Weekend Wanderings

 Last week ended with the remnants of Hurricane Debby passing through our area.  Three inches of rainfall (roughly eleven million gallons - or - by weight, a hundred million pounds) fell just on our farmland.  Luckily, the rainfall that we had received earlier in the week helped to soften the ground, making it more absorbent than it had been during our drought.  Still, lots of water ran off the land and helped to swell ponds and streams.  Our own pond almost crested over its banks. The weekend began with oodles of puddles.

(And, in case you were wondering... our daily wild duck count has increased to 25!)

By Saturday morning, the sun returned... 

accompanied by a gentle breeze that blew away the remaining humidity,

and left us with an exceptionally beautiful weekend.

We walked in the woods - noticing how spongy the ground had become with the much needed moisture.  We spent a little time clearing fallen limbs from the woods trail... a task that Forrests thinks is a game.  He retrieves as many as we throw into the woods.

Forrest was happy to see that the outdoor arena lake had returned.  

After our walk in the woods, a little soak rejuvenated him.

Our crazy chicken teenagers moved on to their next phase of life.   Last week, we lifted the net between them and the adult hens - which was very anticlimactic.  

Yesterday, we allowed everyone out to free range to their hearts' content. 

 Some of the adolescents ventured out - but panicked when they couldn't remember how to get back in. (This always happens in the beginning.)

As for us... we had a mostly at-home weekend -

 giving me a chance to catch up on some needed tasks. Although, we did take a 16 mile bike ride to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon for barn kitty food.

With all of the rain, the grass was in need of mowing... so that was accomplished this weekend.

I hadn't baked with my sourdough starter since before our beach vacation, so I fed it two days in a row and then did some baking on Sunday morning... three baguettes, a loaf of seeded multigrain bread, and sourdough waffles.  

home-ground wheat flour baguettes

Sourdough waffles (fermented batter helps to pre-digest the wheat - lowering the glycemic index)

This year's first batch of soap is made - with more to be made this week.  Batch #1 is Orange/Calendula with calendula-infused oils from farm-grown calendula flowers.  It will need to cure for several weeks before using.

Forrest would tell you that his favorite part of the weekend was a play date with his brother Oakley.

These two boys just love each other.  And I love the fact that they will be forever friends!