Science

You might be a homeschooler if you have a trip planned for a church conference, decide to leave early, and drive a little farther to hit the local science museum first. 

The Great Lakes Science center in Cleveland was a great start to our long weekend. The church conference was wonderful too, but no pictures to show from that. :)

Happy Birthday Nolan!

Today my baby boy turns 9! He celebrated by having his two best friends, Judah and Jackson, over to run through the woods, giggle about those things only 9 year old boys find funny, and battle each other on the WiiU.

We surprised Nolan with a "fruit" cake. Believe me when I tell you that he could not have been more thrilled. That kid loves fruit. So much so, that recently Kellen paid him for helping with a job. Nolan used all his earnings to buy mangoes. I kid you not.

Happy Birthday Nolan!

Happy Hens and Brave Bunnies

2 1/2 weeks old and starting to venture from the nest. 

The hens love spring in the woods. 

Look Who Showed Their Faces!

The turkey hens got up for a little bit, and we got to see the poults! Hard to tell how many there are, 11-12 I think. I love the black ones! The hens went back onto to the nest. There were still quite a few unhatched eggs. We will see if any more hatch. There is another hen sitting still too on a different nest!

Can you see it?

Can you see it? No not those turkey hens. Can you see what what is under them?

No? Me either. There are newly hatched poults under those hens! Those mommas just aren't ready to get up from that nest yet. Did you catch that I tried to bribe her with some grain? She didn't fall for my trick.

They are just doing their job. There are still eggs there to hatch, and there are brand new little ones to protect. I get it, but I just wanted one little picture.

I went to look several times today. I could see three with the best look I got; the time I went out without the camera. The best picture I got was this.

Look close. You can see it. There is a poult right there. Really.

More to come later....when the girls decide to stand up and let me see those babies! I hope.

My Favorite Place

The hundred acres wood is a big place full of steep hills, old overgrown logging roads, and deep hollows. There are places on the property I have not even seen.  And sadly, we'd stopped exploring.

We had gotten stuck in a rut. We worked, worked, worked the farm, but the land we use for the farm is only a fraction of the property. We rarely ventured beyond that space, and when we did it was on the same old paths that we've followed for years.

This spring, what began as a desire to find ramps, has turned into a Sunday afternoon habit of walks in the woods in places we rarely go. We haven't found ramps (or morels for that matter,) but we have found some beautiful things.

One spot, in particular has caught my fancy. It is on a north facing slope. It is a rain run off that is tucked deeply in the curve of the hill. It is cool, damp, rocky, and full of some of my favorite woodland flora. The hillside is covered with fern, and the first time we walked this way we spotted trillium.

Yesterday, we went to check if the trillium were blooming. They were. They are gorgeous.

I explored a little deeper down the run off, and found another lovely plant. I'd never seen this one in the wild before. It is jack-in-the-pulpit. 

Lydia and I also discovered the area is full of spicebush. I've gathered these berries before, and they are a wonderful spice. We will be gathering late this summer. 

I love this spot. It is fairly easily accessible, and I do believe it is the prettiest spot on the property. Here are a few more pictures from our walk.

Turkey Talk

A little over a month ago, we brought home our first turkeys. We've talked about raising turkeys pretty much from the beginning of this farm, but shied away because we had the notion that they were difficult to raise. So far, they have been easy and enjoyable. I love to listen to them.

About a week ago our tom began talking to some wild turkeys across the hollow.  He'd "gobble, gobble," and a few minutes later you could hear "gobble, gobble," on the opposite hill.

A few days ago, as we were driving out the lane we noticed the gobbling had gotten a little louder, a little closer, and in fact it was. Four wild toms had come up to the fence line to see what was going on. They were walking the fence line, and checking it out.

A few minutes later,  I looked and the wild toms had come a little closer, and our tom was not happy about it. He was at the fence letting them have it, "GOBBLE, GOBBLE." They were not intimidated and stood right in his face, "GOBBLE, GOBBLE" through the fence.

By the time I ran in for the camera, the wild turkeys had decided it wasn't worth their time, and went strolling back down the hill. I haven't seen, or heard them since.

In other turkey news....

The hens are sitting. The last of the three hens decided she'd rather help her friend on her nest than to make her own.

I thought about trying to discourage her, but I think we'll just let nature take its course. Hoping for some poults soon, and our own Thanksgiving turkey!

Welcome to the Farm

We are so excited to welcome some new little, but important, creatures to the farm! Since we've moved here we've kicked around the idea of setting up some hives on the farm. We know nothing about keeping bees, and the time never seemed quite right to dive into this area of agriculture. It still doesn't, but....

We know a local bee keeper, Gabe Blatt, who was maxed out in his current space. Space, we have. So, long story short, he and Tim talked, Gabe and his wife came out for a visit, and a few weeks later there are bees in the 100 Acre Wood!

Let the pollination begin!