Quiet Times

Good Day!

We are still very much enjoying the Drippy Weather we have been blessed with these past few weeks.  From years of not much precipitation, we are so thankful for the glorious rain fall as of late.  I know others are getting quite tired of it, but for us, it is still wonderful!

After the storm

We have had a rather quiet week here, a lovely change of pace for us.  The Bee Keepers came out on Sunday to do some maintenance.  They reported that the hive is doing very well and supporting about 20,000 honey bees.  Wow!  The Queen is producing babies and the workers are gathering the necessary pollen to create the honey.  Alex says that we won't be harvesting any real amount of honey this year, as it is a new hive and will need all its resources.  From the honey we have tasted, it will certainly be worth the wait!

Smoking the hive to distract the bees

Wow!  That's a lot of bees!

Honey Bee in the High Bush Cranberry bush

Honey Bee on an onion scape flower

Since we had the RO water system put in, we have been curious if it really is making much of a difference in our water.  Papa thought it would really show if there was a true difference if he make up two tea samples:  one using the iron removed only well water, the other using the Reverse Osmosis water.  The result was staggering!  He began by separately boiling a pot of each of the two waters, then poured them into a 500 ml sealer jar, each with a single Red Rose tea bag.  From the first photo, they are virtually indistinguishable, except for a little bit of foam on the top of the well water.

RO boiled water tea on the left
Iron removed boiled well water on the right
Pretty much the same except for a bit of foam on the right jar

We monitored the samples for 24 hours.  Hour by hour, the RO tea didn't really do much, but get a little darker.  Even after 24 hours, you could still see through the tea and the tea bag stayed afloat the entire test time.  The well water, however, was another story.  It got very dark, cloudy, scummy and the tea bag sunk.  You couldn't see through it at all.

24 hours later the RO water is still virtually clear
The well water is dark, cloudy and the tea bag sunk

The thing that troubled us the most was the scum that formed on top of the well water sample.  In a close up photo, you can even see an oily residue.  You cannot see into the jar, like you could with the RO water. 

Even though our well water was recently tested by the health unit and it showed nothing to really significant be concerned about.  It does, however, concern us as to what our bodies had to filter.  I am really glad that we decided to install the RO system.  This absolutely confirms it for me that we did the right thing. 

RO tea after 24 hours - still clear and bag is visible

Well water tea after 24 hours - cloudy, sludgy, scummy
And what is that oily texture??

Our three steers are doing very well.  They are very social and curious.  I love it when we get a relaxed and easy group.  Makes for a lovely growing season.

Whatcha doing?

Boys bellied up for dinner!

The Lilacs are now done for the season.  The fruit trees have finished blooming and whatever was pollinated is now setting fruit.  The peonies and irises are now really beginning to put on their show.  When it isn't raining, we are keeping up with the weeding.  I think every bed and row has had its first major weeding of the season.  Now it is just maintenance.

Black Iris in bloom

Purple and Purple & White Irises in the east raised bed fill the air with perfume.
Laundry drying on a sunny day!

Peony by the front step

The Main garden is doing well.
We are enjoying Romaine lettuce, spinach, chard, green onions
Potatoes are finally all up and the rest is growing well

Onion scapes harvested - what I saved before Papa
composted the rest!

Apples growing!  Yay!

With all this rain, I have had some serious Studio time.  Here is another little table topper ready to be sandwiched and quilted.  It will be about 24" square when it is done.  I love its vintage look.

Little vintage style quilt ready to be sandwiched
and quilted - about 24" square

We have plans to take our Little's for a picnic tomorrow, to celebrate the end of the school year for the two who are in school.  They will be off on a big family adventure and we won't get to see them for a few weeks.  Ah, to be young and love camping!  They will have a marvellous time for sure and we will be eagerly awaiting their return to hear all the wonderful stories.

Until next time, I hope this finds you all well and dry.

Take care.

Warmest regards,

Gremlynn