Morning at the Homestead

I am getting back in the habit of taking a very early morning stroll about the immediate homestead.  Max will be happy to note that I am also letting the girls our to graze!

He had warned me that the Light Brahmas are prone to fly up on him............that would unsettle me to the point of flight!  However, they didn't bother me at all. He said it was because I was not carrying any feed with me (which I will now never do).

They immediately began pecking on the ground around my feet.  I found out later that DH had scattered some bird seed to call them in last night.

Once that was cleaned up they spread out.  Note there is still some standing water in the run.

I was near the small group of cows that we keep near for feeding grain and whatever.....I have lost track of the reasons.

Cattle this time of year look mangy.  This is due to lice which will disappear as soon as the sun starts shining on a regular basis.  They will also loose the longer hair and slick up and look much prettier.

This is most of the group at one of the new (expensive) bales of hay we had to buy.

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We have a few with horns due to the introduction of the Jersey genetics.  At some point we will have the heifers dehorned and sell or butcher the horned bulls.  See the new baby.  He was born to a poor old, crippled cow that will not get better but she still bred and calved.  We will hopefully not get her exposed to a bull again and sell her.  I am embarrassed for anyone to see her.  The dark red and lighter one to her right are the retired milk cow and the temporarily retired milk cow, the Jersey.

I think that is her baby next to her with the horns.....she will get dehorned.

The Yard

First the clump of daffodils that were the first to bloom,

I saw another lonely little clump back by the gas tank, but most are in the bud stage.
I like how Mother Nature mulched lots of things with windblown leaves.  I never ever rake leaves.

Some perennials are sneaking through the mulch but I fear for my new roses.  They are dark black.

                                                       The above is daylilies in Kerria Bed

                                                                   Sedum near smokehouse

                                                         Variegated sedum in Kerria Bed

This is a new salvia I planted late last fall.

What's in Bloom and Miscellaneous things on the Farm

Good Saturday morning!

and it is a good one.  We finally got some measurable rain and no storms accompanied it.  It did turn much cooler which is also a good thing for pastures.  Fescue grass which is the major grass in our area will quickly go to seed if the weather gets too hot.  The quality of it for grazing and hay goes down rapidly.

We have had way too many trips to town to suit either of us......some for MIL.  computer, printer, clock  batteries, alarm clock set wrong.....etc.  Her internet just isn't happening.  They won't come out to check until Thursday of next week.  Also the men who work for the assisted living facility came  and tried.....knowing zero about anything!  I saw a plug laying (unplugged) on the floor behind  her  computer......followed it to its source.  It was her oxygen machine!  She would never have found the issue and she has to have oxygen most of the time.  I plugged it back in and she is now safe.

The other trips were initiated by me....I needed some outside work tee shirts....and Max wanted to check out yard tractors.  I quickly got him off that notion when we looked at those monsters.  They would be nice for a large open space but our yard is filled  with shrubs, flower beds and trees and has very little open spaces.....even the orchard would be iffy.

i wanted to check out mulch at Lowe's but I was so tired after other shopping including the monster mower that we passed.

Maybe we can schedule yet another trip to town!!! and maybe not.

We did get the yard mowed before the rains,

I made two tours the  day before the rains started and in the few hours between this clematis opened fully, The President



These next  two pictures are from the same peony bush.  I don't remember the pinkish buds before,



Remember the budded peony of a couple of days ago?  Well here is what some sunshine will do:



The singles are nice landscape plants because they do not droop  with heavy rains.  Very few are fragrant however.

Another iris opened (and more yesterday but I haven't taken photos yet....it is raining),  I call it California Gold  but really should just call it an heirloom.  The previous owner planted it way back

 

I have very few roses left because of  Rose Rosette Disease but one is a very fragrant rugosa, Blanc Double de Coubert



I hesitate to show this picture because it was taken in full sun and the color is not accurate but most of you are familiar  with it anyway.  This is a bed of poppies, perennial that are being swamped by cheat grass.  I show it for a record of what is blooming when for  my use.



This is my one remaining dark lavender hesperis matronalis, Dame's Rocket.

Nepeta Walker's Low is in full bloom in the Kerria Bed,


This is a very hardy perennial for our area.  I see Lowe's has it around  their drive now.

I found another peach seedling tree.  It is in the chicken yard.  I left it purposely and now it is loaded with peaches.  These seedlings are much hardier that the ones you buy and they don't take that long to produce.  I have peaches on the 4 seedling trees and I don't have a single surviving peach tree on the place. The last one, I see is dying.....



FYI:  I am trying to keep to a spray schedule this year.  I have done a dormant oil and one regular fruit tree spray.  My next is due the first day the sun is shining.  Most of the sprays I use are safe up to the day of harvest and I never spray when bees are present.

Next post will be about the Ruby Locust tree that wasn't  and my first seedling clematis.

Random Chicken Shots

These are just of my heirloom girls, Dominique (also called domineckers and the Pilgrim Fowl)

 

First Yard Walk-About and other miscellaneous Things that compose my Life.

We are cooler now.  Lots of frost this morning and frozen birdbath!  It was also very foggy.  The daytime temps run in the high 50's.  Not too bad for March.  We have chances of rain for several  days; we hope it happens.

I finally re-tilled the garden that I had already tilled so that part is ready to plant.  I have ordered strawberry plants from Stark Brothers, Surecrop.  I will plant them in the 'kitchen' garden that I have just tilled.  I have tried for two years to get strawberries started again and failed.

This is the east end of the garden.  The strawberries will go next to the fence.

Note:  The bird feeder is still not upright!  My helpmate has just been too  'busy'!

I have not started any seeds inside yet.  I hate to have leggy plants and here I don't set out most plants until May 10.  I should plant spinach, lettuce and some  other cool season things very soon even if I have to water them in.

I made the angel food cake and the lemon sponge cake to use up the yolks.  We ate the angel food and I froze the other one.
I still have quite a build-up of eggs.  I plan to take a couple of dozen to the beauty shop this afternoon and I have told a neighbor to stop  by.

I  made a successful batch of yogurt but failed again  with the mozzarella.  I looks like my microwave is cooking the curd rather than just heating it.  It will be usable in some cooking or diced over salads but that is all.  I need to do more  research.  I made very nice mozzarella a couple of years ago. I don't know what is going wrong.....this is a different microwave.  I may try the hot water method next.  I just boiled the whey to make more ricotta.  I hope it turns out.  The last one did.  It was the first successful ricotta using the leftover whey.  It made maybe a cup of ricotta cheese.

I also went out to the Milk Parlor and skimmed the cream from the extra milk and ended up with a little over l quart.  I made butter again.  I am freezing it.

I did my first yard walk about a few days ago and found these little beauties.

There were 3 or 4  more clumps in various places (surrounded by groundcover (aka, dead nettle and henbit)).

The others are just miscellaneous pictures:


The curious chickens.  It is hard to get a 'portrait' because they swamp you; even stand on your feet,

but I managed these,

This is clear of weeds only because the bird feeder is hanging above and the birds scratch on the ground getting dropped seeds, more daffodils with buds,

I can't remember what these small bulbs are planted at the edge of the golden agastache bed.

I wonder what the draw is......these two cats are now hanging out near this bed (bird feeders are located here).  I think we are down to just three now.  Ahhhh, life in the country with varmints, probably coyotes.

Weather Change is Coming

 Promises to be cooler, good; more rain; bad.  Still no hay.

I read Flower Lady's blog this morning and one of her followers posted a comment about gardens that appealed to me greatly.

She called her Florida lush gardens 'raffish'.   I loved it.  Here is the definiation of raffish:

adjective

adjective: raffish

1. unconventional and slightly disreputable, especially in an attractive manner.

   
   

   "his raffish air"

   
   

 That is so much more appealing than weedy, overgrown, untrimmed and all  those ugly things we call  our 'raffish' gardens.

Here is a picture of mine:(one section of raffishness)

Thank you Lynn McIntosh.

Reading Flower Lady's blog always is uplifting; she has a gift.

I went out this morning to check  around and found the grass was very wet.  I wore my Muck boots so my feet stayed dry but I was  kicking up dew drops as I walked.

General Doings

I went into the new chicken yard to check around and decided to let the new  girls out.  They are almost as big as the old ones. All the old chickens (rooster and 4 old hens) went inside and immediately the new girls dashed to the back of their enclosed pen!. Finally one came  out while DH and I were watching.....the rooster went crazy after  her.  Don't know if he had evil intentions or was just excited by a new female prospect.  He  is really much too old but he is still very 'active'.  We rescued her and locked them back up again.....will  try again.

This is a picture I took looking west out of the chicken yard.  The trees are our west property line.

 

The cows in the far west pasture heard the ATV and headed to the barn where DH feeds them.  It is just a small heard of the two milk  cows, their babies, and a couple of others.

They recognize voices and truck and tractor sounds too.

I took some long shots for more perspective of the yard layout and the beds.  Notice the ATV tracks through the wet grass.  DH was heading east to the drive to go check  the beef herd.

 Smokehouse on the left ;house on right (not seen) and looking east at Kerria (old Ash Tree bed)

This is a long shot of the front yard



and this is the alley way between  the tree and shrub border and the house.  It really shields us from the road now.  There are just a few spots to fill in.  We only have one tree left out by the road.

I cooked our first eggplant and the squash from yesterday for lunch. I made a sort of pasta primavera (used canned tomatoes), onions and the sliced squash sauteed in olive oil with a dash of basil over frozen fettuccine that I had made and cooked some time back.  DH never complained about the lack of meat.....we did have grilled (on my grill pan on the range) egg plant slices.  I coated the pan with olive oil and sprinkled on salt and pepper.  Finished it all off with shredded Parmesan cheese.

This was bread day but our granddaughter called and talked while I was in the process so it wasn't ready for lunch.  We had a hot slice later and called  it dessert.

Spring is Coming

I can feel it in my bones.....and in the warmer weather  and with the dratted time change!

Gardening

Is taking over more of my thinking  these days.  I checked my planting calendar and saw  I needed to plant eggplant(Amadeo).  I also planted Pow Wow Berry coneflower (echinacea) and lavender Munstead.  I would really like to get a nice bed of lavender going.  It isn't easy to grow in our humid summers but once in a while  I can get a few plants to take hold.

The ground has thawed some and that leaves a muddy top few inches which is very annoying to walk through.  It also tracks up the back porch and kitchen. 

Finally the daffodils are coming up in various places. 

I want to get out and scatter all old saved flower seeds in some bare places.  Hopefully some with germinate. 

Farm

I lost two hens during the last cold spell,  Found them dead inside the hen house with a small wounded area on their backs.  I just assumed they died of old age and the others cannibalized them.  They do that you know.  But then a couple of days ago DH opened the door to the coop and staring him in the eye was a possum.  We have no idea how he got in unless he dug under the foundation on the field side.  (I need to check that).  DH dispatched him  quickly.  Then the next night we found this in one of the two traps we have set:  I think this is what happened to my two hens.



He  is playing dead in this picture; they do that you know but they are vicious little beasts if riled.

I found where a skunk had burrowed under the foundation which is why were were smelling skunk and blamed Sugar for getting too close.  So far, it has avoided the trap, but we think it is gone since we aren't smelling the sent now.  I have covered the hole.  This is a hide and watch situation.

Winter is nearing!

After several days of fairly warm weather  we are  headed  for the deep freeze. Temperatures near zero and 3-5 inches of snow promised.....The snow is supposed to start  tonight and continue  on through Monday.  I may not  venture out.......

I have  been keeping a daily journal but  much is just ordinary daily life here.  I will just do a few days at a time.

Beginning of journal

February 8

Up at 2:45. DH sets up the coffee the night before but I don't start it until just before he gets up so it will be fresh.....He was up at 3:00 so I didn't have to wait long.

It is very cloudy out this morning but also nice and warm. The next few days will be unseasonably warm but then our cool down once again.

Plans for today: Plant broccoli and cabbage in trays and put under lights.

Of course, I will have to unload the plant lights....I still haven't cleaned up that area! I keep putting it off.

Chickens

Just came back from cleaning out the nests and giving them fresh water. I noticed fresh poop from some smaller varmint. I smelled skunk out there yesterday morning........also a broken shell in a nest.

We will have to keep a close watch on that situation.

Puppies

I let the puppies out for a little while. They are getting farther away from the pen but came back pretty easily. I gave them treats once they were inside. They played with Sugar a bit. They howl when I leave them in the pen but not for long.

We checked the freezers before coming in. I got a package of green beans and peaches and I think blackberries out. We also found about 8 packages of hamburger left! Great news; I thought I was out. I will try to make it last until we butcher the white faced steer.

February 9

Well, I didn't get to the seeds yet. I went out early and did the chickens which just means I check for early eggs, check water and feed and decide whether to let them out or not. Since it was a cloudy cold day, I didn't. They have a nice long enclosed run so it isn't critical.

No eggs and we just got two for the entire day....they lay well for several days and then don't for a couple.

Did the puppies next. I let them out to roam for a while and won't be doing that again! I finally corralled one and carried her back to the pen. She was almost too heavy for me to carry. When I got her locked up they other two came running. I figured how much they are eating! Between the cats and the dogs, it is shocking.

House

I noticed the other day that the dining room window on the west side was extremely dirty with something that almost looked like spit dried on. I should have cleaned it the day before when it was nice and warm, but instead did it on the cold windy day. My hands were numb when finished but I feel better. I walk by and move the curtain just to appreciate it!

Cooking

I made a recipe of hamburger and hot dog buns. It turned out OK but the technique is something I will not repeat......try mixing butter and egg into a finished dough.....not recommended. Also they are tougher than normal which isn't a good thing for my husband. The basis was a true French bread recipe which is probably the reason. I did find they are quite nice toasted (my breakfast with homemade apple butter) and didn't seem tough to me anyway. Note:  by the second day, the buns were just fine....very strange.

I made hot  dogs  with homemade fries for lunch.


I had to make an emergency relish so I finely diced onions,sweet pickles and celery and added some mustard and ketchup....worked  out fine.

to be continued.

Saturday on the Farm

Another gray day is looming.

We have only seen the sun for a few hours the last week or so. I don't like these kinds of days.

I think they are even talking snow. Well, it is December.

It has been a slow, normal week here. Daily farm chores and errands.

I finally was able to get out and do the chickens and puppies (morning only) yesterday. Then navigated Walmart for dog,cat  and people food.

Speaking of errands......we are  loosing our Dillons/Kroger store that I went to for all my baking supplies.  They carried a varied and extensive line.  I got all my King Arthur Flours there; Walmart carries only KA's regular unbleached flour.  I think the Bolivar, Mo. stores carries all of their products.  We will be checking them out next week when DH has to get his driver's  license renewed.

Puppies

The puppies are now being confined with just a small pen for sunshine. Mama B. wants to lead them to the road to go exploring. We haven't made permanent plans for them yet.

The two brown ones are very friendly; the black one (with a black roof of mouth) isn't, with me anyway. I am wondering Chow mix?

Chickens

Carolyn at Krazo Acres got me thinking about my chickens and molt. I know mine are not laying well and I just assumed they would be as naked and pitiful looking as her flock. I made a point this morning when letting them out to really take a look and take a few pictures. Mine are looking very good. I don't know if the molt is coming and they are not laying due to reduced daylight hours only or what. You should visit Krazo Acres; that title might give you a hint.  I love her writing and her sense of humor.

Here they are in all their delightful Hyline splendor:

I gathered my two morning eggs.  We will get a couple more later but one of the girls eats an egg now and then so I try to defeat her by taking them early. 

Gardening

Last year  I lost both my seed orders.....ridiculous, I know but I did.  I found one order earlier this fall and while cleaning my storage shelves where I keep all things computer, I found the other order.  I picked up a bubble envelope and heard it rattle.

Still I ordered a few more non-hybrid  things from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds yesterday.  I still forgot the Long Cheese squash seeds.  I brought in my old seeds and will check through them and then pitch everything else.  I am starting new!

Forgive the varied size and style of type.  I copied and pasted from Open Office Document and have failed  to correct it.

Winterizing and Moving Puppies

Today has been slightly warmer so I decided to get  some  more winterizing  done.  DH is not really a detail man...................

Yesterday I rewired the heater for  the chicken waterer.  Those things never  last over a few years and they are grossly expensive  for what they are.  It was sort of  an unlovely fix, but it works.  No frozen water  this morning.  I also drug the long outdoor  extension  cord out to the chicken house so both the  heater and a light could be accommodated.  Of  course, the hens thanked me  by cutting production in half!!!

I bought a heat lamp for the puppies and we got them relocated today to the east sheds.  The brown one with white on her face seems to be the most lively so far.  They are beginning to get  their eyes open when they aren't squinting them....and are  more active.  I hope they don't wander out of the box/nest.   DH says Mama will see to them.  I hope he is right.



This one once disturbed decided to find a snack,



and had great success,



I had a busy morning before it warmed up enough to venture outside.

I made a batch of peach  and  strawberry jam for the kids.  I  also made a small apple tart for us.

From Food

The skimmings are always reserved for the chef....and her mate:

The foamy stuff is a little tarter but  very tasty.

From Food

and the tart,



I was out of frozen crust so I made up the batch of Nathan's  Never-Fail Recipe (6 crusts) so I now have my crusts in the freezer for Thanksgiving.

I am finished for the day.

Tomorrow I will move  some potted things I didn't get planted to the Milk Parlor for the winter.