Damage!

Remember how I said nature was attacking?

Shit just got real.

A storm blew through last night and took out our fence, a portion of our deck and came through the window where I was laying with Little. 

I probably don't need to say it but it was effing terrifying. 

We're in the process of figuring out our next step, unfortunately it's not pretty.

As you can see in the bottom picture, one particularly spiteful branch fell to the side and knocked out my beautiful plants. I think the cucumber plant is going to make it, I don't know about the others.

As the tree was on town property, we called them to let them know and see what they would do. Unfortunately, they came by unannounced and saw our illegal chickens.They didn't say anything so we're just waiting to see what happens.

I'm the type of person that finds humor and joy in everything. Otherwise, I'd rip my hair out and scream at people and my head would explode and that wouldn't be fun for anyone.
It's kind of hard to do right now.

Murray Must Die

I thought Murray and I could peacefully coexist.

Don't drive angry!

I was wrong.

Every last stinking bean plant has been decimated by that damn groundhog. 

Every. Single. One.

I also have squirrels that have worked their way into my screened in porch to go after the chicken feed. We reinforced the open areas of the screen and they found their way around it. 

Nature is attacking yall. 

This is some bull crap. 

To keep Murray out, I plan to run out this week and get some more chicken wire fencing to line the bottom of the fence where the little fart is sneaking in. Thus far he has only gone for my bean plants but I don't want him moving on to the next thing!

If that doesn't work, well, anyone know any good groundhog recipes?

Something's Been Eating Me...

Or really, something's been eating my garden!

I've been blaming the chickens. I let them out of their run in the evenings to free range in the back yard and figured they saw something tasty in there and went for it. My romaine plant is but a stalk and my bean plants have been nibbled down to the stems. Luckily, those are the only two things that it's been going for. I was able to deduce through incredible detective work and sleuthery (you know, like being a sleuth) that is was NOT the chickens that was in my garden. 

There was a bag of sunflower seeds that I'd left out and when I came back something had torn it open - but the chickens hadn't been out! So I'm brainstorming ways to catch whatever it is, or shield my yummy stuff from him/her and mention this to Mr. Brown. He cuts me off, "There's a groundhog". 

He's seen this thing for months and never told me! He smokes and I do not so he spends a bit more time outside quietly than I do. When I'm outside there's usually a show tune or two along with a running dialogue between myself, Georgia, and the chickens.
It seems this fella was here last summer too but we had a dog then. The dog would run the groundhog off when he got too close. The dog then ate everything in my garden. Dog's gone now!

So now the question is - how do I keep this rascal from ruining my harvest??

Welcome to Seattle

We live about a half an hour south of our Nation’s Capital, in a cozy little suburb in Maryland. There’s a joke around here – if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes. Also we very rarely have a true spring that lasts longer than a few weeks. Usually we go from a long, cold, stupid winter to a quick spring, to a long, hot glorious summer. Not this year. Winter drug on much longer than usual (winter coats on Easter!) and for the first time in a long time we’re having a true Spring. I don’t like it one bit. It’s cold, it’s rainy, it’s not 80 degrees. We had a frost warning two nights ago! My plants are growing and germinating but not at the rate I’d like them to be or that they would be if it would warm up a tad and give them a little sunshine. I transplanted my tomatoes 2 weeks ago and I swear they haven’t grown at all.

Anywhoo. Enough Debbie Downer about things I can’t control. Any suggestions on how to make tomatoes grow big and strong and delicious?
The search is out for pullets! I’m hoping for 4 ladies from the same flock. Either already laying or about to lay. Easter eggers, Marans, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns or Silkies. Leghorns are good layers but is it shallow of me not to want white eggs?
We recently went on a field trip to The Accokeek Foundation. We went on a Garden Walk of their Museum Garden. Learned lots, post coming soon.