It has been nearly a moon since I have written. Though I am full of stories to tell, it has been a busy summer. Summers are always busy, but I am moving far more slowly than I used to. I promised myself that I would finish the summer issue of the journal before I did anything else Farmer-ish. I am so happy to report that I finally finished the Summer 2025 issue.
Whew!
I can’t tell all my stories tonight–and I have so many turkey stories–but I wanted to share tidbits of stories and just let you know I am still here.
I’ll start with the turkeys. The turkeys are getting so big. And I am still in love with them. The cutest part is that Ron is in love with them too. In fact, I think he loves them more. I think it is also safe to say that we are not going to have turkey this Thanksgiving.
The chickens are hanging in there despite the heat. I thought we were surely going to lose Rooster a couple of weeks ago. He is so frail, but he seems to love life so much that he is hanging on. Circe, Vivaldi, and Penelope are all broody, but I am not letting them raise any babies. I am still trying to naturally downsize our flock. I miss babies though, and Clara has been broody most of the summer. She’s taking a break right now, but she has been broody since late May. I have fallen in love with her because she’s so sweet. If she goes broody next year, I am going to her hatch some eggs.
It’s raspberry season right now, and we have an abundance. I am t thankful. We had no strawberries this year and had to travel afar to find organic strawberries and we barely managed to get some. The demand for organic strawberries is very, very high apparently. I hope we get strawberries next year, and I am of the mind that we should plant more berries and open an organic u-pick. Anyway, I am glad the raspberries are being generous.
So far, we have had greens, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, and kohlrabi from the garden. We eat from the garden every single night, and I am thankful because buying organic food at the grocery store seems to be running me about $75 per grocery bag right now. That’s wild, right? Still, it seems it’s just going to get worse.
Boudica is doing well and has been working hard. Bairre has been enjoying the window-unit air conditioners Ron installed. Sometimes, he goes outside but only for a few minutes. Today, I actually timed him. He was outside for three minutes before he was at the door demanding to be let back in.
I got a new job. I will write more about that later, but I am kind of hopeful that I might actually have more time to spend on Farmer-ish very soon. I hope so. I have missed it, and it was so much fun finishing up the summer issue of the journal.
I was also in a car accident yesterday. Thankfully, it wasn’t terrible, but I am in some pain. Just lots of soreness. Also, thankfully, it wasn’t my fault. It’s going to be a giant pain getting my car fixed though.
I hope you are all doing well. I promise some fantastic turkey stories soon. I have no words for how shocked I am at the magnificence of these birds!
I hope you recuperate soon, and that all goes well getting your car fixed.
I wanted to share one of my turkey stories –
We had gotten a young male turkey and a rooster at around the same time one summer. So, before we put them in with the hens, we had them together in a chicken tractor. I have pics somewhere of them snuggling together. We named the turkey Broda and the rooster is Liath. I would go out and talk to them, calling them by name. Anyway, once we moved them in with the hens, I’d go out to see them, and if there was only one of them outside in the pen, I’d say, “Liath, where’s Broda” or “Broda, where’s Liath?” And, I kid you not, whichever bird it was would go inside and the other would come out! Those two were the best of friends. Broda would even protect Liath.
I hope you recuperate soon, and that all goes well getting your car fixed.
I wanted to share one of my turkey stories –
We had gotten a young male turkey and a rooster at around the same time one summer. So, before we put them in with the hens, we had them together in a chicken tractor. I have pics somewhere of them snuggling together. We named the turkey Broda and the rooster is Liath. I would go out and talk to them, calling them by name. Anyway, once we moved them in with the hens, I’d go out to see them, and if there was only one of them outside in the pen, I’d say, “Liath, where’s Broda” or “Broda, where’s Liath?” And, I kid you not, whichever bird it was would go inside and the other would come out! Those two were the best of friends. Broda would even protect Liath.
Oh, this is the best story! Thank you so much for sharing it! Aren’t they magnificent creatures?