Ladybug, ladybug...

Inspired by exciting events to follow I crocheted a bunch of ladybug pins, and chose one to wear on my blazer tomorrow ; )

Survival breakfast

We arrived at the Half Acre at midnight. After a good night's sleep, preceded by sauna and soak in an outside hot tub watching the stars and moon, we woke to discover cupboards with only the basics. Instead of doing the easy thing (going shopping) the decision was made to make bread. No heat in the oven, no time wait for a yeast dough (I was HUNGRY!).

Mother Hubbard's cupboard. Crackers, flour, canned pineapple, beans, spices, sugar, tea

The solution: Stove-top biscuits: Didn't have buttermilk, shortening or baking soda. Milk powder was a lumpy mess. Substituted regular milk (we had 1 liter, but was saving it for drinking) baking powder and butter. Baked in a skillet. A bit too much salt, and should have made them a little thinner. Tasted like biscuits; ) Fast and easy. Beats crackers and sardines ; )

Biscuits cooking in skillet

Cut open, ready to eat!

Enjoying the almost sunny nights

 These pictures were taken a little after midnight. It doesn't really get dark at night. Cool cloud formations.

The moon

 Reflections in a ditch

 But we like to light candles all the same.

Laundry Day at the Half Acre

 On a warm day we like to do laundry. The hot water comes from a water pot, that has seen its better days.

 The Hoover does a great job with the laundry, but requires attention every 4 minutes.

 Laundry-Matt hard at work!

I even found a bikini... it really was a warm and humid day!

The Bat-boy is back

Well, here we are back at the Half Acre, this time for a couple of weeks.
The weather is great, warm and mostly sunny. The garden provides red onions, peas and lettuce. A few herbs have grown but they are small. Something is attacking the lettuce ; )
Our bat friend returned tonight. He flew circles around the house for quite some time. He seems to be living in the barn. Glad to see he survived the winter !
Pictures tomorrow!

Last day at the ranch

Tomorrow we are heading back to the city.

We managed to keep busy anyway. The weather turned warmer. 

We had a visit from the neighbor, who invited us over to harvest his rhubarb.

That was some huge rhubarb, and lots of it! 

We shared with another neighbor, and will make juice out of our share.

It was time for Matti and Nicholas to get hair cuts!

We didn't really use these old clippers!

In the afternoon we vistied Tuuri, where Matti attempted to eat the Boss Meal. No success, too much food!

In the evening it was time to clean up, pack up and harvest some spinach for freezing. 

The neighbor farmer was harvesting, too.

waiting for a storm

All day our storm chaser Nicholas was waiting for he forecasted thunder storm. 

All storms missed us, not even a drop of rain today.

We did get to see some pretty cool cloud formations tonight before sauna.

My summer feet

And once more enjoying the pretty wild flowers along the ditch.

Fun in the rain & sun

Vanha isäntä ja navetta (old man farmer and his barn)

A fun day of activities. Made a fire in the house stove, to dry and heat the place. BLTS's tasted great (Bacon, lettuce, tomato and spinach). Matti beat the hallway rugs, Tiina vacuumed the cobwebs from windows and corners.

Beating the grass and dust from the hallway rugs

BLT on toast

Bacon, lettuce, tomato and spinach on locally baked carrot bread

Sun shining behind the barn

Harvest - red onion, spinach and lettuce

Midsummer in the land of the Midnight sun

Happy Midsummer to everyone!

We grilled some stuff, then enjoyed sauna in the woods at the neighbour's house. Walking home at 1 pm it was light, and quite warm. No wind, not many clouds.

  

Picked some traditional flowers to decorate the deck.

We share the Half Acre with some of God's creations

When we are away there are some house-sitters here... some of them will eat the house, some are looking for other stuff to eat...some have to be killed, others thrown out. Spiders are left alone - most of the time.

 Bug on window

Bug on door

 Bug on wash cloth

Spider on the wall

Happy Midsummer!

We are back again at the Half Acre. We planted a vegetable garden at  Easter and can now see the results:

Not many weeds, but the lettuce, spinach, onions and peas are growing well. Some beets as well, and carrots, I think...

When we arrived the weeds and hay in the yard were tall as usual, and had to be cut down with a scythe. It was raining and about 16 degrees.

The herbs are not yet growing very tall, but the dill and two kinds of parsley seem to be coming up.

Spinach

Lettuce

These pictures were taken at 9.30 p.m. but it is as light as daylight. This time of year it doesn't really get dark, but on a cloudy night we get a sort of dusk.