Yea! I have laying hens again! It's been 3 years since an egg has been layed in our coop, and I've missed it! Very quickly, Dan built three hole nesting box, I found a family selling Rhode Island Reds in Granville and Saturday I went and picked up six layers. They probably think they won the lottery: now having so much space and so little competition and especially, no rooster to bother them (yet!). Dan found one egg layed on the floor of the coop this morning and when Abigail and I got home this evening, we found one in the nesting box. I anticipate 3-4 eggs a day, once they have adjusted to their new surroundings.
Lots of snow still piled up. Maybe two feet total? It's still pretty. I'd be OK with it if we just didn't get anymore...
Excited for spring. We've had a few mild days. Time to look at seed catalogues~
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Snow
It began snowing here at 11:30 a.m. yesterday. It came down hard and fast. Seemed like we got 6" in 6 hours. Dan shoveled around 5 and then again at 7. This morning, we have no less than 6 more inches. Too bad for Abigail and me that Dan is at the station today. We are on shovel duty now! My neighbor measures precipitation for the weather bureau and she told me this morning we received 14" - and it is still coming down a bit. Last night, it was so beautiful.....heavy on the trees. I should have taken pics then. We have a good wind going so it's blown off the trees now, mostly. I still took some pics today.
Abby is getting all her trails made. When we have snow, she has a path from the garage to the barn and the barn to the pasture (up to her fair steer) and from there along the house to the garage. Once she gets the paths tread down, it's not so hard getting around.
My daughter's morning: starts with bundling up (this includes putting on her headphones for her MP3, carhart coveralls and her 'gator' - a face covering that looks JUST like the headgear they put on Hanibal Lector in that movie....yikes!), filling 3-4 gallon jugs with water and carrying them and grain up to her steer, (his name is Seifer) feed and water him, give him hay from a bale she keeps up there, hook up the hose for the 8 steers we have and fill their water tank (if the faucet or some of the hose is frozen, she has to pour hot water over it till it melts), climbs in their hay feeder to tear the center core of the bale apart for them and push it to the edges (they are still little and can't get to the center of the feeder), drain the hose, carry from the barn enough wood for the day (this will be several loads, she can use the wheel barrow, except not through 14" of snow!), and today....shovel.
Since I'm snowbound today, I'm hoping to get through all my paperwork and carve out enough time to make some seed decisions and order with a friend from Seed of Change........Spring's a comin'!
I forgot to post about that ornery steer that got into our neighbor's pasture. A couple of Sunday's ago, we were ready to go to church and Dan saw that steer was again in the neighbor's pasture! And, this time he took a friend! So, off with the church clothes, and on with the farm clothes. We loaded up cattle panels to make a small corral and the trailer and headed on over. Multiple thanks to the Lord: It wasn't snowing and freezing - only raining (much easier to get around and not as cold), they moved easier as a small 'herd', than when it was only one, and it only took half the time to get the job done than last time. We were so thankful!
When we got them back, we changed the pasture set up so they are insulated with our other pastures and that's where they will hopefully stay. So far, no other fence jumping episodes!
And, that ornery steer....it's a heifer. A she, not a he. Does that surprise me?? Abigail was watching the herd closely one day and two of the animals are girls. (they pee from under their tails...) we just never looked closely before.
Abby is getting all her trails made. When we have snow, she has a path from the garage to the barn and the barn to the pasture (up to her fair steer) and from there along the house to the garage. Once she gets the paths tread down, it's not so hard getting around.
My daughter's morning: starts with bundling up (this includes putting on her headphones for her MP3, carhart coveralls and her 'gator' - a face covering that looks JUST like the headgear they put on Hanibal Lector in that movie....yikes!), filling 3-4 gallon jugs with water and carrying them and grain up to her steer, (his name is Seifer) feed and water him, give him hay from a bale she keeps up there, hook up the hose for the 8 steers we have and fill their water tank (if the faucet or some of the hose is frozen, she has to pour hot water over it till it melts), climbs in their hay feeder to tear the center core of the bale apart for them and push it to the edges (they are still little and can't get to the center of the feeder), drain the hose, carry from the barn enough wood for the day (this will be several loads, she can use the wheel barrow, except not through 14" of snow!), and today....shovel.
Since I'm snowbound today, I'm hoping to get through all my paperwork and carve out enough time to make some seed decisions and order with a friend from Seed of Change........Spring's a comin'!
I forgot to post about that ornery steer that got into our neighbor's pasture. A couple of Sunday's ago, we were ready to go to church and Dan saw that steer was again in the neighbor's pasture! And, this time he took a friend! So, off with the church clothes, and on with the farm clothes. We loaded up cattle panels to make a small corral and the trailer and headed on over. Multiple thanks to the Lord: It wasn't snowing and freezing - only raining (much easier to get around and not as cold), they moved easier as a small 'herd', than when it was only one, and it only took half the time to get the job done than last time. We were so thankful!
When we got them back, we changed the pasture set up so they are insulated with our other pastures and that's where they will hopefully stay. So far, no other fence jumping episodes!
And, that ornery steer....it's a heifer. A she, not a he. Does that surprise me?? Abigail was watching the herd closely one day and two of the animals are girls. (they pee from under their tails...) we just never looked closely before.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Abigail is the Awesome Farmgirl!
Today it's time to load up one steer from our backyard pasture and the heifer we purchased from our neighbor's pasture. We've been fattening them up with a bit of grain the last month and they've been bonding over the fence as they are both alone in their respective pastures.
We headed out at 8:30 this morning to load up the one on our property. Last week, Dan parked the trailer outside the fence, then he and Abigail made a chute with the cattle gates we have. The idea is to feed him just inside the chute area, close the fence gate behind him and crowd him into the trailer. That's the idea, anyway. This steer is jumpy. Always has been. Probably didn't help that we sold off his friends and left him to his own devices. (of course, if he wouldn't have been so skimpy at the time, he would have already gone) To make a long story, even longer..... He won't go in. We encourage him, we try to bribe him in. Dan is shaking his feed, giving him a taste and trying to lead him in. We are patient. Then, we get impatient and we try to herd him in. He goes nuts, spins around, slips and rolls on his back. We go away and leave the food in there, thinking he might walk in eventually and then Dan will sneak around the house and shut the gate.
We hang out in the garage, out of site. Abigail decides to go feed her fair steer, Seifer. As she leaves with hay for him, I said to her, maybe the Crazy Steer would go in the chute for the hay. She tells me, "No, he wouldn't do it just for hay." Dan and I are freezing.....did I mention it is about 20 degrees out AND windy??? We decide to go inside and wait him out. I feel guilty that Dan and I are inside and warm, but Abs is outside freezing with Seifer. I go to the window to wave her in, and see her putting down tiny piles of hay for Crazy Steer, leading him toward the chute. Slowly, slowly he is following her through the pasture. (She later told me, she never said a word to him the whole time) Because of the position of the chute and deck, Dan and I can only follow her progress through the upper left hand corner of the kitchen window. Abby is in the chute and the steer is almost in. Dan heads out to sneak around the house and hopes to shut the gate behind Crazy. He and I are on the cell phones so I can keep him updated on the steers position. (Abby doesn't even know if we are watching this whole thing or not). The steer backs all the way out. Dan comes back in and says that was when the steer saw him and he doesn't know how he can get it shut.
Abby leads him back in and we just watch from the window. Well, Dan watches and narrates the scene for me. "She's inching past the steer, she's behind him, she's slowly untying the rope for the gate, she's shutting the gate, and she is AWESOME!" Quote from Dan! We then gave her enthusiastic thumbs up through the window; of course, she tried to act nonchalant about it - until the grin broke through!
We went on to load the heifer next door, which took awhile - but, not nearly as long as Crazy Steer. Abigail's part in loading the heifer was, again, crucial.......but, this post is too long to describe that.
My desire in posting all this is to document Dan saying, "She is AWESOME!"
We headed out at 8:30 this morning to load up the one on our property. Last week, Dan parked the trailer outside the fence, then he and Abigail made a chute with the cattle gates we have. The idea is to feed him just inside the chute area, close the fence gate behind him and crowd him into the trailer. That's the idea, anyway. This steer is jumpy. Always has been. Probably didn't help that we sold off his friends and left him to his own devices. (of course, if he wouldn't have been so skimpy at the time, he would have already gone) To make a long story, even longer..... He won't go in. We encourage him, we try to bribe him in. Dan is shaking his feed, giving him a taste and trying to lead him in. We are patient. Then, we get impatient and we try to herd him in. He goes nuts, spins around, slips and rolls on his back. We go away and leave the food in there, thinking he might walk in eventually and then Dan will sneak around the house and shut the gate.
We hang out in the garage, out of site. Abigail decides to go feed her fair steer, Seifer. As she leaves with hay for him, I said to her, maybe the Crazy Steer would go in the chute for the hay. She tells me, "No, he wouldn't do it just for hay." Dan and I are freezing.....did I mention it is about 20 degrees out AND windy??? We decide to go inside and wait him out. I feel guilty that Dan and I are inside and warm, but Abs is outside freezing with Seifer. I go to the window to wave her in, and see her putting down tiny piles of hay for Crazy Steer, leading him toward the chute. Slowly, slowly he is following her through the pasture. (She later told me, she never said a word to him the whole time) Because of the position of the chute and deck, Dan and I can only follow her progress through the upper left hand corner of the kitchen window. Abby is in the chute and the steer is almost in. Dan heads out to sneak around the house and hopes to shut the gate behind Crazy. He and I are on the cell phones so I can keep him updated on the steers position. (Abby doesn't even know if we are watching this whole thing or not). The steer backs all the way out. Dan comes back in and says that was when the steer saw him and he doesn't know how he can get it shut.
Abby leads him back in and we just watch from the window. Well, Dan watches and narrates the scene for me. "She's inching past the steer, she's behind him, she's slowly untying the rope for the gate, she's shutting the gate, and she is AWESOME!" Quote from Dan! We then gave her enthusiastic thumbs up through the window; of course, she tried to act nonchalant about it - until the grin broke through!
We went on to load the heifer next door, which took awhile - but, not nearly as long as Crazy Steer. Abigail's part in loading the heifer was, again, crucial.......but, this post is too long to describe that.
My desire in posting all this is to document Dan saying, "She is AWESOME!"
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Sewing Accomplished
With having extra time at home, I've finally managed to get a few sewing projects accomplished. First, I had this small needlepoint project to do. The poem says: Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do or Do Without. I sewed some homespun scraps around the edges and will finish it with a wooden frame that was my Aunt Sharon's. Mom had it for a long time, but gave it to me recently. I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Second, I FINALLY patched a pair of Betsy's jeans and also inserted a piece of matching fabric at the hem on a pant leg. She only asked me to do it about 4 months ago.
Third, I made cute, lightweight curtains for my kitchen window out of a homespun print. Tabs at the top and they are hanging! Although, I'm still not finished there, because I want to make a simple valance to complete the job.
I wish I could sew every day and I love this saying: My day is not complete, till needle, thread and fabric meet.
Second, I FINALLY patched a pair of Betsy's jeans and also inserted a piece of matching fabric at the hem on a pant leg. She only asked me to do it about 4 months ago.
Third, I made cute, lightweight curtains for my kitchen window out of a homespun print. Tabs at the top and they are hanging! Although, I'm still not finished there, because I want to make a simple valance to complete the job.
I wish I could sew every day and I love this saying: My day is not complete, till needle, thread and fabric meet.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
November 2009
Thanksgiving was quiet. Dan was at the station and since I can't drive yet, Abby and I stayed home. Hernia surgery was on the 18th and that went well. Recovery from the pain has been quicker than I anticipated, but I still won't be able to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk till Jan. 4th. That includes my granddaughter. There is a very sad Nana here. Friday after Thanksgiving we had our first snow! It didn't last, of course, but it was pretty. Saturday, Dan and Abby picked up 8 steers. They will be finished in about a year. They look good and so did Dan, bringing them home. He really gets a kick out of raising steers.
I'm so thankful God provided this place for us to live and finish raising our family. Oh, and very thankful for our church family, who has fed us well since the surgery.
I'm so thankful God provided this place for us to live and finish raising our family. Oh, and very thankful for our church family, who has fed us well since the surgery.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Stinky
FYI. Just in case your dog ever comes suddenly upon a skunk, keep hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on hand. Mix 1 quart peroxide with 1/4 cup baking soda and a tsp. of dish soap. Soak this mix into your dog's coat. It works! We will do one more treatment today for the lingering, residual scent still lurking, but he was unstinked enough to let sleep in the basement last night.
Monday, September 28, 2009
End of Harvest
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.
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.
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...
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