We're on our first summer break from school and catching up with some homestead projects.  The first big one is to get our billy goat in separate quarters from the girlies before he impregnates everything in sight before he's supposed to.  This involves clearing further up the property/fence line of saplings, megaweeds and grass.  Then we get to snap on insulators to extend the electric fence, run more wire, then set up a separate pen for Mr. Billy, along with our two Kinder does who I'd like to be bred now.

The second project is to free the garden from weed tyrany.  We've been a bit negligent and the weeds have gotten away from us.  Last week I liberated our tomatoes and now we're working on the melon patch.  I spotted quite a few very nice cantalope and watermelons - mmmmm - can't wait till they are ripe.  Hopefully we'll get plenty to take to the farmers' market too.  I also need to get my hoophouse un-weeded, dug, and start planting for fall and winter harvests.

While I was missing in action from the blogosphere we switched livestock guard animals.  We had to rehome the donkey because she refused to get used to the goats.  She bit half the ear off our best show goat and that was the last straw.  We found her a good home with mules and human kids to romp with, but NO goats!  In her place we bought a llama who likes the goats just fine.  I've never had a llama before and I'm having a lot of fun learning about them.  They are interesting critters and I can't wait to fool around with some wool next spring.

It is very hot here in KS.  Today is supposed to get to 102, tomorrow 101, Wednesday 100...  ack!  Needless to say we're only working outside in the mornings before it heats up and in the evenings when it starts cooling down.

Tomorrow we're going blueberry picking with some friends - whoohoo!  I love fresh blueberries, and I love to make (and eat) my blueberry lime jam once a year!  Then there is the fair that starts this weekend and the kids are all in hyper-drive getting ready with their various 4-H projects.  It's a busy time as usual at the ole' homestead!