RAGBRAI

I came home to "Big Johnson Farms!"  The group was great, and included a few (extended) family members.  We were only about 1/2 mile off the RAGBRAI route this year, so we got our first taste of the tour.

They loved our kittens, so here is a gratuitous kitten pic.

Cat Burglars

We were upstairs when we heard a loud thump, followed by the creak of the back door swinging open.  Alarmed, we trotted downstairs to investigate, where we discovered three kittens and two cats underneath the dining room table.  At least our kitten burglars are cute! 

The spring kitten count ended up at twenty, and the last three kittens born are old enough to be given away. They're gotten big enough that they don't fit in my pocket very well anymore. 

Volunteers!

The best kind of volunteer plants are the plants you like, growing where you like them. 

The (not so old and red) Barn

The barn is not a beautiful old red barn.  It's an old pole building that isn't even red.  It has a few imperfections, like some wood that's rotted and a few leaks in the roof, but it still works great for the cats and for storing hay.

Several farmers stopped by to take a look at the hay field after/while we were moving in, but none were interested in renting it for the year.  I'll freely admit it needs some TLC, but it was still worth cutting this year.  Thankfully, a farmer stopped by and was willing to bale it for a share. He, along with some help, cut it, raked it, baled it, and loaded up the hay racks.

We pitched in to stack the hay in the barn.  After ten or fifteen minutes, we were soaked with sweat and parched.  I'll never again be jealous of my little brother's (poorly paid) summer hay baling jobs again.

The week of the July 4th, the hay field was ready for another cutting. Unfortunately, this meant we needed to clean out part of the barn in order to have a place to put it.  So, in the middle of the 100 degree heat wave, we cleaned out bunches of old straw that the cats had used for nesting, a litter box, and kittens.  There was so much straw that we ended up filling up the wheelbarrow, filling up the kiddie pool, then putting the kiddie pool on top of the wheelbarrow.  It still took many trips to empty out that area, and we concluded this was (another) good reason to buy a farm truck.

We also generated a trash pile of half rotten blankets, cat food sacks, and total miscellaneous.  I'm still hoping one of the three can openers we found still works.  The burn pile also grew as we found layer after layer of partially rotted boards reeking of cat urine.  It'll be quite the smelly bonfire sometime this fall. It was incredibly satisfying to finish cleaning out that part of the barn (especially to be rid of that straw!).

We're pleased with the amount of hay in the barn, which we plan to sell for additional farm income.  There's enough space in the barn that we can stack the third cutting without cleaning any more of the barn up this year (although who knows if we'll get another cutting with this drought).  Best of all, each time I walk into the barn it smells of sweet hay.

Not Quite a Garden Bounty

Due to the late start, our garden hasn't produced much yet.  We've enjoyed some nice spinach despite the heat, and the radishes are still growing.  We didn't plant much else for a spring crop, so we've been waiting impatiently for our summer vegetables to produce.  The lack of rain delayed things a bit, but we finally got our first summer vegetable harvest yesterday --- a nice selection of summer squash and zucchini.

The front garden is nearly weeded, but the back garden is a mess.  There are green cherry tomatoes and tomatillos, and the cucumbers are starting to blossom.  Unfortunately, the beans appear to be dying, but the sweet corn is doing better than it should be (the competing weeds are about the only thing doing well without attention).  Hopefully there will be more to share this weekend.

Places you can find a cat

Places you'd expect to find a cat...

• in the house
• in the garage
• in the greenhouse shed
• on the deck
• in the barn
• in the shop
• under the car

Places we find the farmer cats...

• in the front garden
• in the back garden
• in every hole we dig to transplant a tomato
• in every hole we dig to transplant a pepper
• in every hole....
• in the onions
• running back and forth in any trench
• turning over every seed potato
• digging out the seed potatoes
• on the rototiller
• under the rototiller
• eating the hose
• running away while being sprayed with the hose

 Places we've found a cat...

• on the front seat of the car
• kittens hiding in the wood pile in the garage
• under the stacked hay
• in a purposely set live trap
• in a live trap accidentally left open in the garage (not baited)
• in the 4" between the storm door and the front door
• in the blackberry & black raspberry bramble
• underneath the barn
• in the cherry tree
• on the dining room table.

 
The spring kitten count (crop) is up to twenty.  We've found homes for some, some we could never catch, and some have become pets. In an effort to prevent a fall crop, we've started spaying cats. It's been eventful. If you know of anyone who would like a kitten, a fixed barn cat, or a dark brown/black outdoor cat that is extremely friendly (and fixed), please let me know. 

Kolaches

Come help pick and pit cherries, then help make and eat more kolaches! 

Morning Surprise

I was walking back to my desk at work when I felt something *in* my jeans.  Something the size of a mouse.  I froze, afraid that a giant insect, a mouse, or something equally abhorrent was making its way down my leg.  After working up some courage and looking around to make sure no one was watching, I grabbed at my leg, pulling the moving thing away from my skin.  As I grabbed it, I felt it open.  I let go, shook my leg a bit, and quickly (and quietly) grabbed the clothes pin as it fell out the bottom of my jeans.

I think I still appreciate having (& using) the clothesline.

Scaredy

Well, we've given away quite a few of the kittens. While we're grateful for each and every family that took one (or more), it's still sad to see our favorite kittens leave.  I've been playing with and trying to tame White Paws/Scaredy Cat this week.

We've been trying to avoid our cat, Friendly.  I'd insert a picture of Friendly attempting to prevent any progress in the garden or destroying what we've planted, but that will have to wait until I have my phone in the garden. Friendly's fondness for ear scratching, dirt, and catnip makes him the the favorite target of the garden hose.

We've already lost an apple tree in a windstorm, but the strawberries are ripening, seeds in the garden are sprouting, and the cherries are turning red.

Ben thinks I should make Black Forest cake.  I think we should get an ice cream maker and make cherry sorbet.  I'll probably just end up making lots of cherry pie.  
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Kittens!

You know you want one...

Animals and Plants

Fiddling Farm comes with a few other inhabitants.  There are plenty of fully grown cats, which we're striving to keep out of the house. 

There are also at least ten adorable kittens.  We're having fun playing with them, but we've got to find them new homes. 

The dog is staying for now, too.  She's quiet and calm, but she definitely seems a little lost without her "people."

The flowers and trees are doing beautifully.

Peonies

Lily of the Valley

 

Poppies

Fiddling Farm is our new home!  After looking at many houses, we finally closed on our acreage today.  Fiddling Farm is just south of Stone City, has about 15 beautiful acres, a shop, and a house we'll be busy updating.