Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Garden and city chicks updates

I woke up at 1 am this morning to take care of my Baby Boy who needed his mommy and then I couldn’t go back to sleep!  I figured it was a good time to do a little update for the blog.  I just hope it makes sense seeing as to how I’ve only had a few hours of sleep! 

The Garden

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Every August, our garden looks bad and produces little.  This August, it looks a little worse than normal.  We have been having some extremely high temperatures this summer.  The news reported 30+ days of 100+ degree temps.  (That report was about 2 weeks ago.  That number would be higher now.)  According to my observations (sure wish I had written it down), we have had 100+ degrees temps for most days since June 3.  Add very little rain to that and you can imagine how bad the garden looks right now.

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Some days we’ve had temperatures of 111 degrees (and that’s not the heat index)!  Despite watering by hand two times a day, the garden is having trouble standing up to the high temps.  (Funny story…today, I looked at the thermometer and said, “Oh, it’s only 104 degrees today.”  My son responded, “It’s a cool one today.”  And it did seem cooler.  I guess we are getting used to the higher temperatures.) 

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We’re now thinking it’s time to pull out most of the garden and wait until it cools a bit.  Then we’ll plant some fall crops.

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It’s not all bad.  We’re getting plenty of  cayenne peppers and the okra will probably produce soon.  And there are a few baby watermelons on the vines.  Also, we need to dig peanuts so there may be some hidden goodness that we can’t even see yet!

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The City Chicks

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The City Chicks are doing well.  There are no eggs yet but it should be soon.  We calculated that they will be 20 weeks (egg laying age) around Labor Day.  How funny would that be for them to labor to lay eggs on Labor Day! 

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I’ve not given a tour of the coop yet because we aren’t quite finished with it.  David got the nesting boxes built.  We still need to add details and paint.  We were thinking about a light yellow but I’m leaning more towards a soft green now.  I’m also thinking on a name for the city chick’s cottage.  When we’re done, I’ll give you an official tour!

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The City Chicks come running when they see me walk out with something in my hands.  The kids say that the chicks know I’m the lady with the yummy treats!  The City Chicks love cantaloupe, tomatoes, and any greens we give them. 

 

Hopefully soon, we’ll be showing our first egg!

I hope you  have a blessed day!  ~ Adriane

4 comments:

  1. If I didnt know any better Id say we were sisters! :) Our little garden isnt much better. We did have a good bit of rain, but early in the summer ALOT of the veggies died- no idea why. I am also about to try my hand at chickens. We have picked out 2 places in the yard to put a coop. :) I am excited about getting fresh eggs, and Lily loves to gather them when we are at my parents. I need to get Jon to come look at your garden lay out- it is very similar to what I want! Especially the white fence around! :) I have always admired your garden! :) I hope it cools down for you soon!!!

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  2. Our garden has suffered from the heat as well. We haven't gotten as much from it as last year. Your chickens are looking good though! Hope your having a great summer, I'm sure you're getting ready for back to school! Enjoy the end of summer.
    Blessings,Jill

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  3. I've always wanted a sister so maybe you are her! :) You know, I was kind of ashamed to show the garden because it really truly looks awful. I think it's worse in real life, maybe. Today we had our 45th day of 100+ temps with at least another week of high temps forecasted. No good rain for 4 months now...it's pretty bad around here. So ready for some rain! I really love the raised beds for our garden. I told Dave that even if we got a few acres one day that I would have one big garden for preserving that would be in rows. And then a small kitchen garden with raised beds and a white picket fence again.

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  4. Thanks, Jill. The weather has been pretty hot this summer for many. I think I can honestly say that it is the hottest summer that I can ever remember. We are getting ready for school. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer too. :)

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