Missing Willow Farm

Our well pump has been replaced and our well has been shocked with chlorine.  We just need to wait a bit until our water is drinkable again.  We’ve been focusing of late in the garden digging potatoes, harvesting shallots and weeding.  We’ve just started the annual fight with squash beetles.  I’ve ordered a new organic insecticide on Amazon, it can’t get here fast enough!

We’re on day #4 without water here on the farm.   Our well pump is broken  which means we’ve been buying drinking water from WalMart, showering next door and hauling pond water to our animals.  Fingers crossed it gets replaced today.

Health check day starts by herding the sheep into their feeding pen, which is never a problem.

Augusta and Beatrice were shorn last weekend. Both are full blooded Texels. They are very happy with the result, it’s hard to wear a fur coat in the summer.

Everyone got a vaccination, hoof trim, parasite check and, when, required, tick removal. Nobody ever said having animals is always fun!

Jack happily assisted with moving them to a new pasture.

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We’re going to have a ton of zucchini really soon.  Can’t wait!

Our 3 year old grandson visited last weekend (and was kind enough to bring Mom and Dad with him).  He had a big old time.  Dominic collected every egg laid during his stay and helped us harvest garlic.  Grandpa took him fishing off our dock and out for a boat ride.  He was fascinated with the fireflies which we gathered then released.  It was a great Father’s Day weekend!

We got away from the farm for a much needed vacation for a bit (hello, Bermuda!) and came home to a bounty of spring veggies ready to harvest.  We’re going to have the best garlic harvest ever.  This is just the start.  The shell peas are delicious in risotto and the carrots are fabulous roasted in olive oil and blood orange balsamic vinegar.  The shallot was just a test pull, the remainder of the bed will be harvested in a week or two.

And Bella, and Kat, and Savannah and four more of our sheep who were killed by three neighborhood dogs who crawled under our fence last night.  We caught one, the sheriff caught another and one got away.  We were within our rights to kill the dogs but decided to let the county euthanize them instead.  It’s a very sad day here.

I’m continuing to baby the sourdough starter I made in baking class.  I’m kind of amazed that we began with just flour, water and a little honey.  It’s picked up wild yeasts from the atmosphere.  I feed it twice a day with organic flour and well water.  Our chickens eat what we can’t use.  They love it!

I started an experimental batch of cocktail bitters this past weekend.  It’s got orange peel, dried cherries, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, cardamom pods and cloves steeping in vodka.  After a few weeks I’ll strain out the solids and add a little simple syrup.  Summer cocktail season is just around the corner.

A dove has built her nest in the eaves of our back porch cover just above where we have dinner every night.  She must have remembered the protected spot from last year.  We tried to discourage her but she’s very persistent, so we’ve decided she’s welcome to stay.