I’m still new enough to farming that almost every part of it is exciting. But today was an exceptionally awesome day at the farm.
1. Baby carrots!
2. Baby beans!
3. Baby melons!
4. Baby heirloom tomatoes!
5. Baby butternut squash!
6. Baby broccoli!
7. Baby cucumber!
8. Ready-to-make-a-baby popcorn!
9. And finally, the height of my day, a sweet little frog chilling in a squash blossom.
Can we get a close-up?
From Boys Own Book of Outdoor Sports
A wild turkey trap is made by first digging a ditch; then over one end is built a rude structure of logs, covered at the top. The structure should not be tight, but, of course, sufficiently close not to let the birds through. Indian corn is scattered about and in the ditch, and inside of the pen. The turkeys follow up corn in the ditch, and emerge from it on the inside. Once there, the silly birds never think of descending into the ditch, but walk round and round the pen, looking through the chinks of the logs for escape that way. To make all sure, the ditch should end about the center of the pen, and a bridge of sticks, grass and earth should be built over the ditch, just inside of the pen, and close to the logs; otherwise, in going around the bird might step inside the ditch, and once there it would follow the light and thereby reach the outside of the pen.
To all the animals in the forest:
Hello. I am one of the new humans living in your woods. I am writing to propose what I believe could be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
We (which is to say, my boyfriend and I) have lived in the cabin at 1855 London Ranch Road for over two months now, and I can’t help but notice that none of you – turkeys, deer, foxes, frogs, jack-rabbits, gophers, moles, snakes, newts, songbirds, squirrels, and cougars – have introduced yourselves or welcomed us in any way. The sole exception to this is that a brave young lizard, dubbed Benny, perched atop my boyfriend’s shoe for a while. Both lizard and man walked away from this exchange pleased, and I think you all could learn from Benny’s example.
To be quite explicit, this is what I’d like to do:
Sleeping Beauty chilling with her feathery/furry homies
Snow White gets some help with her baking
I’m not saying you’ve got to hang on to my every word while I sing about a bunch of girly bullshit; but surely, some of you enjoy singing and dancing, and besides, I could use some help making pies.
I understand that some of you may be avoiding us for fear of being eaten. I am a vegetarian! In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that Chris eats meat, but I can offer you full protection if you agree to hang out with us. We’ve been together for a year and a half, and he has never eaten any of my friends. Not even one.
If you are interested in further developing what could be a beautiful friendship, please join me in a morning singalong tomorrow at 5:30am.
Until then,
Your Princess,
Jenny