Just Here Doing Summer

 You are absolutely right.  It's been a while. 

 These are strange times we are living in, for certain.  And it seems disingenuous to not mention that when checking in to tell you what we've been up to and how we are doing.  At the moment, I am sitting on the front porch working on some stitching.  It would be a beautiful blue-sky day, except for the fact that there is a thick layer of wildfire smoke high in the sky that has turned this cloudless expanse smudgy grey.  

 Much out of character, my company at the moment is a Baltimore oriole.   

Shy by nature, it's rare to have them visit the bird feeder while I am sitting on the porch.  Today, he's been coming and going at will.   Nowadays, nothing surprises me.

I would love to say that humanity surprises me; but, after all of these years, I am not surprised by anything that humanity does.  I've given up the childish notion that mankind is on a transformative continuum towards self-improvement, and that this beautiful world is the perfect setting for that metamorphosis.    

While the latter is true, I see the world more as the stage that Shakespeare claimed all the world to be.  And here we are, stuck, center-stage, in a divine comedy-tragedy (depending upon the day.)  Add generative AI into the equation, and now it's difficult to tell if others on stage with us are even real.

Unless you are living in a cave, or under the spell of propaganda media, you know of what I speak.  So where does that leave us?   When asked, I often say that I spend my days searching out the tiny moments of joy that this beautiful life offers, while being simultaneously horrified by the annihilation of science, research, medicine, education, climate, humanitarian efforts,  and democracy... you know, all of the institutions that made us feel like somebody cared.  And then I remind myself that (as my mother always said) "This is not a dress rehearsal!"  It is our job to live each day of our lives in the best way that we can, no matter the cards we've been dealt.

Don't get me wrong... there's a heck of a lot of goodness in people.  We are inherently kind and caring as a species - until we are involved in group-think.  It seems that our tribal nature is our downfall.

I have found that the only way to deal with all of the "stuff" - and there's just way too much of it - is to back away from it and sink myself deeply into that which I love - my family, my animals, nature, my home, my gardens, 

and the little projects that keep my hands and my mind busy... creativity.  Surrounded by so much beauty, I am deeply aware of just how lucky I am... having the opportunity to live this close to nature.

All of that to say... writing comes harder than it used to.  I have become more comfortable with posting photos and videos on Instagram (and secondarily to Facebook) because of the convenience and efficiency of being able to post things as they happen and not spend hours collating photos and thoughts into a blog post.  After all, life is a series of moments - and Instagram stories makes it easier to share them as they happen.  I vow to only ever share reality.... no AI.

 Sadly, much of what comes into our social media feeds these days is generated by artificial intelligence.  AI has the ability to create images and sounds (voices) that are almost indistinguishable from reality.  This ultimately challenges us to rely upon our critical thinking skills and a little investigative work.   That is... don't believe all that you see or hear or read.  Do your research.

So, here is a little of what we have been up to recently.

I've spent a bit of time down the road observing an eagle's nest high up in a pine tree. 

 We'd noticed a pair of eagles in our area over the past two years; so, it was wonderful to see their nest, and discover that they had had a baby!

Yes, there's another mouth to feed in the bald eagle household!

We had quite a cold, rainy May this year.  And until just this week, our nighttime temperatures have sunk into the 40's.  As you can imagine, this has not been great for garden growth.  However, my garden is like that little engine climbing up that hill...."I think I can, I think I can!"  A little sunlight is all that is needed for everything to grow by leaps and bounds.

We continue to harvest asparagus every other day, and are enjoying lettuce, radishes, kale, and arugula in our daily salads.  

Sugar peas are getting tall and finally have blossomed, so very soon, the asparagus in our meals will be replaced by sugar peas.

I've been harvesting calendula.

With the amount that I planted this year,

I will have lots to dry and use in soaps and lotions - so much so, that I think that will be the only variety that I make this year.  It's my favorite, anyways, and so good for the skin.

You might be wondering how our tater tower is working.  I am happy to say that it is becoming covered in potato vines.  All of the rain that we received was beneficial for it, as it does dry out quickly and requires a lot of watering.

As for the rest of the garden... it is filled with tomatoes, peppers - hot and sweet, cucumbers, squash, green beans, beets, carrots, red and yellow onions, scallions, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and lots of herbs.  There will be no shortage of produce this year!

And... we picked our first two strawberries - eaten right there in the garden and delicious.

My new/old flower garden is growing like crazy!  Every day more blossoms appear as the soil becomes covered in new growth.

Last week Jack added some pea gravel to the walkway, making it easier for me to pull weeds and cut flowers.

As for the animals, everyone is well. 

 

The equines enjoy early morning pasture time.

The chicklets have tripled in size in just two weeks.  I try to spend a little time here and there just sitting with them, but they still run away every time I open the door to their house.

So... my stitching?  It is a second-hand linen blouse that has been hanging, unworn, and unloved, in my closet for years.  You can ignore a shunned garment for only so long and then it's time for a decision... donate or up-cycle.  And so, because I love clothing that are a little on the Bohemian side, up-cycling seemed the proper course of action.  I had just finished this piece of embroidery and was looking for a place to use it.... perfect for my very plain blouse!

 By the time I finish adding all of my flourishes, it will no longer be a plain blouse, but a wearable piece of art... perfect!

I've also been knitting.  The current project is this shawl (it is the Rook Shawl - available on Ravelry) using the yarn that I bought at last month's Md. Sheep and Wool Fest.

We walk in the woods almost daily - and yes, the ticks have been bad this year.  Luckily, I have found and removed them before they reached my bloodstream.   We also ride our bikes whenever the weather and air quality is good.

And sourdough bread baking is a once or twice weekly thing.  I'm happy to say that the next generation in my family has now begun this sourdough journey.

I am grateful that I can spend my days surrounded by beautiful color, watching the miracle of growing things.  If you enjoying keeping up with what's happening on the farm, please join us on Instagram.  You can find us @Beehavenacres. I post there almost every day.