Varvel Family

Garden:

We started our garden back in the spring, and it was a lot of work. It's not easy to turn an alfalfa field into a garden, but we did it! First, Mark laid it all out, and put up the fence posts. Next, we had to kill the grass and alfalfa, and that took a few sprays. Then Mark mowed it all down to nothing, and dumped tractor loads of compost in the area. We rented a big rotor tiller and tilled up the ground. We also had to have water out there, so Mark put in a hydrant. Sawyer and Amanda built the garden boxes, and Mark covered the whole area with ground cover. We spent all of Memorial Day weekend prepping the boxes and planting stuff. Mark had the big job of finishing the deer fence around the garden before the plants grew big enough to draw their attention. He built the gates, and I painted them. Then we spread the rubber bark along the walk ways. I hired Amanda to paint garden rocks so I would know what I planted and where. They turned out so dang cute! I'm the garden caretaker now that it's all planted. It's doing really well. We've learned a lot, and know a few things we'll change for next year. We will also be adding a small shed and green house to the area next year, and have some other plans to make it look really nice. Some of our plants didn't do well, and others are doing amazing. It's fun to be able to harvest and eat food that we grew ourselves.

Our fruit trees are loaded and kicking butt this year. We already harvested all the cherries, and I ate them all. So good! Now I want to plant another cherry tree. The apricots are just starting to ripen, and the other trees will be later in the fall.

Random Stuff:

I've been so tired lately that I haven't been outside or even awake for many sunsets this month. The ones I have seen have been great though.

One of our Airbnb guests took this picture of the sun coming up over the farm. I love it!

Some swallows built their nest in the pasture shelter. By the time we realized it was there, it was already built, and we didn't want to tear it down. The baby birds hatched and the parents seem to be taking good care of them. The babies must have outgrown the nest though, because one of them ended up on the ground. I check it every day and it seems good. It's always in a different spot, so I know it moves around. Then today I went out and all three of the babies were on the ground. I'm so worried about them now. The cows go in the shelter a lot when it's hot, and I don't want them to step on the babies. I hope the parents can keep them safe and fed util they can fly.

Here's two of the babies.

We had a marmot running around in the pasture the other day. They are getting braver and moving closer to the farm structures instead of just staying out in the field. Mark caught one stealing the cat food out of the hay barn the other day. He tried to shoot it, but thankfully missed. 😅

This little one acted like it was trapped in the pasture, but as soon as I turned my back it climbed right over the fence.

We installed some ring cameras around the property, so now we can see what lurks around at night. So far we've been watching two cute deer eat all my bird food, and play around in the back yard. Then we noticed the cutest little raccoon family hanging around.

Turn the sound up in the first video because they sound so cute! So many little babies!

Then we noticed one hanging out by the garage.

And then it came right up on the front porch and acted like it owed the place. 😆

We decided to order a shed instead of build one ourselves. That will save Mark lots of time. It got delivered, and it was really fun watching them unload it and get it set up where we wanted it.

Cats:

Stormy has been hanging around more again. It's either because we keep scaring that other cat away, or because we've started filling the hay barn back up with hay, so she feels protected in there again. Either way, it's good to see her more regularly. She actually rubbed up against Mark while he was feeding her too. That made him happy. She has never let him get close to her before, and then all of a sudden, she initiates contact. Yay Storms!

Floof and Michem and doing great!

Floof looks like he's waiting for me to serve him dinner. He isn't even supposed to be up there. 😅

Michem was all set to go on an adventure with me!

Stormy follows me around the farm most mornings. She doesn't usually go into the corrals with me, but she did this time.

We're pretty sure Stormy knows that Floof and Michem are her babies. She comes to our back door most evenings to see them. She loves on them through the screen. It's so cute! They have all become great friends.

Also, watch the video again, and enjoy Floof. 😂 His face cracks me up!

Nothing to see here, just Michem getting home from work.

Cows:

Not too many pictures of the cows this month. They have just been enjoying pasture life, and trying to stay cool.

We've had some hot days, so I usually turn the sprinkler on for them. They love the water, and just hang out under it. The video below shows them eating dinner all wet. It definitely doesn't help them stay clean, but I'd rather have comfortable, happy cow, than clean cows.

I love when Opal comes cruising in for breakfast.

Chickens:

The chickens are all getting along and doing great! We have had a lot of farm visitors, and the chickens are always a bigger hit than you'd expect. Tillie and Fern have been getting lots of snuggles from our guests.

I think my chickens lay the prettiest eggs. The new ones have started laying now, so next month I'll have a picture like this, but with a couple new colors. I'm so excited about it!

Lucy has been giving us quite a few double yolkers.

The chickens have been loving their bigger free range area. They come running when I'm out there to open their gate.

Chicken Moana or Idea (not sure which) has become quite an escape artist. I first saw her wondering around and went running out there to get her back in the fence. Now it's an every day, a couple times a day thing. We're gonna have to clip her wings, but I need help to do it, and Mark is always working on other stuff. I'm waiting for Amanda to come over. She loves the chickens, so she will be a perfect helper for doing that.

It's been hot, so I jumped on the splash pad bandwagon for the chickens. It's so fun! If you can keep a chicken's feet cool, the chicken will be cool, so this is the perfect way to do that. I started by just putting the pad out there, no water, and sprinkling treats on it. They got used to walking on it. Then I turned the water really low, and they didn't seem to mind it. Now, they run to it in the morning waiting for me to turn it on.

I'm not a real dramatic person, but I'm gonna write out a story that FREAKED ME OUT! I hadn't been in the coop for a few days, and I decided it was time to clean it. I got my bucket and shovel and headed out there. I opened the coop door, started to walk inside, and I kid you not, about 50 pincher bugs (earwigs) fell on me! There was a huge pile of them between the door and the jam, and when I opened it up, they all came raining down. My first thought was that I needed to light myself on fire, but I panic brushed them all off, dancing around like an idiot. Then I took a shower to make sure they were all gone. So disgusting! I had the heebie jeebies for the rest of the day. I thought it was a freak thing, but the next day I had people here to see the farm, and opened the coop door for them. Sure enough they came raining down again. Luckily I stopped everyone before they went into the line of fire. Ugh! So Mark and I went out with a bucket and collected them when they dropped, and fed the chickens a nice treat. I'm not sure how long they are going to keep congregating there, but we'll just keep collecting them for the chickens. I'm so paranoid that I'm going to forget and walk under them again.

Donkeys:

Clover and Willow are as cute and fun as ever. They have been on some fun hikes this month, and are now up to 5 1/4 miles.

We took them on Big Elk Creek and weren't expecting mud bogs on the trail. Willow is so trusting. She really tries to understand what we want her to do, and they she takes a minute to analyze the situation, and will usually end up doing what we ask. Totally not the case with Clover, but she would follow Willow anywhere, so if we can get Willow to do something, Clover won't be a problem. Willow led the way over wooden bridges, and after some work, through water and mud bog on the trail. She was such a good girl. Clover was just happy to be along for the party. 😃

Willow has really taken to Sawyer lately. She has started giving him hugs like she does with Mark. Maybe Sawyer reminds her of Mark.

Clover is so dang CUTE!
She doesn't play with the big ball very often, but when she does, she looks so proud about it.

I was waiting for people to arrive for a farm tour, and worked on some desensitizing stuff with Willow. Clearly she doesn't have any trouble with traffic cones. 😁

We did a fun hike up Glen's Grunt and on Buckskin. Clover was a little extra spunky, so it was my favorite hike of the season so far. We pulled off to let a mountain bike go by. Clover got back on the trail and went trotting after it. I laughed, but wasn't really sure if that was her intention. Then we pulled off two more times for bikes, and each time Clover went trotting down the trail after the bike, trying to keep op. It was so cute!

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I didn't get any pictures of the goats this month. They are just hanging out trying to stay cool

That's a wrap for the farm this month.

Charlotte Belle Cannon (Charlie)

Born: July 10, 2025

Time: 5:51 pm

Weight: 7lbs 10oz

Length: 20 inches

Time in labor: 6 hours

Bailey had a heck of a pregnancy. She was really really sick through the beginning, and had a hard time keeping weight on. She had a small window of time where she felt a little bit better, and then the sickness came back. She found out she had gestational diabetes. That opened a whole new can of worms and challenges. She also had circulation issues since the baby was so low. Her hands and feet would always go numb, and she had major swelling. She was definitely ready to have this baby! I was hoping that since the pregnancy was rough, her labor and delivery would go smooth, and it did!

Bailey was a few days overdue, and at her appointment with her midwives, they were discussing ways to get her labor started. They checked her and realized she was already dilated to a 4, and the baby was as low as she could get. That was great news! Bailey called me on her way home and asked if I could come later that night. Lyssa could watch Nora, but had to work the following day, so they wanted me there just in case. She told me not to rush, so I was going to finish getting things situated on the farm and head out about 4:00. She called again about 15 minutes later and said she was pretty sure she was in labor, so I should maybe leave sooner. Then again shortly after that and said they were heading to the hospital. Holy crap, that happened fast! I didn't hear anything else until I stopped to get gas about half way there. I had a text from Mason saying she just left triage and went from a 5 to a 7 in 1 hour.

I pulled up to their house, unloaded my stuff, and talked to Lyssa for a few minutes. Taylor and Liv showed up, and the phone rang a few minutes later with a little crying baby in the back ground. So dang fast!

Two days before Charlie was born. She was riding so low!

Since the baby had been so low the last trimester, the midwives kept telling Bailey and Mason not to wait to go to the hospital. As soon as Bailey was positive she was in labor, they were supposed to go. I think this had Mason a little nervous, because he packed the stuff up, called Lyssa to come over and was ready to get there. He definitely did not want to deliver a baby in the car. In his rush, he forgot to eat, so Bailey told him to go through the Chick-fil-a drive through on the way to the hospital. This picture is hilarious! He looks all calm and unconcerned, but they said he scarfed his food so fast. 😂

A quick labor, a two push delivery, and Charlie made her arrival!

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So sweet!

Nora and I didn't get to meet Charlie until the next day, because by the time they got up to recovery, visiting hours were over.

Here's Nora all ready to go to the hospital to meet her baby sister!

First picture as a family of four!

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This Grams gig is the absolute best!

This picture makes me realize how blessed I am!

Cutest sisters!

Nora was so cute with her. It melted my heart.

My two favorite faces!

Pops arrived!

Ready to leave the hospital.

She's so tiny in the carseat!

Meeting Pops for the first time.

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Grams and her girls.

We were only there for a short time and then had to head back home. Mark got home in time to unpack his bag, repack, and then head to the airport for a business trip. We can't wait to see everyone when they come to visit in August.

Here are some pictures that Bailey has sent me of Charlie throughout the month.

Nora got to help give Charlie her first bath.