Labor Day
For most people this was a holiday, for us we the day became it’s title. We worked in the garden, cut down some limbs, built a compost bin, picked muscadines, cleaned out a few flower beds, put leaf net on pool and split a little firewood. Whew ! ! ! With all this activity our barbeque dinner came in handy as we collapsed at the end of the day.
Our winter greens are up and some showing is being seen in the spinach and Swiss chard beds. The peanuts are looking thicker and taller since the extra water was given to the garden. The okra is nearly head high and still cranking out tender pods which I am packaging for the freezer. We still have the Kale and Rutabagas to plant along with transplanting some spring onions to winter over. I still want to plant some winter squashes but have only found butternut seeds so far.
The crabapples are getting a darker red and so far the deer either have not found them or don’t like the taste. Which I find hard to believe since they liked all of our other apples this year. Jason’s fig bush is loosing more fruit to the birds and ants than we hope to harvest ourselves. Fingers are staying crossed that we may finally get to taste both of these fruits.
Clara is looking better every day and has become quite spoiled with the extra attention she has been getting in the form of tasty treats. Extra protein helps with the healing of her wound and I have taken a few of the “girls” eggs to boil up some for her.
Which after the rest got a taste of she had to practically get in my lap for her generous share. Egg production is up to 7 a day, which nets us a dozen plus every 2 days. I will definitely be able to have a small income off the extras when they get larger and when getting a dozen a day will be the norm. Which will be good to help buy feed with. Right now they are foraging for most of their food needs and the bags we bought over a month ago still has plenty in them. Come winter when the bugs go into hiding and the natural greens are dormant they will eat more purchased grains I am sure.
Deborah
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Farm Animal?
Outside play was a highlight for Leah except when her PAPA started cutting grass. She does not like the loud sounds that the mower makes and is the only thing that will persuade her to go inside, for a short while at least. Her new companion of play is a doll she has started carrying around the yard with her. Dolly slides down the slide, rides in the stroller and gets to swing with her 2 year old mother in the front yard.
Leah is becoming more comfortable with the surroundings around our home, which is great on one hand but makes us uncomfortable when she does her magic trick and disappears into thin air. Little legs can move oh so fast when motivated by curiosity.
During one search she had “followed the leader” with the chickens rambling about and had discovered a nook tucked under the large azaleas in the front yard. Close to where they had decided to rest for awhile in the shade. Grinning from ear to ear, she sat quietly while I searched and called out her name.
Nana could not get upset for she remembered her fun times of pretend in the “houses” of green of her own childhood. Such fond memories of innocent play. Self play is important in every child’s development and pretend play fuels their creative side to imagine beyond the obvious.
The real surprise of the day was the new “farm animal” that crossed paths with our little hobby farm. Lon was going down to put grass clippings in the compost bin when he spied a moving log. At second glance it’s true identity was revealed. A very large green iguana was moving rather quickly for it’s size across the front yard towards the lake. We could not believe our eyes! From it’s size it looked to be an expensive pet store specimen or from the Amazon jungle. The thought crossed this girl’s mind to try and catch it for the person who lost it. But with second thought I realized I had nothing to keep this 5 foot lizard in and it might not let go of me if I did catch it. It lumbered off towards the swampy end of the lake and left us wondering how long had it been around the house. Whether it could have been what attacked and killed our chickens recently, and guilty of stealing the meat out of the trap we set for the villain that did.
I know that I have been wanting a diverse farm to enjoy the fruit and labor from. But I think I will draw the line in lizards with the little chameleons and pine lizards that play peek-a-boo among my flowerbeds.
I really felt the part of a farmer’s wife after completing the activities of the day, while sitting down to a scrambled egg sandwich courtesy of the girls and hot coffee for dinner this evening. What could be simpler or more satisfying than to graze from the goodness of your own flock.
Deborah
Thursday, September 4,2008
ERRAND DAY
Early morning risings are cutting into my sleeping time. For this girl needs her full night’s sleep in order to be “bright eyed and bushy tailed” for the next day. Sipping coffee on the porch this morning was the needed wake-up call to my body to get in gear for the day. Thursdays have typically been my grocery buying day and I try to run all my errands in the same trip to save time and gas.
Lon was agreeable to go with me for part of my rounds, with eating out breakfast tucked into the trip. He had a couple of stops he wanted to make himself, so after all was said, we decided to get it all done together. After letting the chickens out in the pen with fresh water and feed we were off to get as much done as quickly as we could. Leaving the house well before Jason got home from the station after 8am.
Back home by lunchtime we settled in for a quick nap to refresh our sagging bodies which did not last as long as we had hoped. It seems we both see several things at any given time to be done and sleeping away daylight hours doesn’t feel quite right.
Grocery shopping was a breeze today, my list was shortened to only 2 departments, dairy and produce. I have issued a challenge to myself and my family regarding our grocery buying for the month of September. The goal is to eat out of our full pantry and stuffed freezer for the next month, planning our meals from what we have already purchased. With no buying except for dairy, fresh produce and a weekly loaf of bread for Leah. As I plan to bake all of the bread we will need on a weekly basis. This will be an interesting experiment for us and an opportunity to simplify our eating habits more towards a healthier direction.
One of the books I had placed a hold on at the Library came in and I picked it up today. Reading just the first few pages out loud to Lon this afternoon and we both heard the sanity in the writing. The author echoed the same sentiments we have read from other Christian authors and we ourselves have felt strongly about. I can’t help but believe that we may be at a point in our lives that we are ready to embrace the knowledge and make it a real part of our lives and health. To eat as close to how God created our food sources has to be the ultimate way to eat. For He has packed each of them with all the nutrition we will need to lead healthy lives, productive for His purposes. I have always believed that every vitamin, mineral, nutrient that our bodies need to live and heal its self is present in the natural world God has given us.
Man in his quest for more has sacrificed his health for happiness. It is evident that happiness is fleeting for all of mankind in a mad rush to acquire more at the expense of their families, health, time and ideals for their lives. Living instead a hollow image of what they could be.
Lots of information to be reasoned over, decisions to be discussed and commitments to be made before any one of us can be able to stand and declare enough is enough. I confess it is something that I believe we can no longer ignore and live long lives freed from the diseases of the modern century. I for one am ready for a healthy change. It won’t be easy to ignore ingrained habits of 50 years or more. But that does not mean it can’t be done. It will just take a focused commitment one day at a time.
The Chicken Coop got a new look today as the hospital cage was removed and the natural carpeting fluffed and sanitized. Extra bedding was added to the nesting boxes which I am sure the girls will love on their little behinds at laying time. They can thank their Papa for that bit of housekeeping. Now we can step inside without the fear of bringing a piece of them home with us if you know what I mean.
A wonderful surprise greeted me right before I left for the evening. We had been watching some fat lime green and yellow worms munch on the pot of parsley by the backdoor. Only to disappear before I could place them in protective custody and watch them spin their magic. Or else they may be the appetizer the chickens were looking for. Lon had spot a chrysalis just yesterday on one of the porch post and low and behold it burst forth right before my eyes. I scooped it up to keep it from being eaten and called Lon to come see our new livestock. It was such a thrill to have it crawl over my hands as it prepared to take flight. I guess now we can add home-grown black swallowtails to our list of farm produce. Such joy in simple pleasures, thank you Lord.
Dinner out with my “circle of friends” was a refreshing break in my day today. They never fail to make me laugh, think about new things, we share our lives and enjoy the friendship we have still managed to hold on to despite that we are now located in 4 different churches, when at one time we were all together in one. Choosing my dinner was colored by the reading I did earlier and to look honestly at the menu left me with few options to dine on. I chose the salad bar as my choice as the restaurant has always had a great many items on it to choose from. It was both healthy and filling, leaving me with room for my nightly glass of milk before bed.
A habit I never want to abandon, one that has carried me all of these years since my childhood into sweet sleep. A fact that I am often teased about by my family. One that my mother has commented on in the past. . . “I got her off the bottle as a baby but never off her milk.” Giving my granny cause to come to my aid and state to leave me alone, it was good for me. And through the years it has been stated by the advertising media that “YES, it does a body good !” So to all who question or snicker I am a living testimony that milk does a body good and the heart also. Sweet dreams yall!
Deborah
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wonders never cease
Poor planning had me going back out today to finish up some birthday shopping for family. Stopping long enough to add the first from my FALL pleasure list to my day. Bright sunny yellow Chrysanthemums x 2 for our porches, purchased at a good price at a local grocery store near our house. To give the place a lift to the changing light of day now occurring on the horizons. A sight that makes me smile every time I look at them and that I will add to my flower beds when spent for next year's beauty too.
When what to my wondering eyes should I see but a brownish gray spotted lump in the road in front of our mailbox. Upon refocusing I saw what looked like a saw-whet owl sprawled out on the pavement. Immediately I was afraid it had been hit or would be if left where it laid. Where was my camera? On my desk at home, where else! Opening the door to get out of my car and gather our mail was enough to cause it to decide it had all the sunning it needed for one day and flew gracefully up into the trees across the road. Relief that it was not hurt turned into wonder at the sight of a night creature parading itself out in the daylight. A rare blessing indeed.
Calling Lon to share the news, I told him I had no idea that we would see so many different animals when we began Heartland Farm. But in all honesty I believe the Lord knows my Heart for this Farm and continues to give me the desires of it in the little blessings of newly hatched butterflies, wayward lizards and sunbathing owls. Just for my enjoyment because He loves me so.
Deborah
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