Summer Wildlife

What an amazing variety of wildlife we enjoyed this summer. The hares and the rabbits are in the increase cycle and that brings out the predators. The owls and hawks spent a lot of time chasing the chickens, usually outside the pen but ocassionally they would make it inside. We got to enjoy a close-up view as we relocated them back outside. The Great Gray owl has the amazing ability to snap its beak so loudly it sounds like a ladyfinger firecracker. It also hisses like a very upset cat!

This pooky porky poked around our property quite a bit this summer. They also hiss and growl like a cat. One of our cats tried to play and ended up with a paw full of quills and a good lesson learned.

We did a little fishing this summer and enjoyed watching the whales. Emerald hooked this sea robin (yuck) but we caught several salmon and halibut as well.

This little paddle bull spent most of the fall moose season in my yard and hay field. How he knew Fish and Game changed the regulations and he was safe was beyond me but he enjoyed the fireweed immensely.

Emerald rescued this little snipe from the cats. It didn't seem to be hurt, just tramatized. After spending most of the day in a box, we took him to the far side of the pond and let him go. He spent the day whistling so loudly my ears hurt, but the minute his feet hit the dirt he was silent. He zipped into the grass and just a few wiggling blades were all we could see of his travels. He was aptly christened "Whistle".

Some wild ducks visiting the pond.

We had the most trouble with this family of Goshawks. The parents raised 5 babies and the 7 of them would spend the day terrorizing the cats and the chickens. They were never successful but they did raise a ruckus. This one was in the chicken coop frantically trying to get out thru the window. He did get his last revenge, he sank a couple talons into Warren's side while the kids were looking at him. Warren said it was like holding on to a bundle of tendons and wires.

The summer of giant vegetables!

The cold crops loved the cooler edges of the warm hoop house. I was afraid that they wouldn't produce because of the heat but it didn't seem to bother them a bit. Emerald grew this Cauliflower in her little patch.

Alexis was in charge of growing this monster cabbage. It ended up being 12 1/2 inches in diameter. We ended up with several in the 10 to 12 inch range. We made 36 quarts of sour kraut before I started giving cabbage away and letting the chickens enjoy it. The cabbage I planted outside got about 6 to 8 inches across and it took them until freeze-up to get that big.

Emerald's massive broccoli plant. She pulled it out because it was taking over her entire garden bed.

Alexis with her mammoth radish, it was solid and sweet!

Yum! The squash was huge and never got hard and seedy. I gave away a lot and still have plenty for us. The kids accused me of putting zuchinni in every thing, and it was probably justified. They liked the "apple" pie but not the jelly or the quiche.

Alectra was very proud of her broccoli, it was the biggest in the house!

Hoop House

Our hoop was amazing! We had an intense learning curve but the rewards were great. We ate yummy things like green beans, tomatoes, peppers and artichokes, none of which grow in Alaska unless they are inside. The kids were amazing helpers, from planting to harvest, I wouldn't have been able to do it with out their help. This is how it looked in June.

Here was the begining of July.

Here we are at the end of August. The sweet corn and sunflowers hit the top, at 11 feet. The dill and tomatoes folded in half at the top of the 5 foot stakes and califlower was as big around as a five gallon bucket. The pumpkins took over and we had to beat paths through the plants so we could walk. Every row had flowers growing and we had bouquets to share all summer.

Lego Contest

This summer the girls entered the Lego contest at the Homer Public Library. The scenes were on display for two weeks and were voted on by the public. There were also judges choosen by the library.

Alectra created a joust based on a book she read about the middle ages.

The dragon's lair in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was Alexis' inspiration.

Here is the discription Emerald wrote for her entry. "My scene is about the book Mariel of Redwall. It is when Gabool pushes Mariel off the cliff, in the middle off the storm and she is fighting the waves. I chose this scene because even though Mariel was supposed to die, she survived and got to shore. I had fun creating this scene."

Emerald won First Place in her age bracket, Best of Show, and The People's Choice.

Making Hay While the Sun Shines!

This summer we bought an old tractor, mower, and baler. We had a great time learning to make hay.

We got two cuttings and put almost 500 bales in the pole barn. The old sickle mower looks neat but it is very frustrating to use. Hopfully we can find a better mower next spring.  It has been fun selling hay and seeing White Mountain Ranch make a little money for a change.