here comes the rain

i've been working non-stop for the past few weeks, with little time for more than necessary chores.  warmth turned cool, then came rain, and now we're back to summery temperatures. to the delight of the ducks,  there are still small ponds of water around the yard from this week's storm.  the sheeps' fleece was still damp this morning and they didn't hang out in the back as they usually do.  they stayed in the front and enjoyed some pomegranates as their coats dried in the sun.  the coop floor was wet so i shoveled out the bedding and put down new shavings.  everyone's relieved that the weather is clear, including me.

the rain was a reminder that the seasons are changing and soon it'll be time to winterize the coop and hutches.  i'll seal most of the coop windows with clear plastic to keep out the wind and keep in the warmth, as well as the front of the bantam hutches.  the bantam pen still needs to be finished before the worst weather hits.  it's huge, with a run that's about 30 feet long.  the new bantam coop is a palace - it has proper windows and screens, as well as a roof vent.  the chicks will feel like they've won the lottery when they're moved.  they're currently in smaller pen in the front that i built myself a couple of years ago (with very limited building skills).  they need more space, a pen with better drainage and a roof, and a proper coop. stephanie (a blind bantam hen) will have her own protected pen in the new setup, so she can scratch around like the rest of the chicks without fear.

the garden is still green with lettuce, tomatoes, a few broccoli and beets, and huge sweet potato plants.  i think i'm going to uproot the first potatoes this weekend, since there are a few yellow leaves (which i've read is a sign they're ready to harvest).  i've never grown potatoes before, so it's a new adventure.  the tops of the plants have overtaken at least a quarter of the garden, so i'm hoping the roots are equally prolific.

friend and neighbor pattie made a proposition to juice our pomegrantes, in exchange for borrowing our juicer and keeping some of the juice.  i think we'll take her up on the offer this weekend.  the fruit is ripe and ready and the juice freezes well.