Fawn tearing through the back field

We were standing out back with Jarrod and Crystal last week and heard something crashing through the grass and brush, when we turned to see what it was a spotted fawn was tearing across the field is a big hurry.  It never stopped for the fence leaping straight through the wires like they weren't there.  Nothing else ran up behind it so we're hoping that it just got spooked or Momma called.

The sky grew dark

Quite the storm for some last night, not so bad here, we had some 30 or 40 mph gusts blowing leaves off the already parched trees, it rained hard for 15 minutes or so then let up over the next hour or so. Looking at the sky there was some serious potential in this storm, I don't know when I saw clouds moving in so many directions so fast. I heard this morning that Ashburnham, MA got hit pretty good, possibly a tornado.

Garden 2010 update

Quite the sunrise this morning, already humid too.

Zucchini squash are starting to come in had our first tonight for dinner grilled. We had our first Summer squash last night boiled in butter, oh was that good!

Bell Peppers our first they seem to be struggling this year, more compost and peat next year. This is a new variety we are trying this year so I haven't given up hope.

Tomato's are finally with the heat starting to grow out of the cages, several green ones can be seen. Still Moms tomato's are easily twice the size of these Roma, early girl and Big Boy plants. This heat, 2+ weeks of 85+ temps and almost no rain is something we havent had here in 2 or three years. It is supposed to rain possibly 3" tonight, good thing, my lawn is getting crunchy.

I did manage to pick 1/2 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup of raspberries tonight. I'm thinking they'd be great on ice cream...

How's your garden doing?

Goldstar Mothers Friends and Families of Fallen soldiers - Block Party 7/11/2010

We were invited to a concert at the Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester, sponsored by the Friends and Families of Fallen soldiers - Block Party 7/11/2010

Jarrod thought it would be pretty good, so we thought we'd go for an hour or so because it was so hot out and ended up staying for the entire show.  Jarrod managed getting the band talent together,  managing the entertainment setup, tear down, and sound.  Busy day for him back and froth from the stage to the sound booth several times for each band.  

We called Crystal and the twins to come down and watch the show with us, she was just leaving to go to the Block Party. James and Jason had fun too.

What a great time, there were raffles for both goods and services as well as 50-50 raffles, (I Won $50.00, I donated it to the Goldstar Mothers Memorial fund.) There were clowns, hotdog vendors, and others selling various foods, there were 6 bands,  Best Not Broken a local Manchester favorite, Brooks Young Band,  Jimmy Lehoux Band was fantastic as well,  Mindset X rocked it out,  Ron Noyes Band, and the Scott Barnett Band.  The music was fantastic, young and old enjoyed the day!    The police presence was fantastic, there were officers on foot and on Segways taking the time to mix with all of the people on the field, handing out honorary Junior Police Officer stickers to the kids.

Well done All!  

I only wish we thought to bring chairs and a blanket for all to sit on, next time...

A hot summer day adventure on the Piscataquog River in New Boston.

A hot summer day adventure on the Piscataquog River in New Boston. 

We took the boys swimming yesterday, the water was 80 degrees! James and Jason both fished for a while though nothing was biting. The rocks were slippery so you had to be real careful not to slip. Lots of fun, we saw some bullfrogs, crayfish, a Great Blue Heron, lots of minnow trout. The boys tried hard to catch the minnows. We had a picnic on the beach, and later ended the day at Nana's house with Ice cream cones.

 Huckleberry Finn

 James learning to float on his back

 Come on in the waters fine! Nana and Jason.

 Jason learning to float on his back

 "Watch me Papa, I can cast all by myself!"

I knew they'd be back...

The Deer
They came back this evening,  Rose's deer came back...  not sure if it was the bugs that drove them out or just Rose having wished them to appear since Fathers day.  It's just dusk now and she's still at the dining room window now, "Oh there's the skipper from last year", shortly thereafter "there's another that makes three",  so far anyway.  

Mom and Dad missed all the excitement by two days. They were here for a cookout on Sunday the Fourth of July, yeah I'm thinking it's not a good day for deer too.


The Bugs... 
They are real bad this year, I've never seen so many horseflies Deerflies as we have this year, they are everywhere.  Sunday we had Willow out and he was acting real antsy running back and forth in the paddock, when I got there he had a massive cloud of those little black bugs that slam into your face never seeming to bite but enough to drive a person mad in short order swarming him.  I warned off the grandkids (they were going to help me bring willow to the barn) and promptly ran with him following down to the barn with the little bugs hitting me in the face the entire way, trying to run beneath the maples and peach trees to fend of some of the swarm as we went.


The Mosquitoes
They've been missing lately, during my forays into the darkness with the dogs to do their business, still puppies we can't let them out alone yet.  Seldom did I encounter more than the occasional curious one flying by.  The bug machine must have worked I thought, Hah, was I wrong.  They had their due Sunday night and feasted on us all during the Fireworks through the bug spray, this Deep Woods stuff is supposed to repel 'em right?  After three successive coats finally seemed to offer some relief.  We ran for the house promptly after the fireworks show, snug behind our screened windows and blasting air conditioners.