Painting the Barn

One of the projects on our to-do list is giving the barn a fresh coat of paint.

It's been seven years since the barn was built, and it definitely needed a new coat of paint. I had hoped to find oil-based paint because it's longer lasting, but apparently they don't sell it anymore. I did switch brands however. In the past we used Lowe's Valspar paint on everything and were satisfied with it. But the quality doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be, so I switched to Glidden which seems to be a better product. At least it gives better coverage, so that means fewer coats.

Sadly, the barn quilt had to go. Here's what it looked like when it was new . . .

Photo from July 2018

But now . . .

This was Lowe's best plywood, but it' beyond repair. We'd both like to put up a new one, but making it isn't at the top of my to-do list. Dan wondered if cement board would be longer lasting, but I'm not sure about paint on cement.

We've had some beautiful days for painting and I'm glad to have the job done before the summer heat takes away the fun of outdoor projects.

This side of the barn is where our fig trees used to be. We had a slow die-off over the past several years. Except for one young survivor, they've been removed and I planted the area with fescue. The magnolia tree in the center of the picture serves as winter shelter for scores of birds. Grandiflora magnolias are evergreens with large leaves and offer good protection for them. Early in the morning the bird song and chatter is quite loud!

Of fig trees we planted two new ones.

We put them is a different spot, where they'll receive more sun. It will be a few years until we get figs, but they do well in our growing zone and are easy to maintain.

That's one big job crossed off the list! Now I'm on to giving Dan's workshop a repaint. 

Painting the Barn © April 2025

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

A Post At Last, More Baby Goats

I honestly didn't expect Ursa to wait all the way until her due date (today), but she did. She was so huge I was sure she was carrying triplets or quads. Finally, at about 2 a.m. this morning, she gave two birth to two huge bucklings. The photo above was taken just about an hour ago. Everybody is resting and the kids will sleep a lot for the next day or two. Wishing they were does, but just thankful everyone is okay. 

A Post At Last, More Baby Goats © April 2025

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

Double Header: Garden Notes and Baby Goats

I reckon I'd better start with the baby goats. :) 

Of my two pregnant does, Saluda was first. Last Wednesday she wasn't behaving like herself, so I penned her up before lunch. It was a good thing because right after lunch Dan went out while I did the dishes. He was back in a couple of minutes to tell me the first one was already on the ground. The second (the little doe) was out about 15 minutes after I got there.

About an hour old. The gray is a little buck, the brown is a little girl.

One day old

Buckling

Doeling

These are Saluda's first and she took right to mothering.

Garden Notes: March 2025

Rainfall

• 5th: 0.55"
• 10th: 0.77"
• 16th: 0.7"
• 20th: sprinkle
• 24th: 0.03"
• 30th: 0.55"
• 31st: 0.63"
• Total: 3.23 inches

 Temperature

• range of nighttime lows: 28 to 63°F (-2 to 17°C)
• range of daytime highs: 51 to 79°F (11 to 26°C)

Planted

• daikons
• turnips
• lettuce
• parsnips
• carrots
• beets
• sweet pepper starts
• cucumber starts
• fig trees
• herb starter tray
• parsley
• dill
• comfrey
• gravel root
• red poppy
• sweet basil

Harvested

• lettuce
• chickweed
• wild lettuce
• chicory greens
• kale
• collards
• broccoli
• dandelion greens
• asparagus

Photos

The greenhouse gets quite warm on mild days, so the only
things I've got in it now are tomato seedlings & bolting lettuce.

My potted kale, collards, and new lettuce have been moved outside where
they don't mind light frost but don't like how warm the greenhouse gets.

My fall lettuce is bolting, but I planted new containers of mixed lettuces which are thriving. 

Also left in the greenhouse is my 2-year-old broccoli plant. It still
produces enough broccoli bites for salads, plus I'll save some seed.

In the garden, the mustard in the kale & collards bed is flowering.

Snow peas and garlic.

In the foreground is our hugelkultur mound. It's loaded with clover, daffodils,
chicory, and Egyptian walking onions. Behind to the right is our wheat patch.

Pear blossoms

Apple blossoms

That's it for me. Anything going on in your garden?

Double Header: Garden Notes and Baby Goats 

© March 2025 by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com