Farm Trucks ~ Fireplaces

Much has transpired over the last few days. We have been seeing some cold nights and days for one thing. Making the fires in the fireplace a blessing. Lon worked extra hard this past Saturday to get the old wood heater installed, so we could enjoy our first fire in it. The heater is one we used to heat our old house with many years ago. The old thing is not a pretty sight, showing it's age, but it is working right now. Even though the blower makes a funny sound on high. Nothing that a little stove paint can't spruce up and with fingers crossed hopefully it will last awhile before it has to be repaired. Good news is it has put out a warmth that keeps our electric heat from coming on. The only down side is the trash that the logs create on the hearth and surrounding floor. I guess it will be a trade-off, free warmth for more sweeping. Now I will be on the look out for a dustpan and small broom to place within easy reach.

I have managed to get our bedroom, the bath and the dinning room decorated for Christmas. Also got our new tree up and decorated too. Hate stringing lights and am wondering if I can find a place to store it like I used to do with the lights still on, minus the decorations. Though I don't have a basement or a suitable place in sight, this might pose a problem. The combinations of holiday decorations and a warm fire made things quite festive here at the farm.

Lon made a trip over to Woodland for a round bale of hay for Sassie and the goats. It filled the back of his truck and then some. Can't beat a heavy duty truck for farm chores. Despite it's size it rolled off the bed of his truck easier than I thought it would. All the hay eaters wasted no time in jumping into it and munching away. Hopefully this will help stretch the hay bales we picked up recently to last longer than they would otherwise.

Rusty, our very first Roo has been hurt somehow, one leg badly enough that it keeps him from walking on it. He went missing for over a day before finally showing up. We had to caged him yesterday for his safety. As the other roosters were trying to fight him. It amazes me how they can sense when another one is weak. They will pick at it till they kill it, one way I guess to keep the flock strong. Can't stand to watch it though. Hopefully his legs will strength and we can return him to his rightful place as "King of the Roost" soon.

It must be the day for injured legs, for as I was doing the morning chores I noticed one of our Burbon Red turkeys was also standing still with one leg tucked under. It too would not bear weight on it and had to be caged till it heals. Makes me wonder if they are trying to jump off the roosts without watching where they are landing. So two hospital pens are now set up to add to our chores already established each day. Having to water and feed them separately requires a little effort, but not enough to keep me from doing it.

I also need to figure in the twice daily care of the 46 meat chicks (one died) to my chore time each day too. We are hoping the "brooder coop" we hauled home from our old place, an effort that took up most of yesterday and part of last night will help us with their care. It took ALOT of work to get it loaded on the back of a borrowed trailer. If it wasn't for our kind neighbor, Norman it would still be sitting halfway loaded at the other house. Traveling after dark was both a challenge and a blessing. As there wasn't many cars on the back roads and we didn't draw too much attention, especially from the local police. Getting home so late, we had to leave it still attached to Lon's truck. Requiring him to drive my car to work today, leaving me with no transportation. I am pretty sure he is going to enjoy his commute today and may even consider taking my car more often in the future.

We didn't get it home none too soon either, as Boots has discovered them and is thinking they would make great playmates. Kind of like fuzzy little pin balls that make a noise when you tap them.

Having no wheels today is okay, I have plenty to do right here and have no plans on going anywhere. Though there is that library book that needs to be returned. My stack of books has dwindled down to only 2-3. As I haven't had time to read much lately. Christmas preparations, farm chores and general maintenance is more than my days can handle . Not to mention getting ready for goat kidding coming up soon. And here I thought we would have time to rest some this winter. Like a certain little orange ball of fur curled up in my lap and arms. Sleeping peacefully unaware of the hindrance to my writing he creates. Mom is going to love sitting with Boots on her lap and to love on when they come down for Christmas in a couple of weeks.

Whew! Less than 2 weeks till Christmas. I can't believe it is so close!

Deborah

Thanksgiving & My Blessings are Bountiful

It has surprised me that the days have past so quickly and the holidays will be ushered in come tomorrow. Lon has to work, so I will be spending our first Thanksgiving at the farm alone. We plan to gather around a turkey on Saturday. Prompting a need to go buy one, as I am not ready to give Thomas up yet. He has too much to offer next Spring with our new ladies to be sitting on a platter this week, all sun tanned from time in an oven.

Thomas with his Burbon Red Ladies ~

The rain has ended but the chill from Sunday still lingers today under solid gray skies. Nearly all the leaves have scattered across the lawn, except for the few stubborn ones on the old oak out front. Everything green has turned a shade of brown. Sitting out on the porch was a good idea at first, but my coffee was cooling too fast and even Boots was hunting refuge from the chill under my sweatshirt jacket. I wished I would have had my camera handy, as I often do when photo opportunities present themselves. He looked so cute!

Some of the hens have taken upon themselves to start laying in the hay of the goat shed. We found some hiding in it this past Sunday. Guess they like the freshly fluffed hay each morning just as much as the goats do. Production has been steadily climbing, but I fear the decreasing daylight will hinder it before long. Last year at this time we were living at our other house and was able to run a power cord out to the coop to add light and encourage their laying. But without power out to the barn yet, that is not even an option. But just look as the size of the eggs they are laying and heavy too. Is there a category for extra-large jumbos?

We are already going without our delicious goat's milk. As Amber was starting to dry up even before our last milking this past Friday. We don't want to be without eggs too! It was nice that first morning of "No Milking", as I didn't have to rush out at a certain time in the cold to do the morning chores. I could wait till the temperatures warmed up a bit and I had the chance to get awake with some coffee. Purchasing the store milk last grocery day was a bummer! It tastes funny now after having fresh for so long. Lacking the creamy goodness we are used to. It will be a long wait till Spring arrives along with our chance for fresh goat's milk again from not only one but all three of our girls! Should have plenty for some of the other goat milk projects I have in mind to try.

Leah came out this past Friday to spend the weekend at the farm. My how she has grown! We looked at her photo album of pictures taken this past Spring. They showed a young toddler, not the maturing girl I saw before me. Baking cookies is an all time favorite of hers and she even helped me put some cake ingredients together with the "big mixer".

We had a wonderful time together and was blessed with a special surprise on Saturday. A good friend's dad owns cows and one had given birth during the night on Friday. He invited us to bring her over to see the less than 24 hr old calf. She had visited there before back in the Spring to see his cows. But this time was different we were able to go inside the fencing and actually pet the newborn calf.

She was thrilled to be so close to the baby calf, to play with their dog "Sammy" and receive a small snow globe (which she adores) and treat bag from my friend's mom. She went to church with us the next morning and made her beautiful presence known by waving at her Papa in the choir loft. Then continued by waving at the pastor each time he raised his hand in praise to the Lord. Singing with gusto and swaying to the music caught a few smiles from those seated around us. My own - beamed! Such innocence and exuberance. I am thankful we could take her with us. These are the years when foundations are being set in her biblical teachings. What a privilege to be a part of them.

Thankful for my life,

Deborah

Looking Back on a Few Days

Last Friday's temperature is the coldest we've had thus far, since moving out to the farm ~ 31* is what my thermometer read when I got up that morning. Even with the heat on, the house had a chill to the air (should have been my first clue). Requiring a very warm housecoat, which I do not presently own. So I had to wear 2 layers instead as I sipped my morning coffee before heading out the door. Doing the AM chores was a test for trying to stay warm. I wonder if this is any indication of the calibre of lows we can expect this winter?

My morning became more difficult just as soon as I finished taking care of everyone. Returning to the house for warmth, I was met with a chilly reception. The heat in the house had gone OUT! Dropping the inside temperature to 61*, lower than what I had woke up to. Adjusting the gauge to a higher setting served only to blow out that much more COLD AIR. I needed a shower before going out to take care of some errands, but it had to be put it off till way after lunch. While I waited for the sun to warm up the outside of the house. The inside was still too cool for my comfort. Seems things always fall apart when Lon is working, and this day was no different. Spent my afternoon waiting for a repairman to come, hopefully to fix the dinosaurof a heating unit. Murphy's law hit us squarely on the nail, with no repair to be made, leaving me with no heat and headed into another sub-freezing nite. Brrrrrrrrr!

The need for hay sent Lon off for a large purchase this week from a man we have been buying it from. All of the goats and Sassie love his hay, it is great quality at a very good price of $4.oo. He returned with a load of 32 bales mounded over his truck, showing us exactly how much it could carry. I am wondering at this point, just how long will it last. A month, maybe two, all winter, I doubt that. Though it would be nice to have a barn stocked till Spring arrives. I had picked up feed on my way home from errands and shopping this week, which were still in the trunk of my car. After a late breakfast the unloading began. Turning the goats out to browse in the woods enabled us to leave the barn gate open for ease of passage. One by one the bales marched into the hay room, filling one wall almost to the ceiling. I busied myself with cleaning up, filling feeders and placing dropped hay into nesting boxes. Being as tired as we were and not wanting to hinder the progress I fixed a picnic lunch and took it down to the barn for our enjoyment. Sitting atop fresh bales of hay with our meal spread between us, we rested and was refreshed in the quietness of the barn.

Love seeing and smelling a room full of hay,

Deborah

Fire, Fur and Feathers

Yesterday was "Bon-fire" day down at the barn. Clean out is under way of the place! Previous owners left, "you won't believe me if I told you" junk. We have 7 weeks till the beginning of Anna's expected due dates. Not knowing when she was bred exactly, leaves us guessing a bit. Conversion of one of the two rooms is needed for a place to kid, holding pens and a future milking parlor or should I say milking corner. Feed and hay storage and assorted supplies will occupy the other side. We would love to have a bigger real barn but will have to work with what we have for now. Besides, what really constitutes a barn anyhow? Webster dictionary defines it as ~ a building for sheltering - harvested crops (hay), livestock (goats), machines, etc. Guess the old relic qualifies. It was a long day with 2 very tired bodies at the end of it. But the difference is amazing! Anything that could be burned was quickly made into a pile of ashes. The large brush pile we had made during the summer was used to feed the flames all day long, clearing out that area too.

We set up some nesting boxes in the old silo, since we have 4 hens who like to lay their eggs in there. The goats seem confused about loosing their tepee living quarters. But the goat shed is almost complete and is their new home. Now if we can only convince them of that.

I had a friend ask me yesterday if we had settled in the house yet. I had to confess that after being here for 4 months it is still a work in progress, like so much around here. The shear number of projects to be done, slows progress in any one area. As we are constantly having to refocus our attention as individual needs arise. One day it's the chickens, the next the goats or Sassie. Occasionally it is our needs at the house that come up in the rotation. One thing for sure it is never boring around here. There is simply no time for it!

A blessing I found in one of the rooms of "our barn" was a huge tub of fabric pieces. Some were mere scraps but others were yard cuts. Someone living here before us must have loved to sew or quilt. It is quite an assortment with some really old prints in the collection. It's a quilter's treasure chest of possibilities and I look forward to using them. Right now I am trying to wash them up to remove the musty-storage smell from them. Hoping that a little time out on the line flapping in the sunshine will help. Being such a large amount, it may take me all winter to process them.

The time change of last weekend has brought both a challenge and a help to our chore schedule. The mornings are easier, due to daylight arriving earlier around 6:30-7am. But the evening setting sun at 6pm leaves us to do chores in the dark. Flashlights are a must for now, next year I hope to get some power established down at the barn. We talked just last night about another added benefit of the earlier darkness. One being that we are eating our dinner earlier due to the movement of choring up in the evening hours. The other is we have more leisure hours before bedtime now. Though with the intensity of our work load of lately, our bedtime has moved up as well.

It is encouraging to see the Silver-lace Wyandotes and Isa Browns checking out the nesting boxes. Increases in egg production should be right around the corner once these girls get on board with laying. Will be just in time to off set the fall moult of the older hens.

Today is a solo day for me. Other than a few basic home chores the day is open to whatever I desire to do. The challenge it brings before me is I have so many desires. Choosing will be difficult. Inside or outside play? The weather this week has been warm, sunny with chilly nights thrown in, typical fall weather. Little color is left, as the trees have dropped a good portion of their leaves.

Such short lived splendor to enjoy,

Deborah