Farm: June 2005 Archives

Steven caught the baby of our pests! I had gone with the girls to pick up some canning jars for making jam. (I'll tell you about the jam later.) When we got back he met us at the truck exactly as you see in the photo. He was walking it around like a pet on a leash. The critter was acting like a tame pet. When he first caught it he said it was growling and fighting. He caught it with a snare as it poked its head up from the hole it had made in the barn. I cannot believe he caught it! I am just laughing and laughing! Who's the hillbilly now? You can read about the 'hunt' on his journal later. Rural Suburbanite

The first of the month means you get to see the lastest photo of the front of my house since I am documenting my house through a year of change. The changes are slight. But still changes none the less. The hanging baskets are really growing quickly. Little birds have nested in them. One basket has a nest with 4 little eggs. I hope they hatch. Tomorrow I am going out to a cabinet shop to talk with a builder who has been invovled with several period reproductions on kitchens. I am dragging all of my plans and ideas and hoping he can do as he said and come in under my budget. I won't hold my breath but I won't spend a fortune either. I do know the look I want of 1909 cupboards can be achieved without selling our vital organs. I have located someone to build the gazebo for my garden. The cost will be way under budget! Yayyyyyyyyy for me! I am waiting to hear back from a guy who is considering helping us with the clearing of the road front and repairing the fences. I am betting he declines. He really baulked at the amount of work needed. So, I wait. What is it about meanial labor that scares so many people? Geeeshhhhh! We have a giant groundhog. I called the animal control for our county and they had no advice. NONE! I was refered to the state game and wildlife commission. While I waited for a biologist to call me back I called the county extension office. They had no advice. About 1pm this afternoon the biologist called. I am quoting him. "Groundhogs are considered a rodent in Virginia. They are a pest. We recommend shooting them and o'possums. If you have raccoons creating problems you need a permit to shoot them." It looks like Steven will be groundhog hunting for a while. The loss of my garden to a rodent would piss me off beyond all pissing off! I am sunburned, peeling and miserable. I have fallen down on getting around to all the journals I read. If I haven't read yours yet do not give up on me. I am getting to it! I promise.