The weather is changing and it feels like spring already. Its been raining for the past two and a half days (not continually) and the temperatures have reached 70 degrees for a high. I have been working almost full time at this part time job (the bee keeper job) and have had little time to do any work around this place. I had to go to Arkansas and help my Mother-In-law by cutting up tree’s that fell on outbuildings and in the yard as a result of the Ice Storm. That yielded me a full-mounded truckload of green firewood. My truck was so squatted that I was worried I could break an axle, but I didn’t thank God. I wasn’t about to go and do all that work and not get any firewood out of the deal (she doesn’t use firewood) I just wont be able to use it this year (way too green).

I managed Saturday to get 3/4ths of my Plot 3 (Click on above picture to see Close up) tilled up and Monday I finished the remainder of it and put down hay all just before the rain. The hay will hold the ground from washing out and it will begin to break down and I can till it under when I am actually ready to plant. It also protects the soil and the Microorganisms that are in the soil (which are important for decomposition) so that when I do till the hay in it will decompose quicker. Last year I planted potatoes by digging a trench and filled it with hay the put the seed potato down and cover that with hay again and then mounded dirt on top of it all. As the plant grew I mounded up the dirt alternating hay and dirt. It worked well for potatoes but the best part I didn’t find out until Saturday when I tilled. The ground in that area had 50% more soil than the ground around it! Since I live on top of a ridge that is nice to have in all the rocks. Not only was there more soil but the soil did not compact anywhere near as much as the soil around that area making it like slicing through butter with the tiller, as apposed to the beat you all over the place rocky soil around that location. So this is the main reason I am putting down hay

Below is a picture of Plot 3.  I decided to change the dimensions of it because it was not a rectangle which made it hard to plant rows.  It stands currently at 20′x50′ (my feet not a tape measure).

I had almost finished closing in the Compost area so because I knew I wouldn’t have much time this week I decided to work on it on Sunday.  Yes I know it should be a day of rest.  Good thing we live in a time of Grace!  We have put Montie (our Border Collie) in the compost area to keep her off our grass.  She has worn a path into the ground that is dirt all the way around the house and she leaves us presents all along the path…I had enough.  So I will let her leave the presents where I need them…in the compost area.

I thought I would show that I did manage to get two sheets of plywood up when I had time.  I only have one more sheet in the front and three in the back and this thing is “closed in”.  Then I need to figure out how to pay for siding.

The baby is doing well.  We had an Ultrasound done to check on it and it was bouncing around and looking very alive.  Its amazing how the picture cant really give you an idea what your looking at unless you actually see it when it moves!  It wasn’t until after seeing a live baby inside Brandy that it seemed to stick in my thick head that “I am going to be a Daddy”.  That’s pretty neat!  We will not be finding out the sex of the baby because we want to be surprised.   We have begun working on names and I have my boy and girl names I like but Brandy is still up in the air.  I think she’s coming over to my side though.  I don’t have a scanner or I would post the Ultrasound for you to see.

Well thats about all I have for today.  Sorry I don’t have some insightful mantra or really much of an interesting story of the week.  I just been running like a chicken with my head cut off.  Speaking of Chicken, I am leaving you with a final picture of our Banny Rooster.  Sorry its somewhat blurry he was about to fly off and I was taking several pictures so I could get as close to him as possible before he flew off and this is the only one that wasn’t completely blurry from my walking and taking pictures at the same time.

God Bless you all and may the Lord keep you and make is face to shine apon you.