Now that the Chamber of Secrets is wrapped up, we’re taking a minute to assess our house-fixing priorities and figure out where we want to jump in next. Today I thought I’d share a few things that have been happening around the edges of home renovations here at Red House West South.
From early spring through most of the summer, the garden dominates our free time. Things warmed up much earlier than usual this year, and we were able to plant our potatoes and onions in early April.
Around the same time we brought home three fluffy little chicks, and I had to remind myself constantly to be gentle because I just loved them too, too much.
They were so tiny and cute, and I subjected them to all manner of Anne Geddes-esque torture.
With the size of that beak we could have called her Cyrano, but because of her markings we called her Chipmunk. It doesn’t suit her at all now.
We built them a simple little coop and painted it red. We then moved it to the shadiest part of our yard, beneath the dogwoods and plums.
Red Coop West in spring
The girls are much bigger now. Not yet laying, but beginning to make some very chicken-y noises. There’s a lot of growling and side eye.
That’s Chipmunk there in the upper left. She’s top of the pecking order.
The garden, too, is much bigger. Even though I never believe a dry little seed stuck in dirt will actually grow into food (you can check out the gif I made last year to try and convince myself), we’re now harvesting green beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and enough berries to give you a tummy ache. That is if “you” were a person who had no self-restraint. Which I am.
Once the onions are ready you break the stalks and let them dry in the sun. Those are potatoes on the left, which we’re also letting dry out before we harvest them. Both of these crops are ready almost a month earlier than last year!
We planted these raspberries less than three years ago and could barely keep up with them this year.
Anyone who reads this blog certainly know how much I love my house, but my mission in the summer is to get away from it and into the woods as much as possible. I’ve had some wonderful adventures – backpacking on new trails; my first multi-day rafting trip (on the Rogue River – so beautiful!); and a mildly-painful-but-totally-worth-it bike ride to the top of a closed mountain pass.
Mountain Lakes Wilderness trail in southern Oregon – photo courtesy of my friend Heather.
At the Dee Wright Observatory – the destination of our bike ride on the McKenzie Pass Highway. Photo courtesy of my buddy Dylan.
On the Rogue River
On a final note, I’ve been putting a lot of time into making Bunny pose with the potted philodendron in hopes of recreating the lithograph hanging in our kitchen. Trying to get an overheated, fat, irascible cat to do anything is a real challenge, but here’s my best effort so far.
And the original:
Needs work, obviously :). Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the summer! I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into my next house project … but not before I sink my teeth into Mera (metaphorically and lovingly) when she visits this weekend!