...notes from Brewer's Pond, a mid-life homesteading experience.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Home Critters


Many places get little guys like this, and that is wonderful. Hummingbirds are truly awesome creatures.

Many places get little guys like this, though people sometimes never see fence lizards. I think it's because many people never pay attention. Did you know, over the span of about 70 years or so, scientists have seen the evolution of the hind limbs of the fence lizard which allows them to get away from the fire ants which have been predators of fence lizards? Cool, huh.


Many places have snakes like this black rat snake. Many people would have killed this harmless guy and asked questions later. This snake eats rodents and stuff, which many people would pay a man to get rid of, sometimes using poisons and dangerous traps. Silly people.

I hung out with this one for a while, I named him Curly.

 I mean, what else would you call him?
 I loved the way he smoothed out when he was done talking with me, I sent him on his way. I think I saw his daddy the other day.
 Many places have bullfrogs, but lots of people would rather eat their legs than listen to their fabulous bass notes in the night symphony. We have several. This is Bocephus.
 But not too many people get this behind their barn. I got up to walk Ginger one morning, and there was this thing in the mist.
 I hustled Ginger back into the house, grabbed my ever-handy camera and stalked around the edge of the barn and caught it by the pond... he's lived here the whole time, but this is the first shot I've had.

Good Times

Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Contentment

The winter was a strange one. Details of which I will not dwell on.

Spring is now here, and I have more time. Year one is more or less counted. Hello, year two.

 Things are sprouting, and the hodge-podge is looking healthier now that we are dealing with drainage issues (ya moved deeper into the swamp, helloOoo) It just needed a little TLC and homemade survey calculations made by Dr. Bug. Also his, ditch digging, and pipe-laying, and sump-pump engineering. I'll get to all of that later.

I received a new camera, and I am playing with it ... so many functions and settings, who could take a bad picture nowadays? Somebody's bound to like it.

Anyway, so here's what's new:

Raspberry Bushes
Blueberry Bushes
Apple Trees
Lilac Bushes
Daisies
Broccoli
Peas
Lima Beans
Second Generation Sunflowers
Garlic
Walking Onions

Those are in addition to the always-grown:

Tomatoes
Peppers (all sorts sweet and hot)
Spinach
Lettuce
Asparagus
Hops
Scallions
Cucumbers
Cilantro
Basil/Thyme/Insert Herb name

Pictures over the next few weeks, as I am home permanently now. At my own behest, which is so sublime, I can not tell you.

Peace.