Our Flock Is Growing

More chicks have arrived, we're up to nine!

Three new Buff Orpingtons took up residence in our basement Saturday morning.  The Orpingtons are the bigger all yellow chicks in the below picture.

Marshfield, MA will be the permanent home for six of these ladies once they've been weaned from the heat lamp, which can't come soon enough.

The "chick" below will continue to reside on the second floor here at the ole homestead.

Play Ball!

Batter Up!

The ball fields have finally dried out and softball season is upon us.

Opening day was this past weekend, which began with a parade, kickoff festivities and games.

Go team Inferno!

Frye vs Fry

Although this is a true statement in terms of McDonald french fries, being a Frye myself I beg to differ!

How Dew You Dew?

Hmm, wonder what made these tracks through our lawn's morning dew?!

How bout this extremely handsome Tom turkey!

He was just passing through and quickly made his way across the street.  It's Spring time, so I suspect his attention has turned to the ladies, hubba bubba!

Early Sunday morning he was in the neighbors yard just carrying on - gobble gobble gobble gobble, gobble gobble gobble gobble, over and over again.  Seemed like it was just he and I up at that time and I rather enjoyed his carrying ons.

No lady takers yet.

I'm sure things will turn around for him.

The Grass Is Always Greener

More spring cleanup and lawn progress made over the last couple of days!

• Picked up lawn fertilizer, four bags; Scott's 4-step program (15,000 sq ft bags)
• Pulled my lawn tractor out of winter storage from my neighbors shed
• De-thatched the entire lawn
• Lowered the lawn tractor blade and mowed the entire lawn, with the primary goal to pick up the mountains of thatch pulled from the yard.
• Spread bag of Scott's fertilizer, step 1.  Perfect timing too, just before the rains arrived.

I'd like to think I'm ahead of schedule for spring clean up.

Emilie and I are off to do more errands today with one stop being at my favorite nursery, Pumpkin Seeds.  Perhaps, I'll pick up some lettuce.  Need to scratch the veggie gardening "itch"...

Need My Head Examined!

It's spring time after all...

Here are the latest additions to the Frye homestead, day old chicks - (3) Americanas and (3) Rhode Island Reds

The intention was to pick up six Buff Orpington chicks for my farmer friend Tim, which were to arrive at the feed store yesterday.  Thinking they'd arrive late morning early afternoon, Emilie and I took our time getting over there.  Well wouldn't you know it all the Buff Orpington chicks were sold out by the time we arrived, UGH.  Apparently, school vacation week is to blame.

We couldn't leave empty could we?!

Tasty Vintage Candy Treat

Enjoying some candy from a time long ago - Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Never had or even tried this tasty treat when I was growing up but making up for it now.

Yummy!

Extra Large Too!

The incredible, edible egg!

Frye Farm Fresh and they're spectacular!

A Tilling I Did Go!

I tended to our gardens this past weekend, among a dozen other things.

Got a jump after work on Friday and began turning the winter rye and compost into the garden. 

 Found these grubs in the first five rows I turned.

By late Saturday afternoon our large garden was complete - all turned!

This go around produced this mess of grubs - well over 50!  The majority of these dude we about the size of a quarter, monsters.  Imagine what these suckers would do to tomato plants...

Not too worry, the girls LOVED them!  Gobbled them up as if they hadn't eaten in weeks.

I plant winter rye in my vegetable gardens every fall and have been doing so for as long as I can remember.  However, this is the first year that the deer have been taking a fancy to it.  Now, I don't know if it's because of all the snow we had and the bitter cold temps but they've been coming right up to the house garden and chowing on the deep green grass.  I don't mind them eating the grass, rather it's the comfort level they now have and the worry I have of them eating our veggie plants once I get them in the ground.

Rise and Shine!

A clean bowl and a snack

Looks who's finally awoken from her long winter nap!

She stayed in her bowl of water, which we kept in the cool basement, all Winter long.  She went into a hibernation and stayed submerged most of the time.

I pulled the bowl upstairs this afternoon to check on her and performed a Spring cleaning too.

Topped off with a plump earthworm from the garden, which she eagerly began devouring.

Australia Perhaps?

Correct me if I'm wrong here but doesn't the tear in our kitchen linoleum floor look very similar to Australia?!

Trixie-dog just might have some artistic talent in her after all...

Insect Invasion

Really not sure what these tiny flying insects are but with the warm weather they're all over the place.  They look awful close to a mosquito but didn't seem to bother with any of us while outside.  If so, we're in for one tough Spring, as there are oodles and oodles of them.

But then again, they're better than single digit temps and snow covered ground... 

AH, Finally!

After the long Winter we just went through here in New England I wasn't sure when we'd be able to get to spend time working in the yard. Well, the good news is I spent this past weekend outside puttering.

Besides pulling out all of our stored Spring and Summer items, i.e. planters, patio chairs & tables, bird bath, etc., raking, edging and pruning was performed.

Our raspberries took a beating with all the snow and had to be tended too.  All the damaged ones were cut back and all the old dead stems were removed.  Fingers crossed that they'll repay the hard work with many many tasty berries.

Kudos to Emile for all of her help too!

Placed the lawn chairs my dad used to enjoy back on the front lawn.  Then Trixie-dog and I put them through their paces.  Just kicked back and enjoyed the afternoon and sun.

Someone's Hungry!

A sure sign of Spring!

The Crocuses dotting our yard have begun to open up to add welcome splashes of color.

A double bonus, captured in the pictures above, is the Honey Bee that is already out and about!  We were well into the Spring last year before I saw the first Honey Bee.  This is encouraging for sure!

So Long and Good Riddance!

The last remaining snow from this years brutal winter is just about gone, yippee!

It's in the shadiest spot on our property and gets very little sun but doing it's best to stick around.

See you next year...

Gallon Donor Club!

I made another American Red Cross donation yesterday!

Looks like I'm in the "Gallon Donor" club.

I prefer to do double-red donations, This blood drive, which was held at my office, didn't have the equipment for this option so I went old school.  The good news is I was done and disconnected in ~20 minutes.  The bad news is I was only able to donate one pint instead of two.

Outside of springing a leak, as I returned to me desk and soaking my dress shirt sleeve, this donation was uneventful.

Pretty Self Explanatory!

Can You Say YUMMY!

Easter goodies!

JoAnne's handy work!

Ladies R&R

I let the ladies out for a little while today to stretch and forage.

They enjoyed eating what little green grass there is out there now.  Not sure what else they were eating but they were contently picking and pecking away.

As you can see they look terrific with their deep red combs and beautiful feathering.  They did well and didn't seem to mind the long cold winter.  They're showing their appreciation but laying anywhere from 3 to 5 eggs a day now.

Spring Wooly Bear Sighting

Happened upon this Wooly Bear caterpillar this afternoon as I made my way out to feed and water the chickens and rabbits.

Again, nice to see some color outside, as well as sights of life after the long cold Winter.

It's Pansy Time!

Was at Agway this morning picking up chicken and rabbit feed, and could not resist buying a couple six packs of Pansies - a yellow and a red.

Planted half in this planter, which I pulled out of Winter storage yesterday, and the other half in our other planter out front.

SO very nice to finally see some color outside.

Itching for Spring

Friday was an official holiday for me and I had the day off.

The day was nice and in the mid fifties, so I took advantage and spent some time in the yard puttering around.

I pulled all the lawn furniture out of the garage, dusted it all off and put in place.

Happy Easter All!

Wishing family and friends a Happy Easter.

From our rabbits; Jack 2.0, Moe and Blackie, to yours.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

For the fourth straight year, both houses of Congress have officially declared April Parkinson’s Awareness Month.