Sweet Rain!

It started sprinkling yesterday evening. And kept on all night. A nice gentle steady rain that was needed so badly. I had just finished planting the one row of Kentucky Wonder beans in the North garden to finsih that garden up. And tilled another row for Blue Lake beans in the South garden. And had started putting up the long branches I have been saving  for all the running beans. I thought I had alot. But only got half way down the Macasslen bean row and about 1/4 down the Kentucky Wonder row. And I have 2 more rows to go. I had cut a bunch of bamboo a few weeks ago at a friend's place so need to go get them. But I got the beans that were already trying to run right now. I had to replant most of them a few weeks ago.

And my friend came to get the only buck we had this year. He is a Nubian and full of spots. So cute. I hated to let him go but no way I could keep him. I just have his mother and sister. I'll be getting a new buck and another doe that are Nubian in about a month. I think I need to retire Abby. She is 10 and it is taking so long for her milk to get where we can drink it. Same thing last year. I would love to find a place where she could go live the rest of her life, like a goat retirement center. I'm checking this out.

2 More Ewe Lambs!

I got 2 more ewe lambs today. From the lady that I got 2 from last year. These were born in February. They are mostly Finn with a little Suffolk. They are both not really white but a soft white color. Both kind of wild. So it might take awhile to egt them to come near me. I have some names I have been thinking about. I know one of them, probably the smaller one, will be Adalaide. And I was thinking the other day that Amarillo would be a really cute name. I also like Azalea. But I think the other ewe will be Amarillo. So I now have 4 ewe lambs and 5 year old ewes. Plus the 3 ram lambs.

Now I am wondering what to do about a ram. Or rams. Since I have wool sheep and hair sheep, I was thinking I'd need at least 2 rams of the same breeds. I was going to just use my 3 rams that were born here. Then butcher them in the fall. That's what I did with the ram that bred 4 of my ewes. So I might just do what I had planned, then next year buy a ram that I could use for all the ewes. I don't want too many rams.

So my flock is growing.

I went the other day to look at some Nubian goats. I had found this guy on Craig's list last year. I went to see his goats and fell in love with them. They are just beautiful animals. And so healthy and shiny and very well cared for and loved. He has several generations there. They   all have names too.

So when I got to his place Friday, he had so many babies all over the place. I don't know how anyone could make up their mind on which ones to get. They were all beautiful. But I did pick out a doe and a buck. And changed my mind several times later. But he is really picky about when he weans his kids. And when they are ready to go. And to who. He told me to call in a few weeks. So I will. And I will be ready to go get them.

I could still kick myself for not getting the 2 does he had for sale last year. For $150. for both of them. But I was not really wanting to get young does right then. I so wish I had gotten them. Especially at that price. But now I think I am more at that place where I could take a doe kid. Since I am keeping Sandy and Abby's doe kids from this year, I will have young kids.

I am so tired. I have had a busy day. I tilled more garden rows and planted more beans, okra and field peas. It looked like we might get some rain here, but it hit Chattanooga instead. We have chances for rain Monday and Tuesday too.

So Many Tomatoes

I have around 236, give or take a few. Something got 2 of them sometime in the last few days. Right at the base of the stem. If that's a cut worm, why doesn't it get every single tomato plant, not just one here and there? Doesn't make sense to me.

I have Better Boy, Big Boy, Early Girl, Pink Girl, Lemon Boy, Mr. Stripey, lots of Rutgers, Roma, Better Bush, Marian, Bradley, Mountain Spring. I know there are more. Anyway, I have alot of tomato plants. This year I planted them in 2's down the rows so I could use 1 stake between the 2 plants. Or fence. Or cages. I know now that I should have put fence up first, then plants. And then put them a little closer together. This way I will just tie the plants onto the fence with hay twine. I save all my hay twine for this purpose.

I have been outside all day today doing this. I did take some breaks. And had to go to town to get a prescription for a lady I take care of. And delivered eggs while I was out. And I am still not all the way done. I will have to finish tomorrow morning. Then tie  all the bigger plants. I'll wait to tie the smaller plants til they get bigger.

This market gardening is alot of work. I am the only one doing it too. But at least I am getting excercise. Which I desperately need right now. And tomorrow is market day! I love the market.

How does your garden grow?