Crazy?

Some would say yes if asked to give an opinion of my travels yesterday. A need to make a run to buy groceries & take care of a few errands. Had me traveling under the blackest skies in order to stock our pantry and pick up some needed barn supplies. Severe weather was called for and it didn't forget to show up either. Thankfully I made it home before the deluge dropped upon us and the tornado activity started. That is one thing about living out in the country, you can see it coming for miles away. No high rise buildings to block your view. The approaching cold front was going to collide with the warm weather we were enjoying, no way around it. I did get soaked doing the evening feeding, even getting stuck in the goat shed for awhile during a heavy pouring of rain. But made it to the house before the worst of the weather dropped in for a visit. The sky had taken on that eiry yellow light that accompanies tornado activity. A sure sign that a dangerous evening was before me and our critters.


The second reason I would be considered crazy was that particular something that got added to my cart while I was at Tractor Supply. Now that I think about it, I believed my son did call me that last night. I had made a quick stop to get syringes and supplies for the upcoming births. I heard the commotion as soon as I entered the store, for they were being quite vocal. We had seen the signs of their coming weeks ago. Even discussing the option of buying, but deciding we would just wait for now. Nope! didn't happen, the sight and sound of the little fuzz balls spoke to this farmer girl's heart. A quick call to boss man sealed the deal and I brought home 6 new faces for our hen house. The sign said they were Light Brahmas, but the salesman wasn't 100% sure what was sent to them. They looked a little too golden to be Light Brahmas, more like Buff Brahmas.

Taking a chance I selected the ones I wanted, called Lon to check chick coloration's for Brahmas on line and paid for my purchases. Only to have to make a return trip to the store an hour later for some chick starter feed. In my zealousness of getting them, I had failed to purchase food for them!



Adding baby chicks to our flock is not something out of the ordinary. As we try to raise new replacement hens every year. The part that would have me labeled crazy is that we already have 43 eggs basking in the incubator right now. We had penned up the Rhode Island Reds separately to gather their eggs for hatching. Then added several Barred Rock hens to the group. Hoping for some good sex-link chicks also. Sex-links are wonderful layers and make good broody moms too. They come from a breeding between them and a Rhode Island rooster. Only time will tell how many of each breed we will get. So buying day old chicks would be considered crazy by some folks, I guess.



Do you think that are saying ~ go away?

Oh, I forgot to mention too that we have a shipment of 25 Freedom Rangers coming on Friday. They are a breed of broilers we are going to try this year. I've been reading some very good reviews from those who have raised them. Then found a supplier in the northeast that raises only this breed. Placed an order and wa-la our poultry flock will be increasing real soon. With our desire to raise all of our food, they should give us some mighty fine eating, starting about July. Just in time for full swing barbecuing season.

So all in all I guess to the urbanite, I WOULD be considered CRAZY to take on more chicks. But you have to have a heart for this type of living in order to appreciate it. Where others are busy commuting in traffic to a job within stone and metal walls. I get to breathe fresh air, feel the sun on my shoulders, snuggle a few baby goats, watch the antics of baby chicks and savor my cup of coffee real slow.

If I am crazy, I am not the only one around here. I've had a cactus sitting on my kitchen window sill since we moved here. It has tried to set buds only one other time, but failed. I had moved it from one end of the shelf to the other. When I took down my Snowmen decor at the end of January. Guess it got bit by the same Spring Crazy bug that I did. Because it has started to bloom at a time of year it is not known for doing so. Usually you can get Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter cactus in bloom during those holidays. But I think mine is confused as to what time of year it is. What do you call one blooming in Winter? Crazy? I don't think I will call it that. I am enjoying it's spot of color over my sink. Besides maybe it knows something about the upcoming season that we don't. Like Spring may be here before we turn around good. . .

Enjoying the daffy's sitting on my kitchen window sill,

Deborah

Spring Activities

Enjoying the Spring time requires being outside in order to capture all the goodness it has to offer. If you are like me, most of you have been itching to get outside and do a few gardening chores, soaking up the sunshine in the process. I have made use of the pretty days lately to do a few of my favorites things too. Like . . .

Putting up an old bird feeder by the garden. It is one that I brought from our old house that stood in a flower bed. You may not can tell from the picture but it has been nibbled on by the squirrels that often tried to raid it. My daddy built it and despite it worn appearance I could never part with it. So I filled it with sunflower seeds and will wait for the birds to find them. It is situated so I can see it from both the front porch and my bedroom window.

Cleaning out a flowerbed or two. There are a couple that I have started since moving here. All of which have new weedy growth popping up in them from the abundance rain and now warming temperatures. The broken birdbath came with the place and I plan to replace it with one I already have. The hosta I planted last year is showing emerging furls of new leaves.

I cut out a spring bunny from a panel found in the treasure chest in the barn. The "treasure chest" I am referring to is the huge plastic tote I found when we cleaned out the house that we are making into a barn. It was stuffed full of fabric scraps and yards of fabric. I pulled out all of the cotton fabric to wash and line dry. It is stacked in my craft closet for future use as what ever my mind can dream up. Among the pieces was a craft panel for a "Spring Bunny". I am thinking it would make a great gift for Leah. I may even try to cut one out for our porch decor too. Isn't she cute?

Cut brush along the creek bank. While the goats browsed this evening I trimmed the brush, small trees and BRIERS away from a section of the creek bank near the driveway. I love hearing the tinkling sound of the water as it flows over rocks towards some unknown destination. Clearing out the rubble will make it easier to see and enjoy. Besides what else can you do while watching goats eat?

Ate dinner outside on the porch. Lon and I have always enjoyed eating outside on the porch. At our old house we had two tables set up. One sitting on the back of the house was large enough for family to gather around and near the grill. The table and chairs we inheirted when his Mother died. It has been fondly used every since. The round one on the front porch was set with just 2 chairs instead of the 4 that came with it. That is where Lon and I ate intimate meals for just the two of us. It was a quite place facing the lake that was in front of our house. Here we have a small front porch that allows us to eat while rocking if so desired. Plans are to build a back deck off from the dinning room that will be big enough to house one of the outside tables. Not sure right now what I will do with the other one. Maybe tuck it under a shady grove of trees for some truly alfresco dinning.

Gotta love the outside ~ it is nature's sedative,

Deborah

Life is Full

So much Spring activity to be found around here these days. The freshness is seen as the leaves unfurl on limbs of the trees, the small blades of grass are springing up across the yard, small chirps can be heard in the vicinity of the bluebird box (a family with 4 babies), shimmering color in the blossoms of spring bulbs, and so much more. It truly is a breathe of Spring flowing through out neck of the woods.

Life up at the coop has steadied out to a rhythm of daily chores done with ease. Mary is progressing with "motherhood" on her 4 eggs. The Welsummers and new biddies hatched out by "Big Mama" are growing nicely. Crowding each other in the brooder box in the living room. I am glad at present that the 25 chicks we ordered from the hatchery will not be arriving till the end of May. We had decided to add to our laying flock and ordered 15 Isa Browns and 10 Silver Laced Wyandottes. With the delay in shipping they might just arrive after we get moved to the farm. Which will make raising them easier as we plan to put the current coop into operation as a brooder house once there. A new chicken coop will need to be built to house the future 50+ layers. Word has gotten out in the fellowship of Bethel Baptist Church, a mile up the road from the farm and we have several who already want to buy eggs. Other news at the coop comes from "Little Bit" the Barred Rock rooster from the first hatching of "Big Mama's". He has started crowing the cutest baby crow. I hope Chester is listening to these morning greetings I've been getting and will "speak up" before too long himself.

Amber and Sugar are settling into their new home and routines as well. We are already seeing a difference in Amber's appetite. That is evidence in a small weight gain and a healthier looking coat. I have read recently that BOSS =black sunflower seeds are good for them and will give some added fat to her diet. Sure to boost the luster of her coat and fill in the thin spots on it.

Out at the farm today we sowed grass seed in one of the pasture areas and around the house. I also cut the grass in the front yard and the area destined to be for the goats. Which my husband as dub "Goat Valley" with our new "used" riding lawn mover. Circling the areas round and round I almost felt like I was on a tractor plowing some imaginary field.

Interior changes are well on the way and I am still hopeful that we can get moved in by the last week of May. It was during breakfast this morning that I came up with an idea for a new book. One that my husband thinks that I should write along side of the one he says will help him retire. I might just put this one together for fun and give it away to family, friends and our customers. Nothing fancy just some simple tabletop publishing. I think I will keep the title a secret for now, but be assured it will be a funny look at farm life.

I am still reading non-stop with an ever present book by my chair or traveling with me as we journey out to the farm. At present my companion is an old book written about using herbal treatments and remedies for livestock. Written by Juliette deBairacli Levy and called "The Complete Herbal Handbook For Farm and Stable". It is full of useful information and I believe it would prove to be a necessary part of our reference bookshelf that we are acquiring. Plans are to check on line for a used copy or a really good deal and order one.

Living with 2 homes at present,

Deborah

Digging in the Dirt Again

The remodeling efforts out at the farmhouse is going quite well. This new phase of living part time at our Georgia home and working part time at the Alabama home has us stretched. Trips out to the farm are exciting as it puts us one step closer to moving out there. Trips home at the end of work days sees weary bodies and all that has been left undone here. A few days here and there tucked into our schedules would do wonders in getting things caught up. Making room for the desirable amongst the necessary.

Our days begin with early risings to milk Amber, feeding her and Sugar, letting the chickens out to feed, checking nesting boxes, filling water buckets, and seeing to the needs of the chicks living in the brooder box. Then we can have our breakfast, pack a lunch, gather tools needed and load up the truck for the hour long trip to Alabama. It has really become a part of our lives and working with the animals is a pleasurable part of the mornings. I look forward to the time when it will be done in a more leisurely fashion for there will no longer be the need to travel to the farm. But to just walk out the door to greet it each morning.

When we arrived yesterday the company servicing our well was already there. We were able to get the well fixed easily enough, giving us access to water for the house. Washing hands and cleaning up will be considerably easier now. We still want to have the water tested before we start drinking from it. So carrying jugs of drinking water will still be on my to-do list for awhile. The heating/AC was serviced yesterday also. With a few minor adjustments and a new thermostat we had both heat and cold air flowing through the house. Two major components of living; water and comfort from the weather extremes was put into working order.

But the highlight of my day day was digging in the dirt. I had brought out some transplants that were dug up from home to start the outside renovations. A few Irises, Day Lillies and hosta pots were snugly tuck in the load of supplies for today. Finding new homes for them was a job that I was looking forward to. I have only seen a few plants here and there on the farm. Previous owners did not establish any type of flowerbeds or plantings. Leaving the grounds an open canvas to create on. I have started from scratch before, but I seem at a lost at how to begin this time. So I simply started at the end of the house with some weed pulling and grass removal. Digging holes for a few of the transplants along the way. The remainder was tucked along side a row of plants found out in the front yard. A space destined to be the dividing wall between the yard and the goat pen. Pulling back the leaves and cleaning the area revealed exactly what I had found at the end of the house. . . . rich, loose dirt. A gardener's dream. Sitting on the ground in the shade of the old oak was a sensory pleasure of extremes. It felt like I had come home and could envision hours upon hours of doing the same in the future. Having your hands in the dirt is uplifting for those who love to garden. A time for daydreaming and reflection about life is an unconscious pursuit while digging, pulling and planting.

On the opposite end of the house is an area dotted with healthy garlic plants that will have to be moved. Scattered in part I think from whom ever bushhoged the area in the past. For this is the area we have decided to put our vegetable garden. Lifting them temporarily so it can be plowed with be a challenge. But then they too can be tucked into their new beds for years of productivity. Someone had tried to pull some up at one time and left them laying by the dogwood tree at the backdoor. Where they lay all winter before sprouting up again from the individual garlic cloves that had fallen on the barren ground there. It appears that they multiply quite easily and so I feel sure that even it I loose a few in the transplanting. There will be plenty to start a new bed with. I pulled a few to bring home for Amber to munch on and the aroma was mouth watering. I have never had garlic growing in my vegetable garden before and look forward to using these in recipes. We have grown to love the taste and ease of using it in our cooking over the years. I had tried last fall to order some to start a bed but the company was sold out before I was able to place my order. Disappointed then, but thrilled now as I have been given some for free. Another blessing just waiting to be discovered at our future farm.

Hands in the dirt, heart lifted to the Creator,

Deborah