Look! It’s a scam.

June 14, 20117 Comments

My husband was on a Sun Chip jag last fall. He was also irritated at how noisy the new “Compostable” bag was.

He didn’t believe it would work and said: “Just throw it away, it’s a scam,”

Well, I am big on composting and I’ll do anything I can to keep as much as possible of the landfill. I currently put all kitchen waste, smallish cotton scraps and thread from my sewing projects, any paper that comes into the house or via the mail so long as it is not shiny and/or brightly colored. So when I saw the bag I thought OK I will try it!

Imagine my surprise today when digging out well-rotted compost for my new garden patch to discover this at the bottom of the heap!

The brag on the bag? “Louder because it’s compostable.”

The bag also points out that it should be fully composted by week 13…

However …

My lovely assistant Polly would like to point out…

That the date on the bag is October 19 of 2010! That’s 8 months, or roughly 32 weeks – give or take.

I think that makes it official.

As a biodegradable product it is a “FAIL”

There’s no place like home…

April 12, 2011April 13, 20114 Comments

After running off to Cheekwood week before last I took a look around and realized I had some wonderful things happening “… right in my own back yard…” Perhaps Dorothy was right?

What I found…

Iris in three stages of bloom

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Pink Dogwood in Bloom

I first visited our property in April and all the dogwoods were in bloom! We have twelve, but only this one is pink the rest being white. It was their beauty and the seclusion of our little street that sold me.

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I know it’s dark. It was taken at dawn.

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Over the weekend I was working at the potting bench and kept smelling a wonderful perfume… I sniffed everything in sight and couldn’t figure out what it could be. Then I took a different path to the front yard and passed by this!

There is no finer fragrance than that of Lilac in bloom.

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The summer’s strawberries are only blossoms now, but I can already taste them, picked fresh of a morning and kissed by the Fairies with dew.

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And finally…

Three Chicklets in a Fringe Tree

So OK, technically this is not in bloom yet, but it wouldn’t be a visit to the Farmlet with out the ubiquitous chicken picture now would it? But you have to imagine my surprise when I returned from picture-taking to find these three roosting in the little Fringe Tree in the back yard. We have three of them, two in back, and one out at the end of the drive. I love them! They have a subtle sweet scent, but it is their fuzzy “Grandpaw’s Whiskers” (another name they are known by) that makes me love them so! Want see one in full bloom?

Then follow this link to Clemson University’s Extension <— (Click here) for a view and a bit of information on these lovely native specimens!

Thank you for visiting, and see you again soon!

Things that need doin’ today

February 28, 20112 Comments

Image by bella lago via Flickr

Things to do today:

Make “Bone Soup” from the carcass and breast meat of last nights chicken. Today’s version will feature a Southwestern theme using Rotel, a bit of rice, a few black beans for color, some fresh cilantro from the hoop house, and a splash of fresh lemon juice in the bowl. But of course as we all know, this will be tomorrows dinner because soup always tastes better the next day… so why not wait?
Peruse my seeds to decide which need starting this week. I am very much looking forward to this year’s growing season!
Hunker down for a Tornado watch till about 2PM today. Funny what you can get used to. I grew up with earthquakes in California and never really thought much about them, they came and they went. “Hey, that was a good ride, Yee-Haa! Hang on folks!” Of course Alabama is not immune to them, they’ve had a few doosies . But tornadoes? They just get me all a quiver. They send my off the deep end. They’ve passed all around us in few short years we’ve lived here and so far we have been untouched. (Thank you God!)
Watch for HAWKS because they seem to like hunting my yard on gloomy days. Best scare tactic so far has been my trusty metal trash can lid. I have an old oak stirring paddle that I use to bang the lid as I point it in the direction of the hawks. This seems to aim the sound in their direction and they either turn around or keep on going without coming any closer to my girls! Whew!

So what is on your agenda for this Monday, the last day of February? Or, this first week of March?

Mid July on the Farmlet

July 20, 2010July 20, 20102 Comments

Standing at the dining room window I look out to see that all of my chickens (and the geese too) have decided to take advantage of the neighbors property. It’s OK, the neighbors don’t mind. In fact, they even encouraged us when we replaced the fence to put in a gate for the critters access and enjoyment. And enjoy it they do! Just try to keep them out!

I grab my camera and venture outside into the heat of the moist 93 degree weather.

By the time I get to the back fence the chickens have moved to the far side of the acre to forage under the oaks. I could watch them all day if I didn’t have other things to do, but I give myself a break and watch for a while.

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While I’m out I decide that the Keets and the Baby Roos are ready for the big turning out party. With trepidation I open the gate of their little nursery and let them go… and OH-BOY, can those keets FLY! They’re only the size of doves at the moment and one has landed on the roof of the house! Now what? Well, apparently it scared her too, so she came back down and started foraging the morning glories with the rest of the gang!

Maybe they’ll find all the little ‘invisibles’ that have been chewing the leaves to Swiss cheese.

I hear the geese honking behind me and turn to see that they have become bored with the field scene and are heading to the gate to come back into the poultry yard. They are honking at me the whole way…

MOM, hot-hot-hot, MOM! They seem to say.

I yell back, “OK, I can take a hint! ” And grabbing the hose I fill their pool for them.

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OK, here’s just a bit more from yesterday…

I cleaned out the corn field because it was done. It was a little disappointing again this year, yet better than last because what little there was, was delicious! That’s when I discovered all the Butternuts that were hiding underneath! A whole twenty pounds of them! Now what will you do with that much butternut and more on the way. I ask you? No really, I want your suggestions please!

I also watered the cukes and potatoes and that’s when I found these!