The Duck Report - Soooooo much reporting....
I've fallen behind on the Duck Reports (and Mum has been on a tear with writing them), so I have a bunch here today covering late April through to June. So much news from the hinterland...
Duck Report 29 25th April 2021
Today is raining very lightly, encouraging the black flies which are already out and about, but it will give me a chance to catch up on what is happening. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so I think we have finally turned the corner and can say good-bye to winter.
I found a supply of energy and sawed up the logs I had on the truck and stacked them all in the wood shed. Then I picked dandelions, simmered them, and developed some nice-looking dye liquid which I froze. I checked the freezer and found only Hollyhock and Goldenrod left. I have to get going on the white fleece I have, and spin up a batch to try out the Hollyhock as this is a new dye for me and I want to see what I can glean from it. (blythe note: Mum's continuing witchy-ness is a constant source of joy for me...)
After the dandelions, I decided to make up some purple from Ashford dye and use it on my 2 shawls. These were brown wool and the result was a very dark purple-blue. It’s odd because they went in together and were stirred frequently but they are definitely two different colours. When I rinsed them the only colour to bleed out was red which surprised me. I really do not like the Ashford dye and find if I have to use a bought dye, Gaywool is preferable.
I have been trying to give away the couch and chair Bob gave me. It has been on kijiji for some time, but yesterday Silvia came and picked it up. She was quite a nice lady, an out-of-work welder, and picked up that couch just like it was nothing. You just never know who you will meet with kijij, but so far they have all been very reasonable and well-behaved people. (blythe note: this is code for "NOT a serial killer". Mum is very concerned about general weirdos.)
The dogs got chicken chew sticks this morning and, of course, Roxie Rocket Ship ate hers first while Harley was still struggling. When you have only 9 teeth, of which 4 are fangs, it is hard to handle chew sticks. But they are so good and worth the effort. Besides Harley knows I will save them for later when he gets full. (blythe note: Awwwwwww... ♥)
Duck Report 30 April 30th 2021
It is still raining!! We have a lawn which is starting to look like a hay field.
Michael’s rules are that you cannot cut the grass if it is wet; God help us if the mower will not start. (blythe note: It's true - Dad has far too many rules around lawn mowing)
Two years ago I cleaned up the horse chestnut debris onto the manure pile and five or six seedlings grew which I potted up. Unfortunately only two survived the summer. One pot I buried in the manure pile and the other I stashed in the barn tack room. The tack room is heated, so it does not actually freeze. This spring I brought the pot out and now it has started to grow. The one in the manure pile looks dead, but I shall give it a little longer and see if anything materializes. Never before have I managed to grow a chestnut. They usually die over the summer. Now I have to decide where to plant it.
Michael has decided to fix the screen door with Gorilla Glue. I did not realize there was anything wrong with the door in the first place, but trusting him with the glue is a little scary to say the least. (blythe note: I'll say! What happened to the door? Was Dad successful with the glue? Is Dad now permanently attached to the back door? So many questions...)
Duck Report 31 May 14th 2021
Wow! I have really been neglecting you all!
I have been very busy and have the vegetable patch all planted except for an extra row of peas, yellow beans and the indigo plants. All the indigo plants survived and are now out on the front deck looking very happy. I ordered plastic and wire frames to create a tunnel over the indigo until they grow too large. The plastic has arrived but not the frames.
Last Saturday Michael and I went to Everton, which is just south of Barrie, to pick-up 100 cedar seedlings. It was a nice trip and we did not get lost once. Sunday and Monday I planted cedars, and yesterday we loaded the truck with the water tank and watered them. (blythe note: Not to be too critical, but 100 trees seems pretty intense. Where on earth did you put them all?)
I am hoping as soon as we get rid of the black flies we can get the sheep shorn. They are a little pathetic being so hot they crowd Twix on his shady side just for the extra relief.
I have started the garden path. Finally deciding on the shape, and digging out one side. Now I have to dig the full width before the ground gets so hard it feels like concrete.
The garden club is keeping me busy. They came and dug up the raspberry canes, and then 2 groups came for manure. Now I have just been over to take cuttings from a member’s pear tree to see if I can grow the same. The Spinners and Weavers Guild, in contrast, have done nothing all year except ask for fees. I think next year I shall just not keep up my membership. They are all so full of themselves and not very nice as a consequence. (blythe note: you say this every year, Mum... *eyeroll*)
Now I have to go and pick asparagus. It has sat for weeks just out of the ground and has finally bolted forward. I think everyone on the street will get a bundle. If anyone has any recipes I am always up for new ideas.
Duck Report 32 16th April 2021
Today is Sunday and the day Michael has cereal for breakfast. I was out digging, so don’t know how it happened, but when I came in I was asked if maple syrup could go off and was shown a jar of pickled beets. He had poured beet juice over his cereal instead of maple syrup. This could only happen to someone who is colour blind!? (blythe note: or, like, Dad) He gave this culinary delight to the dogs to clean-up. Harley was not impressed but Roxie Rocket Ship decided it was a winner.
I was watering the outside potted plants when I noticed the horse chestnut pot. I thought it was dead, but it actually survived and is growing leaves. I had planted the cucumbers in this pot so now I have to wonder if they will both survive in one pot. (blythe note: horse chestnut cucumber trees?)
I still have the indigo on the front porch where it seems very happy, but will have to plant it out soon. If only my row cover frames would arrive. I also think I may have to break down and water the vegetable patch as it is looking very dry and unhappy.
The frailties of youth! Roxie Rocket Ship refused to eat her supper so Harley cleaned it off before I could get to him. One hour later, Roxie threw up all the breakfast with pickled beet juice! (blythe note: well, we saw that one coming...)
Duck Report 33 22nd May 2021
I am watering the veg every 2 to 3 days for 15 minutes, which seems to keep everything going. In fact I just decided to go buy a zucchini plant, as mine had not materialised, when this morning what do I see? Two zucchini buds coming up.
Today we watered the cedar seedlings for the second time since they were planted and I’m afraid they are looking very sick. I may have to water them more often.
This week I had a spurt of energy and worked on my garden path. I now have the path cut and shaped to the correct width and have started digging the depth. While sweating away at this, I dug up a silver ring which Michael had given to me 30 years ago. I had forgotten I'd lost it and have no idea how it ended up in the lawn at the back of the house. But it was a lovely surprise. It still fits and looks great.
Marilyn came by this week and took the pups portraits. They had a bath the day before and behaved very well. I have picked 9 shots which I hope to frame. (blythe note: I WANT TO SEE... *grabby hands*)
Duck Report 34 25th May 2021
This morning we had just finished the barn and were walking back to the house through the front lawn, when Roxie Rocket Ship took off like a 747 under the fence, down the field into the dip up behind the sheep and Twix, taking them all by surprise and scaring the pants off them. Mission completed, she came tearing back to tell me just how much fun it is to scare fellow farm occupants. (blythe note: Nothing about Mum's retirement is boring. NOTHING.)
Duck Report 35 31st May 2021
The sheep had a big weekend this week. On Friday the sheep shearer said he would try and come in the late afternoon, so I recruited Rachael (she is my farmer's daughter) to come clean down the barn and get everything ready for shearing. Needless to say, he did not make it but called to say he would be there on Saturday. True to his word he arrived Saturday about noon along with Eric and Paulis, so we all helped and watched sheep shearing along with a lecture on shearing and vegetarian diets. (blythe note: shearing and a lecture, just part of the curriculum at Deerstones U...) The sheep were wormed and had their coats put on, then let out into the field. Surprisingly, when I brought them back in at night they were very friendly and not at all put out.
We have an invasion of caterpillars on all varieties of trees and Paulis said when he squished them they left a purple stain. So today I collected a few and boiled them but only received yellow/brown liquid, not very interesting and they move really fast when trying to escape. (blythe note: Mum, this is a witchy bridge too far) Eric also brought me seedlings which I luckily did not plant immediately as that night we had frost! What a year for wearied weather - two days ago we had snow!!!
Duck Report 36 4th June 2021
I supply my neighbour, Bob, with asparagus every 2 or 3 days and he distributes it to all the residents along the street. Bob thinks he is the Mayor of Clearview Road, and this gives him the opportunity to chat to everyone. In return, he watches Facebook for me for bricks for sale in the area. (blythe note: this is a weird transaction, just sayin') This week he found a large quantity which I picked up yesterday, and I will get another load tomorrow. I have my path dug and a load of crushed stone waiting to be spread. So the work is progressing although I suspect the super heat this next week will bring progress to a halt.
Today I was knitting and watching starlings in my crab apple tree. I was about to get cross, as I hate starlings, and I thought they were raiding the chick-a-dee nest, but they were cleaning up the caterpillars on the tree leaves. I may have to rethink my starling hatred. (blythe note: *hysterical laughter*) Unfortunately, starlings eat the same things as blue birds and are more aggressive than blue birds, so the jury is still out on them.
Duck Report 29 25th April 2021
Today is raining very lightly, encouraging the black flies which are already out and about, but it will give me a chance to catch up on what is happening. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so I think we have finally turned the corner and can say good-bye to winter.
I found a supply of energy and sawed up the logs I had on the truck and stacked them all in the wood shed. Then I picked dandelions, simmered them, and developed some nice-looking dye liquid which I froze. I checked the freezer and found only Hollyhock and Goldenrod left. I have to get going on the white fleece I have, and spin up a batch to try out the Hollyhock as this is a new dye for me and I want to see what I can glean from it. (blythe note: Mum's continuing witchy-ness is a constant source of joy for me...)
After the dandelions, I decided to make up some purple from Ashford dye and use it on my 2 shawls. These were brown wool and the result was a very dark purple-blue. It’s odd because they went in together and were stirred frequently but they are definitely two different colours. When I rinsed them the only colour to bleed out was red which surprised me. I really do not like the Ashford dye and find if I have to use a bought dye, Gaywool is preferable.
I have been trying to give away the couch and chair Bob gave me. It has been on kijiji for some time, but yesterday Silvia came and picked it up. She was quite a nice lady, an out-of-work welder, and picked up that couch just like it was nothing. You just never know who you will meet with kijij, but so far they have all been very reasonable and well-behaved people. (blythe note: this is code for "NOT a serial killer". Mum is very concerned about general weirdos.)
The dogs got chicken chew sticks this morning and, of course, Roxie Rocket Ship ate hers first while Harley was still struggling. When you have only 9 teeth, of which 4 are fangs, it is hard to handle chew sticks. But they are so good and worth the effort. Besides Harley knows I will save them for later when he gets full. (blythe note: Awwwwwww... ♥)
Duck Report 30 April 30th 2021
It is still raining!! We have a lawn which is starting to look like a hay field.
Michael’s rules are that you cannot cut the grass if it is wet; God help us if the mower will not start. (blythe note: It's true - Dad has far too many rules around lawn mowing)
Two years ago I cleaned up the horse chestnut debris onto the manure pile and five or six seedlings grew which I potted up. Unfortunately only two survived the summer. One pot I buried in the manure pile and the other I stashed in the barn tack room. The tack room is heated, so it does not actually freeze. This spring I brought the pot out and now it has started to grow. The one in the manure pile looks dead, but I shall give it a little longer and see if anything materializes. Never before have I managed to grow a chestnut. They usually die over the summer. Now I have to decide where to plant it.
Michael has decided to fix the screen door with Gorilla Glue. I did not realize there was anything wrong with the door in the first place, but trusting him with the glue is a little scary to say the least. (blythe note: I'll say! What happened to the door? Was Dad successful with the glue? Is Dad now permanently attached to the back door? So many questions...)
Duck Report 31 May 14th 2021
Wow! I have really been neglecting you all!
I have been very busy and have the vegetable patch all planted except for an extra row of peas, yellow beans and the indigo plants. All the indigo plants survived and are now out on the front deck looking very happy. I ordered plastic and wire frames to create a tunnel over the indigo until they grow too large. The plastic has arrived but not the frames.
Last Saturday Michael and I went to Everton, which is just south of Barrie, to pick-up 100 cedar seedlings. It was a nice trip and we did not get lost once. Sunday and Monday I planted cedars, and yesterday we loaded the truck with the water tank and watered them. (blythe note: Not to be too critical, but 100 trees seems pretty intense. Where on earth did you put them all?)
I am hoping as soon as we get rid of the black flies we can get the sheep shorn. They are a little pathetic being so hot they crowd Twix on his shady side just for the extra relief.
I have started the garden path. Finally deciding on the shape, and digging out one side. Now I have to dig the full width before the ground gets so hard it feels like concrete.
The garden club is keeping me busy. They came and dug up the raspberry canes, and then 2 groups came for manure. Now I have just been over to take cuttings from a member’s pear tree to see if I can grow the same. The Spinners and Weavers Guild, in contrast, have done nothing all year except ask for fees. I think next year I shall just not keep up my membership. They are all so full of themselves and not very nice as a consequence. (blythe note: you say this every year, Mum... *eyeroll*)
Now I have to go and pick asparagus. It has sat for weeks just out of the ground and has finally bolted forward. I think everyone on the street will get a bundle. If anyone has any recipes I am always up for new ideas.
Duck Report 32 16th April 2021
Today is Sunday and the day Michael has cereal for breakfast. I was out digging, so don’t know how it happened, but when I came in I was asked if maple syrup could go off and was shown a jar of pickled beets. He had poured beet juice over his cereal instead of maple syrup. This could only happen to someone who is colour blind!? (blythe note: or, like, Dad) He gave this culinary delight to the dogs to clean-up. Harley was not impressed but Roxie Rocket Ship decided it was a winner.
I was watering the outside potted plants when I noticed the horse chestnut pot. I thought it was dead, but it actually survived and is growing leaves. I had planted the cucumbers in this pot so now I have to wonder if they will both survive in one pot. (blythe note: horse chestnut cucumber trees?)
I still have the indigo on the front porch where it seems very happy, but will have to plant it out soon. If only my row cover frames would arrive. I also think I may have to break down and water the vegetable patch as it is looking very dry and unhappy.
The frailties of youth! Roxie Rocket Ship refused to eat her supper so Harley cleaned it off before I could get to him. One hour later, Roxie threw up all the breakfast with pickled beet juice! (blythe note: well, we saw that one coming...)
Duck Report 33 22nd May 2021
I am watering the veg every 2 to 3 days for 15 minutes, which seems to keep everything going. In fact I just decided to go buy a zucchini plant, as mine had not materialised, when this morning what do I see? Two zucchini buds coming up.
Today we watered the cedar seedlings for the second time since they were planted and I’m afraid they are looking very sick. I may have to water them more often.
This week I had a spurt of energy and worked on my garden path. I now have the path cut and shaped to the correct width and have started digging the depth. While sweating away at this, I dug up a silver ring which Michael had given to me 30 years ago. I had forgotten I'd lost it and have no idea how it ended up in the lawn at the back of the house. But it was a lovely surprise. It still fits and looks great.
Marilyn came by this week and took the pups portraits. They had a bath the day before and behaved very well. I have picked 9 shots which I hope to frame. (blythe note: I WANT TO SEE... *grabby hands*)
Duck Report 34 25th May 2021
This morning we had just finished the barn and were walking back to the house through the front lawn, when Roxie Rocket Ship took off like a 747 under the fence, down the field into the dip up behind the sheep and Twix, taking them all by surprise and scaring the pants off them. Mission completed, she came tearing back to tell me just how much fun it is to scare fellow farm occupants. (blythe note: Nothing about Mum's retirement is boring. NOTHING.)
Duck Report 35 31st May 2021
The sheep had a big weekend this week. On Friday the sheep shearer said he would try and come in the late afternoon, so I recruited Rachael (she is my farmer's daughter) to come clean down the barn and get everything ready for shearing. Needless to say, he did not make it but called to say he would be there on Saturday. True to his word he arrived Saturday about noon along with Eric and Paulis, so we all helped and watched sheep shearing along with a lecture on shearing and vegetarian diets. (blythe note: shearing and a lecture, just part of the curriculum at Deerstones U...) The sheep were wormed and had their coats put on, then let out into the field. Surprisingly, when I brought them back in at night they were very friendly and not at all put out.
We have an invasion of caterpillars on all varieties of trees and Paulis said when he squished them they left a purple stain. So today I collected a few and boiled them but only received yellow/brown liquid, not very interesting and they move really fast when trying to escape. (blythe note: Mum, this is a witchy bridge too far) Eric also brought me seedlings which I luckily did not plant immediately as that night we had frost! What a year for wearied weather - two days ago we had snow!!!
Duck Report 36 4th June 2021
I supply my neighbour, Bob, with asparagus every 2 or 3 days and he distributes it to all the residents along the street. Bob thinks he is the Mayor of Clearview Road, and this gives him the opportunity to chat to everyone. In return, he watches Facebook for me for bricks for sale in the area. (blythe note: this is a weird transaction, just sayin') This week he found a large quantity which I picked up yesterday, and I will get another load tomorrow. I have my path dug and a load of crushed stone waiting to be spread. So the work is progressing although I suspect the super heat this next week will bring progress to a halt.
Today I was knitting and watching starlings in my crab apple tree. I was about to get cross, as I hate starlings, and I thought they were raiding the chick-a-dee nest, but they were cleaning up the caterpillars on the tree leaves. I may have to rethink my starling hatred. (blythe note: *hysterical laughter*) Unfortunately, starlings eat the same things as blue birds and are more aggressive than blue birds, so the jury is still out on them.