It's like a furnace

Summer has reared its ugly head in a quick and bold way. It went from really nice to sweltering overnight. Seems vaguely familiar of last year too! We've lost 4 squash plants. No matter how much we water we just can't seem to keep them around. The garden is growing really well in the heat though for the plants that are able to get through the peak heat of the day. Next year the squash will have to be planted in a different location of the garden so they are shadded sooner from the heat. But then, the past 2 summers are very out of the ordinary.

Despite the heat, we've been keeping busy. 2 days ago we put up about enough hay to fill the barn. We're probably good on hay but I'd like to pick up some more alfalfa. Fortunately we've gotten enough rain to keep the pastures green, but just barely. It's difficult to get out so early in the morning when we're up late into the night taking advantage of the cool temps but early morning and late evening are the only times when we won't melt outside.

Our tomatoes are our pride and joy...well, my pride and joy anyway. I think even more so because they were started from seeds and anyone who knows how long it can take  tomato- or pepper for that matter- from seed probably feels extra special about them. The garden seems to be so late but has really shot up the past 2 weeks! We've not gotten anything but one yellow squash out of it so far and I was so excited to finally have something of eating size I ate the thing raw myself right there in the garden. There's lots of green tomatoes and beans just starting, lots of blooms on the cuke and melon plants so we just have to be patient.

Our compost pile is looking so gorgeous! I can't wait to get another year of goat manure & bedding on the garden and keep building up that compost pile! Next year I hope to have an even bigger garden and this fall I'd like to set out some fall crops too. It'd be nice to get strawberries in as well.

The fence has done really well at keeping the chickens out. They love to go wandering in the woods and Jeremiah mentioned last night they psych him out when he walks up to the house on occasion (and I won't lie, they do me too!) because they'll be hidden amongst the bushes and such and the scratching they make is kind of spooky =). You half expect a wild animal to jump out =).

Despite the heat, the girls like to be out in the pasture most days. They come in several times for water and I fill the bucket several times a day with new clean cool water. I try to time it so they're coming in just as the new water is going in so they get it at well temp. It really seems to get them to drink more.

This time of year our town puts on "Hutchfest"- a five day celebration leading up to the 4th of July. Sunday evening we went to "Gospel in the park", had cake and coke at 7 PM while there and then headed over to Salt City Splash (our town's water park), for a free family night.

 

T

 

Last night it was a car show and that's not my thing so my friend, Michelle, and I watched the kids play on the playground in the park. 

Jeremiah will be off again to New Orleans for several days toward the middle of the month. And, by the way, his students won 4th place for the SKILLS USA National contest. Not bad aye? Fourth place, pretty snazzy! That was a long trip.