Best of Serendipity (July 2026)

I love how the vegetable color palette changes every few weeks.
Our garden has never been so prolific as it is this year. 

Once the rains let the sunshine take over, things started to ripen! 

I limit myself to only having 12 chickens... but these are so tiny that I think 6 of them can count as 2... we we're good... right?

There's not much as sweet as putting day-old chicks under a broody hen at night then watching her be so proud of her family the next morning.

This sunflower randomly grew right in the middle of the garden.  I haven't planted sunflowers in 5-6 years.  I can't imagine how its seed survived in the ground all this time.  I wonder if it was under a stepping stone until this year.

Once it had its chance to lord over the garden, it was time for it to go.  It's leaves were gigantic and putting too much shade on the pepper plants.

Raccoons are a part of life in the country, but these have caused some sad days here on Serendipity. It's time for them to go live a couple of counties away from here.

It just doesn't take much to lure a clever raccoon.

I wish him/her all the best in his/her new life far far away!

The counter in July is constantly filled with happiness.

Best of Serendipity (June 2026)

 

The sycamore tree... It was big, then huge, then a giant too big.   The stump was a table, then a tuft, then a new tree that grew tall until it fell.  That's happened again. It's kind of an entertainment to watch it through the months and years.

The best thing about having house plants is that they don't have to be in the house for half the year.

My row of perennials brings a different color of joy every few weeks.  Now it's the day lily's turn 

These are from the neighbor who shares our driveway. A BOBCAT!!! 

For 25 years we've enjoyed knowing that there was all kinds of wildlife that prowled around our house.  I wonder... was it better when we didn't actually see it!

This coyote was sniffing around our coops the same night.

Yikes!  So peaceful during the day, so ... not... during the night!

Once the babies get a 5-6 weeks old, their momma gives them some freedom to be on their own.  It's fun to get to know their little chicken personalities and see what they're going to look like as their feathers grow in. They don't have names yet... maybe soon.

These five little sweeties are starting to be more hen than chick.  They're friendly and aren't afraid to eat out of my hand.  Well... they're a little afraid but zip in for wary nibbles.

Best of Serendipity (May 2026)

 My row of irises reminds me of the one my mother had when I was a kid.

Sometimes little forest friends come a little closer than they should.

Happy hens like spending the afternoon out!

Every feather on this little bantam's body grows in a different direction! 

Sun bathing... and dust bathing in their happiest spot.

Why was this baby out in the daytime? And, where was the mama of this tiny little thing!?

I don't know if this was the mama raccoon, but he/she was very interested in what was new in the hen house.

This year two hens got broody.  It's always so fun to slip day-old chicks under a hen after dark then watching the little family grow. Although both hens are raising the chicks together, it's been clear that the white one, Lola, is the mom and has relegated the black one, Elfie, to be the helping auntie.

I tried something a little different with my lettuce and spinach this year.  To say that it worked is an understatement!  

So many night visitors!!! As long as they just sniff and leave, it's fine.

When it gets hot each year, these huge turtles come from the pond to lay their eggs.  The female turtles dig with their back feet and drip liquid making a wet hole.  Then they drop in their eggs. 

Best of Serendipity (April 2026)

I've always wanted a pink dogwood!  Happy 62nd to me!

Elfie is such a good little hen!

The onions always come first!

Fast forward a few weeks, and the onions and garlic look great. They've come back from being beaten to shreds by hail a few weeks ago.

Everybody is doing her job lately!

Getting ready!

We've finally gotten to the point where there are no more rocks.

Who knows where he thought he needed to be going.

I love having irises!

I thought I'd try something a little different with the lettuce and garlic... it worked! Full sun and plenty of good soil make a huge difference.

Possums are so ugly that they're cute.