BOOKS I AM READING-BEAUTIFUL ROSIE-THE WINDS

GREETINGS

This morning looking out my kitchen window I saw two Blue Jays sitting on a branch of the crabapple tree.  ONe was feeding the other a sunflower seed.  It’s these small things that makes a sometimes difficult life on the farm worth it.

 

 

BOOKS I AM READING   FRESH EGGS DAILY BY LISA STEELE

If you can afford only one book about raising chickens get this one.  I found her blog online when Hazel got the respiratory thing again and followed her advise about herbs.  WIthin a week he was better and I continued the herbs for another week,  It was amazing.  I wanted to know more and her book has it all.  She raises her chicken holistically like I do.  Her practical tips for good diets and health issues  and what to have on hand for an emergency is priceless.  

BEAUTIFUL ROSIE

I took this picture early this morning.  She is content on the nest and laid a beautiful egg.

THE WINDS

It was supposed to get up to the mid 20’s today but that never happened.  The winds came up around noontime and are still howling.  You can’t be outside long on this day.

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

 

THROUGH THE BARN WINDOW-STORM COMING-ROSIE- ROADSIDE TRIMMING

GREETINGS

FROM THE BARN WINDOW

My barn window offers wonderful views.  Moon light often streams through, Stars on a moonless night, Snow gently coming down, even rain coming down.  Tonight we had a spectacular sunset.    Tomorrow 6-12 inches of snow.

We have been enjoying temps in the 50’s and 60’s all this week.  I worked like a mad woman these past few days getting things done.  EVerything is picked up in the yard and manure is spread around.  We may be back in the 50’s again over the weekend, the one thing that didn’t get done was bulb planting and garlic planing.  I hope I can do it over the weekend.    

ROADSIDE TRIMMING

The Maine Organic Newspaper had an interesting article on road trimming.  You see the trimmers on the roadways all summer long.  What I never thought about is when they are around.  It seems that lots of the trimming is when wild flowers and shrubs need pollinating.  So these flowers and the insects that pollinate them are becoming more scarce.  It all makes sense and they are truly worried about the monarch butterflies who depend on milkweed leaves to thrive.  I am hoping to plant some milkweed next year.

ROSIE

Rosie is finally getting her feathers back but still sleeping where its warm and cozy in the nest box.

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

 

 

PICTURES OF MY FIRST FLOCK OF SHEEP-A VISITOR IN THE PASTURE-CHRIS AND OWEN-ELLIOTT-ROSIE

GREETINGS

Its a cold day today with a bitter night coming upon us.  January weather, well for me its a test to see how warm the house stays with wood and pellets during the  day and oil at night.  So far so good.  Its quite comfortable in the house.  Lots of work keeping everything going but worth it.  A warm up next MOnday maybe I can still get the garlic planted!   I have been wanting to share some pictures of my first flock of sheep.  All Border Leicesters and as far as I a concerned the best flocK that anyone could have.  The first picture is of Seamus, who was a 300 pound beauty.  He was as gentle as a kitten, the second picture is of some of the rest of the flock including my angora goat Timmy.

THE FLOCK

 

A VISITOR IN THE PASTURE

Miles and miles of woods start where my pasture leaves off.  Many animals live there.  This morning my son looked up in the pasture and saw the sheep and Elliott and then something else, a deer.  A young doe coming out of the barn.  The sheep and Elliott didn’t seem to notice which leads me to think that this has been happening for a while.  SHe probably discovered food and drink inside the barn.   SHe easily jumped the fence  when my son’s dog barked.  Always something interesting.

Elliot

A couple of weeks back when I was still ill I went up to feed the sheep and noticed that Elliott was bleeding from the mouth and there was a tooth missing.  Of course I got all upset but called a llama expert  and found that this happens in old age.  They do loose their front teeth, not to be concerned because they chew with their back teeth.  By the time I went back upstairs he was happily eating his hay and had finished his grain.

 

 

Chris and Owen

The new cats really like CHris. especially Owen.

ROSIE

Poor Rosie what a time to moult.  I have fixed up a nest box for here with lots of shavings and hay and she seems to stay warm there.  She still ventures outside during the day.  New feathers are coming in .

Many thanks for reading my blog on this blustery day, I do hope you are warm and cozy wherever you are.

Carole 

 

CHRIS IS COMING-THE HERB CUPBOARD-SAMANTHA AND ROSIE-SOME PARTING THOUGHTS

GREETINGS

The mornings start later these fall days, the chickens are hardly up when I greet them. The next few days are going to be warm so much has to be done.  Today though it’s the Farmers Market.

Chris comes back

Chris comeS back this evening.  It will be the first time he meets Owen and Sammy.  I have lots of plans for the time he is here.  We have to take up the floor of the porch right near the back door.  When the plumbers came to fix the broken pipe last winter they noticed a large gaping hole and plugged it up but it needs a better fix.  I don’t want anymore frozen pipes this coming winter.  Then he will help me move  the washer, fridge and stove so I can clean behind them.  On SUnday we will do some barn cleaning and putting some of the wood away.  A busy but delightful weekend.

THE HERB CUPBOARD 

Now that the herb cupboard is back in its place its time to repaint it and the doors, woodwork and cabinets in the kitchen.  I love the dark mustard color and hope I can find a color that is close.

 At one time the kitchen was a very tiny room where the wood stove is and the other part of the kitchen was a wood shed.  There is not much storage area so cabinets had to be bought.  I would like to paint the ceiling over the winter and maybe in the spring figure out what to do with the walls.  There was cheap paneling on the bottom half and I really wanted to put bead board there.

SAMANTHA AND ROSIE

 

They are laying eggs every other day now both of them.  I should have eggs through the winter now.  Not many but at least theirs. 

 

SOME PARTING THOUGHTS

 Last night  just as the sunset was receding into the western sky I sat in my chair while filling up the sheep’s water.  The sky was beautiful shades of pink melding into the  dark of night.  It was just beautiful.  Sometimes I just don’t appreciate how good my life is.  I live a simple life doing what I love best, farming in a small way.  I am surrounded by family, animals and friends that truly love me and  even though many days are  a struggle to keep things going I wouldn’t trade it for all the money in the world.

Many thanks for reading my blog today, I hope you day is enjoyable.  Carole

A SURPRISE IN THE CELLAR-MORTICIA REJOINS THE TWO KIDS-TANSY AND HOPS AT THE MARKET-TEA COZY

GREETINGS

 

Thank you so much my blogger friends for the kind words and thoughts about Minnie.  It meant so much to me during this sad time.

A SURPRISE IN THE CELLAR

I went in the cellar way yesterday to look for a hammer and saw water at the bottom of the stairs.  All the rain that was supposed to come through the house was now in the basement.  I only have a partial basement which I can stand up in but most people can’t.  In New England there is plenty of ledge and I have my share in the basement.  Luckily someone had the thought to build a cement trough and a hole with a drain pipe which takes the water into the street.  During hurricanes and very bad storms you can hear the roar of the water rushing through the house..  I couldn’t unplug it from inside and had to find the opening near the street which was plugged up with mud. I got a very long stick (about 12 feet long) and finally in about 10 minutes got it unplugged it gushed out and this morning is still coming out.  Glad I went down there, weeks can go by without a visit to the cellar.

MORTICIA

Morticia rejoins the two kids every morning now.  Rosie is getting the same treatment as Samantha.  More lessons learned for the two young gals.

TEA COZY

I am making progress on the Tea Cozy and I am really enjoying working on it.  Right now I am working on a Tea Pot pattern.  Can’t wait to see how it comes out.

 

TANSY AND HOPS TO THE FARMERS MARKET

I am taking Tansy Bouquets and Hops swags to the farmers market today.  I don’t know how they will sell but its something I have wanted to do. When I started my small business I wanted to sell herbs, flowers and wool.  Moving and other obstacles have been in my way but I am getting back to that original plan slowly.

 

It’s cloudy this morning and cool, the sun is trying to break through.  I am still washing wool sweaters, it will be a great day for this one to dry.  Hope your day is wonderful wherever you are.  Many thanks for taking the time to ready my log.   Carole