LIL-GETTING THE CHICKEN CARAVAN READY-RAIN BARREL

Hello,

Today I spent a good part of the morning getting the Chicken Caravan yard ready for the hens.  The roof is metal and needed a good cleaning.  I used the Orange cleaner that I made over the winter and 2 years of grime came off easily.  I have it cleaned out and spent at least an hour getting the netting up.

 I found that I really need one more pole to make it easier for me to walk around freely inside.    The netting is bird netting and it goes up like a circus tent.  I though of the idea last year and it worked.  I must say the putting up and taking down in not a lot of fun.  I hope to get the girls set up at the beginning of the week.

LIL

Lil is growing up so fast, in no time she will be crawling around.

The Rain Barrel

I have the rain barrel in place but the down spout is not in place.  I have some measuring to do.

  I plan to get another barrel for the pasture near the sheep.  I have 2 large water tubs for the sheep.  They need to be refreshed every couple of days in the summer and I have to dump the water.  I really would like to use that water.   I don’t have a pump so would have to bucket it into the barrel.  Gravity would bring it down to things that need to be watered.

Another picture from the Chicken Man.  He sells Peacocks, geese, ducks and bunnies too.  A did call him and leave a message about that sweet little chick and hoping to hear that he will save him or her for me.

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

BURR ITS COLD – HEART ROCK – LIL – A TOUCH OF SPRING

HELLO

The cold is brutal, we have had snow flurries most of the day but they aren’t mounting too much.  I have spent most of the day just trying to keep the house warm.  

HEART ROCK

Valentines Day is coming up soon and this was pointed out to me this past fall.  A heart-shaped rock, isn’t it funny I never noticed it.  I had the wall rebuilt about 8 years.  The man who did this work was from Nepal.  He did a wonderful job and told me many stories about Tibet and Nepal.  The view of the rock is seen through my kitchen window, that wall is holding the mountain back, its 3 rocks thick.

A TOUCH OF SPRING

Another Hyacinth has blossomed.  The smell is wonderful, one more to go.

LIL

The boys and I ate dinner at my sons yesterday.  Lil had on a sweet rose dress and was playing with a GUND Pookie.  She was tired out at the end of the our meal.  Playing is serious work.

Ricky and Chris went home yesterday, I certainly miss them but they will be back in 6 weeks for the winter vacation.  They will get some skiing in at a local ski resort.

Many thanks for reading my blog, stay warm.           Carole

WINTER STORM – BETTYS HORSES-LIL

HELLO

The snow has already started and we are supposed to get at least 6 inches then some sleet and freezing rain.  Tomorrow will be quite messy.   I am so glad that I don’t have to even think about going to work.  We are ready for the snow, My son put the plow on the ATV and the sheep are snug in the barn.  I picked up a supply of carrots and cabbages at Atkins so they are all set. 

As the wood stove dies out Shorty is getting the last bit of warmth from it and Willie is out like a light in front of the pellet stove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lil and her Rocking Horse

 

 

 

 

 

Lil takes her first ride on her rocking horse with Dad.

 

 

 

Betty’s horses

While I was in Belchertown I stopped at my youngest daughter Betty’s house.    She is a horse lover and has a few horses and a very large dog.

 

 

 

 

 

Beamer is on the right.  He is a Morgan.   I was horse crazy as a child, that was the only thing I wanted every Christmas,a horse.  I got my wish in my mid 40’s when Betty and I got Amanda.  Betty was working then at Mt. Holyoke college and heard that a Morgan school horse was being retired.  Unfortunately Amanda overheard that she was going to be retired and took it quite seriously.  She really didn’t want to be ridden again.  We loved her anyway and she lived out her life on the farm.  She loved peppermint candies and would get all excited if she heard the rusle of the plastic wrapping.

Thank you for reading my blog and hope you have a wonderful day.    Carole

 

 

 

 

 

LILLY ARRIVED TODAY – GETTING THE RASPBERRY BED READY FOR SPRING – JOHN SEYMOUR

HELLO

This morning a daughter was born to my son and his girlfriend.  Her name is Lil Ann Adams, SHe will be Lilly to me.  That will bring the number of grandchildren to 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GETTING THE RASPBERRY BED READY FOR SPRING

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning I cleaned up a pile of Llama poop and wheeled it down to the new raspberry bed.  The nice thing about llama’s is that they just poop in one place so the clean-up is easy.  I added it to the hay from the sheep that I put down earlier in the year.  I will now add a layer of mulched hay and that should be it.  It will be ready to plant in the spring.

PERMACULTURE BLOG

I follow a blog about permaculture in Ireland and she mentioned John Seymour.

I bought his book “THE SELF SUFFICIENT GARDNER” in the late 70’s/  At the time I was struggling with a garden which used to be a driveway and was full of trap rock.  With his guidance I produced lots of great produce and even made maple syrup on a city lot in Holyoke, Mass.  All things are possible .  I recently found another book by John  called The Self Sufficient Life and was able to get it on Amazon.  It too holds many good ideas.

 

 

 

A MOONLIGHT NIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was out putting the hens to bed and saw the moon just coming over the mountain.  I love how it looks amongst the  trees.

Hope you have a wonderful evening and thank you for reading my blog.

Carole