Daily Dahlia

I only wish I had enough dahlias to feature a different one every day! I only have one but it's pretty special.

 
I'm going to keep a look out for dahlia bulbs on clearance to save for next year.

These coleus are growing strong. Definitely a win in the starting from seed group.

Zucchinis are starting to produce. I processed the first two today. Hooray!

Now I'm waiting to see if the weather system moving in will do some good as in rain or just be a headache maker.

Crochet project

I've been working on this one for quite a while. Luckily the pattern is simple enough I could pick it up after weeks of neglect and go right back to work.

 I did enjoy it, but am glad to start something different.

Pretties

I hoped the young chicks would bond with the broody hens and be adopted. It didn't work. The hens were too aggressive with the mothering and terrified the chicks who hid as far from them as they could. I ended up bringing them back inside until they are bigger.

In other, not so interesting news, I've given up pop to save money. Not a big thing in the larger scheme, but going through caffeine withdrawal is always a pain.

Panting...

Just came inside and checked the weather; yep, 100% humidity. That fits.

My parents live on a farm so I've been taking my chicks over there to raise during the summer. Sadly, the raccoons were killing them.

Last night I rescued the remaining chicks and brought them home. Quite an adjustment for them to come to a big, busy flock. I kept an eye on them today and nobody was harassing them. A couple hens wanted to foster them, but they're too independent although I noticed they tend to stay in two groups. The one thing they couldn't figure out was where to go tonight, so I spent half an hour in the dusk coaxing them into the coop. Such a feeling of relief when the last one hopped inside!

Strange

Yes, it's 2:00 a.m. and I've been vacuuming. I don't know why I've got this drive to do stuff late at night lately; last night I even dusted my bedroom!

Temps are supposed to hit the 90s again which means if I don't water the garden, the storms will go around us in the evening. Funny how I can be so practical, but am basically superstitious about the weather.

My thoughts are starting to ramble so probably time to go to bed.

Peep peep

This is definitely, no arguing, my last batch of chicks this year.

And this is the star of the hatching, popping out at an unprecedented Day 16!!!! I would have expected a preemie to be sickly or undeveloped. Not this guy. A little lonely waiting for his siblings to catch up; I gave him a stocking cap to snuggle with. There are 10 other chicks also now and today was only Day 20, so there's still time for more.

Ahhh, rain

We had a lovely rain last night; so very much needed. Only 1/2", but it helped.

This was the first time I tried growing pansies from seeds. Very happy with the results.

Getting some lovely salads.

I think I might need to thin out the volunteer dill. :)

It's been a great start to the summer here.