Saturday, April 19, 1975

Prelude immediately before April 19, 1975 entry:

Purchased this farm in Spring 1975 from Ernest R. Rowe, with closing on March 19.

Came to farm and took over from Mr. Rowe. Also planted two grape vines, a Concord and a Caco [?]

Later planted a garden consisting of onions, parsnips, radishes, lettuce, carrots, beans, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes, collards. Betty and I picked a quite a few blackberries in July and she made jam. The children and all of us did a good deal of fishing on all of our visits, catching what appeared to be large chubs and one sucker.

Friday, August 8, 1975 - Monday, August 11, 1975

On this trip highlights were Betty baking blackberry cobbler, finding several peach trees and an excellent garden location above the flood plain just below the hill [called "slope garden" by us]. We also located a heavily laden Crab apple tree. We estimate the peaches will be ripe in about 3 weeks to a month and perhaps 2 weeks for the crabapple. I harvested one large cucumber and the watermelon has several tiny ones on. Also the carrots, parsnips an tomatoes are doing well. I pulled the last of the onions. We also visited Mr. Heizer, one of our bordering neighbors who told us about the new garden location. Last night we heard Screech Owls- the first I had heard in many years.

Sunday, August 24, 1975

(Sun.) We arrived here yesterday afternoon from Lanham. Since then we have been enjoying the place again. Today I gathered cattail bulbs, roots etc. and about a half a peck of crabapples which Betty intends to use for sauces. pies etc. I also purchased a four tined hoe for gathering the cattails but found my hands seemed to work best. So far the "cattail flour" experiment seems to be a failure. The crabapples seem to be the native American variety, and there seems to be about several bushels on the tree. This morning Betty caught six small chus for breakfast. and tonight we intend to eat the cattails. I also found my garden doing quite well and harvested 3 large cucumbers. It is raining as I write this and water is running in the cistern.

Wednesday, August 27, 1975

We have been enjoying the place. Yesterday we had a second meal of cattails. Betty and I are real enthusiasts. I gathered them for the first time barefoot. We manage to like even what Gus calls "dim[?]tail" the starchy enlargement at the base of the stem. I am also drying crabapples and we're all gobbling peaches, which are just beginning to ripen. This morning we had four nice fish for breakfast. (yesterday we had a dozen or so), one being a 9. 25 inch sucker, golden in color. I am making a "compost' pile or rather "windrow" along the newly discovered hill base garden spot. I tossed dark (organic rich) thick sods from the edge of the floodplain to the garden edge.

{This is followed by a diagram of the flood plain, slope garden and hill ["Mueller's Mountain"] from the stream to the hill top.

Presumably these clods contain nutrients, including N in the plant material. Hopefully these will be stored for use next spring in the garden. This resembles practices of the Chinese. As i write this Betty is going to a meeting with Mi Clarkson, a horse breeder. The children are enjoying their tree home and rope. Yesterday I bought a wheelbarrow for $50.

Friday, August 29, 1975

Scored one! Betty caught ten small fish. Weather continues nice. I am drying more crabapples. Yesterday Betty and I prepared holes on the Mtn. for 2 apple andf one pair tree. Last night we had a great meal of sweet corn (from Heizers), hamburger, fresh biscuits and crabapple cobbler. I'm also repairing chinks in the basement door.

Betty with corn plants.

Sunday, August 31, 1975

I caught a severe head cold last night and a m lying around sick and feverish today. Yesterday evening we feasted on cattails again. Now this evening I spent some time getting acquainted with the plumbing and this afternoon took a walk up the hill (despite my cold) and discovered a wild pear tree on top. This tree's loaded with small pears the size of crabapples (~2"). yesterday I also cut some more poles and noted that a 17 yr. old mockernut grew 2' 4" this year although may be unusual because of all the rain. The weather continues hot and dry.

Monday, September 1, 1975

Tomorrow early we return to Lanham after a great 10 days. It rained quite heavily last night but it is fine cool weather now. Betty is fishing again as I write this. We have been picking peaches from a tree and apples from the hill behind Shipes.

Sunday, September 28, 1975

(Sun.) We came here evening of the 26 th and return this evening. The weather has been beautiful after heavy rains. We have been picking apples, walnuts and a few wild pears. Betty caught some nice fish, one 9" or- {?} and last night we had cattails. We also had an outdoor fire last night and this evening. I also harvested some excellent cucumbers and tomatoes. I also assembled my prefab sawbuck.

[which amazed Betty !]

Saturday, October 11, 1975

We arrived yesterday evening after putting our Lanham house up for sale. The morning dawned beautifully after heavy rain last evening. Betty caught a number of fish, the largest being 2 10" suckers that retained spawn. The day was beautiful and we went to Staunton to shop for material to caulk the house. I collected walnuts and apples. This evening we again built a fire. We also collected the watermelon, which was good but not completely ripe. The tomatoes had been frozen some time ago as were the cucumbers, but the carrots and parsnips were in good shape. I went home early but Betty and the boys stayed the week. This trip Betty caught a 12 and 1/4" sucker, also an 11 incher.

Saturday, October 25, 1975 - Tuesday, October 28, 1975

Although fishing has been poor. we have been making finds such as nut trees, in particular hickory nuts. Today (28) we found a mockernut loaded with particularly large nuts. Yesterday Betty made cookies with hickory and walnuts. We had a lovely fire last night and I did a lot of talking. I also continue to collect and process walnuts. We enjoyed a meal of the first parsnips. Saw a flock of Bluebirds on the Mountain.

Friday, November 7, 1975 - Monday, November 10, 1975

The weather is very unusual. Today (Nov. 8) it was bright and sunny, with temp. in the 70s. I finally fixed the back porch storm door, installing the plexiglass with my own "stick" holders. I also planted a 10 ft. double row of Jerusalem artichokes, picked more walnuts an hickory nuts as well as a store of bittersweet. Gus and I are here alone (with Wilbur [our Labrador Retriever], while Betty remains with Don in Lanham. Last night she called and said we had our first "contract" offer on the house. I also saw my first squirrel live here- a red.

Wednesday, November 26, 1975 - Sunday, November 30, 1975

(27th and Thanksgiving day) and today we all planted the first trees, which Shipes had heeled in the garden for us. These trees, obtained from Stark Bros., consisted of two Montmorency cherries, one Dutches Pear, one Golden Delicious apple. We planted the cherries near the house and the rest on the north slope of Mueller's Mtn. Yesterday also, Bobby Shipe shot a deer.

Friday, December 12, 1975 - Sunday, December 14, 1975

(Dec. 14) Don, Gus and I are spending a short weekend here. On the way down we had to replace a generator brush in the VW, Fortunately, we found the "Metric" VW garage at Luray. Yesterday I also bought a 1959 Chev 1/2 ton truck from Mr. Taylor, a neighbor down the branch. We also cut a small Virginia pine for a Christmas tree and put up some flashing lights in the window.

Wednesday, December 24, 1975 - Saturday, January 4, 1975

Good Christmas here today (26 Dec,) Betty caught 11 fish including a 13and 3/4 inch sucker ! Last night we had sleet and power went off for a few hours. Sunday 28 I will return to Lanham. Spaded (Jan. 2) 30' x 12' garden plot at base of hill. Still good fishing.

Friday, January 16, 1976

Here for weekend; mostly frozen solid.

Thursday, January 22, 1976 - Sunday, January 25, 1976

Quite cold and frozen. Noted (on 23) that hearwood of black walnut is far more resistant to insect attack and decay ( particularly the latter) than the sapwood so that old logs with the sapwood almost entirely gone are still usable and in fact very sound and attractive with their beautiful grain. I have been making simple "artifacts" from this walnut, fish cleaning boards, stools etc. Today also the afternoon was bright and sunny with T= 43 deg, F and more in the sun. We are as usual enjoying ourselves and nature here.

Sunday, February 8, 1976

The boys and I spent weekend here, mostly to check up on the place. Weather moderately cold but sunny (14 deg. Feb. 7). Mostly tried to build a bench, gathered more walnut.

Sunday, February 15, 1976 - Tuesday, February 17, 1976

Left Lanham Friday 13 morning and have been busy here ever since. I spaded more garden so that I now have a 12'x 60' patch on the slope above the flood plain. Yesterday Betty baked a chocolate cake for Gus' birthday (which is today,

Left Lanham Friday 13 morning and have been busy here ever since. I spaded more garden so that I now have a 12'x 60' patch on the slope above the flood plain. Yesterday Betty baked a chocolate cake for Gus' birthday ( which is today 16th )and we gave him my old hand axe for a present. I had had had it for about 35 years although I recently made a new handle and case. Today I cut brush around the wild crabapple tree. I have also been making objects such as White oak mauls, walnut stools etc. The weather is so warm the boys are splashing in the stream as I write this. Gus is in his bathing suit. I also collected some excellent parsnip yesterday. Tomorrow morning we return to Lanham.

Thursday, February 26, 1976 - Monday, March 1, 1976

It is 60 deg. as I write this on the 27th ( much warmer in the sun) (It was 32 deg. this morning) and the peach buds are starting to open. I have been spading the side hill garden again and now have a 12'x70' patch. I also place 2 wheelbarrow loads of manure (well rotted) (cow ?) and full of red worms around the peach tree. I have been cooking outside (i am here alone) on the new 30" x 30" x 1/4 " steel plate I bought from Augusta Steel. This appears to work very well, not smoking the pans and allowing a variety of heats. The weather is quite dry and I haven't even tried to go fishing so far. I have also been cutting poles and have as yet noticed no sap rising in the oaks.

Saturday, February 28, 1976

Today I finished preparing 3-70' rows, with 2 WB of WR manure / row for potatoes. (T) I also planted a 40' row of Oregon Sugar Pod edible podded peas I had such good luck with in Lanham. This is another warm dry day, bad for fruiting buds. Also Bobby Shipe and Gary [Lape] caught a large number of very large suckers (~15" and some 18" !) as well as some small trout at Bobby's fishing hole [just across the road]

Sunday, February 29, 1976

Spotted first wildflower, a lonely Bloodroot on the south slope of MM [Mueller's Mountain].

Thursday, March 4, 1976 - Monday, March 8, 1976

Left Thursday morning (4th) for here. The 4th and 5th were warm but today (7th) is cold (~5os) with frost last night. But there has been no rain. We are cooking part time on the steel plate, drinking sassafras tea and eating dandelion salads. Betty has been working on leather covers for the old couch cushions, The boys have been enjoying the stream as usual, having gone swimming on Friday. Wilbur is somewhat restricted because of his operation. (T) I planted 20 lbs. of yellow onions in a double 40' row and continued to spade. I also spaded a 10' x 7' asparagus bed in what may be virgin soil. It is on the slope near the Jerusalem artichoke bed, very dark deep friable and full of worms. I also put up a grape arbor for the two vines planted last spring. Woods is full of brilliant flowers and slippery elm is blooming.

Thursday, March 18, 1976 - Monday, March 22, 1976

(T) Noted peas were coming up vigorously on 19th 9 planted on 2-28) also onions taking root. Today (19th) planted (T) 50 parsnip, 50 norgold russet and 100 Kennebec potatoes over previously prepared mnure. I covered the 3 inch these were planted in by flood plain soil dug last year. The weather is turning warm as I write this. (!) I also planted a 30' row(extension ) of Bu--[???]

(cont.) Early peas and white onions ( double) (T) Planted 25' band of Bloomsdale Spinach over manure.

(T) on 20 trans[/] planted 15 Fordhook lettuce plants.

(T) on 21st planted about 15 potato sets left over from store bought potatoes

(T)planted 12' band of dwarf green curled kale. I used no fertilizer of any kind on this kale since the soil seems v ery rich.

Saturday, March 27, 1976 - Wednesday, March 31, 1976

on 27th Weather is fairly dry as indicated by failure of kale to sprout. (T) Planted 4 grape vines (Delaware, Fredonia, Nimrod[?] and Interlaken planted in that order-also a bed of 25 asparagus roots (Mary Wash.). For the grapes I place several pales of flood plain soil in the hole. In the case of of the asparagus I placed one WB of manure in the trench and covered this with one WB of flood plain soil. These roots were beginning to sprout.

n 27th Weather is fairly dry as indicated by failure of kale to sprout. (T) Planted 4 grape vines ( Delaware, Fredonia, Nimrod[?] and Interlaken planted in that order-also a bed of 25 asparagus roots ( Mary Wash. ). For the grapes I place several pales of flood plain soil in the hole. In the case of of the asparagus I placed one WB of manure in the trench and covered this with one WB of flood plain soil. These roots were beginning to sprout.

28th Finished spading of main patch; warm, beautiful day. Last night it was 30 deg. F.

30th: After heavy rain last evening, the day has been cool and cloudy (50s) Today I planted 18 SH [Stonehead} hybrid cabbage plants I grew from seed. These were placed over manure at the rate of one WB per 40' of row. [as usual this is manure found in the barn etc.]

Friday, April 9, 1976 - Monday, April 12, 1976

This should be our last trip from Lanham since we have settlement on the house there on the 15th and leave for here on the morning of the 16th. It must have been quite cool here on yesterday (9th) I noted the first kale planted (3-21) (T). Last night the temp. went down to 21 deg, F but this morning it was warm and sunny (~ 60 deg. in sun) (T) I also noted that the Jerusalem artichokes are coming up and the first asparagus sprouts.

12th: It was 21 deg. F again this morning.

Saturday, April 17, 1976

Yesterday we moved here from our house in Lanham. (T) This evening we planted 28cabbage plants purchased for a dollar. The weather is very hot and dry (T~90's 0. It is likely that most of the fruit buds froze so we will have no peaches this year. However I am hopeful of the natives such as crabapples and blackberries.

Sunday, April 18, 1976

Hot dry 90 deg. T weather continues (T) Noted wild plums (Prunus americana) in full bloom in back pasture.

Monday, April 19, 1976

A year ago today Gus and I first occupied this place (T) Today I planted 12 cabbage plants in peat pots purchased for a dollar.

Tuesday, April 20, 1976

(T) Had Gus plant 35' row of Green Arrow peas in the stream side garden. Also transplanted Fordhook lettuce plants near the peas.

[This is followed by a detailed map of the Slope Garden.]

*Note: All seeds planted in the Creek Garden have no benefit of extra fertilizer except the planting compost layer.

Wednesday, April 21, 1976

(T) Replanted spinach planted (3-19). This time with Virginia blight resistant [?] 12 Stonehead hybrid cabbage plants in creek garden

Thursday, April 22, 1976

(T) planted one each of 35' row of parsnip ([variety?]) and salsify (Sandwich Is. Mammoth)

Friday, April 23, 1976

(T0 Planted a band of red cored Chantenay carrot (35') in creek garden. The weather continues sunny and dry after the small shower several nights ago.

Saturday, April 24, 1976

Went to auction and bought tennon saw, pick head, draw knife and two pitch forks for less than $14. 00

Sunday, April 25, 1976

Hot and dry spell continues but there are clouds today. (T) planted 30' double row of Crosby's Egyptian beets

Monday, April 26, 1976

(T) planted 15' row Virginia blight Resistant Spinach

*Noted that where last August I placed flood plain soil for compost that the grass on this heap is very green and the dandelions extra large indicating the richness of this Huntington Silt Loam.

Tuesday, April 27, 1976

This morning the temperature stood at 25 deg. F and potatoes as well as the wild plums on the hill froze! Also the dry weather continues.

Wednesday, April 28, 1976

Temp. was 26 deg. F this morning. I watered the side hill garden including the potatoes and asparagus and even the artichokes! This is this is the worst dry spell in April I have ever seen. According to the records Va. had 3 inches less rain than normal.

Saturday, May 1, 1976

Nice warm front rain beginning at the 6:00 AM and continuing into the afternoon.

Sunday, May 2, 1976

Cleaned out the chicken coop and placed 8 WB of dry manure with considerable straw in the prospective side hill corn patch where I have also been depositing ashes from our cooking fires.

Tuesday, May 4, 1976

(T)Beets, salsify and carrots are up. Also planted another 65' row of potatoes (taken from store and grown in south Georgia I think) I also placed 4 WB of WR manure from the barn for the side hill corn patch. I have been working hard repairing the chicken coop.

Wednesday, May 5, 1976

(T) planted some SH cabbage seeds in cabbage row in Creek garden.

Friday, May 7, 1976

(T) Replaced where kale was killed by frost and heat in side hill garden with Georgia collards

Mother[Betty] made $40 down payment on filly (Natchez )

This is followed by a map of the Creek Garden

Saturday, May 8, 1976

Drought continues and I watered the cabbage and lettuce again. (T) Also had the first few leaf pickings of cabbage, lettuce and spinach and 2 scallions, although I have been picking onion greens for weeks. (T) I have now completed spading both gardens, although I will probably add onto the hillside one. I also did some tentative spading in the upper [Mueller's Mtn.] field.

Today I finished the roosts and nest boxes for the chicken house (14 roosts and 6 boxes).

Sunday, May 9, 1976

(T) Planted 32 [this many?] rows of Golden Bantam (seeds a yr. old but 90% germ) and a 35' row of potatoes (same store bought variety planted earlier) It froze hard again last night (29 deg.) and destroyed the tops on some of my potatoes.

Monday, May 10, 1976

(T) Planted two hills Sugar Baby watermelon, two hills of Burpee F Hybrid cantalupe and one hill Sunnybrook cucumber (these seeds ranged in age from one to 3 yrs.) In preparation holes 1and1/2' deep and a foot across were dug and flled with organic rich sandy silt from the stream. This silt seems rich as it contains rotted leaves and abundant angleworms. Noted flea beetles on the potatoes.

Tuesday, May 11, 1976

(T) planted another bed of Cherry Belle radishes in the Creek Garden..

Wednesday, May 12, 1976

(T) planted one hill each of Sunnybrook cucumber, Acorn Squash and Yellow Straightneck squash. We also obtained (free with bags of chick starter) 25 basby male chicks.

Thursday, May 13, 1976

(T) planted 40' row and 10 ft row of Burpee SDtringless Greenpod bush beans. Also picked spittle bugs off cabbage and noted considerable evidence of flea beetles on potatoes. Weather continues dry..

Friday, May 14, 1976

(T) planted row of oak leaf lettuce in creek garden. Weather warm and humid but still no rain. *Finally paid off mortgage on the farm !!!

Saturday, May 15, 1976

Went to the auction and bought two ruled squares and 4 wedges and maul.

(T) Planted two hills of Lady Godiva pumpkin

Sunday, May 16, 1976

Heavy rains yesterday afternoon and last night broke the worst spring drought I experienced.

Monday, May 17, 1976

(T) Planted 16 yellow sweet potatoes obtained from Farm Bureau ($3. 00 / (40-50 plants). Gave Bobby Shipe 14 plants and still have a lot left. Planted these in the Creek garden as usual without any fertilizer, even no stream silt.

*Note there apparently was a very light frost on the 17th or 18th so that the tips of neighbor's beans and tomatoes were blackened.

Wednesday, May 19, 1976

(T) Planted Kentucky Wonder pole beans, 14 tomato plants and about 8weet potato plants in the side hill [later called "Slope Garden"]. Except for 2 plants the tomato plants were planted over manure. The beans and sweet potatoes also were planted in manured soil ( same as for corn) [I wouldn't consider this good now!

Thursday, May 20, 1976

(T) planted nine Cayenne pepper plants I had grown from seed. Only three of these (middle three) received manure. Also planted a few more sweet potatoes that were in rather poor shape. (T) Cucumbers and some cantaloupes planted (5-10) in Creek Garden and corn planted (5-9) in slope garden are beginning to sprout. I thought I had made the chicken coop snake proof but today I was flabbergasted to find Sheba (blue racer ? there after she (?) made a fantastic noise sliding over or under the tin roof.

Sunday, May 23, 1976

(T) Natchez came yesterday, a very elegant filly and friendly. I have continued to plant the decimated (frost, sun scald) sweet potatoes, which are recovering well, perhaps due to their excellent roots (on these particular plants), also planted more tomatoes and some Cal Wonder sweet peppers. The tomatoes and sweet peppers were planted in the Creek Garden using a liberal amount (bucket) of silt from the creek bank as fertilizer. The sweet potatoes were planted in the east end of the slope garden in what may be virgin soil No fertilizer was used.

Monday, May 24, 1976

(T) planted Tenderpod beans between cabbage rows in slope garden. Purchased 160 locust posts for $ 160 from WR Allen

Wednesday, May 26, 1976

Nice heavy rain yesterday and the potatoes in particular seem to be growing fast (Temp. ~60's). However the chickens, which also have been doing nicely, suffer because of the cold and sneeze.

Friday, May 28, 1976

(T) Planted 2 short rows of Burpee Stringless Greenpod Bush beans along tomatoes in slope garden. (T) I also transplanted a fewb stonehead hybrid and red cabbage. Noted golden tortoise beetles eating leaves of my sorry sweet potatoe plants.

Saturday, May 29, 1976

Intermittent heavy rain all day. Did repair work such as replace tool handles etc.

Monday, May 31, 1976

It rained hard night before last and showered yesterday morning so that moisture is abundant now. Most vegetables in the slope garden are doing well, esp. potatoes and cabbages.. Peas are beginning to bloom profusely (T) This morning early I prepared 5 holes with a mixture of old manure and new manure from Natchez (1 WB in all) for 3 hills of Sugar Baby watermellon and 2 Honeyrock cantaloupe, which I planted in compost placed on top.

Tuesday, June 1, 1976

Drove the Chev. truck (1959) bought last fall down to Staunton to prepare for inspection and bought 2 new tires. Also bought 2 rolls of wire for garden and 100 lb bag of chick starter (100 lb bag of chick starter $9. 00). So far we have spent about $13. 00 on the starter.

(T)Transplanted 8 Marglobe tomato plants in slope garden

Wednesday, June 2, 1976

Planted a 20' row of Green Striped Cushaw[?] Pumpkin seeds where I ran out of corn seed on the slope.

Friday, June 4, 1976

Cool, clear, windy (40 deg, F this morning) after several days of rain and cloudy weather. (T) I replanted the Lady Godiva pumpkins in the Creek Garden. I also replanted the winter squash substituting Butternut this time. (T) I also planted one hill of Green striped Cushaw[?] pumpkin, and two hills Burpee Pickler cucumbers.

Saturday, June 5, 1976

Planted 2-20' rows of Potatoes (from store) in slope garden and 5-35' rows of Country Gentleman Sweet corn in creek garden Note no fertilizer of any kind was added. Note that the beets, carrots, potatoes and salsifi seem to be doing well in the creek garden.

Note: there seems to be a scarcity of damaging insects, although many insect eggs on plants both vegetable and wild are regularly noted. Also, the flea beetles seem to have diminished with the recent rains.

Monday, June 7, 1976

Yesterday I planted 5 more hills of cantaloupe ( Honey Rock) and Sugar Baby watermelon in the slope garden, after placing almost a bushel of fresh horse manure under each. Today i planted a double 20' row of cabbage plants in the slope garden, using no fertilizer. I and Betty noted that the early cabbage, which is beginning to form heads, is apparently the best I have ever had-in fact looks fantastic, as do also the potatoes.

Tuesday, June 8, 1976

Received 25 J. J. Warren pullets from Harisonburg, Va. by mail at $0. 59 a piece. Some names are Betstrom, Sneaky, Bossy's Double, Smarty, Feather Brain, Blacky, Jackie, Whitey, Martha. I also planted a 30' row of cabbage plants in the creek garden.

Wednesday, June 9, 1976

Planted a 30' double row of beets: half Burpee Golden and half old Red Beet seeds.

Thursday, June 10, 1976

Planted squash (Butternut) between the corn ( 3 inches high 0 in slope garden.

Monday, June 14, 1976

Doing a lot of fencing in seasonably warm weather. Will soon have slope garden fenced off and will be able to put Natchez on flood plain. Had a big meal of small beets and greens (thinnings) last night. Beets, salsify, carrots and potatoes seem to do well in creek garden considering no fertilizer was used. I picked a lot of green and also striped cabbage worms on the cabbage. The latter are scarce but do more damage where present since they usually occur in large groups (5-6 or more a head). I have not observed a potato beetle in a long time.

Tuesday, June 15, 1976

Planted 4-30' rows of Burpee's Peppy Hybrid popcorn. Weather is very warm. I continued to pick cabbage worms and hoed creek garden and thinned carrots. Although we have enjoyed several meals of podded peas, this crop is a comparative (with Lanham's crop) failure.

Wednesday, June 16, 1976

Heavy rains most of day. Good growing weather. Yesterday I picked about a quart of Blackcaps on the hill and we have been eating them with milk etc.

Monday, June 21, 1976

We are having heavy intermittent thundershowers for several days now. The peas, edible podded and plain, have been a failure, only 1/10 of my usual Lanham yields. Perhaps they were weakened by the early drought and warm weather. Purchased two bags of chicken feed for $19. 00 and 125 locust posts for $200. 00.

Wednesday, June 23, 1976

This evening we prepared a number of jars of Blackcap jam (I hadearlier frozen 7 pints of these berries). There will still be a lot of them and the blackberries have not yet begun. Noted a great number of green cabbage worms, which I picked each day. However After about five pickings, there are quite well taken care of. It has not rained for the past few days, but it is still so wet that I cannot place fence posts in the flood plain to protect the slope garden, As a consequence Natchez is overgrazing the small barn yard pasture [later called "goat pasture"] where she has been since we got her. Betty and the boys chop thistles each day. This evening we had a fine meal of red beets and greens. These seems to be doing excellent in the creek garden. Now the cabbage, onions,, potatoes, corn, pumpkins, pole beans tomatoes, beets, carrots, salsify, Jerusalem artichoke, asparagus all seem to be doing well, while bush beans, sweet potatoes, melons and cucumbers seem a little doubtful. I should mention at this point that I continue to place wood ashes along the rows of new cabbage, bush beans etc.

Sunday, June 27, 1976

The day before yesterday (25 (I placed fairly fresh horse manure around the pumpkins (planted 6-2) and the cabbage (planted 6-7) I have also continued to pick blackcaps, eating half and freezing half. I now have frozen 12 pints. I ate my first really hot pepper today.

Thursday, July 1, 1976

Plan ted in slope garden between latest potatoes a short row of Burpee's Brittle Wax beans, along the melons, near potatoes a row of Burpee's Stringless Greenpod beans, where the spinach was, a double row of Burpee's Tenderpod beans; in the rows of popcorn, pole beans a patch of four 18' rows of kidney beans; a patch of four 18' rows of cowpeas (Cal Blackeye) and some Small Sugar pumpkins in the Golden Bantam corn.

Saturday, July 3, 1976

Noted a few potato beetles on the early (Norchip) potatoes. Also noted an apparent lighter colored "potato beetle" larvae on horse nettle. Finished fencing the slope garden and put Natchez on the flood plain for abut 3 hours. A dramatic thing is the way her new hoof growth reflects the better nutrition she has had since we have had her. This new growth appears as a 1/3 inch ring on top. The weather has been very cool (50s-60s at night) and today we had some rain.

Sunday, July 4, 1976

Gus and Betty were chopping thistles and found a 19" feather. It was found to be an eagle feather-great way to celebrate the bicentennial!

Monday, July 5, 1976

Yesterday we had a "chicken scare. " Thinking someone had stolen 18 of our J. J. Warrens, even notifying the Sheriff's office and naming "suspects. " But this morning there were the chickens! [Fortunately for us the deputy could not find the "suspects. " ]

Tuesday, July 6, 1976

Planted test patch 22' long consisting of seven rows of California Blackeye cowpeas on Mueller's Mtn.

Friday, July 9, 1976

Rabbits are eating both bush and pole bean leaves, mostly those hidden by tomatoes and corn, particularly those planted (bush, 5-28) and the pole beans planted in the corn of the slope garden. Also today Betty and I picked the first substantial quantity of blackberries, the black raspberries (blackcaps) being almost finished. We also picked a few dewberries.

Saturday, July 10, 1976

Picked a basket of cabbage today for sour kraut. A few potato beetles continue to appear as well as a number of bean beetles. Yesterday i dug first potatoes, which we are eating now. Most of garden is quite good except for beans. We had the first of these last night, but not even enough for a meal. I had very good luck in germination of black-eyed peas and kidney beans planted in the slope garden. Also noted that two of my tomatoes (unknown variety as yet) are apparently infected by a wilt and one of those infected, earliest has been stunted in its growth relative to the others. Bought another 100 lb bag of chick grower.

I planted 2-20' bands of R-C Chantenay carrots in the creek garden under a compost layer.

Sunday, July 11, 1976

Raccoons attacked first of immature GB corn night before last. So Don, Gus, I and Wilbur tented near the patch. It turned out to be a thundery and rainy night. A rugged night resulted from the crowding. No raccoons were spotted, however.

Monday, July 12, 1976

Made about 18 lbs of sour kraut.

Wednesday, July 14, 1976

Butchered two of our first roosters and ate (at) them. They weighed about 4 lbs a piece dressed.

Thursday, July 15, 1976

Neighbor's dog "Lady" killed one of our J. J. Warren chickens on the flood plain. Gus was despondent. I planted one hill of Sunnybrook cucumber and 3 hills Burpee Pickler cucumber on the edge of the slope garden. Japanese beetles are very bad on pole beans and corn silk. Noted that the striped pumpkin planted 6-2, which is now very large, but has not blossomed yet seems seriously wilted and required watering. Also, we have not fed Natchez oats since we turned her onto the flood plain.

Saturday, July 17, 1976

First cucumbers were picked from creek garden and last night we had the first yellow Crookedneck squash. The muskrats or rabbits have discovered my carrots with a vengence! There probably will be few left soon. I have noted that all vegetables in the creek garden are now flourishing, with no sign of deficiencies. The foliage is lush, dark green and they are growing rapidly. The summer squash are the largest leaved plants I have ever grown and the Lady Godiva pumpkin is now fruiring. Bought another 100 lb of chick starter. Betty made 6 jars of blackberry jam this morning over the plate Four of them were pints. I finally planted my last Marglobe tomato plant in the creek garden. The carrots planted 7-10 [?]

Sunday, July 18, 1976

Dug first substantial potatoes on vines beginning to die down, mostly Kennebec. Also canned 6 more pints blackberry jam. Planted 20' row of White Chinese Celestial radishes.

Wednesday, July 21, 1976

Yesterday I put up in jars 7 quts. sour kraut a nd Betty four more jars of jam. Today I prepared another batch of 14 lb sour kraut in crocks and Betty preserved 6. 5 quarts of blackberry. We dined on splendid large red beets last night, which had grown larger since our first pickling venture. The blackberry season is at its height now and the weather is hot and dry. The boys slept in the tent again last night (as every night) guarding the corn. Wilbur seems almost over his bacterial infection, which he apparently received from ticks, which are bad this year. I have also been harvesting onions, mostly white thus far. But I have yellows still in the field partly pulled. Planted Purpletop White Globe turnip in 4' band in creek garden.

Sunday, July 25, 1976

Its a bright sunny day and cool after several days of rain. The tomatoes in the slope garden continue to wilt, especially the Marglobes, and I probably will lose them all. Can this be due to a virus from wild strawberries ? The latter were abundant there. By contrast, the tomatoes in the creek garden, where there were no strawberries, show no sign of wilt yet. Today Betty made 7 more jars of blackberry jam, the berries being at their peak. I also made another 2 crocks of sour kraut. Yesterday I dug another basket of potatoes (Kennebecks), and these were the best yet as to yield, some hills apparently having several lbs. The cucurbits (winter and summer squash, pumpkins, cucumbers and melons) in the creek garden are doing quite spectacular, as is the corn. Also, the peppers and sweet potatoes are doing well now, all showing dark green vigorous growth. I now have some carrots 1. 5" in diameter, but these are being eaten by the mystery animal. Today also, I took a load of posts and wire to the top of the mtn. in the chev. and brought down a load of firewood. The last load had been hauled when the Kretz's were here june 12. So that the load lasted about a month and a half for most of our cooking, canning etc.

Tuesday, July 27, 1976

Yesterday Betty made 2 half gallons of blackberry wine and today 9. 5 quares of pickles with some green tomatoes, hot peppers etc. I also collected another basket of potatoes (Norchip) today. The yield on Norchip seems about the same as for Kennebec, except Norchip is clustered just below the plant. I also had to water the pumpkins in the slope garden again since the weather is hot and dry. Also the other day Betty was nearly run over by a deer while berry picking.

Thursday, July 29, 1976

Weather is dry and hot. We ate first Golden Bantam corn today. Japanese beetles are very bad, now even attacking sweet potato vines. We also canned 7 more quarts of sour kraut. The may apples are now ripe, and in my opinion very good tasting-if you can get them before the wildlife.. I have gegun fencing on top of the mountain now.

Sunday, August 1, 1976

The weather continues hot and dry. The day before yesterday we cooked two more roosters, which were very large (>4 lbs a piece). The late cabbage planted 6-7 has its leaves riddled with insect holes, and I have picked numerous green cabbage worms, but it seems to be forming heads after several waterings. The great pumpkin vines on the slope garden will require watering again today. These green striped pumpkins seem to set fruit late. far later than the Lady Godivas. The creek garden is doing well. Although infected with wilt, the tomatoes of the slope garden are not dieing as sat as at first. Does the power of wilt decline in dry weather? Betty has been trying to trim Natchez's hooves in the stall, but has found that she tries to pull free when tied, breaking ropes. I should also mention that Betty made mead the other day (honey, water, cinnamon etc.).

Monday, August 2, 1976

Yesterday I dug another 1/2 basket (same as before) of potatoes, mostly Norchip, but also some Norgold Russet. Today we canned 8 quarts od sour kraut, making 22 in all now. Noted what appeared to be a large assassin bug eating, or rather sucking juices of a Japanese beetle on sweet potatoes. Bought another 100 lb bag of chick grower.

Wednesday, August 4, 1976

We watered the pumpkins in the slope garden again, and even the popcorn near to the fence where tree roots are present. [Tree roots take up much moisture.] The weather continues to be dry and clear for the most part. It has also been cool, with nights in the 50s. The early cabbage continues good and does not rot rapidly as in Lanham at this time of year. The kidney beans and other beans look good and are not affected by chlorosis as were the early beans I planted, since I had not placed any ashes in close proximity. We plan to eat our fourth meal of GB sweet corn this evening. I am continuing to fence on the mountain, and Betty and I have nearly finished the old fence between the Bellangers and us.

Thursday, August 5, 1976

Made another batch (2 qts.) sour Kraut and Betty soaked in water pickles for Kosher dills. She also strained the blackberry wine and added sugar.

Friday, August 6, 1976

Yesterday i harvested (after previous cutting) a half pickup box of rye from the mtn. I thresh4ed it with a baseball bat and winnowed it in the wind and obtained about 10 lb of rye [grain]. Today Betty made kosher dills (9 qts.), including 2 qts. of green tomatoes. The rabbits have again decimated my beans, especially the nice wax bean plants planted 6-1 in the slope garden. The weather continues very dry and hot, The Japanese beetles are very bad on the sweet potato vines now.

Monday, August 9, 1976

Two days ago we butchered 2 more Cornish roosters and yesterday evening we ate 9 crayfish caught by the Shipe children in the stream. They were very good boiled a few minutes. The weather continues dry except for a few light rains. I am trying to snare rabbits, but they manage to escape so far by chewing the wire through, [really woodchucks ?] Planted 35' row of Dwarf Green Curled Kale (same as failed in spring) in creek garden where peas had been.

Wednesday, August 11, 1976

Yesterday Don, Gus and I watered the pumpkins and squash, late cabbage and peppers in the slope garden. Also, the rabbit [or woodchuck], which continues to decimate my bush beans, chewed through the picture wire snares 3 times now. Yesterday I blocked off his main hole through the fence. The Japnese beetles are tapering off and scarcely affecting the corn now. The late cabbage is forming small heads now and the Country Gentleman corn is forming cobs. Dug a basket of potatoes from the creek garden. Some of these were eaten, probably by muskrats. Yield seems good.

Thursday, August 12, 1976

Dug another basket of potatoes in creek garden. A considerable number of these were partially eaten. We also watered the popcorn, as the weather continues very hot and dry.

Friday, August 13, 1976

Watered the pumpkins, squash, melons, asparagus and Am. artichokes in the slope garden. *Caught a large snapping turtle today at the edge of the cattail marsh in a flowage area. We are at this moment stewing it in our largest pot. I also harvested the last 1/2 basket of potatoes in the creek garden.

Sunday, August 15, 1976

the cucurbits are still doing very well and especially I have numerous pumpkins. All are growing rapidly. Especially prolific have been the Straight Neck Yellow Summer s quash, of which i have one hill. I have given great quantities to our neighbor and today fed them raw to our chickens, who appear to be fond of them. We froze 2 qts. of turtle stew, which we enjoyed greatly. Wilbur would not eat turtle meat at first, but now does. Unfortunately the Japanese beetles are still severe in the creek garden, where they are again beginning to attack the corn silk of my excellent Country Gentleman as well as sweet potato leaves. I am continuing to fence in the hill orchard. Betty strained the blackberry wine for the second time and is making grape wine out of grape juice today!

Wednesday, August 18, 1976

Yesterday we canned 8 more qts. of sour kraut. Today we watered pumpkins, squash, [?] and cowpeas in the slope garden. We are finally eating a few tomatoes, but these are of bad quality, showing end rot, perhaps due to a combination of dry weather and wilt weakening the plants. However, the tomato plants in the creek garden appear excellent, although these plants have yielded no ripe fruit as yet. I also cut 5 locust posts of 11' length for a chicken fence.

Friday, August 20, 1976

Betty made 2. 5 gallons of mead today, after we went wild and drank a lot during the Republican convention. We also butchered 2 more roosters yesterday and they were about 5 lbs a piece dressed. As usual, we ate one and froze one. I placed 2 WB of fresh horse manure, picked up from the field only potato patch of the slope garden, making 3 WB in all placed there since I harvested the potatoes. Everything in the creek garden is growing well despite the drought, which continues. The late carrots especially seem to be growing fast. The Japanese beetles are still very severe on the sweet potatoes and corn. The popcorn is quite stunted in the slope garden however, from the drought I assume, but it has begun to set ears. Bought another 100 lb bag of chick grower.

Watered the popcorn, hot peppers and sweet potatoes in the slope garden again! Raccoons bothered corn in the creek garden a little last night. Note I have been walking the dog and shining a light at about 9 and 10: 30 each night at the garden and this is the first night in a while it has been bothered. It is 90deg. F and the drought continues unabated. I have been picking bean beetle larvae (and adults and squashing them) off the kidney beans, which seem to do well despite the drought.

Tuesday, August 24, 1976

Watered pumpkins, squash etc. in slope garden. Have been eating excellent cantaloupe from the creek garden. Sampled the latest batch of mead, which was excellent asusual, although not finished working yet.

Friday, August 27, 1976

Light rain today, the first in a long time. Blister beetles have been quite severe for weeks on beets. Yesterday I watered cantaloupes, cucumbers, asparagus in the slope garden. The cantaloupe there are ripening fast, although quite immature. They are very tasty however. I have been working on a chicken fence to avoid our watching them. This involves making another gate for which I split a large white oak log left over from logging and well seasoned. This has proved a good source of lumber for gates with mostly splitting involved.

Sunday, August 29, 1976

(Sun.) Yesterday I hauled 5 loads of Natchex's manure from the flood plain to the slope garden potato patch and today dug it in. The kidney beans seem to be doing well after I picked their bean beetles. So are the sweet potatoes of the slope garden after watering. They had turned brown from the drought, but respond to watering among the best of any plants. Rabbit has now taken to eating even pumpkin leaves. We are drinking mead nearly every day and it has become our favorite. Betty also made an analogous drink with sugar intended to be soft, but we are letting some harden. We got a few gallons of water [in the cistern] from the shower the other day, but the drought continues unabated. We ate the first Country Gentleman last night.

Monday, August 30, 1976

The temp. stood at 40deg. F this morning and today it is very brilliant (intense blue sky) and cool, almost cold.

Tuesday, August 31, 1976

It was 40deg. F this morning. The other day I watered the American artichokes and the cantaloupes. This supper we had butternut squash, the same we had for "pumpkin" pie a while ago. It is so dry the cowpeas re stunted as they form on the vine. Also, end rot is very prevalent on tomatoes in the slope garden. I continue to walk Wilbur by the corn and we have been enjoying it.

Thursday, September 2, 1976

It rained last night, quite slowly, but into the morning and relieved the drought somewhat. It now appears that the stunted character of my early beans may have been due to the "peanut stunt virus", which is apparently quite severe in Virginia this year. Bought another 100 lb bag of chicken feed.

Monday, September 6, 1976

(Labor Day) Last night it was 44deg. F at least. Yesterday we watered cucumbers, cabbage and peppers in the slope garden. We are still eating early cabbage, although rot loss per head is mounting. Each day is like the other, clear, dry and warm. Each night is cool and no rain in sight! Still some Japanese beetles around.

Tuesday, September 7, 1976

Froze 6 pints of Country Gentleman corn this morning.

Sunday, September 12, 1976

it rained about 1/4 inch the night before last. Bob. and Mary Lou have been staying with us since Wed, night. We had two chickens yesterday. This morning it was 41deg. F and cool today.

Monday, September 13, 1976

I watered the cucumbers and hot peppers in the slope garden again. We are still enjoying cantaloupe from both gardens and have begun to enjoy watermelons from the slope garden. All these melons have excellent flavor. We are also enjoying Country Gentleman corn.

Tuesday, September 14, 1976

Ordered 9 trees, 7 fruit and 2 nuts as follows: (10 Starkspur Golden Deliceous apple (semi dwarf 48. 55), (1)starkrimson Red Deliceous apple (semi dwarf $8. 55), (1) Prime apple ( Standard $7. 30), (1)Pricilla apple (standard $7. 95), (10 stark red Winesap apple (Standard $7. 30), (1) Stark Early White Giant peach (Standard $&. 45 ), (1) Mericrest nectarine (Standard $7. 95), (1) Stark Surecrop pecan ( $13. 90) and (10 Major pecan ($12. 95). All were smallest available. I placed 2 WB of fresh horse manure in the potato patch of the slope garden.

Wednesday, September 15, 1976

beginning late last night we are having a light warm front rain.

Thursday, September 16, 1976

We had a heavy and long rain yesterday and today it is cloudy, cool and foggy-the drought appears to be broken. A few Japanese beetles still linger. The edible sunflowers (Jerusalem artichokes) are in full bloom now and there are recognizable tubers on the sweet potatoes. The other day we froze both sweet and hot peppers.

Wednesday, September 22, 1976

Cool weather and dry again. We are having a visit from Grandma DeMar and Lucretia (complex cousin). Last night we had a large meal of sweet corn. I have been fencing on the hill and cutting tall plants in the swamp and placing them in the slope garden for mulch and compost etc.

Thursday, September 23, 1976

Patchy frost occurred last night, although the thermometer stood at 35 deg. F. (first frost) Today it is sunny and warm with high cirrus clouds. Little or no damage resulted from the frost. Bought a 100 lb bag of oats for~7. 50.

Sunday, September 26, 1976

Grandma DeMar has been visiting. We had a large rooster last night. We discovered a very tasty blackhaw viburnum on the mtn. these seem almost as good as raisins.

Tuesday, September 28, 1976

Wehad a quite a bit of rain the pasdt several days and now it is clear and cool again. We cleaned the chicken coop again and placed leaves for bedding. We continue to enjoy fine late cabbage. Grandma left after spending a week. Betty continues to make red an white wine a ll of store bought grape juice by adding a little sugar. She also fought a cheaper source of honey not far from here (0. 75 a lb.) We finished the chicken fence and continue to fence on the hill.

Thursday, September 30, 1976

All last night and today we are having the hardest rain of the year, or at least since we have been here. The chickens are foraging in the rain led by Forager! However, the creek is not too high,, perhaps because of the still abundant vegetation slowing run-off. (foot or so below the bridge)

This evening (9:00) it is raining very hard with thunderstorms. It seems from inspection today that plants which were producing only meagerly in the drought, have suddenly begun to set fruit faster, and this fruit (peppers, for example) grows faster, this despite the air temperature being less than 60deg. F.

Friday, October 1, 1976

Intermittent heavy rains again today. Betty has gone to Waynesboro to exhibit her leather goods for sale in the apple festival. Strangely, there are still some Japanese beetles. Noted chickens in uproar and went outside to see an accipiter fly over. It however looked small for a Coopers Hawk.

Saturday, October 2, 1976

More rain today. Raccoons got into popcorn seriously. However I salvaged some, although this was perhaps not quite as hard and dry as it should be. Since it was 6-15 when planted and has a maturity of 90 days, it should be ready. This popcorn is also quite severely attacked by corn earworm. Note8 this corn would not pop when I tried it, but was very good fried in corn oil. Note* this popcorn was planted too late to dry properly.

Sunday, October 3, 1976

Picked the last of the Country Gentleman today and fed it to the chickens. It is a long way from hard, showing that such corn must be planted before 6-5 to get dry corn. Also, it was quite infested with earworm and the raccoons had begun to get it. Bought 100 lb bag of laying mash. I'm feeding the chickens dogwood fruits, which are very abundant on the mountain.

Monday, October 4, 1976

Weather is ~70deg, F and cloudy. Turnip, Chinese radishes, peppers, sweet potatoes, salsify, cabbage and parsnips are all doing well. I now have excellent mature pumpkins and winter squash, although the tomatoes ripen only slowly. Also, the celery is growing fast.

Thursday, October 7, 1976

I have been digging holes (7 on top mtn., 2 above slope garden) Digging is particularly easy now, after the heavy rains. I am digging these holes larger (3 ft. wide, > 2 ft. deep) and will try to fill them with good soil.

Friday, October 8, 1976

It has been raining again and the walnuts are beginning to drop.

Saturday, October 9, 1976

The stream went over its banks (6 inches below the bridge), cresting about 9:00 this morning. This is the highest we ever saw the stream and Betty took a picture. Last night I caught 5 fish, which we had for breakfast. We also moved Natchez off the flood plain to the barnyard pasture. Yesterday I saw 2 large snapping turtles, one in the stream and one in the swamp, which I could have caught.

Sunday, October 10, 1976

I dug sweet potatoes today. The yield from the slope garden was better than from the creek garden. The yield from the former was good. I also gathered several baskets of green tomatoes from the creek garden.

Tuesday, October 12, 1976

The temp. was 31deg, F this morning, with heavy white frost. I had covered the hot peppers. I am cutting mulch and spading on the hill. Yesterday I hauled 7 WB of good soil from a pile in the woods to the 7 planting sites in the north orchard. *m We bought a Majestic range for $250 yesterday, First light brown egg today! Gus found it.

Thursday, October 14, 1976

Hauled down another load of wood. Also, a chicken, presumably a Cornish, presented us with a huge egg. We hauled in the Majestic yesterday, barely getting it through the door!

Sunday, October 17, 1976

Picked some peppers from plants which have earlier been nipped by frost. These plants (Cal Wonders) seem to be quite resistant to the number of frosts we have had now. I also picked all the pumpkins and squash, which I stored in the basement.

Wednesday, October 20, 1976

Started up our Majestic yesterday andlast night I cooked our first meal (cheese turnover). Today it is raining. I hve now begun to repair the barn roof and I am spading in the high field in preparation for next year.

Friday, October 22, 1976

Yesterday I hauled 8 WB of leaves for the hilltop (Mueller;s Mountain) to the high field. Also yesterday and today I have been fixing the barn roof. This evening again in the high field. Everything freezable has been frozen now except the frost resistant turnips, cabbage, celery etc.

Monday, October 25, 1976

Rain yesterday and today. Today I hauled 10 WB of leaves and leaf mold to the high field. Note, hauling leaves works better after rain since they pack and do not blow away. Also, I incorporated more leaf mold, decayed sticks etc. - last year's litter. Hauling and gathering these 10 loads (hauled 100 yds.) took me a little over an hour.

Tuesday, October 26, 1976

Hauled 12 more WB loads of leaf litter to high field. Weather has turned cool and clear. I am fixing the barn roof yet.

Thursday, October 28, 1976

It was 20deg. F this morning. Also, I loaded a half load (to see if I could climb hill) of manure and took it to the high field and brought back a load of wood. I left at 8:00 and returned at 9:00 although the load is not unloaded yet. *We lost another J. J. Warren this morning (?) or noon (?) as evidenced by a patch of small feathers on the flood plain! Most likely a Coopers Hawk since the patch of feathers was isolated in the open. I had noted a small accipiter fly over on Oct. 1.

Friday, October 29, 1976

It happened again. We still have 25 J. J. Warren chickens! Either 1) the chicken escaped the predator and hid yesterday, 2) escaped and walked back, or 3) is a ghost! However the circle of feathers on the flood plain is yet to be explained. Some of these feathers are major ones, 3" long and were pulled out with great force. Yet we see no evidence in any chicken! Peculiar thins happen in rural America.

Bought another 100 lbs of laying mash.

Saturday, October 30, 1976

Finally finished getting the roofing paper on the barn above the main leak- just before the rains began again.

Sunday, October 31, 1976

Today I hauled 10 more WB of leaves to the high field and one to the barn. Also 5 WB of shredded trees obtained from the power co. to the peach tree in the lower orchard.

Wednesday, November 3, 1976

Yesterday was my birthday and the presidential election all in one. Yesterday I spaded in ~15 WB of leaves and some well rotted manure into the test patch of the high field and hauled 2 WB of fresh manure from the flood plain to the slope garden. Today I continued to haul wood chips to the peach tree, for a mulch load total of 11 WB. I t is raining lightly again as I write this. Purchased 100 lb bag of oats.

Thursday, November 4, 1976

I finished the major roof repair on the barn in 40deg. F weather!

Friday, November 5, 1976

Began stringing 39" woven wire around the high orchard using my invention! i the converted bumper jack from 1957 Chev. This works very well over at least 80' stretch length.

Saturday, November 6, 1976

An egg-just a shade under 7" circumference, more than 3" in length!

Tuesday, November 9, 1976

Hauled another load of wood down and wire up. I purchased a roll of 39" woven wire for nearly $80 for the high field. I am still fencing the orchard using my new converted bumper jack wire stretcher. Last night the temp. was 20deg. F! This fall has been unusually cold so far.

Thursday, November 11, 1976

I mulched the asparagus with the swamp hay cut earlier. The weather continues cold, with every night in the mid twenties and day highs about 50deg. F. I dug a half basket of turnips for storage and also a cabbage head from the creek garden which was only slightly frozen. We are getting about 2 eggs a day now from the Cornish hens. I also dug and transplanted the first sunflower tubers. 100 lb bag of corn w [?] for Natchez.

Friday, November 12, 1976

The world is white with the season's first snow this morning!

Saturday, November 13, 1976

It was 11deg. F this morning with several inches of snow on the ground!

Tuesday, November 16, 1976

Three eggs today-all from Cornish hens. Also bought a Hand R 410 single shot today for $39. 88. I promptly took it out and missed 3 rabbits!

Thursday, November 18, 1976

4 eggs today! I hauled 3. 5 WB of chicken manure and leaf litter out of the coop and hauled 2WB of clean leaves down from the hill. We have been going deer and rabbit hunting without any luck, but Betty jumped a small buck yesterday while she had the shotgun for rabbits! Bought 100lb bag of oats. I also hauled about 1/3 ton of WR manure and fresh chicken manure to the high field and scattered it. I also saw a bat this evening catching small insects (which I saw), although the temp. was probably<50deg. F!

Friday, November 19, 1976

Hauled down another pickup load of wood.

Saturday, November 20, 1976

Finished spading a 25'x70' test plot in the high field. This whole patch has been manured and partially leaf composted.

Thursday, November 25, 1976

(Thanksgiving) We dined on chicken and accompanying this wer the following home grown foods: 1)eggs, 2)sweet potatoes, 3)cabbage, 4)tomatoes, 5)pumpkin (pie), 6)parsnip, 7)onion, 8) turnip, 9) chicken fat, 10)pickles, 11) black walnuts, 12)black raspberries) and sassafras tea. I am now beginning to learn to work Natchez, mostly saddling her up and pulling small sticks. The largest she has pulled is a fence post.

Friday, November 26, 1976

The trees arrived from Starks. We planted the two pecans with the Major variety nearest the west fence above the slope garden and Surecrop to the east. Unfortunately the Major had an injured tap root. I heeled in the rest of the trees.

Saturday, November 27, 1976

Planted 7 fruit trees in the hill orchard, also a 15' row of asparagus in the slope garden over horse manure. I got these plants free from Starks. For the trees everybody lugged water up the hill 9~14 pales). The weather was the warmest its been for 1. 5 months.

Sunday, November 28, 1976

We skidded down the first two small logs-or rather 6 inch poles-using Natchez with a breast collar and saddle-off the horn. This worked impressively and she gives promise of being a good pulling horse! We're having a good warm front rain today. Cut a nice head of cabbage from beneath cornstalk cover in the creek garden.

Thursday, December 2, 1976

After several days in which the temp. went down to 10deg. Fat night, its cloudy and threatening to snow, I am again digging post holes (two this morning) for the fence around the high field. There is about 3" of frost, which does not hinder. After a high of 5 eggs the chickens are near averaging about 2/day, perhaps because of the cold. However some J. J. Warrens are now sexually mature and should start laying soon if they have not already. Bought 100 bag of laying mash.

Saturday, December 4, 1976

The boys adopted a cat "Queenie" and fed it giving up half their allowance. Cat promptly caught a mouse! Wilbur is upset! We worked Natchez hauling up firewood. Also I continue to dig postholes at the hill field.

Tuesday, December 7, 1976

Cat turned out to be "Henry. " We are getting 6 eggs a day now with the J. J. warrens coming in. There was a heavy rain last night. 8 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 8, 1976

We had several inches of snow and tonight it is very cold. We also had 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 15, 1976

Brought down a load of wood this morning, having taken 5 posts up. There was no slipping in contrast to the other day. Now it is raining again. We are now getting 9-10 eggs a day with a high of 11. bought 100 lb of oats.

Thursday, December 16, 1976

Hauled a load of leaves to the chicken coop for bedding.

Saturday, December 18, 1976

14 eggs today, 13 yesterday. I have been digging postholes around the high field. Tonight we had Natchez pull 2 half logs from the hill. She shows a lot of spirit, especially when pulling uphill. Today the weather was ~50deg. F and sunny all day.

Sunday, December 19, 1976

16 eggs today. Weather was warm (50s) and fair. Shot our first rabbit. Also cut Christmas tree.

Tuesday, December 21, 1976

Very cold, with 9 eggs today. 100 lb bag of [?] and 100 bag of horse feed.

Wednesday, December 22, 1976

15 eggs today and weather is cold.

Friday, December 24, 1976

13 eggs today; weather cold (10deg. F this morning.). However, the chickens continue to run at large, foraging as ever.

Saturday, December 25, 1976

Our worst Christmas! We had a big scare when about noon our woodstove started to huff and puff, drawing very intensely. Betty and Gus, who were outside, noted a great cloud of smoke pouring from the chimney, while inside the stove pipes began to glow in spots. These spots moved as as burning progressed. At this point I shut all drafts. The hottest spots seemed to be near the chimney and below the bend just above the stove. much snapping of expanding metal was also heard. Obviously deposits of carbon were burning inside. Inspection of the chimney from the roof showed this to be constricted to almost half its area with thick bubbly leaf-like carbon deposits. We now resolved to clean the entire system. I cleaned the chimney with a hoe and a long stick from the roof and removed the material from inside. We also took off and cleaned all the stove pipes, all of which had substantial deposits of the same material. We finished our work about 3:30- an unusual Christmas! As I write the stove is in action again.

Sunday, December 26, 1976

13 eggs today, one with the smaller circumference of 6. 5" and largest circumference of 7. 5". After a pleasant day, following light snow last night, it is turning cold tonight.

Tuesday, December 28, 1976

18 eggs today. It was a warm day and sunny. The snow is nearly gone. Gus and I drove the truck to Middlebrook to have it inspected and met a kindly gentleman, Mr. Rosen, who operates the garage.

Wednesday, December 29, 1976

hauled down another pickup load of wood.

Thursday, December 30, 1976

17 eggs today.

Saturday, January 1, 1977

Temp. was 9deg. F this morning and the chickens gave us 19 eggs today! Betty has been feeding them more. Also the creek pumped stopped this morning and made a strange noise when it ran later. It may have been that the line was partially frozen. At any rate, I covered the soil above the line to the stream with 5 WB of tree chips mulch.

Sunday, January 2, 1977

19 eggs today.

Monday, January 3, 1977

14 eggs today

Tuesday, January 4, 1977

13 eggs today. Bought 100lb each of laying mash and oats.

Wednesday, January 5, 1977

21 eggs today and we had several inches of snow.

Thursday, January 6, 1977

18 eggs today. Chickens, especially J. J. Warrens are busy in the snow picking through horse dung in particular.

Friday, January 7, 1977

18 eggs today. It snowed last night and is cold tonight.

Saturday, January 8, 1977

T=3deg. F this morning, a record for the winter. 19 eggs today. Forager has been freezing his comb a little, which upsets him some. Also, a few of the chickens have been nipped a little.

Sunday, January 9, 1977

20 eggs today.

Monday, January 10, 1977

31 eggs today. I turned on two light bulbs (100 W) in the chicken coop. We have about 3 in. fresh snow from last night and wind is strong at 15deg. F-mean weather and chicken light is on. The day before yesterday I began helping Betty with leather craft. The boys were home from school again today because of the weather.

Tuesday, January 11, 1977

18 eggs today and weather is cold (6deg. F this morning) and chicken light is on.

Wednesday, January 12, 1977

Sold 10 doz. eggs for $7, 00 to Natural Way store in Staunton. Temp. was 5deg. F this morning with 3 in. snow on ground. 14 eggs today.

Thursday, January 13, 1977

-9deg. F this morning and I placed one more light in chicken coop last night (3 in all). I did this around 2AM. 18 eggs today despite the cold. We're dragging firewood down by hand now. We had another "adventure". This adventure was a waterpipe (creek water ) which became disconnected in the back porch, perhaps due to frost forming. At any rate, the watergushed forth just as Betty and I were g etting ready to drag firewood down. Had we left, it would have resulted in a flood. At any rate, and much to our surprise I was able to fix it by simply hammering the pipe together with a wooden stick! We have also had more trouble with pumps freezing slightly.

Friday, January 14, 1977

Sleet and rain today., as well as 17 eggs with no light.

Saturday, January 15, 1977

19 eggs today (no light). We note that our rooster Forager has no mounted any hens in cold weather, perhaps being dispirited because of his frost nipped comb. However, he crows as before.

Sunday, January 16, 1977

Checked the chimney today and found no substantial deposit, only a very thin (paper) black, shiny film of tar(?), probably reworked material from our early burning of paper-which we have not done since the Christmas emergency. Weather is turning cold again. Record 22 eggs today with lights on. Uncle Ed died this morning.

Monday, January 17, 1977

20 eggs today. This morning we had several crises with our pumps and basement water lines freezing (mi. T was -6deg, F). We finally cleared this up by placing 4 light bulbs (~100 W) and even one plumber's candle! We also hauled down more wood by WB and dragging. Tonight we cannot give light to chickens since we are using our extension cords.

Tuesday, January 18, 1977

18 eggs and temp. was -1deg. F this morning. Although cold all day the chickens were busy foraging. 100 lb bag of each of oats, mash and horse feed.

Wednesday, January 19, 1977

T= 4deg. F this morning. Children will be home because of natural gas shortage in school. 18 eggs today.

Thursday, January 20, 1977

21 eggs today. Temp. got above freezing first time in weeks!

Friday, January 21, 1977

20 eggs today. Snow has been melting and weather was fair.

Saturday, January 22, 1977

25 eggs today. Natural Way store likes our eggs and will take more. Snow is falling again, but it is not very cold. The chickens are out practically every day if its not snowing too hard!

Tuesday, January 25, 1977

22 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 26, 1977

Sold 12 doz. eggs for $8. 40 to Natural Way. 212 eggs today. The weather has been normal for the past several days, with highs of 30-40deg. F.

Thursday, January 27, 1977

18 eggs today and weather is turning cold.

Friday, January 28, 1977

21 eggs today with weather warm and blustery, but it is suppose to turn very cold tonight.

Saturday, January 29, 1977

22 eggs today. The weather is turning very cold tonight after a morning low of 3deg, F. Natchez, our horse, is apparently thriving on her range + several quarts of grain a day.

Sunday, January 30, 1977

21 eggs today. T was 9deg, F this morning, but the find[?] is very strong. We continue to drag wood from the woods by "human power. " I am now placing wood ashes on last years popcorn field of the slope garden.

Monday, January 31, 1977

23 eggs today Temp. was 9deg. F this morning, a very windy, clear, raw day, with a high around 32deg, F. However, the chickens were out foraging all day. Betty has noted a change in Natchez's hoof due to inferior winter food Visible in new growth).

Tuesday, February 1, 1977

19 eggs today. Another predator attack on one of our J. J. Warrens. A clump of feathers, including a wing feather, was found in the woods above the barn. However, we still have all our J. J. s!

Wednesday, February 2, 1977

21 eggs today.

Thursday, February 3, 1977

20 eggs today. I also got kicked in the hand by Natchez while attempting to enter her stall at feeding time! My hand seems OK. Cleaned out stove pipe and found very little deposit. We are having the highest wind yet, although the weather is rather mild. Rain and /or snow is predicted. 100 lb each of oats and laying mash was bought.

Friday, February 4, 1977

21 eggs today.

Saturday, February 5, 1977

20 eggs today. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 70c a doz.

Sunday, February 6, 1977

21 eggs today.

Monday, February 7, 1977

!9 eggs today. Today, for the first time in months, I sat on the back yard bench! The day was beautiful, for once no wind, although air temp. was only 35deg. F. Don and i cut two trees for next year's firewood. Temp. this morning was 4deg. F.

*First sign of spring: a woodpecker drumming in the swamp!

Tuesday, February 8, 1977

19 eggs today. It was 0deg. F this morning but no wind.. Bright and sunny all day.

Wednesday, February 9, 1977

20 eggs today. Also, this was our warmest day in a long time. Mockingbirds are singing now.

Thursday, February 10, 1977

Saw the first Towhee this morning. Also saw many hairy woodpeckers. brown creeper and other birds. 22 eggs today. I hauled 5 loads of chicken manure on garden, 3 for potatoes, 2 for corn. It was 68deg. F this afternoon.

Friday, February 11, 1977

22 eggs today. Temp. ~60deg. F high and pleasant. I finished cleaning chicken coop and got 6 WB loads of chicken manure-litter in all 3 WB for potatoes, 3 for corn in 2 piles in the garden now. Betty made reins for Natchez. We hve cut way back on her grain and confined her to the big pasture. Found out chickens can swim!

Saturday, February 12, 1977

18 eggs today. It rained and was cloudy most of the day, but the rain didn't amount to much., perhaps 1/3 inch or so.

Sunday, February 13, 1977

17 eggs today. I noted that several of the first trees planted last fall are showing signs of branch dehydration, with bark wrinkle. The Pricilla apple, peach and nectarine show it. This probably due to the deeply frozen ground, which prevents the roots from supplying water to the tops. Heard a robin the other day.

Monday, February 14, 1977

21 eggs today. Betty and I saw a goose fly at an altitude of about 80-70' above our heads on the Mtn.

Tuesday, February 15, 1977

Worked with Natchez, using Betty's newly made reins. Betty drove and we hauled down firewood. It worked beautifully! I pruned two wild pear trees and one native yellow-green crabapple. The weather is warm and pleasant this aftertnoon. I have noted that the two sour Montmorency cherries in the front yard that I planted over a year ago losing their outer layer of dark red bark and showing a pinkish new layer. This appears to be natural. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, February 16, 1977

23 eggs today. I cut brush, mostly coralberries, under the native crabapple tree. I also began to chop Virginia pines in the back pasture. Sold 11 doz. eggs at 70c/doz. to the Natural Way.

Thursday, February 17, 1977

8deg. above F this morning. and bright and sunny. I mercifully dispatched a Cornish hen that had been lame for a long time. This is only the sdecond chicken we have lost to disease. 23 eggs today. Cut pine trees on hill.

Friday, February 18, 1977

21 eggs today. Weather was raw and windy, with a little snow. Sold 8 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, February 19, 1977

20 eggs today, Betty and I worked Natchez, skidding down 4 loads of wood with the reins strung through the raised stirrups. We had a light rain rain this afternoon. The grass is beginning to green, although the ground is still frozen.

Sunday, February 20, 1977

Soaked the first doz. VF tomato seeds today for placement in window cartons. 15 eggs today. I pruned some wild blackberries on the Mtn.

Monday, February 21, 1977

21 eggs today. I placed another basket of ashes on the asparagus and chopped a quite a few Virginia pines on the back pasture. Bought 100 lb bag of laying mash for $9. 20.

Tuesday, February 22, 1977

Sold 3 doz, eggs at 70c a doz. 22 eggs today. Temp. was up to 64deg. F thisd afternoon, but very windy. A fine day!

Wednesday, February 23, 1977

24 eggs today. It was a beautiful day with temp. near 70deg. F. Noted one of our J. J. Warrens has a swelling, apparently associated with a puncture on one toe. This is probably what is called bumblefoot Sold one doz. eggs for 70c. I'm finally getting around to making a handle (mockernut hickory) for the pick head I bought last year, The wood has seasoned about 1. 5 yrs. for a 3" billet and is still subject to slight checking in the end at least.

Thursday, February 24, 1977

19 eggs today. We had fairly heavy showers several times today and the temp. was in the 60s. Relative to sprouting tomato seeds: I noted that of the 6 containers with 2 seeds each, one suffered from damping off disease and this one alone had a musty, moldy smell.

Friday, February 25, 1977

22 eggs today. There was a big wind and a large tree came down in the swamp, also damage to the smokehouse roof, barn roof etc. occurred.

Saturday, February 26, 1977

21 eggs today. It was very warm and pleasant all day (~70s). We covbered half the smokehouse roof with tar paper, cut some of the down tree in the swamp. Betty rode Natchez on the road around the Mtn. Noted the first Redwing blackbirds and Bluebirds today. We had our first parsnips of the spring season, the soil finally having thawed enough to dig them.

Sunday, February 27, 1977

The pumpkins in the basement-and probably the squash- are spoiled now. The temperatures were probably too low (~40deg. F) for long storage.. 22 eggs today, and light rain most of the day.

Monday, February 28, 1977

It was 28deg. F this morning. I began to spade the chicken manure compost in on the corn patch of the slope garden.

Tuesday, March 1, 1977

17 eggs today. Weather is cold and windy but not freezing [?]. Tonight I finished turning under the chicken manure in the propose corn patch of the slope garden.

Wednesday, March 2, 1977

14 deg. F this morning and 22 eggs today. I made 2 trips int town with the truck, one for lumber and another for wire. I am now spading the planned potato patch in the slope garden. Bought 100lb bag of oats for $8. 72 and a roll of wire for $81. 00.

Thursday, March 3, 1977

22 eggs today. i partially built a great milking stand and continued to spade the potato patch. Also sold 6 doz. eggs for 70c a doz.

Friday, March 4, 1977

24 eggs today. Intermittent heavy rain and warm today.

Saturday, March 5, 1977

20 eggs today. One of the J. J. Warrens swallowed a fishhook that had a worm attached. We cut the leader. The chicken seems normal. I put up 160' of woven wire fence along one side of the prospective goat pasture and Don and I sawed down a hickory [by hand with a crosscut saw].

Sunday, March 6, 1977

(Sun.) Temp. is 50deg. F and cloudy and today I finised spading the potato patch on the slope. I also spaded and covered with 4 WB of horse manure compost a 3' band 70' long for onions and peas. I planted a 30' row of white onions, a 25' row of garlic and one Elephant garlic. Also, the honeymoon with the chickens in the garden ended when they started to pick and eat the white onion sets led by Forager. Mostly our furnace is off, as today, and the entire house is heated by the wood stove.. 19 eggs today. It's curious that on spading I haven't encountered a single grub or wire worm, while last year they were plentiful. Perhaps this is due to last year's dry summer and the following cold winter. However, angleworms ar very abundant in the garden.

Monday, March 7, 1977

Dug three 50' trenches and filled them with one WB of chicken manure compost each for potatoes. Weather is cool and clear.. 20 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 8, 1977

15deg. F this morning at 7:00. planted 70' row of yellow onions 6" parallel to white onions and garlic. 20 eggs today. Bought 100 lb of laying mash for $9. 20.

Wednesday, March 9, 1977

Went to a zoning hearing last night. It is bright, sunny and mild. I ate an excellent lunch with a dandelion salad today. Planted 30' double row of Viginia Blight-resistant spinach. 21 eggs today. Enjoyed sauted snflower seeds with garlic, onions and dandelions.

Thursday, March 10, 1977

Planted 45' row of shallots in organic-rich virginsoil, using no fertilizer. This is fairly light soil but not sandy as recommended. Temp. this afternoon at ~1:00 PM is 67deg. F Saw my first Bloodroot flowers and sap is rising in Dogwoods. 23 eggs today.

Friday, March 11, 1977

20 eggs today. Sold 9 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Warm day at 70deg, F and pleasant. Began to dig postholes on hill again.

Saturday, March 12, 1977

21 eggs today. Several chickens are picking eggs and one J. J. Warren ate one. Today I hauled 3 pickup loads of manure (mostly well-rotted in shavings) from the Redgate horse farm. I place one in the creek garden and 2 on the hill field, all in heaps to be spread or dug in later. i also hauled down a load of wood. We are having light rain and I'm eating a lot of dandelions these days.

Sunday, March 13, 1977

22eggs today and sold 2 doz. at 70c a doz. We had a steady, soaking, heavy rain last night, but it dawned clear and was a beautiful day. Something is pulling my onion sets up and strewing them around the same as last year. I placed tinfoil on a string attached to a pole to discourage this.

Monday, March 14, 1977

20 eggs today. weather was cool, clear and pleasant.

Tuesday, March 15, 1977

30deg. F this morning. Warm, dry excellent day. 22 eggs.

Wednesday, March 16, 1977

21 eggs today. Had 1/4 acre of high field plowed by Charles Varner Jr. He charged @7. 50, but we paid him $10. 00. Weather is seasonably cool but sunny. We are having increasing trouble with a hen or hens that peck the ends of eggs, breaking them slightly.

Thursday, March 17, 1977

27deg. F this morning at 6:00. It appears that the chickens haven't been picking the eggs after all The eggs break while being laid on the hard box bottom, as we had not replaced leaves there. I transplanted a Spice Bush from the woods to the slope garden. 26 eggs today, a new record. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted some Cherry belle radish.

Friday, March 18, 1977

Heavy rain shower as I write this. I planted just before the rain a 40' double row of Oregon Sugar podded peas. I also cut seed potatoes (Kennebec). I used "Legume-aid" on these peas. 24 eggs today.

Saturday, March 19, 1977

26 eggs today. We also hauled 3 more loads of horse manure-compost from the Red Gate stables, making 5 loads for the high field-equivalent to 10 tons per acre. I also brought down another 1/2 load of wood. This evening I trenched the forty foot row for carrots in the slope garden, plowing 1/2 WB of chicken manure + leaves in the trench. I am also feasting on some excellent black walnuts from a particular tree near the swamp-I think. I also dug more

sunflower tubers yesterday.

This evening we had another stove pipe + chimney burnout. First glowing stove pipe, lots of smoke outside, then smoke stopped and flame and sparks came out of chimney. The inside of the chimney now has a frothy charred deposit. Much of the heat was concentrated at the stove pipe, causing great fear the walls would ignite. The chimney did not heat up much. Tomorrow or soon I will c lean the system again. I also planted Salad Bowl lettuce.

Sunday, March 20, 1977

21 eggs today. It rained most of last night.

Monday, March 21, 1977

26 deg. F this morning. Planted Burpeana Early peas in slope garden, using no fertilizer, but, from the rocks, this is virgin soil. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Prepared strawberry bed in form of three 24' rows, trenched, and placed a total of 1/2 WB of chicken manure compost in the trenches. 21 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 22, 1977

21 eggs today. It rained hard all last night and now has turned cold and clear.

28deg. F this morning and 25 eggs today. I began to spread manure and level on the hill field and the hill garden patch.

Thursday, March 24, 1977

A cool, clear day. It probably froze last night. I placed a basket of ashes on top of the soil over the prospective carrot row in the slope garden and raked it in with a hoe. Planted two 50' rows of Kennebec potatoes, which turned out to be about 41 sets per row in the slope garden.

I used my own potatoes. Fertilization was by chicken manure as describe on Mach 7. I also spread manure and leveled in the hill field hill garden patch. 27 eggs today, a new record.

Lilac buds are now well open, sowing the flowers beginning to emerge. The buds of blackhaw viburnum are in a similar state.. Also, tonight I noted the first yellow haze of catkins in the swamp willows.

Friday, March 25, 1977

24 eggs today. We had a near tragic fire near our border with Bellangers. Mrs. Bellanger had ___burned trash there! An unusual east wind in dry weather contributed. We put it out with the hose, but the fire dept. did come on call, arriving after it was out. I worked on the hill field and patch again, spreading and leveling. I have been doing about 1/10 of the 1/4 acre a day and now have 3/10 done. Betty made a first pair of shoes-"Earth boots" for Don.

Planted 45' row of Hybrid #7 spinach from Wetsel seed Co. Weather is bright, warm and pleasant. i also did another 1/10 of the hill field patch. Planted 25' row of Green Arrow peas. In preparing this pea bed i noted that many buried weeds from last year's spading (pre-June) still were not completely decomposed and were sprouting from as blanched sprouts. Could this be because of the dry 1976 summer? 28 eggs today, one scarcely more than an inch long! It was 26deg. F this morning.

Sunday, March 27, 1977

Did another 1/10 of the quarter acre field + some in patch. weather is fair, warm and windy this noon. I have noted some remaining fine granular limestone in the plowed high field. 26 eggs today. I planted a 50' row of my own sets of Norchip potatoes in the slope garden. I also spaded in the same.

Monday, March 28, 1977

29 eggs today, a new record. Its quite warm today (~70 deg. F), after many freezing nights. A little pink is showing at the ends of peach buds. I continued to spade in the slope garden.

Tuesday, March 29, 1977

It was very warm today (80deg. F) ! I spread manure and leveled 1/10 of the hill field and leveled the patch again. I also spaded more new turf on the slope garden. We had 26 eggs today. Natchez followed us in our nightly walk and acted in a very spirited manner, making a pest out of herself. The forsythia are in full bloom now. Don saw his first frogs of the year.

Wednesday, March 30, 1977

Don noted the first frog yesterday. This morning they are singing in the marsh. The radishes planted 3-17 are up. The peas planted 3-18 are just beginning to come up. The spinach planted 3-9 is beginning to get its second leaves. Planted a 70' row of Kennebec potatoes in the hill patch. 29 eggs today.

Thursday, March 31, 1977

It is somewhat cooler today (~70deg. F), after several days of 80deg. weather. The juneberry trees on the hill are in f ull bloom and quite a sight. The pear tree up there has its flower buds fully exposed but not open yet. I did another 1/10 of the hill field, now having done 7/10 of the quarter acre. I noted that this soilis hardening now due to the lack of rain. We had a "dry" cold front this morning. I noted that this field has very few angleworms.. 27 eggs today. Black flea beetles are very bad on the Cherry Belle radishes. Sold 145 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Gus has a spectacular island in the stream [he constructed], which he calls "Covalum>"

Friday, April 1, 1977

(Friday) The temp. was 28deg. F this morning. Last night I dined on salsify fried with onions and it was very good. Today I dug more for future meals. The new foliage is about 6 inches high now, but apparently the quality is unharmed as yet. The same goes for parsnip, of which I have also stored several large roots in the refrigerator. Some grape buds are now swelling. Also, the first second year asparagus spears are beginning to come up. Some peach blossoms are open now. 24 eggs today. I placed two posts around the hill field.

Saturday, April 2, 1977

Cloudy and some rain last night, also quite warm. Flea beetles ate up all the radish seedlings. Rue Anemone are blooming. 28 eggs today. I placed two more posts around the hill field and finished spading the slope garden. Discovered what appears to be another peach tree in bloom just outside the north slope orchard fence! It is only about 5 ft. high, but has quite a few blossoms. Pear trees now have some open blooms and the peach trees many.

Sunday, April 3, 1977

26 eggs today, which is warm and pleasant. although partly cloudy. I did another 1/10 of the hill field, spreading and leveling. Betty rode Natchez to Rt. 252 and around the mtn. with her friends from Redgate stables. Noted earthworms copulating this morning after last night's rain.

Monday, April 4, 1977

We had near an inch of rain last night and today at 6:00PM. 25 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 5, 1977

It rained fairly hard all last night and we now have ample moisture. The spice bush now has little green flowers and the mash buttercups or Marigolds (Caltha paustris) are in full bloom. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 24 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 6, 1977

It was 31deg. F this morning and very windy. Some flower buds of the peaches are not open yet and so may escape frost which is sure to come tonight. I have been eating great gobs of dandelions, some chicory and raw green onion tops. But this year there is very little winter cress. Could it be that it was frozen out ? Also, the chicory is very retarded. I killed a sick Cornish hen, which was one of the best of the breed's layers. She had been ill for some time, not eating or drinking except when forced. 28 eggs today.

Thursday, April 7, 1977

It was 18deg. F this morning. So far I don't know the extent of damage to fruit buds and flowers, but it looks hopeful. White flower buds and red flower buds of wild plum an crabapple respectively are just showing but not open yet. I had the truck tuned up to the tune of $62. 17 with new plugs, points, cap, rotor and condenser. Also bought a new tire for the VW (included in $62. 17). Betty substituted [as teacher] for the 4th time this week. The asparagus shoots now up froze, but I ate them for lunch as part of my green salad! Planted 55 Guardian strawberries. 25 eggs today and Wood Anemone is in bloom.

Friday, April 8, 1977

Did another 1/10 of hill field, now having spread and leveled 9/10 of the field. The whole family got wood up from the swamp and I replanted the Cherry Belle radishes planted 3-17. 26 eggs today. I placed 3 WB of rotten bark-sawdust combination from the wood pile as mulch on the newly planted strawberry plants.

Saturday, April 9, 1977

Temp. was 17deg. F this morning. The lilac doesn't seem frozen and neither do the peach buds. I planted the 45' band of carrots prepared earlier-19' of Dames Halflong and 34' of Royal Chanteay. I also planted 2 elderberries, one York and one Nova Compost was as usual placed over the carrots. I placed one WB each of wood chips over the elderberries. 29 eggs today. I finished the hill field spreading and leveling. It appears that the pear blossoms froze every[?], but not the buds on the hill. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c.

Sunday, April 10, 1977

Planted a 20' row of Burpee Early peas. Natchez has a lump on her off side where the saddle would go so that she could not be ridden. It could be caused by a parasite and it appears to be coming to a head. 25 eggs today.

Monday, April 11, 1977

V ery warm today (~80s). We had a delightful picnic on the Mtn. I planted a 70' row of Norchip potatoes on the hill patch. 28 eggs today. I hve been placing posts around the hill field 9 3 today). Betty is making another pair of "earth shoes. "

Tuesday, April 12, 1977

It was very warm again today. It looks like all the peach blossoms in the slope garden are frozen again. We had 27 eggs today. This evening we got our goat, a yearling Nubian, or rather 7/8 Nubian. doe for $35. 00, bought from Barbara Powers near Grottoes, Va. We picked her up in the VW, and although upset, she made the ride back calmly. We now have her in the barn in a dog-proof stall. [this is "Gracie. "]

Wednesday, April 13, 1977

Another very warm and dry day. The wild plums are in full bloom and the crabapple is just starting. The latter's buds appear to have been frost-injured- as is the case alsdo with the nearby pear and peach, as noted yesterday. It is curious that a goat perhaps more than half grown, can pass through any hole a chicken can! Gracie goes into the chicken coop with impunity through a hole our chickens squeeze through! 25 eggs today. I also watered the the carrots today to encourage them to sprout. Betty and I went to Mr, Grimm's[?], a beekeeper's, place and bought 18 lbs of honey for 75c a lb and viewed the bees. Mr, Grimm was stung. He also gave us rhubarb and Betty is making a pie, Wilbur has been very good, not receiving a single beating to train him with Gracie the goat. We can take him into the pasture without a leash. I placed 3 more posts on the hill. I also cleaned out the stovepipe today.

Thursday, April 14, 1977

Sold 10 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. The weather is cloudy and cooler. I transplanted about a a doz. of Bibb lettuce plants into the slope garden. Birdsfoot and other violets have been blooming for about a week. Also, today noticed for the firsttime this year the small, short phlox-like pink flowers ith practically no leaf stems and fuzzy foliage. 24 eggs today.

Friday, April 15, 1977

23 eggs today. I began spading the creek garden. Weather is warm but not as much so as a few days ago. The strawberries are showing progress and many J. artichokes [same as "American" artichokes also mentioned previously ?] are sprouting.

Saturday, April 16, 1977

Tomorrow we will have been here a year. Today I had the boys on the hill field hoeing weeds from the prospective corn field while I placed four fence posts, but they weren't very enthusiastic and Gus said "I hope I won't have to live like this when I grow up. " We found a redbud on the hill. These are in full bloom no- ahead of the dogwoods, which are just beginning. I also spaded the creek garden and took snow tires off the VW. We had 30 eggs today, a new record. The goat is eating better but driving us mad. Natchez's wound appears to be an abcess and is improving, -especially after Betty bathed it with epsom salt.

Sunday, April 17, 1977

Potatoes in the slope garden are beginning to appear, -as whole lead tops rather than sprouts. Willie killed a woodchuck ( female), then, in protecting his kill, bit Natchez a nasty bite on the nose. 24 eggs today. Gus and Betty found a place only three miles away with many dairy goats and we are considering purchasing one. I also planted a short row part of Fordhook lettuce. Observed Gracie eating thistles.

Monday, April 18, 1977

Planted. or rather transplanted 28 Stonehead Hybrid cabbage plants in slope garden. These were my own plants and had good roots. 26 eggs today. Today we bought another goat, "Honey" for $150. 00. She appears to be an excellent milker. I painted the goat milk stand and we set it up in the barn. We also bought 10 lb of goat feed at 8c a lb. Honey is 3/4 Nubian.

Tuesday, April 19, 1977

The weather has been warm (60-80deg. F) during the day. 40-50 at night. The pink azaleas are beginning to bloom and the crabapple is nearly in full bloom. The blackhaw is in full bloom and beautiful buds on persimmon are just beginning to swell and green. Birdsfoot violet is in full bloom. Planted a 35' row of parsnip (Harris Model), a 35' row of Mammoth Sandwich Island salsify and 19 Burpee Surehead Hybrid cabbage. these were my plants and were planted as the others, directly into ground fertilized last fall. 26 eggs today. We went back to Knopps [where we had bought Honey] and bought another goat- a pure Nubian, "Brandy" for $225. 00, [Honey had been very lonesome for her] Like Honey, she was brought home in our pickup truck.

Wednesday, April 20, 1977

27 eggs today. The asparagus is growing well with some half inch stalks nearly 3' tall. I also placed bushes by the edible podded peas. I noted that each morning the soil which is compacted is moist, evidently due to capillary action. If it were dew, the loose soil would also be moist.

Thursday, April 21, 1977

Planted double 30' row of Crosbys Egyptian Brand beets in the creek garden. Planted 73 Round Dutch cabbage plants from the Farm Bureau [in creek garden ?]. These plants had bare roots and didn't look too good. As usual they were planted directly into the soil with no additional fertilizer. The good logisticvs, or rather the goat-chicken logistics are complicated. Feeding and milking times are hectic races to prevent the goats from getting in the chicken coop and the chickens from eating the goat's food. 24 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of horse feed for the goats.

Friday, April 22, 1977

26 eggs today. I finished placing posts in the hill field and began to place braces. Betty finished a pair of "Earth Boots" for herself.

Saturday, April 23, 1977

The edible podded peas seem afflicted with an "infolded leaf disease, " one of the symptoms of which may also be white spotted leaves, which were present last year also. The Burpeeana Early peas seem less afflicted in this way. Brandy, our new goat, shows a slight drop in production from an original of slightly more than a quart to slightly less so far. But Honey seems to be holding up. 26 eggs today and the weather continues warm and fairly dry, although thundershowers are predicted. The Chinquapin oak leaves are several inches long now. I note that New Jersey Tea is one of the most conservative plants since it only swelling buds now.

Betty bartered one of her leather bags for 2 baskets made of white oak + $5. 50. She also sold some other things at the Mary Baldwin [College] Arts and Crafts Fair. We used up the last of the potatoes (as mashed). They were somewhat sprouted but just as tasty as ever.

Sunday, April 24, 1977

22 eggs today, although there may have been more. Noted that while flea beetles are quite bad in the slope garden ( potatoes, cabbage, radish), there appear to be none on the potatoes of the hill patch. We had light rain last night and a light shower today and now it's quite a bit cooler.

Monday, April 25, 1977

It was 34deg. F this morning (42deg. in town). The goats are pleasing us a great deal. Honey gives about 1 and 1/8 quarts and Brandy about a quart (this morning). We are trying a cottage cheese. We leave the goats in the "goat pasture", (about a half acre barnyard) at night with freedom to go in the barn. It is 56deg. F as I write this at about 7:00 in the evening and frost threatens again before morning. We had 28 eggs today. I milked my first part of a goat today (Honey) but had to give it up part way because of a stiff back. I finished placing braces on the hill fence and began to stretch wire. Betty made the first goat cheese by allowing a quart of milk sit for 24 hours at temperatures of 70-75 deg. F The curd was placed on muslin to get rid of the whey. It seemsquite good with a little salt added. It might be a good experiment to allow more time, like another 12 hrs. or so, in order to los e less milky substance.

Tuesday, April 26, 1977

Note temp. change: At 5:30 AM 30deg. F; at 6:45 AM 29deg. F. Potato tops, some of which occupied about a squar foot, were frozen last night-also some asparagus. The potatoes in the hill patch did not freeze. Also the wild plums and pears on the hill seem OK. I don't know about the crabapple. 23 eggs today. The cheese turned out so well I ate it all for lunch! We made twice as much tonight I milked Honey again-a little better this time.

Wednesday, April 27, 1977

Temp. was 34deg. F this morning, but there was light frost in some places such as low spots in the flood plain and on the barn roof. 22 eggs today. We sold 9 doz. eggs at 70c a doz., fixed fence in the goat pasture and continued to fence on the hill.

Thursday, April 28, 1977

19 eggs today. It seems possible that this lower egg production may be due to our decreasing the feed by less than half of our usual ration earlier in the year (exclusive of the cold weather ration). It seems less likely that they are laying elsewhere. Betty had a crowd of SAARC clients [handicapped students] here today. They seemed to enjoy our place and the animals. I finished stretching wire on the hill. Noted that our goats are giving more milk again (2 and 1/4 quarts per milking), indicating rapid adjustment.

Friday, April 29, 1977

Temp. was 34deg. F at 5AM, but frost was already present in the lowland again. At 6:30 it was 29deg. F. We had a rather small shower last night. Planted a 30' row of Va. Blight-resistant spinach in creek garden. 26 eggs today. The potatoes in the hill field froze despite it not being as cold as previously.

Saturday, April 30, 1977

29deg. F this morning, and the grapes froze again! I started to plant field corn in the hill field this morning. Planting field corn, I made 16- 50' rows, which is roughly one quarter of the field, digging trenches with the hoes 3' apart. The corn, Longfellow Flint, was obtained from Johnnys, was initially planted 9 inches apart, but on realizing that I would not have enough, this was increased to a foot apart. It was then covered by about an inch of soil and walked upon. total time to do all this was about 2 hrs.

We decided to give up our Blue Cross-Blue Shield health insurance today since it costs us too much ($223. 00 / 3 months). This was a big decision for us as we had not been without this type of insurance for years.

Betty made cheese again. It was good but a little [?] with whey mixed in. It would be better to keep temp. closer to 75deg. Noted that last eve. Natchez's lump on her back is mostly gone. It appears there is no need to lance it. 22 eggs today.

Sunday, May 1, 1977

It was 38deg. F this morning and today it is very warm and sunny. Gus and I planted another 50' section of 16rows of Longfellow Flint, Gus doing the planting. He worked very well and carefully. Planted in slope garden 4-20' rows of Golden Cross Bantam and 4-20' rows of Country Gentleman. 24 eggs today.

This is the first time I milked the goats all by myself. Betty having gone to the horse show. i put the chickens away at 6:10 and finished the goats at 6:40. The production was down by 1/3 however, due to my incompetence.

Monday, May 2, 1977

22 eggs today. Betty and I continue to repair fence on the hill. I tried to pl;ant potatoes in the hill field but a shower stopped me. However, it is stll very dry. Noted the first Whippoorwill call of the year {not heard for years now!] this evening at 8:30 DST. Bought 100 lb of laying mash for $10. 20- a price rise!

Tuesday, May 3, 1977

I almost finished planting the field corn seeds I have, having planted 12-50' rows. 21 eggs today. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c / doz.

short (~12') rows of Imp. Golden wax beans and watered because of the drought. These were planted by sunflowers.

Wednesday, May 4, 1977

Light rain last night and during the day, but not nearly enough. Planted the rest of the field corn for a total patch of 50' x 160' and started to plant popcorn (Burpee's Peppy Hybrid) on the rest- 5-40' rows so far. A heavy shower this evening. 22 eggs today.

Thursday, May 5, 1977

23 eggs today. We are cutting back the ration for the chickens again as we are having difficulty selling eggs. We had another shower today and Betty and I are fencing on the hill field.

Friday, May 6, 1977

Very warm today (~90s). noted flea beetles, the black ones, which appear to be bothering radish, cabbage etc. also are attacking my VF tomato seedlings, particularly the primary leaves. 20 eggs today. We enjoyed our first meal of spinach today, although I had been eating a little raw in salads for some time. Sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, May 7, 1977

A swarm of bees passed over woods above the slope garden headed toward the stream at about 11. 30 AM DST. Flea beetles are very bad on the cabbage. Everything, esp. the potatoes are growing very fast now since the weather is ideal (70s with periodic rain showers) Planted a short row of Borage in slope garden. Only 17 eggs today. Betty an I are still fencing on the hill.

Sunday, May 8, 1977

Temp. at 4 AM was 42deg, F and at 6 AM 38deg, F. Because of severe flea beetle infestation, I placed a ring of hardwood ashes around each one of the SHH and Surehead cabbage in the slope garden. The larger Round Dutch seem to resist them better. Planted Salad Bowl lettuce in creek garden (30' row). The Longfellow Flint field corn planted April 30 is beginning to come up. 22 eggs today. We are enjoying a meal of lamb's quarters from the garden. These were as tender as spinach but denser and thus required more water to cook. Gus took his first crack at milking a goat (Brandy) and didn't do badly except for missing the dish!

Monday, May 9, 1977

Last night it froze while my tomatoes, peppers etc. were outside in pots and they were severely damaged and I will lose about a third of the tomatoes. At 4 AM it had been 38deg. F and windy, but when the wind dropped, so did the temp. to below freezing in the garden. Tonight we are trying covering the potatoes in the slope garden to protect their already lush foliage. 23 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 10, 1977

Froze again last night at 29deg. F, but we had covered potatoes in the slope garden. Noted that potatoes on the hill froze somewhat, but inch-high field corn did not, perhaps because corn is near ground which is about 50deg. F. Planted 4 more 40' rows of Peppy Hybrid popcorn in hill field. 17 eggs today. This morning in a rush to go subsitute, I[Betty} made cheese with a cheese cloth or muslin. I just took a big teaspoon[?] and took the cheese, which was floating on top of the whey, and put it into a corningware and mixed in some salt with my hand. It was the easiest cheese effort yet!

^Hydrologic comments: Last sprig, a year ago, the creek garden was far wetter than this year, although this year has been wetter than last. Could this be related to the very wet preceding year (year before last)? The garden is below the very great hill and there would probably be a lag in spring action. We ate a very excellent butternut squash with slightly shriveled skin. This had been kept in the basement on the rafters.

Wednesday, May 11, 1977

Planted 8-40' rows of Country Gentleman corn in the hill field, finishing the field for corn. Temp. min. was 31deg. F this morning. Planted diverse (Norgold Russdet, Norchip, Kennebec and unknown type ) of marble-sized potatoes in a 50' row in the hill patch. 21 eggs today. While picking Salad Bowl lettuce this evening, I pulled up one of the plants and was shocked to see the main root stem covered with white root aphids. This is probably the cause of the stunting in these plants.

Thursday, May 12, 1977

Planted 4 rows of Spanish peanuts in hill patch in rows 3' apart. 16 eggs today. Birds, probably crows, have been pulling some of the field corn. I have the boys keeping check before and after school, as I think it happened in the early morning. I also made a "scarecrow" of my shirt on a stick. I also watered cabbage and lettuce in the slope garden. We are giving some of our eggs to friends as it is difficult to sell them now.

Friday, May 13, 1977

14 eggs today. Gus and I watered the spinach and carrots, The weather was very warm today. Gus got up early to scare the crows on the hill. However, we have seen few. The goats are doing very well-about as well as when we got them, as far as milk production goes. I also planted another 20' row of peanuts in the hill patch, making 5 rows.

Saturday, May 14, 1977

Cleaned out the chicken coop and placed 3 bags of leaves gathered by Gus for bedding. Prepared 10 hills for melons, placing about 4 shovels of partly rotted chicken manure beneath. I was paid $175. 00 for an article on my fence stretcher invention by Organic Gardening and Farming. 16 eggs today.

Sunday, May 15, 1977

Planted a 60' row of potatoes in creek garden. I made a trench with a hoe, placed the sets, then covered them with horse manure compost (of wood chips). I then formed a ridge over them. Note that these seed potatoes were ordinary potatoes from the store, just as last year for the creek garden. 15 eggs today. We "made hay" for the goats at Betty's suggestion, taking the cuttings first and placing them in the mow. Then I began to cut more in the flood plain. I also planted 5 hills each of Burpee's Ambrosia Hybrid cantaloupe and Sugar Baby watermelon, alternating the hills in the slope garden. These were the hills described yester5day. I noted that we have one broody J. J. Warren.

Monday, May 16, 1977

Cut hay in the flood plain again and bought more garden hose. Planted 50' more of peanuts (Spanish) on the edge of the 1/4 acre corn field. Planted another 60' row of potatoes in the creek garden-everything the same as on the 15th. Also planted 14 Savoy King cabbage in the slope garden. 11 eggs today. Bought 100 bag of laying mash.

Tuesday, May 17, 1977

16 eggs today Planted 8 tomato plants (6 Roma and 2 VF Hybrid) + 30 sweet potato. I also painted the picnic table.

Wednesday, May 18, 1977

Very warm (~90deg.) and heavy thunder showers today, washing out our drying hay. I plante 3 VF tomatoes in the slope garden. 18 eggs today + one tat Sheba the snake probably got. We saw the saw the egg and then the snake with a bulgw. Betty rode Natchez today around 9 AM up Mueller's Mtn. Flies were bad and drove the horse into bucking. Also the rope for the horn [? was possibly a bit short so Natchez couldn't cope as well going downhill. Perhaps it would be best not to worry about bucking when coping with the sound to ride earlier in the AM 9 before flies). Tonight we all ate at the Vineyard [correct name?] to celebrate Bob's $175. 00 from Organic gardening for his article. Seems like lots of money these days, Since we haven't eaten out in a long while, it was a real treat.

Thursday, May 19, 1977

Planted a 60' row of mung beans in the middle of the field corn, where a row is missing. Found a nest of 11 eggs by the side of the house! 16 eggs today. I planted 8 Cayenne peppers, about 25 sweet potato plants and some Cherry Belle radish in the slope garden. Also planted a hill of Sugar Baby watermelon plants and one of cantaloupe in the slope garden.

Friday, May 20, 1977

16 eggs today. Planted the restof the sweet potatoes, 72 in all, + 10 Cal Wonder pepper plants in creek garden. I also spent cosiderable time weeding beets, salsify and parsnips. The weather continues warm ~80s) and dry. The disease which afflicted the peas seems to be less severe and they are blossoming. The BE peas look best so far. We have been enjoying excellent spinach-4 times now off the same plants. It would be more abundant if it were wetter. We hauled in 5 WB loads of hay that had been rained on once, but it seems fair. I also cut more in the flood plain and begun to hoe the field corn, which is about 3" tall now.

Saturday, May 21, 1977

Planted a 40' row of Fordhook lima beans in the slope garden, using Legume-aid. I also watered spinach, carrots, shallots and green beans, 18 eggs today. We have an outstanding drumming woodpecker who has apparently selected a very resonant limb on the mountain.

Sunday, May 22, 1977

Have been hoeing the corn field. This morning I hoed about 1/4 ove field or 1/16 acre in an hour. I did the same yesterday morning. Planted 10 Sunray tomato plants in the creek garden, placing a shovel of wood chip-horse manure compost in each hole. I also did the same for 3 hills each of Burpee Sunnybrook and Pickler cucumbers. 17 eggs today. Betty and Gus returned from Blue Ridge Community College Craft festival having sold more than $100 worth of leather goods, ang Gus earned his first outside dollar making a key ring.

Monday, May 23, 1977

Hoed another 1/4 of corn field so that about 3/4 of it is done now. Noted that lady beetles (Convergent) in slope garden are eating small, black, winged forms of aphids on the cabbage. Flea beetles are very bad also in these. I noticed that the cabbage on the hill patch is doing much better than down here since there are few if any insects on it up there. However I noted that horse nettle in the corn field on the hill is under great attack by black flea beetles. Planted 4 more VF tomatoes + a short row of Georgia collards. No fertilizer was used for the tomatoes, but liberal chicken manure was placed below the collards. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 24, 1977

Planted several rows (one between potatoes) of Imp. Golden wax beans, using Legume-aid. 19 eggs today. We gave away two doz. eggs, as they are difficult to sell now.

Wednesday, May 25, 1977

A slow gentle rain began falling last night and continued most of the day, and the plants are responding characteristically (. We had 16 eggs today. Sold 9 doz. eggs at 60c a doz.

Thursday, May 26, 1977

The mung beans planted on 5-19 in the hill field are up and the corn in this field is about 6" high. 14 eggs today. Betty and I fixed fence and I began to dig post holes in the swamp with Lape's boundary.

Friday, May 27, 1977

Warm ( ~80s), sunny day. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 50c / doz. to the Meating Place + gave 2 doz. away. Yesterday I noted the first cabbage butterflies. Planted 6 cauliflower and 2 egg plants in the creek garden after placing a shovel of patially composted chicken manure in the planting holes. Controlled-by squishing-potato beetle larvae on a few plants. Also noted flea beetles are still severe on potatoes and cabbage. The field corn is about 6" high now. 18 eggs today. Noted a few J. J. Warrens with bumblefoot. Bought 100 lb bag of oats.

Saturday, May 28, 1977

Noted gray, soft-bodied larvae eating asparagus. I "squished" these. I also saw two adult beetles, one of which appears to be the asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi ) and the other, the Spotted Asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecempunctata ). The larvae apparently are the former. We all had good sessions hauling 4. 5 WB of hay to the loft for a grand total of 14. 5 loads now. I planted 5 more hot pepper plants (Cayenne and Hungarian Wax) in the slope garden using no fertilizer. I also planted Burpee's Best pole lima beans in the same garden in a previousl fertilized bed. I planted a roughly 110' row of mung beans on the edge of the high field corn field. 19 eggs today 9 one probably from a previous day). The peanuts in the hill patch are beginning to show, as are the potatoes in the creek garden. The weather has been very warm every day for some weeks now.

Sunday, May 29, 1977

Planted 2 hills of Yellow Straightneck summer squash + 3 hills of Butternut squash (from Wetsel) in the creek garden using no fertilizer except a thin layer of woodchip-horse manure compost for seed cover. Planted Chervil in the slope garden. The strawberries, which have been blooming (removed) are now beginning to run. Asparagus beetles are very bad, but I continue to squish 2o eggs today. Bought 100 lb of horse feed for the goats. We put rubber bands around Gracie's horns after cutting a groove with a rasp-all to dehorn her. Much thunder and lightning but little rain this afternoon.

Monday, May 30, 1977

It rained a fair shower last night. Noted that the cabbage in the hill patch planted a quite a bit later is at about the degree of advancement of the cabbage in the slope garden. The difference is due to the fact the former is little attacked by insects such as flea beetles. Planted a 14', 1. 5' wide band of Chantenay carrots in the slope garden in rich bottomland soil without fertilizer. 18 eggs today. The weather is warm, cloudy and humid. The potato vines on the hill patch are about the best I have ever had for their degree of advancement and are beginning to bloom.

Tuesday, May 31, 1977

The lima beans planted 5-21 and the wax beans planted 5-24 are beginning to surface. I have been doing weeding of beets, salsify, parsnip, lettuce, strawberries etc. and finished spading the last of the creek garden. The field corn is now about 10" high. Planted another row of VF tomatoes in the creek garden using no fertilizer. 17 eggs today. I picked a large bag of spinach to give away. This is the 6th time some plants have contributed!

Wednesday, June 1, 1977

The field corn, which is about 10" high now, appears to have a fairly good green color. Also, the cauliflower appears to be growing rapidly in the creek garden. We allow the goats to run for a while several times a day on the brushy hillside, during which they fill themselves with leaves and twigs rapidly. [ turned out to be destructive of the forest!] note, I'm doing more watering of small plants this year since I have observed they respond well to this- esp. peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, egg plant. We dined on the first podded peas + spinach tonight. 21 eggs today. I cut another section of the flood plain grass for hay. I also have begun to fence alpng the swamp boundary.

Thursday, June 2, 1977

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 60c a doz.. I watered deeply the carrots, lettuce, shallots and the beans planted by sunflowers. 15 eggs today.

Friday, June 3, 1977

Noted that the apple trees planted in the orchard have grown about 10" except for Priscilla. Also noted that the goats seem to have satisfied their craving for brush and leaves since they show far less inclination to go after them now than at first. I watered cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers and lettuce in the creek garden and cabbage in the slope garden.

Saturday, June 4, 1977

hoed the popcorn planted in the hill field. It's only about 3" high, In the creek garden watered spinach, hoed cauliflower, peppers and tomatoes. In the slope garden hoed cabbage watered last night, hot peppers, sweet potatoes, beans, lettuce. waterted rest of cabbage + corn. 20 eggs today. One J. J. Warren is missing. We hauled in 5 WB of hay for a total of about 20 now.

Sunday, June 5, 1977

Planted 2 hill;s of Mall Sugar pumpkin + one hill of seeds from last year's Cushaw pumpkin-al;l in the creek garden. We had a very small shower this evening, but it is very dry in general.

Monday, June 6, 1977

We had a small shower during the night last night, but it did little good. Worked at boundary fence with Bellangers. Watered cauliflowe in creek garden. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 7, 1977

Planted 4-15' rows of Country Gentleman sweet corn and 4-15' rows of Golden Cross Bantam hybrid sweet corn in the creek garden on soil previously spread with wood chip-manure compost. Placed into operation soaker hose on sweet potatoes of the slope garden. Noted particularly good results on cabbage of slope garden and cauliflower of creek garden, which I attributed to my careful watering and hoeing. I went over all cabbages in the slope garden and noted only about 5 green worms. There are also a few potato beetle larvae, but these are easily taken care of by hand. The weather is very cool after a dry cold front last night. I also began to water strawberries. I picked about 3 quarts of edible podded peas, freezing two. I also cut another patch of hay on the flood plain. 15 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 8, 1977

**Frost in the [slope] garden this morning! Ther temp. on the carriage shed read 35deg. F, but the garden is about 20' lower. Tomatoes appear the worst hit, followed by lima beans, green beans and peppers. The creek garden seems least affected. Watermelons, cantaloupe, cucumbers, squash and corn all seem fairly resistant, as do sweet potatoes, although some leaves on the latter froze. Many tomato plants turned partly dark, as did the beans. Betty wormed Willy using Dog Kaps Wormer (Pfizer). She recovered a minimum of two large tapeworms as welkl as roundworms. I watered carrots, shallots and lima beans in the slope garden, lettuce and spinach in the creek garden. 20 eggs today. The field corn on the hill looks very good and is growing rapidly despite lack of moisture. Swallowtail [butterfly ] larvae on carrots and slugs are eating the top layers of leaves on the sour cherries. I picked the first blackcap berries.

Thursday, June 9, 1977

It has been raining offg and on since last evening in a typical warm front action-which was quite unpredicted! The soil is well soaked as far down as I could push a finger, at least in the corn field. 13 eggs today.

Friday, June 10, 1977

Hoed the hill peanut patch. The field corn is about 1. 5' high now. Weeds in the field corn: sheep sorrel, common ragweed, common burdock, horse nettle, lamb's quarters and wood sorrel. I discovered a a yellowish green "cutworm", several actually to each plant, from tiny to about 3/4 inch attacking parsnip jus below the ground and destroyed a number of my plants. I planted Small Sugar pumpkin and Butternut squash in gaps in the corn of the slope garden. Planted 2 hills each of SB watermelon and Honeyrock cataloupe in the slope garden over chicken manure compost as before. 17 eggs today.

Saturday, June 11, 1977

Watered in the creek garden the lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, sweet peppers, tomatoes. NMoted the yellowish, grayish green cutworm on the parsnip plants and killed them, also on the parsnip blue root aphids. In the slope garden I watered the rest of the melons, hoed corn, cabbage. 17 eggs today. Hauled in 3 more WB of hay from the flood plain, maling about 23 loads so far. Froze some peas but also had peas + watercress [from stream] for supper.

Sunday, June 12, 1977

We had another light rain last night. The crops seem to be doing quite well by and large. Noted marble-sized potatoes or larger in the slope garden: Kennebec planted 3-24 and a larger potato under Norchip on hill patch planted 4-11. I also noted the first few potato beetles on plants of the hill patch. The vines on the latter are quite lush and of good color. The vines on the slope patch are very dark green (chicken manure ?), but are smaller than on the hill patch. Can this relative stunting be due to their southern exposure in dry weather ? Those on the hill patch are actually partially shaded in the morning. There also was another severe infestation of green worms on the hill patch cabbage. I also noted that corn of all ages is still sprouting from the ground. I planted a row of wax beans between the potato rows in the creek garden. 19 eggs today. I also found 3 eggs on the flood plain. Watered the J. artichokes and asparagus in the slope garden.

Monday, June 13, 1977

Finished hoeing corn in the hill field around watered cabbage in the slope garden. 12 eggs today. The weather was very warm and humid today.

Tuesday, June 14, 1977

It began to rain heavily about 3:00 this morning and rained quite hard much of the day (~1. 5"), the most we have had this year. 13 eggs today. Sold 8 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. *** Betty worked her first day of an 8 week job at Western State Hospital teaching.

Wednesday, June 15, 1977

A warm and humid day. I picked 4 quarts of blackcaps this morning and froze all but one pint. I also blanched and froze 4 quarts of edible podded peas this afternoon. All peas are doing well for some time. 19 eggs today. I pulled weeds in the slope garden. Potato beetles were moderately bad there. Also, the parsnip worms returned in the creek garden so that I have few plants left. Betty was certified as an art teacher and we sold 2 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. We bought a 100 lb of laying mash for $9. 30.

Thursday, June 16, 1977

Planted a 30' double row Lutz Green Leaf beets in the creek garden. Hoed potatoes in the slope garden and picked an froze 2 quarts of blackcaps. 15 eggs today. The weather is very warm and humid. The corn in the high field seems to be growing very well, as are the potatoes and cabbage in the hill patch. Green worms are very bad on the cabbage however, but there are still only a few beetle larvae on the hill patch potatoes. I also planted one hill of Sugar Baby watermelon and 2 hills of pumpkins from seeds saved from last year's Cushaws.

Friday, June 17, 1977

20 eggs today. The weather is very warm and humid. We bought 214 lbs of beef for $169. 00 + $6. 76 tax.

Saturday, June 18, 1977

Another very warm, humid day. 19 eggs today-also Don found 8 eggs from white chickens in a nest on the floodplain. We picked about 7 pints of blackcaps today, freezing most of them.

Sunday, June 19, 1977

18 eggs today. The weather was very hot and quite humid. I hoed sweet potatoes, cabbage and lima beans in the slope garden and corn in the creek garden. The field corn is about 2. 5' high now.

Monday, June 20, 1977

I don't know how many eggs we got today. **Saxenas visited.

Tuesday, June 21, 1977

I watered cauliflower, peppers, yellow tomatoes, egg plant, cucumbers in the creek garden. Flea beetles are very bad on cauliflower and egg plant-as they have been right along. Cataloupe and watermelon planted first are in bloom, as are the green beans in the slope garden. The latter have many blossoms. Also VF tomatoes are in bloom. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 22, 1977

Planted 30' band 1. 5' wide of Chantenay and Denver[?] Half Long carrots in the slope garden using no fertilizer but previously placed ashes. This is new soil however. Don and Gus are hoeing the field corn at 50c a 200' row. Gus did 2, Don 1 today. Planted a 30' row of Imp. Golden Wax beans in the slope garden. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 60c. 16 eggs today. We had a light rain all afternn.

Thursday, June 23, 1977

Hoed 2 rows of field corn and Don one. Corn is about 3 ft. high now. 18 eggs today.

Friday, June 24, 1977

Watered cauliflower and cucumbers in the creek garden Light rain or drizzle fell for part of the day. 15 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 60c.

Saturday, June 25, 1977

Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Another warm, humid day with light rain. Planted about 15 Stonehead Hybrid cabbage plants in the creek garden using no fertilizer. Dined on water cress again tonight. I'm also enjoying a few hot peppers yhese days. The cabbage plants in the slope garden and on the hill are beginning to form small heads, a few of which are about 3" in size. Cabbage in general looks quite good.

Sunday, June 26, 1977

Betty made our first cheese last night using a rennet tablet. She followed a standard recipe, but the curds do not stick together well under the cheese press I made. She had also bought a dairy thermometer. The cheese is now curing in the basement-hung up in the cat cage to foil the mice! Some of the Imp. Golden Wax beans planted first are showing signs of wilt. 17 eggs today + a 3 egg nest found on the flood plain.

Monday, June 27, 1977

Had the Chev. truck inspected by Mr. Rosen in Middlebrook. I cut hay mulch on the flood plain adjacent to the slope garden and placed it around melons. Also began to place more wood chip mulch on the strawberries, The weather is very warm and dry. I have been watering in both the slope and creek gardens. 20 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 28, 1977

I hoed corn in the creek garden. A very warm, humid, windy day. i also watered beans in the slope garden. 15 eggs today. 15 eggs today. The goats are still producing very well- about a gallon of milk a day. i also hoed 2 more rows of field corn, which was curling its leaves because of the drought.

Wednesday, June 29, 1977

watered tomatoes and cucumbers in the creek garden and cabbage in the slope garden. Natchez trampled and slightly ripped the tent the boys were camping with on the flood plain pasture! It was lucky they wetn't in it! I hoed 2 rows of field corn and on the 3rd the hoe handle broke! I now have marble-sized tomatoes, but in general tomato plants look good in both gardens. I also have wax beans about an inch long in the slope garden. 21 eggs today.

Thursday, June 30, 1977

Warm and dry. i finished hoeing the field corn. I also watered the late (Lutz) beets in the creek garden and continue watering the cabbage in the slope garden. The Salad Bowl lettuce in the creek garden is the best I have ever grown anywhere, very lush and tender, and even that in the slope garden is now flourishing after early stunting. 14 eggs today.

Friday, July 1, 1977

Planted Burpee's Hybrid Chinese cabbage in the creek garden, using no fertilizer in 25' row. In the creek garden I watered I watered cauliflower, peppers and the one hill of watermelons, the cabbage and the egg plant. i noted one cabbage plant in the slope garden that is badly infested with aphids, no others, including those immediately adjacent are. The flea beetles are the worst I have ever seen them on cabbage family plants and egg plant. Almost all the tomato and pepper plants look lush now and have lots of buds and some few fruits. i cut hay + mulch and applied the latter to melons in the slope garden. I also watered the latest carrots and melons in the slpe garden. 20 eggs today.

Saturday, July 2, 1977

Noted first Japanese beetles on perennial sunflowers [J. artichoke?], which they don't eat! Watered VF tomatoes and new beets in the creek garden and corn, beans, tomatoes and perennial sunflowers in the slope garden. 18 eggs tyoday.

Betty had a urinal infection for about a week, starting on June 25. She took 12000 mg or more of vitamin C, and a week later on July 2 there was a big improvement- the first time in the 5 or 6 times that this infection was had that she didn't go to a doctor to get a powerful antibiotic.

Watered yellow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and cauliflower in the creek garden and sweet potatoes and melons in the lope garden. Hauled in 4 large WB of hay from the flood plain. It's very warm now and the field corn's leaves are folded. I also watered carrots, beans and lima beans in the slope garden. 19 eggs today.

Monday, July 4, 1977

Placed wood chip mulch around 4 of the new trees in the hill orchard after hauling a load up with the truck. I also continue to water beans in the creek garden where the Chinese cabbage is coming up. I also dug about a peck of Kennebec potatoes in the hill patch. the yield being poor since the vines died back as a result of the drought. 18 eggs today. * Today I finally discovered water!-or rather its importance. It finally dawned on me that the corn, beans etc. I had watered over the last few days were a lot better for it.

Tuesday, July 5, 1977

I planted a 30' row of half Burpee Sunnybrook and half Burpee Pickler cucumbers in the creek garden using no fertilizer. I did a lot of watering of potatoes, cucumbers,, tomatoes, beets and peppers in the creek garden. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. Planted a row of bush beans consisting of mostly Burpee's Stringless Greenpod and some Imp. Golden Wax in the slope garden. 12 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 6, 1977

pulled all the onions except shallots and placed them on bare grass in the sun to cure. 18 eggs today. i did a lot of watering in both gardens. The temperatures have been in the 95-100 range. It has never been so hot and dry here since we came. Bought 100 lb each of oats and laying mash.

Thursday, July 7, 1977

Very hot day and I'm watering both gardens. 15 eggs today.

Friday, July 8, 1977

We had light rain showers this morning. Planted a 40' row of Burpee's Stringless bush beans. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, July 9, 1977

A strange "plant", probably a fungus found growing in the potatoe rows of the creek garden. This plant is about 5 cm high and one cm thick with a whitish, porous stem and 6 bright orange "testicles". 16 eggs today.

Sunday, July 10, 1977

Light thundershowers this afternoon. I now have a watermelon about 3" in diameter and several small cantaloup. Also, we have been eating cauliflower several times. This appears only slightly stunted. In addition to eating hot peppers) Cayenne), there are a number of sweet peppers of half mature size. So far I still have only seen a few Japanese beetles in each garden. 12 eggs today and it rained a little.

Monday, July 11, 1977

Flea beetles ate up all the Chinese cabbage planted recently. I replaced it with Green Curled endive (Wetsel). I have also noted that the asparagus beetles and Parsnip worms have been virtually no threat since we had the hot weather. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 12, 1977

Light rain last night with strong thunder. 14 eggs today. We traded 2 doz. eggs for apples.

Wednesday, July 13, 1977

No significant rain yesterday and I'm back to watering. I'm getting some fair heads of cabbage but generally they are stunted due to flea beetle attack. Although I haven't watered corn, squash, pumpkins, early beets, salsify and remaining parsnips in the creek garden, they are doing well enough. Few Japanese beetles as yet and I haven't seen a single bean beetle so far. Rabbits (i think) ate a number of sweet potatoes and I fixed the fence again. 13 eggs today. I froze 2 quarts of cauliflower. Bought 100 lbs of goat feed.

Thursday, July 14, 1977

16 eggs today. Betty got a basket of Yellow Transparent apples foe eggs. I did a lot of watering in both gardens.

Friday, July 15, 1977

Sold 6 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 15 eggs today. The "rabbit" dug under the fence in a new spot and ate more sweet potato vines. I set a trap, tired of being a nice guy! Weather continues in the 90s and without any rain- the worst drought ever!

Saturday, July 16, 1977

Caught a woodchuck in the trap (the "rabbit") and skinned him. watered a lot again, but with somewhat discouraging results. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, July 17, 1977

15 eggs today. I carried perhaps 80 sprinkling cans of water to the creek garden, watering the corn, early beets. It seems that the Country Gentleman corn is more vulnerable to drought than the Golden Bantam, although this might have been due to difference in position. In any case, the leaves of the former began to roll up for the first time. I also saw the first bean beetles today-or was it yesterday? We had a very light shower this evening-amounting to nothing!

Monday, July 18, 1977

15 eggs today. Planted a 30' row of Burpee string beans in the creek garden.

Wok day plus a full work day for Hoagie[Betty]. She was up at 5:15 and prepared some bread (4 loaves) to bake at WSH 4 loaves put into oven at &:45, then turned on to 400deg, and 30 minutes later turned down to 350deg. All perfectly baked at 8:45 (i hr. total). The best part was bartering 2 loaves for a gallon of yogurt made by Jim and a bag of yummy apples (Yellow Transparent) for 1 loaf plus 22 eggs from Jenne[?]

Tuesday, July 19, 1977

Raccoons did considerable damage to the Golden Bantam corn in the slope garden. I dug the potatoes in the slope garden. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 20, 1977

16 eggs today. The weather continues hot and today very humid. i continue to water the garden. Most vegetables (corn, melons etc.) that I used chicken manure on in the slope garden are very lush and dark green now that I'm watering. Some of the cantaloupe leaves are 8" across and very dark green and glossy. However, the sweet potatoes, which received no special treatment are also very lusdh and growing very rapidly. I now have a watermelon 6" in diameter and a cataloupe 5". Froze 2 qts. of beans.

Thursday, July 21, 1977

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 16 eggs today. We had a heavy thunderstorm this afternoon. One effect is that the sweet corn has lodged.

Friday, July 22, 1977

Noted and killed striped blister beetles on tomatoes. Also, Japanese beetles are most severe on corn silk, where they cluster together on a few silks, However, they weren't as bad as last year yet. 16 eggs today. I threw a WB of fairly fresh horse manure among the stalks of the 100 sq. ft. bed of perennial sunflower.

Sunday, July 24, 1977

15 eggs today. Pickled 4. 5 quts. and froze one qut. of beets, then dined on beet greens this evening. Planted more Salad Bowl lettuce in the slope garden near late carrots.

Monday, July 25, 1977

heavy rain and 15 eggs today. Bought 100 lb bag of laying mash for $7. 80- down from >9. 00!

Tuesday, July 26, 1977

16 eggs today. Had first summer sqush.

Wednesday, July 27, 1977

Some anima (?) apparently ate or at least pulled off a large part of one of my cayenne pepper plants. It must have had a hot breath! I have been watering again. I inspected the hill patch and field. The peanuts and cabbage in the patch being stunted, especially the peanuts have suffered further from severe damage by rodents or rabbits. The corn seems to be forming many cobs despite its stunted nature, but it is doubtful if there will be enough polles[?] to fertilize these. I also picked a quart of blackberries, However, this crop is very poor.

Thursday, July 28, 1977

I dug the last of the potatoes on the hill patch, mostly Norchip planted 4-11 and 5=1. The early potatoes were better than I had expected-though not good-considering how dry it was. Those planted 5-11 in particular consisted of many small ones on each vine. In general those planted in the part of the patch where no leaves had been placed seemed best[ leaves absorbed nutrients such as nitrogen ?]. 17 eggs today. Gus and I are sleeping in the tent nightly on "coon watch. " Although the ground's hard, the air is fresh and the sounds pleasing! The weather has been cool and dry for almost a week now. The temp. was 48deg, F this morning.

Friday, July 29, 1977

Sold a doz. eggs for 70c. I made one jar or 8 lb of sour kraut. i dug 3 oost holes at Lape's boundary in the swamp. 18 eggs today. We had very light rains day and evening.

Saturday, July 30, 1977

16 eggs today. The Roberts [Betty's sister Barbara and family] visited us for an evening.

Sunday, July 31, 1977

What I took to be muskrat cut off several stalks of corn in the creek garden [immediately adjacent to the stream] and pulled them into the stream. I also watered again there where almost everything except the potatoes is doing well. Especially the summer squash are producing very well. However, although the cucumber vines look very good they produce only enough from 6 hills enough to eat now.

On Sat July 20 i [Betty] observed a nasty wound on Natchez's hoof just a "hair' below the coronet. I palpated the area and she appeared to be in no pain whatever. Today Bob and I doctored her by soaking the area wit epsom salt and applying copertox. She did appear to feel the heat, but again I palpated the area and can find no painful spots. now I'll wait to see if any sand cracks appear.

eggs today. Placed chicken wire barrier to muskrats in front of creek garden gate. Also, it appears raccoons ripped off some green tomatoes in the slope garden) in frustration ?) last night. The weather is very hot and dry (T~90deg. ?).

Monday, August 1, 1977

15 eggs today, including one that a small black snake devoured. Don spotted the snake first coiled in a nest with a large bulge in its head. I continued to water. Sweet potatoes, melons, corn, peppers, beets, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, beans and carrots all look good to excellent in both gardens. The melons, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and tomatoes in particular look good as do the CAyenne peppers. The goats still give a good amount of milk, almost a gallon a day.

Tuesday, August 2, 1977

20 eggs today. *We all went out to eat in celebration of mother's [Betty's] paycheck. the Japanese beetles are quite severe on the sweet potatoe vines now. Yesterday I froze 1. 5 pints of Cayenne peppers and today 5 quarts of wax beans. The beans, especially those planted in the creek gardenon 6-12 are of excellent quality and their vines the best I ever had, with no bean beetles yet. I also note that the Japaese beetles cluster so greatly on one or two sweet potatoe leaves or corn cobs tat it is their undoing! I flick Japanese beetles into a shallow container of water and the dig a slight depression in the garden soil and burry them. This seems the easiest technique to me. I also noted that the Japanese beetles seem very scarce on the hill, particularly on blackberries, where I haven't seen one! but also at other locations such as the cornfield. They are also quite scarce in the creek garden where I have seen a few in corn and beans. They are only moderately abundant in the slope garden.

Wednesday, August 3, 1977

I also noted that the field corn is forming many cobs despite its poor condition. 16 eggs today. It rained hard for only about 5 min.

Thursday, August 4, 1977

16 eggs today. Noted several pairs of Monarch butterflies mating in air with one (male or female ?) getting a free ride.

15 eggs today.

Saturday, August 6, 1977

We pickled 14 quarts of sweet-sour pickles today. Muskrats appear to have gotten into creek garden corn during the day today while wire was off. 14 eggs today. Betty picked blackberries with friends at Mt. Solon.

Sunday, August 7, 1977

Strung equivalent to about ten quarts of yellow wax beans as leather breeches and hung them in the smokehouse. Betty made 8. 5 pints of blackberry jam. 17 eggs today. Had first GB corn. Weather continues very hot (~90deg.) and dry.

Monday, August 8, 1977

For the last several days the Roma tomatoes have begun to turn, although none are ripe yet. Japanese beetles are verry thick now on sweet potato vines and old corn silk in the slope garden, where I have been knocking them into water cans by the hundreds. A muskrat left his front foot behind in a trap I set last night near the creek garden fence, but not before he cut more of my corn. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, August 9, 1977

Don and I were fencing in the swamp this morning. 11 eggs today. I watered in both gardens as usual. We eat a lot of cucumbers and I a lot of peppers of both kinds. But it is so hot that we cannot enjoy those vegetables (corn, beans, squash etc.) that require cooking.

Wednesday, August 10, 1977

Sold 6 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. to Natural Way and gave them about 10 qts. of beans. 17 eggs today. I did a lot of watering and this evening we had excellent GB corn and pork chops; also the first tomatoes.

Thursday, August 11, 1977

We had a thunderstorm and light rain last night but it is still warm today. Corn earworm appears to be very bad on the hill, perhaps less so in the field corn, but very bad with already large worms in the Country Gentleman. It is not too bad in the GB of the slope garden, but I haven't the CG there yet. It may be that it is due to diminished vigor due to drought on the hill. Heavy rain an thundershowers this afternoon. Both gardens look very good. 17 eggs today.

Friday, August 12, 1977

Sold one doz. eggs for 70c. Only 7 eggs tiday. I now have large sweet potatoes! ** Enter Victor, an important and great pet Tom Cat!

Saturday, August 13, 1977

I haven't had any trouble with animals in the creek garden since I caught the muskrat's foot. The tomatoes are ripening slowly, but there are a lot. It is raining again this morning, which will further improve the garden, where I now have an abundance of beans, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, beets, corn, sweet potatoes, carrots etc. It rained off and on all day, giving us a full cistern and ample top soil moisture. 17 eggs today. We had our first cataloupe, an insect damaged one and not quite ripe.

Placed rubber bands aroung Gracie's horns with "elastrater". Gave abundant cucumbers to Shipes [nearest neighbors]. 11 eggs today. I also gave Shipes about 10 qts. of wax beans. We found another nest of about 8 eggs hidden by a cluck off our property in the heavy brush!

Monday, August 15, 1977

10 eggs today. We had corn for the 4th time. water melon tally: (8-22) 1, (8-23) 2, (8-26) 1, (8-27) 1, (8-28) 1, (8-31) 1, (9-1) 1, (9-2) 1, (9-3) 1, (9-4 ) 1, (9-5) 2, (9-5) 2, (9-6) 1, (9-9) 1, (9-12) 1, (9-18) 1, (9-22) 1, (9-25) 1, (9-27) 1

Tuesday, August 16, 1977

Pickling cucumbers planted 7-5, or41 days ago, are beginning to bear. We pickled 13 more qts. of sweet-sour pickles using the wood stove, although the weather was quite warm. We had a heavy shower this afternoon. 16 eggs today. Last Friday we got a new kitten, "Victor", since Henry had not come back. [Betty brought him home from Western State Hospital, where she was working, and where she asked for a "striped kitten" from a litter someone had.]

Wednesday, August 17, 1977

It rained fairly hard most of the afternoon. 18 eggs today.

Thursday, August 18, 1977

We got the gas tank on the truck repaired. I've been squeezing the cobs of GB corn in the creek garden for worms. 15 eggs today. It is 64deg. F at 9 PM. I froze 3 more quarts of wax beans.

Friday, August 19, 1977

Froze 2. 5 pints of Cayenne peppers. 17 eggs today. The weather is quite cool. Hoagie made 6 qts. of mead using dark honey.

Saturday, August 20, 1977

Froze 5 pts. of green sweet peppers. 14 eggs today. We had corn for the 6th time.

Cured a severe case of poison ivy with jewel weed. I had originally cured a small spot but didn't apply it generally on my leg at first. However, when it spread and got bad I had only moderate success at first by rubbing the plant itself on. I also used brown soap an bicarbonate of soda, both with some success. However, I then steeped jewelweed in hot water and applied this with quite good success. However after I had apparently cured the surface manifestations I developed a greatly swollen leg and ankle with a light, evenly-distributed rash that itched scarcely at all but burned a little. It was as if the poison was working in deep skin layers. However neither this rash nor the swelling caused me discomfort, and after a number of days disappeared so that the healing could be attributed to jewelweed.

Sunday, August 21, 1977

11 eggs today. i gave away many cucumbers, beets and about 15 lb of wax beans from the creek garden.

Monday, August 22, 1977

We ate our first excellent watermelon today (Gus had first bite.). Natchez got into Heizer's pig pasture. Our first 3 cantaloupe {Ambrosia) ripened today. We ate one that weighed 8 lb and was excellent. We dined on corn in a vegetarian meal again. Raccoons hit the creek garden although Gus and I slept out in the slope garden not far away. I have noted that there are fewer Praying Mantis this year, perhaps due to last winter's cold or last summer's drought.

** Betty obtained a new job at a day nursery.

Cantaloupe tally: (8-22) 3, (8-26) 2, (8-27) 1, ( 8-28) 2, (8-29) 2, (6-30) 5, (8-31) 5, (9-1) 3, (9-2) 5, (9-30 5, (9-4) 5, (9-5) 2, (9-6) 5, (9-7) 3, (9-8) 1, (9-9) 2, (9-10) 3, (9-11) 3, (9-12) 1, (9-13) 1, (9-14) 1, (9-15) 6, (9-17) 1, (9-18) 2, (9-19) 4, (9-21) 3, (9-23) 1, (9-24) 3, (9-25) 2, (9-27) 1, (9-28) 4, (9-30) 1, (10-4) 2, (10-8) 1

Tuesday, August 23, 1977

10 eggs today. Shifted tent near creek garden.

Wednesday, August 24, 1977

We had quite heavy showers this afternoon and the cistern is full. 14 eggs today. Betty has been riding Natchez and she has been behaving very well, apparently having calmed greatly with age.

Thursday, August 25, 1977

Cut hay on the flood plain-as usual with a scythe-consisting of mostly red clover about 10" high. Also placed 2 posts along swamp boundary. 13 eggs today. Had first meal of green lima beans (shelled).

Friday, August 26, 1977

11 eggs today. I took a bunch of hot peppers to the "Different Drummer" and got lumber for the truck racks for ~$ 35.

Saturday, August 27, 1977

Froze 5 qts of Burpee's Stringless beans. Also hauled in 3 WB of hay. 11 eggs today. The weather is very warm.

Sunday, August 28, 1977

16 eggs today. I gave away a large basket of cucumbers.

Monday, August 29, 1977

A very hotday again. last night was full moon-or near. This morning when I awoke in the tent at 5:00, I noted two bright planets (Venus and Mercury) in the eastern sky. I sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.. 12 eggs today. We had our 9th meal of corn-and perhaps the last of GB for the cases[?] from the creek garden this time. There is still a good store of CG left, however. We also gave a large bag of cucumbers and tomatoes, some to Betty's work place, where she started today.

[Betty wrote:] Today is Betty's 1st day as director at Effie Ann Johnson Nursery. It was a full day starting at 7:30 AM and ending with a board meeting. Strange to have an executive type in the family.

Tuesday, August 30, 1977

11 eggs today. There was light rain and thunder this afternoon. I gave away tomatoes and cucumbers.

Wednesday, August 31, 1977

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Froze a qt. of paste tomatoes. 11 eggs today. I watered cucumbers and melons. Temp. is in the 90s and very dry.

Thursday, September 1, 1977

A very hot day-in the 90s. I watered the egg plants and melons. 14 eggs today.

Friday, September 2, 1977

I have been making the truck rack and have now finished one side. I'm watering theperennial sunflowers. 11 eggs today. It rained very lightly this evening but not enough to disturb outside cooking ( fried apples, summer squash and steak). Each day for the past week we have had nearby thunderst0rms, mostly directly to the north, but little has reached us. Sold a doz. eggs for 70c.

Saturday, September 3, 1977

We finally got a good shower, although short in duration, last night. We are having more showers this evening. 18 eggs today. Don found a nest in the hay loft.

Sunday, September 4, 1977

12 eggs today. Ate 10th meal of corn (Country Gentleman mixed with Golden Bantam). There are hardly any more Japanese beetles. I finished the sides and front of the livestock rack for the truck and still have the back to do, as I ran out of lumber (yellow pine).

Monday, September 5, 1977

We preserved 7 quarts of tomatoes. Gracie's horn has virtually dropped off. 15 eggs today. We had a light thundershower this afternoon.

Tuesday, September 6, 1977

*Noted a J. J. Warren hen mount another J. J. Warren in exact imitation of a rooster! This is probably in part due to our rooster Forager being inactive as a result of a sore foot. 11 eggs today. I picked 8 lbs of beans and gave away a large bag of cucumbers and tomatoes to Betty's coworkers.

Gracie seems better today after being ill for several days due to the loss of her horn. This dehorning method (rubber band) seems to work well, leaving a clean looking wound with no loss of blood, but there is cosiderable discomfort to the goat for a few days (week ?). We had a heavy thundershower this evening.

Wednesday, September 7, 1977

Sold 8 lbs of green beans for 50c a lb. They were 59c a lb in Safeway stores. 9 eggs today. Light rain off and on today. For supper we had a mixture of lima and shelled wax beans (mature but not hard), boiling them for about an hour.

Thursday, September 8, 1977

Cool, cloudy, drizzly day. I picked a large number of tomatoes. 13 eggs today.

Friday, September 9, 1977

Light rain and cool weather again. 9 tin 60s). 9 eggs today

Saturday, September 10, 1977

14 eggs today 94 from a nest). I gave away a large basket of tomatoes. I also hung some more sweet corn up to dry.

Sunday, September 11, 1977

I rode Natchez with Betty's help and did OK-she said! 15 eggs today and gave away more tomatoes. At 9:30 PM it is 54deg. F!

Monday, September 12, 1977

[Betty wrote: I came home from work a bit tired and Bob helped me get Natchez. I rode her bareback from Heizer's place tip[?] to the trail through the goat pasture. After I rode her a bit both Bob and Gus rode Natchez on the flood plain. Gus trotted her and Bob has decided to trot hert the next time he rides. 12 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 13, 1977

13 eggs today. Weather is warm (80s) and dry, I'm building a firewood shelter, which will hold 7 times that of our wood box.

Wednesday, September 14, 1977

13 eggs today. It threatened to rain, but mostly it was warm, windy and humid. I rode Natchez again. We are making soft cheese every week or more frequently now

Thursday, September 15, 1977

14 eggs today. It rained a bit last night. We entertained children from Betty's nursery, showing them the farm features.

Friday, September 16, 1977

i canned 7 qts. of tomatoes all by myself. for the first time. it's raining lightly this morning. 10 eggs today. I also froze 2 more qts. of cayenne peppers.

Saturday, September 17, 1977

13 eggs today. I trotted Natchez today and suddenly became more interested in riding! I gave a lot of tomatoes away today. I also hung up more sweet corn to dry.

Sunday, September 18, 1977

11 eggs today All the Muellers rode Natchez today- a first, but Don rode bareback. i cut hay today on flood plain.

Monday, September 19, 1977

Sold 6 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. We're switching the goats from horse feed + oats to whole corn + oats.. 12 eggs today. We're having a heavy thundershower as I write this, and the hay is getting spoiled.

Tuesday, September 20, 1977

This morning early I noted Brandy mooing lots and Honey mounting her, indicating that perhaps Brandy is in heat. i froze 5 qts. of green beans from the row planted in the creek garden, but I could have frozen ten more, they are so prolific! 12 eggs today-I think. * Lucretia [the complex cousin] visited for several days.

Wednesday, September 21, 1977

A big clatter found the J. J. Warrens on the flood plain preceded by an upward flight from right where they were of a hawk, who then perched on a tree. The chickens [are now] spending most of their morning in the hen house [coop]. There were about a doz. eggs today.

Thursday, September 22, 1977

At approximately 1:20 PM I saw Gracie eat a fairly large quantity of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) without any apparent immediate ill effects! 13 eggs today. I picked dried beans and separated out the bean by beating[?] the pods by hand in a basket.

Friday, September 23, 1977

I began to dig sweet potatoes in earnest and they look good. Each morning now many grackles come to eat Chinquapin oak acorns. Honey is a little under the weather with loose stool. The weather dry, cool and sunny today. I hauled in 3 WB of hay. 13 eggs today.

Saturday, September 24, 1977

16 eggs today-more than in a while. The chickens now come home with huge crops-larger than baseballs in the case of the Rock Cornish, apparently loaded with acorns, grasshoppers etc. I rode Natchez again today. The high point was that she crow hopped twice, but I didn't fall off. Betty was worried -about spoiling the horse. However, she gave me a B+ for performance under stress.

Sunday, September 25, 1977

15eggs today. I rode Natchez again, learning to vault off and standard things. I did a lousy job milking Gracie (since Betty had a cold). I resolved to improve. We also looked at a stalion for Natchez. (Rheinstone Cowboy's), but decided it was too cow-hocked.

Monday, September 26, 1977

We had a heavy thunderstorm last night, also a few showers in the morning. Brandy shows some sign of beiong in heat ie. friendly + tail wagging. 14 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 27, 1977

Dug sweet potato4s for the second time, which we also enjoyed for supper last evening. I also cleaned the chicken coop and placed the manure in a pit with old rotten wood chips and lined with newspapers. The weather continues warm and we use the wood stove to cook only in cooler mornings and evenings. 13 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 28, 1977

Froze 3 qts of sweet peppers since possible frost is predicted for tonight. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, September 29, 1977

The 3eather is cool and I dug sweet potatoes, gave away more tomatoes, and yesterday, peppers. 13 eggs today. Betty and I are taking the goats along on walks around the hill.

Friday, September 30, 1977

We picked apples on Shipe's Mountain. [ Actually, this 300 ft. "mountain, " later dubbed "Pileated Peak" by Gus, because of the abundance of Pileated Woodpeckers there, really belonged to someone else!] I finished digging sweet potatoes. We also attempted to have Gracie bred by Knopp's "Derek" but failed. 12 eggs today. We bought a 100 lbs of laying mash.

Saturday, October 1, 1977

We are having very strong winds and rain this afternoon. This morning the boys and I went to an auction in Fishersville and I bought a piece of rope. Betty made another batch of tomato jam. 14 eggs today. It looks like we missed on Gracie's heat since she showed no signs of it today and we didn't take her back to Knopps. We now have to wait 3 weeks.

Sunday, October 2, 1977

I went on my first pollution field trip (South River) [This marks the beginning of a gradual transition from homesteading to environmental activism.] We got a J. J. Warren rooster from Bates. Forager, our old Rock Cornish rooster, who has been sick because of a swollen foot is now crowing and zapped his first hen in a long time-probably due to the stimulus of the new rooster. We had cut Forager's foot open some time ago to let it drain. We got 14 eggs today (includin a very small one). I began harvesting winter squash and pumpkins. I'm also drying apples.

Monday, October 3, 1977

I began cutting up the wood I felled late last spring and noted that the hickory (bitternut, pignut) are already fairly riddled with worm holes. WE also froze 2. 5 qts of hot peppers and made cottage cheese. The weather is very cool today with a promise of frost tonight. I gathered a lot of green and some ripe tomatoes. I dicovered a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) ~ 8 ft tall on the southeast slope of the Mtn. 8 eggs today. We brought Willie in the house for the night the for the first time this season.

Tuesday, October 4, 1977

The weather is cool and sunny. Don and I harvested the rest of the pumpkins and squash except those still green. 14 eggs today. I also have been cutting up down trees again. [with hand tools of course]

Wednesday, October 5, 1977

We had our first frost last night, but it did little damage to peppers or tomatoes. 11 eggs today.

Thursday, October 6, 1977

12 eggs + found a nest of 6 in the hay loft.

Friday, October 7, 1977

We had a fairly strong frost last night, but still the tomatoes and peppers were only slightly affected. 12 eggs today I began buildig a goat manger.

Saturday, October 8, 1977

It rained lightly most of the day, which was cool and we are using the wood stove steadily. I finished the goat manger with 4 keyholes today. 18 eggs today.

Sunday, October 9, 1977

13 eggs today. It rained hard most of the night and part of this morning, but it cleared at noon.

Monday, October 10, 1977

15eggs today. I tarred the barn roof today and placed semi-transparent fiber glass reinforced plastic over the chicken coop windows.

Tuesday, October 11, 1977

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. + gave away 2 doz. in a barter. [?]

Wednesday, October 12, 1977

I brought down a pickup load of wood. I hope to have much better burning this year with the wood shelter and avoid deposits which cause burn-outs. I picked mature lima beans today. 19 eggs today.

Thursday, October 13, 1977

It finally froze hard enough to finish all my tomato plants, although not the peppers. A typical warm front rain began this evening. 13 eggs toda y.

Friday, October 14, 1977

9 eggs today.

Saturday, October 15, 1977

11 eggs today. Don and I sawed up logs on the hill.

Sunday, October 16, 1977

Heavy rain and thundershowers today, but the weather is cool. 11 eggs today. Cloudy and cold this evening. but the rain has stopped.

Monday, October 17, 1977

The weather is clear and coll. 15 eggs today. I split log sections in the woods. The leaves are very colorful this year. Bought 100 lb each of corn and oats.

Tuesday, October 18, 1977

8 eggs today. I pickled some green tomatoes and sweet peppers that had not frozen yet.

Wednesday, October 19, 1977

17 eggs today. I cut hay, mostly red clover on the flood plain. I also have been watching the goats, particularly Gracie for signs of heat. She wagged her tail at intervals yesterday in response to rubbing her down the back. but was non-consistent. Bought 100 lb of laying mash.

Thursday, October 20, 1977

A nice warm day and I tarpapered the barn roof. 12 eggs today.

Friday, October 21, 1977

I finished the barn roof, taking advantage of another fine day. 10 eggs today.

Saturday, October 22, 1977

I hauled down a second pick-up load of wood. 17 eggs today. It was a very beautiful fall day and Betty and I took the goats for a walk around the Mtn.

We noted Brandy was off her feed for a day yesterday., but has apparently recovered. She also has a somewhat deformed hoof, which we may be able to help by trimming.. We also hauled in 4 WB of hay.

Sunday, October 23, 1977

Willie caught a woodchuck and it's in the 80s today. Don, Gus and I cut down a large dead white oak on the hill. Betty, Gus and I rode Natchez and I rode her up from the flood plain for the first time. We cleaned out the stove the first time since last spring. It was quite full of deposits.

Monday, October 24, 1977

Another beautiful day-after a slow start. We have frost almost every night now, making the leaves highly colorful. 13 eggs today. I've been cutting wood again. Also, I harvested beets and even a few tomatoes yet. I noted we have a very heavy crop of watercress this year. It has been spreading up and down the stream banks all summer and fall. That which we had for supper tonight was excellent.

Tuesday, October 25, 1977

Cut wood on the hill with my new one man-two man saw and was very pleased with it. I now have almost enough cut for 2 more loads. I also pulled the first Lutz beets, and we had some for supper. We had 14 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 26, 1977

it rained hard all last night and lightly most of the day.. 14 eggs today. Betty underwent $50 worth of terture to take Don to a cheap clinic for a physical to save $25.

Thursday, October 27, 1977

Mostly rainy all day. 12 eggs today. I joined the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Taxpayers organization today. I'm still picking hot peppers from the frozen bushes. Some of these peppers are frozen but others are not.

Friday, October 28, 1977

Perhaps several hundreds of both striped and spotted cucumber beetles were literally eating up our unripe and frost-nipped pie pumpkins in the creek garden. The Am, artichoke foliage is quite brown now. It's a warm-for this time of year-and quite sunny day. 18 eggs today. We bought a Springfield 22 rifle for $31 today.

Saturday, October 29, 1977

Noted a discharge from Honey's vagina. Another fine day. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, October 30, 1977

I rode Natchez around the hill for the first time, withBetty leading her in difficult places. We took the dog and goats along who spooked her in a few places. I was scared but had no trouble. Honey mounted Gracie today. We had 16 eggs.

Monday, October 31, 1977

Hauled down 3rd load of wood in the pick-up. 12eggs today.

Tuesday, November 1, 1977

While coming back from cutting wood on the hill I spotted a raccoon about 200' ahead on the trail. Wilbur didn't see it at first. But it just sat there and looked at us, then lumbered up the trail. About then Wilbur spotted it and off. The raccoon still didn't run or try to climb, but started slowly up the hill. Wilbur killed it easily. It seemed to be a suicide raccoon but seemed to be fat and in good health. It's raining or really misting this morning. It is raining lightly this evening again. 15 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 2, 1977

(my birthday-54 today). Rainy (light) weather continues. Honey has intermittent discharge from her vagina of yellowish, slimy fluid. This, according to a book, could be metritis. We will call the vet. I fed the first hay to the goats today. 15 eggs today.

Thursday, November 3, 1977

It rained quite steadily all last night andtoday. It has been a long time since we had this continuous rain. However, although the stream was up, it was fairly clear, indicting the slow run-off from mostly light rain din't bring in much sediment. It also seems to indicate that most turbidity is not due to bank caving-at least in this case. We had 16 eggs today.

Friday, November 4, 1977

It rained nearly all night and day again, but the sun shown a little this evening. We had Dr. Wise, who wormed Natchez and gave a hormone shot to Honey so that she could evacuate the infection better. 15 eggs today. We're starting to clip the wing feathers of some chickens to keep them in the fence, since Mrs. Shipe complained.

Saturday, November 5, 1977

It rained most of last night and today., and is continuing. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, November 6, 1977

Rain continued all last night and today.. Honey did a lot of bleating and tail wagging this morning, which may have been related to the hormone shot. The constant rain has been hard on the goats since they refuse to eat wet grass or get wet.. Milk production fell drastically yesterday (parly due to Honey's shot, she gave very little.) 15 eggs today. I am making a wooden chair out of white oak poles. (I call it "Thor's throne").

Monday, November 7, 1977

Rain last night and all day off and on. 13 egghs today. It appears that Honey dried up after the hormone shot, so that suddenly we have much less milk. [[This milk would probably have been contaminated by the hormones anyway!]

Tuesday, November 8, 1977

Betty and I voted. This morning is very foggy and misty. I cleaned out the stove piopes and found them to be coated by a thin shiny carbon film but little else.

We purchased the following: 100 lb whole corn, 100 lb oats, 100 lb laying mash, 100 lb corn + alfalfa pellets, 50 lb mineral supplement

WB of wet leaves (oak) in the compost pit. 11 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 9, 1977

Don's 13th birthday and we're going out to eat. it was a very warm sunny day. I layered one WB of fresh chicken manure and hay with 3 WB of oak leaves. 14 eggs today.

Thursday, November 10, 1977

Warm in the morning with short, heavy afternoon shower and now is cool and windy. Sold 7 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 11eggs today.

Friday, November 11, 1977

It has turned cold (46deg, at 5:00 PM) and was windy and clear today. 11 eggs today. I fixed a mineral box for the goat stall ~3' off floor and pulled more late beets.

Saturday, November 12, 1977

A cold and windy, but sunny day. Don and I cut and dragged wood to the trail. 13 eggs today. Started the oil furnace to get it ready, but so far haven't used it.

Sunday, November 13, 1977

A cold day, although sunny after a hard frost last night. The ground was frozen for the first time. Don and I cut up down logs on the hill. 9 eggs today.

Monday, November 14, 1977

Honey spent most of the afternoon mounting Gracie, who wagged her tail a lot. I received the replacement tree (one pecan, 3 apples, and one nectarine) 12 eggs today.

Tuesday, November 15, 1977

This afternoon again Honey mounted Gracie and also stuck her tongue out a lot. I planted a Meteor nectarine, a Starkcrimson semi-dwarf delicious apple and a Major pecan. Yesterday I had planted a Surecrop pecan. Only 4 eggstoday.

Wednesday, November 16, 1977

Hauled down another pick-up load of wood. Honey still showed signs of mounting Gracie etc. this morning. Could this reflect Gracie's (yesterday) heat or Honey's hormone shot nearly a week ago? i also plante one Priscilla and one Prima apple. All these replacement trees seem to have superior roots to the originals as well as being larger. 12 eggs today.

Thursday, November 17, 1977

Placed plywood for insulation in the goat stalls. 8 eggs today. It rained quite hard last night and there was a shower today. Tonight it is cooler. Honey still behaves somewhat as a buck toward Gracie.

Friday, November 18, 1977

Honey showed "buck behavior" toward Brandy (was brandy in heat?) 9 eggs today. I finished raking mulch back from the young fruit trees, wrapping them and placing wire guards around them. It was a pleasant sunny day.

Saturday, November 19, 1977

It was a sunny, very pleasant day. 5 eggs today. I have begun to feed the hens more mash and oats again.

Sunday, November 20, 1977

Another bright sunny day. !! eggs today. Don and I cut logs on the hill for firewood. Betty rode Natchez, who misbehaved.

Monday, November 21, 1977

A cloudy day. Honey is mounting Gracie again-must be due to her hormone shot. I split logs on the hill fo firewood for about an hour and got more than half a pick-up load. 6 eggs today.

Tuesday, November 22, 1977

It rained a lot last night and most of the day and this evening as well. 7 eggs today. A lot of the J. J. Warrens are molting.

Wednesday, November 23, 1977

A cloudy drizzly day, 9 eggs today. Brandy has been doing a lot of bleating today. So far ewe have only had the furnace on one day. we bought 100 lb of laying mash.

Thursday, November 24, 1977

A beautiful Thanksgiving day. We dioned sumptuously on our own chicken ( Cornish hen and very tender at> i year ), sweet potatoes, pickles, Hackberry jam and pumpkin pie (all home grown). Bobby Shipe our neighbor brought us a generous portion of a huge buck he shot this morning. 6 eggs today.

Friday, November 25, 1977

Today a 6 month old buck "Romeo"[ evidently our buck now] was brought and immediately bred Honey, who appeared to be in heat, but this could still be due her hormone shot.

We had a fair amount of cold rain this afternoon, which began this morning just after the boys and I finished lugging out some split logs to the trail. 9 eggs today.

Saturday, November 26, 1977

A cold, clear and windy day. Don and I cut and lugged firewood to the trail. Honey has begun to show signs of metritis (yellow discharge) again. 8 eggs today. /

Sunday, November 27, 1977

A partly cloudy, cold day. Don and I cut and lugged firewood to the trail. 9 eggs today. We took all the goats, including Romeo, on a walk. The venison roast we had last night from the Bellys'[?] 7 pt. buck, was about the best I ever had, including that from a doe!

Monday, November 28, 1977

We had about 2 inches of snow last night, but today it's almost gone. Honey is mounting Romeo again, but he is paying no attention. Only 3 eggs today, the fewest for a year or more.

Tuesday, November 29, 1977

A cold rain fell most of the day. 9 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 30, 1977

A cool, foggy day. Romeo has diarrhea and Honey shows discharge again! I also put alcohol on Honey's small spot and scab on her head, assuming it is ringworm. Neither Romeo nor Honey show the slightest signs of discomfort. Note, Romeo mounted Honey again, which indicates a hormone-shot relationshiop. Heavy rain this evening. 9 eggs today.

Thursday, December 1, 1977

Itwas warm (60s) and sunny today. Honey still mounts Romeo! We had 4 eggs today. Noted Romeo still has diarrhea and that ther interior of his rectum, which he expose briefly, was red and inflamed. However he chews his cud and doesn't appear in discomfort. He also eats quite well.

Friday, December 2, 1977

A partly cloudy, cool day. 8 eggs today. Romeo still has diarrhea. We bought 100 lb each of corn, oats and mash.

Saturday, December 3, 1977

Romeo's diarrhea has ceased and he is OK, except for a slight weight loss. We cleaned the stove thoroughly. 7 eggs today.

Sunday, December 4, 1977

Cloudy this morning, but then turned nice. Gracie appears to be in heat and was mounted by the buck. We had to separate them from Honey, who is still misbehaving.. Hauled down another load of wood after a trial getting up due to slipperiness. I had the boys sit in back for traction. Don and I also made wood on the hill. 8 eggs today.

I didn't pick any walnuts this year since the crop was vey poor and is being consumed by wildlife. However I still have tasty walnuts in plenty from last year.

Monday, December 5, 1977

Heavy intermittent rains since about midnight last night-and it is cold. Gracie is still in heat and this morning I held her for Romeo, but I don't think he connected. Honey and Brandy were separated from them last night and this morning. Honey frequently mounts Gracie and buts Romeo away. (It is ~1:00 as I write this.) However this early afternoon I have put them all together. We had a cold front this evening and a lot of wind. 7 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 6, 1977

Gracie appears to be out of heat, although I saw Honey mount her once. The weather has been windy and getting much colder this evening. We had 8 eggs today. I did errands in town.

Wednesday, December 7, 1977

Dr, Jan Marion[?] came today to examine Honey. He assumed she had metritis on our evidence, since she showed no emission., and gave her an antibiotic douch. He also gave us pills to give her. Honey didn't have a temperature when he tested her. [The hormone dose administered by the other vet. may have been appropriate for a horse, and is evidence of incompetence regarding goats!] 5 eggs today. The weather is very cold, not going above freezing all day.

Thursday, December 8, 1977

Honey is still acting as if in heat and is being mounted by Romeo. Also, she is having a discharge again. 9 eggs today.

Friday, December 9, 1977

We had a very light snow last night-with rain and sleet-and, as usual, a lot of wind. Honey seems to be a little under the weather, eating, but not enthusiastically, also a lot of shivering this morning. We didn't succeed very well in giving her pills. I finished making my wooden chair (Thor's Throne). I also hauled 4 WB loads of fairly well rotted horse manure on the old melon patch of the slpe garden. 6 eggs today.

Note we had another burn-out and only 6 days after I cleaned the stove pipes! We must find a solution. However, we did find that sodium carbonate puts out a flame fast when poured down a chimney. [Note that we recently had the chimney lined with stainless steel and now have it cleaned twice a year. Also, we're more careful than ever to burn seasoned wood. Even at that we had a minor burn-out!] We bought a 50 lb bag of alfacorn.

Saturday, December 10, 1977

The temp. was 8deg. F this morning. We spent several hours cleaning the chimney pipes and stove. Honey still has emissions. It was a bright, cold, sunny day and we had 5 eggs.

Sunday, December 11, 1977

Another bright freezing day. I covered the trees planted this year-except the pecans-with feed socks to prevent sun scald, which killed them last year. I also placed some leaves that Gus gathered on the strawberry patch. 10 eggs today.

Monday, December 12, 1977

I cut and lugged firewood on the hill and also cut a small pitch pine for possible use as a long post. Only 3 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 13, 1977

Brandy came in heat with a bang! First she bleated and was recognized in heat first by Honey, who again behaved like a buck and later by Romeo. She was very submissive and I tried to aid him in mounting her, but it's uncertain whether he connected. * eggs today. The weather was excellent all day (T~60deg.), sunny and pleasant. I split logs on the hill, patched the house roof and cleaned the egg boxes, replacing the hay.

Wednesday, December 14, 1977

Brandy was still in heat this morning, but appears to have gone out gy noon, so that she was in~2 hours. However, Romeo appears to have been too timid to be effective this morning. It rained most of the dfay and our cistern is full. We only had 4 eggs today.

Thursday, December 15, 1977

Honey appears to be in heat again and Romeo mounted her repeatedly this evening. It was a fine sunny day in which we did washing. 9 eggs today.

Friday, December 16, 1977

A fair, s unny, but cool and windy day. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, December 17, 1977

A mild, partly cloudy morning becoming increasingly cloudy, with light rain in the afternoon. 12 eggs today.

Friday, December 16, 1977

It was very wet, cold and rainy all day. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, December 17, 1977

A mild, partly cloudy morning, becoming incresinly cloudy with light rain in the afternoon. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, December 18, 1977

It was wet, cold and rainy all day. 6 eggs today.

It was very cold and rainy all day. 6 eggs today.

Monday, December 19, 1977

Cloudy, foggy, cool day. Brandy showed small white-headed pimples on her teats, which seem like the book description (Gus) of udder impetigo. We used udder salve tonight. 6 eggs today. We also got 17 J. J. Warren pullets, incl. 3 roosters, from Bates for $1. 50 each. They are almost ready to lay, a real bargain! We bought the following: 100 lb each of oats, corn and mash and 50lb of alfacorn, for $24. 50 total.

Tuesday, December 20, 1977

About 2 inches of wet snow fell this morning. We put alcohol on Brandy's teats and bag and then ointment. 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 21, 1977

It was mostly a clear day and I took the goats for a hike. 8 eggs today.

Thursday, December 22, 1977

Another clear, cool day. 8 eggs today. Honey has shown no sign of the hormone shot recently. I took the goats on a hike. Gus and I cut a Virginia pine for a Christmas tree and it was decorated this evening.

Friday, December 23, 1977

A cool, cloudy day. I took the goats for a walk. We all celebrated the sale of 1400 copies of "Chemical Petrology" [by R, F. Mueller and Surendra Saxena] by eating out at "The Different Drummer. " 7 eggs today.

Saturday, December 24, 1977

A warm, sunny day. We [Betty and I] took the goats for a walk, on which they consumed much Coral Berry and Japanese Honeysuckle. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, December 25, 1977

We have been placing hot packs on Brandy's bag infection, which is external as a rash of blisters that come to a head. It has grown progressively worse, and if a "pox, " as the vet said on a phone consultation, is quite serious. However, she shows signs of discomfort only during milking and treatment and even continues to eat and chew her cud. We had a good Christmas ( chicken etc.) despite this trouble. 5 eggs today.

Monday, December 26, 1977

Romeo is mounting Honey again (for the last few days). Brandy is quite bad in terms of the scabby rash and is being b-[?] 4 times a day. The weather has turned very cold. This morning, after heavy frost hardened and dried the slope, we went after another pick-up load wood-number 6 I think, which makes about 3 cords this year. 12 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 27, 1977

On the vet's (phoned) advice we are giving Brandy "Combiotic" shots, using an Imperial Viking syringe we purchased. Combiotic is an aqueous suspension containing procorme penicillin and dihydrostreptomycin as a sulfate. We "try" to give 2cc per shot twice a day. He also advised us to milk her out on diminishing scale for about a week to dry her. We had called him after being concerned about milk let down while hot compresses were applied and our failure to milk her due to the severe rash on her teats. Romeo is still mounting Honey after all this time, presumably due to the hormone shot, but so far Gracie shows no sign of heat again-could she be pregnant? 3 eggs today. Bought 100 lb of laying mash.

Wednesday, December 28, 1977

Temp. has been 10deg. F the last several mornings, and the d ays clear, windy and cold. Brandy seems improved some, but we continue to "shoot" her. She is being milked once a day now. 6 eggs today. Hoagie had her 1st shot of the goat via hypo. [?]

Thursday, December 29, 1977

It is somewhat warmer today. We continue to walk the goats, give Brandy shits and milk her once a day. She seems much better. Bought a new battery for the truck yesterday and installed it.

Friday, December 30, 1977

We had a very light (~1/4") snow, but it's fairly warm. Don and I cut two damaged walnut trees down, each about a foot in diameter. One appears to be an excellent log as it had only about 1/2" of sapwood. We had 15 eggs today, about half were from a discovered nest.

Saturday, December 31, 1977

6 eggs today.

Sunday, January 1, 1978

It was a cold, raw day wih flakes of snow in the air. We gave Brandy her last shot this noon because I broke the barrel on the syringe. 8 eggs today. We took the goats for a walk. Brandy seems quite well with her teats healed fairly well, and wee have stopped milking her. I cut some small (8") trees (white oak) for next year's firewood. I baked my first pie, a pumpkin pie, this evening.

Monday, January 2, 1978

Don and I cut some more damaged trees for next year's stove wood. 14 eggs today. Hoagie made biscuits + 2 loaves of bread. She has decided to quit her job because for the most part it's sheer boredom!

Tuesday, January 3, 1978

I cut more small, crooked or damaged trees for next year's firewood. Weather was cold and clear. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 4, 1978

I cut a little wood. Weather continues cold and clear, but warming slightly. 13 eggs today.

Thursday, January 5, 1978

I cleaned 5. 5 WB of chicken manure out of the coop and hauled it to the slope garden, where I made 2 piles. I also took the goats for a walk. 11 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of laying mash and oats.

Friday, January 6, 1978

The J. J. Warrens we got recently are doing well but are considerably retarded in their advancement to maturity compared with those we raised last year. This is shown particularly by "George", a rooster from the same batch we got earlier and who is now far advanced (large red comb and wattles) and looks generally more mature, compared to two roosters we received with the hens, and which are the same age as George. The difference is probably due to better care, more light and feed over to forage. [?] 13 eggs today. Light snow mixed with rain this evening. Bought 100 lb corn + two 50lb bags of alfacorn.

Saturday, January 7, 1978

It's been foggy all day and the snow is almost gone, but we took the goats for a walk. Honey is still being chased by the buck and mounted occasionally-which is still probably due to the hormone shot! She also has her metritis back. 10 eggs today.

Hoagie, with help, gave Wilbur a canine distemper- hepatitis vaccine, along with Septospira Bacterin. It was the 1st time she had given a dog a shot. Learning to give the goats shots has amounted to a savings of $ due to fewer vet bills. The shot cost $2. 05.

Sunday, January 8, 1978

It rained off and on all day and last night. 10 eggs today.

Monday, January 9, 1978

It rained very hard last night before 10:00, and we got a cistern full of water. Then, during the night, it turned very cold from 52deg. F to around 25deg, F this morning. The chickens have been laying huge eggs! We had 12 eggs today. At 10 PM this evening it was 4deg, F.

Tuesday, January 10, 1978

It was 3deg. F this morning and at 4AM our water oipes in the basement were frozen, requiring light bulbs, candles etc. to thaw them out-not before 10:30 or so! We're now feeding Natchez twice a day about 2 quarts of grain (oats + corn) and alfacorn combination. I also give the chickens an extra dish of whole corn several times a day. We had 11 eggs today. George zapped his first "peepadie" [a slang name for a J. J. Warren hen!]

Wednesday, January 11, 1978

It was 3deg. F this morning and clear most of the day. I lugged a little wood to the trail. Betty andI took a "goat hike" around the hill. We had 14 eggs today.

Thursday, January 12, 1978

It was 28deg. F this cloudy evening and actually seems mild after days of hard frost! But most of the day was only partly cloudy, and I took the goats for a walk. However, because of a slight cold I didn't do much except read etc. today, although feeding and watering the stock is quite a chore. 9 eggs today, and Hoagie gave notice to quit her job.

Friday, January 13, 1978

It began snowing last night and this morning we had about 4-5 inches, We cleaned the entire stove pipes again (i don't believe I recorded a cleaning we made after Christmas.) We have had freezing drizzle most of the day and this evening, now heavy snow, so that we now have a total, since yesterday, of ~8 inches. But it all came down very quietly so far. We brought Natchez up from the back swamp to the barn and fed her grain and alfacorn. She looks to be in excellent shape, having only lost her hay belly. 10 eggs today.

Saturday, January 14, 1978

We had a total of 13 inches of very soft, white snow last night, and it cowered every tree limb, fence post etc. I had to shovel it off the flat part of the barn roof for fear the old structure would sag, especially if more came. Betty and I took a quite a few pictures. 12 eggs today. I baked my firet [my second first pie!] (black cap berries, with whole wheat crust) tonight. Betty baked excellent bread at the same time. [ and probably made the pie crust dough as well!]

Sunday, January 15, 1978

I shoveled the driveway for the first time at this place. It is turning cold and the evening water dripping from the roof froze the back door shut. 14 eggs today. It's clear and cold this morning and I chopped open the back door. I spent most of the morning trying to turn the truck around in the snowy yard. 7 eggs today. This evening it is snowing again! Bought 100 lb each of oats and laying mash.

Tuesday, January 17, 1978

It snowed, rained and sleeted most of the day. The boys and Betty were home (Betty since noon) and will be tomorrow also. because of the severe weather. we had 15 eggs today + I found an old nest under the hay.

Wednesday, January 18, 1978

It was a fairly warm, very sunny day in which a fair amount of the ~18" total of snow melted, although most still remains. 11 eggs today. We went out to eat to celebrate Hoagie's birthday. I broke the old and made a new hickory handle for the snow shovel. I also replaced the outdoor water valve after frost(?) cracked the old one.

Thursday, January 19, 1978

It snowed since this afternoon and 3 inches of new snow now makes the January total about 20 inches or more. Now it's gradually changing to rain. Natchez has been doing a great job of foraging, pawing the deep snow away to get at the grass. We had 12 eggs today.

Friday, January 20, 1978

Light snow and some melting today. I had to chip ice from the house gutter on the north side since it was being distorted. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, January 21, 1978

I had to shovel snow off the north side of the house roof because melt water from it was pushing out the gutter on freezing. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, January 22, 1978

It's clear and cold (3deg, F) this morning. it was a clear cold day with some clouds this morning. 14 eggs today.

Monday, January 23, 1978

It dawned cold (-4deg. F). I bought a new snow tire for the VW today. We had 122 eggs.

Tuesday, January 24, 1978

The boys went back to school after missing 7 days due to bad weather. The day was sunny and some snow melted. / i shoveled off the barn roof again. 15 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 25, 1978

It rained a quite a bit this morning, was cloudy and foggy most of the day and is raining hard this evening. There's a lot of snow now melting rapidly on the ground I had to repair a leak in the house roof created when I shoveled snow off. The weather is depressing and we're running out of firewood. 9 eggs today.

Thursday, January 26, 1978

It rained quite hard and with a wind last night and this morning. The stream is as high as it ever was since we lived here. This morning, the wind, which felled a wire to the smoke house last night, is even stronger and it's turning cold fast with a few flakes of snow. I cleaned the stove pipe and stove this morning. This night it is terribly cold and windy-much like last year. We had 17 eggs today. I fed Natchez 4 times-heavy grain twice and alfacorn and hay this evening late. Bought 100 lb each of corn and alfacorn.

Friday, January 27, 1978

It was a moderately cold, windy day. we had 11 eggs. We had 125 gallons of oil delivered for the furnace.

Saturday, January 28, 1978

Another cold but sunny day. Gus and I cut some nearby logs in the woods for firewood. 16 eggs today.

Sunday, January 29, 1978

The weather was much like yesterday's, with a lot of snow still on the ground. Don and I cut a small, dry white oak. 11 eggs today.

Monday, January 30, 1978

I sawed a number of firewood logs in the woods behind the slope garden. The weather has turned somewhat warmer this afternoon and Betty and I took the goats for a walk in the snow, but they had a good meal of honeysuckle, coral berries etc. 13 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 31, 1978

I split firewood logs where I sawed them yesterday. It was fairly warm, so the snow melted a little, and partly cloudy. 15 eggs today. Bought 100 lb of laying mash.

Wednesday, February 1, 1978

Another day much like yesterday, with only very slight snow melting however. 12 eggs today.

Thursday, February 2, 1978

The boys and I hauled wood up from the woods behind the slope garden. We had about an inch of new snow this morning. 11 eggs today.

Friday, February 3, 1978

The temp. was 1deg. F this morning and the basement pipes froze briefly before I applied light bulbs and candles. 16 eggs today.

Saturday, February 4, 1978

Don and I cut some firewood logs above the slope garden.. It was another bright, cold day with some snow melting in the sun. I took the goats for a walk around the Mtn. on still about a foot or more of hard crusted snow. They fed an buds and pine needles and honeysuckle. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, February 5, 1978

It's dark, overcast and threatening snow. The boys, who worked very well, and I skidded about a 1/2 pick-up load of logs for firewood, it snowed fairly hard this afternoon. Betty made Wilbur a harness and he pulled the boys quite well on the sled. 14 eggs today.

Monday, February 6, 1978

The weather continues cold, and today partly cloudy, although we missed the heavy snow fall of adjacent counties. Today we received the pair of snowshoes from L. L. Bean. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 7, 1978

After a cold night, with high wind, it was a bit warmer today, especilly in the sun, which has gained great strength. I took the goats for a walk and they ate great quantities of honeysuckle, buds etc. 13 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of oats and alfacorn.

Wednesday, February 8, 1978

Temp. was 2 deg. F this morning, but the sun is so bright that it thawed substantially this afternoon. I finished the bindings for the snowshoes and tried them on the steepest part of the hill and found them to work very well. 16 eggs today.

Thursday, February 9, 1978

Last night was a bit warmer than the night before, as was the day, and it thawed considerably in the very bright sun. The J. J. warren that had an infected and closed eye, and which we're keeping in the basement, seems much better now. 13 eggs today.

Friday, February 10, 1978

Still warmer, but also still cold. However a little more snow melts each day. 14 eggs today.

Saturday, February 11, 1978

temp. was 2deg. F this morning. It appears to cool off greatly during the cool nights because of all the snow cover, which is still about 95% in the open, although somewhat less in the woods on the south slopes. I took the goats for a regular feeding walk. 15 eggs today.

Sunday, February 12, 1978

The day dawned clear and the Temp. was 12geg. F or 10 deg. warmer than yesterday morning. The whole day was nice, the afternoon being the warmest in monthe- but the place is becoming a sea of mud. All creatures basked in the sun, however, Don and I cut 3 more trees, a small hickory and 2 red oaks of larger size-all for next winter's wood supply. Betty anI took the goats for a walk around the mountain-still in deep snow on top, although much ofit isd now gone on the south slopes. 15 eggs today. I made reservations on the train to goto Ottawa today. [to teach a course at the University at the request of my friend Ralph Kretz] Feb. 13

Monday, February 13, 1978

We're having a quiet warm front snow-so far light-but several inches are predicted. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 14, 1978

It was a fairly nice day with some thawing and sun in the afternoon. 15 eggs today. I split a few logs in the woods.

Wednesday, February 15, 1978

Sold 7 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. to Natural Way store. Bought 100 lb each of corn, laying mash and alfalfa pckt. for total of $20. 00.

Thursday, February 16, 1978

We had light snow that fell most of the day and melted as soon as it fell. We had 17 eggs.

Friday, February 17, 1978

Partly cloudy most of the day, but the snow thawed more than on any previous day, so that the stream came up a little and got a little muddy. 19 egghs today.

Saturday, February 18, 1978

It was cloudy most of the day, but we got no new snow so far. I pruned rose bushes and we had 16 eggs today. I'm now attempting to sprout hot peppers an tomatoes. I also cleaned out the s tove and pipes and checked the chimney. All had the usual thin, dark, sticky drposit which I scraped off where possible such as in the stove pipes.

Sunday, February 19, 1978

A nice sunny day with a little thawing. Gus and I skidded more firewood home. 22 eggs today. We turned Natchez out to pasture and stopped giving her alfacorn, but still gave her grain. We also took the goats for a feeding walk.

Monday, February 20, 1978

The weather is cold and raw, although partly sunny. We had 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 21, 1978

It was a raw, cold day, partly sunny. In the evening itbegan to snow hard.. We had 20 eggs.

Wednesday, February 22, 1978

It snowed about 2 inches and turned cold this morning. It thawed little all day, although the sun was bright. Tonight it is very cold (14deg. F) and windy, Real winter! We had 16 eggs today.

Thursday, February 23, 1978

Cold and raw weather with little thawing. We had 21 eggs.

Friday, February 24, 1978

A slightly warmer but very raw, windy d ay. 19 eggs today. Romeo went home today [to Chester Farms?]. He was not a difficult buck to have around with our does. [I don't recall that he was on loan!]

Saturday, February 25, 1978

It was our warmest day, perhaps since last fall! The sun was bright, but a strong wind added a bit of discomfort. Betty and I took the goats around the mountain. 17 eggs today. After seeding cabbage into a window box yesterday, I seeded some of the same with bib lettuce today. I place the boxes in the warming oven for germination.

Sunday, February 26, 1978

It was a raw, windy, partly cloudy day with a few snowflakes. Betty and I took the goats for a walk around the mountain. Betty and I both noted how little time Natchez spends feeding in the winter compared to the time she spends when the grass is lush! 15 eggs today.

Monday, February 27, 1978

it was another raw, partly cloudy day with some afternoon thawing, although most of the south slope snow is gone now. 19 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 28, 1978

A cloudy, partly sunny day. There was a great "convention" of crows on Shipe's Mountain [This "mountain" didn't belong to Shipes and we later bought the 300 ft. hill and Gus dubbed it "Pileated Peak. " ] that frightened our chickens into the barn. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, March 1, 1978

This morning early it began to snow and accumulated almost 2 inches by 11 AM or so. However, this afternoon the sun shown brightly and it almost disappeared. We had 24 eggs today. I also began to convert a box stall to a kidding pen in the barn.

Thursday, March 2, 1978

It dawned at 4deg. F this morning! After a cold, partlycloudy day, it is snowing again this evening and tomorrow rain and/or sleet is predicted. We had 17 eggs today. We bought 100 lb each of oats and laying mash.

Friday, March 3, 1978

Last night it snowed about 3 inches and only a small amount of this melted during a partly cloudy day. We had 24 eggs today. Betty and I took the goats for a fee4ding walk but not all around the hill. Today I also finished sewing up the tent that Natchez ripped last summer.

Saturday, March 4, 1978

It was a clear, very cold day, but the sun was warm in the afternoon with considerable thawing od south-facing wooded slopes, [really SE slopes for the most part] I took the goats for a walk as Betty had a severe case of the flu. 20 eggs today.

Sunday, March 5, 1978

It was -1deg. F this morning! Later it warmed up a bit in the sun and thawed a little. Don and i cut some logs for firewood and downed a small tree. We had 20 eggs today. We bought 100 lbs each of whole corn and alfacorn.

Monday, March 6, 1978

It warmed up to the high 40s this afternoon with a bright sun. We sold 9 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. to, as usual, the Natural Way. I also took the goats up the slope to a honeysuckle patch. 25 eggs today. I killed a J. J. Warren that had become blinded in one eye by an infection. All the other chickens were attacking it.

Tuesday, March 7, 1978

We had more snow and cold. 24 eggs today.

Wednesday, March 8, 1978

Durig the night we had more snow and today sleet and rain. The rain is continuing this evening. 25 eggs today.

Thursday, March 9, 1978

It was cloudy and the temperature up to 42deg. F with much thawing during the day. We had 16 eggs, We took the goats up the hill to feed.

Friday, March 10, 1978

it rained hard most of last night and is still raining hard as I write this morning. It cleared up in late afternoon. We had 17 eggs.

Saturday, March 11, 1978

**today I leave for 3 weeks at Ottawa as guest lecturer in geology an environmental science. It's such a beautiful morning I regret going back into winter! [Betty now takes over this journal as follows:] We hada smaller egg today, indicating that our new J. J. Warren hens are laying eggs. Swanny Swan probably laid it because of her rather large comb. She's the one with the large comb and feathers evenly distributed about her body. In this figure it shows the difference in size between eggs [a drawing shows the new egg wit a greatest dimension of 3" and a 5" circumference and, for comparison, an average egg with greatest dimension of 2. 25 " and a cicumference of 6".]. 22 eggs today.

Sunday, March 12, 1978

We had a lot of heat today. The temperature was 60deg. F in the shade. The stream went up and could barely fit under the bridge. It was dangerous near the stream; you might fall in! We had a cool breeze today, which blew clouds over the sfy, so it was cloudy today. Betty clipped 2 of our chicken's feathers to prevent them from raiding the garden. They really like onions. 22 eggs today and another small one.

Monday, March 13, 1978

The stream has its ups and downs. Betty clipped Martha's and Bossy's wing feathers. 21 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 14, 1978

Well, it happened like this: It drizzled a bit this morning and was warm this afternoon. The stream overflowed its banks and we have a regular flood. It spread all over the flood plain and the road rapidly, which got rid of the snow fast. The school bus couln't get through and had to back up, clling for help from the officials. the water came to 4 feet from our house and looke like a lake. The mailman's engine flooded. Eventually little islands appeared and the water changed in appearance from a lake to a river-and hopefully improve even more tomorrow. 20 eggs today.

Wednesday, March 15, 1978

The stream shrunk to brook-size, but still hiher than normal. I now feed the chickens and the goats twice a day, which is a cut-back from the previous schedule. 21 eggs today.

Thursday, March 16, 1978

Gus cleaned out the chicken coop today under the roosts and will do the egg boxes some other day (probably the 18th). He hauled out 1. 5 WB loads of manure. 22 eggs today.

Friday, March 17, 1978

There was a barrel in the stream from the flood on March 14, the kind people use for barrel racing. Gus wanted to pull it out, so he went to the stream after jumping from the barrel to land to his island. [?] Finally, he removed his shoes and socks and waded in. But the water was far deeper than expected, resulting in a soaking from the waist down and the fast current resulted in losing the barrel. 23 eggs today.

Saturday, March 18, 1978

Betty trimmed Brandy's and hooves. 25 eggs today.

Sunday, March 19, 1978

Gus and Don bought 2 kites that looked like geese. 26 eggs today, record. Also very warm today with a strong breeze out of the southwest. S

Monday, March 20, 1978

29 eggs tiday Also found 8 eggs on the porch.

Tuesday, March 21, 1978

The mountain is clearing and has been very warm. 16 eggs today. Sold 10 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. to Natural Way.

Wednesday, March 22, 1978

24 eggs today. Very warm, in the 60s. Don's kite was a great distanc from him, and we had to talk him into landing it.

Thursday, March 23, 1978

22 eggs today. Warm and sunny again-in the 60s.

Friday, March 24, 1978

24 eggs today. Warm again, but cloudy in the morning, but cleared by noon.

Saturday, March 25, 1978

Freezing rain put ice on wires outside; coolin themorning, around. About 52, it changed to 31 deg. The weight Of the ice made perfectly healthy trees break down along with many dead ones. 22 eggs today.

Sunday, March 26, 1978

More freezing rain put ice on every wire one cm. thick. Trees crashed down all day. I was outside five seconds and 2 trees fell over with the weight of the ice. It was the worst ice storm we've seen. Our power went off for 30 hours. 31 eggs today!

Monday, March 27, 1978

Our power came on at 2 o'clock this afternoon when VEPCO fixed our wire. There were 2 wires down in front of our house {one a telephone wire and the other electric). Our phone did work, however. 20 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of oats and laying mash and 50 lb of alfacorn.

Friday, March 31, 1978

Sold a doz. eggs for 70c. ** Bought a quarter horse "Folly", who will be 3 in Serpt. Gus changed her name from Lady to Folly.

Monday, April 3, 1978

I (Bob ) returned last night to the great destruction of the ice storm and have been clearing limbs away. I also began spading in the slope garden. Planted one 40' and one 23' row of shallots using no fertilizer. The new trees are all beginning to put out leaves or green buds. Apparently we lost none to winter-kill. (This excludes the pecans which show signs later.) I also noted thast the recent large flood covered the flood plain with a thin layer of silt. 17 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 4, 1978

The weather is warm and pleasant. Planted a 32' row of Oregon podded peas + a 60' row of Wando peas + 24' double row of of white onion sets + a 20' row of garlic + 3 Elephant garlic sets. (note that a small amount of hen or horse manure was trenched under these onion family plants but none for the peas. Also, I forgot to inoculate the peas!) I also planted seeds for 10' of Broad London Leek in the same "onion row". 21 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 5, 1978

A quite warm, very bright day. I bought 25 lb of seed potatoes at 3. 00 a lb (Kennebec ) at the farm Bureau. Sold 13 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I planted a 35' double row of yellow onion sets in the slope garden. Also a 25' band of spinach. About 15 shovels of chicken manure compost were placed under this band. 32 eggs today-an all-time record!

Thursday, April 6, 1978

Planted a 25' band of Cherry Belle radish after placing liberal horse manure in a trench below. Mr. Varner plowed 1/2 acre of the hill field today-half of it the same as I had in field corn last year. 25 eggs today.

Friday, April 7, 1978

Cleared trail of limbs, trees etc. that were down from the ice storm. I also spaded for potatoes. ~23 eggs today. The weather is warm and sunny and we could use more rain than the 4/100 of an inch or so we got last night. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, April 8, 1978

** Today two new horses "Candy" and "Lady" (now Folly) arrived after purchase from Bates for $950. 00. They appear to be in rather poor physical shape. 23 eggs today. i planted 2-42' rows of Kennebec potatoes in the slope garden after placing about 1/2 WB of WR chicken manure compost (still smelly) in a trench beneath. I also cleared more debris.

Sunday, April 9, 1978

Folly had colic this morning after drinking a huge quantity of stream waterr and eating considerable grass-despite our considerable care and keeping them in the barn all night. Presumably all the salt they ate encouraged this. (Perhaps they hadn't had any at Bates !) Both new horses also had diarrhea, but both colic and diarrhea seemed mild and Folly seems over the former. I hauled a load of manure from the Bates to the high field for wheat[?] and potato planting. i also continue to clear fences. 22 eggs today. It was another warm, beautiful sunny day.

Monday, April 10, 1978

Another beautiful morning. Rain is predicted and is badly needed. I hauled my second load of manure-this for field corn- to the high field. The new horses are better but still have diarrhea. We continue to water them carefully and restrict them to the barn 3/4 of the time or so. Planted 3-42' rows of Kennebec potatoes in the slope garden patch. Also planted a 32' row of Moss Curled parsley in the creek garden.

Tuesday, April 11, 1978

I had a tooth filled this morning and then trenched 4-50' rows for potatyoes on the high field. I placed about a 1/2 WB of horse manure in each 5-' row. This morning we placed the new horses in the big pasture with Natchez, who tried to kick them. However, Candy, the new mare, was so calm she hardly paid any attention and apparently never kicked back. Bloodroot has been blooming for a week or more now and today I noted Juneberry ( Amelanchier sp ) and some peaches in full bloom. Also the pear I planted in the hill orchard 3 years ago and the peach I planted 2 yrs. ago are also in bloom. 19 eggs today. + 4 found in a nest-the latter to be used for the dog.

Wednesday, April 12, 1978

I am now eatin asparagus and volunteer spinach in my dandelion-cress salads. The weather is cloudless and cool afterr a dry cold front. I finished preparing the potato patch (7-50' rows) on the hill field. 28 eggs today + a nest of 14 eggs! The new horses almost got stuck in the center of the marsh today, giving me a great fright.

Thursday, April 13, 1978

Another warm, dry, partly cloudy and windy day. I planted 4 lb of Polk spring wheat in the high field after placing about 1/3 of a pick-up load [of what ?] on the 1000 sq. ft. 26 eggs today. Mr. Richard Smith came and trimmed Natchez's hooves. He treated the hoof that was repaired months ago at the coronet band. The hole[?] was near the bottom and developed a break[?]. He filled the hole with glue (wood molding) and plastic wood even though he also made a horizontal line with the ripp[?] to stop the crack from spreading upward. $12. 50 was charged.

Friday, April 14, 1978

Hauled 4th load of manure from Bates. It's a cool, cloudless morning. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted a 32' row of parsips in the creek garden.. 24 eggs today.

Saturday, April 15, 1978

Hauled 5th load of manure today. It froze last night at 30 deg. F, but few buds or blossoms seem damaged. We also planted 4 rows of potatoes on the hill field today. 19 eggs today.

Sunday, April 16, 1978

25 deg. F this morning and it froze a box of lettuce plants! Also, some blossoms may have been lost. Planted Bibb lettuce in the creek garden. (30' row) after placing WB of horse manure compost. I also covered the seeds with this compost. I also planted the remaining 3 rows of potatoes in the hill field. As we have suspected for some time now all three goats appear to be pregnant, with Gracie leading the way. However, Honey has shown the most progress recently, while Brandy shows the least evidence. I squeezed a large grub from Gracie's back today. You have to squeeze them through the air hole! 24 eggs today. Gus, with Betty's help, rode Folly today-he being the first to ever do so. Some guts Gus! Note, the potatoes planted in the last 3 rows are mostly small marble-sized and wilted, sprouted ones from last year's crop rather than the certified seed potatoes in the 4 rows planted yesterdays. I also began to spread manure and level in the in the corn field.

Monday, April 17, 1978

Hauled 6th pick-up load of manure, spaded in the creek garden and trimmed branches. 21 eggs today. Betty and Gus worked with Folly.

Tuesday, April 18, 1978

It drizzled all day with a little rain. I'm fixing a kidding pen. We had 20 eggs today. I also manured and leveled in the hill field before the rain began.

Wednesday, April 19, 1978

It misted and rained most of the day, but total precipitation was insignificant. I finished the kidding pen. 14 eggs today. Betty and I took the goats for a walk, she having taken a day off.

Thursday, April 20, 1978

The day was cool and windy. We had a few showers last night, so the groung was soaked several inches in depth.. I manured and leveled on the hill field. Bought 100 lbs each of mash and oats. 21 eggs today.

Friday, April 21, 1978

Weather is cool, almost cold, and cloudy. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I continued to manure and level the corn field and spade the garden. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, April 22, 1978

Hauled 7th load of manure with Betty who took care of Bate's livestock. Also, Natchez's hoof was repaired again by Mr. Smith (for free). Also, Mr. Shaner visited about bringing us 10-12 colonies of bees (his, to be left, and we to get some honey). Gus and I brought back old cement blocks from our junk pile to set the hives on. 21 eggs today. We now have about 6 or more hens clucking. Betty and I took our fat goats for a walk.

Sunday, April 23, 1978

Temp. was 25deg. F this morning, but I don't know if there's damage to the buds. I now have over half of the corn field manured and leveled. I note that wilt is killing the spinach planted 4-5 in the slope garden. Planted 41 (60' row) Flat Dutch cabbage plants. The cabbage was planted over a trench filled with WR horse manure.. 17 eggs today.

Monday, April 24, 1978

It dawned clear as abell with very light frost. The cabbage planted yesterday wilted in the sun while I leveled on the hill and belatedly covered them. i plante a 30' band of the same Bloomsdale Longstanding spinach thaty wited in the slope garden in the creek garden. In planting this spinach I used lots of horse manure compost above and below the seeds, but covering only about a half inch. I planted a 30' row of Wando peas in the creek garden using no fertilizer, however I did dip the seeds in innoculant. I also used wood ashes on the Cherry Belle radishes for the flea beetles which are getting quite bad. 17 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 25, 1978

Rain today. Although light it soaked in several inches. I spaded in the slope garden before it began. I hauled 6. 5 WB loads of goat manure out of the stall, three of which went directly to the slope garden. 19 eggs today. 35 out of the 41 cabbages are doing well with this cloudy weather. The strawberries have been blooming a little, although some of the earliest blooms froze.

Wednesday, April 26, 1978

Rain, heavy at times, continuing most of last night and during the day. The goats got so hungry, being pregnant, I saw them grazing in the rain for the first time. 18 eggs today. There is now ample moisture for all agricultural activity.

Thursday, April 27, 1978

It was cloudy this morning and for half the afternoon. I bought and planted "hybrid" cabbage from the Farm Bureau. i planted 23 plants in the same row as the others in the slope garden for a total of 59 plants so far.. I also bought broccoli. Gracie's kids have "dropped" lower in her, leaving hollows near her backbone. 17 eggs today. The wild plum, some wild apples, and some pears are in bloom. The wild crabapple is just starting to bloom. Most of the pears are finished- and appear frozen. Some peach blooms are still opening.

Friday, April 28, 1978

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I leveled and manured again in the in the corn field. I also transplanted some volunteer Salad Bowl lettuce plants in the slope garden after placing goat manure under the plants. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, April 29, 1978

Gracie was bleating and away from the other does, so Betty thought she was about to kid- after also noticing some discharge and being hollow by the tail and hip. Gus got leaves for the new kidding pen. Gracie had her triplets within minutes. She was in hard labor for only about 30 minutes. Two were born with normal presentation but the last was upside down and had to be turned and out she popped. 2 are does and one a buck. Bought 100 lbs of bran. Planted a 45' band of Royal Chantenay carrots in the slope garden without fertilizer and under compost. Also, I manured and leveled in the high field this morning. T. J. F. Shaner brought 12 hives of his bees this evening after dark. Each hive contains 3 lb of bees. Although it froze last night, this morning is mild and and cloudy-as if it might rain. The frogs are singing in the swamp. 21 eggs today.

Sunday, April 30, 1978

Cloudy and fairly warm today. The bees are quite active. We have been keeping Gracie and kids in the kidding pen, but today had them out. She appears to have plenty of milk so far except her small teats make milking difficult. But so far we've been keeping the kids with her. I planted 12 broccoli plants in the creek garden after placing some goat-chicken manure mixture in a trench. 11 eggs today. I covered the strawberries tonight.

Monday, May 1, 1978

It froze slightly late this morning (after 5 DST). I finished spreading and leveling the corn field! Hopefully will begin planting corn tomorrow. Planted !~30' double row of Crosby's Egyptian beets in the creek garden using no fertilizer but under manure compost. The little buck of Gracie's died this evening after much effort to save him by Betty. 19 eggs + a nest of 9 today.

Tuesday, May 2, 1978

28deg. F this morning, but my string beans under canvass didn't freeze. I planted 1/4 of the hill corn field with Longfellow Flint corn, the same as last year. Gracie is giving lots of milk in addition to feeding 2 kids. Tonight Betty milked a quart out of one side! Although her teats appear to be getting larger, one is still too small for milking. 20 eggs today + 2 from a nest. The parsley is now coming up in the creek garden.

Wednesday, May 3, 1978

Sold 8 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I planted 18 cabbage plants, mostly Jersey Wakefield. They had good roots with soil and could be planted directly in sunlight. A half shovel of combined Chicken manure compost and goat manure was used for each plant.

Thursday, May 4, 1978

It rained quite hard (warm front type) most of the day. 16 eggs today. Sold 1. 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Friday, May 5, 1978

Partly cloudy pleasant day with T~70deg. F-good growing weather finally. I fixed the ice storm-damaged fence. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, May 6, 1978

A very bad worm of size range 1/4 to 3/4 inch, dark olive green (it may be corn ear worm ) is eating my cabbage plant leaves in the slope garden. This worm appears not on the plant but on or just under the soil surface, under clods mostly. This may also be what destroyed some of my newly-sprouted pea plants. Gus and I planted another patch of field corn. 13 eggs today. Betty quit her job as director of Effie Ann Johnson Day Nursery, so now no one in this family is employed of of the farm.

Sunday, May 7, 1978

Planted the rest of the Longfellow Flint corn- also 1/2 of a patch of a 20' x 200' alfalfa (un known type). Note that Gracie's teats are now large enough for milking. 25 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Monday, May 8, 1978

It 's been raining fairly steadily from a warm front. 19 eggs today. The spinach in the creek garden 4-24 seems to be doing much better than that planted earlier in the slope garden.

Tuesday, May 9, 1978

A warm (70s), very windy day with a few showers. We dibudded Gracie's kids 9 with luck!) but are apprehensive since we only held the hot iron on for about 5 seconds. The alfalfa planted 5-7 is already sprouting with roots 1/8 inch long on some. I prepared the rest of the alfalfa patch. 16 eggs today. The potatoes in both patches are coming up.

Wednesday, May 10, 1978

Planted the rest of the alfalfa patch. No inoculation for nitrogen was done. The seeds were mixed with soil and spread by hand. Planted a 50' patch (6 rows) of sweet corn, half Tucker's Favorite hybrid + Golden Cross Bantam in a patch liberally fertilized with a combination of WR goat and Chicken manure in the slope garden. 22 eggs today. Gracie showed emission of bloody slime from her vagina, evidently the remains of birth. The whippoorwill was heard for the first time this evening.

Thursday, May 11, 1978

Frost, just barely, in the garden. The thermometer read 34deg, F near the house. It's good we covered the strawberries, which are full of blossoms. Finished panting the corn field with Trucker's Favorite. 11 eggs today.

Friday, May 12, 1978

Cleaned stove proper and chimney. The baby goats have been chewing cuds for the past several days. I leveled and manured for sunflowers in the hill field. 28 eggs today. It's raining lightly this evening. I planted a short row of peas in the slope garden.

Saturday, May 13, 1978

Rain, with heavy thundershowers at times but warm most of the day. Cabbages planted 4-23, and which were attacked by unknown creatures and looked really bad, seem improved after this morning's rain. 15 eggs today.

Sunday, May 14, 1978

Cloudy and windy most of the day. It only warmed up to about 60deg. F but the bees are very active, particularly in the Chinquapin oaks, which are now in bloom. All vegetation seems to be growing very rapidly. 21 eggs today. The first alfalfa planted shows primary leaves now.

Monday, May 15, 1978

Rain and cloudy weather most of the day. Honey and Brandy are in a race to kid, with Honey slightly ahead. Gus is sleeping (watch ?) in the barn over Honey who is in the kidding pen. Gracie's kids are very husky and growing fast on their continuous milk diet since we have left them together all the time so far. The only disadvantage is that we only get a cup or so of her milk a day. 17 eggs today. Honey gave birth within a half hour to 3 kids, 2 bucks and a doe. (Chev., Von and Jennifer) All again are doing well. But we had to separate her from them during the night because she tried to pull on the navel cord, presumably to clean the kid.

Tuesday, May 16, 1978

Brandy gave birth to a huge buck (~8 lb), "Leonardo". He seems to be very vigorous and quite nice in a Nubian way. The birth was nearly normal except that one leg was ahead of the other. The weather continues cloudy and rainy. Used (with misgivings!) a 4% malathion powder on 8-10 of the chickens with severe lice (?) problems (eaten feathers, exposed raw skin and bare heads). 19 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 17, 1978

Cut the first lawn hay this morning. It was a mostly cloudy but pleasant day and this evening turned warmer. I leveled in the high field for beans and peanuts. The field corn is beginning to come up in earnest now. All the kids are doing fine. 16 eggs today.

Thursday, May 18, 1978

Planted in the hill field 2-100' rows of pinto beans (second from the edge from Johnny's Selected Seeds), 2-100' rows of kidney beans, 1-100' row of Navy beans, 1. 66-100' row of Spanish peanuts and 2. 33-100' rows of Virginia peanuts (from store). No fertilizer was applied. Planted 2 short rows of Sundak sunflowers in the slope garden using no fertilizer, intending to use them for bean support. 22 eggs today.

Friday, May 19, 1978

Planted about 300' of Traverse soybeans in the high field using no fertilizer. Note Nitrogen inoculant was used on the soy beans as on all beans planted yesterday. However, I don't know exactly what beans are covered in this inoculant. I also finished manuring and leveling on the hill field for sunflowers. I hauled in 4. 5 WB loads of hay. We disbudded 3 buck goats Chev., Von and Leonardo.

Saturday, May 20, 1978

Planted a 50' x 60' patch of Sundak sunflowers in the hill field. The two varirties of asparagus beetles are now present in adult form. I developed a technique of rapidly catching them between my fingers and crushing them. 17 eggs today. I've been making lots of corn cakes from cornmeal I grind from sweet corn dried last year and hung in the smokehouse.

Sunday, May 21, 1978

The weather is quite warm (80s) during the day. i applied ashes to the slope garden cabbage which is bothered quite severely by flea beetles-incidentally mostly near the radishes, an effect opposite to that often quoted by organic gardeners. Also, the horns seem to be growing on our dibudded bucks! We may have to repeat it! 20 eggs today.

Monday, May 22, 1978

Bought a pk. of ~100 sweet potato plants + 15 Ca. Wonder peppers. Sold 8 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted 36 sweet potato plants in a 45' row of the slope garden, using no fertilizer (very rich soil however ). 24 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of oats and laying mash.

Tuesday, May 23, 1978

Cloudy and slightly rainy, improving the garden visibly as is usual after rain. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 24, 1978

Planted a short and larger row (~45') of Burpee's Stringless bush beans between potatoes, using innoculant, in the slope garden. Pinto, Navy and soy beans in the hill field are beginning to come up. Brandy's milk has finally lost its colostrum taste. The weather is quite warm now (~80s). 23 eggs today.

Thursday, May 25, 1978

It's a beautiful sunny and warm day. I cut some bluegrass hay near the bees in the slope orchard and got stung once. Betty and I also took all the dead leaves out of the barn after hearing of a goat kid that died eating them at a friend's. Planted 1/2 lb of Fordhook lima beans in the slope garden using inoculant but no fertilizer. 15 eggs today.

Friday, May 26, 1978

A hot, clear day. I finished planting the sweet potatoes and did some spading. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, May 27, 1978

Another very warm but partly cloudy day. A hive of bees swarmed in the early afternoon and are still hanging on a limb about 20' above the hive. I had notified Shaner, but he hadn't come at nightfall. I planted 15 Cal Wonder sweet pepper plants in the creek garden using no fertilizer. We also disbudded Jenny, Honey's doe today. 15 eggs today. Hauled in 2 WB loads of hay.

Sunday, May 28, 1978

J. F. Shaner came early this (Sunday) morning and his son knocked the bee swarm into a cardboard box after climbing out on a limb. Mr. Shner then picked the queen out of the grass. We now have an extra hive, all with supers. We all learned a lot watching this work with bees. Planted all the Burpee;s VF tomato plants with stakes in the slope garden (Was fertilized earlier for corn).. Also planted an edge row of mung beans along the corn. in the hill field. Betty caught a good meal of fish for breakfast this evening at sundown. 14 eggs today.

Monday, May 29, 1978

I cut the grass next to the bee hives this morning weith no apparent disturbance of the bees, but this afternoon I was stung twice when Betty and I stood at a greater distance! Also, Betty noted some bees in Gracie's fur. Planted 10 Cayenne pepper plants in the slope garden, a number of very small Stonehead Hybrid cabbage plants in the creek garden. I also watered the spinach in the creek garden. 16 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 30, 1978

I hoed potatoes and corn in the high field. We picked our first strawberries 9 tame and wild) and had spinach for supper. It's interesting that the captured swarm is already in need of another super, the one super having filled since the swarm was captured Sunday morning according to Shaner. 13 eggs today. The weather is warm and muggy with a few drops of rain this afternoon.

Wednesday, May 31, 1978

The field corn is now 6 inches high and I have been hoing it. Planted 8 hills of Ambrosia Hybrid cantaloupe + 4 hills of Sugar Baby watermelon in the slope garden over holes in which about 3 shovels o WR goat manure was p[laced. The bees at present are very active on the blue flowers of the weed ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea ) present in both gardens. I also noted that this year there are no f lea beetles present in the creek garden, due perhaps to the freezing this year. 14 eggs today.

Thursday, June 1, 1978

Planted a 30' row of kidney beans in the creek garden using innoculant. I finished hoeing the field corn and noted that on the southern exposure it didn't come up well. I cut hay on the flood plain.. Planted ~!25' row of Burpee's Stringless beans in the slope garden using inoculant. Betty noticed clouds of dirt looking very much like smoke coming from 2 of the bee hives this morning. She has been working with Folly, who had the bit on for the first time. Watered spinach, peas etc. in the slope garden. 12 eggs today.

Friday, June 2, 1978

Brandy has what appear to be the same skin eruptions she had last December. We bathed her with warm salt water and kept her out of the dirty old stall. Fortunately it is still mild. Planted 3 hills of Gurney's Marketer cucumber and2 hills of Wisconsin SMR Pickler in the creek den after placing 2 shovels of chicken-goat compost under each hill. The weather continues quite warm (80s) and dry. Hauled in equivalent to 2 WB of bluegrass hay. Disbudded 7 goats for Becky Ganson. Planted a number of Roma VF tomatoes in the slope garden. 10 eggs today. Note, we increased the chicken's rations.

Saturday, June 3, 1978

Rain beginning in early afternoon-very good for hill field crops, but not for the hay cut the other day. Becky Ganson and son were here to tattoo and castrate our kids. The numbers and names are as follows:

in Right Ear of all

Left Ear: M1 Feather

Velvet

Jenny

Leonardo

Chev and Von were castrated using the band.

The rain stopped this evening after a good soaking. Only 8 eggs today.

Sunday, June 4, 1978

We had 7 nice fish Betty caught last evening for breakfast. It's a beautiful clear day. Planted Sunray and VF small tomato plants in the creek garden. Betty and I covered the strawberries and sweet potatoes since frost seems to threaten. 7 eggs today.

Monday, June 5, 1978

It didn't freeze last night. Planted some chervil and t-? Hauled in 3. 5 WB of bedding-hay. I spaded the creek garden for a corn patch. 13 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 6, 1978

Hauled 6 WB loads of hay in. After placing liberal chicken-goat manure compost I planted 3-25' rows of Golden Cross Bantam and 3-25' rows of Trucker's Favorite in the creek garden. Brandy developed mastitis in the left half of her bag this afternoon as indicated by fever and milk curdling at milking time. She appeared listless. We're treating her after much good advice from Charles Varner Jr. by combination injection, bathing with hot water and frequent milkings. She and her kid were separated from the herd in the kidding pen.

Wednesday, June 7, 1978

Brandy appeared somewhat better last night during the night as we got up to milk and bath her and continued to improve. This morning, with her eating some, she shows no sign (since the first few milkings) of curdling milk. We give her ~3ccof combiotic twice a day in the muscle. Inspection of the hill field shows the potatoes dark green and fair to good in size. The alfalfa is about 2-3" high and shows numerous nodules on the roots, although no inoculant was used. The wheat, however, shows blotchy yellow lower leaves. The soy beans and corn look good. We separated Gracie from her kids and got about a quart + a little more of milk. Brandy continues to be with her kid though separated from the other goats. 7 eggs today. Planted one hill of Prolific Straightneck squash, 2 hills of Butternut squash and one hill of Small Sugar pumpkin in the creek garden after placing one shovel of chicken-goat compost in each hill.

Thursday, June 8, 1978

Light rain. Planted 2-30' rows of Red Kidney beans in the creek garden using no fertilizer. 11 eggs today.

Friday, June 9, 1978

We are continuing giving Brandy combiotic, although she seems normal. 7 eggs today. We are having the Waldners as guests and tomorrow grandma. Hope it doesn't freeze tonight!

Saturday, June 10, 1978

Hauled in 4 WB of hay with help of guests. 11 eggs today. Ate a lot ofspinach and strawberries with our guests.

Sunday, June 11, 1978

The Arnold family, Grandma and the Waldner family left this morning. Brandy got her last cambiotic shot yesterday morning. 11 eggs today. I watered small plants in the creek garden and potatoes, cabbage, carrots etc. in the slope garden. Betty picked about 5 qts. of strawberries, three of which we froze for jam. The peas are in full bloom with a few small peas. Also the potatoes are blooming.. I killed a few potato beetles in the slope garden. The peanuts are coming up slowly-for the past few weeks. But very few large peanuts have come up yet. The alfalfa looks good, being about 3 inches high now in places. I cut another patch of hay on the flood plain. [Betty writes:] Our guests left this morning. By putting the boys in the hay loft we had 10 people; the Waldners and Grandma plus Ter? and Janet (Arnolds) and Lawrence, Bob W. 2nd cousins twice removed.

Monday, June 12, 1978

Planted 5 hills of small Sugar pumpkin after placing one shovel of chicken-goat compost. The store-bought peanuts planted in the hill field didn't germinate ( except for a few). I planted soy beans where the peanuts were. The wheat is beginning to head out. Corn, beans (soy = others), potatoes and alfalfas all look good and need only rain on the hill field. Planted a 20' row of inoculated Imp. Golden wax beans in the slope garden. Rain, a heavy shower-for only 15 min. this evening. 10 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 13, 1978

Rain, heavy for about 1/2 hr. last night. 14 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 14, 1978

Hauled in 5. 5 Wb loads of hay (rained on once) to mow. 18 eggs today.

Thursday, June 15, 1978

Transplanted leeks to trench, leaving half where they were. The trench had earlier had a WB of manure placed in it. 12 eggs today. The night before last it was 38deg. F and last night 40deg. F.

Friday, June 16, 1978

Replanted some cantaloupe hills in the slope garden with Honey Rock cataloupe. I also watered the strawberries, which are still bearing well. Transplanted VF tomato plants to the creek garden using not fertilizer as usual.. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, June 17, 1978

Hauled in 3. 5 loads of hay from the flood plain to mow. Started using Brandy's milk again/ The weather is hot and sultry. 12 eggs today. We're getting a few small eggs.

Sunday, June 18, 1978

Another very hot sultry day, but dry. Most crops in the hill field look quite good, but rain is badly needed. I watered extensively in the slope garden, especially cabbage. We separated Brandy and kid for the first time + Gracie and kids for more milk tomorrow. 26 eggs today. Apparently the extra feed increased laying.

Monday, June 19, 1978

Rain, heavy thunderstorms in late afternoon. sold 6 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.. 17 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 20, 1978

Froze 4 qts. edible podded peas. Also still picking strawberries and have frozen 6 qts. so far for jam etc. Very hot and humid, partly cloudy ggs today.

Wednesday, June 21, 1978

Rain, intermittent light thundershowers most of the day. All crops are growing so fast some are falling over. (potatoes especially). Pinto and kidney beans, potatoes and wheat are blooming in the hill field. We kept Honey's kids from her last night (except for Jenny) and in all got over a gallon of milk from her this morning. Brandy's and Gracie's kids are being separated every night now. All kids seem to be doing well, including the weathers whose testicles have now shrunk very small. However, Leonardo is mounting the does, giving us some concern. 22 eggs today.

Thursday, June 22, 1978

Cut hay on flood plain and pulled weeds in hill field where crops are doing fine 26 eggs today.

Friday, June 23, 1978

Boys and I began hoeing the field corn. i weeded alfalfa, beans, potatoes etc. up there. Froze 5 qts. of edible podded peas and a qt. of strawberries. We dined on delux hamburger, the best spinach I ever grew and ice cream made with our milk, eggs and strawberries. + sassafras tea. 16 eggs today. Betty rode Folly today forthe first time with Dad leading her. Betty has sat upon her so she is coming along fine.

Saturday, June 24, 1978

I went to a Taxpayer's rally in Deerfield. Betty and the boys hauled in ? loads of hay today.. 24 eggs today.

Sunday, June 25, 1978

Planted 2 rows of pinto beans in the creek garden using innoculant. 18 eggs today.

Monday, June 26, 1978

Very warm, humid weather. The boys continue to hoe corn and the soy beans are beginning to bloom. Also black caps are ripening.

Tuesday, June 27, 1978

Rain with heavy thunderstorms last evening and into the night. Another swarm of bees spotted by me on the ground in front of the hive. Young Shaner came, found the queen, held her in hand until the swarm gathered, then shook them into a hive, which he left on the spot. Betty and I watched from close by and she took pictures. Everything looks good in the hill field, but especially the beans, which are beginning to form pods in the case of pinto, kidney and navy. The weather is very hot and humid. ipicked (repeatedly) the cabbage worms in the slope garden. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 28, 1978

It was a warm clear day and I cut hay on the flood plain. Froze 3qts. of podded peas and picked a quart of blackcaps. Gus is also picking this year. 19 eggs today.

Thursday, June 29, 1978

Froze 3 pints of Wando peas and hoed soy beanson the hill. 21 eggs today.

Friday, June 30, 1978

Continued quite warm but somewhat dryer. Hauled in 4 WB of hay from the flood plain and 2 WB of bedding hay. 19 eggs today. The pinto beans on the hill have a few 3" pods! All hill beans, corn and alfalfa look excellent, potatoes fair, wheat? The peanuts that germinated are doing OK since I hoed them. The sunflowers that came up look very good but are few in number.

Saturday, July 1, 1978

Warm, pleasant weather. I rode Candy and Betty Natchez around the hill twice, the most I had ever ridden. I hoed the mung beans on the hill and also weeded the potatoes there. The corn is now about 4. 5 feet tall in most places. 21 eggs today.

Sunday, July 2, 1978

Rain, beginning last night and continuing intermittently through the day and into the night. Betty and I picked blackcaps. The strawberries are quite finished now. 20 eggs today. There is an incredible infestation of cabbage worms in the slope garden, but much less in the creek garden. I squash many several times a day, but they have riddled many leaves on the fine large plants now forming heads.

Monday, July 3, 1978

Rain, off and on all day. I picked about 2 qts. of blackcaps and froze one of these. 20 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 4, 1978

Cloudy and humid. I noticed patches of orange dodder in the alfalfa-peraps due to all the moisture. Froze 3 pints of Wando peas. 17 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 5, 1978

A clear, cool day. I cut hay on the flood plain and picked cabbage worms as usual. I also picked 2 qts. of blackcaps and froze one of these. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, July 6, 1978

Another nice, rather cool and sunny day. I hoed the numerous weeds in the creek garden. We went to the Shipe special use permit hearing and at least dot it (the body shop) restricted tmo a one-man operation. We had about 15 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of whole corn and laying mash.

Friday, July 7, 1978

Another dry, clear day. We hauled in 5 WB of hay from the flood plain. Froze 2 qts of berries. Betty is treating Natchez for a bad facial wound she has had for some time. 21 eggs today.

Saturday, July 8, 1978

Hot, muggy and partly cloudy day. Planted a 30' row of Burpee's Stringless bush beans in the creek garden using inoculant. We had a thunder shower. We also have lots of dewberries this year and I froze a qt. today. We also gought 100 lb of oats.

Sunday, July 9, 1978

All of us except Don went up the hill and picked almost 2 gallons of dewberries. We froze 7 pints of these. I cut the strawberry leaves with the scythe and pulled a lot of old plants. 14 eggs today. We had French toast and berries using our own eggs, berries and milk, a real feast! Young Shaner came and placed some supers, particularly on one active hive where the bees had clustered at the entrance. He found all hives in good shape.

Monday, July 10, 1978

Rain as thunderstorms again this evening. I finished thinning the berries and placed a WB of rich chicken-goat compost on their bed. Don and I repaired the line fence. 20 eggs today. I froze another 3 pts. of (mostly) dewberries. and blackcaps. Japanese beetles are now appearing in the creek and slope gardens.

Tuesday, July 11, 1978

A clear, cool day. I cut hay on the flood plain. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 12, 1978

Sold 8 doz eggs at 70c a doz. 17 eggs today. I repaired the barn roof, which has been leaking. Betty and I went berry picking, mostly dewberries, but some blackcaps and a very few blueberries. We froze 2 qts and Betty baked a pie.

Thursday, July 13, 1978

Hauled in 5. 5 WB full of good hay from the flood plain. This hay contained a quite a bit of red and white clovers. Planted a 32' row of half Marketer cucumber and 1/2 Green Curled endive in the slop garden where podded peas had been after placing a WB of rich chicken-goat compost in a trench. Rain this evening and 16eggs today.

Friday, July 14, 1978

Rain as a thundershower this morning. Don and I worked at a log jam in the stream. I picked berries, mostly dewberries, some blackcaps and blueberries. I froze 2 qts. I dug the first potatoes and feasted on them this evening. 16 eggs today. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, July 15, 1978

Betty has been treating Natchez for a bad face wound. We're also confining Leonardo and Brandy to the flood plain for part of the day to get them used to separation from the other goats. Don and I did some fencing and Don cut his first firewood with a bucksaw. I cut hay for mulch for the melons. 21 eggs today. However this included some from a large nest of uncollected eggs.

Sunday, July 16, 1978

It rained very hard last night, was cloudy most of the day and is raining again. I weeded in the slope garden as pulling weeds after a rain is easy. I aslso harvested a bunch of half-grown carrots. The corn in the slope garden and on the hill is silking out now. The soy beans look spectacular and all the dry beans look very good. The sunflowers are also doing nicely. 17 eggs today.

Monday, July 17, 1978

Planted a short band of Danvers Half Long carrots where the radishes had benn in the slope garden. It's a bright, warm day. Planted a 35' row of Burpee Stringless beans next to the carrots in the slope garden and where the peas were. I noted that bean beetles are bothering the kidney beans some in the creek garden, although not at all on the hill. Don rode Candy around Mueller's Mtn. for the first time. Natchez and Betty went too. He did quite well and walked and trotted. 17 eggs today. The raccoons showed signs of activity in the hill field and we set up the tent for our irst night on raccoon watch.

Tuesday, July 18, 1978

Betty found that she has a teaching position at the school for the Blind and starts on August 28th. Gus and Bob are sleeping on the hill to scare raccoons off, Bob is giving a talk in Rockingham County so Gus took Wilbur. Don and Betty weent riding on Candy and Natchez. Betty rode Folly this morning. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 19, 1978

Brandy has mastitis again, appearing ill, not letting milk down and stripping evidence. This morning Betty applied hot packs at milking and we are starting Combiotic shots. Picked dewberries and froze a quart. Made a ~8 lb batch of sour kraut. Brandy is eating and perhaps a little better after the shot this morning. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, July 20, 1978

Hauled in 4 WB loads of good (mostly red clover) hay from the flood plain. I made another 8 lb batch of sour kraut. 14 eggs today. Bought 100 lb of oats.

Friday, July 21, 1978

Brandy appears to have a slight relapse this morning, but she is eating, especially brush. I picked beetle larvae on the kidney beans in the creek garden where they are moderately bad on large vigorous bushes, I also noted some on the lima beans in the slope garden. About 10;00 AM a huge swarm of bees arrived at one of our largest oaks, about 40' up originally. Shaner attempted for more than an hour with our help to get them in a hive but left without finding the queen. They then reformed into a clump lower in the same oak. Now we're having thunderstorms. Shaner came again and luckily found the queen and hived them with a little help from us. He plans on supering our other hives, which are full on his check. The weather is very warm (~90s). 14 eggs today, including a found nest of four. Betty and I walked around the hill twice this morning after spotting the bees.

Saturday, July 22, 1978

Very hot weather, but we had a meal of green beans and pork cooked on the plate. I cut and mulched the melons with swamp hay. I'm also building a buck fence for Leonardo. Brandy seems some better and has been eating well. The dry beans are turning yellow on the hill and bearing what appears to be a quite good crop. Also, the sweet corn at least looks good. The sunflowers are heading out and the soy beans are very dark green, lush and have a good number of still small beans. The oldest plants are mid-thigh in height. However, the alfalfa appears yellow and stunted and the peanuts are not doing well with yellow leaves also. These two legumes were not inoculated and this may explain their failure. 14 eggs today.

Sunday, July 23, 1978

The weather is very warm and it is becoming dry, especially on the hill field. I have been watering in both gardens, but only a little in the creek garden. 9 eggs today.

Monday, July 24, 1978

Light rain from thundershowers this evening. Had a feast opf new potatoes, cabbage and cucumber salad and "fancy hamburgers" with hot sauce[?] and lemonade. i worked at digging fence post holes, placing posts for Leonardo's pen and hooking up the new post for the barn light wires. I also picked bean beetles on the kidney beans in the creek garden. 11 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 25, 1978

Light rain off and on. Gus and I dug somewhat over a bushel (half the patch) of potatoes on the hill. I continued to pick bean beetle larvae (crushing them) on the kidney beans in the creek garden. I also picked blister beetles, (crushing them with my foot) that had decimated the beet tops in the creek garden. 11 eggs today. Note that bees are lively on coral berry bushes, apparently getting nectar and on the field corn getting pollen this morning. We stopped giving Brandy shots as she seemed well now. Betty made 13 and a fraction pints of dewberry and blackberry jam.

Wednesday, July 26, 1978

Betty and I picked dewberries and blackberries and froze 3 pints. We froze 5 quarts of green beans. Only 6 eggs today. Is it the heat? Shaner was unsuccessful in an attempt to move a bee hive after dark since he failed to block the entrance.

Thursday, July 27, 1978

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 10 eggs today. Some raccoon damage is occurring in the hill field despite Gus and I sleeping up there in the tent-even wth Wilbur with us!

Friday, July 28, 1978

After light rain last night another clear, dry day (~70s). We processed and canned 7 qts. of sour kraut. 8 eggs today. Gus and I also dug the second half of the potato patch on the hill.

Another nice day. Don and I hauled down about a bushel and a half of potatoes from the hill field so that we got approximately 3 bushels there. Only 4 eggs today. We increased the feed of the chickens again. Bean beetles are bad on the kidney beans in the creek garden. I am watering quite extensively in the slope garden.

Sunday, July 30, 1978

Noted a large hairy caterpillar has almost completely defoliated one of the 3 yr. Yellow Delicious apple trees in the north slope orchard. There are rain showers for the first time in weeks- and badly needed. 5 eggs today.

Monday, July 31, 1978

Used malathion dust on the J. J. Warrens again for external parasites. Betty and I picked and froze 2 qts. of berries (mostly black) and I froze 4 qts. of green beans. 8 eggs today.

Tuesday, August 1, 1978

Rain from heavy thunderstorms last night-for the second night in a row, and I was in the tent. But the raccoons had already gotten into the hill sweet corn before dark! However they didn't get in more while I was there-I think. Shaner (and friends ) came and moved the bees to our bee yard from the flood plain where they had been a week or more. Now we anticipate trouble with them returning. Already this morning some have returned. Some trouble from bees this morning but their numbers at the former hive position diminished in the afternoon, particularly after heavy rain. Shaner (senior) came to look at the situation this evening. 5 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Wednesday, August 2, 1978

Betty pickled 8. 5 qts. of pickles. I made a gallon batch of sour kraut. I also harvested about a peck of yellow onions. We had a feast of our first sweet corn Trucker's Favorite from the hill field, and it was excellent. 6 eggs today.

Thursday, August 3, 1978

Froze 4 qts. of Trucker's Favorite sweet corn from the hill field. Pulled up and brought to barn to dry 2 feed bags of pinto beans from the hill field. These were quite dry already. Made another gallon of sour kraut. I began to dig potatoes in the slope garden where many are damaged by a fat, dark grub-although many fat white grubs are present also.

Rain, quite heavy at times today. Since I didn't sleep out raccoons really got into the hill sweet corn. Hauled up about a bu. of potatoes from the slope garden. I spread chicken manure from the coop litter on the goat pasture. 7 eggs today.

Saturday, August 5, 1978

Froze 4 qts. of sweet corn from the slope garden after raccoons got in for first time. The Trucker's Favorite is the best looking I ever grew. Made another gallon of sour kraut to eat raw. Rain showers from beautiful cumulus clouds on and off all afternoon, alternating with brilliant sky, but humid. 7 eggs today. We dined this evening (Gus and I, Don and Betty having gone to Massachusetts on the 3rd) on raccoon damaged sweet corn from the high field.

Sunday, August 6, 1978

Rain continued as usual in a heavy downpour this evening, after a generally cloudy day. The raccoons din't bother any of the corn last night, although only the hill field was guarded. However, this evening it rained too hard to go and I expect trouble. 9 eggs today. We're also having plenty of trouble with our nearest neighbor, who we opposed in a special use permit for a painting and body shop. This evening he made all sorts of dire threats re that we had better move because we could expect nothing but trouble from now on and that "we are not wanted" in the community.

Monday, August 7, 1978

Another warm humid, cloudy day with rain threatening this morning. I pulled up the rest of the pinto beans and all the navy beans on the hill field. - about a bag and a half. These had a touch of rot and mold where they contacted the ground. I also pulled 2 bags of kidney beans from the hill field. I dug the last of the potatoes in the slope garden-they look good. 8 eggs today I placed Virginia pine posts along the B's line fence.

Tuesday, August 8, 1978

A warm, very humid day, but no rain for a change. Betty and Don returned from Massachusetts. I finished bringing in the potato harvest, about 5 bushels in all. I also brought down raccoon damaged corn from the hill for the goats. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, August 9, 1978

Don and I dug fence posts holes, he doing much better than I thought possible, about 1/3 the work. He was quite pleased with his success. 13 eggs today. Bought 100 lb of chicken mash.

Thursday, August 10, 1978

Heavy rain last night, but I went to sleep in the tent. Gus and I threshed out 11 lbs of pinto beans. Don and I dug 3 more post holes on Bellanger's line fence.. 11 eggs today.

Friday, August 11, 1978

The day dawned bright without rain last night. Gus and I slept out. Only one ripe tomato so far-and turtles got that! Threshed out 5 more lbs of pinto beans. from the hill, making a total of about 16 lbs. We had a short heavy thunderstorm this afternoon. 12 eggs today.

Saturday, August 12, 1978

It rained a little last night while I slept in the tent. Betty and I canned 8 qts. of sour kraut this morning, using the wood stove as usual since it was fairly cool. I harvested the garlic, which I had laying in the garden and the shallots, which I also had laying in the garden. 14 eggs today.

Sunday, August 13, 1978

Patched barn roof with asphalt. Betty and I rode horses around the hill; also fixed a little fence. 15 eggs today. Thunderstorm this evening again, and reather is very hot and humid.

Monday, August 14, 1978

13 eggs today.

Tuesday, August 15, 1978

Threshed out 4 lbs of Navy beans. Don and I dug fence post holes along Bellanger's line fence. 16 eggs today

Wednesday, August 16, 1978

Froze 3 qts. of wax beans and threshed out 3 lbs of kidney beans from the hill field. Cleaned stall used for male goats and continued cleaning chicken coop-all of which was spread on goat pasture. 18 eggs today.

Thursday, August 17, 1978

Continued to clean chicken coop. Don and I also continue to fence on B's line fence, placing Virginia pine posts. The weather is dryer4 and somewhat cooler now. 17 eggs today. Bought 100 lb each of corn and oats.

Friday, August 18, 1978

Threshed 3 lb of Navy beans out for a total of 7 lbs. Bob and Betty rode Candy and Natchez around the hill 3 times. Bob is getting so he can gentle horses very well. Gus and Betty took all 9 goats for the first time around the Mtn. and all had a great time. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, August 19, 1978

Threshed 4 lbs. of kidney beans out from the hill field. I cut hay, mostly red clover, in the flood plain. 17 eggs today. Gus rode Natchez around the Mtn. for the first time-did very well cantering and trotting and handled her very well. Don rode Candy 2 times around The Betty rode Candy with Gus on Natchez.

Sunday, August 20, 1978

Leonardo mounted Gracie (in heat?) this morning. Hauled in 5 WB loads of excellent (mostly red clover) hay from the flood plain. My leg is quite swollen from several stings from a large bumblebee I got while cutting the red clover with my scythe yesterday. 16 eggs today. Incidentally, we reduced the feed a little.

Monday, August 21, 1978

A cool, clear morning after a dry front yesterday. Cut another section of hay on the flood plain. I have been cutting the stalks of sweet corn ravaged by raccoons in the hill field with Gus helping me shock it. 20 eggs today, including 2 broken ones.

Tuesday, August 22, 1978

Harvested the first soy beans by pulling up plants which have lost most of their leaves and are yellowed. The pods are just beginning to dry to a dark brown Most plants appear to have more than 50 pods. As in the case of other (kidney, pinto etc.) beans we placed them in the barn to dry. I hauled in 4 WB of good red clover hay from the flood plain. I also threshed out about 2 lbs. of kidney beans, the last from the hill field. 20 eggs today.

Wednesday, August 23, 1978

I made a bin in the "smokehouse" for storing dry corn and other seeds. Spld 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Many honeybees are on Hollow Joe-pye weed, ironweed and tall yellow flower composites in the flood plain. I watered the tomatoes and peppers in the creek garden. 24 eggs today. Betty rode Folly for the second time around the Mtn. and using the swamp route back with Bob riding Natchez. Folly is doing extremely well for a green-broke filly. Gus has been riding Natchez bareback and does very well. Bought 100 lbs, of laying mash.

Thursday, August 24, 1978

I cut hay in the flood plain. 22 or 23 eggs today. Weather was quite warm and partly cloudy. I watered tomatoes and cucumbers in the slope garden. The field corn is beginning to dry as indicated by some cobs having dry husks.

Friday, August 25, 1978

Betty and I have been riding almost every morning, she on Folly and I on Natchez. Yesterday I rode around the hill alone for the first time and today again. Froze 9 pts. of Cal Wonder peppers. Hauled in 4WB of hay. 25 eggs today.

Watermelon tally: (8-3) 3, (9-7) 1, (9-12) 1, (9-17) 1, (9-18) 1, (9-21 1, (9-23) 2, ((-25) 1, (9-27) 1, (10-1) 2

Saturday, August 26, 1978

I cut and shocked the corn in the slope garden. Don and I dug fence post holes on the B line fence. Weather is hot and dry-but warm and humid this morning. The field corn cobs are about a third dry-husked now. 17 eggs today.

Sunday, August 27, 1978

Betty and I rode this morning, but ther rain caught us as I was making Natchez mind. It rained quite hard with heavy thunderstorms this morning and evening, although we managed to cook a corn feast outside. 22 eggs today.

Monday, August 28, 1978

**Betty began her new teaching job at VSDB, It was a very hot and humid day. I weeded the parsnip and parsley. 20 eggs today.

Insect summary so far:

Flea beetles: bad at beginning of season, none now

Cabbage worm: very bad in mid-season (early July)

Potato beetle: moderately bad in mid-potato season

Asparagus beetle: slightly damaging

Japanese beetle: hardly any

Corn earworm: hardly any

Corn borer: slight damage

Blister beetle: bad on beet leaves

Bean beetle: bad in creek garden, few elsewhere

Grass hoppers: very many this year, but no obvious crop damage

Tuesday, August 29, 1978

Another warm, humid day.. I dug fence post holes on B's line, doing 2 in about an hour. I harvested some kidney beans from the creek garden. 21 eggs today.

Placed Leonardo back with the other goats-he had been trying to mount Gracie all this time, leading us to believe she might have come in heat several times in rapid successions. Unfortunately we don't know if he bred her or not. We had to keep them apart for 10 days! I dug post holes on B's line this very sultry morning and fixed the kidding pen with a higher barrier. The cucumbers planted in the slope garden and fertilized with manure are doing very well. 22 eggs today. I cut the roots around a wild peach tree sprout on the hill. The main trunk produced 2 small but tasty fruits this year. I hope to transplant itt to the orchard. sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Cantaloupe tally: (8-29) 2, (8-31) 2, (9-1) 1, (9-2) 2, (9-4) 2, (9-5) 5, (9-6 23, (9-7) 1, (9-8) 2, (9-9) 3, (9-10) 3, (9-11 ) 2, (9-12) 4, (9-13) 4, (9-14) 4, (9-15) 3, (9-16) 2, (9-17) 10, (9-18) 1, (9-19) 2, (9-20) 3, (9-21) 2, (9-22) 3, (9-23) 3, (9-25) 3

Thursday, August 31, 1978

Placed 4 posts on B's boundary. It's very warm and humid and threatening rain all day. Sold 4 doz. eggs a 70c a doz. -also gave away a bunch of fine cucvumbers from the slope garden with the eggs. Leonardo is mounting Gracie and his mother and had to be isolated, mostly in the chicken pen since he doesn't have his own yard yet. 24 eggs today.

Friday, September 1, 1978

23 eggs today. I cut brush along the hill road. Barbara ( Betty's visiting sister) and children arrived.

Saturday, September 2, 1978

With help of relatives, Gus, Don and I picked and hauled in (with pick-up) the field corn and sunflower heads. We also shocked most of the corn.

Sunday, September 3, 1978

Enjoyed guests, who rode horses yesterday and left this morning. I cut weeds and brush along the hill road. Betty and I rode this morning. 23 eggs today.

Monday, September 4, 1978

Gus and I cut and shocked 4 shocks of field corn stalks. I also harvested about a peck of soy bean pods. We got Candy back from Bates' after they borrowed her for about 2 weeks. 20 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 5, 1978

Excellent weather continues. I cut and shocked more corn in the hill field. I froze 4 qts. of green beans from the slope garden. 23 eggs today. I picked about another peck of soy bean pods this evening.

Wednesday, September 6, 1978

Cut brush along the hill road. Picked another peck of soy bean pods. 21 eggs today.

Thursday, September 7, 1978

Cut hay on flood plain and finished cutting brush on hill road. 17 eggs today.

Friday, September 8, 1978

Cut brush and grass with the scythe in north slope orchard. Noted honeybees on bush clover. Watered tomatoes and peppers in the creek garden, 31 eggs today. We ate at the Different Drummer after cashing Bob's royalty check from Springer.

Saturday, September 9, 1978

Bought a roll of woven wire and other items at the Farm Bureau, Hauled in 3 WB loads of hay from the flood plain. 31 eggs today. Betty and I canned 14 quarts of peaches-just like we canned tomatoes in that we didn't skin them. Bought 100 lbs of laying mash.

Sunday, September 10, 1978

After 90deg, heat the last week, it is somewhat cooler and cloudy today. I winnowed 7 qts. of soy beans and 2 quts. of kidney beans out, the latter from the creek garden. Gus and I cut and shocked more corn in the hill field and Don and Gus hauled in the shocks from the slope garden. 24 eggs today.

Monday, September 11, 1978

Sold 10 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Pulled a bag of soy bean plants and all for experiment in threshing rather than pods alone as before. 23 eggs today. The goats got into dried soy beans plants and some kidney beans, when door of stall was left open by mistake-now we're fearful of consequences. and have been checking them for bloat. We think the 3 adults and 5 young ate a total of about 3 quarts of beans and the associated bean straw. Cleaned stove and pipes.

Tuesday, September 12, 1978

The goats seem not to have suffered in the least from their overexposure to beans-but rather gave more milk than usual!Canned 7 qts. of VF and VF Roma tomatoes ( cold pack). These were particularly blemish-free. I pulled another feed bag of dried soy beans plants. 26 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 13, 1978

Light rain, drizzle and fog most of the day, but not enough to collect water in the creek. 24 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Thursday, September 14, 1978

A quite cool (~65deg.) day and cloudy. I began to build a sled for Natchez (my second attempt) and did some little work on Leonardo's fence for his yard. (former pig pen). Leaves of Virginia creeper and dogwoods are beginning to turn color. 21 eggs today.

Friday, September 15, 1978

Picked the last of the beans(pinto) from the creek garden and threshed out about 3lbs of kidney beans. I worked on the sledge some. 24 eggs today.

Betty made about 11 lbs of peach jam. I worked on the sledge some. 20 eggs today.

Sunday, September 17, 1978

I drained the water-logged pressure tank for the cistern water supply. Harvested another grain sack of soy beans (first of second planting) and threshed them out to get about 3 lbs. Betty and I rode around the hill once and then Gus and I (for first time) again. 20 eggs today. Weather has been hot and it is very dry. Picked last peach.

Monday, September 18, 1978

Very warm weather. I cut and shocked corn in the morning and pulled soy bean plants late that afternoon while they were very dry, getting another feed bag full. 19 eggs today. I gave Betty's old place of employment, the nursery, a large quantity of c ucumbers, tomatoes and 4 melons. My tomatoes in the slope garden were late this year but one of the best crops I ever had.

Tuesday, September 19, 1978

Another warm day. I cut and shocked more corn on the hill. Watered cucumbers in the slope garden. 15 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 20, 1978

Harvested the lst sweet corn from the creek garden and placed it in the smokehouse to dry with the rest. 24 eggs today. I continue to water in the slope garden-cucumbers, strawberries etc. Gus and I picked about a peck of crabapples. sold 8 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Thursday, September 21, 1978

Very hot and humid day. I shocked a little field[?] corn in the hill field and threshed out about 3 lb of soy beans. 16 eggs today. I also worked on the sledge.

Friday, September 22, 1978

Very hot and humid until this evening when we had a cold front and a moderately hard rain shower, the first in weeks. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, September 23, 1978

A cloudy day with slight drizzle. I mowed bush clover and brush in the north slope orchard. 19 eggs today.

Sunday, September 24, 1978

Betty and I rode around the hill. I mowed some more in the north slope orchard. We had at least 14 eggs today.

Monday, September 25, 1978

Sunny day, but not hot, very pleasant. I cut hay on the flood plain and worked on the sledge. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 26, 1978

Cut brush with the scythe in the north slope orchars. The boys and I hauled down 6 corn shocks in a load with the pick-up truck. 22 eggs today. Shaner came and took away about 24 supers of honey.

Wednesday, September 27, 1978

Temperature was 39deg, F this morning. I cut s some brush and weeds in the north slope orchard and pulled another feed bag of soy beans. 15 eggs today.

Thursday, September 28, 1978

A beautiful day. Sold 8 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 12 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and laying mash.

Friday, September 29, 1978

Temp. was 32deg, F with had frost on the flood plasin, but my tomatoes, peppers etc. were unharmed, although the leaves were a bit stiff. Canned 7 qts. of tomatoes. I dug all the sweet potatoes, which are large but slightly damaged by some creature which appreciated them before we! I brought some in and placed them behind the wood stove in a cardboard box. 16 eggs today.

Saturday, September 30, 1978

Betty made about 9 pts. of tomato jam. The boys and I hauled down the last 2 corn shocks and some wood. 23 eggs today.

Sunday, October 1, 1978

(Sunday) Another dry but cloudy day. Betty and I did some fencing. No record of egg production.

Monday, October 2, 1978

Cut some more cornon the hill and begun picking dried lima beans in the slope garden. Only 11 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 3, 1978

Made some more bundles of corn on the hill and picked more dried limas beans in the slope garden. 14 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 4, 1978

Betty had her students out. We had rain last night, but not much. 23 eggs today-but including several day's accumulation in the hay mow.

Thursday, October 5, 1978

We are thinking of buying 35 acres more of land across the road. Gus and I walked the boundary today. We hope to make an offer soon to Mr. Long, who owns it The land ( we used to call it "Shipe's Mtn. ") is the north slope of a high hill. It rained very lightly today. 9 eggs today.

Friday, October 6, 1978

I harvested most of the remaining peppers, ripe and some green tomatoes. The weather is turning colder. I'm still building the sledge using wooden pegs in part. Also I'm working on Leonardo's stall. 16 eggs today. Gus has increased the chicken feed by about a cup of mash.

Saturday, October 7, 1978

A cool, partly cloudy, windy day. Only 8 eggs.

Sunday, October 8, 1978

It would have frozen had it not been for clouds. It's a very fall-like day with dark gray clouds before a NW wind and patches of bright blue sky. Don and I wentto get honeysuckle for Leonardo, who is caged in the chicken fence. I worked at the sledge again. 15 eggs today. Since it is 36deg. F at 10 PM, Betty and I went to the creek garden and harvested the pumpkins and winter squash with flashlights!

Monday, October 9, 1978

Somebody stole our mountain (across the road), actually signed a contract on the property we were considering. We all felt glum. I worked on a gate for Leonardo's pen. I also pulled some more dry soy beans. 10 eggs today. It froze hard last night (~26deg. F) this morning and probably will again tonight.

Tuesday, October 10, 1978

Picked another feed bag of soy bean plants. It froze again. 8 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Wednesday, October 11, 1978

Froze again last night. I began to dig holes for fruit trees in the north slope orchard. Also worked on Leonardo's stall and began to build his outside gate, 7 eggs today.

Thursday, October 12, 1978

Dug holes for fruit trees in north slope orchard and cemented posts around place[?] Weather is very warm. 12 eggs today.

Friday, October 13, 1978

Another warm day. I worked on the sledge and continued to dig tree holes. Only 5 eggs today.

Saturday, October 14, 1978

It rained fairly hard during the night as a result of a cold front. I worked on the sledge. and Don and i cut some logs up on the hill. 8 eggs today.

Sunday, October 15, 1978

A very fall-like day with the leaves bright seemly overnight. Betty and I had a good ride with both horses-except Natchez was hard to catch. I worked on the sledge. 6 eggs today.

Monday, October 16, 1978

A cool, partly cloudy day with a little rain. I worked hard on the sledge, placing one green hickory runner with wedges. 8 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 17, 1978

8 eggs today. I worked on the gate. Bought 100 lbs of oats and mash.

Wednesday, October 18, 1978

8 eggs today. I dug tree holes and worked on the gate.

Thursday, October 19, 1978

Finished the gate for Leonardo's yard. Only 6 eggs today. I also finished digging tree holes.

Friday, October 20, 1978

8 eggs today. I finished the sledge runners and have only to place standards, floor and clevis.

Saturday, October 21, 1978

Don and I cut up a log (tree) on the hill and Gus, Don and I went to look at land this afternoon. Learned Uncle August, who is 92, is very sick. 9 eggs today.

Sunday, October 22, 1978

Betty and I rode. Natchez took me for a bit of a wild "hop" after Folly, who cut from the trail down to the swamp below. i managed to stop her after losing my hat. It was exciting-and informative-at least since I kept my skin! Don and I put another gate (wire temporary) on the hill field. 14 eggs today. Honey is in high heat.

Monday, October 23, 1978

i split up two tree trunks of logs on the hill. It was another beautiful but dry day. 7 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 24, 1978

We all brought down a load of wood with the pick-up But on the way up had an accident, a limb broke a window, which could have injured Gus in the seat beside me. 11 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 25, 1978

Another beautiful but dry day. Had the truck window fixed. The net damage of the other day's accident was about $35. 00. 7 eggs today.

Thursday, October 26, 1978

Betty stopped milking Gracie, who gave only a few spoon fulls. I finished filling the tree holes with good soil, containing more organic matter. The weather is very mild before an impending cold front. 9 eggs today + a nest of a dozen hidden in the barn.

Friday, October 27, 1978

Honey is in high heat again-more so than on the 22nd. Only 3 eggs today.

Saturday, October 28, 1978

Weather continues v3ery dry and sunny, 9 eggs today. Honey continues in heat. I worked on Leonardo's stall.

Sunday, October 29, 1978

Worked on Leonardo's pen. Honey showed less signs of heat than yesterday. 10 eggs today.

Monday, October 30, 1978

Continued to work on Leonardo's pen. The weather continues dry, bright and sunny with nightly frosts. I bought some hardwood (oak) boards (for sled) and 2X4s. 8 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash.

Tuesday, October 31, 1978

Gracie seemed in heat so I placed her in the chicken pen with Leonardo.. who appeared to zap her a number of times. However, later she didn't appear particularly in heat.. Also, Brandy showed signs of what may be mastitis. 8 eggs today. I continued to work on Leonardo's pen, making the inside gate. I also did a little on the sledge.

Wednesday, November 1, 1978

I worked on Leonardo's pen again. -and various other tasks. 9 eggs today. The weather continues about the same, perhaps a little milder.

Thursday, November 2, 1978

55 yrs. old today. Same weather as always. 6 eggs today. I finished Leonardo's pen and the boy goats all slept thee this evening.

Friday, November 3, 1978

8 eggs today.

Saturday, November 4, 1978

Started to build a keyhole manger in Leonardo's pen. 9 eggs today.

Sunday, November 5, 1978

9 eggs today. Don and I cut wood on the hill and I worked on Leonardo's manger.

Monday, November 6, 1978

Placed a post along B's boundary line and worked on Leonardo's manger. Only 3 eggs today.

Tuesday, November 7, 1978

Worked on Leonardo's manger and tried to dig another post hole. 9 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 8, 1978

We had a light rain last night, the first in many weeks, but it hardly helped our poor depleted cistern! I picked a number of excellent paste type tomatoes from the slope garden and which I had under a plastic sheet. Today I discovered another bit of vandalism to the old Chev. truck-a second severed line to the right rear brake-this the same wheel with a slashed tire. Apparently this also dates to Halloween night when a window on the truck was also broken. I fed corn stalks to the big goats this evening.

Thursday, November 9, 1978

Worked on Leonardo's manger and tried to dig more post holes, 5 eggs today.

Friday, November 10, 1978

Brandy may be in heat since she has been bleating lots today. I finished Leonardo's manger. (3 holes) and mounted the clevis on the sledge. 9 eggsd today.

Saturday, November 11, 1978

Another dry but beautiful sunny and warm day. I worked on the sledge. I don't know howe many eggs today.

Sunday, November 12, 1978

A partly cloudy day (Sunday). 9 eggs today. Don and I cut logs on the hill for firewood.

Monday, November 13, 1978

** Uncle August died and I inherited 17 acres of the old homestead in Wisconsin. Received Stark[H1] crimson Deliceous and Starklodi apple trees (one of each). Only 3 eggs today. Leonardo has diarrhea. Last night there was a very light rain. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Tuesday, November 14, 1978

Planted the above-mentioned apple trees in the north slope orchard. The Deliceous had very good looking roots and was a replacement for 2 others which had died in the same hole. I had soaked the roots the of these two trees planted today for about 20 hours. I had to carry lots of water up the hill since the soil is powder down to a foot or more.. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 15, 1978

Rain, although light, off and on all day.. Betty milked Honey this evening and got more than a pint, although she was free of her kids only since noon. Honey would probably give a gallon a day if it weren't for the kids. 6 eggs today.

Thursday, November 16, 1978

Rain off and on today-and heavy this night. I worked somewhat on the sledge but did a lot of reading and writing. 8 eggs today (one very small).

Friday, November 17, 1978

Rain again today-and cool (~50deg. F). Honey appears to be in heat again, apparently on schedule. Only 2 eggs today! I worked on the sledge a little.

Saturday, November 18, 1978

This was the day of the altercation with our neighbors, the---s, who were shooting illegally close to the road-and were stopped by us. Other neighbors also are sympathetic to them, and we fear vandalism. So Betty bought a pistol and slept in the barn part of the night. 6 eggs today. Don, Gus and I lugged wood to the trail.

Sunday, November 19, 1978

Don and I cut logs on the hill and Betty and I finished Leonardo's fence. The weather was very pleasant and sunny, but frosts occur each night. 6 eggs today.

Monday, November 20, 1978

Finished Leonardo's gate and cut some wood on the hill. 3 eggs today. Betty is milking mornings and evenings now. We practiced pistol shooting this afternoon.

Tuesday, November 21, 1978

I had a bad cold and didn't do much, but placed a lock on Leonardo's outer gate and cut some wood on the hill. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 22, 1978

Cleaned stove. 4 eggs today.

Thursday, November 23, 1978

(Thanksgiving) The boys and I hauled down a pick-up load of wood before the rain began. I also killed a chicken. 4 eggs today.

Friday, November 24, 1978

The baby goats have been weaned fo about a week. Repaired light on barn, fixed fence, sawed a lot of firewood and went shopping etc. 7 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Saturday, November 25, 1978

i began to cut brush on the back field. I transplanted a clone from the wild peach (yielding small, sweet peaches) into the north slope orchard. 3 eggs today.

Sunday, November 26, 1978

Hauled down another pick-up load of wood, mostly cherry. We had our first snow today. 6 eggs today.

Monday, November 27, 1978

It rained all night on top of about an inch of snow, but the ground is still white this morning. 3 eggs today. I dis a little work on the sledge, read ore wrote most of the morning.

Tuesday, November 28, 1978

Mostly I sawed up stove wood, did chores etc., including Leonardo's usual bag of honeysuckle and coral berry brush. We began to feed the horses grain and alfacorn [NOTE**]. 9 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 29, 1978

Heavy rain this afternoon. Only one egg today. Bought 100 lb each of corn and mash.

Partially cloudy day. Brandy appears to be in heat. I began to harvest walnuts today. 9 eggs today. Note; Many trees have no walnuts this year but there's a heavy crop of hickory nuts.

Friday, December 1, 1978

Scheduled brush cutting-and gathering some for Leonardo-continued on back field. Also picked and shucked more walnuts, as well as sawed and split a lot of stove wood. 5 eggs today.

Saturday, December 2, 1978

4 eggs today Bought 100 lb of oats.

Sunday, December 3, 1978

Don and I cut wood on the hill. 3 eggs today and rain this evening. Gus cut my hair for the first time.

Monday, December 4, 1978

7 eggs today. I picked hickory nuts.

Tuesday, December 5, 1978

Heavy rain last night. 5 eggs 6oday.

Wednesday, December 6, 1978

Had truck window fixed and ate out with Hoagie[Betty's other name'. 3 eggs today. I hauled 3 WB loads of chicken manure to the slope garden, where I made the usual winter pile.

Thursday, December 7, 1978

Honey is in heat and I placed her with Leonardo most of the day. We had rain this afternoon. 7 eggs today.

Friday, December 8, 1978

Honey was out of heat this morning. I hauled 2 more loads of manure, consisting of part chicken, but mostly goat. I also picked some more black walnuts. 4 eggs today.

Saturday, December 9, 1978

Rain this morning and then turned colder this evening. 5 eggs today. Don and I cut some logs on the hill for firewood. Gus and I finally fixed a fence around the orchard that Natchez had stretched. The weather has turned very cold this evening. 4 eggs today.

Sunday, December 10, 1978

4 eggs today. The weather is quite cold (-14deg. F) this morning.

Monday, December 11, 1978

I split logs on the hill. 6 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 12, 1978

Cut some brush on the back field. 6 eggs today. The nights are cold and clear, the days sunny but cool.

Wednesday, December 13, 1978

The weather is gradually warming. I lugged split logs to the road on the hill. 4 eggs today.

Thursday, December 14, 1978

I cut some logs for firewood on the hill. 5 eggs today. I also did some spading in the garden.

Friday, December 15, 1978

6 eggs today.

Saturday, December 16, 1978

Hauled down a load of wood and Don and I sawed logs[with crosscut saw, as usual] to finish making another load. 3 eggs today.

Sunday, December 17, 1978

"Our mountain came back"- learned that our neighbor tried to buy it for full price, but the deal fell through, so we have made an offer of $800 per acre, Don and I hauled down another load of wood-so we are well supplied for a while. 7 eggs today.

Monday, December 18, 1978

i placed a fence post using concrete. 8 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 19, 1978

We turned Chev and Von into chevon by having them slaughtered and cut up at the Augusta Frozen Food Co[op. only one egg today. I spaded some more garden.

Wednesday, December 20, 1978

Brandy came in heat and we took her to Knopps and bred her to Mr. Midnight. I dug a post hole. 8 eggs today.

Thursday, December 21, 1978

Brandy was still in heat till noon and I spadedf in the garden again. 9 eggs today.

Friday, December 22, 1978

5 eggs today. Hoagie and I ate out and went shopping-a rare event for us!

Saturday, December 23, 1978

I dug carrots today. 10 eggs today.

Sunday, December 24, 1978

11 eggs today. It rained quite hard off and on most of the day.

Monday, December 25, 1978

7 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 26, 1978

Don and I hauled 2 pick-up loads of manure for stock piling from Furr's livestock yard about 4 miles from here. 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 27, 1978

I hauled another load of manure at $2. 50 a load. 10 eggs today.

Thursday, December 28, 1978

Weather is quite cold now with night temps. in the teens and days in the 30s. 12 eggs today. We had a feast on one of our last 3 white hens.

Friday, December 29, 1978

The weather continues cold 6eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Saturday, December 30, 1978

Hauled trash to the landfill with the boy's help. Don and I cut up a walnut log on the hill as well as some firewood. 15 eggs today. We're having a light drizzle this evening. So far the weather has not been very severe for this time of year.

Sunday, December 31, 1978

14 eggs today. Rainy, warm weather.

Monday, January 1, 1979

, 1979.

Tuesday, January 2, 1979

16 eggs today. Very cold weather and I have sinus trouble..

Wednesday, January 3, 1979

Very cold last night and all day with minimum of ~3deg. F. 16 eggs today.

Thursday, January 4, 1979

We ate our first chevon [goat meat] this evening. About a dozen eggs today.

Friday, January 5, 1979

18 eggs today.

Saturday, January 6, 1979

We had our first light snow last night and this evening it is raining. 8 eggs today.

Sunday, January 7, 1979

Heavy rains but fairly mild weather. 16 eggs today. We had an excellent goat stew made by Hoagie + excellent Gussie cookies.

Monday, January 8, 1979

Cleaned chimney, stove pipe and stove. I also cut saplings in the north slope orchard and back field. 17 eggs today. After a pleasant, sunny day it is turning very cold this evening. The 2 milking goats Brandy and Honey now give us about a total of 1. 5 quarts of milk a day.

Tuesday, January 9, 1979

Cut also cut some poles for general purpose construction wood (white oak). 9 eggs today. We dined on "leg of kid", baked potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, goat milk, blackberry jam and sassafras tea. -all from our place. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and alfacorn.

Wednesday, January 10, 1979

Cut some more poles for general purposes. 15 eggs + a nest of 7 were found today.

Thursday, January 11, 1979

!2 eggs today. I was shot at (shotgun) by Brian Bellanger, our neighbor (not nearest) while cutting poles near his boundary! Called the Sheriff.

Friday, January 12, 1979

12 eggs today. Got the authorities to warn B. B., but didn't press charges. It's sleeting this evening.

Saturday, January 13, 1979

Sleet and mild weather. 22 eggs today. Gus gathered leaves to cover strawberries.

Sunday, January 14, 1979

17 eggs today. Weather has turned cold.

Monday, January 15, 1979

22 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 16, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. The bees were out with the temps in the 50s (in the sun). 19 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 17, 1979

19 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Thursday, January 18, 1979

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. 17 eggs today.

Friday, January 19, 1979

I cut a few firewood sticks down from the storm and had lunch in town with Betty. 21 eggs today.

Saturday, January 20, 1979

Heavy rains and ice storm all day and evening. We had some leaks over the boy's beds. 21 eggs today.

Sunday, January 21, 1979

(Sunday) We had a considerable flood today, so that about half the flood plain was covered. Also, the ice condition on trees continued. We allowed the horses oin the flood plain hay field last night, the first time this winter. ~12 eggs today.

Monday, January 22, 1979

Don and I (boys had no school) lugged down limbs to the traiol for firewood. 20 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 23, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 24 eggs today. Bought 125 gallons of fuel oil at 52. 5c a gallon.

Wednesday, January 24, 1979

We had another mild ice storm and much rain. 16 eggs today. Later in the day the sun shown and the bees were out flying far and wide.

Thursday, January 25, 1979

I finished freeing[?] the cob-corn sunflowers raised by me, having given some to the chickens and sometimes goats, approximately equal to a regular feeding, but at noon for about 3 weeks. 18 eggs today. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz.

Friday, January 26, 1979

I cut a few more downed limbs for firewood. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, January 27, 1979

Betty and I drove to Mr. Martin's shop in Dayton to pick up Natchez's harness (including lines, collar, ?, bridle and singletree ), for which all we paid about $170, which we considered a good buy. 19 eggs today. It is snowing quite heavily this evening after a bright and sunny day.

Sunday, January 28, 1979

We had about 2 inches of snow, which mostly melted away in the bright sun today. We had 18 eggs today. I had to milk the goats because Hoagie had the flu.

Monday, January 29, 1979

A fairly pleasant day above freezing in temp. 23 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 30, 1979

Sold 6 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. We have been selling all our eggs to individuals at VSDB since the hens started laying well again. Three Great Pileated woodpeckers, all together, startled me on the hill as with a great clamor the searched among the small (~30' tall) mockernut hickories. 13 eggs today. I'm making a rack with wooden pegs for the harness, bridle etc.

Wednesday, January 31, 1979

I threw out most of the remaining sweet potatoes which I had not fed the animals since they were partly rotten. 23 eggs today.

Thursday, February 1, 1979

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a dozen. 14 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats, mash and alfacorn.

Friday, February 2, 1979

A bright, sunny but cool day. (t< 30deg. F Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. 24 eggs today.

Saturday, February 3, 1979

We managed to get the harness on Candy (who was calm), but not Natchez yet. However, it required adjustments, which caused us to break a hook-we now wait for replacement by mail. 15 eggs today

Sunday, February 4, 1979

(Sun.) trimmed some branches left from last years ice storm and cut up some logs from the last flood. 21 eggs today. Honey only gives a minute amount of milk now, and since Brandy only has one good udder, we now get only half quart or less of milk per milking. Betty intends to quit milking soon. Although Gracie is pregnant, there is no sign the other two are yet. We have been feeding the horses twice a day 9two dishes) each of corn and oats and 3 dishes of alfacorn per feeding.

Monday, February 5, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Weather is cold and clear. 15 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Tuesday, February 6, 1979

20 eggs today. I cut up some ice storm debris for firewood.

Wednesday, February 7, 1979

Heavy snow (~6' total) fell beginning last midnight and continued through morning. We now feed the horses an extra feeding of ~6 dishes of alfacorn at noon + a corn nce the pasture is covered. 20 eggs today. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Thursday, February 8, 1979

A bright, sunny cold day. 19 eggs today.

Friday, February 9, 1979

It was snowing heavily thi morning but stopped shortly and turned into a beautifl sunny but cold day. 16 eggs today. At 10:30 PM it is 0deg. F, the coldest day of the winter so far! Bought 3-50lb bags of alfacorn. **Note : A Mead Rheams has made the Mountain go away again!

Saturday, February 10, 1979

It was -1deg. F this morning and the pump froze till I thawed it with a light. We stopped milking Honey and now get a quart a day or a little less from Brandy. We now buy a little milk. The Mountain escaped from us again-due to the seller raising the price to $38000 and a nasty real-estate Co. We had offered $900/acre for the 35 acres. 19eggs today.

Sunday, February 11, 1979

T=-2deg. F this morning. ~18 eggs today.

Monday, February 12, 1979

We had further light snow(~1') and it continued cold. 20eggs today.

Tuesday, February 13, 1979

Brandy is difficult to milk now as she doesn't seem to want to get on the stand. 15 eggs today. For about a week now we have been feed ing the goats 3 dishes of alfacorn (dish for each) a day. (the 3 adult does only).

Wednesday, February 14, 1979

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, February 15, 1979

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. We have freezing rain.. 21 eggs today. Hoagie slept at the Jackson Hotel because of.

Friday, February 16, 1979

17 eggs today. I cut a few ice storm-damaged and bent white oak saplings for general purpose wood. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash and 150 lbs of alfacorn.

Saturday, February 17, 1979

Betty and I put the harn4ess on Candy and used the single tree and log chain to bring up a few logs for the first time. Unfortunately Folly and Natchez cavorted wildly and Candy ran away-although only to thee fence. The singletree fortunately became unhooked from the harness. All in all however, it was a good beginning. 17 eggs today. It was -1deg. F ythis morning and tonight it may get even colder.

Sunday, February 18, 1979

Heavy snow this afternoon (~5"), Betty made 5. 5 quts. of mead. We also sampled the mead made some time ago and found it wonderful (Gus' description). 19 eggs today.

Monday, February 19, 1979

We had a total of about 8" of snow. I had to clean off the NW side of the house roof to prevent damage to the gutter. Hoagie walked to work again[~6 mi. ?}. We are having a very severe February. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 20, 1979

T=-2deg. F this morning. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.. 19 eggs today. It turned out to be a beautifu sunny day and a lot of snow melted. We are now milking Brandy only once a day (evenings) and she gives a little over a pint.

Wednesday, February 21, 1979

First big thaw of the winter today, and most of the snow on the south facing slopes is gone. Many birds are now here (Robins etc.), but no Redwings yet. 16 eggs today.

Thursday, February 22, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Cleaned the wood stove system. It's a beautiful, quite warm day, the finest since last fall. 17 eggs today.

Friday, February 23, 1979

Sold 3 doz. eggs a 70c a doz. 20 eggs today. Weather is mild with light rain off and on during the day. Gus won first prize at the school science Fair, showing the effect of pH on soy bean growth. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats and two 50 lb bags of alfacorn.

Saturday, February 24, 1979

Heavy rains all day. 23 eggs today. We have eliminated the horse's noon alfacorn feeding.

Sunday, February 25, 1979

Heavy rain all day. 16 eggs today.

Monday, February 26, 1979

Frozen rain and snow off and on all day. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 18 eggs today. About a week ago I eliminated the chicken's noon feeding except for days like today.

Tuesday, February 27, 1979

SWold one doz. eggs for 70c. 19 eggs today. It turned out to be a pleasant sunny day in the afternoon. I did some pruning and roof repair. **Redwing Blackbirds have arrived.

Wednesday, February 28, 1979

A beautiful sunny day. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, March 1, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Placed my first seeds (Cayenne peppers) to soak-trying to avoid spindle effect by planting later this year.

Friday, March 2, 1979

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. 20 eggs today. Temp. was ~70deg. F this afternoon-a most beautiful spring day all day.

Saturday, March 3, 1979

Betty and I had Candy pull a good load of logs and try out the sledge. (with Betty and Don on). Candy did a good job and we really accomplished something.. In the afternoon Don and I cut down 2 ice-damaged red oaks for next year's wood. 20 eggs today.

Sunday, March 4, 1979

It rained off and on all day. 23 eggs today.

Monday, March 5, 1979

Heavy rain off and on all last night and part of today, but the temperature is in the 60s. 19 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 6, 1979

18 eggs today. The grass has been growing quite rapidly in south exposures. Sold doz. eggs for 70c. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and alfacorn.

Wednesday, March 7, 1979

The goats grazed in the goat pasture for the first time this year. We also placed Leonardo with the does this afternoon. It has been a beautiful day and Betty (who is on week's vacation) and I had a picnic on the hill. We had 28 eggs today..

Thursday, March 8, 1979

We had light to moderate rain most of the day, and it was cool. 21 eggs today.

Friday, March 9, 1979

A beautiful day. A flock of about 60 geese flew over toward the north, a spectacular sight. Betty and I worked with Natchez and Candy. 21 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Saturday, March 10, 1979

Sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Betty and I skidded logs down using Candy. She gave us a rather hard time out of sight of the other horses, but we hope to improve her by training. 23 eggs today.

Sunday, March 11, 1979

Don and I cut 2 trees for next year's firewood. The weather has turned cold. Betty has stopped milking Brandy-essentially. 27 eggs today. I hauled 2 WB loads of goat manure to the slope garden.

Monday, March 12, 1979

A fairly fine day. 22 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 13, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 23 eggs today + a nest of 10.

Wednesday, March 14, 1979

Light rain and turned cooler. 24 2ggs today. Brandy is dried up.

Thursday, March 15, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. A cool day, but sunny.

I cut brush in the back pasture. 26 eggs today.

Friday, March 16, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 23 eggs today.

Saturday, March 17, 1979

Betty and I harnessed up Natchez today and she was good. Betty also helped me cut down two trees since Don was ill. It was a beautiful day. 24 eggs today.

Sunday, March 18, 1979

A very beautiful day with temperatures in the 60s. We all rode the horses and also harnessed Natchez and had her pull her first log in this manner-and under trying circumstances with our silly neighbor purposefully taking up his gun and trying to frighten the horse, but it didn't work and she was calm for the most part. I also spaded in the slope garden. 23 eggs today. We also noted that the bees (Shaner's) didn't winter as well as we thought with only about half of hives active. But they are already bringing in pollen!

Monday, March 19, 1979

A beautiful day. I cut some brush in the back pasture and worked on the harrow, which will have hickory teeth in oak beams because I couldn't get iron. 17 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 20, 1979

Another beautiful day.. I took Feather and Velvet down to be slaughtered today. Live weight was120 lbs for both together. Weather was excellent. I prepared ground in the slope garden for onions and spinach. 29 eggs today.

Wednesday, March 21, 1979

Planted onions (white and yellow) and Bloomsdale Longstanding spinach in the slope garden over Chicken-goat manure mixture.. 23 eggs today. Betty and I had a bad time over an improper warrant secured by our neighbors, but had it lifted when our lawyer threatened to sue.

Thursday, March 22, 1979

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted peas, a row of Wandows and a 20' row of Burpee's Blue Bantam. No fertilizer was used. 30 eggs today.

Friday, March 23, 1979

Had first dandelions for lunch. 24 eggs today. I'm beginning to reduce the horse feed ( from 3 to 2 dishes of alfacorn + 2 dishes each of oats and corn). Also one dish less of mash for the chickens each day. I cut some small Virginia pines on the back pasture. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, March 24, 1979

Hard rain showers most of last night and part of the day. Betty, Gus and I put the bee hive together. 19 eggs today. The grass is really "greening" after the night's rain. We have not been feeding hay to the goats for more than a week now and it is almost gone anyway.

Sunday, March 25, 1979

Don and I cut a large red oak and a smaller white oak for next year's wood. The horses seem to have dropped their evening feeding. We took the goats around the hill twice today. 24 eggs today. We roasted our last of Chev and Von except for liver and now await the other goat meat, which will be ready the 29th. The weather turned cool, but I noticed that some peach and other buds are swelling, perhaps due to the warm spell of last week.

Monday, March 26, 1979

Noted by Don: An insect or nymph (stonefly?) eats mosquito larvae (in his jars of collected water). This may explain the few of the insects we have. [Note* In addition of the low mosquito densities most everywhere on our property, we also boast a very low density of other troublesome insects such as house flies and cockroaches. We believe their virtual absence in our dwelling results in part from our kindness to spiders.] I planted a Stanky prune tree. 26 eggs today. The weather has turned quite cold tonight. Sold a doz. eggs for 70c.

Tuesday, March 27, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted 21' double row of garlic over chicken-goat manure. 22 eggs today.

Wednesday, March 28, 1979

Betty wormed the horses (medicine:) I cut Virginia pine in the back pasture. Gracie had 2 kids (Albert + Alberta, after A. Einstein). She had a hard time., Betty having to turn Alberta before she could come out-all in the presence of thr Matheneys, who had wanted to be present. Unfortunately Gracie doesn't accept her kids well and we might have to bottle-feed them. She also dose not act normal in other respects and we called the vet, although he hasn't come by 10:15 PM. 24 eggs today.

Thursday, March 29, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. The kids seem OK except that Alberta can't hold up her head very well. Gracie only eats a little and is still attempting to expel part of the placenta. She lies around a lot and is difficult to bring to her feet. Betty milked her some and let the young suck. "Albert" turned out to be another female! Also, Dr. Marson came this noon and extracted a large dead buck from Gracie, who had been sinking fast. The buck had begun to rot. He gave her a Combiotic, calcium etc. and charged $30. I gave him a doz. eggs. He told us to give Gracie 5cc Combiotic a day (minimum) for 5 days or so. and wash off her vagina with soapy water. 13 eggs today.

Friday, March 30, 1979

Gracie died last night and we are sad. She was a light-hearted goat, a good mother and always wanted to be in the herd. Planted a 27' row of Salad Bowl lettuce over chicken-goat manure and covered with compost. "Chocolate" (formerly Albert) is now the sole survivor of Gracie's family here and we are feeding her last year's colostrum, which we froze. She demands many feedings a day (~5 ) and only eats a little at a time-so each feeding takes a while too. 28 eggs today. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 70c a doz.

Saturday, March 31, 1979

A beautiful spring day. Everyone is playing with Chocolate. Planted 25' row of Sugar Snap peas using "nitrogen" and no fertilizer. I placed post and twine trellis for them. Don and I cut and piled in gully (erosion stoppers) Virginia pines on back pasture. I also spaded the slope garden. The temp. has been ~80deg. F today. 25 eggs today.

Sunday, April 1, 1979

Betty and I had Natchez skid a log all the way from the back pasture and on the way a neighbor deliberately shot and frightened her so that she got one rear leg tangled in the trace chain. We had quite a time getting her hooked up again. Betty almost was killed. in the accident. The incident was part of the general troubles we are having from opposing the paint and body shop of this neighbor.. 19 eggs today. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Our chickens have been treating us well as we have sold 30 doz. eggs in the past 3 weeks. We appear to be clearing about 6 dollars a week on them if what we eat is taken into account.

Monday, April 2, 1979

We are feeding the horses only a little grain now (~2 dishes). I prepared 4 rows for potatoes, placing manure in trenches as usual. I also hauled a half pick-up load of manure to the creek garden. 23 eggs today. The spinach is coming up nicely in the slope garden.

Tuesday, April 3, 1979

Quite heavy rain most of the day-that prevent having the high field plowed. I cut potato sets using my own potatoes-which are heavily sprouted now. 27 eggs today. 27 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 4, 1979

It rained most of the day. 19 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Thursday, April 5, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. A clear, cool day. 25 eggs today. I worked on the harrow drilling holes for wooden teeth.

Friday, April 6, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Spaded the garden and worked on the harrow. 21 eggs today. We got a bantam hen and rooster from some of Gus' friends.

Saturday, April 7, 1979

It was 21deg. F this morning. Betty got her bees and placed them in the hive. Betty, on the advice of Shaner, put the bees in in the morning (sunny day). A jar of sugar solution (1/1) was placed in hive entrance. Planted a 45' row of shallots (my own cloves) in the slope garden, using no fertilizer. I also planted four 40' rows of Kennebec potatoes, using my own sets over trenches with chicken-goat manure. 24 eggs today, including one bantam egg! We stopped feeding our horses about 3 days ago because they didn't come anymore. Bought 25 lb milk replacement for $9. 25 and 100 lbs of mash.

Sunday, April 8, 1979

Spaded garden and worked on harrow. Betty and I also spent a lot of time watching the bees. 21 eggs today..

Monday, April 9, 1979

Sold 3 doz, eggs at 70c a doz.

Tuesday, April 10, 1979

Planted 30' rows of Ruby lettuce over cow manure and Hollow Crown parsnip (no fertilizer) in the creek garden. 23 eggs today. Shaner's bees are dying apparently from lack of food. It is depressing to see them now in one hive at least coming out of the hive and falling to the ground in a greatly weakened condition.

Wednesday, April 11, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I spaded in the garden and worked on the harrow. 23 eggs today.

Thursday, April 12, 1979

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. Our bees are bringing in a deep orange pollen. Another neighbor shot at us so that the bullet ricocheted off a Mueller's Mtn. rock while Betty and I were walking the goats. We obtained an arrest warrant with the trial set for May 8. Betty did a first. She opened the bee hive to take the bee cage out and place more foundation frames. The bees were very good, nobody got stung and Betty was good too. We were impressed at the amount of comb made since we placed them in the hive. Gus caught a drone (for what reason I don't know).

Friday, April 13, 1979

rain most of the day. 21 eggs today. I did very little work on the harrow.

Saturday, April 14, 1979

I worked at the harrow and weeded the garden a little. 24 eggs today + 5 bantam eggs in a nest.

Sunday, April 15, 1979

Planted a 15' row of Moss Curled parsley in the creek garden over cow manure. I also spaded in the creek garden-surprisingly after the rain. 14 eggs today.

Monday, April 16, 1979

Spaded the creek garden and worked on the harrow. 26 eggs today. Weather is cool.

Tuesday, April 17, 1979

Light frost last night-not enough to harm blossoms. Sold 4 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. I hauled a pick-up load of goat manure litter from the goat stable to the hill field and finished the harrow. ~21 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 18, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Hauled a load of cow manure to the hill field.. Planted 28' row of spinach in slope garden over chicken manure. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, April 19, 1979

Charles Varner Jr. plowed the hill field today. He wanted only $18, but i gave him $23. 21 eggs today.

Friday, April 20, 1979

Prepared six 50' rows for potatoes in the hill field, trenching in goat manure. (~1/2 pick-up load). I also spaded in the slope garden. 18 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c.

Saturday, April 21, 1979

We have switched to feeding Chocolate 3 times a day. (a pt. each) from 4 times (feeding milk replacement). She also started to chew her cud today. Hauled a load of (fresh!) manure from the Furrs at $4. 00 a load (up from $2. 50) and brought down a pick-up load of firewood. I also spaded the garden and finally foxed the over-a-year-ago-ice-storm-damaged-wire to the carriage shed. Also, Forager attacked Don viciously and left three deep punctures in his leg. 19 eggs today.

Sunday, April 22, 1979

Betty and I tried to work Natchez to get her to pull the harrow in the hill field. We managed to have her pull it up there with me leading and her on the lines. But on the field ewe went very different, refusing to hold still long enough for us to hook her up. It's plain thart we will have to work lots more and approach it more slowly if we are to get her to a serviceable work horse. I also did a fair amount of spading in the gardens. Noted a worm like that which got on the parsnip year before last, eating off Salad Bowl lettuce in the slope garden. Betty caught 10 nice fish, the llargest 8. 5 inches long.. 18 eggs today. First Whippoorwill sounded this evening. We saw a turkey toke off on Mueller's Mtn.

Monday, April 23, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Planted 30' row of peas 1/2 Blue Bantam and 1/2 Wando. in the creek garden (no fertilizer). 16 eggs today. Gus caught 8 fish, which we ate for breakfast.

Tuesday, April 24, 1979

I spread manure an leveled about 1/6 of the hill field corn pastch. I also planted one 50' row of potatoes (edge row) on the hill foeld, using my own sets. But today Betty bought seed (certified) potatoes for the rest of the patch. We had asparagus for supper. 22 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash and 50lbs of alfacorn.

Leveled and manured another 1/6 of the corn patch and this afternoon hauled another pick-up load of WR cow manure to the field.. I also brought down a load of wood. 17 eggs today. Sold a doz. eggs for 70c.

Thursday, April 26, 1979

It has been raining but I planted a 30' band of Red-cored Chantenay carrots in the slope garden using no fertilizer but covering with horse manure compost in a thin layer as usual. The potatoes in this garden are beginning to come up. However the worms have gotten almost every one of my Salad Bowl lettuce plants! 19 eggs today.

Friday, April 27, 1979

Heavy rain last night. We had a fish feast for breakfast (mostly caught by Betty lasdt evening). Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted a 15' row of Salad Bowl lettuce in the creek garden over manure. I bought and hauled ($4. 00) another load of cow manure from Furr's livestock and had to unload it since I couldn't haul it up the hill yet because of wet ground. This also is for corn. 22 eggs today.

Saturday, April 28, 1979

Hauled another $4. 00 pick-up load of fresh manure from Furrs and unloaded it here. Planted the last of the potatoes in the hill field over goat manure 4 abd1/2 were "Maine" potatoes and 0ne and 1/2 [I don't understand these numbers.] my own Kennebecs from last year. 17 eggs today.

Sunday, April 29, 1979

I spread and leveled on the high field and spaded in the creek garden. 20 eggs today. It was 28deg. f this morning and some early strawberry blossoms froze-as did the grape buds again!

Monday, April 30, 1979

It was 31deg. F this morning. I spread manure and leveled on the hill field, finishing about 1/2 the field so far. I also hauled another load of fresh cow manure up. 30 eggs today incl. a nest of 3.

Tuesday, May 1, 1979

Spread manure and leveled on corn patch and hauled a load of fresh cow manure up. 21 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 2, 1979

31deg. F this morning! and the few strawberry blossomsS must have frozen since I didn't cover them last night.

Thursday, May 3, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted 34 Stonehead Hybrid cabbage (in quite small plants) over goat manure. i spread manure and leveled in the hill corn patch. 23 eggs today.

Friday, May 4, 1979

Rain off and on last night and continuing today. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 25 eggs today.

Saturday, May 5, 1979

Leveled and manured corn field on hill and same for corn patch in slope garden. Planted 2-30' rows of "Hybrid" cabbage over cow manure in creek garden. 27 eggs today. Spinach is doing well in slope garden and we ate a good salad of it for supper.

Sunday, May 6, 1979

Planted about 1/3 of the field corn patch with boy's help. Planted a 30' row of Bibb lettuce = Cherry Belle radish combination in the Creek garden over cow WR cow manure. 25 eggs today.

Monday, May 7, 1979

Honey had 3 buck kids named "mate", for May, "Seven" and "Bug" since there was a June bug buzzing while he was born. All seem well as I write this at 8:00 in the morning. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. A beetle about 1/2 inch in length, orange with a wide black stripe down its back is now feeding in great numbers on certain plants, esp. members of the rose family in the woods. June berry seems to have the most, but it is also attacking apple trees with considerable enthusiasm. We have also seen it on hazelnut. I continued to plant field corn. 24 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 8, 1979

Quite warm weather. I did another patch of corn planting and am almost finished with the hill patch. I watered lettuce etc. in the creek garden and spinach (very nice) in the slope garden. Honey seems to have a very slight case of mastitis in her right udder and we started shots of Combiotic this evening. 29 eggs today. Betty put a full-sized super on our bees and transferred one frame from the brood hive to this super. It was impressive how many bees were on the frame. The bees seem to be doing very well.

Wednesday, May 9, 1979

Finished spreading manure and leveling for the corn pstch. 23 eggs tody.

Thursday, May 10, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Finished planting the field corn patch with my own Longfellow Flint. [But would this breed true if this means I kept part of the crop for seeds ?] Note one nectarine flower was fertilized but something destroyed it. The black striped beetles are also on pear trees but to a minor degree. They are now copulating and seem to be less abundant. 24 eggs today. Light rain this evening and it's very warm and humid.

Friday, May 11, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted a patch of six-36 ft rows of sweet corn, half Golden Cross Bantam and half Trucker's Favorite in the slope garden over scattered combination of goat and chicken manure. I also watered spinach and cabbage in the slope garden. I did this planting and watering in about an hour. We had heavy rains and thundershowers this afternoon, 24 eggs today. We gave Honey her last Combiotic shot this evening.

Saturday, May 12, 1979

We disbudded Honey's 3 bucks today. the weather is hot and humid with constantly threatening thundershowers. 24 eggs today.

Sunday, May 13, 1979

We tried to castrate Honey's bucks, but their testicles had not dscended enough (apparently). It's very rainy and warm. Some creature is eating the leaves on the cabbage in the slope garden at a great rate. We are amazed at the way our bees are going out on such a rainy day. Betty continues to feed them syrup and this appears to have greatly strengthened the colony. We had very heavy rain this afternoon. The first planted field corn is up about an inch now. 26 eggs today.

Monday, May 14, 1979

It's too wet to do any crop work except weed. We had 20 or more eggs.

Tuesday, May 15, 1979

Still too wet to work much in the garden, but I hoed the cabbage in the creek garden, which is lighter soil. I also cleaned out the smokehouse and placed the new harness rack in as well. 31 eggs today. A short shower thisd evening.

Wednesday, May 16, 1979

I spread manure and leveled a 75' x 600 ? patch for sunflowers on the hill field. The weather has turned cool and dry after a cold front. All the striped beetles on the rose family trees have vanished leaving only slight damage. I cut the front yard [formerly lawn] for hay. 26 eggs today.

Thursday, May 17, 1979

Sold 6 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. I finnished cutting the yard hay. 23 eggs today.

Friday, May 18, 1979

A little warmer than yesterday morning when it froze very lightly east of our property on low ground. Planted Black Stripe sunflowers on the hill field after working in partly cow (~fresh) and goat (WR) manure. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted one 50' + one 20' row of Burpee's Stringless bush beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer. 21 eggs today.

Saturday, May 19, 1979

Rain, completely unpredicted and unexpected in the appearance of a warm front. This will foul up the yard hay! Planted 50' row + 20' row of Black Turtle beans (dry beans from Johnny's Selected Seeds) in the slope garden using no fertilizer, but inoculant. I also planted a 30' row of the same beans in the creek garden using the same treatment. I also leveled in the hill field for dry beans.

Sunday, May 20, 1979

It has turned warmer and I planted 175' of my own kidney beans in the hill field using no fertilizer, but inoculant. Don and I hauled in 5 WB loads of hay from the front yard. It seems good quality despite being rained on. 25 eggs today. i set out the first 3 tomato plants in the slope garden.

Monday, May 21, 1979

Planted eight 125' rows of my own Traverse soy geans [Will these bean seeds breed true?] 2 ft. apart in the hill field using no fertilizer but inoculant. This took me about 2 hours doing all by hand. Several days ago I noted potato beetles copulating in the slope garden and killed them. Planted a 30' single row of Detroit Dark Red beets in the creek garden using no fertilizer. 25 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Tuesday, May 22, 1979

Planted two more 125' rows of Traverse soy beans in the hill field + leveled new ground. The field corn is doing very well with a very high germination rate. Some stalks are now 6" high. Brandy had two does, an easy birth and very convenient yhis evening so that Hoagie could officiate. 20 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 23, 1979

Replanted some Trucker's Favorite corn in the slope garden that had been planted May 11 and failed to germinate. Brandy and kids are doing well. 26 egghs today.

Thursday, May 24, 1979

Heavy rain last night and light rain off and on today. We're beginning to get a little goat milk again. The blackberry and dewberry bushes are in bloom and the bees are on them. 25eggs today. I did some weeding.

Friday, May 25, 1979

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. We had more heavy rain last night for probably more than an inch total in the last two days. replanted some of the Golden Cross Bantam in the slope garden. The potato vines in the slope garden are nearly full size Brandy has her. dermatitis (udder oustules) back and we treated with alcohol and desedin. 20 eggs today. it has turned quite cool-hope no front! I cut a little hay in the slope garden.

Saturday, May 26, 1979

Very cool weather, with temp. high of only 57deg. F today. Betty placed a rubber band on Mate and Seven but not on Bug since his testes had not descended quite enough. Brandy gives us about 2 quarts of milk in addition to feeding her kids. I spaded in the slope garden. 22 eggs today. I hoed abundant weeds in the creek garden.

Sunday, May 27, 1979

Planted a 50' row of Panther soy beans in the hill field using no fertilizer. I also leveled and planted a row of Traverse before the rain came again. 22 eggs today. I hoed abundant weeds in the creek garden.

Monday, May 28, 1979

Leveled and planted two 150' rows of traverse soy beans in hill field. Hauled in 2 WB of hay. Weather is ideal for this time of year and sme of the field corn is 10" high! 25 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 29, 1979

Leveled in hill field and planted two 150' rows of Traverse soy beans. Planted 6 Cayenne peppers and one Chili pepper plants in the slope garden using no fertilizer. 20 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 30, 1979

Leveled and planted two 125' rows of pinto beans (from grocery store) in hill field using no fertilizer. The tent caterpillars are dying again as last year from some disease or other predator. planted some VF tomatoes and 4 Cayenne peppers in the slope garden using no fertilizer. ~18 eggs today.

Thursday, May 31, 1979

Froze 2 qts. Spinach. I have excellent spinach this year! Light rain off and on today. 22 eggs today. I spaded in the creek garden for a corn patch. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Friday, June 1, 1979

Sold 2 doz, eggs at 70c a dozen. and gave 2 doz. away. Planted 6 hills (8 seeds a piece) of Ambrosia cantaloupe, 2 hills of Rocky Ford cantaloupe and 4 hills of Sugar Baby watermelon in the slope garden over several shovels of WR chicken manure. 23 eggs today. Yesterday Hoagie had 2 classes out from the blind school. The students really enjoyed petting the goats and collecting the eggs. Cleaned cookstove.

Saturday, June 2, 1979

Planted 10 Sunray tomato plants in creek garden using no fertilizer. Disbudded Maple and Raisin [Brandy's kids], but they were quite advanced and it might not work. We also placed a band on Bug. 23 eggs today. We had a good hard shower this evening and temperature is in the 80s and very humid. Everything planted so far on the hill field looks good.

Sunday, June 3, 1979

Heavy rain ever since this morning has brought the stream almost to the top of the banks and caused water to wash through our stable (a rare occasion) to the discomfort of our goats. I also had to give them hay. At 4:00 PM the entire flood plain (including cabbage, yellow tomatoes etc. in the garden) is covered with yellow water-should be good fertilizer at least! It hasn't rained much the last hour but the water is still rising. 17 eggs today.

Monday, June 4, 1979

Cloudy and drizzle all last night. I pulled weeds in ther slope garden. Squashed potato beetle larvae, and a surprisingly large no. of adults. Honey has a bad wound on her bag and we clipped her around it, bathed it with soapy water, placed on a bandage and isolated her from her kids for the night. 23 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 5, 1979

Continued to work on chick house, which is nearly finished. Noted very numerous black, shiny 1/4 inch flea beetles in parts of the hill field so that they are more abundant on the west side of the sunflower patch than on the east side. They are attacking he just planted sunflowers, which they seem to prefer, but also kidney beans and clotbur (Xanthium chinese). There is also a smaller flea beetle with 2 yellow stripes on its back, but this is much scarcer. I also killed a a bean beetle and some potato beetles on the hill potato patch. It seems that the wet conditions favored this flea beetle. Planted a 45' row + a 23' row of Fordhook lima beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer but inoculant. Planted 10 Cal Wonder sweet peppers + about 6 Chili peppers in the creek garden using no fertilizer. Froze one quart of strawberries.

Wednesday, June 6, 1979

Leveled and planted two 125' rows of pinto beans in the hill field using no fertilizer but inoculant. Froze a qt. of strawberries. Planted 3 hills of Small Sugar pumpkin in the slope garden corn patch. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, June 7, 1979

Received 13 new J. J. Warrens (day-old chicks). Planted three 150' rows of Traverse soy beans on the hill field, Froze a qt. = one pint of spinach. hauled in 2 WB loads of hay. 20 eggs today. Disbudding Mate and Seven's bands slipped as to be ineffective. Bought 100 lbs mash + 50 lbs. starter.

Friday, June 8, 1979

Leveled and planted two 150' rows of Traverse. I also have been hoeing potatoes on the hill field. All beans planted so far seem to be coming up well in the hill field.. Planted 2 hills of Hybrid Patty Pan summer squash in the creek garden using 2 shovels WR cow manure per hill. Planted 9 hills of cucumbers, 5 of Marketer and 4 of Wisconsin SMR (pickler) after placing a shovel of manure in each hill. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, June 9, 1979

Finished with the replacement chicken coop and put chicks in. Leveled and planted Traverse soy beans in the hill field. I also began to hoe the corn, which is over a foot high now. 16 eggs today.

Sunday, June 10, 1979

We gave Honey a combiotic shot as her wound turned out to be deeper than we thought and should perhaps have been sewn up. Noted first white cabbage butterflies today. Planted 2 hills Butternut squash + 4 hills Small Sugar pumpkin after placing 2 shovels of WR manure in each hole in the creek garden. Leveled and planted one row of Traverse on hill field. Weather is very warm and humid and we had a few hard showers. 18 eggs today.

Monday, June 11, 1979

Leveled and planted two 150' rows of Traverse on hill field. Don is hoeing corn I cut hay in the South orchard above the slope garden. Betty hauled manure out of the goat stall. Betty worked with Folly. I hoed in the slope garden. 21 eggs today. The weather is quite cool.

Tuesday, June 12, 1979

I planted 2 rows of Traverse and hoed a row of corn The boys also each hoed one. Planted, in the creek garden after scattering equivalent to about 3 WB of WR cow manure, 3 rows each of Trucker's Favorite and Golden Cross Bantam sweet corn. It was so wet I could scarcely plant even at this late date. 16 eggs today. I rode Natchez and Betty rode Candy around the hill.

Wednesday, June 13, 1979

Planted three 150' rows of Traverse soy beans. Planted about 10 VF tomato plants in the creek garden using no fertilizer. Gus and Don each hoed a row of corn. 20eggs today. Hauled in the equivalent of 2 WB of hay.

Thursday, June 14, 1979

Finished planting the hill field with the last 2. 5 rows of Traverse soy beans, all inoculated but not fertilized. Noted for a week now great soil bulging among the potatoes and examination indicates good sized tubers present. Cut hay on the flood plain. 21 eggs today.

Friday, June 15, 1979

I hoed a row of corn. We are enjoying spinach and peas. 21 eggs today.

Saturday, June 16, 1979

The boys and I each hoed a row of corn. Hauled in 3 WB loads of hay. 10 eggs today.

Sunday, June 17, 1979

Heavy rain last night I weeded and thinned carrots and froze a qart of spinach. 21 egghs today.

Monday, June 18, 1979

Froze 2 gts, of Sugar Snap peas. Our Mountain (20 acres) has come back We are about to put down a deposit on it on the 19th.

Tuesday, June 19, 1979

Picked a basket of peas Sold 10 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. Froze 2 qts. of peas. We signed contract on the Mtn. [Pileated Peak] for 22, 000 for 20 acres. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 18 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 20, 1979

Picked potato beetle larvae on hill patch. I hoed in the slope and creek gardens. 16 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Thursday, June 21, 1979

I pulled weeds. 20 eggs today. Heavy shower last night and very cool and cloudy today.

Friday, June 22, 1979

I finished hoeing the last of the corn. Gus and I fixed fence. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, June 23, 1979

We separated Brandy's kids last night for the first time for milking. Hoed sunflowers. These appear to have fully recovered from a serious flea beetle attack described earlier We got 2 qts. of milk from Brandy. We let the baby chicks out of their house for the first time. 16 eggs today..

Sunday, June 24, 1979

Hoed soy beans (unfortunately) just before rain. Picked and froze 2 qts. of peas. Blackcaps are beginning to ripen-there appear to be lots of blackcaps and blackberries this year. A slow rain has been falling most of the day. 12 eggs today.

Monday, June 25, 1979

Very cool weather (41deg, F) this morning. I weeded and cut hay. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 26, 1979

Unusually cool for this time of year. 41deg. F again this morning. I have been picking cabbage worms, which so far are not nearly as bad as last year. There are also scattered potato beetles on the vines of both patches, but I scarcely worry about them since the vines are so large and vigorous. All crops on the hill look very good. I am milking Brandy since Betty goes to school So far we haven't separated Honey yet. I get somewhat over a quart but suspect one of Honey's kids is getting some. Also hoed beans on the hill. Gus took pictures of me and crops on the hill. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 17 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 27, 1979

Picked first 3 pints of blackcaps and froze a quart. Hauled in 3 WB loads of hay. The hay appears poor this year despite all the rain and the flooding fertilization. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, June 28, 1979

Ate new potatoes for breakfast but could have had them at least a week earlier. Hoed beans on the hill. We separated both Brandy and Honey last night and got 2 qts. from Brandy and a qt. from Honey this morning. Froze. 2 qts. of peas. 16 eggs today.

Friday, June 29, 1979

Picked 3 pts. of blackcaps and froze one quart. 18 eggs today. I've been picking cabbage worms.

Saturday, June 30, 1979

Chocolate came in heat and we had to confine Leo to his pen. I hoed the beans on the hill field. We had showers today-a good thing for crops. 18 eggs today.

Sunday, July 1, 1979

Betty and I rode. I picked 3 pts. of blackcaps and froze a quart. 20 eggs today.

Monday, July 2, 1979

i cut hay on the flood plain. I had a good composition consisting of red and white clover. 18 eggs today. The weather is quite cool for this time of year.

Tuesday, July 3, 1979

I hoed beans on hill and rode Natchez. We have an American Egret along the stream-at least temporarily. Watered tomatoes in the slope garden.

Wednesday, July 4, 1979

Heavy rain showers. Froze 1. 5 qts. of blackcaps. We all, except Don, went fishing, but mostly Hoagie, and caught a large number of fish. The largest was a 14" sucker caught by Hoagie. We had a feast for supper and will have some for breakfast. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, July 5, 1979

*Note, our weather is highly unusual. Yesterday we enjoyed a fire in the wood stove and this morning the temp. was in the low 40s. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Hauled in 4 WB of hay that had been rained upon, but still seems OK.

Friday, July 6, 1979

Weather continues very cool. I cut hay on the flood plain. We had to have Mate castrated since the band didn't get one testicle and we had to bathe him and give him a combiotic. 20 eggs today. I picked bean beetle larvae in the slope garden, where the beans look quite good. However, the melons and tomatoes are doing poorly, probably due to the cool weather.

Saturday, July 7, 1979

Picked 2 quts, of blackcaps and froze one of them. 16 eggs today. Stopped giving Mate shots but still bathed him.

Sunday, July 8, 1979

Planted 30' row of Burpee Stringless bush beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer but inoculant. Hauled in 6 WB loads of hay, four of excellent quality (clover) from the flood plain and 2 from the lawn.

Monday, July 9, 1979

I did a lot of hoeing in the creek garden and more bean rows in the hill field. i also picked bean and potato beetles on the hill. 18 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Tuesday, July 10, 1979

A rain, nice and slow, early this morning. and drizzle today. I picked a quart of blackcaps, of which I froze a pint.

Wednesday, July 11, 1979

Picked bean beetle larvae in the slope garden whwere they are abundant lately. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, July 12, 1979

Froze a quart of peas Sold 6 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. 20 eggs today.

Friday, July 13, 1979

Hoed beans on hill, finishing one round. Japanese beetles have been around for a few days now, but only a few. Bean beetles are very bad in the slope garden The weather is very warm now quite suddenly. Picked a quart of blackcaps + a pint of dewberries. 17 eggs today.

Saturday, July 14, 1979

Light rain-after I cut a little hay around the house. All crops on the hill look good and soy beans are about 10" high and are beginning to form small pods. on the bottom. The beran beetles are fairly bad on the hill and even worse in the slope garden. Gus' bantam has 2 chicks. We have started to go on the big hill except we haven't had settlement yet. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, July 15, 1979

Cut hay on the flood plain. Froze 5 qts. + pt. of green beans. Very hot and muggy weather. Picked bean beetle larvae as usual. 20 eggs today.

Monday, July 16, 1979

Froze 5. 5 quarts of green beans. Hauled in 5 WB loads of hay. We had a short shower later.. 20 eggs today. Honey's bag seems to have healed amazingly considering the deep wound, which we thought should have been sewn up.

Tuesday, July 17, 1979

Froze a quart of mixed blackcaps, dewberries and a few blackberries. It's becoming very dry on the hill field. 19 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 18, 1979

We had a hard, short shower last night 19 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Thursday, July 19, 1979

Cut hay on flood plain. Froze 5 qts. of green beans. 21 eggs today.

Friday, July 20, 1979

Gus and I dug two rows of the best potatoes I ever grew in the slopegarden. I hoed 2 rows of soy beans. 18 eggs today. Light rain in the evening.

Saturday, July 21, 1979

We had a heavy shower last night-bad for the hay I cut. The weather continues hot and humid. Placed ~100 lbs of potatoes in the basement. (kennebec from my own seeds). 23 eggs today.

Sunday, July 22, 1979

Hauled in 4 WB of hay.

Monday, July 23, 1979

Betty put on another shallow super (with foundation), placing it below the original shallow super. There appeared to be some white honey in the latter but was not capped. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 24, 1979

I picked up onions which I had pulled a few days ago. unfortunately they are considerably infested with onion maggots this year and also show considerable rot. I will have to plant them in the creek garden next year to rest the slope garden. I picked cabbage for sourkraut today. 22 eggs today. The weather continues hot and humid with rain showers almost every day.

Wednesday, July 25, 1979

Made a gallon of sourkraut. Planted 30' band of Chanteny carrot using no fertilizer in the slope garden (also no compost to cover seeds). ~15 eggs today. Rain showerrs.

Thursday, July 26, 1979

Picked a quart of blackberries and froze a pint. 16 eggs today.

Friday, July 27, 1979

Gus and I dug 2 rows of potatoes in the slope garden-all dug now in slope garden. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Considerable rain today. 20 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Saturday, July 28, 1979

Hoagie and I bagged about 150 lbs of potatoes from 2 rows. Froze 2 quarts of blackberries. 17 eggs today.

Sunday, July 29, 1979

The day seemed dryer so I cut about a 1/3 of the soy beans which had reached about 30" high and had small pods except for top blossoms. I scythed a row at a time reaching over another row, which worked very well. Froze a qt. of blackberries that Gus picked. We had light rain and drizzle unexpectedly. 15 eggs today.

Monday, July 30, 1979

Hauled some manure, weeded etc. For some reason raccoons have not bothered the corn anywhere yet, although cobs are forming. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of grackles are on the hill. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 31, 1979

Hauled in 5 WB loads of partly dried soy bean hay into the barn with the pick-up. The drying technique is doubtful, but will try. Gus and I picked 2. 5 qts. of blackberries and froze them. Deer (?) have badly eaten of the latest planted soy beans. 18 eggs today. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Wednesday, August 1, 1979

The deed from the old Wisconsin homestead arrived today. Between Betty and myself we froze 4 qts. of berries today and ate about another quart. 17 eggs today. The werather is quite hot and humid-typical for this time of year.

Thursday, August 2, 1979

17 eggs today. Had a rehersal session with our lawyer for deposition in G. Lape suit.

Friday, August 3, 1979

I dug 2 rows of potatoes on the hill. Betty and I picked 3 qts. of blackberries, freezing 2. 17 eggs today. I watered tomatoes in the creek garden. We have only had 3 ripe tomatoes so far.

Saturday, August 4, 1979

Don and I hauled about 125 lbs of potatoes in the cellar. I dug two more rows on the hill. 15 eggs today.

Sunday, August 5, 1979

Honey appears to be in heat. Betty and I picked about 5 quts. of blackberries and she made about 10 pts. of jam. 16 eggs today.

Monday, August 6, 1979

Cut the rest of the soy bean hay except for these for dry beans. Jennifer shows signs of heat and we placed her with Leo.

Tuesday, August 7, 1979

Canned 4 qts. of sour kraut. Jennifer shows little sign of heat and we had her out of Leo's pen last night. 19 eggs today. We had our first sweet corn last night for supper.

Wednesday, August 8, 1979

Jennifer really came in heat and we placed her with Leo, who did his job. Hauled down pick-up load of soy bean hay (5 WB) for a total of 10 WB in two loads. This should be at least 1/4 ton. 22 eggs today.

Thursday, August 9, 1979

Sold 12 doz. eggs at 60c a doz. 16 eggs today. The weather is warm and dry. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash.

Friday, August 10, 1979

Gus and I treated our laying hens and our roosters with malathion for lice. I dug the last two rows of potatoes on the hill field. 16 eggs today.

Saturday, August 11, 1979

Don and I hauled down about 150 lbs of potatoes from the hill field-the last of the potatoes. We probably have about 650 lbs. I pulled and brought down the first two bags of pinto beans and placed bags in carriage shed to dry. Heavy rain this evening. 19 eggs today.

Sunday, August 12, 1979

Considerable rain last night and this morning, and very cool weather. (~65deg. F). I made a gallon of sour kraut. We have been enjoying sweet corn from the slope garden, and all this corn has been worm-free- a real first in my experience! 18 eggs today. The rain has stopped but it remains cool enough for a wood fire.

Monday, August 13, 1979

45 deg. F this morning. Betty and I picked 3. 5 qts. of blackberries and froze 3 qts. of these. 13 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Tuesday, August 14, 1979

I cut hay on the flood plain. Betty and I rode again. I brought down another bag of pinto beans + vines. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, August 15, 1979

Brought down 2 bags of kidney beans + vines. Betty and Becky [a friend] went riding. 10 eggs today.

Thursday, August 16, 1979

Betty picked a qut. and a half of blackberries. I brought down a large bag of kidney beans-the last of them. Hauled 3 WB of hay from the flood plain. (mostly weeds like chicory). GASP!! Terrible herbicide was sprayed via helicopter along the power line! 26 eggs today. Betty drove Candy around alone 4 [?] + long reins.

Friday, August 17, 1979

All 3 horses were used together for the first time. First Bob took Natchez around, then Gus and Betty went with him on Candy and Folly. Then Don rode Natchez with Gus and Betty, last Betty took Candy around by herself, and candy is no longer a "barn rat". Don ran 5 and 11/20 mile (Gus followed on his bicycle ). 19 eggs today.

Saturday, August 18, 1979

i froze 5 pts. of Cayenne peppers. Heavy shower this afternoon. 15 eggs today.

Sunday, August 19, 1979

Froze 2 qts. of blackberries. Showers again this morning and afternoon.

Monday, August 20, 1979

Showers in the afternoon. 16 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Tuesday, August 21, 1979

[no record ]

Wednesday, August 22, 1979

Harvested a bag of Turtle Soup black beans from the slope garden. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, August 23, 1979

Cloudy humid weather (bad for dry beans) continues. Harvested 3 bags of pinto beans + vines. The last for a total of all types of 10 bags. 17 eggs today. Our quests [unknown] left today with some of our home grown potatoes and eggs. Grandpa and Grandma + teen stayed over night and enjoyed everything, but didn't want to see the bees. Nathan rode with Gus some in the goat pasture. Two of Heizer's pigs came for a visit.

Friday, August 24, 1979

17 eggs today. Picked some apples (beetle damaged) on the land we're planning to buy.

Saturday, August 25, 1979

Canned 4 qts. of sour kraut. Betty drove Candy via long lines on the road and the hill beyond Heizer's. ~15 eggs today.

Sunday, August 26, 1979

~18 eggs today. Betty and I went riding as usual, having gone every day now for some time.

Monday, August 27, 1979

I repaired fence in the swamp. 14 eggs today. The weather is warm but mostly pleasant. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Tuesday, August 28, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I fixed fence in the swamp again. Betty and I harvested 5 shallow super frames of white honey. 14 eggs today. She also with one frame of honey heated it to approximately 140deg,, stirred it until the wax melted then let cool., took the wax off the top and the honey was processed after taken from the bottom. No extractor needed. [not clear, but get the drift?]

Wednesday, August 29, 1979

[no record]

Thursday, August 30, 1979

**The mountain came back! We closed today on the 20 acres for 22, 000. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 18 eggs today.

Friday, August 31, 1979

Made another gallon of sour kraut. 17 eggs today.

Saturday, September 1, 1979

Put in a brace for the fence in the swamp. 16 eggs today.

Sunday, September 2, 1979

Worked at releasing apple trees [cutting interfering vegetation] on Pileated Peak., our new land. I also picked some of the criply apples. Hoagie rode up Pileated Peak for the first time (as far as the reverse trail). Heavy showers this evening. 14 eggs today.

Monday, September 3, 1979

I released (worked at) apple trees on Pileated Pk. We had heavy showers again in late afternoon, 14 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 4, 1979

Explored on Pileated Peak, and planned grain bin. 9 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Wednesday, September 5, 1979

Heavy rain and Hoagie and Celia [?] drove to U Va. for a course. She said rain was heavy and there was lots of flooding. Heavy rain most of the day. 13 eggs today.

Thursday, September 6, 1979

Cut a second cutting of mostly red clover hay on the flood plain. Warm and sunny most of the day. 19 eggs today.

Friday, September 7, 1979

Natchez had swollen rear legs fetlock to hock. We hazed them down on vet's instruction. He thought it was an allergy, but it scared us. 15 eggs today.

Saturday, September 8, 1979

Vet visited Natchez and gave her a shot (10 cc) of Dexdipen for the alergy and recommended that we hoze her down 2-3 times a day. We did it once this morning. He also recd. that we give her two shots (10 cc each) a day. He charged $21 for the visit. Hauled in 3 WB of good hay from the flood plain. I have been picking butternuts on Pileated Peak again after many years when i used to pick them in Wisconsin. It was 45deg. F this morning. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, September 9, 1979

Planted a 40' band combination of spinach, Cherry Belle radish, Salad Bowl and Bibb lettuce in the old slope garden potato patch over goat manure trench. Now we also have a sick goat Maple on our hands in addition to Natchez. After noting a morning attack of discomfort (bloating etc.) this evening at about 8:00 PM, Maple had a severe attack with head back initially and fell to the ground in a convulsion, eyes glassy etc. However, she recovered rapidly and by about 9, and possibly earlier, was chewing her cud. We administered one cc of combiotic to muscle and seve4ral tablespoons of mineral oil by mouth followed by several tablespoons of a mixture of 23 tablespoons each of NaCl and baking soda + 4 cc of combiotic in a gallon of water. This was prescribed by Dr. Marvas [ spel. ?] as treatment for possible enterotoxemia. However, it may be due to plant poisoning traced to heavy rains similar to Natchez trouble. We hope for the best. 12 eggs today.

Monday, September 10, 1979

Maple was chewing her cud normally this morning. It was 41 deg. F ! I threshed out beans. 9 eggs today. Beautiful early fall weather. I saw a flock of about 10 ruffed grouse on Pileated Peak-another new dicovery!

Tuesday, September 11, 1979

Canned 4 qts. of sour kraut. 13 eggs today. I prepared a sprouting bed on Pileated Pk., cut roots of small beech tree for transplanting. I also threshed out more beans. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Natchez seems to be 90% or more recovered from swollen hind legs, fetlock joint to hocks.

Wednesday, September 12, 1979

Noted for first time honey bees on early goldenrod, although it has been blooming for a month or more-perhaps due to relatively dry weather recently.. 13 eggs today.

Thursday, September 13, 1979

Cloudy and getting ready to rain. I spent some time identifying plants in the swamp, looking mostly for poisonous species. 13 eggs today.

Friday, September 14, 1979

A few light showers last night and this morning. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 13 eggs today.

Saturday, September 15, 1979

A beautiful clear day. This early morning we wormed the goats, except Leo, using Thibenzole (Thiabendazole) sheeo, goat and calf wormer. 2. 5 gallons for Brandy, two each for Honey and Jennifer and 1/2 each for the little goats. Jennifer spit most of it out because she was chewing her cud. We fed lightly after and now can't use milk for 4 days. *Note this is the first time we wormed our goats since we had them..

Sunday, September 16, 1979

Noted bees on many small white asters (heath asters ?) on Mueller's Mtn. field near the corn field, also on goldenrod. Also noted great activity at the hive. It appearsd to be a major honey flow. 14 eggs today. I still have good cabbage, but pumpkins and squash are failures for several reasons. I'm starting to get a lot of good tomatoes and peppers of all kinds now.

Monday, September 17, 1979

I threshed pinto beans. Don got lost on Pileated Peak. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 18, 1979

I threshed out more beans and shocked sweet corn in the slope garden. 11 eggs today. I also picked up more butternuts.

Wednesday, September 19, 1979

I finished threshing all the beans except soy beans, which I began to pull in the field. 12 eggs today.

Thursday, September 20, 1979

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.. 12 eggs today. I pulled another bag of soy beans + vines and began to spade next year's strawberry bed

Friday, September 21, 1979

Drained cistern pressure tank. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 11 eggs today. We've had heavy rains most of the day beginning last night. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Saturday, September 22, 1979

Rain off and on all day. I picke some butternuts Betty and I went to Mt. Crawford to a Ruritan "old times" show to watch draft horses, but it was rained out. 9 eggs today.

Sunday, September 23, 1979

I picked almost a peck of butternuts. It's clearing, cool and windy-fall-like. We had a good meal of sweet corn and I froze a pint. 9 eggs today. Our sweet corn has been almost worm-free, except this had a few.

Monday, September 24, 1979

I froze 3 pts. of hot peppers. and pulled another feed bag of soy beans. 9 eggs today. Our goats seem to be producing more milk again since we wormed them, perhaps a pint more a day.

Tuesday, September 25, 1979

I harvested a feed bag of sunflower seeds (+ heads) and picked a number of tomatoes. 11 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 26, 1979

Sold one doz. eggs at 70c. Canned 7 qts. of tomatoes and picked another good bunch of butternuts. I also picked another feed bag of soy beans. Only 5 eggs today.

Thursday, September 27, 1979

Pulled another feed bag of soy beans. 10 eggs today.

Friday, September 28, 1979

Picked another good bunch of butternuts 9 more than a bushel in all now) 5 eggs today. Intermittent rain and drizzle.

Saturday, September 29, 1979

We wormed our goats again, just as last time (2 weeks ago) to break the cycle. Don and I cut into 7 ft. logs some trees felled last spring. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, September 30, 1979

I picked another good bunch of butternuts so that I have more than a bushel. We had rain most of the day. Betty had good luck fishing and caught a bass (rock ?). We had a good fish supper once more. 8 eggs today.

Monday, October 1, 1979

We had our neighbor's lawsuit against us thrown out of court by Judge Hess! Did little else today. 11 eggs today. Heavy rain this morning, but weather is still mild.

Tuesday, October 2, 1979

Cloudy, partly clear weather threatening rain in the afternoon. 7 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Wednesday, October 3, 1979

Heavy rain last night again. I bought lumber for the grain bin. 13 eggs today. I gathered more butternuts. We got a bill for $550 from the lawyer for fighting our neighbor.

Thursday, October 4, 1979

This morning I canned 7 quarts of tomatoes. / Our bees were very active late in the afternoon even though it was cool and cloudy. Shaner's hives didn't show much activity. Also for us is time after observing the busy bee activity + going for a walk around the hill. [don't quite get the drift of preceding] Gus and Hoagie observed the drones were being dragged out. I winnowed pinto beans since it was windy. I also picked a few more butternuts. 9 eggs today.

Friday, October 5, 1979

Cool rain today.

Saturday, October 6, 1979

Don and I cut up logs to be hauled for firewood. 6 eggs today. 37deg. F this morning. Honey appears to be in heat. Every one helped me saw plywood for the grain bin.

Sunday, October 7, 1979

Cool and windy. Both Honey and Brandy are friendly to the buck and may be in heat. It's a clear, very windy day. Betty and I had Candy skid down 5 good logs for firewood. 9 eggs today.

Monday, October 8, 1979

Worked at grain bin, collected butternuts and brought down another grain bag of soy beans + vines. 9 eggs today. It's raining quite hard this evening again. Brandy was in high heat today, but Honey appears to be out of heat.

Tuesday, October 9, 1979

Worked at the grain bin. Weather is cloudy and rainy. 6 eggs today. The boy's wardrobe closet from Sears is working out well: When we get some $ we parents would like one also.

Wednesday, October 10, 1979

Snow, about 9 inches of it at 10 AM and 33deg. F this morning. Because of the leaves on the trees still, particularly the Chinquapin oaks, there is much damage since the snow is so heavy and wet. Also, I shoveled off the barn roof to play safe. There will be lots of clean-up to do! In addition, our power is off. Hoagie had to walk to work. She did get a ride on the last part and she and Nancy Rinker were the first 2 teachers to show up at 8:45 AM. After a hard day's work (helped by Gus and to a lesser extent Don) the good meal and cake cooked by Hoagie was just the thing. 8 eggs today. It's 33deg. F at about 9:30 PM and that will probably finish my tomatoes and peppers.

Thursday, October 11, 1979

29deg. F and about 4" of snow is still on the ground. I have stomach flu, but I began to clear some of the many trees down on the trail on Mueller's Mtn. I also worked at the grain bin. 8 eggs today.

Friday, October 12, 1979

Oct. 12

Saturday, October 13, 1979

Oct 13

Sunday, October 14, 1979

I've beren really sick with tyhe flu, but today we all went up the hill with Candy and skidded down some fuel logs. 8 eggs today. Hoagie even split some wood. The sun was out. The bees are hard to approach. Hoagie's upset that she can't get the queen excluded [?] off the hive.

Monday, October 15, 1979

The boys did odd jobs, including partial clearing of the trail. 7 eggs today. Bought 100lbs each of corn and oats.

Tuesday, October 16, 1979

Honey has a swollen right jaw, watery right eye and nostrel, and is shivering. We are calling the vet. We took Honey to the vet this evening in the VW (Honey and Gus) who, when he heard she had not been in contact with any strange goats, diagnosed her trouble as "lumpy jaw" or "wooden tongue" ( actinmycosis-actinobascillosis). He gave her a shot of 1. 5 cc erythromycin and advised a drench of Hi-Amine compound powder (orago salt base) physiologic iodine. (1. 5 tsps a day with water). Unfortunately, Honey doesn't look encouraging with a large swollen eye and jaw, although she does eat green leaves etc. and a little grain. She may not last the night, which would be a great loss for us. 12 eggs today. I also found a nest of 11 eggs. I continued to work at the grain bin and clearing the hill road of down trees. [There is a lesson here for goat and other animals for keeping, provided to third world inhabitants, since vet services are likely not available.]

Wednesday, October 17, 1979

It was the most beautiful warm day (70s). I worked at the grain bin., picked (from the corn disaster!) some cobs for next year's seed and some wild pears. Honey seems gradually to have improved since last night and now eats quite well, although her right face is still greatly swollen. 8 eggs today.

Thursday, October 18, 1979

Honey seems gradually to have improved throughout the day after a very swollen headed morning. She did a lot of independent grazing and browsing late this afternoon. However, we did not note independent cud chewing yet. Her swelling might have gone down a little and she ate quite a bit of grain this evening. The kids continue to nurse when possible and we continue to dose her with medicine. 7 eggs today and I worked at the grain bin. Also, Hoagie and Gus finally winterized the bees.

Friday, October 19, 1979

I had a touch of the flu again and didn't do much. Honey grazed a lot but doesn't chew her cud much. [sore jaw!] Her right head is still badly swollen. 7 eggs today.

Saturday, October 20, 1979

This morning Brandy appeared ill! We began giving her the same treatment as as Honey. who appears to be improving. Brandy seemed only slightly under the weather during the day and was managing to graze, chew her cud etc. Her morning illness took the form of shivering and failure to eat. This evening she ate quite well. Don and I cut up firewood logs for the horse to skid and cleared a down tree from the trail. 6 eggs today. The weather is very warm tonight and we have been enjoying Indian summer weather.

Sunday, October 21, 1979

Betty and I took Candy to the hill (Mueller's Mtn.) and skidded four logs back weighing a total of about 1000 lbs (in 4 loads). 10 eggs today. The weather is very mild and clear with temps in the 70s. The goats, particularly Honey, continue to do well, except that Brandy has a limp.

Monday, October 22, 1979

Very warm weather. I worked hard all day finishing clearing the trail, cleaned stove, threshed soy beans, split logs etc. This evening we had a bad episode with Honey while drenching her-she banged her sore head on the wall and went into shock. But after getting her to her feet she began to eat as if little had occurred! However, her eye even before the blow, looked bad-as if she could lose it or at least sight since it appeared to have a lesion on the eye ball and is still badly infected. However, she has shown steady improvement. We stopped treating Brandy, having given her no shot or drench this morning. All the goats spent a lot of time on the hill today. 11 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 23, 1979

I worked on the grain bin. All goats seem well except HJoney who may not make it because of eye. 9 eggs today. The weather was rainy, but cleared and cooled in late afternoon. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Wednesday, October 24, 1979

Worke4 at grain bin, cleared paths for log skidding, hauled chicken manure from coop to strawberry patch and goat pasture, split logs. 10 eggs today. Weather is cool and windy. Yesterday I bought a new Danish buck saw for $5. 15..

Thursday, October 25, 1979

I carried out wood to trail, worked on grain bin and finished cleaning out chicken coop. 8 eggs today. The weather was cool but sunny.

Friday, October 26, 1979

I cut corn stalks in the creek garden,, threshed beans and cut yellow locust poles on Pileated Peak. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, October 27, 1979

We had a heavy frost last night. We began to spray Honey's sore eye with pink eye spray. Don and I cut and luggrd wood to the trail. 6 eggs today.

Sunday, October 28, 1979

Don and I hauled down a load of wood from the hill using the truck. Candy hurt her leg, probably ?, and we bathed her and gave her 12 ccof combiotic. Her leg was quite swollen (left rear). We had planned to use her fir skidding but could not. I also prospected for wood and cut some trails on Pileated Peak. 8 eggs today. The weather was mostly cloudy, not too cool and it rained lightly.

Monday, October 29, 1979

Worked at grain bin and cut wood on Mueller's Mtn. The weather is very bright and mild. 9 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 30, 1979

I worked on the grain bin and spotted fine wood on Mueller's Mtn. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 31, 1979

I picked corn and shucked some, a poor crop much gotten by raccoons. 9 eggs today.

Thursday, November 1, 1979

Worked at grain bin arched for wire that may have injured Candy's leg. I also finished shocking corn (total of only 6 bushels) 8 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Friday, November 2, 1979

Since yesterday we only gave Honey a shot every other day. I mostly worked on the grain bin since we had heavy rain all day. 4 eggs today.

Saturday, November 3, 1979

Clear and cooer weather. Don and I cut and lugged down logs to trail for firewood. 7 eggs today.

Sunday, November 4, 1979

I cut wood on MM and later Don and I cut locust post trees on PP. Weather is clear and cool. 6 eggs today. We gave Candy a shot of combiotic as her wounds looked worse, although she is not lame. She may be developing superficial proud flesh. We stoped Honey's shots.

Monday, November 5, 1979

I cut logs for posts and firewood on PP. Cut corn stalks and shocked on MM. 8 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash.

Tuesday, November 6, 1979

Worked on grain bin, sawed and split a lot of wood and cut and bundled corn stalks. 4 eggs today. Honey shows great improvement, except she has probably lost the msight of an eye. The weather is cool and mostly fair.

Wednesday, November 7, 1979

Began to work on field orchard fence. Cut corn stalks and some wood. 5 eggs today.

Thursday, November 8, 1979

[no record]

Friday, November 9, 1979

Gus and I hauled down a pick-up load of wood. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, November 10, 1979

I finished the grain bin and placed 3 bags of corn (from the hill as R cobs) to determine if mice / rats will attempt entry, since I didn't shield the cover with 1/2 inch screening as the rest of the bin. It rained some this morning and was cloudy all day. 10 eggs today.

Sunday, November 11, 1979

Rain all day. 5 eggs today.

Monday, November 12, 1979

Some light rain and cloudy all day. 6 eggs today. Hoagie and I had a meeting with Don's teachers at the high school which began his first year.

Tuesday, November 13, 1979

Rain during the night. We're having a particularly wet period again. Honey seems to be in heat so I placed her with Leo. She seems much improved now but, as expected, her heat cycle is off. I picked some walnuts on PP This morning in the drizzle, after filling Leo's bag with honeysuckle etc. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 14, 1979

I canned 6 qts. of wild pears from 2 trees on Mueller's Mtn. We used Honey's milk for the first time since her illness and it is of excellent taste. I dug 4 post holes. 6 eggs today. I tested the furnace for the first time this year since it's a very cool evening. i also lowered storm windows today.

Thursday, November 15, 1979

Brandy came in heat and we encouraged an Oedipusian incest with Leo. I placed a post on the hill 6 eggs today.

Friday, November 16, 1979

Clear fall weather. I cut and bundled corn stalks on the hill. I also dug 2 post holes and cut some damaged trees, including an ironwood on Pileated Peak. 5 eggs today.

Saturday, November 17, 1979

Gus and I collected ferns, cut some wood and shocked corn after Don, gus and I went shopping. We also saw grouse on Pileated Pk. The weather is very fine, mild temperatured and dry. 6 eggs today. I loaded 3. 5 bags into the grain bin. Bought 200 lbs each of corn, oats and mash and 100 lbs of alfacorn.

Sunday, November 18, 1979

Gus and I hauled down the corn stalks, about 50 bundles, a pick-up load. Betty and I skidded the large logs, using Candy, but had a hard time hooking her up on the steep slope for the second one. 6 eggs today. The weather was beautiful.

Monday, November 19, 1979

Placed 3 posts and dug one hole. I threshed soy beans. 4 eggs today. Another beautiful day. Deer season is on but I haven't tried it yet.

Tuesday, November 20, 1979

I dug 3 post holes-the last ones and threshed a bag of soy beans. 5 eggs today. The good weather continues.

Wednesday, November 21, 1979

Placed the last 3 posts on the fence between the hill field and orchard. 6 eggs today. I went deer hunting on PP.

Thursday, November 22, 1979

We're enjoying the holiday, with Hoagie home and all. Gus and I put in a brace. 6 eggs today.

Friday, November 23, 1979

Hoagie and I went deer hunting on Pileated Peak. Sofar we've had the furnace on for only about 3 hours, but the weather has been mild. We began to feed the horses oats (1. 5 dishes a day.). 6 eggs today. Our goats Brandy and Honey together now give a little less than 2 qts. of milk per morning milking. Gus and I put the second and last brace on the hill.

Saturday, November 24, 1979

I placed wire on two braces and Gus and I stretched the wire and nailed it. after Hoagie and I went shopping. Only 3 eggs today. bought 100 lbs of oats.

Sunday, November 25, 1979

Gus and I finished the fence by topping it with a strand of barbed wire. I cut up the 2 small lcusts on PP for a total of about a dozen fence posts. 6 eggs today. We're having occasional light showers ( heavier this evening) and very mild weather so that one is constantly in shirt sleeves.

Monday, November 26, 1979

Heavy rain in morning, but clearing by 11 AM. We now have the field open for horse use. I'm getting ready to repair the goat fence. 6 eggs today. Gus went rabbit hunting for the first time on PP.

Tuesday, November 27, 1979

i cut some down locust into fence posts on PP. Forgot to feed and release chickens until 1:00, which may explain why we got only 4 eggs today. The weather was cool but sunny today.

Wednesday, November 28, 1979

I cut more fence posts on Pileated Pk. 6 eggs today.

Thursday, November 29, 1979

Hauled down a pick-up load of firewood. and hauled up some posts. 5 eggs today. Weather has turned quite cold with daytime freezing.

Friday, November 30, 1979

We began to feed the horses grain some time ago. We're using the furnace at night now.

Saturday, December 1, 1979

Gus and I fixed fence on goat pasture. Don and I dug post holes on Heizer's border. 8 eggs today.

Sunday, December 2, 1979

Don andi cut about a doz. fence posts on Pileated Peak, and I put in 3 fence posts on Heizer's boundary despite freezing ground. The weather is very cold now and it was 18deg. before I went to bed. at 10:00 PM. 5 eggs today.

Monday, December 3, 1979

10deg. F this morning. 6 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Tuesday, December 4, 1979

Hoagie spent the day home working on her course work. Gus found a nest with 32 eggs in the barn loft. 6 eggs today. The weather is quite pleasant for this time of year.

Wednesday, December 5, 1979

Weather is quite mild (50s). 9 eggs today.

Thursday, December 6, 1979

Cloudy and cool. A mink (?) killed one of our new laying hens that had roosted outside. 6 eggs today.

Friday, December 7, 1979

10 eggs today.

Saturday, December 8, 1979

We began feeding the horses two times a day after discovering some broken fences attributable to Candy. 5 eggs today. it has turned cold. We saw a nice deer on Mueller's Mtn. while rabbit hunting. Bought 300 lbs each of corn and oats and 150 lbs of mash..

Sunday, December 9, 1979

Don and I cut firewood logs. 9 eggs today.

Monday, December 10, 1979

I bought for $5:00 and hauled home a pick-up load opf cow manure from Joe Furr's livestock place and stored it in heap. 4 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 11, 1979

Mild and sunny weather with highs in the 60s range. I hauled another pick-up load of manure from Furrs. 8 eggs today. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c.

Wednesday, December 12, 1979

I hauled another (the third) load of manure from Furrs I also fastened two posts on Heizer's boundary. 5 eggs today. it is quite warm this evening with rain predicted for tomorrow.

Thursday, December 13, 1979

8 eggs today., and light rain.

Friday, December 14, 1979

9 eggs today. It turned cold and we got 125 gallons of heating oil at 84c a gallon. However, so far we have hardly used the oil furnace.

Saturday, December 15, 1979

Don and I cut down one tree for firewood. 8 eggs today.

Sunday, December 16, 1979

Gus, Don and I lugged firewood logs to the trail. 3 eggs today. It's been cloudy with some drizzle, but it cleared this evening.

Monday, December 17, 1979

9 eggs today and it's quite cold.

Tuesday, December 18, 1979

7 eggs today and I cleared limbs and saplings along the Mueller's Mtn. trail for the lime spreader.

Wednesday, December 19, 1979

Had hill field and pasture on Mueller's Mtn. limed with Ca-lime at rate of 2 tons / acre using 10 tons at $10 / ton.

Thursday, December 20, 1979

Worked at duck board for buck walk, 8 eggs today. Light snow with little or no accumulation most of the dauy. Weather was fairly cold (< 32deg. F) and cloudy all day.

Friday, December 21, 1979

Very light snow last evening, cloudy and foggy this morning. I'm beginning to feed hay and corn stalks in earnest now. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, December 22, 1979

Betty and I used Candy to skid down 6 logs for firewood. 8 eggs today.

Sunday, December 23, 1979

Clean-up day and then Betty, Gus and I went to Pileated peak for a picnic-such fine weather. 11 eggs today.

Monday, December 24, 1979

5 eggs today. Heavy rain this evening Bought 1200 lbs of corn and 100lbs of alfalfa pellets.

Tuesday, December 25, 1979

it cleared up after much rain all night and there is light snow in the distant mountains Honey has a cold. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 26, 1979

Hauled the forth load of manure from furrs. 5 eggs today.

Thursday, December 27, 1979

Don and I cut 10 fence posts from down locust on Pileated Pk. 10 eggs today. The goats are grazing every day on the flood plain-saving us hay. Betty worked with Folly.

Friday, December 28, 1979

Betty and I had Natchez skid 8 logs down for firewood-she was good. 8 eggs today. It was a pleasant, almost warm day.

Saturday, December 29, 1979

Don and I cut 2 trees with broken tops for next year's fire wood. 7 eggs today. Very mild weather.

Sunday, December 30, 1979

Betty and I repaired fence on Heizer's boundary. 4 eggs today. Very mild weather.

Monday, December 31, 1979

Took the 3 weathers (Mate, Seven and Bug) to the frozen food co-op. They weighed in at 120 lbs live total. 7 eggs today. Bought 300 lbs corn and 100 lbs mash.

Tuesday, January 1, 1980

Don and I cut and hauled a few small dry hickory trees to the trail. I also split fence posts on Pileated Peak. I killed two old chickens who were not well for the cat. 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 2, 1980

I split some firewood logs pn Mueller's Mtn. 112 eggs today. The weather is fairly cold and clear, but the goats still graze.

Thursday, January 3, 1980

8 eggs today. Cut and split a lot of firewood. I also worked on next year's wood supply of down trees.

Friday, January 4, 1980

Heavy snow. 9 eggs today. Barbara[Betty's sister] and Kent [Barbara's son] Roberts visited and helped initiate a new method-hand skidding logs down from Pileated Pk.

Saturday, January 5, 1980

0deg. f this morning. 8 eggs today. It was clear and sunny but cold. We have had the horses on the flood plain hay field since the big snow.

Sunday, January 6, 1980

[no record ]

Monday, January 7, 1980

Jennifer had one kid, a buck, this evening, and seems well. I skidded a few small logs for firewood down from PP. 8 eggs today. The weather is mild, but it is due to turn cold.

Tuesday, January 8, 1980

Jennifer and son (David) seem to be doing well, although he choked a little while Betty held him to suck. I skidded 3 small firewood logs from PP. 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 9, 1980

[no record]

Thursday, January 10, 1980

Cut and skidded some more small firewood logs from PP. 11 eggs today.

Friday, January 11, 1980

Skidded down 3 small logs. It rained quite hard this afternoon so that much snow went. 6 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of mash and alfalfa pellets. Got 76 lbs of goat meat for $35. 00.

Saturday, January 12, 1980

Don and I cut up a number of down trees on Pileated Peak. 9 eggs today. The weather has turned rather cold.

Sunday, January 13, 1980

(Sun.) Don and I cut up a fair sized (1 ft. diameter) down red oak on PP. 9 eggs today. We're having freezing rain this evening.

Monday, January 14, 1980

5 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 15, 1980

A beautiful day and I worked at cutting wood in woods and at home. 8 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 16, 1980

I cut a large down hickory in l sections. Jennifer appears to be in heat! 13 eggs + a nest of nine. I cleaned the entire stove system as the weather was mild.

Thursday, January 17, 1980

9 eggs today.

Friday, January 18, 1980

Heavy rain. 7 eggs today.

Saturday, January 19, 1980

A fine clear day with frost last night. Don and I hauled over the wood we skidded down from Pileated Peak on the snow some time ago. This is the first wood from Pp used for firewood. We also cut down a damaged hickory on MM for next year. 12 eggs today.

Sunday, January 20, 1980

Don and I split and piled about 40 fence posts on PP. i trimmed the hickory we cut yesterday on MM. 11 eggs today. It's a cool, partly cloudy day with light frost last night.

Monday, January 21, 1980

A cool sunny day. I cut up more of the large down hickory on Mueller's Mtn. 11 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 22, 1980

Rain in afternoon. In the forenoon I sawed a log on Mueller's Mtn. 19 eggs today!

Wednesday, January 23, 1980

Partly cloudy but clearing and windy and turning cold this evening. 10 eggs today. Bought 200 lbs of oats.

Thursday, January 24, 1980

Light snow. 23 eggs today. On some days I cut Virginia pine boughs for the goats.

Friday, January 25, 1980

Clear and windy but not too cold. 17 eggs today.

Saturday, January 26, 1980

11 eggs today.

Sunday, January 27, 1980

Don and I cut some damaged trees on Mueller's Mtn. 22 eggs today.

Monday, January 28, 1980

Don and I cut a hickory with a broken top on MM and this afternoon some fence posts ( mostly Yellow locust and some sassafras) on Pileated Peak. 15 eggs today.

Tuesday, January 29, 1980

I split some large hickory logs for next year's wood. 23 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 30, 1980

!7 eggs today. Waited for the plumber to work on the septic system pump, but he didn't come. [Note this example of a failure of our organic, low-energy life style. However, I do have the personal experience of growing up with an outhouse.]

Thursday, January 31, 1980

We had about 3 inches of snow last night. This snow was ideal for log skidding and Don and I skidded down 10 logs from Pileated Peak. It's cold We had a very bad burn-out in our stove with the chimney having a large accumulation of creosote. We called the fire department, whose representatives were very good and cleaned the system using a chain, which we must get. The weather is quite cold.

Friday, February 1, 1980

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Skidded more logs from PP for a total of 12 since the snow-about a pick-up load. 18 eggs today.

Saturday, February 2, 1980

T= 0 deg. F this morning. Don and I cut some diseased and crooked locust, partly for fence posts and partly for firewood, on PP. We also skidded down a new light pole for our yard. 15 eggs today. The weather is cold and clear.

Sunday, February 3, 1980

-1 deg. F this morning. Don and I cut another locust + some injured dogwoods on PP. 17 eggs today.

Monday, February 4, 1980

Weather continues cold (12deg. F). I began to prune apple trees on Pp. 13 eggs today. !00 lbs each of corn and oats and 50 lbs of alfalfa.

Tuesday, February 5, 1980

I continued to prune apples on Pileated Peak. We separated Jennifer's buck tonight to get milk tomorrow. 17 eggs today. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c.

Wednesday, February 6, 1980

We had about 2 inches of snow. I continued pruning the apple trees on Pileated Peak. 13 eggs today.

Thursday, February 7, 1980

I continued pruning and skidded a few nice logs down. 26 eggs + a large nest of frozen eggs.

Friday, February 8, 1980

Sold 2 doz, eggs for 70c a doz. I continued pruning and almost finished. 18 eggs today. Betty, Gus and I hauled a load of wood from the base of Pileated Peak (Don refused to help). We bought a $62 battery for the truck after it failed to start.. Technology is beginning to cost out of this world!

Saturday, February 9, 1980

We hauled about 2/3 load of wood from the foot of PP (with Don's help). We placed a band on David but perhaps only on one testicle. 23 eggs today.

Sunday, February 10, 1980

A beautiful sunny day. Don and I cut a dangerous locust which held up a large red oak. We placed a bra on Brandy to keep her 2 kids from sucking (She will not ween them!) so that we could dry her up. 25 eggs today.

Monday, February 11, 1980

19 eggs today. Bought a 100 lbs each of corn, oats and alfalfa.

Tuesday, February 12, 1980

Cut a Virginia pine pole for walk[?] border. 28 eggs today. Mr. Glover fixed our septic system pomp by replacing a switch at a total cost of $35.

Wednesday, February 13, 1980

29 eggs today.

Thursday, February 14, 1980

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.) 23 eggs today. Heard first Bluebird.

Friday, February 15, 1980

No frost last night, the first frost-free night in a long time.

Saturday, February 16, 1980

Don and I cut up some logs on MM. 23 eggs today. We had a light rain this morning, but it's clear, windy and cold this evening. Brandy still wears her "bra. "

Sunday, February 17, 1980

Don and I began to cut up a big down chestnut oak on the back boundary of PP land. Also, I cut some on Mueller's Mtn. 23 eggs today. The weather is cold but clear. Hoagie worked with Folly. She was frisky but controlled.

Monday, February 18, 1980

@8 eggs today. Today on a goat walk Hoagie and I saw a large flock of Robins (~50) on Mueller's Mtn.. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Tuesday, February 19, 1980

Many Bluebirds are about. The day is somewhat warm and sunny, although still unpleasant from the wind. I prepared wedges for splitting the big chestnut oak on the back boundary of PP. 15 eggs today.

Wednesday, February 20, 1980

I split more logs on Mueller's Mtn. for next year's supply of wood. Light rain this evening. 26 eggs today. It was quite a pleasant early spring-like day.

Thursday, February 21, 1980

I cut some small damaged trees for firewood on Mueller's Mtn. It was a beautiful warm day. 28 eggs today.

Friday, February 22, 1980

I trimmed some firewood logs on PP. We had some light rain last night. 22 eggs today. Noted first Redwing Blackbirds (male) sitting on trees inn the swamp.

Saturday, February 23, 1980

A mostly cloudy but pleasant morning. 28 eggs today. Don and I cut 2 more damaged trees on MM. Large flocks of blackbirds are passing north. Jennifer gives 1. 5 qts. of milk in the morning (her kid drank the rest). Brandy is proving hard to dry up and still gives a pt. of milk a day.

Sunday, February 24, 1980

I planted under an old windshield hot bed, with chicken manure + leaves underneath, lettuce and Cherry Belle radish. Don and I continue to cut up logs for firewood on PP. I began to spade the slope garden. 27 eggs today.

Monday, February 25, 1980

Light snow today. I only cut a few down limbs on PP. 27 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 26, 1980

The boys stayed home as there was no school due to about an inch of snow last night. They helped me skid down from the top of PP 5 chestnut oak logs for firewood. 22 eggs today.

Wednesday, February 27, 1980

Skidded two logs from PP, but the snow is almost gone 21 eggs today.

Thursday, February 28, 1980

Snow! Sold 12 doz, eggs at 70c a doz. to Natural Way. We had about 2" of snow and I skidded down 2 more logs from PP

Friday, February 29, 1980

(Leap Year) I skidded a few logs from PP. 21 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c.

Saturday, March 1, 1980

Heavy snow from east wind. I skidded down a small log. At 10 PM it's still snowing and we have 6-8 inches. Also, it is cold (~10deg. F), a real savage winter storm. 29 eggs today.

Sunday, March 2, 1980

We had a total of about 10" of snow and it's cold. 22 eggs today.

Monday, March 3, 1980

Don and I (boys home from school) cut a few small damaged trees on PP. 24 eggs today. Temp. was -8deg, F this morning! Note Betty is taking a brick to bed with her-a great success! Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oars and alfalfa.

Tuesday, March 4, 1980

The snow began to melt. 30 eggs today. I built a new small door on the chicken coop.

Wednesday, March 5, 1980

We stopped using Brandy's bra today. It was partly cloudy and windy. A lot of the lettuce is up in the hot bed-cold frame but only a few radishes so far. 29 eggs today.

Thursday, March 6, 1980

I planted a small flat of Snowball t-3 ( Johnny's) cauliflower for transfer to the hot bed. Honey's (same) eye is infected again. We syringed her with 1. 5 cc Erythromycin once a day + eye spray (pink eye Pfizer) twice a day. We have had no trouble with Brandy's kids sucking, so we successfully used the bra to wean them. 26 eggs today. The snow is gone except for wooded north slopes.

Friday, March 7, 1980

Honey seems improved and we didn't give her a second shot. Noted numerous night hawks on PP, apparently catching large insects in this very mild evening. 23 eggs today. The boys and I hauled a load of wood from the foot of PP-all that we had skidded in the last snow. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Saturday, March 8, 1980

Don and I cut a number of much damaged trees on PP, one for fence posts. Cleaned the stove. 23 eggs today.

Sunday, March 9, 1980

The bees were bringing in a light yellow pollen. 24 eggs today. We put the goats on the flood plain for the first time since the grass is beginning well now.

Monday, March 10, 1980

Betty began to feed the bees syrup. I bought 10-50 lb bags of hydrated lime and began to spread it on the goat pasture. Bought 100 lbs of corn.

Tuesday, March 11, 1980

I continued to spread the hydrated lime on the goat pasture. 26 eggs today. I'm freezing some hard boiled eggs now since we're no selling enough. Also, we feed the dog and cat no meat now but substitute eggs.

Wednesday, March 12, 1980

I continued to apply the hydrated lime to the goat pasture. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 24eggs today.

Thursday, March 13, 1980

Heavy sleet ice balls accumulated to several inches today. Winter has returned. 24 eggs today.

Friday, March 14, 1980

We had about an inch of snow on top of the sleet, but it wearmed up to 50deg. F today and the snow has begun to go. 22 eggs + a nest of of 10. Hoagie stayed home from work. The bees were out despite the snow, but the sun was bright.

Saturday, March 15, 1980

23 eggs today. Don and I cut some logs on MM. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and alfalfa.

Sunday, March 16, 1980

Gus and I cut some damaged trees on PP. I continued to apply hydrated lime to the goat pasture. 23 eggs today.

Monday, March 17, 1980

Rain and cold weather with T+ 55 deg, F all day. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 28 eggs today.

Tuesday, March 18, 1980

Bought 500 lbs more hydrated lime. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c. 29 eggs today. Bought 100lbs each of corn and oats.

Wednesday, March 19, 1980

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I finished liming the goat pasture with a total of 575 lbs of hydrated lime. 24 eggs today.

Thursday, March 20, 1980

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. I prepared bed for spinach and lettuce using same spot as last fall-which was fertilized. Then I also prepared a spot for peas-all in slope garden. Planted a 35' row of Wando peas, using inoculant and a 35' band consisting of 1/2 Ruby lettuce + Cherry Belle radish and 1/2 of Bloomsdale LS spinach using last year's fertilizer only. 23 eggs today. It's raining lightly off and on this evening.

Friday, March 21, 1980

A very windy, mostly clear day, but turning colder. 24 eggs today.

Saturday, March 22, 1980

A light frost this morning and a clear, slightly windy day. Don and i cut a damaged hickory on MM and sawed up some logs. 20 eggs today.

Sunday, March 23, 1980

Gus and I cut up part of the big Chestnut oak log on PP. i limed the front lawn using 4. 5 bags (225 lbs). 22 eggs today. The bees were very busy but were not bringing in pollen. It was a very pleasant day. Betty worked with the horses, mostly Folly.

Monday, March 24, 1980

Light rain and cool today. I spread 6 WB of WR manure on the front lawn. 28 eggs today + a nest of 13. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c.

Tuesday, March 25, 1980

I split some logs on MM. 25 eggs today. I also spread 1. 5 bags of lime on the back yard lawn. Shaner came by and fed his bees sugar and antibiotics to "protect" against disease. He took his one dead hive away and said he was going to bring 7 more. Bought 100lbs each of corn, oats and alfalfa.

Wednesday, March 26, 1980

I began to spread hydrated lime on the slope above the flood plain. 33 eggs today.

Thursday, March 27, 1980

I limed slope above the flood plain, placinmg 3. 5 bags so far. 30 eggs today.

Friday, March 28, 1980

I spread 5 WB loads of mostly goat compost on the front lawn and esp. heavy around the two cherry trees for a total of 6 manure and 5 compost. I spaded in the slope garden for onions. Rain began in afternoon and lasted into night. 33 eggs today.

Saturday, March 29, 1980

Gus and I cut some dwarfed trees on PP. 24 eggs today.

Sunday, March 30, 1980

Planted one lb of yellow onion sets in a double 22' section of a row prepared by placing WR goat manure in a trench in the slope garden. The soil was a little wet and weather foggy. 28 eggs today. Noted swelling buds on all fruit trees in the north slope orchard on MM. but none yet on the apple trees on PP. Also, the blood root flowers are blooming and the black haw are beginning to bud their flower buds. There has been a warm rain most ofthe evening. Betty and I rode today and I also got some spading in before the rain.

Monday, March 31, 1980

Rain most of the day. 28 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 1, 1980

Sold 6 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Hauled another load of manure from Furrs for $5. 00 (after haggling). This makes a total of 5 this season (fall to spring). I placed some of this manure in the creek garden. 23 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats and a 55 lb. block of salt.

Wednesday, April 2, 1980

Hoagie and Bob rode Candy and Natchez by Heizer's place and up the hill for the first time, Bob wore his new "cowboy" boots and had better leg control. Hoagie castrated David with a knife. He is swollen and seemed to go into mild shock. We must bath him and give Combiotic shots. 28 eggs today. I dug several post holes. The apple trees on PP show no obvious bud swelling, although all the fruit trees on MM do

Thursday, April 3, 1980

I prepared 5-50' rows for potatoes in the slope garden. I transplanted a beech tree from PP to the back yard. It has been very warm for this time of yr. 27 eggs today. David seems to be doing very well.

Friday, April 4, 1980

I also bought 5-50 lb bags of hydrated lime. It rained very hard most of last night so that the wet soil inhibits working it. A bee stung me while digging a post hole next to Hoagie's hive! 24eggs today.

Saturday, April 5, 1980

Planted 54 Guardian strawberry plants ( Brittinghams) in a new bed prepared with chicken manure last fall, and covered with 4 WB loads of wood bark scraps. 30 eggs today.

Sunday, April 6, 1980

Planted a ~35' double row of Wando peas in the slope garden using my new Planet J. seeder (# 32 plate) using no inoculant. I also fertilized a row with goat manure for spinach and did considerable spading. 22 eggs today.

Monday, April 7, 1980

I limeed with hydrated lime two patches (bag each) on the side hill, above the sweamp at the rear of our property as an experiment. I also hauled a load of manure ($5. 00 from Furr ) directly to the hill field corn patch and with Don's help (both boys home from school) a load of wood down. 27 eggs today. The weather is mild and cloudy this evening, threatening rain. The apple trees on PP are also beginning to bud now. We stopped feeding the horses about a week ago or more. Gus hauled some chicken manure to the goat pasture.

Tuesday, April 8, 1980

Rain most of the afternoon and evening, although I did some spading in the morning. I went to the dentist and found I have to have a tooth pulled. 23 eggs today. The apple trees on PP are budding now.

Wednesday, April 9, 1980

Heavy rain last night. I (in addition to my usual MWF studies [?]) cut some brush on the hill field and pasture. 23 eggs today. For almost a week now I have been picking small quantities of lettuce and radishes from my mini-hotbed-cold frame. I've also been eating dandelions and winter cress, which are esp. abundant after the last rain.

Thursday, April 10, 1980

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted in the slope garden 5-50' rows potatoes ("Maine" from last year's crop on the hill) over goat manure, except for the lowest row. 23 eggs today. Brandy seems very comfortable and occasionally "sits like a dog" (something she has done for weeks) and gets on her knees. We're concerned she may have a matabolic [?] pregnancy disorder, except that she doesn't seem ill.

Friday, April 11, 1980

Planted a 17' band of spinach over manure in the slope garden. Transplanted 8 Bibb lettuce plants from the cold frame patch to the slope garden. We got 2 muscovy ducks (drake and duck) at $1. 50 each, 28 eggs today. We're still eating last year's potatoes. Sold 6 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Started to wean David by placing him with Leo.

Saturday, April 12, 1980

Light rain most of the day. I planted more yellow onion sets. Transplanted more Bibb lettuce for a total of 17 plants. 18 eggs today. Betty and Gus caught fish for breakfast. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Sunday, April 13, 1980

Rain this afternoon. 25 eggs today. This evening Honey had a single female kid.

Monday, April 14, 1980

April Honey's new kid) and mother are doing fine. Heavy rain off and on all day. 19 eggs today. I couldn't even get pine boughs for the goats as usual.

Tuesday, April 15, 1980

Did a few odd jobs. Clearing and windy. Only 14 eggs today. Eve the duck layed 3 eggs so far for brooding. First Whippoorwill this evening.

Wednesday, April 16, 1980

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 35deg. F this morning I placed a post and dug some more holes on the bee yard fence 18 eggs today. A sad event: Honey's kid died this evening, presumably after sustaining a chill the last several windy, cold days. It appears we placed them outside too soon-a lesson to us. The soil is very wet so that plowing is further delayed.

Thursday, April 17, 1980

21deg. F this morning at the carriage shed and 25deg. F at the PP orchard! I fear many blossoms froze-also those of the nectarines are covered! I placed 2 posts at the bee yard fence and did some spading and manure hauling to the goat pasture. Only 10 eggs 6today. We're having trouble with egg breaking and eating. Honey gives lots of milk (~5qts.) a day.

Friday, April 18, 1980

I dug a hole and placed a post on the bee yard fence and did some spading in the slope garden. Brandy had a single doe kid late this afternoon. Also an all time egg record-3 doz. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. The weather has turned warmer and we have abundant milk now! April 19 Did some spading in the slope garden and I patched the roof (tarred) on the house and barn. Hoagie got a free buck goat (just born) from Barnharts and is trying it on Honey. She almost accepts it but not quite and I hold Honey while Hoagie holds the rear and it sucks. Hoagie also fed it some colostrum from a bottle before we took it to Honey. 26 eggs today. We also had a bit of a problem with Brandy's kid, who got a chill. We had to bring it in the house where it recovered and then brought it in the warm sun, where it sucked again. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Sunday, April 20, 1980

Don and I cut another log off the big chestnut oak on PP and another log. Honey seems to be much more accepting of the little buck ( Napoleon) and it now requires only one of us to allow him to suck her. Another beautiful day. 33 eggs today. Hoagie made 1. 5 qts. of soft cheese, which turned out great!

Monday, April 21, 1980

I began spading the creek garden where I didn't spade last year and found coral berry and honeysuckle. While getting pine boughs on PP for the goats I noticed a raven fly over chased by two crows and confirmed its call, since the size difference was so apparent. The call however, is not a hoarse croak as described in the books, but a rather high-pitched melodic note that carries far and wide. Mr. Varner plowed the hill field and I gave him $22. 00, although he wanted only $20. 00. ~30 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 22, 1980

Spaded in the creek garden. Had my second tooth (lower left, next to wisdom) pulled. Another beautiful day. All peas, spinach, lettuce and onions are doing well and the old strawberries are in bloom. 33 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 23, 1980

I began to spread manure and level on the hill field corn patch as usual. I also continued spading in the creek garden. 30 eggs today. We've been freezing fresh milk. The weather was very hot (~90s) today.

Thursday, April 24, 1980

Spread manure and leveled on the hill field. Also did some spading in the slope garden. Heavy thundershower this late afternoon. 33 eggs today. Eve the duck began sitting on her eggs.

Friday, April 25, 1980

Hauled a load of manure to the hill field. Betty got a new colony of bees and we hived them. The queen looked healthy. I planted about 20 Stonehead Hybrid cabbage plants i grew. 31 eggs today.

Saturday, April 26, 1980

Rain off and on all day. 31 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Sunday, April 27, 1980

Rain off and on. Disbudded Venus and Napoleon. 31 eggs today.

Monday, April 28, 1980

Cloudy with light rain some of the time. I hauled 2 WB of of chicken manure on the goat pasture and I did some spading in the garden which was barely possible. 30 eggs today. We're reducing the chicken feed ration and we're freezing lots of milk.

Tuesday, April 29, 1980

Spaded in slope and creek gardens and hauled 2 WB loads of goat manure for the slope corn patch. Planted 12 New Jersey Wakefield cabbage plants (expensive!) + 15 Snowball T-3 cauliflower (Johnny's). 32 eggs today. Honey now (for the last few days) accepts Napoleon at least some times and allows him to suck without our help.

Wednesday, April 30, 1980

Heavy rain last night and very cool today. 32 eggs today. Sold one doz, eggs for 70c.

Thursday, May 1, 1980

Sold 12 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Hoagie and I went shopping and bought a new ice cream freezer (hand crank for $50 +). 34 eggs today. Bought a bale (250) egg cartons for $48. 00.

Friday, May 2, 1980

I goat-manured (a total of 1/3 pick-up load) 6-50' rows of potatoes in the hill field, using my own Kennebec seed potatoes I raised in the slope garden last year. Some of these cuts were a bit rotted or moldy. Sold 4 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. 33 eggs today.

Saturday, May 3, 1980

Betty and Bob put on a shallow honey super on hive #1 with a queen excluder. Bees were busy. Hive #2 looks busy too. Jim Barnhart called and said they have a swarm and they were referred to H. J. Puffenbarger. I worked at spreading manure and leveling in the hill field. Don and I loaded and hauled up a load of manure. The Virginia pines are giving off lots of pollen now and columbine are blooming on the rocks of Pileated Peak slope. We sold Chocolate to the Seman family today and she is gone. We got $60. 00. Planted 12 Flat Dutch cabbage plants in the creek garden over manure. 33 eggs today.

Sunday, May 4, 1980

Planted a [? ] row of my own garlic bulbs using no fertilizer. in the slope garden. i also spread manure and leveled in the hill field and hauled up a load of manure.. 19 eggs today.

Monday, May 5, 1980

Continued to spread manure and level in the hill field. However, I encountered such hard going with hard clods that I'm seeking someone to disk the field. I also worked manure in for the sweet corn patch in the slope garden. 30 eggs today. Betty and I saw a bee apparently gathering pollen from Virginia pines.

Tuesday, May 6, 1980

Spread manure and leveled on hill field. Mr. Hartzog came and drilled the field, but lumps still remain. I gave him $10 although he wanted only $10. I also spaded manure in for corn in the slope garden. I found a quartzite scraper in my potato patch. Later I wrote as follows:

I found a quartzite scraper in my potato patch.

Say it was lost in the timeless maze by some brown hand,

Who could not have imagined the passing of all those groves.

Yet some southward facing glades still lie

Where the slanting October sun once struck the white of deftly moving stone.

Here all confused and juxtaposed, the scraper hand,

The potato patch, the deer that scorns the fences and the roads.

eggs today.

Wednesday, May 7, 1980

Leveled and dug in manure on hill field and spaded in the creek garden. Planted a 35' band of Red Core Chantenay carrots in the slope garden. 21 eggs today.

Thursday, May 8, 1980

Light rain this morning. i constructed a 3' row marker for planting corn. I hauled a WB load of manure and placed 8 hills for melons. The weather has turned cool and the wild crabapple tree is in bloom. 32 eggs today.

Friday, May 9, 1980

Leveled and spread manure on the hill field. Mr. Hartzog came and redisked the field. and refused any pay! i hauled another load of manure up. ~30 eggs today. It was 30deg. F this morning and grape leaves and strawberry blossoms were nipped. Bee inspector H [?] came to inspect Shaner's hives. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats.

Saturday, May 10, 1980

Frost again this morning ( T` 30 deg. F) Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Planted, using setting 35 on seeder, 18-150' rows of Hasting's Yellow Prolific field corn. (140 days) in the hill field. Planted 5-16' rows of Hybrid sweet lot 902 R corn (Co-op 60 days) + 5-16' rows of Sweet Hybrid lot 905-RS (93 days) Sweet corn (Co-op) in slope garden over goat manure. 30 eggs today. Also planted more expensive cabbage in slope garden.

Sunday, May 11, 1980

Placed the band on Napoleon. I dug in manure on the hill field for the last of the field corn. I saw a turkey fly up right in front of me on Mueller's Mtn. in the hill field edge. I fear our grapes are seriously frost damaged again. Hoagie took 2 brood + pollen = honey frames from the strong hive and placed them in the new hive 2. 27 eggs today. I planted 6 more cabbage plants in the creek garden-also two cauliflower.

Monday, May 12, 1980

I dug in manure at a higher rate than usual and planted 15-35' rows of Hasting's Yellow Prolific corn on the hill field, finishing out the patch. [I wrote a follows]

Two teals came in the bright evening light, twin black arcs against the budding walnut grove and sky. Now swallowed by the curving banks and trees, there is a lingering image of your flight. Are you the emissaries of another age, or does your pattern fit us even now?

(as observed by Gus and me) 28 eggs today. Sold one doz. eggs for 70c.

Tuesday, May 13, 1980

I prepared ground for bean planting on the hill field. Noted that the striped beetles that severely damaged the apple trees last year are back but don't appear to be quite so abundant. Also potato beetles seem to have an early start in the slope garden this year. 28 eggs today. I placed the hoses and watered the slope garden, which we have been watering by hand for about a week now.

Wednesday, May 14, 1980

planted a 60' row of Forrdhook lima beans in the hill field using no fertilizer. I omitted placing inoculant on the beans by mistake but scattered some on the ground later. I cut the front lawn for hay and watered the slope garden again I also spaded in the creek garden. 24 eggs today.

Thursday, May 15, 1980

Planted three 60' rows of Turtle Soup black beans from my own seed, using no fertilizer in the hill field with inoculant. I cut hay on the sides of the house. I also watered both gardens, mostly cabbage and new strawberry plants, and spaded in the creek garden. 20 eggs today. The temp. was 34deg. F this morning.

Friday, May 16, 1980

Planted two 60' rows of kidney beans (from store) in the hill field, using inoculant but no fertilizer. hauled in 7 WB loads of hay. 30 eggs today and sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Saturday, May 17, 1980

Planted a 55' row of Burpee stringless bush beans in the slope garden, using inoculant but no fertilizer. Picked potato beetle eggs, which this year are on nearly every other plant! This seems early, but I may not have looked as closely in past years. In any case, I destroyed thousands of potential beetles this way. I also noted that these eggs were on other near by plants such as pigweed and even grasses. 30 eggs today.

Sunday, May 18, 1980

Heavy rain last night. Birds (crows ?) pulled a quite a bit of sweet corn in the slope garden, perhaps early this morning, taking advantage of our late rising. I replanted some. The morning cleared, but this afternoon is partly cloudy but warm. Crows are pulling my corn plants-in the evening this time. 23 eggs today.

Monday, May 19, 1980

I replanted the corn in the slope garden-which had been pulled by crows. Planted 10 Cal Wonder peppers in the creek garden. 25 eggs today. Note: the Farm Bureau received a heavy order of plants from N. C., including peppers, tomatoes and cabbage. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Tuesday, May 20, 1980

Rain, with thunderstorm, last night and most of day. Cuckoos called across the valley from PP and MM back and forth. I planted 6 Cayenne pepper plants in rain, in the creek garden, next to the Cal Wonder I planted yesterday. 23 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 21, 1980

I worked a little in the creek garden preparing melon hills. 25 eggs today. Weather is humid and partly cloudy. Most of the corn in the hill field seems to be up with little bird damage so far.

Thursday, May 22, 1980

Planted 4 Burpee VF tomatoes in the slope garden, using no fertilizer, and also 2 Cayenne peppers. i cut hay around the slope garden. 24 eggs today. A Shaner hive gave off a big swarm. Hoagie made 5 qts. of yogurt by using wide mouth peanut butter jars + about

Friday, May 23, 1980

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. + gave away two. Prepared ground for melons, corn and cucumbers in the creek garden. Planted some white onion sets that I received late. Spinach, (which we eat a lot of in salads), peas, potatoes, onion sets, cabbage and lettuce are all doing well. Planted 11 Cayenne pepper plats in the slope garden, using no fertilizer. Also, I planted 6 hills of Burpee's Ambrosia cantaloupe + one Rocky Ford and 3 hills of Sugar Baby watermelon. All were liberally fertilized with goat manure. 26 eggs today.

Saturday, May 24, 1980

Very light rain off an on all day. I planted 3 more tomato plants, did various transplantings etc. The soil is still too wet on the hill for planting beans. Betty and Gus are assembling more bee hives for expansion of the yard and to super up existing hives. 24 eggs today. We have a lot more white clover this year than previously-probably attributable to liming and pollination by the bees.

Sunday, May 25, 1980

Light rain and cloudy again. Birds (blackbirds / 0 destroyed more of the replanted sweet corn (third time ?) in the slope garden. I spaded and manured for sweet corn in the creek garden in hopes of better luck there. Betty and I did extensive fence repair to the bee yard fence. 26 eggs today. We used our new ice cream freezer the second time.

Monday, May 26, 1980

I m8ulched our new strawberry patch with hay spoiled by rain, hoed potatoes, peas, cabbage, lettuce etc. I cut more hay above the slope garden. 25 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 27, 1980

Planted, using inoculant and seeder setting of 35, 11. 5-60' rows of my own pinto beans and I began to plant Traverse soy beans ( my own soy beans an inoculant, with seeder setting 27). The soil is quite moist. 17 eggs today.

Wednesday, May 28, 1980

Continued to plant Traverse soy beans on hill. Hauled in 2 WB of hay, including some spring vetch. 15 eggs today. I picked over two rows of potatoes in the slope garden for beetle eggs and found quite a few.

Finished planting the hill field with the last of the soy beans. Sold 5 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. 26 eggs today. I continued to pick potato beetle eggs and larvae, of which there are a moderate amount for this time of year. Lightning beetles came out for the first time last night. The weather is now mild and humid.

Friday, May 30, 1980

Spaded in the creek garden for pumpkins etc 15 eggs today. Sold 4 doz. eggs for 70c a doz.

Saturday, May 31, 1980

prepared 6 more hills with goat manure an planted 4 hills of Ambrosia cantaloupe and 2 hills of Sugar Baby watermelon. 20 eggs today. Had a thundershower this evening.

Sunday, June 1, 1980

The day of the bee swarm (see Hoagie's comments) I cut hay in the bee yard. 17 eggs today + as usual some broken.

Monday, June 2, 1980

I weeded in the slope garden and hoed the potatoes in the hill field. Betty is still trying to hive the swarm. 25 eggs today. The weather is unusually hot and humid. the garden is growing very well, esp. the cabbage, which is untouched by the cabbage worm and is almost beginning to head. Hauled in 2 WB loads of hay.

Tuesday, June 3, 1980

I planted 5 hills of Surecrop Hybrid cucumber + 2 hills of Wisconsin SMR Pickler in the creek garden over WR manure and prepared tomato sticks. I saw the first group of cabbage butterflies in the slope garden. Planted 6 Roma VF tomato plants in the slope garden using no fertilizer. 25 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 4, 1980

Hoed onions and potatoes in the slope garden and soy beans in the hill field. Gus hoed other beans. I cut hay on the flood plain. 22 eggs today.

Thursday, June 5, 1980

i hoed 8-200' rows of soy beans. We hauled in 4 WB of rather coarse hay. 27 eggs today. I froze 3 pts. of spinach.

Friday, June 6, 1980

Rain off and on today. Sold 12 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Betty is weaning David in sessions wit tobasco sauce. 27 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of corn.

Saturday, June 7, 1980

Planted one hill of Patty Pan summer squash + two hills of Waltham Butternut winter squash + 2 hills of Small Sugar pumpkin, all over WR manure in the creek garden. it is very hot and humid. 16 eggs today. We are concerned that we have seen no bats so far this season, probably a bad one for the state of the ecology regionally. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Sunday, June 8, 1980

[by Gus] Neughstrom, Gus' bantam hen is proud to announce the birth of a rooster chick with yellow legs and calico colors. There were two eggs, but only one hatched. She has named it Discover or Disco for short to go with Explorer or Explo, his proud cigar-passing father. Approx. 75 grams, (:00 AM. [I guess Gus wrote this.]

Monday, June 9, 1980

I cut hay on the flood plain and watered cabbage in the slope garden. David has apparently been weaned for the last few days- at least in the presence of Leonardo, who have both been placed with the does during part of the day. 21 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of mash.

Tuesday, June 10, 1980

[by Gus] Neughstrom Van Bantaughph's chick died today because of another chicken pecking him on the lower neck, in the long run causing asphixiation. Explorer and Neughstrom and Pearl Van Bantaughph are very sad, I am also (Gus Mueller). I buried him on and island that I built and hold sacred to the Van Bautaughph, age 3days.

I [R. F. M.] finished hoeing one field of soy beans and worked in the creek garden. 20 eggs today. I am enjoying wild strawberries from the PP slope several times a day and even froze a pint the other day.

Wednesday, June 11, 1980

Planted 5 rows of Golden Cross Bantam and 4 rows of Trucker's Favorite sweet corn in the creek garden after applying manure. Hoed corn, as did Don. Hauled in 3 WB of hay from the flood plain (good clover). 20 eggs today.

Thursday, June 12, 1980

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Hoed corn, as did Gus and Don. I also watered again in the slope and creek gardens. 13 eggs today.

Friday, June 13, 1980

Candy broke into the hill field and ate tops off some corn. Hauled corn. I cut hay on the flood plain and repaired barn roof. 13 eggs today.

Saturday, June 14, 1980

Don, Gus and I hoed corn and I hoed beans in the hill field. I hauled fence posts to the hill field with the pick-up. 29 eggs today. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 70c a doz.

Sunday, June 15, 1980

Hauled in 4. 5 WB of hay from the flood plain. Hoagie finally moved hive no. 1 with a little moral support from me-she did a great job! It's very dry. Potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, corn are doing well. Onions, spinach and lettuce fair, melons poorly-all in the slope garden, where tomatoes are also doing well. Cabbage in the creek garden is doing well. So far there has been no cabbage worm damage since the butterflies appeared late this year. as recorded earlier. 21 eggs today.

Monday, June 16, 1980

Light rain this morning, but insignificant. I dug postholes for patching the hill field fence and watered in the slope garden. 24 eggs today.

Tuesday, June 17, 1980

Don hoed corn and I dug postholes in the hill field and Gus cleaned the stalls. I also watered and hoed extensively in both gardens. I'm still eating wild strawberries every morning. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, June 18, 1980

I placed 3 posts along the hill field fence, and the boys hoed corn. I also put a brace on the goat pasture fence. and watered the potatoes. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, June 19, 1980

Planted a row of Burpee's Stringless bush beans in the creek garden. Did a lot of watering¸ particularly potatoes in the slope garden. 26 eggs today. I'm also picking potato beetle larvae practically every day, as they're the worst I've ever seen here. Also, cabbage worms are beginning to do significant damage.

Friday, June 20, 1980

I cut hay on the flood plain and hoed in the hill field where everything is stunted due to lack of moisture. I also did a lot of watering in both gardens-even to watering the corn seeds in the creek garden, which hadn't yet sprouted. 18 eggs today. We had a dry cold front last night. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Saturday, June 21, 1980

Froze 2 qts. of peas and watered extensively. 26 eggs today.

Sunday, June 22, 1980

Hauled in 3 WB of good clover hay for a total of about 25 WB so far and did a lot of watering. 16 eggs today.

Monday, June 23, 1980

Cleaned [wood] stove system including pipes. A diabolic male rewing blackbird is pulling corn sprouts and even flew up in a tree holding seeds with roots dangling. He jeers at me whenever I go there. 16 eggs today. I continue to water.

Tuesday, June 24, 1980

I froze 1. 5 qts. of peas and on hands and knees I placed earth clods over corn sprouts to protect them from redwings. I'm also soaking more corn for planting.

Wednesday, June 25, 1980

I cut grass in the front yard and continue to place clods on the corn in the creek garden. We had a very light rain that didn't even wet the ground. 22 eggs today.

Thursday, June 26, 1980

Continue to cut grass, help corn with birds, weeds etc. I noticed that the cabbage plants on which I applied Dipel [first use ?] to several days ago, now apparently have dead worms on them due to this material. Hoagie finished her "Strategy for teaching the visually impaired. " [course ?]

[Gus writes as follows :] Pearl, Hen's chick had a chick today. Most of the now 8 eggs are due tomorrow. It's name is Annabelle, for which begat Explo, Neughstrom, who begat Pearl, who once again begat Annabelle. The elder Annabelle was owned by Nathan VanHooser when he gave me Explo and Neuhstrom, coincidentally. The former owner of the elder Annabelle is 12 today. Hoagie paid Gus $6. 00 for milking goats during her course in the morning for 50c a milking. He is now rich!

Friday, June 27, 1980

I cut hay on the flood plain and replanted some corn in the creek garden. 18 eggs today. Wilbur had trouble with his walking. The rest of Pearl's chicks hatched Broke one out of egg in good shape.

Saturday, June 28, 1980

Hauled in 4 WB loads of good red clover hay. it is very warm and humid this morning. The big basswood on Pileated Peak is in bloom and bees are on it. Also, the bull thistles are beginning to bloom. 19 eggs today.

Sunday, June 29, 1980

Watered extensively in the creek garden. We had a few light showers. 20 eggs today.

Monday, June 30, 1980

Weeded and hoed in both gardens and on the hill field. The soy beans are apparently a loss on the hill field due to rabbits ? or deer ? eating these slowly growing plants (due to dry weather 0.. 16 eggs today We got another Muscovy hen today (for free) from Barrards {spel. ?]

Tuesday, July 1, 1980

weeded and watered in both gardens. Sprayed [now I just sprinkle it as powder] Dipel for the second time on cabbage in the creek garden. 18 eggs today. We ordered water [for the cistern] for the first time, but it has not been delivered yet.

Wednesday, July 2, 1980

Hoagie left for Massachusetts early this morning for several days with Grandma, who has heart trouble. I fixed the roof (a brand new one !) on the brooder hut and Gus and I watered the creek garden. I also watered the strawberries. 21 eggs today. It is very warm and humid.

Thursday, July 3, 1980

A few striped cucumber beetles damaged new leaves on some cucumbers. This is the first time since we live here that I noticed this type of damage, although these beetles have been around. 20 eggs today. Pearl's chick, who had trouble with balance, is alright now.

Friday, July 4, 1980

Today I dug a hole in the edge of the cattails, at the base of MM seeking spring water. But discovered the marsh is underlain by a thick blue clay (perched water table). Apparently this holds the spring water which flowed from the overlying organic layer into the hole I dug. into the clay. i also again sampled the water flowing out of the marsh, where it is covered by an oily (iron ?) stained material. It tasted OK except for an iron taste after I cleaned away the scum. This water flows quite rapidly into the stream however. Our cistern is very low now(?). Gus and I fixed the gate fence at the goat pasture and I watered extensively in both gardens. I sprayed Dipel again in the slope garden, where I found extensive damage on only a few cabbage heads. Otherwise the 4 different types of cabbage here are beautiful. 18 eggs today + a duck egg from our new duck. 14 [duck ?] eggs almost every day. However, we don't save these as they are unlikely to be fertile. The bees are really strong on milkweed now. First water ever delivered at $12. 56 for ~1000 gallons.

Saturday, July 5, 1980

Fixed the pipe gate on the goat pasture. We had a thudershower rain for about a half hour, but not nearly enough. 21 eggs today.

Sunday, July 6, 1980

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 70c a doz. Watering in the creek garden incl. cucumbers every day, also corn. 20 eggs today. I ate the first potatoes.

Monday, July 7, 1980

Cut hay on the flood plain and watered extensively. All the watermelons have wilt and the cantaloupe look yellow and poor. 20 eggs today. The cabbage is excellent.

Tuesday, July 8, 1980

Hauled in 3 large WB of hay for a total of 32 so far Sold 12 doz. eggs for 70c a doz. Heavy thundershower for about an hour, wetting everything for a change. 16 eggs today.

Wednesday, July 9, 1980

Very hot and humid. I made a gallon of sour kraut this morning. The ducks were all bad, going to Shipes. I did some weeding. 21 eggs today. Heavy thunderstorms , incl. rain, again this evening.

Thursday, July 10, 1980

Hoagie returned from Mass. Jennifer was bred, as she came into heat. I froze 5 qts. of green beans.

Friday, July 11, 1980

12 eggs today.

Saturday, July 12, 1980

Hoed gardens. We wormed all the goats but Jennifer. ten eggs today. It is very warm and quite humid.

Sunday, July 13, 1980

Pleasant till noon and then very warm and humid for the rest of the day. I hoed in the morning. As usual I read and wrote for a while in the woods on Pileated Peak. 19 eggs today.

Monday, July 14, 1980

I watered extensively in both gardens. Both spotted and strioped cucumber beetles and the squash bug are abundant on pumpkins and cucumbers in the creek garden. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, July 15, 1980

Froze 5. 5 qts. of green beans.

Wednesday, July 16, 1980

15 eggs today. 94 deg. on the house. We are having aa heat wave. Gus and Robert got on the train early this morning on their way to Canada. Maple is in heat; decided to finish her worming before breeding her

Thursday, July 17, 1980

15 eggs today. Still well into the 90s and we had a shower, which has cooled us off.

Friday, July 18, 1980

Temp. in the 90s, but dry, so more bearable than before. Honey is in heat and Leonardo was almost over the top of the fence so Betty put the goats on the flood plain for the night to keep close watch on them. 16 eggs today. Bob called from Canada. A large Buteo Hawk scared a chicken who ran into Folly and spooked her.

Saturday, July 19, 1980

Don earned $1. 00 by watering the [?], putting chickens and ducks away and walking Wilbur etc. while Hoagie went [?] in Weyers Cave. 12 eggs today. Temp. is still in the 90s. Goats are giving more milk. Worming is worth while.

Sunday, July 20, 1980

Extremely hot, high 90s. I watered Bob's gardens lots.

Monday, July 21, 1980

Good shower this evening. Don and I wormed Jennifer, who later mistrusted the milk stand. The buteo hawk was back and I scared it off. Chickens let out a good scare call.

Tuesday, July 22, 1980

I [Betty] treated Don to lunch at the Beverly restaurant. Sold 10 doz. eggs to Natural Way at 70c a doz. Good rain again tonight and it was in the 80s today. 12 eggs today. Found Neughstrom and put a shelter over her. She has many eggs I think.

Wednesday, July 23, 1980

8 eggs today. Rained in the morning. Hoagie was collecting brush near our new neighbors and spotted some yummy red berries and almost put her hand on a large black snake. He/she ignored her, and didn't hear the scream of course.

Thursday, July 24, 1980

The goats went to Belangers and Don and I returned them. Must work on the fence. 8 eggs today.

Friday, July 25, 1980

13 eggs today. Hoagie made a super-strong collar for a St. Bernard today.

Saturday, July 26, 1980

7 eggs today and Eve, our 1st duck laid an egg. we gobbled some sweet corn from the garden. I tied up tomatoes in the creek garden. The goats are giving much more milk now since we wormed them. I've been getting close to 5 qts. even with Venus and Napoleon still sucking.

Sunday, July 27, 1980

9 eggs today.

Monday, July 28, 1980

7 eggs today. Shirley Lanuam and her sister-in-law came and picked blackberries with Hoagie. They also were given a cabbage head each. It was raining in the morning. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 70c. Got laying mash and [?] 1 duck egg today.

Tuesday, July 29, 1980

5 eggs today. Froze a qt. of blackberries. Saw 2 wild ducksfly over Pileated Peak. 2 duck eggs today.

Wednesday, July 30, 1980

4 chicken and 1 duck egg today.

Thursday, July 31, 1980

5 chicken and 1 duck eggs today. Leo is happy as Raisin, who is in heat, was put in his pen, after she was roped repeatedly by Hoagie because she was hard to catch. Saw a rat snake I think in the basement. Don was sure it was a rattlesnake, but it had no rattles. Hoagie did some saddle repair and work on stirrup leather for Barbara Knopp and Debbie came by and both fouled up the Lum and Abner program so the taping done for Gus is goofed up.

Friday, August 1, 1980

Gus and I returned from Ralph Kretz's Otter Lake farm near Ottawa where Gus Lake-fished for the first time. We also spent a quite a bit of time studying mushrooms. Ther weather was rainy for most of the two weeks we were there. 4 chicken and 2 duck eggs today.

Saturday, August 2, 1980

2 duck eggs. Planted a ~20' row of Broad Leaf Batavian endive in the slope garden over manure placed a ~month ago.

Sunday, August 3, 1980

Maple was bred to Leo numerous times. # chicken an 2 duck eggs today. I weeded and watered extensively in both gardens. We wormed the goats except for Jennifer.

Monday, August 4, 1980

Neughstrom had some chicks, gave one of two strange yellow ones to Don (I'm Gus who's writing) put add in Farm Bureau for give chicks. Pop says I can't have more than three chicks plus Don's one without building separate rooming house for chicks and chicken. Don named his Archaeopteryx. Gus named the other Hi Yallert cenoeopteryx.

I [Bob] dug potatoes yesterday (row each day) in the slope garden and bagged them in the cellar after drying them in the sun for a few hrs. 5 eggs today. Natchez severely cut her leg and side on barbed wire. Betty saw 3 turkeys flying up on Mueller's Mtn. 1 duck egg today. Bought 100 lbs of corn.

Tuesday, August 5, 1980

Betty, Don and I repaired fence along Heizer's boundary. 5 chicken and 2 duck eggs today. The vet came and gave Natchez a tetanus shot and wrapped her cut leg and sprayed her wounds and told Hoagie to give her 10 cc of Deydipen [?]

Wednesday, August 6, 1980

i placed anothr post along the boundary. it is very warm and dry. 2 duck eggs today.

Thursday, August 7, 1980

Betty and i fixed fence along Heizer's boundary. $ chicken and 1 duck eggs today. I watered in the creek garden. It continues very warm. I dug more potatoes.

Friday, August 8, 1980

10[chicken ? ] eggs today. It's very warm and dry.

Saturday, August 9, 1980

Don and I dug a posthole in rocky ground on B's border. 4 eggs today. we had a light shower, but it's very dry.

Sunday, August 10, 1980

Gus and i watered extensively in the creek garden. I made a gallon of sour kraut. 8 eggs today.

Monday, August 11, 1980

Eve is sitting on eggs. I'm having trouble with potato rot in small and damaged potatoes. This rot appears to be present in the field but as distinguished from previous years, appears to spread rapidly. At this stage I don't know if it will spread in the good potatoes of which I've bagged several bushels from 4 of 5 rows in the slope garden.

Tuesday, August 12, 1980

Don and I cut brush and used it to mulch the fruit trees in the MM orchard (north slope ). 9 eggs today. Maggie is also sitting on eggs. She appears more competent than Eve She has feathers covering the eggs.

Wednesday, August 13, 1980

Don and I again worked in the orchard mulching. Hoagie canned 9 pts. of Bread and Butter pickles + pts. of peach jam (not our peaches). Don, Gus and Hoagie wormed Jennifer.

Thursday, August 14, 1980

Don and I again worked in the orchard. 4 eggs today. I froze 2 qts. of green beans.

Friday, August 15, 1980

Don and I again worked in the orchard. 6 eggs today. we quit giving Natchez the 10 cc of Dexdipen.

Saturday, August 16, 1980

A short heavy shower during the night. it turned relatively cool during the day. 4 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Sunday, August 17, 1980

Because of the cool weather I canned 4 qts. of sour kraut on the wood stove. 4 eggs today. Don and I worked in the orchard again.

Monday, August 18, 1980

Heavy rain showers last night and during the day. VW generator light is on and we have to wait until Thurs. to get it fixed with guests coming tomorrow. Yuck!

Tuesday, August 19, 1980

Betty's friends arrived (Rita Wilcox and her friend Lois).

Wednesday, August 20, 1980

A fine day and we all (except Don) went on a picnic. 4 eggs today. Took Rita, Lois and Gus to the WW birth place. Hoagie made over 1 gallon of yoghurt and it was done by 2:00 AM. [followed by illegible details!]

Thursday, August 21, 1980

Cloudy. I weeded the strawberry patch

Friday, August 22, 1980

Betty's friends departed. Froze 5 pts. of sweet corn. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash.

Saturday, August 23, 1980

Gus and I hauled a very large pickup load of junk to the landfill. I mowed brush and got lood [?] ration as usual from the orchard. I dug the last row of potatoes in the slope garden-and these will be kept out of the cellar for a while in hope of avoiding the rot which destroyed about a third of them so far. Natchez's body wounds have her hair growing back and looks good. Her leg wound is still bad. 4 eggs today.

Sunday, August 24, 1980

We placed a new light post in concrete (15' locust). 4eggs today. I've been cutting brush around and mulching the apple trees on PP with it.

Monday, August 25, 1980

i made a gallon of sour kraut. Hoagie made more than 6 pts. of tomato jam. 5 eggs = a nest today. We have warm weather during the day but cool nights-almost ideal.

Tuesday, August 26, 1980

i cut more brush and mulched fruit trees with it on the MM north slope orchard. 10 eggs today. I dug a hole for a cherry tree in the front yard.

Wednesday, August 27, 1980

Continued cutting brush and mulching apple trees on PP. I also dug a hole for a pear tree on the PP orchard. 6 eggs today. I canned a gallon of sour kraut. 14 eggs today. Hoagie is making yoghurt again this evening.

Thursday, August 28, 1980

[no record]

Friday, August 29, 1980

{no record]

Saturday, August 30, 1980

9 eggs today. Hoagie got the first honey of the year today.

Sunday, August 31, 1980

I cut brush and mulched as usual at the apple trees on PP. 5 eggs today. Hoagie and I worked with the bees.

Monday, September 1, 1980

This was the day of the big honey harvest. Hoagie and I got a full shallow super of honey down. 9 eggs today. The weather is quite warm during the day (90s) but cool at night and there appears to be a heavy honey flow (pennyroyal, asters, coral berry etc.) (see bee journal). We also went horseback riding around Mueller's Mtn.

Tuesday, September 2, 1980

I canned 7 more qts. of tomatoes. Hoagie made 2 batches of mead. 9 eggs today. We had a short, fairly heavy shower this evening. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Wednesday, September 3, 1980

Sold 4 lbs of tomatoes at 40c a lb. Gus gave away 3 hens + a rooster bantam chicks of Pearl's. 6 eggs today.

Thursday, September 4, 1980

I dug 2 rows of the very poor potato crop in the hill field. 8 eggs today. The weather continues very warm and humid, although the ground is quite dry. We have had a quite a bit of sweet corn this year despite the damage by birds.

Friday, September 5, 1980

I cut brush and mulched the apple trees on PP and got Leo his usual bag of brush [which someone, usually me, has to provide each day). 5 eggs today. I also brought home a half head [?] basket of potatoes from the two rows dug yesterday (~ 1/10 last year's yield).

Saturday, September 6, 1980

I mulched on Pp and dug two rows of poor potatoes on MM. 8 eggs today + nest of small eggs. Heavy shower.

Sunday, September 7, 1980

We all put the electric wires on the new pole (to the barn). It is very humid and quite warm after a cool night. 8 eggs today. It turned somewhat cool. Hoagie got incre [?] honey (one frame)

Monday, September 8, 1980

T~60deg. F this morning, a beautiful day. I canned 7 qts. of tomatos I also dug most of a post hole on B's boundary. 7 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 9, 1980

I canned 4 qts, of sour kraut. Hoagie sold her first (one lb) of honey for $1. 00. I froze 5 pts. of sweet peppers. I also placed the boundary post. 9 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 10, 1980

Hoagie and I went for lunch at the Hotel Jackson and I purchased lumber foa toboggan I'm making. 3 eggs and a beautiful day.

Thursday, September 11, 1980

43 deg. F this morning and very bright. I cut the corn stalks in the slope garden and shocked them. I also worked on the toboggan. 9 eggs today.

Friday, September 12, 1980

At ~7:00 AM this morning, while walking Wilbur, I heard a great commotion up by the barn and saw a gray bird and Gus' bantam hen flying up. It was an acippiter of fair size, probably after the hen's chicks. [The hen actually flew up at the bird of prey, attacking it as the chicks took refuge in the thick vegetation!] It didn't get any chicks but presented a beautiful sight as it flew away. I dug the last two rows of the poor potatoes on MM. 8 eggs and a beautiful day.

Saturday, September 13, 1980

Very beautiful but dry day. I worked at the toboggan and brought home the last of the potatoes from the hill field, The yield was somewhat less than a bushel in all. 8 eggs today, but the chickens continued to eat them so that we probably got at least 10 in all.

Sunday, September 14, 1980

I worked at the toboggan and watered-as yesterday-endive, carrots, tomatoes, peppers and the remaining second generation cabbages in the slope garden. 8 eggs today. We had a very ligt shower this evening.

Monday, September 15, 1980

We had a brief thundershower during the night. i froze 3 pts. of hot peppers. 8 eggs today.

Tuesday, September 16, 1980

I mulched the apple trees on Pileated Peak and finished my "snowboat, " except for varnish, wax and rope.

Wednesday, September 17, 1980

I spaded and manured for 3 hills of rhubarb in the slope garden and mailed off an order. We found a little duck dead this morning, apparently hatched during the night and killed by the drake ? 9 eggs today. We had a short shower this afternoon.

Thursday, September 18, 1980

i cemented a post and placed another on B's boundary near our carriage shed. The weather is warm but pleasant. 7 eggs today. Note: When I dug the Post hole I noted damp soil two ft. down from last night's heavy rain.

Friday, September 19, 1980

I worked at the boundary fence. 3 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Saturday, September 20, 1980

The boys and I hauled flood plain soil to the PP orchard planting hole and I placed a post along B's boundary. 4 eggs today.

Sunday, September 21, 1980

I dug part of a hole for a peach tree on the MM north slope orchard. Gus and I worked putting up wire along B's boundary. 4 eggs today. We had a nice little shower.

Monday, September 22, 1980

I finished digging the hoe for the peach tree. 7 eggs today. We had a shower.

Tuesday, September 23, 1980

I varnished the bottom of the snow boat. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, September 24, 1980

Drizzle this morning. Glover fixed our blocked water pipe. I began to spade the creek garden to avoid working it in spring when it's so wet. 7 eggs today.

Thursday, September 25, 1980

I cut and mulched around the apple trees on PP and spaded in the creek garden. We had quite a bit of corn last night and it was cool and cloudy all day, real fall weather. 6 eggs today.

Friday, September 26, 1980

I went to town but did some spading in the creek garden. 6 eggs today.

Saturday, September 27, 1980

Don and I hauled flood plain soil to the first tree planting holes on PP and MM (one each). Gus and I fixed fence on B's boundary. I also had to repair our lno [? ] in gate to the flood plain and I spaded in the creek garden. 4 eggs today. Hoagie took off more honey today.

Sunday, September 28, 1980

(Sun.) Don and I hauled the last load of soil to the first tree hole on MM orchard and another to the prospective rhubarb patch in the slope garden. We hauled down our first pick-up load of wood from MM. only 3 eggs today. I increased chicken feed to 1. 5 dishes frm one.

Monday, September 29, 1980

I spaded the creek garden and patched the barn roof with asphalt. 5 eggs today and Honey is in heat.

Tuesday, September 30, 1980

I spaded in the garden and sawed up firewood. Carol Luxford came to see Maple in hope of buying her. 5 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 1, 1980

I spaded in the creek garden and painted the new locust light post. 6 eggs today. I froze 3 pts. of hot peppers.

Thursday, October 2, 1980

I fashioned a 5' red oak into a 4' x 4' using splitting and hand trimming for future use. I do this from firewood salvage. I mulched, mostly with high field bush clover, in the Mm north slope orchard. The weather is quite fall-like and pleasant. 9 eggs today and light rain this evening.

Friday, October 3, 1980

Started a new long-handled spade in the creek garden. The old one was seriosly cracked, but it lasted for ~5 years. 6 eggs today. I mulched in the MM orchard. Light thunderstorms this evening and the weather is very cool.

Saturday, October 4, 1980

I mulched in the MM orchard and spaded in the creek garden. I also placed a new yard light on the new locust pole. 13 eggs today. It was cool and sunny all day.

Sunday, October 5, 1980

I mulched in the MM orchard and spaded in the creek garden. I picked wild grapes on PP and Hoagie made more than 4 pts. of jam. 4 eggs today. We had light rain off and on in the afternoon but quite steadily tonight. The weather continues cool.

Monday, October 6, 1980

It rained a quite a bit during the night and dawned cool and clear. I froze 2 quts. of hot peppers after mulching on the MM orchard. 10 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 7, 1980

It was 36deg. F on the carriage shed thermometer but showed frost on the wood shelter roof. However nothing froze in the garden. i mulched in the MM orchard and spaded in the creek and slope gardens. i took a bucket of ashes to the apple tree on Pileated Peak. It was a very beautiful and pleasant day. The dogwoods, sumac and Virginia creeper are in full color now. The bees are still heavy on the heath asters and pennyroyal 5 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 8, 1980

I mulched as usual and spaded in the slope garden. 14 eggs today.

Thursday, October 9, 1980

8 eggs today.

Friday, October 10, 1980

Bought 2 bags each of oats, corn and mash.

Saturday, October 11, 1980

Patched cracks in the chimney. 7 eggs today. Hoagie took off fur more honey frames.

Sunday, October 12, 1980

The boys and I hauled down another pick-up load of good dry hickory and red oak firewood from Mueller's Mtn. The weather is very cool and cloudy today. Note we have quite bright colors of leaves, although no frost as yet. I picked the last (?) tomatoes and peppers (hot and sweet) since a frost is expected this night. 12 eggs today.

Monday, October 13, 1980

First frost; qiute light but nipped tomatoes, peppers etc. I hauled manure from the goat stall to the prospective bean patch in the slope garden. 7 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 14, 1980

Fairly hard freeze last night. I split wood and checked the field corn, taking possible seed for next year, but it is very poor, worm eaten, strangely bleached grained stuff, and much damaged by raccoons. Ate the first mushroom ever picked by me-apuff ball, just a small taste. But it's so dry there are practically none. I also picked some black walnuts up om PP. 11 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 15, 1980

I varnished the "snow boat" again, after going to have my driver's license renewed. The weather is warm and bright. 6 eggs today.

Thursday, October 16, 1980

A beautiful clear, dry day with Temps. in the &0s. I began to cut the corn stalks on the hill field and pick the poor cobs on the ground. I also patched the barn roof, did a final check on the house roof and sawed and split my usual quota of firewood. 13 eggs today. 13 eggs today.

Friday, October 17, 1980

I bound corn bundles and Gus and I buit shocks on the hill. I also placed spar varnish on the "snow boat" for the third time. 5 eggs today. The weather is very warm.

Saturday, October 18, 1980

Very warm and humid. Don and I cut up firewood logs on MM. 5 eggs today.

Sunday, October 19, 1980

Don and I cut up some more logs for firewood on MM. i spliced wire on B's boundary and collected my first mushrooms for eating (Suillus brevipes) under pitch pines on the lower slope of PP. !0 eggs today. Rain last night.

Monday, October 20, 1980

I ate my first mushroom (Suillus brevipes). I also ate one small puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum ?). I spaded in the creek garden. 11 eggs today.

Tuesday, October 21, 1980

A very pleasant day except for more trouble with the neighbors on the shooting range. 10 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 22, 1980

This was the evening of the big fight between our neighbor, his helper and us in which they pointed guns, fired on our property and blocked the road. We taped it and, through our lawyer, put enough pressure to make them reverse the direction of their shooting range. Tis latter was accomplished on the 23.

Thursday, October 23, 1980

I cut and shocked some more corn. 8 eggs today.

Friday, October 24, 1980

I shocked some more corn, spaded in the garden etc. 10 eggs today and rain this evening.

Saturday, October 25, 1980

Ate another lunch of the same pore mushrooms. It rained fairly steadily all last night. 8 eggs today. Bought 200 lbs each of oats and corn and 100 lbs of mash.

Sunday, October 26, 1980

The boys and I lugged firewood to the trail on Mueller's Mtn and I cut more corn stalks. Hoagie and I went mushroom hunting and found more of the same pore mushrooms. 8 eggs today. It has been cool and freezes almost every night. Gus and I placed new plastic sheeting on the west side of the barn window.

Monday, October 27, 1980

I bound more corn bundles, gathered in irrigation hose, picked black walnuts and some more pore mushrooms (see species) and had them for supper with onions. 7 eggs today. It was a very nice day. We had a lot of trouble with B's goat which visits Leo when she is in heat.

Tuesday, October 28, 1980

I split wood asd on nearly every morning. In the afternoon I picked another meal of mushrooms (S. b. as usual). 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, October 29, 1980

I had a touch of a bud today and did little beyond chores. We had only 4 eggs today. It is quite cool (max. ~50deg. F) and cloudy.

Thursday, October 30, 1980

I cut more corn stalks, gathered up garden hose and closed window in the chicken coop. As usual, I also split wood.

Friday, October 31, 1980

Dalween [?] nothing to say.

Saturday, November 1, 1980

Don and I hauled down a load of pure hickory wood from MM. Hoagie winterized her bees and took off 4 partial frames of honey ( 10-12 lbs). 7 eggs today.

Sunday, November 2, 1980

(my birthday-57) I spread lime under the apple trees on PP. We have quite heavy frost almost every night now with pleasant days. I also hauled corn stalks frm the slope garden to the barn. 6 eggs today.

Monday, November 3, 1980

I went to town to see about tax assessments, but lines were too long. I placed ashes around fruit trees on MM north slope orchard. 6 eggs today.

Tuesday, November 4, 1980

Plumber came today and Hoagie and I voted for Carter. I dug 3 post holes on Heizer's boundary. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 5, 1980

Carter lost. i placed three posts. 7 eggs today. There are still yellow jackets flying in and out of a nest on PP.

Thursday, November 6, 1980

I cut the last of the corn stalks and worked at H's boundary fence cutting brush, digging post holes etc.

Friday, November 7, 1980

Bound up corn stalks and worked at H's boundary fence. 8 eggs today. i axed the snow boat with bees wax.

Saturday, November 8, 1980

Don and I cut up firewood logs on MM and lugged them to the trail. 5 eggs + a nest of 13 today. I also worked at the boundary fence. It was a very warm (in 70s) day. We bred Honey to Leo today.

Sunday, November 9, 1980

The boys and I lugged firewood to the trail on MM. 6 eggs today.

Monday, November 10, 1980

i did a little work on H's boundary fence in addition to going to town. 5 eggs today. The yellow jackets were still out on PP. Bought 100 lbs each of oats and mash.

Tuesday, November 11, 1980

I bound up some corn stalks and shocked them and I cleaned the furnace filter. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 12, 1980

I hauled chicken manure to the goat pasture. Only 3 eggs today.

Thursday, November 13, 1980

I went to town to have the truck fixed and placed new plastic windows in the chicken coop. 4 eggs today.

Friday, November 14, 1980

It's very smoky from the forest fires burning 50-100 mi west of here. Yellow jackets are still active on PP hovering on the lee side of Va. junipers. I tried to see what the tree offered them, but no success.

Saturday, November 15, 1980

Yesterday Hoagie left to visit her mother and a class reunion in Boston environs. I spent some time house cleaning as it rained off and on. 6 eggs today.

Sunday, November 16, 1980

It rained last night and is quite cool and cloudy this morning. 4 eggs today.

Monday, November 17, 1980

Rain, heavy at times most of the day and into the night. i fed the goats hay in addition to some brush I gathered this morning. There is also some sleet and freezing rain. 4 eggs today.

Tuesday, November 18, 1980

Clearing and cooler. 7 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 19, 1980

I cleared saplings around the crabapple tree near the swamp edge on MM and leveled Hoagie's bee hive platform. 5 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats, corn and mash.

Thursday, November 20, 1980

[no record]

Friday, November 21, 1980

6 eggs today.

Saturday, November 22, 1980

Having received them yesterday, i planted one each of Stark Deliceous Pear, Stark Alberta Queen peach and Stark Montmorency cherry, respectively on PP, on MM orchard and in the front yard. It was invigorating for the boys and I to carry water (~5 pails) up the hills! 3 eggs today Ralph Kretz came for a visit.

Sunday, November 23, 1980

Ralph, the boys and I hauled down a load of wood.. 6 eggs today.

, and a little rain.

Monday, November 24, 1980

It started during the night and is raining heavily this morning. Ralph and I took a drive to Middlebrook, but it was so foggy we couldn't see too well. 7 eggsd today. Ralph split wood and helped me get Leo's food on PP. Hoagie, Ralph and I went out for a few drinks before supper.

Tuesday, November 25, 1980

Ralph left for Ottawa after a very pleasant visit. 6 eggs today.

Wednesday, November 26, 1980

Cleaned the entire stove system. 6 eggs today. A big storm threatens.

Thursday, November 27, 1980

We drained the cistern pressure tank and had a fair amount of rain in the morning. 5 eggs today. The weather continued drizzly and foggy in the night. Hoagie made 5 and 1/4 qts. of yoghurt starting around 10 AM and finishing by 5 PM.

Friday, November 28, 1980

Cool and windy weather.

Saturday, November 29, 1980

7 eggs today. I cut saplings around fruit trees in the MM orchard.

Sunday, November 30, 1980

The boys and I cut up firewood logs on PP and lugged fence posts to the trail.

Monday, December 1, 1980

I placed ashes on some fruit trees on MM. 5 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 2, 1980

While getting Leo brush on PP i noted that the yellow jackes are again flying! The weather has been mild yesterday and today (~60s). Brandy, who much to our chagrin, hasn't come in heat yet this year exhibits strange behavior. Today again, as about a week or two ago, she does a lot of butting with Jennifer today but Honey also, and neck rubbing, biting etc. Also the other goats (Jennifer, Honey) behave like a buck. Is this some sort of hormone imbalance that prevents her from coming in heat ? We had a cold front and a good short shower. 4 eggs today.

I and Gus took David and Napoleon to slaughter. The weighed 190 lbs together. 15 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats, corn and mash.

Thursday, December 4, 1980

I continued to haul chicken manure to the goat pasture. We had heavy frost the last two nights. 8 eggs today.

Friday, December 5, 1980

7 eggs today.

Saturday, December 6, 1980

the boys and I worked on Pileated Peak, Don lugging fence posts, and Gus and I cutting up firewood logs. The yellow jackets were out again. The boys and I finished hauling down a pick-up load of corn stalks. It is quite warm (60s). 3 eggs (?)

Sunday, December 7, 1980

Jennifer gave birth to 2 kids, one male and 2 females. We named the two girls "Sunday" and "December". The boy to be named by a boy at VSDB :Rudolph. " Hoagie made yoghurt by making the entire batch in the stainless steel kettle and holding it at lower than low heat for at least 6 hours and it came out fine, Seems to be the easiest method yet! 4 eggs + a nest of 13 today. Dec. 8 4 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs alfalfa pellets.

Tuesday, December 9, 1980

Rain this morning. 9 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 10, 1980

Cool cloudy and windy most of the day. So far we haven't fed the horses and the goats still browse on the hill and graze the flood plain each day. 7 eggs + a nest.

Thursday, December 11, 1980

I sawed up some small poles for firewood on MM. 10 eggs today.

Friday, December 12, 1980

We got our goat meat back from the Frozen Food Co-op. Live weight = 190 lbs yielded 84 lbs meat. Cost : $14. 00 for slaughter. 19c/lb for service of freezing, cutting etc. Total price $29. 96. Total cost 35c/lb.

Saturday, December 13, 1980

The boys and I hauled down another pick-up load of wood from MM. the weather is very pleasant and we had Jennifer's kids out for the first time. Don also lugged fence posts on PP and Gus helped me saw up firewood logs on MM. 9 eggs today.

Sunday, December 14, 1980

(Sun.) A fairly pleasant day. I did practically nothing bu routine chores (splitting and sawing firewood, hanging out wash, feeding goats) Jennifer and kids are doing well, except that Jennifer had a slight cold in the nose. 7 eggs today.

Monday, December 15, 1980

we began to feed the horses today-1/2 dish grain each. It is cold and cloudy, threatening snow this morning. i placed Jennifer and her kids on the flood plain where they had fun for about an hour. 16 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 16, 1980

7 eggs today.

Wednesday, December 17, 1980

8 eggs today.

Thursday, December 18, 1980

13 eggs today.

Friday, December 19, 1980

8 eggs today. s

Saturday, December 20, 1980

7deg. F this morning. We disbudded Jennifer's kids this morning. We had a load of water delivered by Maddox for $15. 50. 11 eggs today.

Sunday, December 21, 1980

-5deg. F this morning, but a very light east wind allowed our house incl. basement to stay fairly warm. Our goats are still grazing particularly on the flood plain and we have fed them hay only about twice. I switched Leo's ration to pine boughs today, having given up on coral berry and honeysuckle.

Monday, December 22, 1980

our water intake to the stream broke and our pump stopped working so that we had the plumber a good part of the day. ~10 eggs today.

Tuesday, December 23, 1980

We had some slight freezing rain last night. Our pump and pipe were fixed for $80. 00. 12 eggs today. Hoagie and I did our Christmas shopping.

Wednesday, December 24, 1980

Light rain in the morning. 8 eggs today. We cut our tree for Christmas.

Thursday, December 25, 1980

Quite cold this morning (probably< 10deg. F). 8 eggs today.

Friday, December 26, 1980

Only 3 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats, corn and mash.

Saturday, December 27, 1980

Don lugged posts to the trail on PP and Gus and I sawed firewood logs on MM. Maple had two buck kids i a rather difficult birth. We brought the kids into the house to warm and feed them. Maple is a little under the weather and we hope she improoves by tomorrow. we put her in with the other goats while the kids are in the house. Only 3 or 4 eggs today again.

Sunday, December 28, 1980

Last night Hoagie fed the kids from a bottle by the stove. This morning they had a good suck from Maple. Hoagie stuck her arm up Maple's vagina to look for placenta and then gave her a slight douche, after which she perked up a little. Later she found apparently) 2 discarded placentas in the stall where Maple had been with the other goats. Maple still eats very little-only a few nibbles of berries and grain. Everything is slick with frozen drizzle. 6 eggs today.

Monday, December 29, 1980

A misty, ice-covered day. The two kids of Maple died last night and Maple is still not feeling well. She gives only a few spoons full of milk so far. The goats are grazing on the flood plain this afternoon as I write this. I have switched to gathering pine for Leo, but Betty (who is on a 16 day vacation) gathers brush, berries etc. for the does.

Tuesday, December 30, 1980

A somewhat cloudy and misty day. But the goats got taken on a walk and grazed on the flood plain. ~11 eggs today + a large nest yesterday (~20 eggs).

Wednesday, December 31, 1980

Early this morning Raisin had twins, a male and female (Carob and Jupiter). All seem well. We did bring Carob into the house later to warm her up some since she didn't suck. 9 eggs today. We had a light snow this evening.

Thursday, January 1, 1981

The boys, Hoagie and I skidded down 10 logs from PP before the snow melted. We placed the goats on the flood plain again. I finished placing leaves on the strawberry patch. 8 eggs today.

Friday, January 2, 1981

Very light snow last night. 4 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and alfalfa pellets.

Saturday, January 3, 1981

(Sat.) the boys and I worked on PP, Don lugging fence posts to the trail, Gus and I sawing up firewood and fence post logs. Betty placed the band on Rudolph. 13 eggs today.

Sunday, January 4, 1981

Gus and i brought down ~ 1/2 load of wood from MM. It turned cold during the night and was 8 deg. F his morning.

Monday, January 5, 1981

[no record]

Tuesday, January 6, 1981

[no record]

Wednesday, January 7, 1981

13 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and mash and 200 lbs of oats.

Thursday, January 8, 1981

I found Sunday, Jennifer's runt, dead this morning, perhaps smothered during the night or because of underfeeding and cold. It was very cold last night. ~5 eggs today.

Friday, January 9, 1981

Sold one doz. eggs for 80c. Note this is the first price rise sale. 10 eggs today.

Saturday, January 10, 1981

Last night separated both sets of kids from their mothers for the first time, chiefly to prevent any being smothered. However, we also got some good milk this morning because of it. Raisin behaved rather strangely, not wanting her kids to suck for a while, perhaps because her bag hurt from being too full. We disbudded Raisin's kids today.

Sunday, January 11, 1981

Cold, dry weather continued. We cleaned the house etc. Betty took the goats for a walk, including the kids. 11 eggs today.

Monday, January 12, 1981

[no record]

Tuesday, January 13, 1981

14 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and pellets. Sold 1 qt. goats milk for $1. 00, but decided to only give it away.

Wednesday, January 14, 1981

Hoagie's birthday. Big celebration with lobster. ~10 eggs today.

Thursday, January 15, 1981

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. We still have the goats on the flood plain grazing.

Friday, January 16, 1981

12 eggs today. Hoagie made 5 qts. of yoghurt. She took 1/2 sick because of an ear ache.

Saturday, January 17, 1981

Hoagie thought Brandy was looking fat and possibly pregnant for the past week. Gave away 1. 5 qts. of goat milk. [Looked for] The possible babies move without success. Today Bob, Hoagie and Gus observed the kids moving, so Brandy is pregnant. But when did she get pregnant ? She was one time placed with the buck and all she was observed doing was running frantically from him. She never did show a strong heat, only rather "bucky" behavior. On Dec. 2 she showed strange playful behavior. Is this when she was bred ? Her pregnancy looks much more advanced than that-time will tell ??? In a dog walk Wilbur chased off another dog that was much larger. It was on other land.

Sunday, January 18, 1981

Don and I cut up more of the large down red oak we worked on yesterday also. We tattooed December P2 and Carob P3. Maple is not doing well. I (Betty) took the goats for a long walk and got her to eat some brush. Carla came and rode Natchez, while I rode Candy. Don found a dead male pheasant, which had a broken neck, probably from smashing into a tree. It was stiff and in the process of beginning to rot. Gus payed Don $2. 00 for the worthless carcass. Gus skinned it very well considering (I hate to brag.). yesterday don found a starling dead in the hayloft, and it probably died of the same cause as it had a broken beak. It's intestines were lying out to the side. Saw a Great Blue heron. It has been staying for the winter and past winters. Very warm today. Bees cleaned out hives. Saw a raven doing a stunt very high in the air, nearly flipping over as the stunt, calling "Rhooochk, Rhooochk. " Maple is in poor shape. Lumpy jaw seems to be encroaching.

Monday, January 19, 1981

Bees were out again and it was quite mild. I cleaned the stove and pipes today. 13 eggs today. Bought 100lbs each of corn, mash and alfalfa pellets.

Tuesday, January 20, 1981

The stream rose a little, although there has been no precipitation, presumably due to warm weather [Not likely! more probably due to diminished water given off by evapotranspiration in the absence of greenery]. I split up the big red oak into 28 pieces. I also carried a bucket of chicken manure to the apple trees on PP. 14 eggs today. Hoagie made mozzarella cheese. type H. Bird news: It appears that I saw 2 woodcock flying down by the swamp

Wednesday, January 21, 1981

Light rain and light snow last night. I skidded one log from PP. Sold one doz. eggs for 80c. 15 eggs today. Bird news: I, Betty, saw a killdeer at close range today by the great willow tree near the creek garden. They are beautiful birds and have falcon-like wings but long bills A pair of killdeer hang out in this area. The swamp has been melting for the last two days and the water level is increasing. Ceno. Neugh., odd little yellow Hen-chick (who is not a chick anymore, but a large-combed hen, had a sort of humped-up look, and I think she may be egg-bound, though she eats well. All the new hens have thin combs as never before (all those from Neughstrom), and they are rarely large, although the roosters have thick combs. I saw Ceanopteryx [spel?] get raped by Archaeo for the first time yesterday.

Thursday, January 22, 1981

I skidded 4 logs down from PP, now having accumulated 5, a good pick-up load of firewood. These consist of hickory, locust, cherry, ironwood and red oak.. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 80c a doz.. 14 eggs today. I also carried a bucket of chicken manure to the apple trees on PP.

Friday, January 23, 1981

~ 14 eggs today.

Saturday, January 24, 1981

Don and I hauled a load of 10 logs over to the house from 16 we brought down from PP. Gus went to Madison U to take an exam. The bees flew again today. Maple is in bad shape. I have been forcing Hi-artine [?] powder [?] salt base, physiologic Iodine via drench with a coke bottler and water. She has quit drinking and almost all eating except she does consume minerals.

Sunday, January 25, 1981

Hoagie made mozzarella cheese, type H2 with one gallon milk, and it came out fine for the second time. Hoagie took the goats for a walk. Maple followed along but hardly etc. Hoagie forced some water down her throat and later repeated the drench. Maple is still urinating, passing goat berries, but they are very dry. Also, I noted that she was spitting up rumen[?] this morning (PICN), so now the mineral box is loaded with minerals. [I, (Bob ) don't know if my translation of this passage is correct.]

Monday, January 26, 1981

Hoagie made terrific cheese. 4 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Tuesday, January 27, 1981

I lugged another bucket of chicken manure to the apple trees on PP. !8 eggs today.

Wednesday, January 28, 1981

I shot Maple today, as she was clearly dying. 23 eggs today.

Thursday, January 29, 1981

I placed Maple's body in the MM orchard, our disposal area for such. 18 eggs today. It continues very dry and now turning colder after a mild spell in which the bees got out quite a few days.

Friday, January 30, 1981

We are afflicted by the most monotonous weather in my memory, always dry, unusually cold with an east wind (light), sun or cloud with very weak storm fronts, giving hardly a drop or flake. What moisture there is in the top soil is held there by the frost. How we could use a good heavy snow! 23 eggs today

Saturday, January 31, 1981

Don lugged wood to the MM trail and Gus and I sawed down a storm-damaged hickory this morning.

Sunday, February 1, 1981

[no record]

Monday, February 2, 1981

A good slow rain last night, filling our cistern and not running off too much despite frozen ground, This is the first in a long time. I opened the gates to the hill field for the horses and chopped a lot of small black cherry on the pasture and field. 20 eggs today and it's turning very cold.

Tuesday, February 3, 1981

Hoagie is home today. I finally put the storm windows on her studio room since this appeared to be the first day of need for them this winter. I chopped cherry trees again. 20 eggs today.

Wednesday, February 4, 1981

I sawed some logs on PP for firewood and fence posts. 21 eggs today. I have begun to freeze hard boiled eggs again.

Thursday, February 5, 1981

Don, who was still home after being sick earlier, helped me saw down two trees on MM for next year's wood. We had at least 15 eggs today.

Friday, February 6, 1981

Sold 5 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. 24 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash.

Saturday, February 7, 1981

The boys and I hauled down a pick-up load of red oak splits from MM. ~17 eggs today.

Sunday, February 8, 1981

light rain this morning. 18 eggs today.

Monday, February 9, 1981

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c.

Tuesday, February 10, 1981

Clouding up to rain. I lugged ~bucket of chicken manure up PP to the apple trees. 29 eggs but including 6 bantam's.

Wednesday, February 11, 1981

Fairly heavy rain much of the night, cloudy and drizzle during the day and ending in a light dusting of snow as it turned cold. 19 eggs today.

Thursday, February 12, 1981

6 deg. F this morning with the usual E or Se wind we have had in much of this year. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. I skidded down 4 logs from PP, although there was virtually no snow. It seems to be a little more difficult this way. 20 eggs today.

Friday, February 13, 1981

I skidded down 3 logs. ~20 eggs today.

Saturday, February 14, 1981

Don and I cut down 2 trees on MM for next year's wood. It was quite pleasant today, although a little cool. 20 eggs today.

Sunday, February 15, 1981

Don and I cut down a large ice-damaged white ash. Hoagie put the band on Raisin's little buck but only got one testicle. 17 eggs today. I also skidded a log.

Monday, February 16, 1981

i skidded another log from PP and scraped window sashes on the outside of the house. 18 eggs today. The weather is mild now. I also carried a bucket of manure to the apple trees on PP.

Tuesday, February 17, 1981

I skidded another log from PP and scraped the window sashes as usual. The weather is very mild and animals such as skunks and possums are wandering about. 22 eggs today. I also carried a bucket of manure to the apple trees on PP.

Wednesday, February 18, 1981

Sold 3 doz. eggs for 80c a doz. I skidded down one log and carried up a bucked of manure to the apple trees on PP. 24 eggs today. The weather is very mild with much of the frost out of the ground now. We have cut the horses back to 2 dishes of corn, oats and pellets total. twice a day.

Thursday, February 19, 1981

Skidded a log down and took another bucket of manure up on PP. 21 eghgs today. We have quite heavy rain tonight and filled our cistern. The weather is very mild and the grass is popping out.

Friday, February 20, 1981

~20 eggs today. I carried up another bucket of chicken manure to the apple trees on PP, for a total of 10.

Saturday, February 21, 1981

Gus and I cut down a fairly large hickory with a broken top on MM. Don and I cut off a large down red oak on PP. it was a beautiful day with the grass coming out strong.

Sunday, February 22, 1981

Don and I cut down another ice storm-damaged hickory on MM. I continued to scrape old paint off window sashes on the house. I also painted the roof to repair leaks in spots.

Monday, February 23, 1981

We have a light to moderate rain this morning. I sawed a few small logs on PP today. I fed Leo hay for the first time in a long time. It cleared up brightly about 2:00 this afternoon. 18 eggs today.

Tuesday, February 24, 1981

(Tues.) I went into town and bought lumber and took my MS " What is Environmental Thermodynamics?" to be typed. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. at VSDB. The weather is seasonal now with a light frost and cloudy and blustery today. Sold another 4 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. 24 eggs today.

Wednesday, February 25, 1981

Yesterday Jennifer became ill, starting with a runny nose and ilk which would not pass through the filter well. She seemed about the same today, ate a littyle grain, pellets and hay, but more berries, honeysuckle and pine needles. The vet advised combiotic (3cc, twice a day). I gave her one at ~10 AM. Also, Brandy had a miscarriage (3 fetuses), although she seems well enough. Hoagie and Gus took Brandy to Dr. Marion, Rt. 640 Fishersville. He gave her 5cc combiotic, did an internal exam and gave a no. of boloses [?]. 17 eggs today.

Thursday, February 26, 1981

(Thurs.) I dug some in the garden, scraped some window frames, and took the 11th bucket of manure up PP to the apple trees. Both Jennifer and Brandy are improved. However, we have little hope of getting much milk from them now. 14 eggs today. The weather is sunny and bright but cool.

Friday, February 27, 1981

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. I went to town to take MSS etc. 20 eggs today. It was a beautiful early spring day. The weather has been fairly seasonable with some hard frosts at night., but it's still too dry.

Saturday, February 28, 1981

We disbudded Scamar's [?] "Camelia. " Don and I cut down another large damaged hickory on MM and sawed up a red oak. I planted 3 horseradish roots in the slope garden. It's very warm for this time of year. 17 eggs and a nest of nine today.

Sunday, March 1, 1981

Put Venus with Leo as she showed tail wagging. Jennifer's milk is coming back and Brandy gives almost 2 qts. a day, so when we quit giving antibiotics we might have some milk. Don and I cut a small red oak and cut up a large one. We finished building a book shelf. 18 eggs today. We gave Brandy her last shot this evening but continue Jennifer's

Monday, March 2, 1981

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. Hauled my first load of manure from Furr's (at $5. 00) to the high field. 20 eggs today. Weather is turning cold and seasonal. Bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash + 50 lbs of pellets.

Tuesday, March 3, 1981

I hauled another load of $5 manure from Furr's to the hill corn field. 17 eggs today The weather is cool with quite heavy frost last night.

Wednesday, March 4, 1981

I worked some on the door for our bedroom and sawed and split firewood-in addition to my studies. 16 eggs today.

Thursday, March 5, 1981

It rained a fair amount last night, but we could use a lot more. We began using Brandy's milk this morning-and stopped giving Jennifer shots. It was foggy most of the day. 20 eggs today, however 4 were broken and perhaps were eaten by the chickens.

Friday, March 6, 1981

I continued to work on the door, split a big red oak on MM for next year's firewood. 19 eggs today.

Saturday, March 7, 1981

Ceno is clucking. Gus collected a big bunch of bantam eggs. I seeded my first cabbage in flats and placed them in the warming oven. Don and I cut a small cherry on PP. 16 eggs + 3 broken ones today.

Sunday, March 8, 1981

Don and I cut a fair sized damaged locust on PP. We began to use Jennifer's milk today. we now have lots of milk! (~gallon a day). 19 eggs today.

Monday, March 9, 1981

19 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats and 50 lbs of salt.

Tuesday, March 10, 1981

Hoagie made lots of yoghurt. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 80c a doz. Gus went to the science fair at Madison U and won 3rd. 19 eggs today. Sold 4 doz. more eggs at 80c a doz. I continued work on the door for our bedroom. I transferred the cabbage sprouts to the cold frame.

Wednesday, March 11, 1981

I prepared onion beds with compost and spaded some in the creek garden. 16 eggs today. Hoagie sold Carob, Raisin's kid, for $60.

Thursday, March 12, 1981

I hauled my 3rd $5. 00 load of manure from Furr's directly to the field. 24 eggs today.

Friday, March 13, 1981

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. I spaded the garden. 21 eggs today. We had windy and warm weather with clouds and cooling this evening, but only a few drops of rain.

Saturday, March 14, 1981

Don and I cut down a small damaged hickory and cut up some logs on MM. I also spaded in both gardens and hauled gravel from the stream to walks around the house. 16 eggs today. The weather is cool with nightly frosts and very dry. Sold Mueller's Mtn. Carob for $60.

Sunday, March 15, 1981

Gus and I cut off a fair sized ice-damaged hickory on MM. I planted a 22'row of white onion sets in the creek garden. I did a lot of spading in the slope garden. Hoagie entertained her friends from VSDB with horse riding. 21 eggs today. It was a very pleasant day.

Monday, March 16, 1981

I spaded in the slope garden, finishing my potato patch, weorked at the door I'm building, and tested the high field for moisture-still too wet to plow. ~20 eggs today,

Tuesday, March 17, 1981

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. I worked at the door and went shopping. 19 eggs today. 23deg. F this morning, but it turned warmer and windy in the afternoon. Bought 100 lbs each of corn and oats + 50lbs of pellets.

Wednesday, March 18, 1981

Very light snow last night. I worked at the door and 21 eggs today.

Thursday, March 19, 1981

More snow last night for a total of ~1/2 inch and it has turned quite cold. I planted two Victoria rhubarb roots in the slope garden next to the horseradish planted previously.

Friday, March 20, 1981

20 eggs today.

Saturday, March 21, 1981

Don and I cut a small red oak, but had trouble with the saw. Planted, in two 22' rows, a lb of yellow onions in the creek garden over compost as usual. 24 eggs today.

Sunday, March 22, 1981

Don and I cut another medium sized damaged hickory. i planted a double row of Wando peas in the slope garden. We're having wet snow this evening.

Monday, March 23, 1981

Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. bought 100 lbs each of corn, oats and mash + 50 lbs of pellets.

Tuesday, March 24, 1981

I have a severe cold. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. + gave one away. It's sunny and warming up. 17 eggs today, but perhaps as many as six were broken and eaten.

Wednesday, March 25, 1981

i tested the hill field and found it still too damp for the plow. I hauled a WB load of goat manure and dug it in for spinach in the slope garden. 26 eggs today.

Thursday, March 26, 1981

planted band (16' half row) of Bloomsdale LS spinach over WR goat manure in the slope garden and hauled 4 WB of goat manure to the potato patch. Sold 2 doz. eggs for 80c a doz. and 25 eggs today. It has turned quite mild and hopefully will rain.

Friday, March 27, 1981

I carried 3 buckets of manure to the creek garden for another onion row but didn't do much because of a severe cold. I did dig in the manure and did my regular chores incl. getting pine for Leo and the does. 27 eggs today. We had another "dry" shower today.

Saturday, March 28, 1981

Don and I cut up a log and cut down a small red oak on MM. Hoagie cleaned out the kidding pen in anticipation of Honey. i finished the door except for painting. It was a bright sunny day, but with a cool wind. Don and I hauled the 2 WB of manure loaded by Hoagie to the slope garden for cabbage.

Sunday, March 29, 1981

My (Gus) chick, the only one hatched by Ceanopteryx, [?] Ceno, on March 26, is doing fine, its name is [unclear]. I [Dad] dug in goat manure for 4 rows of potatoes in the slope garden. The pear buds on MM have begun swelling for several days now and the apples on PP also show signs.

Monday, March 30, 1981

A nice rain began early this morning, the first in a long time. It rained fairly hard till this afternoon so that our cistern was nearly full and the ground well watered. I saw my first grebe-in the stream near our house and road bridge.

Tuesday, March 31, 1981

I began to repair the SE corner of the barn roof. 24 eggs today. The temp. was in the 70s today. Sold 3 doz. eggs for 80c a doz.

Wednesday, April 1, 1981

Planted a ~9' band of lettuce ~4. 5' of Ruby and 4. 5' Paris White Romaine, all over goat manure. Planted a 14' row of Harris Model (Johnny's) parsnip in the creek garden using no fertilizer. i also finished digging in the last raw manure for potatoes in the slope garden. We then had another nice shower. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. and gave one away. 27 eggs today.

Thursday, April 2, 1981

[no record]

Friday, April 3, 1981

Planted 2 more rows of yellow onions in the creek garden. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. 24 eggs today. Weather is warm and windy. I also did a quite a bit of bed preparation by re-hoeing weeds.

Saturday, April 4, 1981

Planted a 14' band of lettuce and Cherry Belle radish in the creek garden over manure. (this was Ruby an Romaine at 7' each ). Don and I lugged some wood outof the swamp and cut up part of a big hickory. I also did a quite a bit of spading in both gardens. 26 eggs today.

Sunday, April 5, 1981

Rain today, beginning in the early morning and ending in the afternoon, giving a fine amount, although not enough to fill the cistern. I carried 3 buckets of manure to the creek garden and one bucket to the MM orchard for some small apple trees. The apple trees on PP seem loaded with flower buds, and also a number of the small trees on MM orchard show some. There the peach and pear trees also show good buds and already some blossoms. My spinach and peas in the slope garden are now partially up. 24 eggs today. the horses failed for the first time this year to come for their morning feeding., so that we will probably stop feeding them anything. Betty installed a new colony of bees yesterday-the third.

Monday, April 6, 1981

A cool windy day. I did a quite a bit of spading in the slope garden. 23 eggs today. Sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz.

Tuesday, April 7, 1981

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. Honey had 3 kids all by herself early this morning. Planted 5 rows of Farmer's Brand potatoes (from New Brunswick 0 in the slope garden over previously trenched manure. I also did a quite a bit of spading in the slope garden. Honey appears to have 2 does and a buck [wrong!]. 23 eggs today.

Wednesday, April 8, 1981

I did a quite a bit of spading in the slope garden and scraped more on the window frames. Honey really has 2 bucks and a doe. Gus fouled up! 26 eggs today.

Thursday, April 9, 1981

Sold 4 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. I spaded in the slope garden and watered some before a light rain this morning. 23 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs each of oats, corn and mash.

Friday, April 10, 1981

Planted a 17' section of a 34', 1' wide, band of Red Core Chantenay carrot in the slope garden using no fertilizer. Planted a ~34' double row of Wando peas in the slope garden using no fertilizer or inoculant. I planted another 10' band of Bloomsdale LS spinach over manure. 26 eggs today. I spaded in the creek garden.

Saturday, April 11, 1981

I spaded in the creek garden. I bought 20 New Jersey Queen cabbage plants, 15c each with soil on roots, and 4 cauliflower at 25c each. I planted 10 cabbages in the slope garden over trenched manure. 28 eggs today. The boys and I hauled over a pick-up load of wood from the Pp dumping place to the house yard.

Sunday, April 12, 1981

Gus and I sawed a few sections of log on PP. I planted 4 cauliflower and 10 New Jersey Queen cabbage plants in the creek garden over trenched manure. We got more than 2 doz. eggs today and we had a short thundershower that gave us a little cistern water and wetted the ground this evening. The weather continues very mild and the peach trees on MM are in full bloom, as are the pear trees everywhere, but no apple blossoms are open as yet.

Monday, April 13, 1981

Light drizzle all day. I split some logs on PP. Hoagie is home today on a week's vacation. 26 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 14, 1981

A very sad day. Hoagie found brandy dead in the barn-apparently died during the night. Hoagie examined her and said she had half her front teeth missing, which may have contributed, since she showed bloating and a frothy mouth. We took her to the MM orchard and left her body for the vultures. We had a shower this evening with partial clearing. 26 eggs today. I split a white ash on MM.

Wednesday, April 15, 1981

I bought 15-10ft x 6' x 1" green oak boards from Lyel's lumber yard for $19. 50. I also spaeded in the garden and Hoagie and I went to town. We disbudded Honey's 3 kids. 24 eggs today.

Thursday, April 16, 1981

Planted a 25' row of Detroit Dark Red beets in the creek garden using no fertilizer. Temp. was 24 deg. F this morning and asparagus shoots froze. ~24 eggs today. I did a lot of spading in both gardens.

Friday, April 17, 1981

We had a light to moderate shower this morning. We had about 2 doz,. eggs. This evening it is mild and windy.

Saturday, April 18, 1981

A very mild warm day. I put the firstcoat of paint on the book case and door I made. We had more than 2 doz. eggs and we wormed Jennifer who lost her appetite all afternoon to the extent we were worried. However, she did eat specialties such as willow leaves. Betty had given her almost a double dose.

Sunday, April 19, 1981

We wormed Honey, giving her a normal dose. She also lost appetite slightly. I did a good bit of spading yesterday, as well as watering in both gardens. I also hauled 5 WB of goat and chicken manure to the planned corn patch in the slope garden. The rhubarb and horseradish are both up and vigorous now and I'm cutting a sparagus. 31 eggs today and I'm freezing eggs again.

Monday, April 20, 1981

We had a steady good rain last night, nearly filling the cistern. I bled the cistern pressure tank this morning but couldn't stop a slow drip after I did it. 28 eggs today. I finished the second coat of paint on the book shelf and door. i also split some logs on MM. It cleared up this morning and is quite cool this evening. The peach trees on Mm appear to have a quite a few small fruits on them and all apple trees are in bloom. Bought 100 lbs of corn, oats and mash.

Tuesday, April 21, 1981

23 deg. F this morning and many apple blossoms appear to have been frozen, although some may have survived. The boys and I spread manure in little piles, for corn on MM. I paid them each 75c for about an hour's work. Sold 4 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. and gave oneweay.

Wednesday, April 22, 1981

Hoagie and I had lunch at the Jackson and I shopped and did errands. I bought 20 plants of Golden Acre cabbage. I planted the 20 plants of GA over trenched manure in the slope garden.

Thursday, April 23, 1981

The boys and I spread more manure on MM. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. We had a small shower this evening. 21 eggs today.

Friday, April 24, 1981

Gus and I placed new oak boards on the barn roof and I did a quite a bit of spading in the slope garden. It has turned very cool and windy. 22 eggs today.

Saturday, April 25, 1981

I did a quite a bit of spading and hauled about a half load of goat manure to the hill field for potatoes. ~20 eggs today. Our relatives (George, Barbara and children) stopped over for a visit and supper. We hiked to the top of PP. The weather is cool. Many of the apple buds on PP seem secure, although most on MM apparently froze.

Sunday, April 26, 1981

We wormed Raisin and her kids as well as Venus and Jennifer's kids. I spread the manure in the hill field. It has turned quite warm. I watered spinach, carrots and lettuce.

The Brandy Line

We all were crushed when our goat Brandy died,

But we don't think she went to some green Caprine

pasture in the sky.

(A fantasy that only humans can enjoy!)

Instead we tried to come as close to it on Earth

as we could provide,

With grassy meadows by the stream,

And coral berries and honeysuckle on the hill.

South facing dusty wallows and rock ledges

in the summer shade,

To say nothing of our most gentle milking hands.

And so it must have been in some remote time

and in some far land,

When her goaty ancestor was first tamed

That perhaps someone said

"This one's friendlier than all the rest,

Let's keep her here for milk instead of meat. "

And so they did, and every spring at kidding time

There prospered on the "Brandy line. "

Monday, April 27, 1981

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. I finished spreading the little piles of manure on the hill corn field. Varner plowed the hill field and will disc it soon. I did a lot of watering of cabbage, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb. Heard the first whippoorwill. 25 eggs today.

Tuesday, April 28, 1981

It is very warm and pleasant, but dry. I finished spading the creek garden and watered in both gardens.

Wednesday, April 29, 1981

i dug in manure for the hill field potato patch. Varner disced the hill field and charged $30, but I gave him $35 and a jar of honey. I also watered in both gardens. 22 eggs today. We had another dry cold front apparently. This year flowering trees such as dogwood blossomed earlier on north facing slopes than on south facing slopes.

Thursday, April 30, 1981

I bought 10 more Golden Acre cabbage plants + 3 cauliflower. I planted 3-40' rows of potatoes in the hill field over goat manure. Light rain this morning and a good shower this evening. 28 eggs today.

Friday, May 1, 1981

Planted 10 Golden Acre cabbage and 3 cauliflower in the slope garden over goat manure-after the wetting we had last night, which, however only wet the top imch of soil. I finished planting the potato patch on the hill field. It is very dry there despite the rain, which soaked in less than an inch. Planted a row of Cherry Belle radish in the creek garden using no fertilizer. Sold 7 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. 28 eggs today.

Saturday, May 2, 1981

Wormed Jennifer and Honey (needed to repeat latter ). We blaced bands on Lum and Abner. T worked in manure for the corn in the slope garden and watered spinach, carrots, lettuce etc. 29 eggs today. It is very cold (~38deg. F) this late evening.

Sunday, May 3, 1981

We wormed Honey again since she hadn't gotten much yesterday. I finished spreading manure for the high field corn ans shut the gate to the field. I did a lot of watering in the slope garden. 28 eggs today.

Monday, May 4, 1981

It is quite warm today (~80 deg. F). I ate lunch with Hoagie in Staunton anmd bought lumber for barn repairs and book shelves. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. I watered lettuce in both gardens. 22 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 5, 1981

Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. planted sixteen-160' rows of Tennessee Red Cob field corn ( a white corn from Hastings) in the hill field using manure equivalent to approx. 8 tons/acre using the Planet Jr. seeder, which enabled me to do the whole in a few hours. I also used a special wooden 3' row marker separate from the seeder.

Wednesday, May 6, 1981

sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. I went to town. We had a slow rain most of the late afternoon and evening. I did some weeding. It looks like we will have a good crop of apples on PP. Also, we have a pileated woodpecker nest right near the trail at the base of Mueller's Mtn. 19 eggs today.

Thursday, May 7, 1981

I worked on Hoagie's bookshelf and the barn roof. 23 eggs today.

Friday, May 8, 1981

28 deg. F this morning. I worked at the barn roof, hoed and watered in the creek garden. 19 eggs today. Sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c.

Saturday, May 9, 1981

Planted 4-46'rows, half Burpees Honeycross and half Early Sunglow sweetcorn in a patch I had worked in manure earlier. We wormed all the little goats + Raisin, Honey and Venus. I worked on the barn roof and did a lot of watering and hoeing in both gardens.

Sunday, May 10, 1981

We had a light rain and drizzle most of the day.

Monday, May 11, 1981

we had a few showers last night, which are continuing this morning. sold 1 doz. eggs for 80c. I did little but study and clean house, although I did weed and stake (with brush) the oldest peas. 22 eggs today. Showers continued most of the day and evening, but with little total rain.

Tuesday, May 12, 1981

[no record]

Wednesday, May 13, 1981

I worked on the house, scraping paint and washing window frames. I did a quite a bit of hoeing and planted a short row of the same spinach in the creek garden over manure. I planted four-37' rows of pinto beans [brand spel. ?] in the creek garden using no fertilizer or inoculant. 23 eggs today.

Thursday, May 14, 1981

Planted 4-37' rows of Turtle Soup beans in the creek garden using no fertiolizer or inoculant. I also did some watering. 20 eggs today. We began mlking Honey in the morning, separating her kids at night.

Friday, May 15, 1981

Rain toward this morning in nice showers-a good soaker.

Saturday, May 16, 1981

I worked on Hoagie's book shelf and the boys and I did a lot of watering. 29 eggs today. Hoagie and Gus went to look at goats.

Sunday, May 17, 1981

Planted 4-20' rows of Turtle Soup beans in the slope garden using inoculant. Hoagie planted aragona in the slope garden. Planted 59' of Fordhook lima beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer or inoculant. Flea beetles are quite bad now on cabbage in the slope garden, although there are but few in the creek garden yet. Planted 4 hills of Victory Hybrid cucumber over goat manure (mixed with leaves and somewhat decayed) in the creek garden. I also watered everything there.

Monday, May 18, 1981

Planted 2 hills of Waltham Butternut squash in the creek garden over a little goat manure. It rained off and on most of the day and this evening some strong showers. 26 eggs today.

Tuesday, May 19, 1981

Heavy showers during last night and most of the day-breaking the long drought. Blackbirds have already finished rearing their young. We also have pileated woodpeckers nesting in a hollow tree on MM.

Wednesday, May 20, 1981

We had a little more rain last night and it's cool and cloudy this morning. Sold 3 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. We had gradual clearing today and it is cool and clear this evening. I did some weeding in the garden. 20 eggs today.

Thursday, May 21, 1981

Temp. was 31 deg. F this morning. with very light frost in the garden. I cleaned the stove system incl. pipes. 29 eggs today. Bought 100 lbs of oats.

Friday, May 22, 1981

Sold 2 doz. eggs at 80c a doz. Planted 4 hills of National Pickling cucumbers in the creek garden over abundant manure. Planted a 35' row of Blue Lake bush beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer or inoculant. Planted 85' of pinto beans in the slope garden using no fertilizer or inoculant. Blackbirds are eating corn in the slope garden.

Saturday, May 23, 1981

We recastrated Jupiter. Redmun spread 10 tons of mmagnesium lime on the back pasture and part of the hill field along the woods. i replanted part of the sweet corn which had been pulled up by birds and covered the rows with hay mulch. I also did a quite a bit of hoeing in the slope garden and watering in the creek garden. The weather was nearly perfect today!

Sunday, May 24, 1981

Planted about half of my Traverse soy beans in the hill field using no fertilizer or inoculant. I