I would like to post a picture of my "organic" garden at the end of the harvest - looks more like a weed patch! However, I do have heirloom green beans just blossoming and growing. I hope to get a few more warm sunny days to finish them. I still have some eight-ball squash to harvest, and the white pumpkins. Truly, I found MORE zuchinni still on the plant! Other than those veggies, our garden is done.
I canned 18 quarts of green beans, 4 pints of refridgerator dill pickle slices, 7 quarts of dill pickle spears, 3 quarts of peaches, 3 quarts of pears, 13 pints of spagetti sauce, 6 quarts of tomato & basil (thanks to Mom! she canned those with me!), and 7 half-pints of banana peppers. It's been fun, but am very happy that my tomatoes are about gone. I probably have enough to make a bit of salsa.
Huge Thanks! to my sister-in-the-Lord, Penny Noll, who helped me tremendously in the canning department with her time, advise, and green beans.
Waiting for the rest of the picked pears to ripen, and will can some more. Dan really likes the pears in the winter. Abigail and I need to go pick some more apples and make sauce.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Onions! Beans! Zuchinni!
Yesterday I pulled my onions and they look gorgeous! I'm hoping to enter some in the fair. I also need to plant more sets today for a fall harvest. We do go through a lot of onions. We've been getting a fair amount of bush beans. Hopefully, I will figure out this ancient pressure-canner without blowing it up! I did freeze beans last year, but didn't really like them that way. Haven't canned them yet, so we'll see how that turns out. Peas are about finished, but I did plant for a late harvest of peas, pole beans, lettuce and Eight-ball squash. Peas and squash have popped up already. I really don't know if there will be enough season left for the beans to finish.
Tomato plants are huge and fruit set. Can't wait for them to grow bigger and ripen. I think I have some banana peppers to pick today, some beans, and most definitely zucchini. Who want some fresh, huge zucchini??? I can't believe my sisters were here and left without at least one each. Tonight I will make zucchini quiche and bread. Good thing Z. lasts a long time!
Loving the garden. The Lord has really blessed it this year. Love my sunflowers in the middle of it, too!
Tomato plants are huge and fruit set. Can't wait for them to grow bigger and ripen. I think I have some banana peppers to pick today, some beans, and most definitely zucchini. Who want some fresh, huge zucchini??? I can't believe my sisters were here and left without at least one each. Tonight I will make zucchini quiche and bread. Good thing Z. lasts a long time!
Loving the garden. The Lord has really blessed it this year. Love my sunflowers in the middle of it, too!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Joy........
Swaying in the hammock, dappled sunlight through the maple tree, birds calling one to another, gentle breeze, and my grand-daughter asleep on my chest..........
Cool quiet evening, contented steers with tails switching, pasture grass waving, and my baby, my beautiful daughter, in chore clothes and boots, singing.......on the wind comes to me lilting Celtic songs.........
Watching my beautiful, first-born daughter, mother her child. Her first born daughter. As my mother watched her first-born daughter mother her first-born daughter. Generations of first-born daughters...........I watch her mother, effortlessly. Naturally. With complete Love.
It brings me complete joy.
Thank you, Jesus.
Cool quiet evening, contented steers with tails switching, pasture grass waving, and my baby, my beautiful daughter, in chore clothes and boots, singing.......on the wind comes to me lilting Celtic songs.........
Watching my beautiful, first-born daughter, mother her child. Her first born daughter. As my mother watched her first-born daughter mother her first-born daughter. Generations of first-born daughters...........I watch her mother, effortlessly. Naturally. With complete Love.
It brings me complete joy.
Thank you, Jesus.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
June Farm Status
The end of June brings a green garden, and some of it is grass! I have harvested peas and a very few green beans. The volunteer zucchini plant is the biggest thing in the garden. We also have volunteer watermelon, tomatoes and basil. We've been eating lettuce from the garden all month, and I need to get my second crop sown today. My teeny-tiny tomato plants have taken off, but most of my home sown pepper plants are still on the small size. Potatoes haven't done well at all - will replant for a fall crop in a different spot and hope for better results. I still have a lot of work to do on the flower beds, they aren't looking so hot, but I've done a better job this year weeding in the veggies.
Abby is busy with training Ceres (steer) and Roscoe. They are both going to the fair! Abs is very excited about the fair this year. She will have items displayed in the FFA building and she'll have to work shifts in there, and has entered the zucchini competition. Oops, can't forget the turkeys! The four remaining hens look good. I don't know how she'll every lift them up on that table for the judging! She had a blast with the church youth group at Cedar Point and rode her first big roller coaster. A tremendous feat for the "car sick" girl!
Dan just took in the two heifers to the processor. Abby was at Cedar Point, so one of our beef customers came out to help Dan load them. He grew up a country boy and when Dan showed him around the woods, Chris found Ginseng there. I had no clue it was there, but I'll have to find it and share! (it's expensive in the store, isn't it?)
Abby is busy with training Ceres (steer) and Roscoe. They are both going to the fair! Abs is very excited about the fair this year. She will have items displayed in the FFA building and she'll have to work shifts in there, and has entered the zucchini competition. Oops, can't forget the turkeys! The four remaining hens look good. I don't know how she'll every lift them up on that table for the judging! She had a blast with the church youth group at Cedar Point and rode her first big roller coaster. A tremendous feat for the "car sick" girl!
Dan just took in the two heifers to the processor. Abby was at Cedar Point, so one of our beef customers came out to help Dan load them. He grew up a country boy and when Dan showed him around the woods, Chris found Ginseng there. I had no clue it was there, but I'll have to find it and share! (it's expensive in the store, isn't it?)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Vernal Pool Day
Today was fun! We had some homeschool kids, moms and one dad out to muck around in and investigate the vernal pool on our property. The kids found tadpoles, dragonfly larvae, and (eek) poison ivy! This is the second year we did this. Last year it was the end of April - and it was better then. The pool has dried up some and wasn't as deep.
Abby got her carrots in the garden (second time), also zucchini and watermelon. Yesterday, I put in my teeny, tiny roma tomato plants (6), multicolored bell peppers (4), and banana peppers (2). Beans are coming up and peas. Something is nibbling holes in my bean's leaves though. Tonight, I need to make up garlic spray to put on their leaves......hopefully, the critters do not like garlic.
This morning, the tile was laid in the keeping room for under the wood burner. Looks great. Tile-guy will be back in the morning to grout it. One step at a time.
Abby got her carrots in the garden (second time), also zucchini and watermelon. Yesterday, I put in my teeny, tiny roma tomato plants (6), multicolored bell peppers (4), and banana peppers (2). Beans are coming up and peas. Something is nibbling holes in my bean's leaves though. Tonight, I need to make up garlic spray to put on their leaves......hopefully, the critters do not like garlic.
This morning, the tile was laid in the keeping room for under the wood burner. Looks great. Tile-guy will be back in the morning to grout it. One step at a time.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day 2009
This morning I did some housekeeping until Dan brought home fixin's for potato salad, so I made that. Love potato salad - didn't so much enjoy the 1.5 hour making of it. Turned out yummy, though. We just had the three of us for a cook out.
It's really sad how this whole holiday is about cookouts...........I swore to myself that I would take Abby and go to a Memorial activity - one that actually memorialized those who have given their lives for our freedoms and protection. For the freedom and protection of people in other parts of the world. We didn't do it. I got wrapped up in the garden and my own enjoyment and basically forgot until Dan was praying before we ate.
He prayed for those still serving and was thankful for the sacrifice so many have given.
I'm sorry I didn't follow through on my plans. Does it count we are watching a PBS program about Memorial Day?
It's really sad how this whole holiday is about cookouts...........I swore to myself that I would take Abby and go to a Memorial activity - one that actually memorialized those who have given their lives for our freedoms and protection. For the freedom and protection of people in other parts of the world. We didn't do it. I got wrapped up in the garden and my own enjoyment and basically forgot until Dan was praying before we ate.
He prayed for those still serving and was thankful for the sacrifice so many have given.
I'm sorry I didn't follow through on my plans. Does it count we are watching a PBS program about Memorial Day?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Nice Day for Me
This morning was our Ladies Prayer Breakfast. We have it once a month and I love it! We take turns making breakfast for each other, meet at the church, share what's going on in our lives and hearts and then pray. I love these ladies. I know I'm still getting to know them all, and yet it seems as though they are old friends.
After I left the church, I called the Farm phone, Dan's phone and Abby's phone - no one answered, so I figured they were out moving the steers or playing tennis. (I decided to go to a furniture store instead of going home- checking out dual reclining sofas) Well, they weren't moving steers or playing tennis......they were BOTH on the roof cleaning gutters! Yikes! My 'baby' said after she got over being afraid, that it was really cool to see all the property from that vantage point. Then, she drove the riding mower and mowed our new fenced pasture, #8 (my previous backyard).
I came home and half-heartedly pulled a few weeds, stood in the hot sun, sweated and plotted ways I could go inside or sit in the shade instead.
Luckily for me, Dan decided we should get out of the heat for a few hours. I had told him about the sofas and he thought we should head to Mt. Vernon for sofa shopping (didn't buy), and early dinner (Ruby Tuesday's was good!), and a movie (the new Night at the Museum - funny, but certainly not as good as the first one).
The recap is: I didn't have to make any meals today, got to hang out with precious sisters in Christ, one of my kids, and generous hubbie......he's thinking we should get the leather sofa~yea!
After I left the church, I called the Farm phone, Dan's phone and Abby's phone - no one answered, so I figured they were out moving the steers or playing tennis. (I decided to go to a furniture store instead of going home- checking out dual reclining sofas) Well, they weren't moving steers or playing tennis......they were BOTH on the roof cleaning gutters! Yikes! My 'baby' said after she got over being afraid, that it was really cool to see all the property from that vantage point. Then, she drove the riding mower and mowed our new fenced pasture, #8 (my previous backyard).
I came home and half-heartedly pulled a few weeds, stood in the hot sun, sweated and plotted ways I could go inside or sit in the shade instead.
Luckily for me, Dan decided we should get out of the heat for a few hours. I had told him about the sofas and he thought we should head to Mt. Vernon for sofa shopping (didn't buy), and early dinner (Ruby Tuesday's was good!), and a movie (the new Night at the Museum - funny, but certainly not as good as the first one).
The recap is: I didn't have to make any meals today, got to hang out with precious sisters in Christ, one of my kids, and generous hubbie......he's thinking we should get the leather sofa~yea!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
First in 2009
Chestnut Hill Farm is getting busy. Dan has 6 steers and 2 heifers he is finishing for end of summer. He is busy planning the rotation schedule and moving them every 5-7 days, trying to keep up with the pasture growth. Abigail's poor fair steer has had bloat twice already. She is just hoping to get a healthy steer to the fair this year. She also joined in the turkey pool, and is raising 4 hens. (did have 5, one died in the second week) One will go to the fair and one to the Thanksgiving table. We had thought we would sell the others, but I think we should keep the other 2 for the freezer.
I haven't planted too much in the garden yet. Spinach, romaine, two other lettuces, peas, beans, and 32 potato plants. Abby is going to take about 1/4 of the garden for her own and has planted carrots, so far. She is planning celery, canning cukes, canteloupe and popcorn.
We are about plunge into some home renovations. We decided to replace the flooring, which lead to replacing the wood burner, which lead to replacing the roof. We are putting hardwoods in the living areas of the house, and carpet in the bedrooms, widening the doorway from the living room to the keeping room/kitchen by 16", put in a smaller, more efficient wood burner in the corner between the kitchen and back door (tile under that), and metal roof. (yikes! )
I haven't planted too much in the garden yet. Spinach, romaine, two other lettuces, peas, beans, and 32 potato plants. Abby is going to take about 1/4 of the garden for her own and has planted carrots, so far. She is planning celery, canning cukes, canteloupe and popcorn.
We are about plunge into some home renovations. We decided to replace the flooring, which lead to replacing the wood burner, which lead to replacing the roof. We are putting hardwoods in the living areas of the house, and carpet in the bedrooms, widening the doorway from the living room to the keeping room/kitchen by 16", put in a smaller, more efficient wood burner in the corner between the kitchen and back door (tile under that), and metal roof. (yikes! )
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2008 Comes to a close
I've neglected to post for a long, long time. This may be my only post in 2008! What a year! Betsy and Eric's firstborn came 12 weeks early. Violet Marilynn Miller came to our family on June 22nd, weighing 2 lbs. and 12 oz. She is now 6 months old and weighs 14 lbs.! God has blessed us in so many ways. Violet's growth and health, my continued health after receiving Dan's kidney almost 2 years ago, Dan's health with only one kidney, Abby starting her freshman year of high school, our wonderful farm, and the blessing of a tremendous, loving family and good friends. We found a Bible-believing, people-loving, God-focused, church in Mt. Vernon and are looking forward to becoming official members of this body in January.
Farm status at the end of the year - we have six steers that will finish out in the fall, Abby has her steer for the fair (Ceres, named after a dwarf planet), 2 rabbits (anyone want one?), two barn cats and one temporary indoor cat (Betsy & Eric's), and Abby's dog.
Plans for the spring - Get laying hens! Golly, I miss having my own eggs. We'll only get a half dozen. Just enough eggs for us and the family. Maybe sheep? I'm interested in the Shetland Sheep. We'll see.
So many things to plan for...garden...the last half of Abby's freshman year...cook outs...fun!
Farm status at the end of the year - we have six steers that will finish out in the fall, Abby has her steer for the fair (Ceres, named after a dwarf planet), 2 rabbits (anyone want one?), two barn cats and one temporary indoor cat (Betsy & Eric's), and Abby's dog.
Plans for the spring - Get laying hens! Golly, I miss having my own eggs. We'll only get a half dozen. Just enough eggs for us and the family. Maybe sheep? I'm interested in the Shetland Sheep. We'll see.
So many things to plan for...garden...the last half of Abby's freshman year...cook outs...fun!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
I'm back in 2008!
Currently, Chestnut Hill Farm is raising 5 Angus steers and 2 heifers for processing in September. (almost all sold already) Our daughter is raising her steer for the Hartford Fair in August. Abby is down to 2 rabbits, 2 cats and one dog. I am not keeping chickens now, but instead am purchasing eggs from a young 8 yr. old farmer at church. Abby will raise meat chickens for our family in August and September. I love having our own beef and chicken in our freezer. We also have some pork, raised by the nephew of our friends. Abby said she'd like to show a hog next year, so we'll probably have our own pork next year.
Garden is going well. I really started my seeds too late this year, but everything is growing. Yellow, white and red onions, 11 tomato plants (4 varieties), 9 pepper plants (3 varieties), potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, watermelon, carrots, romaine and bibb lettuce, bush beans and peas.
I need to plant a second harvest of lettuces. My spinach was destroyed by bugs. I hope it goes better this time. I will plant more carrots as well. I don't know why I didn't plant more than I did. I still need to get cucumber seeds and cantaloupe seeds in the ground. I'm tardy getting lots of things in the ground.
The apple trees and pear trees are doing their jobs. We aren't spraying, so they won't be pretty, but hopefully taste great. We had cherries this year! We were at the hospital a lot when they were ready, so we only got enough for one cherry pie. But, it was yummy! We look to have 3 varieties of grapes as well.
I love this farm. I am so thankful God has allowed us this blessing. My new favorite thing. Hanging my laundry out to dry on my new clothes line. Thanks to my dh. (dear husband) It's quiet when I go out to hang clothes. The gentle breeze, the fresh smell in the clothes. I only run the dryer once for 3-4 loads. I feel I'm stepping back in time.
Garden is going well. I really started my seeds too late this year, but everything is growing. Yellow, white and red onions, 11 tomato plants (4 varieties), 9 pepper plants (3 varieties), potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, watermelon, carrots, romaine and bibb lettuce, bush beans and peas.
I need to plant a second harvest of lettuces. My spinach was destroyed by bugs. I hope it goes better this time. I will plant more carrots as well. I don't know why I didn't plant more than I did. I still need to get cucumber seeds and cantaloupe seeds in the ground. I'm tardy getting lots of things in the ground.
The apple trees and pear trees are doing their jobs. We aren't spraying, so they won't be pretty, but hopefully taste great. We had cherries this year! We were at the hospital a lot when they were ready, so we only got enough for one cherry pie. But, it was yummy! We look to have 3 varieties of grapes as well.
I love this farm. I am so thankful God has allowed us this blessing. My new favorite thing. Hanging my laundry out to dry on my new clothes line. Thanks to my dh. (dear husband) It's quiet when I go out to hang clothes. The gentle breeze, the fresh smell in the clothes. I only run the dryer once for 3-4 loads. I feel I'm stepping back in time.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Mucking Out
Yesterday Dan was home and he, Abby & I "spring cleaned" the barn. This included mucking out the chicken coop where the hens are, the chicken tractor & barn area where the broilers were, and under the rabbits cages. We moved a few rabbit cages to make room for the new broilers that are coming tomorrow, and rearranged where we keep some equipment. Swept out the coop and barn, and sanitized with bleachwater the coop, chicken tractor, and parts of the barn. All the manure and straw went into the back of his new truck and we dumped it behind the pature at the back of the property - Our first composting manure pile!
This weekend we had a divider fence put in down the center of our pasture, when the grass really starts coming on, we will start our paddock rotation.
We have our potatoes and onions in the garden, and the rest of the garden has the raised beds made and mounds ready for planting. Dan bought me a light system and I have started some things from seed. In our garden, we will have the onions, potatoes, lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, pumpkins, cantaloupe, zucchini, and cucumbers. Did I leave anything out?
This weekend we had a divider fence put in down the center of our pasture, when the grass really starts coming on, we will start our paddock rotation.
We have our potatoes and onions in the garden, and the rest of the garden has the raised beds made and mounds ready for planting. Dan bought me a light system and I have started some things from seed. In our garden, we will have the onions, potatoes, lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, pumpkins, cantaloupe, zucchini, and cucumbers. Did I leave anything out?
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Exciting day/week coming
Tomorrow, two Red Angus steers join our herd of two - wow, we are doubling quickly....
And, and Wednesday, 30 broilers - we sold out of meat chickens and are ready to raise some more.
And, and Wednesday, 30 broilers - we sold out of meat chickens and are ready to raise some more.
Another Lesson Learned
Ok - so even if the ashes you took from the wood burner have sat all day in the bucket out back, it's still not a good idea to toss them onto the compost pile full of straw and manure and walk away. Thankfully, Abby and I noticed the billowing smoke coming from the pile and were able to put out the very, very, small fire with 4 gallons of water and some snow. Dan has way too much fun telling this story...
A Horrible Day for Wendy
I'm writing this retrospectively, because it's funny now, and I want to remember it. On last Friday, I took Dan's truck and went to pick up Abby's new 4-H projects. Three Californian meat rabbits, and cages. When I arrived back at the farm and unloaded the rabbits, I saw "Hamburger" and "Steak" waiting for me to notice that they hadn't any hay and were hungry. I threw half a bay over the fence, but they were on the wrong side of the barn and couldn't figure out where I put it, I guess. So, I grabbed a flake and was leading them around the barn to the pile and came upon one of my beloved Rhode Island Red layers, dead and ripped open. I started to cry a bit, even while I had a conversation with myself about living in the country, and knowing this would happen sometime, and the fact that this is the only one we've lost in a year, and it's to be expected. Then the cows stopped to see what it was and they wouldn't leave it be. This upset me more, I'm yelling at them to leave her alone, and I know they aren't going to eat her or anything, but it bugged me they wouldn't come along to their hay. I'm getting a bit distraught, when one cow pushed the other away from it so hard, he fell over and rolled onto his back. "Cow tipping, by cows?", Aaron said. Yes, it was. So, I sneak in there to grab the hen by a toe, and I'm totally saddened and creeped out that she is still warm and soft. This JUST happened to her, and I feel I let it happen, that I wasn't there to protect her and all she ever did was give us beautiful, healthy eggs - she didn't deserve it - again, I know this it to be expected, but..anyway, the cows both come at me quickly, because they still want to smell it. I tossed her into a corral they couldn't get in, and then they went to eat hay. I'm still crying and go to unload the cages so I can get the rabbits out of their travel cage and Mr. Rooster attacks me. Again, and again, and again. Coming at me, trying to peck me and run up my legs, his feathers are up higher than I ever thought possible. I'm trying to be understanding, he obviously still feels threatened and is trying to protect his flock from whatever got the hen (we believe it was a chicken hawk) by now I'm almost hysterical, because I can't get away from the rooster, and I'm yelling to him, "I know your upset! I'm upset too!", finally after kicking him a few times, I'm able to get away from him. I go to the house and call Dan for comfort. The rooster calmed down, I penned them back up in their fenced area, I unloaded the cages, and got the rabbits set up.
When Dan came home the next day, he said, "We really need to work on your level of reaction to death. By your reaction on the phone, I thought maybe you were telling me my dad died, or your mom, or maybe Tammy was decapitated or something - you need to bring it down a notch or two for chickens......" Thanks Dan...
When Dan came home the next day, he said, "We really need to work on your level of reaction to death. By your reaction on the phone, I thought maybe you were telling me my dad died, or your mom, or maybe Tammy was decapitated or something - you need to bring it down a notch or two for chickens......" Thanks Dan...
Monday, January 23, 2006
planning for steer making
Yesterday, Dan went to Jamie's farm (the guy we bought our cows from) and helped him separate cows and their young, and move breedable stock in with the bull. Well, they tried moving the bull and he wasn't interested. When a several thousand pound bull bucks and fights with you, apparently, you leave him be.
Jamie lent us a few 12 foot gates and Dan has set them up in the barnyard pasture in the form of a small corral, using the barn as part of the enclosure. One side is open and that is where we will feed them hay and water them for a while. We need them to get used to going into the enclosure because soon it will be time for banding them - make them into steers.
They are starting to get rough with each other. The one tagged w/#11 (or Hamburger, as Abby named him) got his tag torn out of his ear at some point, I assume when they were 'rasslin-round' with each other. They are sometimes pretty interested in the "gal-cow" next door.
Dan cleaned some of this things off of shelving we had in the barn. I'm going to put the shelving in side my back glass door and start a little greenhouse. I definitely want to be more in control this year of when I have my garden coming in. As in NOT all at once! Hoping to fine-tune my salsa recipe and take a run at selling more of that. So, I need to dig into my garden plans and the seed books and get some decisions made about that. Also, need to get going on my research about what to do with my apple trees. They need severe help! And the grape vine...........so much to do - But, still having fun! Thank you, Lord!
Jamie lent us a few 12 foot gates and Dan has set them up in the barnyard pasture in the form of a small corral, using the barn as part of the enclosure. One side is open and that is where we will feed them hay and water them for a while. We need them to get used to going into the enclosure because soon it will be time for banding them - make them into steers.
They are starting to get rough with each other. The one tagged w/#11 (or Hamburger, as Abby named him) got his tag torn out of his ear at some point, I assume when they were 'rasslin-round' with each other. They are sometimes pretty interested in the "gal-cow" next door.
Dan cleaned some of this things off of shelving we had in the barn. I'm going to put the shelving in side my back glass door and start a little greenhouse. I definitely want to be more in control this year of when I have my garden coming in. As in NOT all at once! Hoping to fine-tune my salsa recipe and take a run at selling more of that. So, I need to dig into my garden plans and the seed books and get some decisions made about that. Also, need to get going on my research about what to do with my apple trees. They need severe help! And the grape vine...........so much to do - But, still having fun! Thank you, Lord!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Old Farmers
I love old farmers! I love to see them working in the fields, driving their huge machines down the road (except when I'm in a hurry behind them!) or walking out to get their mail. I am jealous of their knowledge and years of experience. I can't wait until we are 'old farmers' and when we know a thing or two - as opposed to now....Reading on every subject, asking opinions from those who have gone before, trying, failing or succeeding, then trying again. But that part is fun, too!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
the tears won't stop
One of Molly's children died at Montana de Luz. She loved him very much. He fought pain and sickness so much of his young life. There is no pain now for him. Only for those left behind. The pain of mourning mixed with the joy of KNOWING Deybi is now being held in Jesus arms. And I am jealous. No more suffering, or confusion of this life. No more battles. Only peace, love and joy. Only the Father's love.
Forgive me, Father, for being so discontent with what I have. I am so blessed.
Forgive me, Father, for being so discontent with what I have. I am so blessed.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Thanks, Lord
Thanks, Lord, for keeping the trash truck away until I could get the trash down to the road today. (wish Nancy could call me on Monday mornings and remind me, Kelly!)
Thanks, Lord, for when a lady I met at the store followed me home to buy our eggs, that the chickens were out pecking the ground (in the snow, which they never do) looking happy and healthy.
Thanks, Lord, for protecting Dan and Tommy from any serious injury (small 2nd degree burn on the side of his face) during Sunday's fire run.
Thanks, Lord, for Dan's Luitentent (spell check not picking this up) who is "all tore up" about the guys getting hurt, and cares so much, calls to tell me he's sorry he let me down.
Thanks, Lord, for a creative daughter who, instead of pouting over not getting a tree this year (because we are going to SC) makes a 6' tree out of posterboard and copies some of our ornaments onto paper to make it seem like our tree (even made the tree stand!)
Thanks, Lord, for your Word. Help me to hide it in my heart, all day long.
Thanks, Lord, for when a lady I met at the store followed me home to buy our eggs, that the chickens were out pecking the ground (in the snow, which they never do) looking happy and healthy.
Thanks, Lord, for protecting Dan and Tommy from any serious injury (small 2nd degree burn on the side of his face) during Sunday's fire run.
Thanks, Lord, for Dan's Luitentent (spell check not picking this up) who is "all tore up" about the guys getting hurt, and cares so much, calls to tell me he's sorry he let me down.
Thanks, Lord, for a creative daughter who, instead of pouting over not getting a tree this year (because we are going to SC) makes a 6' tree out of posterboard and copies some of our ornaments onto paper to make it seem like our tree (even made the tree stand!)
Thanks, Lord, for your Word. Help me to hide it in my heart, all day long.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Behind the Couch
I just cleaned behind the couch:
11 assorted socks,
a foldable ruler,
2 pompons,
crumpled up comic strip,
stuffed hamster,
headband,
and dust, of course....
Dan has a habit of taking off his socks while laying on the couch and hanging them off the back of the couch. Inevitably, Dan and Abby will start winging them at each other, and they end up behind the couch. So when Dan runs low on socks, I head to the couch!
Dan and I were out at 7 am today, coaxing Steak & Hamburger back into their pen. I watched them "break-out" yesterday, but due to our schedule, had to leave them be until this morning. Since they had no treats yesterday, they were more than willing to follow Dan back in where they belong.
Thank You, Lord for a terrific mom-in-love! She is always wonderful, but without her help this coming week, I couldn't go help my mom and dad in their store. And great friends are helping as well.
11 assorted socks,
a foldable ruler,
2 pompons,
crumpled up comic strip,
stuffed hamster,
headband,
and dust, of course....
Dan has a habit of taking off his socks while laying on the couch and hanging them off the back of the couch. Inevitably, Dan and Abby will start winging them at each other, and they end up behind the couch. So when Dan runs low on socks, I head to the couch!
Dan and I were out at 7 am today, coaxing Steak & Hamburger back into their pen. I watched them "break-out" yesterday, but due to our schedule, had to leave them be until this morning. Since they had no treats yesterday, they were more than willing to follow Dan back in where they belong.
Thank You, Lord for a terrific mom-in-love! She is always wonderful, but without her help this coming week, I couldn't go help my mom and dad in their store. And great friends are helping as well.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
I'm Back, FINALLY
After almost 4 weeks off-line, I'm finally back. In the beginning, it was frustrating knowing I was missing my connection to the world and information. In the end, it was nice. I missed some things and activities, but my life was calmer and easier to manage. The only thing I was missing were my family and friends.
New on the farm: We have two 6 month old bulls (yet to be castrated), Black Angus - Abby named them Cheeseburger and Steak. They are tagged though and we usually end up calling them #11 and #2. They can be very cute in the face, but mostly, in the last week have been very ornery. We have a strong perimeter electric fence, but within that fencing we are feeding them on a pasture rotation schedule. Well, they don't seem to want to stay in there. We've spent more time trying to get them back in (begging, pleading, coaxing, bribing with alfalfa cubes, sorta rounding them up - you can guess how much help Tucker is!) and fixing the fence up. This morning when we woke up they were still in the fencing. We decided to run another hot wire lower down, and by the time I was bundled up - they had gotten out! Dan was at the station, so I decided to forget it for a while until they wandered closer to the fence. A few hours later they were, so I shut the power off, carried the wire and cutters and tempting alfalfa in a pail down to them, unhooked the wire, sloowwly coaxed them in the pen, reattached the old wire, ran new wire, switched on the power, tested the line, gave them a small amount of hay, more water and prayed for the best. And THANK YOU, Lord!, they are still in the pen! I really think #2 has figured out if he get out, he eventually gets alfalfa cubes...
We had a beautiful 50 degree day, so we cleaned up the garage, Abby cleaned up after her rabbits and I cleaned out my chickens. After I was done in the chicken coop, I got "Scweaker" the 4 month old bunny out of her cage, pulled a chair over in front of the coop, put my dirty, boot clad feet up on a straw bale and enjoyed holding the bunny and watching my "girls" (chickens) come into the coop and rearrange the freshly applied straw to their liking. Thank you, Lord for this place. Thanking him for this opportunity. Praying we'll use it for His Glory. I still can't believe we are here!
I am getting so much egg business now, I am going to have to double my layers for the spring!
New on the farm: We have two 6 month old bulls (yet to be castrated), Black Angus - Abby named them Cheeseburger and Steak. They are tagged though and we usually end up calling them #11 and #2. They can be very cute in the face, but mostly, in the last week have been very ornery. We have a strong perimeter electric fence, but within that fencing we are feeding them on a pasture rotation schedule. Well, they don't seem to want to stay in there. We've spent more time trying to get them back in (begging, pleading, coaxing, bribing with alfalfa cubes, sorta rounding them up - you can guess how much help Tucker is!) and fixing the fence up. This morning when we woke up they were still in the fencing. We decided to run another hot wire lower down, and by the time I was bundled up - they had gotten out! Dan was at the station, so I decided to forget it for a while until they wandered closer to the fence. A few hours later they were, so I shut the power off, carried the wire and cutters and tempting alfalfa in a pail down to them, unhooked the wire, sloowwly coaxed them in the pen, reattached the old wire, ran new wire, switched on the power, tested the line, gave them a small amount of hay, more water and prayed for the best. And THANK YOU, Lord!, they are still in the pen! I really think #2 has figured out if he get out, he eventually gets alfalfa cubes...
We had a beautiful 50 degree day, so we cleaned up the garage, Abby cleaned up after her rabbits and I cleaned out my chickens. After I was done in the chicken coop, I got "Scweaker" the 4 month old bunny out of her cage, pulled a chair over in front of the coop, put my dirty, boot clad feet up on a straw bale and enjoyed holding the bunny and watching my "girls" (chickens) come into the coop and rearrange the freshly applied straw to their liking. Thank you, Lord for this place. Thanking him for this opportunity. Praying we'll use it for His Glory. I still can't believe we are here!
I am getting so much egg business now, I am going to have to double my layers for the spring!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)