Memorial Day Weekend - Day 2!

 We haven't shirked all responsibility this weekend, we managed to get quite a bit done in the yard today in spite of very hot and humid temps, and knocked off at about 1:00 to get ready to other things that didn't involve sweating buckets!

My new friend - he decided to ride in my tool caddy around the garden while I planted a few annuals.  When I was done, I told him he had to go do some work and he hopped out into the pea bed :)

Ladybug eggs deposited on a pepper plant!

Hubby and Finn creating a place for my pumpkin plants, this area was otherwise a wasteland full of weeds with a perfectly good fence asking for vines.  He rimmed it in a few pieces of scrap lumber for me so my newly amended soil wouldn't wash away in the next big storm, and you know it's coming!

After we all got cleaned up, it was off to a picnic at Gina's house!  You may remember that Gina of Back Bay Botanicals is a fellow blogger that lives nearby.  Her place is fantastic and the kids always have a great time there.  We had a relaxing time just wandering around with some good food, her place is really pretty and perfect for a summer picnic!

Their new farm stand is nearing completion, and looks fantastic!  Those are all cutting type flowers, zinnias, etc growing in front so from the road the farm stand will look very cheery and inviting!

More Cornhole playing... I think the boys are going to want daddy to build a set!

I was pleased to find one of my "native land" brews for sale on base, so I had to grab some, in spite of the fact that we brew our own.  It's a nostalgia thing :)

One of the backwater canals of Back Bay runs right through the property there, very pretty -

No visit to Gina's is complete without the chickens of course!

Gina, Loch noticed you left the keys in it, haha!

The girls relaxing in the breezy shade

Gina made sure to instruct everyone where to bring their watermelon rinds when they were done!  Good times for us, good times for chickens :)

  

Tomorrow will start with chores no doubt, as we have a long list of things to do, but we are determined to fit some fun in as well.  Not sure what it will be yet, but we have to take advantage of the weather while we can.  It's hot out, but a little breezy and storm clouds are constantly passing by, dimming the sun a bit at least.  We actually had a bit of rain today and dark skies, but it passed quickly without incident.  I feel lucky about that since it seems everywhere is experiencing some very trying weather.  What's next - locusts???!!

Miscellaneous Fun

Other than our Easter Sunday fun, we had a few other things that went on over the weekend that involved the garden and gardening friends!

The kids have been in serious need of some new toys for the backyard.  They seem to have outgrown the standard pail and shovel for the sandbox, so we decided on a croquet set and a badmiton set!  Here they are helping daddy set it up.  At this point they had no idea how the game worked, so I told them they have to stand there and hold the net while daddy & I play, LOL!

Thought you might get a kick out of hubby's standard lawnmowing outfit.  He's converted his  Middle Eastern headwrap for U.S. use to keep the pollen away!

The azaleas are finally in full bloom in our yard

A local fellow blogger hosted a seed swap party for a gardening group I'm a member of on Saturday evening at her farm, it was a great location and everyone had a great time.

Below, the kids checking out her mobile coop/chicken tractor.  This thing is the bomb...

She has a gravity fed watering system that ensures a steady supply of fresh water, portable electric fencing that is run by solar, all is easy to move about.  I believe she moves them on a weekly schedule, so it's all very efficient!

Definitely a hit with all the kids in attendance, and the grownups too - who doesn't love chickens?!

Her girls are very curious and happy, and will run right up to make sure they are the center of attention :)

The kids are always excited about getting some of "Miss Gina's eggs" - I'm excited because soon she will be selling them at their new farm stand and will be even easier to keep a stash of local, happy eggs in the fridge.

There were more... but we ate 'em!

Her property is right on Back Bay, which is part of a very large watershed and ecosystem here, and wherever you have water, a bridge and rocks you have... boys!  Like a magnet.  The same went for all the husbands, too!

Below is her new farm stand.  They are just finishing the construction, permitting and all that and will be opening for business in June.  They are working so hard in fact, her hubby was working throughout the entire party but did manage to say hello to everyone - with the farms starting to have berries available already, I know they are anxious to finish. They are a botanical farm and I expect to see lots of flowers there as well as her fresh eggs, and I bet produce, too!  I wish them all the best, such a fun adventure and I admit I'm jealous as can be :)

If you want to check out Gina's blog, go to Back Bay Botanicals, they are working hard to create something very special out there and intend to have a bed & breakfast someday,too - and she has some great posts on the coop!  Above is the photo of the group that evening, our lovely host Gina is the one wearing - you guessed it - the John Deere cap of course!  Thanks for having us all over!

I'll leave you with, what else?  Chicken video! Is there any better way to spend a Saturday evening? I think not!