2010 in Pictures

In the Summer 2010 issue of the Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, I am in the background at the 2010 MOFGA Spring Growth Conference.

Sue Erich (standing, end of table), Marianne Sarrantonio (sitting) and Fred Magdoff (sitting) answered questions about soil fertility. Jean English photo.

Group photo from the 2010 Winter Gasshuku with William Gleason Sensei, hosted by Shobu Aikido of Cape Cod.  I'm in the front row, third from right.

Learning to roll at Helen Wilson's class for instructors at the 2010 Delmarva Paddler's Retreat.  I was lucky to be the instructee!  Fred Randall is in the purple/mango drysuit.

Photo by hudsonqajaq.

Thumbs Up

Relaxing at home after William's surgery day.

I asked the Vet Tech to confirm an Official Toe Count while he was under:  Twenty-two.

Long may the Tabbies reign.

William

I have long wanted a huge, striped, short-haired, polydactyl male cat with a great personality.  William is all that, with the exception of huge. 

Now I have two cats who are more interested in each other than in hanging out with me.  I am so, so grateful that the Mitsy/William integration has been smooth so far. 

Photo is from his ad in Uncle Henry's; the ad copy follows.  

Category: Pets & Accessories

For Sale Price: $25.00

Short haired orange and white male kitten. 7-8mos old. Not neutered. Huge paws - has quite a few extra toes. Very friendly and Very playful. Acts like a dog and with time, I'm sure he'd could get along great with a dog as well. Curently lives with an older couple who need to place him in a new home. He is litter box trained. He has been an only cat but I'm sure could get along with others. Must go to loving new home. $25 adoption fee. He was a bit younger in the picture shown. CFMI.

Mitsy

You may be as surprised as the cat in this picture to hear that Pleasant Pond Farm has already gained a new feline overseer.

Mitsy has been very busy inspecting her new domain and cataloging all the smells, but has also made time for plenty of head-butting, singing, and biscuit-making.

Thank you so much, Steph!

Time, place and occasion, indeed.

Edith

Edith the cat of Richmond, Maine died on Saturday, September 18th at Androscoggin Animal Hospital in Topsham.

At one year of age, Edith was living independently on Elizabeth Street in Manhattan's Little Italy. A chance meeting one August night in 1990 resulted in her move to an apartment on nearby Mott Street, which she shared with Sandra and another cat, Alberta.

From New York City, Edith relocated several times. She experienced island life in the Puget Sound of Washington State, and held her own in feline society of Berkeley, CA. She enjoyed vacations in Mattapoisett, MA, and five tranquil years in a farmhouse in Maine.

Edie was an indoor cat who appreciated outside playing. She took her name from Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Edith was predeceased by Alberta, and is survived by Sandra.

It is June

I considered suspending this blog after my whiny post of April. Since then I got a garden in.

Tomatoes, Chiles, Eggplant, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Swiss Chard, Beans, Cucumbers, Squash and Corn! Herbs and flowers.

Even have a little space left to think about.

Oriole feeder

Hummingbirds and Bobolinks have arrived! I am ready for the Orioles.

Three oranges, three bamboo skewers, and three pieces of twine.

There will be a garden this year!

Amy is here. Off to Wilton!

No Mojo

This Spring feels unexpected, like the mob of migrating Goldfinches that swooped in and cleaned out the feeders this morning. I like it, but still, I'm surprised.

I confess that I am not ready to deal with growing at all. Walking round the place this lovely weekend, all I can think of is maybe raising catfish or eels; it is that wet. The state of my barn roof keeps me up at night.

Woodcock! Peepers! Round bales steaming, maples flowering. Normally at this time I would have seedlings going under lights. However, I don't even have any garlic in the ground. Maybe that is the problem.

The hens certainly don't share my problem. Both the 4 year-old Marans, and the 10+ year-old Hamburgs are LAYING!!!

Silver Spangled Hamburgs

The Massachusetts chickens are settling in nicely! Many thanks to my Aunt Priscilla for giving me these beautiful birds. They belonged to my Uncle Joe, and are over ten years old.

One week ago, I grabbed them one by one, stuffed them in boxes, and drove them four hours to this strange, cold place. Uncle Joe's custom-made feeder is the only reminder they have of their old home.

I can see why Uncle Joe kept the Silver Spangled Hamburgs around, even though the hens have stopped laying. Since the relocation, they have been calm and friendly. They are also graceful and pretty.

The group consists of two hens, and one rooster with incredible spurs.

Over the partition live my four non-laying Cuckoo Marans hens, or my "Stewing Hens" as I refer to them when I swipe my credit card at the feed store. Such sweet and dopey survivors; in the absence of dining companions, it is easy to procrastinate.

I am proud to say that my Marans have been friendly and welcoming to the Hamburgs. This afternoon, I left the coop partition open and everyone was circulating peacefully.

A photo from last winter: