It’s springtime on November Hill, though this particular spring is being quite erratic with temperatures near 90 on at least one day recently and a frost warning last night. So far the plants and trees are managing this wild range of temperatures.
We’re fully leafed out, pollen in full force, and I have already had two bouts of poison ivy, due to my own reckless weeding without gloves or long sleeves. M helped me remove the remainder of it from two beds and I will work on it with the weedeater along the woods’ edge and in Poplar Folly as I also battle the Japanese honeysuckle.
Currently in bloom: Eastern Columbine, golden Alexander, wild phlox, native violets, green and gold, foamflower, native honeysuckle, and one darling native I have forgotten the name of but will remind myself next time I’m out there with my phone.
The redbuds are done, the dogwood is mostly done, and the tulip poplar flowers are in and not yet falling to the ground. The two original honeybee colonies survived the winter (out of 5 active hives in the fall) and now of the 4 empty hives 3 have repopulated with feral swarms or swarms from our original 2. I am planning to take a frame of honey from each hive this summer, which will be our first time taking honey from our bees in all these years of keeping them. I don’t like breaking the propolis seals but am going to do it this year and see if there is any negative impact to them moving on from that.
Redford turned 17 this year, Cody has turned 23, Little Man is soon to be 26, and Rafer will be 18 in July. The herd is trending senior but still quite active and spirited. My favorite new habit is Rafer coming to the front porch and braying. There is not any alarm to it, it’s him I think wanting to come in and hang out with us. Someday, Rafer, you may get to do that!
Clementine turned 7 in January, Bear is 17 this year, and Baloo is going to be 10. Thankfully Clem’s mast cell cancer is well controlled with diet, supplements, and a homeopathic protocol. Bear is hanging in there but has arthritis, vision and hearing loss, and some dementia. He gets very happy and excited for his meals, enjoys being carried down to the back yard to sniff around, and truly loves a car ride with the windows down. However, there are some difficulties that are slowly increasing as the days go by and I’m trying to keep a close eye on his quality of life.
All the cats, Mystic, Pippin, Pixie, Violet, and Isobel are doing very well. Mystic is 18 years old and although very thin, he is spunky and alert and active.
My aquarium tetra are thriving in their little school of 4, and the two new snails are extremely personable and a joy to watch.
I’m writing and editing and loving my year-long Craft School activities, which are many and it’s a joy to have things popping up for me multiple times a week that fuel my writing life.
The mountain house land is now in a carbon offset program, we’re in process of getting qualified with NC Wildlife as a wildlife conservation habitat property, and also set to go into conservation easement at the end of 2027. I’m happy to have the land protected in three different ways.
Family life is good for the most part. There are a couple of areas that continue to be stressful but I am hopeful positive and lasting change for the better is coming very soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment