my chocolate orpington...Maggie May..
so big and fluffy..and an amazing array of brown tones
from deep chocolate to a light latte on the bottom..
spectacular in person!

Sweet Pea..Buff Columbian orpington
four/five mos. old.

Millicent...Millie for short...a black laced Barnevelder..
who does NOT lay dark chocolate eggs as she
is supposed to..bummer!

Ha hahahaha...Lydia..my old barred Cochin..
love love love!

Ms. Chickie Gaga...
a light Brahma..strutting her stuff

Ziggy Stardust...BEYOND love!

Ms. Bette...as in Divine!  A blue laced red wyndotte,
 who never turned blue..
bummer again..but pretty nonetheless.

My favorite in color..dont tell the others..
Princess Buttercup..a gold laced Cochin

Ms. Gilda...my homage to Ms. Radner...
a dark Brahma...the hen, not ms. Radner.

And last but not least my oldest gal..
a Silver Laced Cochin..Ms. Wynifred...
or Winnie most days.  Millie is behind her.

Hope your summer is starting off peacefully and full of fun and exciting adventures to come...keep in touch.  Big hugs to all my besties..xoxo juner.

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