Bird House & Barn

... a Farm Report.

Zelda inspects the apple, Ada and Tasha, left behind.

On the coast, in Southern California, summer is sizzling: 76 degrees. My apologies to anyone enduring temperatures less temperate. Being near the ocean gives us some relief from weather extremes, and while we have it relatively easy, our relatives in the eastern parts of our county are suffering. Go fifty-five minutes east and you get triple digits!

No rain. That's always a bummer if you want to keep garden beds perky and green. We are (or should be) accustomed to drought conditions, but it doesn't stop me from pining for a nice, big thunderstorm. Oh, that would be grand. I know even the chicas would run in the rain with us.

Goats: The goats are as frisky, curious, playful, and hungry as ever. We've had less success walking them, lately. Taking them out is a slow, dragging endurance contest, but when we turn toward home they run so hard and fast they can pull your shoulder out of place. I guess by now they are full grown. Ada, here, was born February 25. She's the talker, always reporting to us her thoughts and opinions.

Ada and Sanka bunny, nosing each other.

Sanka, in her fancy bunny loft, with access to burrowing in the cool earth.


If Ada is chatty, then I would say Tasha is subdued, introspective. Of course her actions speak volumes. Give her half a chance and she will charge through the rose bed, crash across the outdoor table, knock over chairs, dive into the apple basket, and tumble open her grain bin, with Ada close on her heals, bleating joyfully. Tasha is older, by four days, but I cannot say what, if anything, this accounts for. One thing I can count on, to settle them both: brushing. They love a good back scratch, and salon attention. Brush them, and their goats eyes get even more of a glazed, transfixed look.

Watermelon? A generous helping, for goats and chickens alike.

I think we've covered our tomato success well enough. We still have plenty, and I am
still mad for roasting them. The other garden stars include sunflowers, and pumpkins. I wish we had a root cellar. I need to decide where to stash these Moonshine beauties, until Halloween.

Better make sure I find a safe place to stash them.

Maaaaa-ah! She always has something to say.

Like some goats, chicas can crow, too! Here comes Little Debbie. You wouldn't think it to see her, tiny as she is, but she can raise a roof with her clucking.

Inside the barn we find shade and comforts, like water, good books, cool sheets, and sweet figs. It's a marvelous summerhouse, a favorite with everyone.

Maria and I stretched out in the bed, ate figs, tossed the end bits to the chicas, and bunnies, then started reading Charlotte's Web. Wilbur and his new-to-be friend have just spoken to each other for the first time... at bedtime, by lantern light, we'll meet Charlotte.

We are still gathering herbs, like lavender, and thyme. The tin is full of drying thyme. We enjoy pulling off the leaves, filling a small hanky, then saving them in an envelope.

Complete? Hmmm... the cats are well, all the chicas are healthy, clucky, plucky, and Crumpet fish swims happily enough. Our Farm report is complete.

The End