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Crann Mor FeirmThe Year of the Fern
Pink Moon Week 2 Apr 6 - 12, 2008Ave H/L 73/47 Norm Ave 65/44 H 84 (4/10) L 37 (4/6) Precip .45 Monthly Cum 1.25 Sunday started off a beautiful week of weather. Sunny skies and temps in the 70's. We grilled some turkey burgers and hot dogs and ate lunch on the patio. Good to be able to sit comfortably outdoors, again. The trees are responding to the warm weather, too. The Redbuds are coming out and leaves are emerging on many trees by the end of the week. The garden is coming along well, too. The onions and peas are shooting up. Radishes are sprouting. We've got tomatoes, peppers and egg plants started in pots indoors. We'll plant them along with some beans after the last frost. We welcomed back some old friends to Crann Mor this week. We noticed the Barn Swallow had returned on Sunday (4/6) and we saw our first hummingbird at the feeder on Sat the 12th. It appears that the Juncos have headed north. We haven't seen them feeding and flitting about the ground in a few days. The American Toads have been trilling and laying eggs all week. We see their ribbons of eggs in the pond. We've also seen tadpoles in the orchard creek. I built a puppy pen out of chicken wire and tobacco sticks for when the puppies are ready to get outside and play. The puppies are doing well, getting bigger every day. Pink Moon Week 1 Mar 30 - Apr 5, 2008Ave H/L 60/45 Norm Ave 63/42
H 72 4/1
L 30 4/2
Precip .8
The big event this week was the birth of Rachel's puppies. She plopped out eleven of the little cuties on Thu morn. V had been taking Rachel's temperature and when it went down to 98F she knew the puppies would be arriving, soon. Rachel is dong well and has taken to motherhood very nicely. She is very attentive, feeds them constantly and is always with them to keep them warm. All the puppies look full and healthy.
Mary and Alexis were with us last weekend. The girls had a fun time doing girly things and girly talk. C enjoyed some time with her nieces although by age they are more like cousins. We all took a walk through the woods on Sunday.
V picked up some trees from the Conservation Office this week - 60 pines, 7 Pin Oak, 9 Black Walnut and 5 Redbuds. She planted the Redbuds on the bank above the orchard. They will be pretty there. I planted the Pin Oaks on the North Slope and the Walnuts on the East Slope and down below the pond. We are going to plant the pines on the slopes above the driveway.
The Trout Lilies were in full bloom on Sun the 30th. The Peach Trees are blooming and I noticed the first Quaker Ladies blooming, yesterday. They were on the North Slope. The "Pinks" will come out strong this month.
I took the chicken wire cages down from around the fruit trees. The dogs should keep the deer away from them and the cages won't interfere with their growth. The orchard came through last summer's drought and survived the winter beautifully. We should have plenty of fruit in a few years. Worm Moon Week 4 Mar 23-29, 2008Ave H/L 57/36 Norm Ave 60/40
H 69 3/26
L 22 3/25
Precip .6 Month 3.34
The finch feeders are a big hit with the Goldfinches. We have counted as many as 24 goldfinches at the feeders at one time. We saw one purple finch there, too. I put up a new post by the lily pond and hung the hummingbird feeders on it. Vicki is going to cook some juice and fill up the feeders for any early returning hummingbirds. The wild bird feeders on the fence in the backyard are attracting Nuthatches, Chickadees, Titmouses, Cardinals, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Doves, Juncos, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Sparrows and Towhees. A pair of Bluebirds are taking straw into the birdhouse I put on the fence.
Coltsfoot is in full bloom and its leaves are sprouting. Dandelion and Chickweed are blooming. Trout Lilies are beginning to bloom. Red buds are emerging on the Redbud trees. I mowed the yard for the first time this year. A few peas are coming up in the garden but I don't know if they are going to make it. We planted potatoes, onions, radishes, carrots and more strawberries this week. Vicki planted some lettuce in the cold frame.
We had a nice Easter dinner with Aaron, Tequila and Dylan coming over to join us for the day. Dylan is a joy to behold - full of life, joy and orneriness. It was really good to see them all again and to see them doing well. Dylan loves to play ball and can throw pretty well for a two year old. We took him down to the chicken coop for an Easter egg hunt. We found an egg in Gracie's nest. I handed it to Dylan who automatically tossed it across the coop. I guess Grandpa should have known better. :)
Mary and Alexis rode home with me Friday and are spending the weekend with us. They like the dogs and chickens and are excited about the pending birth of Rachel's puppies.
We went to a farm on Mocabe Creek Road and bought 6 more pullets. They are big stock chicks from McMurray's. Four white and two gray. Vicki is keeping them in the kitchen until the nights warm up a little. With the way the price of eggs is rising it will be nice to have big, brown country eggs on hand and a few left over to sell. Worm Moon Week 3 Mar 16-22, 2008Ave H/L 59/35 Norm Ave 58/38
H 68 (3/18)
L 27 (3/21)
Precip .65 Month 2.74
Spring officially arrived this week. We have been very anxious for its coming while we have been noticing signs of its soon entrance. Now, we're ready for the weather to shake off all the cold spells and get on with warm weather so we can sit outside and enjoy the birds and flowers.
There were some beautiful moons a few mornings as I travelled to work. It had been awhile since we had clear sky to see the moon. It is a beautiful sight and its presence and beauty does seem to have an affect on us if only because we have become accustomed to it and have made certain associations with the moon in our culture. The associations we make range from spooky evil to passionate romance. The farming community believes the moon affects the growing of crops and livestock - though that seems to be passing. But our most common response to the moon is some type of emotional feeling. I am glad there is still something that inspires our imagination. Worm Moon Week 2 Mar 9-15, 2008Ave H/L 54/30 Norm Ave 55/36
H 72 (3/13)
L 12 (3/4)
Precip .45 Month 2.09
The snow from the storm Saturday melted for the most part Sunday afternoon. It went away more quickly than it came. The rest of the week was more typical of March weather.
Strawberry plants arrived at the Conservation office, Wednesday. I took off work early Thursday afternoon to till a new strawberry patch next to the current patch. We planted 50 plants. We've got 50 more plants on order from Gurney's. We also planted 3 rows of peas alongside the fence in the garden. The cabbage plants are growing well inside.
Elliott County boys beat Rose Hill Christian and East Carter for the Regional Championship. They will play Mason Co. at the State Tournament in Lexington.
The Spring Peepers have started peeping again after the cold snap.
Vicki made me a nice turkey dinner to celebrate my birthday on Tuesday. I am grateful I got to see my 49th birthday.
Animals who reside at or visit Crann Mor Feirm
Birds who reside at or visit Crann Mor
Wildflowers who reside at Crann Mor
Trees who reside at Crann Mor Feirm
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