THE NEW HEN-THE RAINS-KING-FERDINAND JOINS THE FLOCK

GREETINGS

Another beautiful day is in store for us .  I am spending the afternoon sorting a fleece at my friends, Jane and Harry’s farm with the rest of the spinning group.  What fun.

THE NEW HEN

The other night I went to close the side yard hens up and she was not in her nesting area as usual.  She was walking around the Caravan looking in.  Then she walked to her house and up ran Rosie who hadn’t been so nice to her, they both look into the house and Rosie walked back to the caravan and hoped in.  Along comes Gladys and she walks up and jumps in too..

I learned early on with chickens that they do things in their own time.  They have accepted her and she is an equal with them.  All is good in the side yard.  Hazel and Mrs. Brown have return outside in the dog house and will remain there till  till the middle of September  when they will come in for the winter.

THE RAINS

I thought I was prepared for the rains, Chris redug the ditch and I dug up near the barn door but late Tuesday night when i went into the barn it was raining downstairs again and the water had come through the barn again.  I had a complete meltdown, I was so worried I would lose the hay.  Lauren, Tyler and Charlie came over the next morning and we moved the hay.  Only 6 or so bales were affected and I was able to save a portion of them.  The barn is drying out and the problem should be fixed soon.

A NEW MEMBER JOINS THE FLOCK

While moving the hay around Lauren noticed this little guy in the sheep area.   I have seen him when he was quite smaller in the garden.  I have name him King Ferdinand he is the biggest toad I have seen here.  He was escorted back to the garden .

 

Hope you have a wonderful day and thank you so much for reading my blog.  Carole

After Breakfast

MORE HAY-GOODBYE CHRIS=OPEN HOUSE AT THE FIREHOUSE-SAM

GREETINGS

The whole house and yard is encased with the smell of skunk.  Its as though he was in the house!

The weather is still nice and cool but more humidity and some needed rain will be here in a day or two.

Chris left yesterday.  We got so much accomplished while he was here.  He will be back in October.

MORE HAY

Cindy met us in Greenfield and we put 18 bales of hay in her Mini Van!!!!!!  And loaded 4 bales in my car.  The total in the barn is now 42 toward my goal of 100.I won’t start using the 100 till mid march to insure that when I run out the new hay will be ready.

 

 Thanks so much Cindy.  Chris and Charlie got it into the barn in no time.

SAM AND MOM

Sam the man has been here a year.  He was two yesterday.  He has changed so much and come into his own.

 I am so happy that i got he and Owen  Although Owen didn’t have a long time here he to came into his own before he passed away.

Yesterday was another anniversary.  It was one year since my Mom passed.  Time has flown by.  I miss she and my Dad so much. If you still have parents  be sure to ask them things about your family and their lives.  I have so many questions unanswered.  When Cindy got home last night she has an old clock which belonged to my Dad’s family.  It’s never touched or wound up yet yesterday it was ticking, how interesting.

THE FIREHOUSE OPEN HOUSE

My son so enjoys being a volunteer fireman.  It’s a rewarding job   Yesterday was there annual open house.

Good friends and family Lil meets Sparky her new hero

 Food was served, all the equipment was out and there was a smoke house that you could go into.  What a fun and educational day for adults and children alike.

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

HAY-FAMILY-SLEEPING PORCH

GREETINGS

t’s the three H’s today, Hazy, Hot, and Humid.  We expect these days in the summer and I try to get most of my chores done early.

 FAMILY

I am lucky to have three wonderful children and their spouses and kids.  As one ages one  need more help and each one of them are there for me in many different ways.  A big hug and thanks to all of you . 

HAY IN THE BARN

Betty, Jason and Lauren got hay in the barn yesterday.Its the start of my stash of 100 bales.  With the shortage this year I want to fill the barn. They also brought up the hay I just bought, what a help.  Thanks to all.

SLEEPING PORCH

I needed something to get me excited about this house again.  I have this love hate relationship with it.  It was so neglected and always needs money and work one does get sick of it.  On the other hand its a unique house octagon shaped with a post and beam barn.  My friend Susan and I were talking about sleeping outside.  And the idea was started.  I had planned to put up two old windows that were here when I moved, up on the east side of the porch.  Blocking winter winds off the mountain might make the house a little warmer.  Then I thought that next year I could screen in  that side of the porch.  Then I looked up SLeeping Porches online and really got excited.

Sleeping porches date back 100 or so years.  Use for comfort in the hot weather.  Still used in many lake cottages.  Its coming back in vogue now.  It would be fun to sleep our in the cool air with wonderful night sounds but at the same time being protected from bugs and things that go bump in the night.

I hope you have a wonderful day and many thanks for reading my blog on this steamy day.  Carole

WEATHER AND HAY-THE PARADE-FUN THINGS I AM DOING THIS SUMMER

GREETINGS

Rain on the fourth but a beautiful day today.  I must say the nights have been perfect for sleeping.  I checked my tomatoes yesterday and noticed two of the were wilting, they were completely severed, couldn’t find the worm but put DE around the rest of the tomatoes.   I have 4 more to plant and will plant them inside of tin cans for protection.

WEATHER AND HAY

Some farmers have not even made a first cutting of hay.  Both farmers that I buy my hay from say that this will be a very bad year.  One farmer told me that some farmers are keeping back their hay and offering it when there is not much  around hoping to make more money.  I am buying it as I can hoping to be able to stock pile some for winter.  I will  inquire about supplementing with grains and  what would be best for my sheep.  It’s a scary situation and I am sure many animals will be going to auction this year  Too bad.

THE PARADE

 

It did rain on our parade yesterday but we still enjoyed it.  The kids got lots of candy thrown out of firetrucks and antique cars.

SMOKY THE BEAR

THE APP[LE TREE – MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL–PEAS -VIOLETS

GREETINGS 

The hot and sticky weather is suppose to be ending today and we will have a few days of cooler weather.   The peas have finally started coming up, they don’t like warm weather so I hope the cooler weather will give them a boost they need.

 i can see little lilac flowers outside my computer window.

 This year should be a good year for them.

THE APPLE TREE

 

The poor apple tree has been abused and it still grows.  First when the workmen were here they broke it in a couple of places and when the tree fell it narrowly missed it and broke  it again.  Its a strong tree and is full of leaves.  Yea.

MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL

I have a booth again at this wonderful show.  SUsan generously offered to share  her booth but Arron e-mailed me this morning that one booth had become available.  Come see me at the show I will be in Barn 2.  I have lots of used fiber books and am getting rid of most of my weaving equipment.  Soap, salves and herbal products will also be available, and lots of wool!

HAY

Hay is an invaluable commodity when you have farm animals.  If you have a large enough farm you make your own and sell any extra.  My farm is tiny so I depend on farmers.  Last night I called for hay to be picked up this afternoon, Bob’s wife said that hay was tight and I may have to get it elsewhere and she would have Bob call me.  He called this morning and said yes hay was very scarce and the first cutting would not be as plentiful as he hoped but he could continue to supply me.  What a relief I am so grateful to know that my sheep will continue to have good hay.  He told me that at the auction last night mulch hay was bought for $5.00 per bale for feed to a farmer from eastern Massachusetts.  There is no hay there.  And before I found Bob I bought a bale of hay from the co-op for 8 dollars and it was trash.

Good news from two different places has come my way today

PURPLE VIOLETS

 

 

I picked some purple violets this morning, I have been wanting to try to make a bath water out of them.  I added vinegar to the jar just to cover and will let them steep for a few weeks.

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you day is filled with lots of good things.   Carole

 

.