Mid-Week Update : No Peaches this year

I am so busy right now I can't even tell you whats really going on in the world over the last few days. These nice days in between the rains I am pretty much going dawn till dark attempting to get as much done before rain or massive grass growth puts a stop to things.

Therefore I must apologize that here lately the blog has become more of a "what I did today" journal once again. I know some prefer those types of posts but I also know others would like to see more political or informative type stuff or even more fiction. Well that's the way it goes I guess depending on the season around here. Right now it is journal season.

Anyway I removed all the feeders from my surviving hives this morning. There is enough stuff blooming now that any of these hives going on their second year or more shouldn't need to be constantly fed. If they do then they aren't going to be producing well anyway. When I pulled up to the peach orchard the owner came running out all smiling and I thought for a minute he was going to try and hug me or something. He kept pointing at his line of Plum trees and jumping up and down like a youngster until I finally figured out he was giddy over all the bees that literally covered every bloom.

He expects a good Plum crop to say the least but he informed me the Peach crop was a complete bust because all the buds froze this year. I had been wondering why my Peach trees never bloomed and why my Apricot only boasted maybe three or four flowers this year. Guess now I know the late lasting Winter got em this year.

Win some and lose some there is still hope that maybe the Apples won't get frosted out and they are almost ready to pop along with later Plums, Pear and Crabapple.

It appears some of my Strawberry plants actually survived and are coming in strong now again and with a  bit of luck I may be able to till the garden spot tomorrow. The garden area is taking forever to dry out this year compared to the other ground around it and I don't know why.

We had triplets the day before yesterday which brings the lamb totals up to 7 now. Five ewes and two soon to be whethers. The first four are already tagged and tail banded with the last three scheduled for tomorrow. Only one Black baby so far.

Speaking of which the second ewe to lamb was one of a pair we picked up last Summer from up North a ways. She had delivered twins two years in a row but all of them had died so the owner was parting with her cheap. We discussed it and when I saw the conditions this ewe was being kept in I was pretty sure the problem was she had been having those lambs out in the open. The previous owners did not have a barn or a birthing shed for her. Well both her lambs are ding well and she has to be the most protective mama ewe I have ever seen stomping her foot like she means business when anyone gets too close to her maternity stall. I am thinking I am going to keep her one ewe lamb for further breeding.

That's about it so far, except I got the entire fence waste completely removed from the alfalfa field finally. (Say that - Alfalfa field finally three times fast). The last piled up old posts and boards are on the burn pile and my 6x8' trailer is over flowing with old fence wire ready to be turned into scrap tomorrow. With the current scrap prices it is hardly worth taking it in but at least I will be rid of it.

Every bit helps.

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!