Monday
Linda
Its the first week of August and we can already see the slight changes in activity that come to light in the late summer on Pot Hole Farm. The birds have quieted somewhat now that their priorities have changed from raising families to boosting their energy levels in preparation for an arduous flight south. The cicadas have geared themselves up, composing raucous concerts that invoke hot humid days and daily thunderstorms. As evening rolls in on thunder clouds the crickets sing of cooler days, good luck and a seat by the hearth. It gives us all hope as we wipe the sweat from our brows and pull our sticky clothing away from our skin.
Everything seems to move in slow motion now like the waves of heat that can be seen rising from hot asphalt, but we must continue on. Winter is on the horizon and there is wood to be cut, fresh garden veggies to be canned or frozen and numerous preparations to be taken care of before snowfall. All our hard work will be worth it when the cold winds howl down through the holler and the farm is covered in a sparkling blanket of snow. There is a great satisfaction in knowing that we can survive the winter.
Last week set us back just a bit as Sonny had to have surgery on his left knee. Everything went well and he is on the road to recovery.
"Does your knee hurt Pop? I love you."
Harold and Clarissa came over for the weekend to drop off their dog Dakota. She will be here for a visit for a few weeks. She and Ruby have been stretched out on the floor napping most of the day making sure that the old adage of “dog days of summer” holds true.
Why can't I chase the guineas? Don't they need to rounded up?
We removed the squash and zucchini plants from the garden. They were beginning to encroach on the lima beans and we have had our fill of them. I canned some squash conserve today and still have to figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of the remaining basket full. We made blackberry syrup the other day and it tasted great on homemade pancakes Sunday morning. The tomatoes are beginning to come on so that means the canner will be at a constant bubble the next few weeks. I believe this weekend we will dig up the potatoes. Harold and Sonny dug up a few over the weekend. Harold needed some to go with the scrumptious breakfast he made for us. How cool is it to go right outside your door and get some fresh ones right out of the ground. They look so much better than the ones we grew last year. Donkey manure does the trick!
The summer heat may scorch us and the humidity may drown us, but the bounty of the harvest will sustain us. We can’t ask for more than that. Life is good.
Off-Grid in West Virginia 
Duke said to tell pop, “you better keep that leg straight and rested so you can take me out to play” See y’all in a few weeks!
I’m on the mend now. A little physical therapy next week and I’ll be good as new.
wish i had thought of the knee thing when i used to burn wood
if u limp and whine a lot, maybe u can sucker someone into filling woodshed for u
just kidding
hope u have speed recovery
Yea, it will be a short lived pitty-party. John and my son have been a real help with more then just getting the wood in. We still plan to upgrade the wood stove, get the smoker built before the hogs go to the butcher and if I’m lucky replace the shower. Still have fields to fence.
He’s not much of a whiner. Unfortunately if you don’t keep an eye on him, he tries to do to much. If he follows his doctors orders he should be back in good shape in no time.
Sounds good! Hope Sonny does well on his recovery. I really need a fake knee on my right leg. The one I have is shot. Thanks for the pics
who shot it and did they get away?
Good one.