gardens. farms. 95 . bales . tonton
The haymaking has begun in the Illinois farm and the lettuce is going to seed in Melbourne.
I love my little garden in Melbourne and miss my farm back in Illinois all at the same time.
For the meantime this is how life will be. But still I am keeping a close eye on everyone over in Illinois and a close eye on Daughter here in Australia who is very close to term.
She has been given so many baby clothes that I have a suitcase full of extras to take to two pregnant girls in the US. I would rather give them to someone I know and it is so expensive to have a baby in the US and both these girls are on the poverty line. There is a lot of poverty in the rural midwest. People don’t talk about that much - but they struggle. Being able to work on my farm to help feed their families is a boon for us all.
For those of you who have been following my farming and gardening and traveling ventures for the past fifteen odd years we need to keep our eye on the old farm dog TonTon.
John tells me Ton is slowing down and sometimes not eating his food. Using funds from this publication I have sent some wet food to the farm kitchen that John will mix with raw ground beef from the freezer plus an egg twice a day. Hopefully this will give him a boost again.
He is old - I know this - he is close to eighteen now but I feel sick at the thought of his dying without me - this is selfish I know. Because he will not be alone.
For our new people Ton is the border collie in the left of this frame. 👆🏽 He was a great farm dog, great with sheep but terrible with cows, (cows are Boo’s department - on the right). Ton is way into his retirement now.
My farm people tell me he still wanders about the farm so that is good. Though sometimes he gets a bit lost and needs leading back to the verandah.
Tucked away on the Great Plains is our little farm. Toddling along without me.
Haymaking
In between rain showers they were able to bring in 95 bales of hay. It will be stacked up in the barn and labeled First Cut. The first cut is not often the best cut however this is still pretty young grass and alfalfa so it is probably good enough for the cows and pigs. You can see that it is baled loosely which means John is aware that some of it might be a bit green - there were showers on the way. They will stack it loosely as well to encourage airflow. If the hay is too green it will heat up and rot or even catch fire. So getting the moisture levels right is critical.
He will cut another field when the ground drys out again and there is four days of good weather ahead.
Ducks
The ducks look good.
I love seeing ducks in the water. John bought them at the farm store just this spring and they have grown beautifully into their new feathers.
The earth on the Great Plains is a deep dark loamy black. Beautiful soil. But here in this part of Australia it is red.
Walks here in Melbourne.
If you have ever been pregnant you will know that walks and exercise are very important. Baby is at 37 weeks now so the countdown has gone to ‘anytime’.
Waiting on a baby is a thing!
Can you pick out the kangaroos on this hillside? They are there! Next time we walk this trail I will bring my big camera to get better shots.
Camo Kangaroos. Look closely. They are hiding in plain sight.
The City Garden is already proving to be not big enough for me!! 😂
The orchid is putting out buds. Orchids like to be ignored so it is happy.
We pay for water here which is not something I am used to. And it is a very dry area. Watering makes me anxious!!
Did you see the moon last night?
I do not have a new episode of The Secret Garden for you because there was a chainsaw hard at work - next door - yesterday. So I will be recording later this morning.
Here is where we are so far! The first two episodes are free! Please SHARE!
Take care - Talk soon.
It always amazes me that WAY up here in Canada I am watching the same moon that you have been watching WAY down south in Australia. I don't mean just the 'moon'. I mean the FULL moon! It is called the 'Flower Moon' here - and Mother Nature is living up to that moniker! The tulips and daffodils are all in bloom. The hyacinth are making the park smell amazing - the little whiffs I can get are glorious! The birds are coming across Lake Ontario by the millions each night. And the softwoods are now in leaf and the hardwoods are working to get their huge buds to burst. What a magical time of year. Good luck baby waiting!
I’m holding space for your mama heart on two continents and sending extra love to that wise old farm dog. I hope the wet food and egg combo gives him a spring in his step. Your farm might be toddling on without you, Cecilia, but your love is tucked into every post.
Have a good Wednesday afternoon...