"Around the acreage" by Darby2

Drought two years in a row have created brown lawns like mine. Oh well, it gives me more time to work on VT!

We finally got some much needed rain in 2003 but could use more. Field crops did well this year but some farms were ravaged by grasshoppers. The farm where I get my honey had a vey poor crop...less than 3% of what would normally be expected.

These giant puffballs grown on my lawn after periods of rain. This one was 60cm across and weighed 10kg (22 pounds)

This would make one heluva big pot of mushroom soup! Yes, they are edible when white and have a rather bland flavour.

My brother Tom raises llamas on his acreage near Fort St. John, B.C.

Thats my little nephew, Sammy along with an unidentified rooster in the background. :o))

During the Christmas season, Tom and Rosemary erect a nativity scene in their yard and the bevvy of animals crowd around it just like in the original Christmas . Folks come for miles around just to see it.

White tailed deer are frequent visitors to my yard. In winter they like to feed on the willow buds. Occaisionally, a moose will wander into the yard too, along with porcupines, foxes, coyotes and skunks.

The gently rolling hills in my area make for an excellent garden spot. The soil is rich sandy loam to which I regularly add compost.

Perennial favorites include rhubarb, Saskatoons, raspberries and strawberries.

The climate here allows about 120 frost free days with most of the rain in the summer from numerous thunderstorms. Winters can be mild to severe.

The harvest is in...

The pumpkins take up more than half my garden space of about 3000 square feet. I like to plant several different varieties.

Winter time on the acreage...

put it to sleep till next spring... snow should be gone by early April.