Sheep shearing and gardening

I finally have a quiet moment to gather my thoughts!  Fresh milk bread is rising (Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book).  I am experimenting with a new way to incubate yogurt that does not take up my oven and require me constantly checking the temperature:

(Heating pad on high covered with towel, mason jar with candy thermometer inside some water that was 110 F when I started, and then covered with towels)

After 1 hour, it is now at 106 F, which is decent.  If it doesn't go below 95 F after 4, this will be my new method!  The heating pad is also a cheap model that doesn't have a safety turn off.  I am not leaving the apartment while this is going on, and the counter is insulated with tiles.  So it should be safe.  Should be.  (After 1 1/2 hours, it is at 104.  I took out the towel between the heating pad and the jar to see if that helps.)

I have almost finished planting.  I have 4 rows left to do of beans and sugar beets, which I will do at my parents' once they have tilled the soil under for me.  The garden out back has three rows left open for transplants.  

 Four trays plus two six packs planted and some have just germinated.

Cucumber seedling and one summer squash getting some sun to harden them off before planting.

Tavie doesn't mind that part of his cage makes a nice table.  He is enjoying his recent shearing in this warm weather!

The garden looks really good right now.  I want the plants that have already come up to be a bit bigger before I go at the weeds.  Half of the garden was just planted and has not yet germinated.

 Lettuce mix

 Kale

 Beets

 Peas

 Green beans

 Sweet onions

 Eggplant, tomatoes, peppers

My beautiful garden space!

I have also been assisting with sheep shearing and fleece sorting and skirting at Kelly Corner Farm.  Jeff Jordan is the best shearer in the state and I learned a lot!

Sheep, rhubarb, and mud

In case you all have been wondering where I have been and what I am up to, I am now constantly busy!  My time is spent either planting/weeding in the garden (which is mostly mud by the time I get out there in the rain), thinking up creative and tasty ways to use the massive amount of rhubarb I have been getting from my parents, and helping out at a sheep and goat farm!  I don't officially work there, but trade some labor for food and fiber.  Jon and I have also started some ambitious hiking.  Last Saturday, we did Mt. Chocorua.  I wore a hiking skirt, which was amazing, and some very old running shoes, which were terrible.  I slipped down many ledges even with Jon helping me, while skinning my knees and twisting my ankle.  Despite that, and a terrible fear of heights that was tested to the max, it was wonderful!  Now that I have some proper hiking boots, we are doing Mt. Washington for our anniversary =)  I am really looking forward to it.

Most of the seeds that I ordered have come.  Greens and most roots have been planted.  Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers have been transplanted.  I just put onions in this morning.  I have so many things left to plant!  I have three trays of seeds that are just germinating, one that I planted this morning, and one more still to plant.  I'm really hoping for a long, warm season this year.  Otherwise, I will extend my season as much as possible with row cover.  The garden space that my father is letting me use is all ready to go.  Now I just need to get some batteries for my camera to post pictures!