July 11, 2007 

hen did you last stop to smell the roses or Indian Paintbrush (such as "Blossom" is doing)? When I am walking past some, I don't usually pause in my step, but I will usually try to inhale their scent as I walk by. The wild roses are blooming like crazy right now. 

I picked a strainer full of strawberries yesterday morning before it got too hot and if I have time, I may make a batch of Strawberry jam this afternoon. It will be nice to make a small batch. I didn't get to make any in the last couple years, just from other berries. 

I also got time to deal with the well named mudroom yesterday. I have the incubator out and half cleaned (and will clean it the rest of the way today) before I return it this weekend. Mary's husband Matthew took measurements and things so we can build one very much like it. It will be great to have one of our own. 

I am loitering indoors at the moment, trying to estimate how much energy I have today VS how hot it will be outdoors and where the crowbar is located. Today was my planned day for myself in tearing down the old goat shed so we can put a new one up. This one is all hodge-podge and at one point someone's burning pile must have gotten away as it is 1/4 burnt near the top. It is.. and is not useable. We can re-make it more efficient and have a feed room in it so we can quit putting all the feed sacks in the mudroom. I want it to have a half loft as well, so we can store things like my dogsled and other odds and ends up above.

This morning I made a mudbath for the piggies. I thought with the heat they may enjoy it. They are all friendly now and I can pet them without them squealing and running away. I try to take time out of the chore time to give them all a pat or a scratch. Even though they will be our food this coming winter, I like to treat them nicely while they are here.