Still no ducklings...

... but we did find a nest of kittens in the barn!  We've seen Mamacat running about for the past several weeks, but did not realize until earlier this week that she had a stash of three babies in the hayloft!  We've caught and crated two of them in preparation for turning them over to a shelter (long-haired cutie-pies, they'll be adopted in a heartbeat)... and once the last kitten is rounded up, we'll trap-neuter-return Mamacat so she can continue to hunt the mice, moles, and squirrels (of which we have found gruesome remains) in our yard.

I'm hoping to update with some garden and kitten photos tomorrow after I get home from work... it's been a crazy past two weeks and so much has changed and grown in the garden, I can't keep up!

PS- Coyote, our blue female runner duck, is still returning for a visit to grab a quick bite of food every day, but then immediately takes off up the hill across the road to return, we assume, to her nest.  It's just about time for the eggs (that we're assuming really exist) to hatch... I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some super cute squishy ducklings soon....

A rough start to the week.

This week is, so far, a pretty rough one.
I'm on my third of four consecutive12-hour shifts.  Luckily, I'm scheduled for Fast Track, which doesn't open for another 45 minutes.  This past hour may have been the only hour of rest and relaxation that I've gotten since Friday afternoon.
This entire week is forecasted as rainy, stormy, and warm.  My garden is thrilled about it, but so are the weeds and grass!  The lawn is somehow entirely out of control once again, and will probably not be mowed again until sometime next week.  The vegetable beds need weeding, the potatoes need to be hilled up, and I'm not even going to discuss the state of my house. 
Another complicating factor is that I've been having some trouble with my back lately.  I just saw a new chiropractor for the first time last week, and had some x-rays done.  My follow-up is on Thursday, and I'm anxious to see what my films show.  Something feels wrong... not just the usual muscle soreness and fatigue.  Hopefully it's something that chiropractic care can treat.  I want to be able to do the work that I enjoy without pain.
In other news, I'm officially registered for the first class of my RN-to-BSN program.  Bachelor's degree, here I come....

It's my Birthday!

And I'll play with snappers if I want to!!  Found this baby snapping turtle in the stream.  He's a mean, mean little dude.  Hoping he moves on downstream before he gets big enough to hurt our duck friends.

Yes, the General comes into the kitchen for breakfast sometimes.  Don't judge me.

Here is our little chicken tractor, built and in operation!  It seems to be working well, though I have a hard time collecting eggs that are laid in there because Fritz, our nasty rooster, tries to scratch my face off every time I do.  We have to wait until they're all asleep to get in there and find the eggs.

Taters are growing nicely!

Peas, and behind them, squash.

Tomatoes and basil.

The peas we planted in the greenhouse are thriving.

Today I'll be planting out more peppers and tomatoes, and clearing out the bolted salad greens from the greenhouse beds.  I have carrots, peas, chard and kale to harvest from in there too!

Progress

Our veggie garden, now fenced in and chicken-free.

Planted out so far: yukon gold potatoes, carrots, parsnips, yellow onion sets, sugar snap peas, and salad greens.