Turkeys

                                                               Two tom turkeys 

                           Well another week on the farm.  The turkeys have been coming out during the day and eating all the new spring grass and bugs.   I have seen several different groups of turkeys, and each group has its own set of Toms, usually two,  one older and one younger.   These two did not like the fact that I was working on the garden that morning and decided to give me some attitude and talk back.  They were so funny.

                       

  I finally got another quilt done and now I am working on getting the big queen size quilt done.   I hope to have it done by next week.  but we shall see.   I really love getting all the fabric in the quilt swaps and making a quilt.  I never get the same fabric twice and all the fabric is so neat.

                                                     Valentines Day quilt swap quilt

                        The garden is planted and the sprouts are starting to come up.  the tomato seedlings are up and so are the tomatillos.  I am just waiting for the fennel to come up now.  I have transplanted several plants too and gotten them cleaned up and looking good .  They are sitting by the door to the shop.

                       I took some really neat photos of the Japanese Tulips the other day.  I really enjoyed being out and taking the photos.

                               Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Spring on the Farm

                                                       Wild Honeysuckle in bloom

                     We have been busy here on the farm.  We have cleaned up the yard around the farmhouse, cutting back the foliage and mulching the flower gardens.  Planted some flowers in the old bathtub and added some around the workshop.
             
                  We have also been getting the garden ready for planting.  I have started Black Krim tomatoes, fennel, and tomatillos in the workshop.  and have planted squash, cucumbers, potatoes, onions and hot peppers in the garden.   I am starting slips of sweet potatoes to be planted later this month.

     I have also been quilting  and trying to finish up some projects in the workshop.  Trying to get organized before spring really gets here.  
     
       The wild phlox is blooming and that is always the sign that spring is here.  Also blooming is the red bud trees and the Mexican plum.

                            
                               Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

A Day of the Water

                                                      Pelican sitting on the dock

  I took the day off yesterday and went fishing.  First time out this year, and what should have been a good day,  did not turnout so good.  The weather was cold, with a good stiff wind blowing all day. so the fish did not really want to bite.   But other then being cold,  the boat acted good and we scouted out some better sites for next time.   I did take my camera a get lots of photos and hope to take a day off sometime just to go out and take photos on the water .

On the farm,  I have been busy getting the garden up and running.  We cleaned all the old plants out,  I have tomatoes ( heirloom of course) started in the grow shed, and are getting ready to plant potatoes, onions and squash,   cleaned up the sweet potatoes and hope to plant them again as well.
 I have also trimmed up the fruit trees and gotten them fertilized for the next three months .  I cut back all the azaleas and other overgrown bits of the front yard at the farm house and potted up some plants for the deck.  now just to keep everything watered and hopefully every grows good.

                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Sand Hill Cranes have left the area.

           Monday,  all the sand hill cranes left  the Gainesville area.   There were several large groups of 100 or more that flew over the farm at different times  and I was able to get photos of them.   I love watching them fly and I love their call.    I have always called them children because they used to hang out at my best friends house down on Paynes Prairie.

     After they left I managed to get a few good photos of a Piliated woodpecker that was in the pines right behind the house.   They are really skittish and hard to photograph,  but this one hung around long enough for me to get the photos

   This was taken with the  long lens and you can see how big he really is.

    I finished getting some quilt tops done and also finished organizing my supplies for the show.  I also had extra electrical outlets put in the barn,  because I was running out of room and starting to step on cords.

    The amaryllis are starting to bloom in the yard.    I planted these bulbs about 25 years ago,  and they just keep coming back every year.  I really love the colors and enjoy seeing them bloom.

                    
                               Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Another Day down on the farm

                                                              The girls are back
           

  Well,  walked out for the shop this morning and scared two turkey hens right out of two years growth.  as well as myself.   A few minutes later,  the whole group walked into view and I managed to get some photos of them. The new season starts soon,  but they are not in any danger as they are all girls.   Only beards can be hunted.

       Spent the week working on quilts and actually got back to one that I had started last year and was having problems with. Took me most of the afternoon to pull all the thread out so that I could go back and fix the problem.  Might get it done soon.

   Took this really neat photo of the old barn .  thought it turned out pretty good.   Want to run around and get more photos out there. but staying inside where it is nice and warm and working.

   The area behind the house is really turning out nice.  it looks so good now that it has been cleaned up.  The wild life are loving it because now the grass will grow and they will have lots of bugs to eat.

   And the new kitten is growing up fast.  He loves chasing the older cats around the house for hours.


                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Making wax

                                           Azaleas in bloom on the farm

    Well,  it has been another cold week here in the sunny south.  But I decided that the way to say warm was to make some old bees wax furniture polish.  It involves standing over a hot stove.  What a better way to stay warm.  It takes a double boiler to get all the wax to melt and add the other ingredients.   So I had lots of fun making the wax.  I think that it came out a bit thick,  but I can always reheat and add more turpentine.  At least I have lots for all my wood working projects.
I have been refinishing an old desk (secretary)  and I did not want to put varnish or polyurethane on it.  I can now use the bees wax and it will come out beautiful.

                                             Lots of Beeswax all shaved for the pot.

                                           Wax applied to the drawers and polished.  the rest is waiting to be done.

                  I found a really cute critter hanging out on the trash can,  and could not resist getting his photo  so I thought I would share it with you.

                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Working Hard

                                             Cleared area in the west side of the farm.

          We have started clearing the west side of the farm up from the last tree harvest two years ago.  There is lots of debris left by the logging company and now that is is well rotten,  we can bring it to the burn pile and dispose of it.   Of course we have managed to mangle the big tractor a bit and are now waiting on parts.  Life on the farm.

        I got my quilting machine back today, and sat down and quilted for about three hours  got about half way through the project that I am working on.   I have also been working on another quilt, and I am slowly getting it done.

      I was working out in the citrus trees and found a new friend,  not too sure what he is,  but think that he is either a type of garter snake or a corn snake.  In any case he is one of the friendly guys so I got a few photos and left him be.

       We have definitely got the wood pile stacked up for the next year.  I am looking forward to having a good fire in the fire place  once the wood dries out a bit more.

  
  Met with the Division of Forestry today,  We walked the property and got the Five year plan sorted out.   We will have two prescribed burns in the trees during that time. and will also have another big harvest in 4-5 years.    I am happy that we are getting on board with everything that should be done to take care of the property.
 
                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.