Reporting for Guard Duty

The hens are laying again. We are back up to 17+ eggs a day. We also had 11 new chicks hatch and then a sparrowhawk decided to have three too many snacks. Art had to build a new chicken run over the mama hen condo to protect them from aerial assaults. The enclosure was a success. It prevented another attack and all eight chicks are accounted for. Mama hen is recovering from the trauma.

Art continued building... a frame for a new greenhouse to add to the garden. The frame is welded, panels were delivered and the window pistons are ordered. Year round veggies coming soon.

The cornelius cherry and plum trees have beautiful flowers popping more and more. The pears and quince flowers are nearly there.

Continued the trimming of trees in the pomegranate orchard and started weeding the garden onions and garlic after the rains. The vines and trees in the garden are trimmed and ready for spring.

While Art was busy with themaking friends with Mister and Roger, winter clean up tasks and protecting the homestead I traveled to the US to visit family and host a mini book tour for the latest novels from Homestead Albania Print. I had six stops in Missouri and enjoyed each visit with new and current readers enjoying our little book babies.

We also had a few birds pose for the camera.

The loquats are few and far between but still hanging on.

Hazelnut trees are coming back to life too.

We had a few guests check in and more on the way to the Orchard Guard Tower. It is open for 2026 reservations. www.OrchardGuardTower.com