Family Time

We have been having a busy week, kind of sounds like all of the rest of them, doesn't it? But this involved a visit from my parents for a few days. We had a good visit with them, did a couple of odd jobs together and gathered with our boys, daughter-n-law and granddaughter. When ever they come into town we try to get everyone together for a visit and so they can see their much loved great-granddaughter. A cook out this past Sunday was enjoyed by all. We actually got 8 people around a 48 inch dining table. It was close, but doable. Introductions of Sassie to the family was made, as some did not know she was even a part of our farm yet. Leah loved her and kept wanting me to let her hold the lead rope. Conversations on the porch, grilling in the yard , visiting with the livestock and wandering in the woods were enjoyed by all.

Lon and I reworked the play yard for the chickens today. Built stable fencing (goat-proof?) and turn the biddies out with the rest of the free-ranged flock. Twenty five Isa Browns and Silver-Laced Wyandottes join the ranks of happy chickens. Open grazing will help them mature and should start laying come November. If the fall moult doesn't hurt production we may be over run with eggs by then. Just in time for holiday baking.

Gathering the assorted extra roosters we have running around, we clipped one wing on each and placed them into a holding pen until harvest day. It sure has been considerably quieter in the barnyard since we penned them up. No more fighting over the hens, who have in turn been a bit more relaxed it seems.

While Mom & Dad were here on Monday we burned the large trash pile of limbs that had gathered in the backyard. Cutting down 2 trees nearby add to the fuel of it. Having them cut down and split into firewood has started us towards a log pile for winter heating. We have been wanting to remove them along with a few others in the yard. It is hard not to get overwhelmed at times when looking around the place with all that still needs to be done. But if we do not work off a sort of priority list, we can get "off track." It is in those times of being off track that some one's physical needs won't be taken care of. Don't want that in either man or beast.

I have started letting Sassie out into our yard since yesterday to munch on grass. The pasture she has been staying in has a small grassy area that is starting to look low. I "bush-hogged" the other pasture that will become her permanent home with our mower, in preparation for sowing it with a mixture of grass & clover seed. With a little effort and money on our part, we can get it in shape for next Spring's growth. Searching for a good hay source is up most in my mind right at present. As this year's grass will soon be gone and supplemental feed will be needed by both the goats and Sassie.

Autumn is upon us and there is so much to do still. If left undone it could prove to be a hard Winter for us and our farm. Stepping up our pace is what appears to be needed. But you don't have to look far around you to see those in worst shape than we are. With the Lord's help and guidance we will make it just fine, regardless if it all gets done or not.

Working a little faster,

Deborah

Saturday Glance

I have been quite busy the past few days. My husband and I went this past Tuesday to pick up Sassie. I still can't believe I have a horse. She traveled like a pro, but I was a little nervous with the loading and unloading having never done it before. We had to borrow a trailer for the trip which added to the unknown factor as well. Thanks, goes to Mr. Mac for letting us use his. One day it the future we plan to have one of our own. Until then we will have to depend on the generosity of others to meet our needs.

Lon commented after we arrived home and had her deposited into her new surroundings. Just how beautiful she looks out in the pasture. From this and other comments about her, I think she is winning his heart.

I have been busy trying to work on her trust issue with me and to come when I call her. She is responding quicker than I could have wished for. I have sought the Lord about what I should do on several occasions since her arrival. He has blessed me with guidance and help each time. Praise the Lord! I am not sure how long it will be before I can ride her. I will need to make sure we trust each other first. Then there is the issue of not having a saddle, don't think I am ready for bare-back riding yet. A friend of ours has stated that he will let me use his saddle and bridle until I can find one. A blessing from the Lord for sure!

Received another blessing the same day from a couple of visitors from the church we had attended recently. One of them is a beekeeper, Clyde knows several horse people in the area that could help me with her training and care. I am going to get their numbers from him so I can chat with them about horse ownership. A plus in the conversation was that he invited us to the local beekeepers meetings and said he would help us get our hives set up for next year. He also sell wonderful local honey that is sure to help us with our allergies. Yummy!

Last Thursday I had a trip I needed to make back to our old town for a haircut, doctor's apt. and to help my son buy a used fridge. Long story just know that we were not ready for another break down with money involved. Grrrr! It made for a busy afternoon without much time here at the house. There's so much to do that really needs to be done soon. I would like to get the plumbing fixed a the barn and re-do the chicken's play yard. Putting up some extra roosting space would probably be a good idea in their mind as well. But the day was quite full already as Lon was having to do truck repairs and then stop by our old house to fix the well. Seems like something is always either broken or in need of some sort of repair. That's life, at least for us.

Looking forward to the future,

Deborah

Guess Who Came for Dinner and Stayed . . . .

Here is a clue. . . . . .

This will be a picture post for you to enjoy.




















Beautiful face of my dinner guest.



















Menu for the meal. . . . . grass served for all courses.














Meet Sassie, she is my first horse and my
newly acquired lawn ornament.



Waiting to ride,

Deborah

First Week of September

Pull up a chair, this is a long one. . . . been busy.

Tuesday 9/1 our plans were to finish the fencing. You will notice that I said were. An opportunity for an overtime shift ended those plans. Pushing everything off a day or two. I was so looking forward to turning the goats out by the weekend.

We are loosing some of our Welsummer pullets some how. I could only count 3 hens, having only 6 left out of the original 10 is not good. We have no idea where or why they have disappeared. Considering the fact that we had planned to only keep one of the three roosters out of the bunch. It narrows our breeding pool considerably. But I have a contact that wants to swap one of my roos for one of his chickens. So I may be able to gain another hen for egg laying after all. They are a calm bird with beautiful markings, that lay lovely chocolate eggs if we ever get any old enough to lay.

Tuesday's skies were overcast and a cool breeze blew. Looked like more rain. . . . again. Crickets were chirping, a sure sign of rain. May even speak of impending changes towards Autumn's arrival. With the cloudiness it made for a good day to work outside. Though it did nothing to help dry my load of whites. But inside chores called to me also, what is a girl to do on a day like that. It is hard to believe the first day of September has arrived. I am curious to see how the trees will change around the farm. We have lots of them and a variety too, so the fall color should be great. I have heard it said that a wet summer makes for a brilliant fall display. Guess we will have to wait and see won't we. We've had the rainfall, now bring on the fall leaves. A couple of trees need to come down before any bad weather arrives though. If my memory serves me right, I think last year this area saw a couple of snow storms that left everything white. This brings up a certain element that we need to think through in regards to caring for our livestock in such weather.

The air was cooled enough to think that a sweater would feel good to my arms while working outside. Fueling my mind with thoughts of quilts and crocheting warm blankets. I even wondered if a crocheted sweater vest would not make a warm covering for barn chores on chilly mornings. I will have to do a search of websites for free patterns that fit this idea. Not that I don't already have plenty of projects ready for my attention that I can work on.


Wednesday 9/2 brought a cool crispness to the air again, as Lon and I sat on the porch enjoying our cups of hot brews. Cool enough that sweatpants and sleeves were needed by me. Just enough chill to stir up the internal fires of fall in our blood. I love Autumn for that very reason, waning warmth of the sun, kissed with a crisp chill in the air. We had a funeral to attend on that day, which lefts us with only time for a leisurely breakfast before having to leave the house.

Jason once more made the trek out to the farm to help with the fencing, which with all three of us working together we finished it. YEA! ! ! We turned out the goats for their first taste of freedom about milking time that evening. It will be interesting to see how they put themselves to bed for a change. Or where they will be come mornings now.

We were appreciative of the coolness that hovered over the day and lingered into the evening. Leaving the windows open in the house to catch it is a pleasure I enjoy ever chance I get. May even make the covers feel good at night, as the pleasant coolness seeps in the moonlit windows.


Having extra covers on the bed against the chill of Wednesday's lows almost made me oversleep on Thursday 9/3 they felt so good. Several challenges faced me on this day as I had to figure out how to feed the chickens and turkeys without having the goats join them. Having an opening to the nesting area that Sugar can't fit through is another one to figure out too. The goat's freedom which we have been looking forward to is going to cause a few headaches I believe before everyone settles into their new homes. Hopefully we will see the two extra hours that we gain from their freedom and not having to take them out to browse each day. Things are improving around here. Each project that we have worked on has served to make the farm run more smoothly. Freeing up more leisurely living for us in the process.


Friday's 9/4 chores went better than they did the day before. Long story short the goats discovered all kinds of new things to hold their interest. Like scratching on the side of the biddy pen and collapsing it's walls, finding the chicken feeder and helping themselves, and multiple other pleasures that made my morning difficult yesterday. A tearful call to my son brought him out to help me reign in the wayward goats and bring some order to the farmyard again. With re-enforced fencing today was an easier day of choring.

A bonus to all the frustrations of yesterday is that I may have found a horse. Plans are to go see her and talk more with her owner to see if she is the one for me. I am excited and nervous since I do not know anything about the care of horses. But I didn't either about chickens, goats nor turkeys before I got them. Reading books, magazines and websites was the basis of learning how to care for them. So I guess a trip to the library is in order for Horse 101. I will have one safety net, as an retired fireman we know lives down the road a piece. He knows all about them and has offered to help me any way he can.


Our trip to check on the horse was an enjoyable trip for both of us. Sassie as she is called was apprehensive to start with. But with some gentle words and a bucket of grains tempting her, I was able to put my hands on her. All was going well until "Buckshot", her pasture companion interrupted our getting acquainted. From all appearances she has been bred by him and if all goes well she will produce a foal next July. Much discussion on the way home, led to a phone call to her owner to let her know we have decided to add her to our farm family. Plans were set to pick her up the first of next week. Wish I could have brought her home now instead.


Saturday 9/5 took us around the world on a journey to pick up some wooden fence posts I had found advertised at a good price. It was an all day trip requiring lots of riding and changing our plans to attend the "Founder's Day" celebration for the little hometown we have moved into. A generous offer from friends to come eat, spared me the job of cooking after such a long day. Good fellowship and meal helped to soothe our road-weary bodies. We haven't been out socializing since we started this farm back in April. It was good to get out for some fun since we had missed the festival and meet our neighbors down the street too.


The day looked promising on Sunday 9/6, with the gentle breeze caressing the air. The overcast skies may never clear as the forecast is for more rain. I love sitting on the porch in the early hours of the day. A needed reprise after Saturday's demands and a restless night of sleep. Anxious thoughts have invaded my dreams, stealing sleep from me in the early hours of the day. Centering mostly around bringing a horse into the mix of barnyard animals we have. Unknown variables fueled them I am sure. I would hate to cause injury to any of the goats from a horse frightened by her new surroundings. There is so much more we need to do just to secure winter housing for them, much less building a shelter for a horse too. Starting from the ground and building up a farm takes both time and money. All of which seems to be on short supply these days. The posts we picked up on Saturday will help secure fencing for another pasture to put Sassie in. But we will still need to purchase wire and the additional T-posts that will be needed to complete it. Then my thoughts wonder to how do I gain her trust, what do I feed and how much, and what type of hay will she need come Winter. Lots to consider, but I must take them one at a time or risk the chance of missing out on the fun of having a horse.

Live and learn they say. . . .I am certainly doing that. I knew there would be lessons to learn with farming and having livestock. Each day brings one or two for my daily workout. There will be many more to face, learn from and live through I am sure. As hard as it is sometimes, I am enjoying the process. You just can't beat sitting on the porch, sipping coffee, reflecting on life and thanking God for all He has blessed you with, as the sun rises higher towards a new day of possibilities.

Learning and Living the days I have been given,

Deborah