Pains of Planting Season ~ Chick on the Loose

This was day 2.  I think Aurora is not giving up my plant pot.  However, I did check on the comfrey, and after a good rain it should spring back to life.  

Today my hands hurt badly.  This morning, I dropped the coffee grounds, and then a two bowls.  My finger joints and hands are not working well today.  Planting 299 onions doesn't help.  It's amazing how many onions I got from 1 lb. of red and 2 lbs. of yellow.  I still have more in the bag.  Those will get planted in with the strawberries today.

I've been gardening these past few days, and will have updates on all that in a day or so.  Rain is on the way, and I have to get more planted.  My son finished all the mowing, and we still need to finish up trimming everything.  We have been so tired.

Yesterday was perfect for laundry.  I had all my clotheslines working overtime.  Somehow I managed to make crock pot lasagna for dinner in between all my outdoor work.

We had an interesting night last night.  First, a chick escaped from her box, and took a walk down the hallway and into the kitchen (with a cat chasing behind her).  We all got a laugh about that.  Good thing Tiger was just curious and not hungry.

Then, after that, I (we) heard an extremely loud screech of tires.  I have not heard anything so loud, other than the TV noise that usually blasts out of my sons speakers (gotta love how men like their "surround" sound when they watch TV).  I simply thought it was the TV.  Then I heard the girls go outside in a hurry.  We looked out and sure enough, in the head lights of other passing cars, were two dogs on the road.  The older three went out with flashlights, but the dogs took off and into the field.   We've seen stray dogs twice in the last few weeks. 


Today, it may take another pot of coffee to get my body moving.  Hubby is still working 10 hour days, so it's up to me to get the garden planted.  I have to remember that we'll reap the benefits at harvest. 

 

Comfrey or Cat?

I can't tell who is going to win this plant pot.  Will it be the cat or the comfrey?  See that little sprig to the right, in the bottom photo?  That's my comfrey, trying to come back to life.  Silly cat's.  The other day Timmy was in that very same pot.

Fighting Two Kinds of Colds

I woke up yesterday feeling worse than the day before, and just wanted to rest on the couch, drink hot tea, and warm up with homemade chicken noodle soup.  I'm not sure if it's a cold or possibly trouble with sinuses.

I didn't have the energy to cook chicken, and had leftover turkey.  I made a crock pot of homemade turkey-noodle soup, with homemade noodles.  I think it was the last of the noodles I had in the freezer too. 

With temperatures anywhere from below zero, to the teens, it warmed me up, and will hopefully help my body fight off this sickness that creeped in on me. 

Today, there is another 2 hour school delay.  Again, bone chilling temperatures.  Again, we have frozen pipes.  I hope we have enough in jugs to water the horse, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. 

Reflections of 2012

I made homemade deodorant for the first time.

I learned to be more resourceful.

 Finished a crocheted blanket to take camping.

 Had "wig" night with the kids (and pets too). 

I baked more foods from scratch.

(photo taken by my daughter)

Buried a very much loved barn cat named Joey.

 Did many farm/barn repairs.

 Tried new foods and recipes.

 (photo taken by my daughter)

Experienced the birth of two different baby goats.

Took an "accidental" road trip with hubby.

I added a few more useable antiques to our home.

Invested in Araucanas.

 (our daughter who tends the goats and makes the soap)

Had successful soap making. 

Participated in the Farmer's Market for the first time ever.

  Got through many trials and tribulations.

 Took more time out for myself.

 Made homemade ricotta cheese with our goat's milk for the first time.

 Canned more.

 Planted more.

 Dehydrated more.  

 Received "Farm Girl of the Month" in July. 

Went camping.

  Spent more time focusing on my marriage with weekend trips to rejuvenate, relax, and enjoy.

 Had a "salsa" party to celebrate and try new canned salsa recipes. 

Inherited many family heirlooms (Grandmother's doll my Aunt made, my mother's rings and hankies, and more).

 
Buried our good friend Gus.

Happy New Year's and may 2013 be full of blessings, love, and peace. 

  

 

 

Snowed In and Loving It

Middle of the afternoon on Christmas Day.

The next day, same time.

This morning. 

Barn cats, Aurora and Sapphire, hanging out while I took photos this morning. 

 That little stinker Aurora, was actually in the house when I got up this morning.  She must have darted in when Hubby left for work.  These two were purring up a storm this morning.  Like little motors.  Their food bowls are a bit snowed in, and we still need to finish building an insulated cat house from them.

We are snowed in, but not for long.  I'll enjoy it while it lasts anyway.  The driveway drifted over in 3 places, making it impossible to get in or out.  Hubby will dig us out after work tonight.  According to the news, we only got about 3 inches of snow, and they had predicted up to 10.  It's the wind that makes the difference also. He got out with his 4-wheel drive, but I would need to pull a "Dukes of Hazard" to get ol' Eunice out of the driveway. Ha ha ha!  

 Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary.  I set up a table in our bedroom (only room to have a quiet dinner in our house), and had a quiet candlelight dinner with hubby.  I played some dinner jazz music, and served wine in the green wine glasses we bought during our island outing this year.

 

 

 

Toilet Tank Tim ~ Farm and Family Updates

I had to laugh when I saw Tim.  He was sleeping in the toilet tank outside.  We called him "Toilet Tank Tim" as he slept here most of the day.

Another Hike on the Farm. . .

Another day, another hike.

I was super excited to see we have a "Poor Man's Banana Tree" on the property.  I never saw it until this year.  It's kind of hidden in the trees.  I will have to see if it is still bearing fruit too.   Although, I think the fruit ripened last month. I was so excited I forgot to get a closer look.   It's technical name is The technical name for this tree is Asimina triloba.  The fruit is edible.  

I was even more excited to see another black walnut tree also.  I think I need to do some more hiking in the back woods more often.  

 ...found yet another black walnut tree!  Yippee! 

 ...and even another one!  Four years ago, I would not be jumping of joy to see these trees.  As a kid, when we'd visit my grandparents, we'd toss these out into the street and wait to hear a "pop" when cars ran over them.
Next on the hike.....

...another orb weaver spider (check out the red and white legs on this).  Ugh!  I almost got my hair in this web by leaning over to see what plant this was...

Not sure what it is, but I found another bush underneath a locust tree also.  

I'll have to confirm what this is with the parks division again. Hmm? 

The barn that has seen it's last days....gonna miss this barn, as I can see it from the kitchen every day.

Sadie, Gus, and Jesse...taking a break from our little hike, and watching the goats.

Peanut looks a bit upset I came to visit without treats.

At the end of our hike and back to the house, Sapphire (Sassy, Sassafras) had to give all the dogs a rub by, and then she got a lick in return.  This is the kitty that went missing for a long time.

Sapphire's Story

(photo from last night)

About 3 weeks ago, when the temperatures went up into the hundreds, we brought one barn cat into the garage.  

My 15 year-old daughter, aka "the vet", noticed Sapphire was dehydrated.  We were able to separate her and give her food and water, and she was better in the morning.

She was dehydrated due to two male cats that showed up within a week of each other, and adopted our farm.  The problem is, that one has to find a new home.  He's territorial, and chases the girls to no end.   Sapphire, also called "Sassy" or "Sassafras" was hiding out and not coming up to the house for water or food.  Cheddar also hangs out at the food, and Sassy will not approach the house with him here.  We can't put food in the barns, due to raccoons.

We put her back out the next day, but never saw her after that.  We searched barns, the woods, the tall grass - everywhere.  No Sassy.

Then last night, I was talking on the phone to my husband, and in walks my 15 year-old with Sassy!  You would not believe the excitement in the house.  Praise God!  We were so excited.  She was brushed, loved, pampered, and boy did she purr up a storm. 

Sassy, along with Aurora came with the farm.  These are no ordinary barn cats.  These cats will follow us to the garden and spend time with us, or follow us to the porch and hang out with us, or even venture to the yard when the kids are playing Frisbee or other games.  They even joined us in my "wall tent" recently.


These cats have loving personalities and enjoy spending time with us.  They are very special.


We are so glad to have Sassy back.

Needless to say, we are are not letting her back out of the garage until Cheddar finds a home, and hopefully today.  He's great barn cat, but just not for our farm.  

Ice Chips for Chickens

The heat index reached 104°F yesterday, and again no rain.  I had to water the garden both morning and night.  One acorn squash died, and another doesn't look so good.  Battling the heat has been hard work.

I chipped ice for the chickens and cooled them off.  They have fans on them, but they are still at risk from the heat.  

We had to put one barn cat in the garage with ice chips in water and food.  She was dehydrated.  

The vet gave us the idea to fill water bottles and freeze them (or 2 liter bottles for horses), and place in the goat's water buckets to keep the animals cooled off.  Poor baby buckling wasn't handling the heat too well.  A few days ago, my 15 year-old daughter cooled him down with the water hose.

I think I sweat off a gallon of water just picking potatoes.  Despite heat, I brought in lots of garden goodies for a big pan of roasted vegetables and another dish of potatoes, green/wax beans and bacon.