Started but unfinished projects

So, is spring/early summer full of activity for you? In the last week or so I've really been able to get busy with some. Of course, now the place is full of started-but-not-finished projects. While the weather had been nice for a bit, it was still wet enough that I didn't want to much that was out in the pastures so as not leave a bunch of ruts. As for the garden,
I had some stuff going but didn't want to jump the gun since we have frost into the first week of June quite often. Up here there is no guarantee of frost free nights, even in summer, but you're pushing your luck if you plant before Memorial day.

So, just a few things that have been happening around the place. First, I cleaned out the barn. Daughter took the easy part, :).

I've decided to try a chicken tractor. I have some space that I just can't keep with weeding, don't have a tiller and haven't been able to use them the last couple years. I still won't get to use them this year, but if this actually works, I can implement it next year, early enough to be able to plant. I hope. It's just a chain link dog kennel with a slapped together house in it for the birds. These ones are some younger ones that aren't producing yet.

 This is what they have to work on. This is supposed to 10'-12' wide beds for a garden.

Then there's the garden. I am overrun with lettuce! That basket is the harvest I get every other day. The trough bed in the back of the photo is also lettuce. Plus there are sporadic, self seeded plants in various places around the garden.

 We are building a small strawbale shed/room. It'll be both for practice for our house and will serve as oldest daughter's room. She's excited about the idea of a room of her own. So far we've got most of the floor done. We miscalculated the insulation, though. We are 14 feet short. So, half the floor is nailed down and half is held on by bricks to protect the insulation that is there for a few days til we get some more and can finish it. Then it's on to the next step.

We've also started a tiny aquaponics project inside. It's a gallon jar with a beta fish, a net pot stuck in the top filled with clay balls and a bit of rock wool holding the seeds.

 

Then the dogs had an encounter with a porcupine. While it could have been worse, it could have been better! Here's Kiva after I removed about half the ones on her face. Her mouth was FULL of them. I had to get the vet out to knock the dog out so as to pull the quills out. She was not letting me work after several had been removed. She thought that was enough! Bear let me pull all his out, fortunately.

  

And through all of this, we had the helpful presence of a kitten. :) He was in the middle of it all!

 

 I also did a bunch of fencing, but who wants to see that?!