another semi cool morning!

yesterday i started to tear down and clean the temporary duck pen(only 3 years up so far- yup that's temporary around here)
the babies were out and wandering around while i was doing it.
actually they were pretty good! they sort of stayed close and together so i didn't have to keep stopping and round them up.
i got it 75% done.
i left the back part as a tiny pen just so i could stop and pee or sit for a while, and still have hawk proof pen areas for them.
i have to move the tiny part down i think, and shorten up the pen, i am also going to put a second opening at the other end. (cause lilli likes to lay eggs down that end..noooooo lilli

i am anxiously waiting on that lecreuset soup pot i won on ebay, as near as i can figure, costco was the only ones that had/has that soup pot in the 4.25 quart size

i also that my staub that i have has the 'spoon rest' knob on the top....have i mentioned i love that oven? now i want more staub........and lecreuset is my second choice!

my legs have been hurting really bad. not only my knees (since that last fall) but my legs-the bones in them. i am having a lot of trouble climbing the stairs, getting in and out of bed.... stuff like that. i am also having lower back pain so maybe it's a lot from the new mattress? stuff loosening up and realigning?
my shoulders and neck aren't hurting! first time in over 7 years!
but my lower back down is enough to make me want to jump

every morning i put the ducks out and while the pond that is out in the garden pen is filling, i walk the garden itself..... i count cucumbers.
yesterday i had 4 promising ones.
with about 30 looking like a week would be enough to wait for them
i want at least 5 so that i can pickle two pints, but i would really rather have 30 or 50 to do a whole batch...... actually 20 pints worth would make me happy, and if i can do that twice i will just plotz.....

my yearly spice order came yesterday ( and if that happened, autumn can't be far behind) i order in bulk once a year. stuff i either can't grow such as cinnamon, or haven't grown enough of such as leeks...
this year the big treat was black barley, and one whole pound of wild rice!!!!!
i am thinking of a mixed grain casserole for tonight... as a side
i would love to have that with roasted turkey
anyway i was putting it all away, (except for the leeks do you have any idea how much volume a pound of dried leeks is? try 4 quart mason jars!)

anyway there is something so very satisfying to me to do these things, put up the yearly spices ( and yes i got us peppercorns and even PINK ONES)
lay in a supply of wood-which i need to call about.....
i can't imagine NOT stocking up simply as it's the rhythm of the seasons-how better to celebrate, appreciate and experience the season then to do seasonal things?
no one really wants to have a summer cold right? (ok no one wants to have a winter cold either but at least you don't mind the hot soup then)
and i am thinking woolen mittens at the beach just doesn't quite work not in august in new jersey ... see what i mean?

what else happened? oh i know, i picked every single baby up yesterday and checked them over. i made my first cull decision too. one of the big boys is just not ameniable to being held or anything. so he's first. i want to be able to handle the ones that stay, to cut nails, and primaries and give meds if i have to
falstaff desperately needs his nails trimmed, he won't let us near him to do it
i am considering taking him to the duck vet to do this
which may just stress him enough to kill him......
cull decisions aren't easy, but they are necessary.
oh and phoebe is grudgingly allowing the babies around her... but lilli still wants no part in them at all
oye
ducks!