Animals A to Z - June Update

These were the girls when they were about a week old. Here's their story

http://cashmereandchickencoops.blogspot.com/2013/05/notes-from-country.html

 They had their first day of free range freedom a few days ago. Their scratching, grass and bug eating skills are in good shape, and like good little chickens they came home to roost at dusk.

You know about him right?

http://cashmereandchickencoops.blogspot.com/2013/01/animals-to-z.html

He had a run in with a snake last week. Twice. I rushed him to the vet then the emergency vet hospital. They took blood tests every two hours for awhile to see if he had venom in him. I guess it changes the shape of the blood cells. After a very stressful few hours, they concluded they were dry bites. Stressful for me - I suppose him too. They kept him overnight on antibiotics, pain meds and ice packs. As of today he looks much better than this and is desperately trying to get back outside. I wish he was content to be a house cat.

These  were the happy fuzzy guys on a hot day

 Engaging in one of their favorite summer day activities...who doesn't like a pool?

 Until the next day where I was given 2 hours notice by my vet that the shearers were a-comin. I, of course missed out this year because I was in tears holding an ice pack on my sweet baby kitten on the way to the vet hospital

p.s.You can read up on what we missed from last year here:

http://cashmereandchickencoops.blogspot.com/2013/03/animals-to-z.html

 But I checked in first thing the next morning..."How could you let them do this to us??!!! Where were you???!!!"  "Trust me," I said. "You will feel infinitely better in the dry, oppressive heat of August now!"

Then there's this sad sack. He's had an ear infection that just won't seem to go away, and now his back legs aren't working. He slips and slides and can't seem to control them. The vet seems to think it's more his spine and his age and being a corgi and that it's not going to get better. He's on more rounds of antibiotics, steroids, ear ointment - a diet and "bed rest" which means he's confined to one room with a carpet for a month. He is not a happy camper. Taking him to our old corgi vet to get a second opinion.

When it rains it pours.

Notes From The Country - Progress

 The snowstorms of a month ago are but a distant memory. The gardens have gotten over it and moved on.

 Here's a song to listen to since this is a country post and it contains roses. 

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

The columbines are in full bloom. (Our state flower)

Red ones too. I prefer the the blue.

Arrays of iris are blooming as well

Is it possible for a flower to be angry? Well grumpy at the very least - I mean look at it's little face.

Pinks: aka perennial Dianthus

And the peonies seemed to explode into bloom overnight

And are delightfully ambrosial

Many of the roses are beginning to bloom as well. I love old fashioned heirloom roses, primarily because of their fragrance, but I also love the look of an old fashioned rose. Either single petaled or packed full of layered petals, they are unique.

Such as this old Alba rose. The others have not bloomed yet. But they are dreamy. And smell heavenly. And are varying degrees of pink. And, unlike many modern roses, most of mine only bloom once a season. In June. So for a few glorious weeks the air is redolent of rose perfume. Then they vanish. They do produce rosehips, which are a bonus, but definitely fleeting.

This one that borders the potager does actually bloom all season - for the most part. It is a very large, hardy shrub rose called William Baffin and hails from Canada, eh.

This is my hedgerow. Hedgerows have very ancient beginnings, are basically living hedges or barriers made up of densely packed shrubs, and are prolific in England which is where I got the idea for mine. My little hedgerow actually serves as another smaller windbreak next to our Upright Juniper windbreak and borders the "path" down to the gate where beyond are the alpacas...and ghosts of goats and horses....

My hedgerow (I love that word) is made up of lilacs, an upright cranberry shrub, and old garden roses.

I love this one. Pretty in pink.

This is a single petaled rosa glauca with blue-green leaves.

As all the flowers, trees, and shrubs come into bloom, the birds become abundant as well. 

I love doves. For their symbolism and coos. This is Lucy, Ricky, Ethel and Fred. Don't question me.

They are regulars here is what I'm saying.

Always robins, bluejays, black birds, crows, finches...nothing as pretty as a cardinal but I live in Colorado. We have plenty of hawks too.

and house sparrows. They have the most beautiful song in the spring during mating season - the males of course.

As for the vegetable garden, there is progress it just doesn't look like it. Tomato plants and seeds are in the ground. We'll see who wins this season. Veges or weeds.

Hmmm. Not much help here.

Speaking of roses. As I was out watering this morning (because it is another unseasonably warm 90 degree day), I cut several.

Ok. More than several. More like a quart or two. And like any sane gardener/cook would do, I made rose petal vinegar....

and this concoction. It started out as the beginning of rose petal liquor, because I had enough rose petals and happened to have some 190 proof Everclear sitting in the bottom of the cupboard...doesn't everyone? As I was browsing, I found some interesting articles on bitters. These recipes sounded more interesting to me because they involved roots, herbs, spices as well as natural flavorings. Anyway, I just started throwing things in - dandelion roots, ginger, citrus peels, lavender, other herbs, mace, cardamon, and, of course, the roses. There are a couple more steps in the process, so check back in a few weeks. I'll either have an interesting cocktail to share, or not. 

Sweet Dreams

I try to pick up tips from nature. For example, the sun sets everyday, yet it gives its all every time. Sweet Dreams. Tomorrow is a brand new day. 

Afternoon Pick Me Up

Sometimes you've just gotta let loose and dance!

Lunch Break

We passed this somewhat new pub on our walk yesterday morning as well. I'm going back for lunch sometime because...well how could I not. 

Morning Wake Up Call - Chroma and Croissants

My husband woke me out of a deep sleep Sunday morning at 7:00 (much too early for me on a Sunday morning) with promises of a cappucino and a croissant at my favorite French creperie. Of course that didn't come without a price. I had to walk first. All around town. In the quiet hour before the summer/festival/Sunday brunch crowds descend. What I did start to notice as I stole sips from his first latte on route and my eyes started to focus, was color.  So many vivid splashes of color - hence chroma.  Chroma is defined as: 

 1.     the purity of a color, or its freedom from white or gray.

2.

intensity of distinctive hue; saturation of a color.

 I love the contrasts between the brick and brick and flowers

 And next to Provence blue doors, red are my favorite

It pays to look up

 The color of apricots? 

 There's just so much going on here in this quiet little corner

 One of our random public pianos

Even my perfectly cooked soft boiled egg and croissant on it's colorful plate was a joy

This is the French cafe's bathroom. The cafe itself is covered with bright murals and more color.

  Even the train cars that rumbled by while we were eating were striking. 

Are things always brighter in the morning? Maybe I should get up early more often.

Afternoon Pick Me Up - Friday Happy Hour

Dusk on a late summer afternoon is always pleasant spent on the patio at our favorite Mexican restaurant, The Rio.  

It's a place to relax under towering, twinkling trees

 In a secluded walled patio

Listen to the splashing fountain

 While enjoying an open faced shrimp taco with avacado crema and slaw

And, of course, a potent, deliciously refreshing Rio margarita.

On another note, There are some new items in my shop. Some dish towels and cloth napkins to go with my aprons. 

Shop Cashmere and Chicken Coops

Have a great weekend all!