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| The new 15 making themselves at home. |
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The arrival of our 2011 steers & heifers!
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| 15 head of cattle. The highest number we have purchased at one time! January 2011 |
Chestnut Hill Farm Blog
I'm changing my personal blog into our farm blog. In the near future, I'll be posting information about our farm; why and how we do what we do. Basically, our mission statement is to raise and provide healthy food for our family and help other families do the same by providing a local, sustainable source from which to purchase beef and chicken. Yes, we are going to start selling chicken again! Check back with us soon!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, June 13, 2010
one of the few UNrainy days
Seems like it rains almost everyday. This morning it was gray and yucky feeling. Dan had worked all night and hadn't gotten much sleep and Violet had thrown up yesterday in my car (yuck..poor baby) so, we decided to stay home from church today. Dan and Violet both napped in the a.m. and then Vi went home.
She was hysterically laughing when I sneezed - big kid belly laughs! Very cute. Then she'd laugh at me laughing at her. This was during her bath and it seemed like the best time she'd had all day (post-puking)
Dan, Abigail and I went to a grad party for a fireman's son. Then, we headed home for some late evening chores. The garden is growing, with lots of weeds, too. We've had so much rain that some of the seeds I planted have either rotted or been washed away. Tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) I will get some more seeds in the garden. I mowed some of the yard while Dan trimmed under the pasture fencing.
She was hysterically laughing when I sneezed - big kid belly laughs! Very cute. Then she'd laugh at me laughing at her. This was during her bath and it seemed like the best time she'd had all day (post-puking)
Dan, Abigail and I went to a grad party for a fireman's son. Then, we headed home for some late evening chores. The garden is growing, with lots of weeds, too. We've had so much rain that some of the seeds I planted have either rotted or been washed away. Tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) I will get some more seeds in the garden. I mowed some of the yard while Dan trimmed under the pasture fencing.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Beautiful Day
Today it was sunny and mid-80's. They say it was 10 degrees higher than the normal for today. I had stayed up late last night working on my garden plan and finished it up when I had Abby at piano lessons.
Anyway, I managed to get outside this morning before leaving at 10 and re-hoed row 4 and weeded the 3 heirloom lettuces and the peas. So far as I can tell, the Spinach didn't germinate at all. It was from last year or before, so I think I'll just pitch them and replant another variety.
Abby drove to piano and then to school (going through the drive-thru for the first time) and then later drove home and then home from 4-H this evening. She drove a total of 2 hours and 15 min. I think that gives her a total of 16.5 driving hours. Tomorrow is her second "in-cars" and I know she's still nervous about driving in a different car with the instructor.
I stopped up at the house up the road to get some Roma Tomatoes, but they didn't have any at all. He said Roma seeds were scarce this year. I did get a four pack of cherry tomato plants, banana peppers, red bell peppers, lots of marigolds, and 2 four packs of shade plants. Hopefully, I will get them in the ground tomorrow morning. And, get seeds in the ground. I really need to do that!
4 eggs today from my hens. Abby's turkeys are getting big. Dan mowed the barnyard pasture and pasture 6 to the woods, then he let the steers back in to clean up the cut grass.
Anyway, I managed to get outside this morning before leaving at 10 and re-hoed row 4 and weeded the 3 heirloom lettuces and the peas. So far as I can tell, the Spinach didn't germinate at all. It was from last year or before, so I think I'll just pitch them and replant another variety.
Abby drove to piano and then to school (going through the drive-thru for the first time) and then later drove home and then home from 4-H this evening. She drove a total of 2 hours and 15 min. I think that gives her a total of 16.5 driving hours. Tomorrow is her second "in-cars" and I know she's still nervous about driving in a different car with the instructor.
I stopped up at the house up the road to get some Roma Tomatoes, but they didn't have any at all. He said Roma seeds were scarce this year. I did get a four pack of cherry tomato plants, banana peppers, red bell peppers, lots of marigolds, and 2 four packs of shade plants. Hopefully, I will get them in the ground tomorrow morning. And, get seeds in the ground. I really need to do that!
4 eggs today from my hens. Abby's turkeys are getting big. Dan mowed the barnyard pasture and pasture 6 to the woods, then he let the steers back in to clean up the cut grass.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday, May 23
Today was a beautiful, sunny, Sunday. After all the rain we had, I was happy to have sun and even the heat. 80 some degrees today. Dan had to paint today. After church, Abigail hoed the entire garden for me and I mowed. I put six bags of grass clippings in the barn to dry for Seifer. Abigail planted her flower seeds in the bed that has the strawberry plants.
The strawberry plants loved all the rain. It looks like I have 22 plants! Before the days of rain, I thought only 12 were going to make it! Thanks, God.
I got the 4 heirloom tomato plantsand two hot pepper plants in the garden that I bought from Millie. I planted two areas with marigold seeds.
We cooked out burgers (CHB) and brats (Ursich hog)...yum. Ate at the picnic table under the oak tree.
Abby's hair still looked good from the Celtic Ball last night. She and Kolton had a good time.
The strawberry plants loved all the rain. It looks like I have 22 plants! Before the days of rain, I thought only 12 were going to make it! Thanks, God.
I got the 4 heirloom tomato plantsand two hot pepper plants in the garden that I bought from Millie. I planted two areas with marigold seeds.
We cooked out burgers (CHB) and brats (Ursich hog)...yum. Ate at the picnic table under the oak tree.
Abby's hair still looked good from the Celtic Ball last night. She and Kolton had a good time.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Love that Lilac aroma
Dan helped me trim up some of the trees. I brought in branches of the Red Bud tree and they have made a spectacular display in the keeping room on the end of the piano. Abby had her turkeys outside. They basically huddled in the corner together. The hens, the "girls", gave me only 4 eggs yesterday and 4 today. Hopefully, 6 will appear tomorrow. Had to wait for them to lay a few before I could make cookies. I used Mom's chocolate chip recipe, but substituted 3 cups of whole wheat flour for the all-purpose flour. The end result was definitely different, but still yummy.
Today, Abigail and I went to Molly's for Spanish and to see their pullets. Then, Abs drove from Molly's to school. The longest trip yet for her, I think. She'll start driving classes soon.
Betsy brought Violet up. She was SO cute. Vi's at that age where she picks up every little scrap off the floor and brings it to you. Walking around the farm she's decided to pick up all the sticks. That's cool with me! We got out the wheelbarrow and she filled it up with all the sticks laying around after the winter. Later, she pushed Betsy and me on the hammock. I think they call that Child Labor.
I cut some of the purple Lilac and filled two mason jars. Heavenly Sweet Aroma!
Today, Abigail and I went to Molly's for Spanish and to see their pullets. Then, Abs drove from Molly's to school. The longest trip yet for her, I think. She'll start driving classes soon.
Betsy brought Violet up. She was SO cute. Vi's at that age where she picks up every little scrap off the floor and brings it to you. Walking around the farm she's decided to pick up all the sticks. That's cool with me! We got out the wheelbarrow and she filled it up with all the sticks laying around after the winter. Later, she pushed Betsy and me on the hammock. I think they call that Child Labor.
I cut some of the purple Lilac and filled two mason jars. Heavenly Sweet Aroma!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
March 2010
Today I planted my first crop of lettuce for this year. 3 Heirloom varieties and spinach left over from last year. Last week I did get in some of my onion sets. Need to plant my peas tomorrow and maybe some green onions.
We made a structural change to the garden this year and I think it's going to be the best deal yet. Dan used the tractor tiller and made 5 garden rows that are 42" wide. He left enough space between the rows for the riding mover to get through. No more weeding the walkways! or trying to keep enough newspaper and straw down to keep out the weeds!
I have 6 Rhode Island Red hens and one Cochin rooster. I was happy to purchase the hens at about 9 mos. old, and laying. It was great! Unloaded them into the chicken coop Saturday and by Sunday, I had my own fresh eggs! The rooster was purchased from a lady that shows Cochin birds. Even though he wasn't good enough for her to keep to show, he is perfectly beautiful to us. Abigail named him "Higgy-Baby" after Higgins in Magnum P.I. He certainly looks pompus and pretentious, but is gentle and takes good care of his ladies.
Abigail has 5 tom turkeys, about 1 month old. In August, she will take two of them to the fair. So far, her project is going really well. They are growing and enjoying the turkey run that Dan built for them in the barn. Abs said she might put them out tomorrow for the first time.
Dan is busy working on clearing the new property. He'd like to have it ready for cattle by fall. Yesterday, he made three trips to the salvage yard with truckloads of old stuff left on the property years ago. There are still many more trips to be made. He sure works hard. He had a painting job today, and after that he went over to the property and was working again. I think he burned a bunch of ? who knows.
We made a structural change to the garden this year and I think it's going to be the best deal yet. Dan used the tractor tiller and made 5 garden rows that are 42" wide. He left enough space between the rows for the riding mover to get through. No more weeding the walkways! or trying to keep enough newspaper and straw down to keep out the weeds!
I have 6 Rhode Island Red hens and one Cochin rooster. I was happy to purchase the hens at about 9 mos. old, and laying. It was great! Unloaded them into the chicken coop Saturday and by Sunday, I had my own fresh eggs! The rooster was purchased from a lady that shows Cochin birds. Even though he wasn't good enough for her to keep to show, he is perfectly beautiful to us. Abigail named him "Higgy-Baby" after Higgins in Magnum P.I. He certainly looks pompus and pretentious, but is gentle and takes good care of his ladies.
Abigail has 5 tom turkeys, about 1 month old. In August, she will take two of them to the fair. So far, her project is going really well. They are growing and enjoying the turkey run that Dan built for them in the barn. Abs said she might put them out tomorrow for the first time.
Dan is busy working on clearing the new property. He'd like to have it ready for cattle by fall. Yesterday, he made three trips to the salvage yard with truckloads of old stuff left on the property years ago. There are still many more trips to be made. He sure works hard. He had a painting job today, and after that he went over to the property and was working again. I think he burned a bunch of ? who knows.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Sunny Sunday
Wow! God gave us a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, melt the snow day! It even felt, well, not freezing! It's predicted to be even warmer tomorrow, maybe 50 degrees. Yea!
Had a wonderful church morning, learning that God put his word in my heart and mind from the moment I came to him. Even the coffee at church was perfect. Yummy gingerbread cookie. We went to our friends, the Brennan's to pick up some square hay bales for the steers. They weren't home yet, but Dan tossed down the bales to the truck from the hayloft and Abigail stacked them. 33 bales. I got to see and touch Maybelle, their daughter's pony, just plain - smell horse. Wonderful.
Came home and had lunch. My lunch basically consisted of the last hunk of Speedy Mustard Rye Bread that I made a few days ago...heated up and slathered with butter.
We went out to fill up the round bale feeders with hay bales and then stacked the last 10 bales in the barn for Seifer, the fair steer. Abigail helped me raise up the nesting boxes by carrying over two cinder blocks to set it on. She's a peach! We watched the chickens awhile. She's named the Cochin Rooster, Higgins. Higgy-Baby, from Magnum P.I. Two of the hens she named Lucy and Ethel. The remaining 4 hens are, as yet, unnamed.
Dan, Abs, and I walked the new property and talked about the buildings and everything that needs done. Abigail headed home after awhile, but Dan and I walked back into the woods and walked the trail. It was great! There is still alot of snow back there, and the sun was beaming through the trees. Dan went off to haul a hose line out to the fair steer, but I walked around the front of the property, deciding where 3 tiny pines need to be transplanted to, and ended up on our wooden bench in the sun overlooking our snow covered garden. Dan joined me for a while and we threw a stick to the dog.
Tacos for dinner (easy for me!) and just hanging out in our cozy house.
Had a wonderful church morning, learning that God put his word in my heart and mind from the moment I came to him. Even the coffee at church was perfect. Yummy gingerbread cookie. We went to our friends, the Brennan's to pick up some square hay bales for the steers. They weren't home yet, but Dan tossed down the bales to the truck from the hayloft and Abigail stacked them. 33 bales. I got to see and touch Maybelle, their daughter's pony, just plain - smell horse. Wonderful.
Came home and had lunch. My lunch basically consisted of the last hunk of Speedy Mustard Rye Bread that I made a few days ago...heated up and slathered with butter.
We went out to fill up the round bale feeders with hay bales and then stacked the last 10 bales in the barn for Seifer, the fair steer. Abigail helped me raise up the nesting boxes by carrying over two cinder blocks to set it on. She's a peach! We watched the chickens awhile. She's named the Cochin Rooster, Higgins. Higgy-Baby, from Magnum P.I. Two of the hens she named Lucy and Ethel. The remaining 4 hens are, as yet, unnamed.
Dan, Abs, and I walked the new property and talked about the buildings and everything that needs done. Abigail headed home after awhile, but Dan and I walked back into the woods and walked the trail. It was great! There is still alot of snow back there, and the sun was beaming through the trees. Dan went off to haul a hose line out to the fair steer, but I walked around the front of the property, deciding where 3 tiny pines need to be transplanted to, and ended up on our wooden bench in the sun overlooking our snow covered garden. Dan joined me for a while and we threw a stick to the dog.
Tacos for dinner (easy for me!) and just hanging out in our cozy house.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Happy Farmwife
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~
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~
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?)
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