A Plague on Both Your Houses

We have been invaded by Japan. Well, Japanese Beetles. Our cherry trees are being ravaged as I write by the coppery-green little critters. I read online to pick them off daily and drop them into soapy water. Well, I got about 5 into the bucket last night and the rest either swarmed me (which is frightening!) or flew away. It was not a successful endeavor. I will have to stop and buy some Sevin to spray into the trees. I also plan on ordering a large quantity of Milky Spore, which is a bacteria that you sprinkle on your lawn and that kills the grubs when they eat it. They say it lasts 10-20 years, and it better because it comes with a hefty price tag. Unfortunately, the Mennonites next door are using traps, which really only attract more beetles than you would have normally had. I may try to get them to buy some Milky Spore as well.

It has been a quiet, low-key week. This is me (above) taking a break from my work. We are trying to catch up on some rest and are trying to get into a maintenance mode. Bob installed the controller for the electric fence on Monday. The horse has been pusing hard on the wire and is stretching it out. She also yanked off one of her horse shoes this weekend pawing at the wire. To protect her and our property, we decided it would be best to charge the fence. We had some problems getting the juice to flow, so we need to take a look at the wires to make sure we have continuity.

above: The Sorrel mare (help! She needs a name)

below: Our Cuckoo Maran rooster who thinks he is a hen!

The chickens continue to grow and entertain us. I was in the coop late last night when they were roosting and I can't believe how gentle they are. I walked right up to several of them and gently stroked their feathers. They love to be petted once you catch them....but catching them is the trick.

We are also looking into renting a backhoe to clear out a wooded area behind the barn/pasture. We have only one small copse of trees (see photo below: behind my working children) and we hope to put in a small pond and patio area under the trees. There are mounds of dirt back there (probably manure that was mucked out of the barn by the previous owners) along with all sorts of car parts and glass. We will have to be really careful clearing that area. It is a manly-man job. Did I mention the whole thing is also overrun with poison oak? Yeah, Bob will be manning the sprayer to clear that. The last time I got poison, it was 3 months on steroids.


I tried to make some homemade wild blueberry jam this week. I read that is difficult to get it to set right....no kidding. So, now I have 10 jars of blueberry syrup. Pancakes anyone? I found a site that explains how to get the seeds and start wild bluebery bushes. If they grow freely in the wild, you wouldn't think it would be very difficult to start them yourself. They require special soil and acid levels and they only produce fruit every other year.

I can't believe how much knowledge I have acquired in the past two months. It seems like I learn something new every day....sometimes twice a day! I am hoping that, in addition to my Doctor of Google Medicine title, I can also become a Doctor of Google Agriculture and Animal Husbandry before the years end!


Melanie opening the saddle I got on Ebay last week for $208! It is a vintage Western barrel racing saddle.



Now, if only we could figure out how to put the darn thing on the horse!









I want to conduct an un-scientific poll. I am thinking of adding to the animal collection and want to get some opinions as to what you would like to see on our farm. Please leave a comment with your choice from the selection below:

1) Sheep
2) Pygmy goats
3) Pig