SUMMER 2023

This year, I had the ability to use my roto tiller for the garden. It had been a journey. The machine I purchased, used, for $45 in 1980 finally needed a tune-up (considering it runs once a year for about 2 hours, that's not too bad). The problem was to find someone who would work on it. Thankfully, there is a small shop in Reidsville (about 25 minutes away) that was able to make the repair. It runs like brand new again.

With additional electric fencing and the new space, I was looking forward to a great harvest - I was not disappointed. I canned tomatoes, peppers, beans, and a variety of combinations, like salsa, tomato paste and sauce, as well as dried pinto, great northern, kidney and black beans.

One of the projects for 2023 was removal of one of the large holly bushes from the front bed. Three were too many and it was close to the foundation - not good for the house in general. I wacked away at the limbs, then called in Tim to do the final extraction with the tractor. The front of the house looks better balanced without the bush.

With the black pallet mulch gone and natural wood chips replacing it, the earth began to produce organic matter, worms, mealy bugs and an assortment of valuable insects and organisms. The plants responded by growing very well, and watering was not as much of a chore. People around here say I have a green thumb, but in reality, it is all a matter of soil health - good soil = healthy plants.

At the beginning of summer, we had an interesting event occur. We had been warned, but did not believe that bears would attach our bee hives. After all, we are quite far from the mountains, where they typically live. However construction in the mountains have been chasing them down to our area. Tim had one hive attacked. The bear returned a couple of nights before he realized it was not a group of racoons. He finally resolved the problem by enclosing the remaining hives behind electric wire.

It may seem like all we do is work around here, but that is not completely true. In June our first grandbaby Ruby, was born. In July, we hosted the Hyde Family reunion. Swimming, rides in the Brutus and frisbee golf were part of the activities - not to mention lots of eating.

Our whole family had not been together since December 2021. It was fabulous to see everyone and to stop down to enjoy a few days in the sun. Yes, both Billy and I got up behind a boat we had rented - he on a wake board and I on skis. This is one of my favorite summer sports - whee!!

With the help from my furry buddy and pollinators, we had an abundance of produce from the farm. So we decided to enter into the local county fairs. Tim entered honey and hive products and I entered vegetables, baked goods and canned goods.