Bird Dropping

This sweet little sunflower is growing under the bird feeder.

Likely a seed dropped by the birds and missed by the chickens.

A miracle.

The Garden - Volunteers, Food, Weeds and Blight

In recent years my sunflowers have been "volunteers", planted by last years' fallen seeds wherever they may end up after the garden has been turned and tilled.

 

The birds will have few, but large heads to feed on very soon.

Hopefully they will leave a seed or two behind for next year.

As always, my vegetable garden started with big dreams - too big - but food was harvested.

Some of the asparagus I planted from seed three years ago had a second, small, delicious crop.

But as soon as we had the combination of heat(came early in June) and rain(came abundantly in July), the garden - as usual - became a weedy mess, saved only by Dave's vigilant weeding and mulching during the stinking heat.

However, the dispiriting thing was what seemed to be blight.

It started here,...

... and soon branched out.

A few batches of sauce are in the freezer, but much more of the harvest went to the chickens.

At least it didn't go to waste.

The chickens were very happy.

 As Mia likes to remind me - 

Man plans. God laughs.

Westmoreland Fair 4-H Animals And A Bit More

 Celebrating 100 Years of 4-H in Pennsylvania 

Ali - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 19-24 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

A lot of work goes into the fair and much of it is volunteer.

Farmers take time from their fields and barns to make sure the kids get an opportunity to have a well run nine days.

Parents camp out with their kids after months of training and practice.

Or they drive back and forth twice a day making sure the animals - and kids - get fed, cleaned, and medicated if needed.

In this video, Adeline is drinking her electrolites from the bottle to wash down her Pepto.

 As you can see, Adeline is a well trained goat! Or maybe she just likes all the attention.

The kids become showmen and women for all the people coming to see their animals,...

Julia with Adeline - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 12-18 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

...as well as for when they compete. 

 Angus being "set up" by Hattie in preparation for showmanship.

 Julia and Adeline (third from right) in competition.

 Philip(third from right) did well with one of Zola's twins during the Showmanship,

and Market Goat sale.

Even the Fair Queen Rachel Sheffler, participates in the Market Goat sale - crown, sash and all.

(Rachel won the On the Pond Farm sponsored Breeding Meat Goat Supreme Champion Trophy)

 You've possibly read about animal identification.

See the tattoo in the ear?

 These hens are dyed with vet approved coloring (according to the sign).

Clyde is a naturally colorful guy.

I found this information a bit CSI-ish.

Is this Hydrographic(Camo Dipped)?

 Lots more food than this - trust me! Got to keep the audience fed.

The sun setting over the fair.

Fall Wrap Up

I got behind on my posts, so I want to catch up on Fall news before the snow flies.
Did I say that? Mowing is underway, and the place is getting ready for winter. Some of the grasses will remain standing for winter browsing. Its that time of year and Neo has been dating a few of the girls.
When he's not with them, he manages to be a bit of a pain, and twice I arrived at the barn in the morning to find him with the chickens.

Both times he managed to break through his gate that forms the back wall of his stall. The second time he lifted the gate off its hinges.
That's not easy folks!
We've made a few modifications. I had a special guest stay a few days. My high school best friend, and maid of honor, Terry, spent a relaxing few days of walks and touring around the area. We also had a few small feasts from the garden and Delallo's grocery store in Jeanette.
I can't wait to do it again. Jake finally found a new home, and we are all so glad its with Sam and his family.
Sam was Jake's farrier - and a Penn State fan - so all's good!
Sam also has two 4-H riders that will give Jake a few more years of activity. We managed to get to the Forbes State Forest and take a hike in the Laurel Mountains before all the leaves were down. Beam Rocks Trail is about as flat a trail as you can find, and my knee had no complaints about the brisk walk.
It felt good to be out and moving, and Jock appreciated the new smells and the many pats he got along the way. The weather turned from shorts and tank tops, to long pants and long sleeves, it seemed, overnight.
The afternoons can still warm up, but I've unpacked the turtlenecks, so I'm ready for the frosty mornings and cool nights.Tomorrow, my Fall flowers.

Sunny Sunflowers

Can you look at any more sunflowers?

Even the leaves are huge and impressive.They are just gorgeous.

Sunflowers, Upward Bound

The swallowtails have found the sunflowers,
now that they are really opening up.

They are getting taller and heavier. Mom is five foot one if she stands up tall. These flowers are passing ten feet. They are such fun to see all day from the house and yard. They pretty much top everything.