June on the Mountain
I'm late... I'm late!
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When I wrote that May on the Mountain was busy, I had no idea what the coming weeks would have in store. June came and went in a blink and suddenly it’s mid-July. Where is the time going!?
The days are long and full of activity. I’m glad we got the barn done (mostly) when we did. Having a safe space for the animals allows me to spend more time away, exploring the area and having fun with friends.
Fences and Hay
With the barn done, the fencing plan could commence. A while ago the goats figured out where their grain was and made persistent attempts to escape and gorge on it. As cute as having them around the yard is, they like to be too close underfoot.
We planned to connect the existing fenceline to the back of the barn so I could walk into the front and let the goats out the back. Curt hand-dug post holes, and stained boards to create a nice-looking and functional fence. We ran wire and electric fencing before releasing the beasts into their new pasture.
I wasn’t prepared for the sense of calm having a proper fence brought. Without the goats underfoot or nagging me, I sat in front of the house sipping my coffee and enjoying the quiet.
Mushrooms and Foraging
It’s been a strange spring for foraging. Rainy days through May seemed like the right conditions for mushrooms, but the nights got very cold. I suspect the nights made it impossible for most mushrooms to fruit. We got a few small puffballs, oysters and matte jack before the season seemed to come to a halt.
Unexpected Guest
As I put on my shoes one morning to head to the outhouse, I looked out the window to see this.
“Cuuuuuurt…” I said
“There’s a bear in the yard”
The bear meandered around looking for snacks while we watched through the window. The hope is that when a bear sees you, it runs away. This guy did not. He continued to meander the yard confidently while side-eyeing us in his creepy bear way. Though bear hunting season was still open, we decided to let him off with a warning but I suspect he’ll be back.
Exploring Old Mines
The abandoned history of the area continues to blow my mind. I’m ultra thankful for my friends Rachel and Jake, who’ve been sharing and showing us around the backroads and getting us out into the thick of it. On this day we checked out ‘Gold Drop’, a century-old abandoned mine. These man-made caves were big enough to fit multiple houses and led to mineshafts full of ice.
Beautiful Days
The month ended with a bit of rain and some hot days. Summer is upon us, the bugs are beginning to be a menace and I’m excited for the heat. There is lots to do, and lots of fun to be had. The barn and greenhouse need finishing, the house could use some siding, and the pond needs to be finished. While still Avoiding Burnout, when will we find the time?!
I grew up in an area that at one time had too many bears. It was dangerous to go out at any time of day or night. My Dad decided to take matters into hand and dispensed with them one at a time. There seemed to be a bear hanging on hooks at least once a month. The meat was used as dog meat and wasn’t wasted. We were bear free for many years. The bears seemed to know to keep their distance and the only time you would see one is when one would be walking under the power line towers up on the mountain side. In other words they learnt to stay on their side of the fence as we never saw them around the neighborhood. It’s amazing how they learn their safe places.
Always a welcome note!!