Spring has really sprung around the farm and with it we have lots of “new growth”. Sometimes, though, that new growth has to be cut back!
We have had a few tough spots in the last couple of weeks. I knew that the lawnmower needed a new belt, so Daniel and I went to Lowe’s and picked one up. After we installed it, the mower wouldn’t start! We used the jumper cables thinking the battery must be weak having not been in use during the winter. Then Murphy showed up! The battery was fine. While we were looking for the cause of that problem, we noticed something else—there were two other belts that were in dire need of replacing. Of course, they were located in such a place as to not have been seen unless you were purposely looking for them. So after replacing two more belts, the starter switch, and solenoid, we tried it again. The mower attempted to start! Notice I said “attempted”. Then it quit trying. Turned out that there was a bad connector leading to the key switch. After replacing that, the mower rumbled to life. I had to try it out before I turned Daniel loose, so I hopped on and drove to the front yard. As I engaged the blades, I heard the most horrendous noise and saw smoke billowing out from under the deck. “Was there a cat under there?” I wondered. Turns out the deck bearings were shot…locked down…they were not going to move for anything. Tractor Supply was already closed so I would have to wait to get new bearings. We looked them up online to make sure they had them and to check prices—wow, $12.49 each! And I needed 6! As depression started to descend like a cloud over my head, so did the rain. Now there would be no way to get the jungle of a yard tamed anytime soon. Luckily, the next day I checked with a company that supplies bearings for work, and they had just what I needed…at $3.75 each! I was elated! I picked up the bearings and had to wait a couple of days for the rain to stop before I could finish the repairs to the mower deck. But we eventually did get the mower fixed and the entire yard mowed. I did not get any pictures this time of Daniel doing his now and forever summertime chore, but I did grab a few pics of something related.
As you know, I HATE to see things wasted…anything wasted is not good. So we used the grass clippings to mulch the broccoli plants, which are showing some pretty amazing new growth themselves.
Mulching helps keep weeds at a minimum and assists in maintaining moisture for the plants. Grass clippings and a little newspaper work together, making a wonderful medium to accomplish this goal. The grass and newspaper decompose over the course of the growing season, composting itself to build up the soil. We placed newspaper layers around all the plants and layered the grass clippings over the newspaper. Since these pictures were taken, the grass has browned over and matted down, making the perfect weed-choking, water holding mulch. So no waste from the yard…yeah!
The wee fur balls are growing unbelievably!
We are going to have to take some of the little guys to the livestock sale to cut back some of the “new growth” of the herd. The only way to improve the herd is to only keep a select few each year and add slowly. Get too many at one time, and you are asking for trouble. Of the little guys, we are only keeping Eve and Leah. We are also going to sell Zeke and Abraham, as we are trying to move to the Nubian breed exclusively. The two-legged kids want to keep them all, but that is just not possible.
Speaking of two-legged kids, they are also showing a little “new growth”. They are showing a few signs of maturing a bit, like “wanting” to help with the farm chores. They both tried their hands at milking the goats a few days ago. Katie asks to help milk all the time…Daniel, not so much. But Daniel will help me water the animals and keep the rabbit fed.
Here at the farm, we have discovered that we have some unusual “new growth” too. Who would have thought that robin eggs grew from the ground? Katie and I found this egg lying in the garden area, and the shell of another one not to far away under the apple tree. And we found a nest in the rafters above the porch too…and it has eggs!
I discovered loads of tiny pears on the pear tree, but no small apples yet. And I forgot to take the camera with me, so you will have to wait til next time. We are going to keep our eyes peeled for any other “new growth” around the farm and keep you posted. Until next time…blessings!
We have had a few tough spots in the last couple of weeks. I knew that the lawnmower needed a new belt, so Daniel and I went to Lowe’s and picked one up. After we installed it, the mower wouldn’t start! We used the jumper cables thinking the battery must be weak having not been in use during the winter. Then Murphy showed up! The battery was fine. While we were looking for the cause of that problem, we noticed something else—there were two other belts that were in dire need of replacing. Of course, they were located in such a place as to not have been seen unless you were purposely looking for them. So after replacing two more belts, the starter switch, and solenoid, we tried it again. The mower attempted to start! Notice I said “attempted”. Then it quit trying. Turned out that there was a bad connector leading to the key switch. After replacing that, the mower rumbled to life. I had to try it out before I turned Daniel loose, so I hopped on and drove to the front yard. As I engaged the blades, I heard the most horrendous noise and saw smoke billowing out from under the deck. “Was there a cat under there?” I wondered. Turns out the deck bearings were shot…locked down…they were not going to move for anything. Tractor Supply was already closed so I would have to wait to get new bearings. We looked them up online to make sure they had them and to check prices—wow, $12.49 each! And I needed 6! As depression started to descend like a cloud over my head, so did the rain. Now there would be no way to get the jungle of a yard tamed anytime soon. Luckily, the next day I checked with a company that supplies bearings for work, and they had just what I needed…at $3.75 each! I was elated! I picked up the bearings and had to wait a couple of days for the rain to stop before I could finish the repairs to the mower deck. But we eventually did get the mower fixed and the entire yard mowed. I did not get any pictures this time of Daniel doing his now and forever summertime chore, but I did grab a few pics of something related.
As you know, I HATE to see things wasted…anything wasted is not good. So we used the grass clippings to mulch the broccoli plants, which are showing some pretty amazing new growth themselves.Mulching helps keep weeds at a minimum and assists in maintaining moisture for the plants. Grass clippings and a little newspaper work together, making a wonderful medium to accomplish this goal. The grass and newspaper decompose over the course of the growing season, composting itself to build up the soil. We placed newspaper layers around all the plants and layered the grass clippings over the newspaper. Since these pictures were taken, the grass has browned over and matted down, making the perfect weed-choking, water holding mulch. So no waste from the yard…yeah!
The wee fur balls are growing unbelievably!
We are going to have to take some of the little guys to the livestock sale to cut back some of the “new growth” of the herd. The only way to improve the herd is to only keep a select few each year and add slowly. Get too many at one time, and you are asking for trouble. Of the little guys, we are only keeping Eve and Leah. We are also going to sell Zeke and Abraham, as we are trying to move to the Nubian breed exclusively. The two-legged kids want to keep them all, but that is just not possible.Speaking of two-legged kids, they are also showing a little “new growth”. They are showing a few signs of maturing a bit, like “wanting” to help with the farm chores. They both tried their hands at milking the goats a few days ago. Katie asks to help milk all the time…Daniel, not so much. But Daniel will help me water the animals and keep the rabbit fed.
Here at the farm, we have discovered that we have some unusual “new growth” too. Who would have thought that robin eggs grew from the ground? Katie and I found this egg lying in the garden area, and the shell of another one not to far away under the apple tree. And we found a nest in the rafters above the porch too…and it has eggs!I discovered loads of tiny pears on the pear tree, but no small apples yet. And I forgot to take the camera with me, so you will have to wait til next time. We are going to keep our eyes peeled for any other “new growth” around the farm and keep you posted. Until next time…blessings!
