Summer: in the Midwestern Sahara.

Whelp.  This is, I'm certain--but without actually checking, naturally--the longest I've gone between posts.  It has been a summer of preoccupation.  With work, primarily, which poses the constant challenge of trying new things and reluctantly stepping out of my nicely arranged comfort zone...



Plant sale in May



...but always, every moment, better than working in a cubicle.  (Or anywhere that I clock in or can't open the windows.  I really don't ask for much, seriously.)  I am, above all, glad to be having this experience, as Fall Creek Gardens becomes its own self, a non-profit entity.   This is a free education in starting an organization from the ground up, and I am so very glad that I have found such fantastic, helpful people to help keep things, well, growing, as I find my way up the mountain.



The community garden

 When work is over for the day, you would think I could write a simple blog post occasionally though, right? 

Well, yes.  I should.  I have guilt here, okay? 

But to be plainly truthful, when I am stressed, I go a bit overboard with rewarding myself.  And really, it is summertime, after all.  My after-hours life lately has been spent either hibernating at home with Jason & the animals or cooking dinner with friends.

Weekends are largely taken up with work, at least on Saturdays, and I find after my year of unemployed homesteadery that I am fiercely protective of my non-work time.  Moreover, I like it best when the non-work time is consecutive and not sprinkled about.  Even worse, as far as blogging is concerned, I spend a lot of time on the computer during the day, which results in a distinct resistance to getting out the g.d. laptop once again at night or on the weekend in order to wrack my brains for the examples of urban homesteading that I've a) had time to do and b) haven't already written about.

Wow.  Sorry.  I guess I had to get that off of my chest.  I am a bit torn between being engaged and excited about my work...and wishing that I had all the time back to explore the eco-friendly DIY world and write about my discoveries here.

With that long-winded disclaimer, I am here to tell you a few things about how I've spent the last many weeks.  But I've decided that this is best done visually, since I tend to take pictures of the fun stuff...not the endless hours at my desk.  :)  And don't worry, I have another post percolating right now.  I'll get there soon.  I promise.

But, for now, here's my summer so far:


First, there is keeping chickens cool when it is well over one hundred degrees outside.  Please note the yogurt beak...

I'm still managing to keep us supplied with lotions & herbal balms, which is always fun.

 

...Camping here.  I vaguely remember how relaxed I was just then...



 Seed starting for work.  We are so lucky to have access to the greenhouse on the State Fairgrounds...

Ahh.   More from the camping trip.  Did I mention how much fun we had with the canoe?? 

We made a quick trip up to Fort Wayne at the end of June...Dad's 80th birthday!

Please note my virtuous summer knitting.  (Now, if only I would start tackling the Christmas presents....)

Two of my favorite people, at a "The Head and the Heart" concert.  What a fun!

Not nearly enough time with the girls these days...but they are doing just fine, at least so far, despite the horrible heat.  Lots of cold treats and fresh, clean water!

Colby, however, had to have that gorgeous fur coat shaved down to the wrinkles  :)

Craftiness!  Thanks to Amy, a chicken feeder that only cost $2.

Four batches later...and I'm set for laundry soap for the foreseeable future.

I am secretly in love with my new climbing rose.  But his name is Don Juan, so I guess it's understandable.

...and, finally, what may be the only thing I harvest out of my poor, ignored home garden this year:  garlic!