A CURE FOR ROOSTER CROWING-A BEDROOM SHELF-FARMERS MARKET RUG

GREETINGS

Yesterday morning was dark and gloomy with a smell of rain in the air.  Strong storms and much rain were  called for but didn’t happen.    We are getting use to the change in  weather. I can now see Carol K from my computer window eating the grasses and weeds in the new fencing.

A CURE FOR ROOSTER CROWING

Yesterday I received  a Poultry Magazine in the mail .  There was a small article about a collar for roosters. I investigated it  on the internet and sure enough its true and it works.  I so love Roosters especially Murphy who I raise from a chick.  I love the sound of them crowing but not everyone likes the sound and Hazel’s crowing is downright annoying.  The two boys are practicing their crowing now and they will be adding their song to Murphy’s/  I do really have to consider my neighbors so I plan to get a collar for Hazel and try it out and the get one for the two other  boys..  They come in all sizes and are relatively inexpensive.  They do not hurt the bird at all and I am wondering if they will give the rooster added life.  The article explains a roosters crow, how they take in much more air then needed to make it happen this collar will restrict that big breath, they will still crow but it will be at the sound level as a hen.  I just love this idea.  Roosters are so needed on a farm.  They are protectors of their hens, show them where the food is, take care of fights amongst the hens.  Which means less pecking problems.  They will fight to the death to keep their girls safe.  I think I will raise my own replacement chicks from now on.  

MURPHY AND HIS GIRLS

 BEDROOM SHELF

I have a bedside table which is always cluttered up with things and I have special books which I use a lot on the table too. I looked around and found a board and some shelf holders and yesterday I painted them all and today I installed them on a wall near my bed.

 

 

 

FARMERS MARKET RUG

Friday’s farmers market was wonderful, Nina, Jan and Jane came and spun while I worked on the rug.  A gal came over to see what I was doing.  The amazing thing is that she is the town foot Nurse in COlrain and she lived many years in New Foundland.  SHe was secretary to a large Rug Hooking Group.    She is a Rug Hooker.  You just never know where you are going to meet people.  I am hope to see her again and have a longer chat.  Here is he progress on the rug.  I do love the lavender color and how the dark of his wool makes a pattern in the border too.  My rug hooking with yarn class this coming fall and winter will feature a small version of this rug.

 

My friend Francine sent me this wonderful poem by Emily Dickinson, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches on the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all

Hope you have a wonderful day today and thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.   Carole and Minnie

ROSIES ARRIVES-HAY IN THE BARN-HUGE HEIRLOOM RADISHES-PLANTING MORE SEEDS

GREETINGS

ROSIE ARRIVES

A trip to the Chicken Man’s house is always and adventure.

 The coops were full of all shapes and sizes of birds.

A BEAUTIFUL BANTAM ROOSTER

 From the exotic to the normal everyday hens.

 There were lots of Bantams but this time I wasn’t looking for Bantams.  I got a black sex-linked hen.  She will be a good layer.  She is shy and a little smaller than Samantha.  There is Chaos out in the hen yard today.  Everyone feels they are in the wrong place it will take a few days for things to settle down  I will have a picture of Rosie on my next blog.  There were beautiful bunnies there too.  They are very tempting.

 

 

HAY IN THE BARN

Today  over 50 bales of hay were delivered.

 

 Hay in the barn makes me so happy.  Just knowing I have enough for a while and knowing that I don’t have to bring it up the stairs brings joy to my heart.  He only has about 100 bales of second cutting to sell me and I will have to find someone else who will deliver.

 

 I think I will advertise the end of August at the grain store.    An elevator is still on my wish list!

My son gave Chris great advise on stacking hay and why it can’t be packed too tightly.  Chris stacked them all and it was done within a half hour.  What a great day.

HEIRLOOM RADISHES

I found this beauty out  in the garden yesterday.

 

Unfortunately there aren’t many there.  They were planted before the big rains and most of the seeds got washed away.  The soil here is so good now.  I planted some more lettuce mix, catnip and some beets the other day.  I think I will plant more beets today.  

LIL’s FIRST EAR OF CORN

Mmmmmm 

 

We are expecting more bad weather this afternoon through tomorrow.  Heavy rains, thunderstorms, and more.  I really am thinking that a hoop house would be such a good idea and must put that on my list  for the spring.  Hope you have a wonderful day and many thanks for reading my blog;  Carole

 

THE FARMER’S MARKET RUG-NEW ATTIC FIND, SAMANTHA

GREETINGS

The humidity is gone and its a delightful day.  Chris and I have moved fencing and the sheep will enjoy weeding for me today.  This is a project that I have wanted to do for such a long time thank goodness for Chris, it didn’t take long at all.   My plan is to get more fencing and when they are done eating this area I will plant a clover,grass mix for their enjoyment an erosion control..

THE FARMER’S MARKET RUG

 

 

 

The  rug is coming along nicely, and the people at the market are interested in its progress.  I did dye Elliott’s yarn with Pro-Chem Lavender and it came out this wonderful bluish/purple.  I think it will really make the border stand out.

NEW ATTIC FIND

While cleaning the attic on the cooler days of last week I found this notebook.  My Grandfather must have done it.  Inside it was obituary notices of my great, great, great Uncle Samuel Utley who was a judge in Worcester.  I learned so much about him and his good works.  He graduated in 1867 from Harvard Law School and was the 55th descendent of Lt. Co.Thomas Knowlton a Revolutionary War Hero.    I am so glad this book was not lost and can now be passed on.

 

 

SAMANTHA

Samantha has been having a tough time.  Morticia is done being a Mom and want to be with her friends Hazel, Mrs. Brown and Milly.  If Samantha goes in with them they pick on her .  I have decided the best thing to do is to go down to the CHicken Man’s house tonight and get another hen around Samantha’s age.  I will put her in tonight and leave Mortica with her friends.  It will be good forSamantha to have a friend anyway.  Two is always better on the bottom of the pecking order.   Eventually they will all be together.

The roosters are crowing and getting much better at it.  They have adjusted nicely.

I have been having some trouble with word press but I think that it’s all solved now so I will be blogging more.   SO much is happening now on the farm.  Many thanks for reading my blog, hope your day is lovely.  Carole

 

JULY’S SALVE DONE-LIL PICKING BLUEBERRIES FOR THE FIRST TIME-LIFE ON THE FARM-PARENTS FOUND

GREETINGS

JULY’S SALVE DONE

Yesterday was overcast here and the temps were good.  A great day for making Salve.

 The salve smelled great even before I added a some drops of lavender essential oil.  It had been brewing for 3 months.  Today I will make up another batch and set it in the sun to infuse and make it up in late September.

LIL PICKING BLUEBERRIES

One of my blueberry plants has a good number of berries on it.  It happens that Lil just loves blueberries and I wanted to show her where they come from.  Well she would have eaten every one and was so delighted that she could just pick them and pop them into her mouth.

LIFE ON THE FARM

Chris and I have been moving fence almost every day so the sheep get a little fresh grass.  There is another big area that I can fence in but there are some plants  that I have to investigate first.  SOme plants make sheep very sick.  In a big field they would avoid them but where there is not a lot of grass they might eat them.  I can’t take that chance so I will seek out some advice before that area is fenced in.

So far I have filled up 7 bags of kindling from broken branches and trimming of large shrubs.  I hope to get at least 20 bags done and that may last through the wood heating season.  The town will be cutting a tree down across the street from my house, I hope I can get the wood from that tree, that will be a big help this winter.  There are two tracts of land in back of me one is a 5 acre parcel and the other a 6 acre parcel.  At some point I hope I can buy the 5 acre parcel and have some trees cut and increase the area for my sheep, planting some good grasses in it.  All will have to be done by hand because it’s very rocky but 100 years ago it was pasture so I know its doable.

All the flowers and roses have overgrown the path to the back yard.  I have been putting up old fence posts and tieing bailing twine on them to hold them back.  Its working well and the pathway is much clearer.

PARENT’S FOUND

Yesterday my son found this poor little baby bird on the chicken fence.  It was crying and its tail feathers were just coming in.  It held onto my finger with all its might and was calling and calling for its parents., meanwhile a neighbors cat was hovering around the area.  My Son put it on a branch and we walked away watching it and then its parents came and fed it.  I am sure it fine.  This year  there are so many birds nesting here and visiting the farm.  I am sure a lot of it has to do with permaculture.  The land and the plants on it are so good now.  Plenty for them  to eat. The songs in the mornings and evenings are so delightful.  I would like to record them for wintertime listening.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this delightful summer day.  please visit the farm again.  Carole

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHICKENS-COLLECTING COMFREY-ANGUS

GREETINGS

MORTICIA AND SAMANTHA

The have adjusted to the move and it didn’t take long for Mrs. Brown to come and visit,   She was very happy to see Morticia and found a place to slide herself under the fencing that divides the area.  A joyful reunion.  Mrs. Brown doesn’t like children and found Samantha annoying.  Samantha learned quickly to stick by her Mom.  

MORTICIA

 

 

 

 

 

MR. PEEPERS AND CHICKEN LITTLE

For the past few days I have heard practicing, yesterday it was a terrible rooster sound today its much better,  Practice does make perfect.

ANGUS

Angus has lost some weight and just didn’t look right so off to the vets he went.

  He has an infection and some signs of liver problems.  He is now on an antibiotic and some medications to help his liver.  Old age isn’t fun for any of us.

GATHERING COMFREY

Chris and I went up in the back of my son’s yard to gather comfrey.  It grows so well there.  I will dry some for winter use and make another batch of salve.

SHELBURNE FALLS FARMERS MARKET

It takes time for people to get to know your products and what you do.  Yesterday was a good day at the market for me.  Each week it gets better and better.  I will include a picture of the rug progress soon.  I have spun some of Elliotts wool and will be dyeing it purple this afternoon.  That will be the border color of the rug.  I am so enjoying this rug and the people at the market are enjoying the progress.

Many thanks for reading my blog today, I hope you have a lovely day.   Carole