SIGNS OF SPRING-EGGS-WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BARN THIS MORNING

GREETINGS

 

The long shadows of winter are now being seen in the woods.  As I travel up the hill the snow in the woods is glistening from the last icy snow.  The birds are filling up with food in anticipation of tonight’s winter weather.

SIGNS OF SPRING

As January turns into February I await the signs of spring.  The first one happened last week.  Driving by Pine Hill Apple Orchard the apple tree trimmers were back.   Each year all along the hills and valleys of western Massachusetts this happens.    I have since seen people in the woods getting their maple sugaring lines in order.  My pussy willows are out and started to bloom last month.    The winds can howl and snows can fly but I know that spring is on its way.

EGGS

Last summer instead of getting two new hens to go through the winter laying I resu=cued two birds .  I don’t know why I didn’t pursue getting the young hens but I paid dearly for it this winter.  I hate buying eggs.  I like my own eggs period.  But sometimes getting only one egg in a week or two doesn’t cut it.  I am now getting an egg every day or so and I won’t make that mistake again.  I will be looking for a couple of pullets in the late spring and then again in the fall.  THey do sell 6 week old birds but they are very expensive and I am home 24 7 to takecare of baby chicks.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BARN THIS MORNING

Having a camera in the barn is so much fun.  The sheep often snub their noses at the hay.  They will walk away and baa, I know what they are saying, we want better hay with more clover.  Well I know the hay that they get is much better then most sheep get and this is what happens shortly after I leave.

Many thanks for reading my blog today I hope your day is delightful.

Carole

 

 

WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN GREENFIELD

OLD SPINNING NEW MITTENS-EGGS AGAIN-SHEARING DAY COMING UP-NEW PLANS FOR THE GARDEN

GREETINGS

The winds are howling today, the sheep will be staying in until this afternoon when its suppose to be less windy.  We have had a wild winter so far.                            

 My health is slowly improving, I have been on the meds for more than a week and am coughing less and breathing better.  Yea.  Thank you Michelle at Northampton integrated Medicine.     The new  (to me) pellet stove is working great, keeping the house cozy.

OLD SPINNING NEW MITTENS

I spun this wool in the late 80’s  with the intent of making a Scandinavian reindeer sweater.  I still want to make one.  I loved the colors and decided to make something with the yarn.  One can never have enough mittens.

Shearing Day

March 6th is my shearing day.  When i made the date it seemed so far away.

PLANS FOR THE GARDEN

I have gotten some seed catalogs and picked out trees and seeds to order.  I do want to get more cover trees for the birds.  We seem to have so many cats now in the neighborhood..   Some hemlocks and spruce and The Greenfield Farmers Cooperative had some miniature pines that would work for the front yard.

For years I have wanted a hoop house and online I saw the perfect one.   Ricky said he would help me install one or two on the back hill.  Perfect solution for a hill which is hard to walk on. I may incorporate the area for the chickens. The quality of the picture isn’t that great  but you can see how they are built into the hill and easily made out of cattle paneling and plastic.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this windy day.  Carole

 

 

MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL QUILT-THE INKY BROTHERS AND MOXIE-ANOTHER BOUT WITH A LYME CO-INFECTION

GREETINGS

An almost full moon shines into the woods and barn tonight.  Making long shadows in the woods.  After a warm day we will be having colder temps tonight. 

MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL 

 

What a surprise when I opened this years Christmas present from my Cousin Gary.  MY favorite Sheep show has always been the Maryland show.  It’s the biggest and most exciting show.  I was a vendor for many years and miss it so.   The group of people who put on the show are accommodating and so nice.  My Cousin always helped me at this show, he lives about an hour and one half away.  We got T-shirts every year.  This year I got this wonderful quilt with lots of memory T-shirt pictures.  It’s a treasure.

INKY 1 AND INKY 2  (THE TRIPODS) AND MOXIE HAVE ARRIVED ON THE FARM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been asking the universe for a few more cats, it has been sort of empty with only two cats here.   I spotted an ad on Facebook about the Inky brothers.  Two three-legged cats that were mostly feral that needed a home.  They were sitting in a cage for some months  in Rhode Island with two adoptions that fell through.  I talked it over with my Grandson, Ricky and came to the conclusion that I could take them in.  I have a small sunny bedroom with two windows that overlook a bird fly-way.    With help from Gayl, Genevieve,, and Dr. Annette Rauch they are now here safe and happy.

I am hoping that eventually they will come to trust me but am giving them some space to get adjusted.  I will eventually spend time in the room  and i talk to them every time I go into the room so they will know me..  There are dozens of nose prints on the windows so I know they are watching bird tv every day.  PAAWSRI did a wonderful job with them giving them all the time they needed to find a new home  Thank you .

Moxie came to me as a 8-year-old cat who had been with the same person his whole life.  The gentleman needed to move in with a family member who was allergic to cats.    He has had a bit of a tough time adjusting here.  He was quite mad  at me and wouldn’t look at me for days.  He has been in my downstairs bedroom  but because he has weight issues I don’t know when I will put him with Sam and Willie.  He is such a sweet boy and know he will fit in nicely here.

 

 

LYME DISEASE

An article caught my eye on Instagram and I develed into it further.  At the least to say I was shocked but not surprised ro find out that our own government may be responsible for the tick outbreak.

Dr. Ken liegner had this to say about Lyme:  In the fullness of time, the mainstream handling of lyme disease will be viewed as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of medicine.. because elements of academic medicine, elements of government and virtually the entire insurance industry have colluded to deny a disease. 

I know this to be true because the clinic I go to many of the doctors have told me so, I have been laughed at, told I never had the disease ect.  He is  reveling  his secret role in developing bug born biological weapons. I am going to buy the book BITTEN The secret history of lyme disease and biological weapons.  300,000 Americans are affected with Lyme disease each year.  This book devels into Willy Burgdorfer the man who discovered the microbe    The author believes that it was an experiment gone wrong.

This disease is in epidemic proportions and has affected so many people.  It has taken their life away.  Only if you are lucky enough to have Doctors that know this disease know how to treat it can you ever hope to get some resemblances of your old life back.

I have been sick again since October.  Through blood work taken at Integrated Medicine I have a very high level of mycoplasma.  Which means that I will be under treatment for the next month .  It is an interesting disease as it has no cell covering so I have to take one medicine which encapsulates it so the two antibiotics that I will be taking will work.  I am also taking an immune booster to try to improve my health.

SNOW

 I have so many wonderful birds coming to the feeding station.  Lots of cardinals, Mourning Doves, all kinds of Woodpeckers, and so many more.    The cats are enjoying wild bird tv.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this clear moonlight night.

Carole