Midsummer

Thursday, June 21, was the longest day of the year. The sun rose at 4:51 AM and set at 8:51 PM giving us 16 hours of light in Worley, Idaho. As you can see from the chart below, we actually get more light than that because the Civil Twilight is the first and last light. If I look out the window at 4:00 in the morning, I can clearly see everything in the yard.

Unfortunately, on the summer solstice, we had a storm so it was a bit darker than I was hoping for the longest day of the year. This was the wildest storm I have experienced here in Worley. I stood on the deck and watched and heard the storm approach. I could hear the rain in the trees as it got nearer and the thunder was thunderous, to say the least. Lightning filled the sky a few times per minute.

The edge of the storm approaches

The downpour (see Instagram for the video)

Shawn had driven to Sacramento to pick up our grandson, Malcolm, so this was my first experience staying by myself in our new house. The power went off and on three times as I ran around looking for flashlights and wondering how long my phone battery would last. Without wi-fi, my Grey’s Anatomy binge watch was ruined.

Since Shawn was gone, I also got chicken duty. The layers are living outside under the walnut tree, but they need to be put to bed at night in case there are any predators out there looking to dine on them. They are very in tune with the sun and go into the coop on their own at sunset. I looked out the window and noticed they had gone in early. I assumed this was due to the storm, so I went out to latch the door on the coop. As soon as I approached the gate, they all ran out and the little buggers wouldn’t go back in until it was officially sunset.

Roosting in the walnut tree

Large and in charge

In bed for the night

We got a second batch of Frankenchicks a couple weeks ago. I was asked why we need so many chickens. We figured we need about 50 chickens for the year. One chicken gives us 2-3 meals in a week and then we make about 4 quarts of chicken stock from the carcass.

Return of the Frankenchicks

Before Shawn left for Sacramento, we went to a few new places in town. First, we went to the container store in Athol for food grade buckets, barrels and a tote for the new pig enclosure. Next, we explored the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. We acquired a stainless steel sink and solid wood door for $30. Shawn is going to repurpose these as a chicken butchering station. We also tried out the burgers at Paul Bunyan Famous Burgers.

To amuse myself in Shawn’s absence, I visited a couple of the local quilt shops. The ladies at Bear Paw Quilting in Coeur d’Alene are very friendly and they have a nice selection of fabrics, patterns, and notions. In Spokane Valley, Washington, I visited The Quilting Bee. Aside from Hancock’s in Paducah and Fabric Depot in Portland, I think this is the biggest quilt shop I’ve ever seen. Between these two shops, I think all my quilting needs will be easily met. I also picked up their 2018 Row-by-Row kits.

It is huge!

Between storm watch, quilt shops and binge watching Grey’s Anatomy, I pulled out my DSLR camera and took pictures around the yard. The macro lens improved my flower photos, and the zoom lens allowed me to catch a few birds stealing our cherries.