We love the first light of morning – there is something about it that is so soft and special…
Hope you have a lovely morning… we are off to muck out the barn
First Light
Tag: summer
Fairy Lace
Fairy lace abounds on this damp, misty, really sort of dreary morning. Grandma Lena always told us that these were little fairy tables left behind from the wee folks party during the night. From this morning’s evidence we can only guess that last night’s party was indeed wild and wonderful (because… after all… this is West Virginia and even fairy parties here are wild and wonderful). The spiders also seemed to be in on the fun as this beautiful spider web was left hanging from the bumper of the truck.
Here’s hoping that the fairies will visit your neck of the woods… have a lovely weekend.
Rotating Pastures
Summer is a constant cycle of rotating pastures… trying to minimize parasites and get the most out of each paddock. The ewes and lambs were moved to the barn pasture a few weeks ago so this weekend we moved the yearlings and wethers to the knoll paddock after it had been brush hogged with the Squealer (love that name). Then we brush hogged the paddock that the yearlings vacated, encouraging new growth and disrupting the life-cycle of any paraistes they left behind. In a month of so it will be ready for new tenants.
We also set up temporary fencing in a section of the barnyard that we neglected avoided mowing for a few weeks, and loosed the bio-mowing ewes and lambs. This, in an attempt, to stretch the barn pasture for a couple more weeks when we will wean the lambs. We are trying to prevent the added stress of moving them twice… in two weeks… in this heat .
Speaking of heat… this weekend’s hazy, hot and very humid weather had us all seeking the shade whenever we could.
Happy Independence Day
Happy Birthday, America
Summer Colours Week – Day 5 – Red
Today is Red – the final day of Summer Colours Week at Poppytalk. There are over 1,800 lovely photos in the Flickr pool – so much summery fun.
Summer Colours Week – Day 4 – Rainbow
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rainbow hand dyed yarn
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| a rainbow |
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| and… of course… another rainbow |
Day 4 of Summer Colours Week at Poppytalk, and today is Rainbow. We were going to try to do something fancy for today, but got really involved in a natural-dyeing project (more on that later, probably next week). There are plenty of lovely contributions in the Flickr pool.
Summer Colours Week – Day 3 – Blue
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| birds on a wire… smoky blue morning mist |
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| roadside beauty |
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| mountains through the mist and haze of a summer day |
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| honestly… the very, very best blue of summer |
Joining in the fun again today at Poppytalk… it’s day three of Summer Colours Week. Explore all the wonderful inspiration – 1,100+ photos – over in the Flickr pool.
Summer Colours Week – Day 2 – Pink
Day 2 of Poppytalk’s Summer Colour Week – today is pink – enjoy all the beautiful contributions in the Flickr pool.
Summer Colours Week – Day 1
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| roadside beauty |
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| golden glow of a summer rain |
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| yellow butterflies on black-eyed susans |
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| tansy ‘buttons’ and bumblebee in our dyers’ garden |
We are joining the folks at Poppytalk in the Flickr group – Summer Colours Week – and today is yellow. Check out more of the beautiful contributions here.
Summer Solstice
“Now summer is in flower and natures hum
Is never silent round her sultry bloom
Insects as small as dust are never done
Wi’ glittering dance and reeling in the sun
And green wood fly and blossom haunting bee
Are never weary of their melody
Round field hedge now flowers in full glory twine
Large bindweed bells wild hop and streakd woodbine
That lift athirst their slender throated flowers
Agape for dew falls and for honey showers
These round each bush in sweet disorder run
And spread their wild hues to the sultry sun.”
– “June” by John Clare