JUNE 2022

JUNE brought abundant growth, in more ways than one. The garden and flower beds were doing well. My goal of attracting pollinators was working. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and multitude of interesting bees, including our own honey bees.

I completed my 90-hour real estate training and began studying for the 3 exams.

For our anniversary, we took time to go to the Outer Banks in NC to check out the ocean and stop down for a needed rest. The water was still quite cold and wind brisk, so we only stepped in for a short time. We found out at that time of year, the land breezes pushed black flies to the shore, making sitting on the beach uncomfortable

In mid-June, I received word from my sister that Mom was not doing well. I stopped all work in the yard and programs and headed for St. Louis. It seemed like only yesterday, she was out chasing chickens in my garden.

I am so grateful for the two weeks I was there. I visited Mom daily and found she was slowing slipping away. Yet, she had some brilliant moments, which I thoroughly enjoyed. She was strong and I still could make her laugh. Then it was time to go back home. We hugged extra-long, looked at each other in the eye and said, love you, then said goodbye for now.

While I was in St. Louis, I stayed with Billy at his apartment in the city. We took a day and went to the Aquarium, where Billy allowed nurse fish to nibble on his arm and we road the Big Wheel at the train station. We had an amazing BBQ dinner in South City and enjoyed late-night TV together. Naturally there was a trip to Ted Drews too.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, I had left the garden, flowers, blueberries and grapes to fend for themselves as the month continued on with little or no rain. Tim was charged to keep all my plants alive in my absence.

Always thinking about a better way, he hooked up soaker hoses and diligently kept things going as best as he could – plants, cats, chickens, and bees – oh my. However, he chose NOT to follow my method of watering various plants with 1 gal milk jugs. There obviously was a better way – use machinery.

If that wasn't enough, he got word my shed was ready for delivery. Picture a 10 x 20 going down narrow country roads on a flatbed. Together, he and the driver got the shed around to the prepared pad and maneuvered it into position.

At the same time, the contractors we had hired to create the pad for the barn were ready to get started. they would level the ground and pour the concrete foundation. All this was going on in the 2-weeks I was gone in St. Louis.

As with the shed, the barn area had to be graded with much larger equipment. Forms were set, rebar added Then concrete poured on June 28th and cured for a several days before the building could be put up.

Tthe chicks were maturing into adolescent birds. Tim. retrofitted the old gray trailer as a temporary coop, while he built the permanent one. The chickens kept getting bigger and needed more space. Time for the CHICKEN TRACTOR (a portable coop). So while I was out of town, he built it. Yet he waited for my return to conduct the big relocation. So much easier when they were tiny.

With 26 chickens, a new home and warm days, we have high hopes for plenty of eggs this year. Phase II of the coop will be putting it on wheels, providing shade under it for the hot summer days and and a way to move it periodically so the chickens will have fresh grass.