Woke up to snow and chickens and ducks

Image via WikipediaWoke up to a little snow this morning. I enjoyed a cloudy day yesterday hoping for some rain. About 2am the rain changed to snow and we got about 2 inches. I brought the seedlings in from the greenhouse and put them on the pellet stove. Not quite cold enough to fire up the stove.
The hatching of chicken eggs didn't go so well this time around. While cleaning and vacuuming, I must have accidentally nudged the plug-in and didn't notice until later that the incubator wasn't kicking on. It got down to 75 degrees F. Half the embryos died. We ended up with 12 living chicks, one pushed half way out then died, one hatched with splayed legs and did not survive.
Today I am going with a friend to one of her friend's houses to pick up a Buff Orpington Rooster that decided he was not happy with his mom for going on vacation for two weeks (honeymoon actually) and turned on her. While there, we are going to discuss having me hatch some duck eggs. I don't know what to charge, especially being as I really don't know what I am doing in that department. Decided I would make a bid of $20 for a dozen living ducklings. Starting with 18 eggs. Especially because this is going to be the initial hatching experiment and I value the learning experience over a monetary gain.
Will likely kill "Red" since 3 roosters is too many. I love the Orpingtons.

Stop and enjoy the wildlife

Took yesterday off from yard work and tree trimming. Went on a day trip and picnicked in the forest of eastern AZ and western NM. I spotted a young bull elk and a little later on, R spotted a small herd of deer does. After lunch and headed back, C spotted a cow elk and two turkeys.

Today, we will work on trimming 3 or 4 more trees. I want to circle them with the over abundance of lava rock all over the place. Then I would like to plant some annuals and perennials inside the little “islands”. I am making a shopping list of flower bulbs to purchase.

Veggies are doing ok. Corn is off to a slow start. The broccoli is doing great, peas and greenvbeans are coming up. In the greenhouse, gardening is doing great. We have radishes, carrots, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and the marigolds are finally sprouting.

Tough Start with a more traditional style garden

Sharing in the struggles, triumphs and failures of gardening at 7,000 ft elevation. Added to the challenges, we are located on the fringes of an extinct volcano field and experience short growing seasons.

I've successfully grown veggies in a small raised bed via the “Square Foot Gardening” method the past few years. Other gardening friends have pushed and nudged me into tackling a larger more traditional style garden this year.

With the short growing seasons, we really needed a greenhouse. We chose a small 6'x8' from Harbor Freight. It lasted a total of 21 hours! The common high winds reached 70mph and that darling greenhouse was flattened like a pancake! We salvaged the panels; reconstructed the framework with 2”x4”'s and salvaged the entire roof structure.

I would like to start a perennial flower garden this year as well....