Friday, February 27, 2009

new pretty biddies




So, I managed to wear my husband down enough that he let me acquire another couple hens. Therefore, we now have four hens and our rooster, Pepper. We got them from a neat fella in Austin who used to work in the film industry and hopes to eventually open an organic hatchery in LaGrange. They are still subject to occasional rabid pecking from Penelope and Guinevere, and I am having a hard time convincing them to roost in the coop and not in the live oak . . . but all is generally well. I have named the White Leghorn "Pearl," and Miss A is calling the Barred Rock "Teaser" (don't ask me why).

Here is Pearl behind the Agarita.


And the lovely "Teaser," under the bare branches of the lantana.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

a way to structure our days . . .

The skies have been glorious lately. They are such a significant part of our lives here--watching the clouds, the stars, shying away from the sun. I have not lived anywhere else where the sky so fully dominates the landscape.

Love this quote from this fabulous blog:

“Be sure your children each day have:

  • something or someone to love
  • something to do
  • something to think about”

Karen Andreola

Saturday, February 14, 2009

happy valentine's day!

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Here's a shot of my little Degas dancer in her Valentine's duds. Lots of love to you all.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

i was right!


Finally got a big, bellowing rain. Not enough to totally fill the pond, but it's on the way!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

dry pond, cloudy sky, pray for rain




I feel like the rains are coming. Maybe that's just wishful thinking. Or maybe it's because I just planted the last three trees in our little orchard and can't bear the thought of them not getting to taste real rain, just hose-water. The land is so thirsty.

Up top you can see the fence gates that I painted blue and hung broken glass from, because it catches the light. Behind you can glimpse the cedar fenceposts that we got on Craigslist, hair still on, for 2 bucks each. Just a little more work and we will have an enclosed sanctuary for our trees.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

new bed


Finally decided to tackle a lonely stretch of west-facing fenceline. I built limestone raised beds with rocks from our property and backfilled with Garden-Ville Rose Soil. Then I planted these:
1 Vitex Agnus-Castus (chaste tree)
2 Nerium (oleander--yes, I know it is poisonous, my children have already been lectured)
2 leucophyllum frutescens (texas sage--not really a sage, though)
2 sophora secundiflora (texas mountain laurel)
3 dianthus (pinks)
3 santolina
2 setcreasea purpurea (purple heart)
1 bignonia (trumpet vine)

After planting I mulched with two inches of Ladybug Turkey Compost and then another 3 inches of Texas Native Hardwood mulch. Let's hope those lovelies get settled before the blast-furnace starts stoking!



And enjoy this link to a little winter gardening advice from Central TX Gardener: