A Big Fat Goose Egg!

Literally!!

I've been working on a second and third raised bed for herbs. One of which is going on the back of our barn. In this bed I have plans to plant all flowering herbs as well as some hopi black sunflowers. Framed by the red of the barn and the barn quilts, I think it will be very pretty.

This bed was no easy task. First came moving the railroad ties and cutting them to size. Then breaking the ground up in the new bed. Now I am emptying the compost bed into the new bed (to be followed by top soil) which of course involves emptying the compost bed into wheelbarrows, trucking it over to the new bed and dumping and spreading it.

The compost bin gets most of our yard waste. Weeds that have been pulled, grass clippings on occasion (we usually let those lie where they fall), dirt gets added to it in layers, and of course some nice earthworms. Then it gets a cover during the winter to help it cook.

Well, long story still long....I go out yesterday to start the emptying of the bin. Get about 2 spadefulls into it and stop.

(A big fat goose egg!)

We have a ton of Canadian Geese in the area that nest across the road in the bog. There was no obvious nest to this, it was jammed into some dirt and hay that had been on top of the bin. All I can think is that maybe a raccoon carried it over, hiding it for later eating.

The egg is currently sitting in the fridge. Plan to blow it out over the weekend then bake it for a few to toughen the shell and find a pretty little birds nest after laying season is over to put it in.

Who would have thunk it?

Shamelessly cute animal photos

Well a few have been asking for more pictures of the Bear...

This was on a particularly hot day last week while I was out weeding herb bed #1. I had doused Bear in the shower and he was guarding his water bowl (which is really just a mixing bowl). Bear's favorite activity outside is to have me fill this bowl, then he paws into it, upends it and has a great time chasing the water, repeat repeat repeat. Just like a 2 year old sometimes!

Yesterday as I was catching up housework from my being laid up with my back, I noticed it was awful quiet ...Hmmm another 2 year old reference? If he's quiet, he is into something! I go looking for him and here is what I found....

Hmm? another shower Mom??



Please ignore my shower walls. The house is a old camp house with well water that is so hard I don't have to use mordant for dying anything. It's a monthly chore for me to scrub the walls with Iron Out.

This morning, Bear started barking while outside. I go out half expecting him to be barking at something blowing across the lawn (tumbleweeds and garbage from the main road fear Bear!), and found our spring visitors are back, though startled by Bear!

Bob and Daisy have been regular visitors to our farm for the last 4 years. They are a nesting pair who successfully fought off a terroritial dispute on the roof of the house last year. Next door to us, we have a bog which they nest in along with several pairs of Canadian geese.

Yes, they are the only reason I keep bird seed around the farm. Bob is such a good mate, he watches over Daisy while she eats, then rushes to get something into himself while Daisy squawks at him that she's ready to go home. Once they start nesting, we will see them alone in turns. They have never brought babies with them so I don't know if one of them is shooting blanks.

So here are the shamelessly cute animal pics for this week.
Beth and the zoo around here!