I'm still on my fencing job. Here are some pics Dad took at the farm. He took care of clearing the watermelon patch of birds. If these don't scare a bird then I'm not sure what will. Also a nice picture of a sunflower and a bee having a pretty good time.

People in the West are always getting ready to live.

- Chinese Proverb

Haven't been as many blogs lately because I've been working on a big fencing job that is taking up most of my time. The berry season is going really well. Amber, Mom, and Dad have had to take over running things. The thorned blackberries are about done and the thornless are hitting their stride. Blueberries have peaked and are slowing down. Most of our Purple Hull peas have been sold. We may still have a few bushels this week. Zipper Cream peas will be ready in the next couple days.

I have been having a hell of a time with my watermelons. At least 1/3 of them have holes in them. I think birds are going after them. It is really frustrating to walk through the patch and have to throw out big pretty watermelons. I wish the birds could just get together and pick a few watermelons to eat completely. Instead they sample a bit of this one and then a bit of that one and leave a trail of mortally wounded melons behind them. I need to get a scarecrow, bring him to life, teach him to use a shotgun and put him to work on these birds. Lacking a proper education in Frankensteinian science I may have to settle for a fake owl. So goeth things in my watermelon world.

Everything is ripe. By everything I mean all types of blueberries and blackberries. Purple hull peas are just a few days away. Never been a better time to come to the farm. By the end of today we should have our new, big, beautiful sign up on Hwy 11. Thanks Amber!

Our primary focus at this stage of the summer is keeping alive all things in our care: plants and animals and self. It is way hot. And way dry. Last significant rain here was at least a month ago. I reconfigured our drip system to run for 8 hours in each section. This means that there is only a two hour window every other day when the water is not on. But if this is what it takes then this is what it takes. At least I don't have to move sprinkler heads around. I've been told that the more water the better the berries. And since Mother Nature has not provided, we must make our own rain.

Chickasaw blackberries are still producing and Apache are coming on. Climax blueberries are ripe and Tifblue will be soon. Please call if you want berries. The farm is open.

Actually we've been open since I sent out our first newsletter on Friday. Not on the list?? Here is where to remedy that problem. We've had a few customers so far but mostly been picking ourselves and selling on the side of the road. Amber and I sat roadside for a few hours this evening. Had pretty good sales. Bought a REAL Texas watermelon from the fellow parked next to us. Can't wait to try it tomorrow. It's an Allsweet variety. He also had Jubilee. He said the Allsweet was his Cadillac and the Jubilee was his Chevrolet. Both, however, were the same six American made dollars. He also said Allsweet was to Sweet n' Lo as Jubilee was to sugar. He wasn't the grower. They were from some 1200 acre watermelon farm down south. Makes my little 1/2 acre puff its chest a bit.

I've got my own real Texas baby watermelons on the vine. Peas are also looking good. Getting lots of interest in the peas. Everyone just LOVES peas. I'm more of a watermelon man myself.

We've had great response to the blackberries. They can be tart, but if you get the right one it's definitely yumyum time. I'll probably be hauling some down to the Longview Farmer's Market at 6:30 AM on Wednesday. If you're there come by and see me. I'll be the one with seeds in my teeth and a big purple grin.