Fortunately for us, they aren’t close, nor are we in any danger from them. But one has already burned 15,000 acres and 144 structures and shows no containment, despite heroic efforts from planes, choppers, fire crews, and the National Guard. There’s just too much wind. And, fighting fire on foot in 90-degree weather is heartbreaking. We can see towers of hot smoke from here, but the fire is about 40 miles away. We’re praying for those who have lost their homes, cabins, and beautiful trees to this dragon. This is a historic fire, in that we haven’t had one this bad since 1919.
There is a chance of rain in the forecast. Boy, do we ever need that! 90 degrees here, in May, is just crazy. Will is hauling manure out to the North Garden now, as the Sand and Central Gardens are all done. We’ll till again twice before planting, to keep the weeds down. Yes, we both have tried no-till gardening and that just didn’t work for either of us. And yes, we have plenty of soil microbes and earthworms! (Come see our harvest if you’re in doubt as to our over-tilling.)
Our squash, pumpkins, and watermelons that I planted indoors are now coming up. As the greenhouse is stuffed full, I have to put them out on benches, on the back deck so they get enough sun. The only downside is that if frost threatens, I have to bring them inside. Plus, I have to use a big watering can to water them, which is more work. The seedlings do look really nice, however.
We had another calf born. We’d been down at the cow yard, loading our friend Heather’s truck with rotted manure. Just about ten minutes later, Will came back to the house, saying a heifer was having her calf. That fast! Wow! He did have to help her a bit. But we now have another cute black bull calf. — Jackie
Here in far north California I haven’t seen any tornadoes, but seen pictures in the county south of us (Tehama). They crop up only every few years. Our spring has swung from one extreme to the other since January. Now it’s been so cool, that my vegetable garden is hardly growing and my peppers and tomatoes have turned yellow; no more watering for a while, and no more shade cloth against sun-burned leaves. Like I said, swinging to extremes.
Boy doesn’t the weather swing in extremes; too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet. It keeps me crazier than usual.
Love your “Dirt Bags”! You couldn’t ask for better.
Congrats on your new calf. More manure ahead. :)
So glad the fires aren’t near you and praying that they won’t ever head your way.
We’ve been going through alternating hot and cool spells all spring and are now moving into a hot one. But as of yesterday the whole garden finally IS IN, ending with the planting of the sweet potatoes. Tomatoes are starting to flower, pole beans have begun to climb, potatoes have finished blooming, the corn has popped up and I’ve found myself starting to think about what to plant in the fall. LOL!
Wow, it’s so nice to hear from you and other folks in warmer climates. It kind of perks me up, knowing our turn is coming. Our gardens won’t look like yours until late June/early July. But it gives us time to get them ready, spreading manure, tilling, getting fences ready, etc. For us, with so many big gardens, that’s a big order.
We had the state declare the need for burn permits two weeks earlier than usual but I haven’t heard of any major fires. The high country between the oppressed Basin and Anchorage Alaska had a snow storm a couple days ago and we have had enough showers to reduce risk despite more wind than usual. I’m working on my hoop houses which need deep weeding because of my spending May in the hospital last year. I’ve got most of my onions planted and tomato’s, peppers, squash and cucumbers are started in the house. I’m trying to maximize how much I can grow in the green house and hoop houses! Have fun planting all that stuff!
You need rain so bad and we need dry weather! More severe storms coming in tonight with large hail damaging winds. Tomorrow hurricane force winds, large hail and of course damaging winds and they are forecasting tornadoes. Your plants look nice and I’m so glad you got a other baby calf! Take care and stay safe! I’ll pray that the Good Lord send a soaking rain to stop the fires. Let’s hope!
I’m thankful the fires aren’t too close to you and pray rain comes to help the fires be put out.
I’m praying too for those who’ve lost so much in this historic fire. Heartbreaking!
It’s hot here and lots of wind too. It feels a lot hotter than I remember in May. 80 degrees feels like 100. The wind makes it more tolerable.
Been working outside planting and trimmed a few trees.
I’ll be going back out to do more work in awhile and check on the chickens.
The wind helps keep them a lot cooler which is nice.
Glad Will is getting fields done with manure and I truly hear you on no till vs
tilling. You always have a tremendous harvest.
I’m glad everything you started is coming up so well. They are looking so good. I know what you mean about running out of room. Same here.
Hopefully no frost now. Wouldn’t be fun to have to put everything back inside somewhere.
I love seeing the swans. I hope they are nesting and going to be around a good long time for you all to enjoy.
Wonderful you have another calf and glad Will was out there to help her as she needed.
Great picture of Will and your son. Thanks for sharing.
Have the best night and stay safe.
I love that picture!! We’re supposed to get some rain. I sure hope so. It will not only help our poor gardens and pastures but help the poor firefighters out in this heat, trying to save folks’ homes and cabins in its path. They get worse by the day. I feel so bad for people who have lost everything. Thankfully, so far, at least, I have heard of no fatalities.
Dirtbags🤣🤣Good one. You’re fortunate that squash is up! Still ground too cold to seed. We’re in a dry Windy spring trend here. Even Swiss card is reluctant to sprout! What do you recommend for the leggy squash and pumpkins in my greenhouse? Potted them right to the leaf line and they are 3-4” shooting! Take care of the knees with the extra watering and work.
Our ground is warm enough to put in seed but with no rain and the definite possibility of frost, we’re holding off.
You might try spraying with fish emulsion for those leggy squash. Usually if they get enough light, they don’t reach for the sun.
Yeah, those dratted knees…. They aren’t cooperating much. But I keep trying. You gotta do what you gotta do….
Planting my seedlings like crazy today. Super windy here. We had sudden thunderstorm yesterday with a pummeling inch and a half of rain in a short time. In fact it ruin some of my tomatoes. Today a risk of tornado. We have the root cellar for shelter. As “usual” crazy weather. But the work continues.
Boy, doesn’t it though??? Sorry to hear your rain was an ugly one. And wind really sucks. I sure hope tornadoes stay far away!!! Luckily, we very seldom get one up here. And when we do, it’s usually a smaller one. Thank God. I’m not a fan.
Bull = quarters and halves. Unless he is the “next generation”.
We need rain too. Thankfully our hoses reach all we need to water.
Nope, he’ll be beef. We’re already saving the next generation bull calf. Still no rain. Maybe tonight?? We’d need dozens of hoses to reach some of our farthest gardens! : )
it rained about 14 minutes but we’ll take it. Pretty windy and tornado watches until 10 pm. It is dry, has been dry, and it is windy yet there are always people who ignore burn warnings.
Another short stint of rain – not even enough to make the entire driveway wet. Again, I’ll take what I get. Taters are looking super good – going to mound them this weekend. Weeds never stop, a few dandy-lions in the strawberries and need to spot week the annuals/asparagus. Young trees *just* don’t give up.
Of course more wind today so picking up sticks/branches is on the to do list.