Summer at Sand Flat Farm

Don't know if many of you are still with me, but I'm still hanging around.  It's been such a busy summer 'round here - what with the garden, the canning and freezing, the kids, the folks, and spending lots of good sister time with Lisa!  I've let blogging fall by the wayside, but it fell way down on my list of importance this summer.  And, I've been doing some painting, too - which has been something I've been missing...

Lisa is doing well.  She finished her 18 weeks of chemo and her CT scan came back clear - for which I am praising God  every day!  However, her Dr. wants her to do some different chemo in addition, so I ask for your continued prayers as she readies herself for more treatment.  She's been feeling good, a little tired, but SOOOO much better than a few months ago.  She's gone back to work and is enjoying having her routine and her great girlfriends around her.  That's such a praise, too!  Our family, including our parents, Lisa & her hubby and me and my hubby are all traveling to California soon as Lisa's son is getting married!  We're looking forward to that trip and will spend a few extra days just having some fun, too!

We've been working hard in our garden - it was good this year - except for the corn.  It pretty much just dried up.  I think I made my garden too big this year.  I'm going to cut back a bit next year.  With just us two, and pretty much mostly me being at home to take care of everything, it just got a little bit out of hand.  I did a really great job of the garden - it was just too much for one person to handle alone, plus I was out of town alot this summer, too. The weeds got away from me and I had way more produce than what we could use.  I still have several gallon bags of tomatoes in the freezer to make hot sauce, and the silly peppers are still coming on.  Can't complain, tho - the freezer is full!

 

 The chickens are doing well.  I lost one.  She died after a terrible seizure-fit-Idon'tknowwhat right in front of me.  She was fine an hour earlier and then she just had this anaphylaxis fit and keeled over.  I couldn't figure out what happened - can a copperhead snake bite and kill a chicken?  Because a couple of days later, I killed a copperhead (with my 12 gauge hoe) that was hanging out in the same flowerbed as my chickens usually do.  It could have bitten any of them OR Gypsy OR me when I pull weeds.  Hmmmm....  I did get a couple of new chickens, too.  Been keeping my eyes peeled for a silver-laced and a gold-laced wyandotte.  They are so pretty, and I found a young lady not too far away that raised some from babies.  I got one of each, and will have to show you their picture soon.  They have just started laying...  My Rhode Island Red looks like she got caught in a fan belt - she's molting and could easily pass for roadkill OR Phyllis Diller...

 

 

My chicken guard dog, Gypsy, is doing a fantastic job of watching over the girls...

 

I REALLY enjoyed my sunflowers this year.  I think this would make a good painting, don't you?

I think the funnest thing that I did this summer was ----  Spending time with my sister Lisa.  She has lots of artistic talent that she's used with her needlework and quilting (she's an awesome quilter), and I've suggested to her many times that she should try her hand at painting.  She never gave it much thought and sort of pooh-poohed the idea.  But then - she changed her mind!  We had a painting weekend a few weeks back when I went to stay a few days.  I took some of my supplies and she bought some, and this girl has been painting!  And, she's doing a wonderful job!  We got one of their daughters to stay home and paint with us, and we just had THE BEST DAY EVER!  Lisa's continued doing some painting on her own at home, too!  I'm so proud of her!  I knew she could do it!  Isn't she beautiful! Just look at that smile!  I can't wait til we have a repeat paint-a-thon!

 Here's a picture that Lisa painted just a week or so ago.  How's this for a budding artist?  I think it's GREAT!

Well, I hope and pray you all are doing well, my friends, and that your summers have gone well.  Hope
you've gotten to see family and friends and go places and relax.  It was hot here as usual, but the last week of August was probably the hottest we've seen - in the 100's.  The first part of the summer was actually not too bad.  OK, I'm ready for cool weather now.  I mean it IS September, but realistically, we won't see any cool weather til October/November...  The Virginia creeper is turning scarlet and the sycamore trees are beginning to turn gold and lose leaves.  Always the first things to go... As much as I hate Virginia creeper, it sure does look lovely when it turns...  A sure sign that fall is on its way!

Sending you all a big hug from Sand Flat Farm!