I'm back!!

[nachoqtpie]

So... it's been pretty tough going here at Ivy Hill lately!! It's been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOT!! Like... I'm talking mid to high 90s (sometimes hotter) with heat indexes in the low 100s! (sometimes as high as 120!!)

Then our lawn mower broke... so we've not been able to get much mowing done in the garden... and the weeds started taking over.... then the plants started suffering..

Then... Stacy turned into Steve and we had to trade Phineas and Ferb... so we got Midna and Zoey from a local "hatchery" (if you would ever consider a back yard half cocked operation with some serious disgusting pens a hatchery).... and Zoey had bumblefoot. At that point I called the guy to let him know and he had no idea what it was!! I couldn't bring myself to take her back to her former enclosure with 20-30 ducks, one tiny nasty water filled pool and the entire center covered in sticks, branches, and chicken wire. So... we took care of that with a $60 investment for a $10 duck! LOL

We're STILL working on the chicken coop! (GAH!! LOL) Hubby is FINALLY home again, so we can finally get it finished! Then on Wednesday, I'm getting the rest of the materials for the enclosure and they will be able to be out in the grass as well!

The ducks haven't been laying since about 3 days after we got them here... so.. I'm not sure if it's just too hot or what. They all seem to be doing well out there tho!

Other than that... things are doing well! Sorry I've been so absent lately!

 

[lesa]

Goodness! I am not surprised you haven't had time for the computer! I had a feeling that was bumble foot, when I saw the pic. The weather has certainly made gardening more challenging than ever this year... I am surprised to hear you talking about mowing. I am not sure our mower works either- it has been so dry, it is well over a month since we even thought about mowing! Things are just beginning to green up here, again. Wishing you lots of peaceful time in the garden- and much cooler weather! (and no more duck emergencies!)

 

[Carol Dee]

Good to see you back. Like Lesa we have not mowed in over a month. So dry the grass is brown and crispy. We just knock down weeds with the weed eater as needed. (How they can flourish with no water is beyound me) Poor garden is suffering too. Glad to hear the ducks are doing well and will be happy Daddy is home to finish the enclosure.

 

[vfem]

Ahhh... life! It's what gets in the way of us getting our fun time!

NC weather.... its just what it is. Its been like that here too, plus storm after storm after storm. We've lost electricity twice now.

As for your ducks not laying, its stress. Same thing happens with the chickens. If you move them to a new situation its stressful and it could take a couple of weeks to get back to laying. Besides, depending on the duck, some only lay in spring and then again in late summer early fall and that's it. They're not regular layers like chickens. (Who will eventually take breaks from laying as well for once reason or another.)

Glad to see you back to thinking about gardening and visiting here again.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

What a season in your life! Glad it seems you are on a swing up. And glad to see you back around.

 

[897tgigvib]

I sure hope things are ok for you. I miss you!

 

[Collector]

Glad you are back, all those troubles would keep anybody busy though.