tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83224760664123730372024-03-12T19:02:42.420-07:00Adventures in FarmingLife on Kiss My Grass FarmDothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-20450243278608548392011-01-08T18:28:00.000-08:002011-04-16T21:27:41.699-07:00If you miss me....You can find my latest ramblings at:<br />
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<a href="http://dotsbusyhands.blogspot.com/">http://dotsbusyhands.blogspot.com/</a>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-79819591901693698492010-12-31T09:30:00.000-08:002010-12-31T18:19:24.181-08:00Sittin' on the side of the road in the middle of nowhereThis was not what I thought I'd be writing for my final post on this blog.... but it is what it is. <br />
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Yesterday we loaded up Hazel, Whitey and Will - milk cow, beef cow, and our Dexter bull. Packed a gilt in a crate. Packed sheep and Peaches the LGD into very large dog kennels. Loaded up watering troughs, pig panels, cattle panels and some chicken wire. Filled the cooler with farm raised poultry and pork and set off for Stamping Ground KY. <br />
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Why? you may ask. Well, we were helping Anders and Emily move all their new livestock to their new farm. <br />
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Mile marker 22.8 on I64, the truck died. <br />
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Many calls later Brian finds a very kind wrecker service to tow the truck. NOT the trailer. More phone calls to Anders, who enlists Emily's Dad in this adventure. Thank God for Jim! He found a truck to borrow with the right hitch in the bed. <br />
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More waiting. ... The wrecker shows up and I go off with the wrecker/truck to the garage leaving Brian standing by the side of the road with a trailer load of critters. <br />
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Jim picked Brian and the trailer up and came in to the garage to meet me. Mean time the nice folks at the garage checked the thermostat on the engine. That's what we all thought was wrong. Brian jumped in the truck when he got there, fired her up and she ran. .... Then she stopped. .... Then he tried to start her again and antifreeze shot clear up to the ceiling. Now I don't know much about engines, but I do know that's bad. :^(<br />
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To make a long story at least a little bit shorter- the engine is blown. The truck is dead. I called my DSIL for a ride home. My daughter married well. Travis just said ok and could we meet him and my daughter, Lydia at the on ramp for 64 in two hours. <br />
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So with our taxi on it's way, we leave the truck at the garage and head out to the kids' farm. By now it is pitch black dark out. We drop the trailer and the critters in the field. Anders will let them out in the morning when he can see to keep an eye on them. Emily gave us a quick tour of the house. It's going to be wonderful when they get it all cleaned and spruced up. <br />
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Than Jim ran us out to the interstate to meet our ride, treated us to burgers at the DQ. (No it's not farm raised grass fed beef but we were starving!) Two hours of good conversation and leg cramps in the car and we were home. We both fell into bed and slept hard for a few hours. <br />
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Right now Brian and his dad are headed to KY to bring the truck home on the car hauler. And I'm gettin' ready to go in to the hospital for a 12 hour shift. <br />
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By the way. . . <br />
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Anybody want to buy a truck cheap? It just needs an engine. :^)Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-77246094722985584732010-12-30T07:22:00.000-08:002010-12-30T07:22:11.329-08:00Mass MigrationToday the sheep, Pyrennees, piglet and cows go south to Anders' and Emily's new Kentucky homestead. We are really excited for them in their farming adventure!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-49455038848553941332010-12-25T23:59:00.000-08:002010-12-25T23:59:00.216-08:00Count down to the new year...Well folks this is it. Christmas is over and the New Year is around the corner. <br />
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So begins the count down to closing down this blog and Kiss My Grass Farm. On New Year's eve we close this chapter of our lives and open a new one. <br />
We've turned over our Red Wattle preservation program to our DSIL - the bacon fanatic. We're sure he will do just great with the RW's. <br />
The Buckeye chickens, the ducks and the cattle will be moving south to Anders & Emily's new farm in Kentucky. The guineas will stay - nobody could catch them anyway. <br />
Brian will be concentrating on school. He is doing very well and has just been notified that we will be able to do an independent study in biology this semester. We'll keep downsizing our cache of accumulated stuff until we move to Crawfordsville in May. <br />
So here we go to our next great adventure!! <br />
I'm already counting down the days until Brian graduates and we can get back on a farm!!! <br />
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Wish us luck!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-45226151901479727992010-12-16T16:44:00.000-08:002010-12-16T16:44:33.899-08:00Winter butter<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dear old Hazel the milk cow is dried up. So this week when we went over to take a couple of piglets to our friends Donna & Keith, we came home with 8 gallons of their yummy raw milk. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpXolbAEbI/AAAAAAAAAdA/9M-XgE68bkM/s1600/butter+101+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpXolbAEbI/AAAAAAAAAdA/9M-XgE68bkM/s200/butter+101+003.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So this morning I skimmed all the cream off before I froze the excess milk to use later. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpXaItQ7zI/AAAAAAAAAc8/gltV1x9lkkQ/s1600/butter+101+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpXaItQ7zI/AAAAAAAAAc8/gltV1x9lkkQ/s200/butter+101+002.jpg" width="200" /></a> I make butter using my blender. I find that the food processor doesn't work well at all. It heats the cream up too much and it seems to break up the butter fat instead of encouraging it to clump together. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpX5DZpjQI/AAAAAAAAAdI/D_es0iHqXeo/s1600/butter+101+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpX5DZpjQI/AAAAAAAAAdI/D_es0iHqXeo/s200/butter+101+010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My blender has a High/Low switch at the bottom. I set it to low for butter. Then I only used the 2 slowest settings- Blend when I start the cream. Grate when it gets to the almost butter stage. The cream looks like this when your first whir it in the blender. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQqt498pvOI/AAAAAAAAAd8/e5DQ1uPTEys/s1600/butter+101+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQqt498pvOI/AAAAAAAAAd8/e5DQ1uPTEys/s200/butter+101+011.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When the butter fat begins to gather it looks like this. Now it's time to strain the butter milk away. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We feed the buttermilk to the piglets. They love it!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpYQmWICUI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LcVweMHpqYE/s1600/butter+101+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpYQmWICUI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LcVweMHpqYE/s200/butter+101+013.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><br />
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After the butter milk is strained away the butter has to be worked to remove more of the milk. The milk hides in little pockets in the butter so I use a wide bamboo spoon to work the butter against the side of my big crockery bowl. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpbRFEUKyI/AAAAAAAAAdk/2jP_jE7PQcY/s1600/butter+101+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpbRFEUKyI/AAAAAAAAAdk/2jP_jE7PQcY/s200/butter+101+021.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then rinse with cold water and repeat working the butter until all of the milk has been worked out and the water is clear. <br />
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Then add sea salt to taste. Mix it in well and form the butter into balls. My hands are small and I've been doing this for a long time so I know my butter balls are about 1cup each. There are butter molds or the butter could be put in plastic wear. Butter will keep for about 6 months in the freezer. <br />
Because this is winter butter it is pale yellow. The cows don't have fresh green grass in winter so there is less carotine. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpYvYfpwEI/AAAAAAAAAdU/wtJSK0WZ4JU/s1600/butter+101+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpch--eZ-I/AAAAAAAAAd4/TYcu0D2SpIo/s1600/butter+101+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQpch--eZ-I/AAAAAAAAAd4/TYcu0D2SpIo/s400/butter+101+029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-77338365665417225762010-12-12T20:35:00.000-08:002010-12-12T20:37:18.406-08:00Magic MushroomsI went back to work on Friday evening. Several things have changed along my route to the hospital. The construction zones have moved south on SR135. There is a new detour around the "Drainage Improvement Project" ( That's what the signe said.) on Bluff road. But the strangest new thing on the way to work is the magic mushrooms... ok the sign doesn't say that. In fact there isn't any sign explaining why almost a dozen technicolor mushrooms or are they toadstools have sprung up next to the I70 underpass just before you get to Lucas Oil Stadium. <br />
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You can't miss them. They are really quite large and unusual. They sort of look like they've been sculpted by small children using a large amount of taffy instead of clay. Some of them look as though the "cap" is melting. You gotta love public art!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-74455178982761103482010-12-09T07:16:00.000-08:002010-12-09T07:21:07.692-08:00Sunny DayThe sun is shining the birds are singing and it's a balmy 10 degrees out this morning! I think the birds are singing to stay warm. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQDyKI422-I/AAAAAAAAAc4/iTpRI3S6y8E/s1600/Brian+and+honey+in+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TQDyKI422-I/AAAAAAAAAc4/iTpRI3S6y8E/s320/Brian+and+honey+in+snow.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>Our Corgi, Miss Honey Shortlegs, loves this weather. She comes out of her dog house and rolls and rolls in the snow on mornings like this. Silly dog. She even likes to tunnel in the snow using her nose as a shovel... hmmm you don't think she's been taking lessons from the RW's, do you?Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-66094296763183972222010-12-06T14:04:00.000-08:002010-12-06T14:04:13.158-08:00Snow Kitty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1doeRDvxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/9eDSNmd0n6o/s1600/first+snow+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1doeRDvxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/9eDSNmd0n6o/s640/first+snow+005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I swear she looks like she's trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue!!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-16153516198965429612010-12-06T14:01:00.000-08:002010-12-06T14:01:56.505-08:00Hazels winter wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1crXCNHjI/AAAAAAAAAco/wKJKVafSevU/s1600/first+snow+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1crXCNHjI/AAAAAAAAAco/wKJKVafSevU/s400/first+snow+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hazel never misses a meal she's always the first one to the hay when Brian puts out a new bale. She is nice an and fuzzy right now with her winter coat.<br />
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I think she's really starting to show that she is going to calf this spring. I'm hoping it's a heifer. If it is the new little girl will be going to Kentucky to become the future family cow for my son and his growing family.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-80321656212730660702010-12-06T13:57:00.000-08:002010-12-06T13:57:43.709-08:00Oh Goodness Look!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1cAi9wrpI/AAAAAAAAAck/ayulMwsPqh0/s1600/first+snow+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1cAi9wrpI/AAAAAAAAAck/ayulMwsPqh0/s640/first+snow+017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I FINALLY GOT ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW!!</span></b></i></div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-26755428136196892112010-12-06T13:54:00.000-08:002010-12-06T13:54:42.960-08:00Guinea Roost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1ZuVODsDI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/fXdbL_7RMe0/s1600/first+snow+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1ZuVODsDI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/fXdbL_7RMe0/s320/first+snow+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The four surviving Guinea fowl have decided that the peak of the barn is the place for them.<br />
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You see Brian was almost done with the roof on the barn when his shoulder got so bad he just couldn't finish it. It short 6 sheets of metal.<br />
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The Guinea girls have decided he left this nice open space for their roosting enjoyment! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1Z3PkKCFI/AAAAAAAAAcU/5AvsjhHkD5Q/s1600/first+snow+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1Z3PkKCFI/AAAAAAAAAcU/5AvsjhHkD5Q/s320/first+snow+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Even when it snowed they insisted on roosting up there. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1Z_YkKgDI/AAAAAAAAAcY/uVQ0ZBl8bOk/s1600/first+snow+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1Z_YkKgDI/AAAAAAAAAcY/uVQ0ZBl8bOk/s320/first+snow+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Barn Alarm system! They set up a horrible racket when anyone or any thing comes close to the barn. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1aEifCUMI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Qii1hyyo1oM/s1600/first+snow+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1aEifCUMI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Qii1hyyo1oM/s320/first+snow+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> There they are in the snow and wind.<br />
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I swear if they could talk that pearl gray would be saying, " What do you think you're lookin' at?, HUH!" <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1aNY4gp5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/c1-NSXHwgrE/s1600/first+snow+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1aNY4gp5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/c1-NSXHwgrE/s320/first+snow+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Silly birds. But they do keep the weed seeds eaten up so they don't sprout new weeds and they do eat ticks and other creepy crawlers in the summer.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-67755938096194662592010-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:002010-12-06T13:44:46.748-08:00Winter is here at last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YCWH4V4I/AAAAAAAAAcE/HSSo9SvMW40/s1600/first+snow+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YCWH4V4I/AAAAAAAAAcE/HSSo9SvMW40/s320/first+snow+004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> It finally snowed and I stuck my nose outside to snap a couple of pictures. It's so pretty!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YTQtzNeI/AAAAAAAAAcI/VAElghhKlSo/s1600/first+snow+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YTQtzNeI/AAAAAAAAAcI/VAElghhKlSo/s320/first+snow+006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The persimmon trees in the back yard<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YbDjGOdI/AAAAAAAAAcM/QMT78Bt57Xc/s1600/first+snow+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TP1YbDjGOdI/AAAAAAAAAcM/QMT78Bt57Xc/s320/first+snow+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is our magnolia tree in the south yard just outside the picture window. See the buds waiting patiently for spring?Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-32597189063012293962010-11-27T19:25:00.000-08:002010-11-27T19:27:41.099-08:00Downsizing PHASE II or When the heck did we get all this stuff?Phase I was moving into the smaller house. <br />
Phase II involved several long talks with my husband and three type written pages of lists.<br />
<br />
List one: Things that can go now. <br />
<br />
List two: Things to give to my son and his family. <br />
<br />
List three: Things to give to my daughter and her family. <br />
<br />
List four: Things that we will need to sell later - still using them or just not ready to part with stuff. You know we might need it. This will be Phase III<br />
<br />
After all the list making was completed and carefully reviewed and cussed and discussed I spent several hours posting the things we either don't need, don't use or just can't see how we will ever be able to fit it into an apartment when Brian gets into Vet School - the things on list one. <br />
<br />
Then I spent the better part of today answering emails and returning phone calls and answering the door. <br />
<br />
Gotta love Craig's List. :^)<br />
<br />
Most of our horse stuff is gone. The compressor and tools are gone. <br />
I'd list everything that's still here but I'm tired of typing. So if you're curious go to <a href="http://craigslist.org/">craigslist.org</a> and pull up <strong>Bloomington, Indiana</strong>. Look under <em>Farm and Garden</em>, <em>Tools </em>and<em> Arts & Crafts</em>. You'll know the stuff is ours because we are the only people who list Bean Blossom as our location. LOL<br />
<br />
Maybe you'll find a treasure!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-76602086247060625142010-11-18T17:44:00.000-08:002010-11-18T17:44:32.715-08:00Reusable canning jar lidsMy son and I were talking the other day about how nice it would be if you could reuse canning jar lids instead of throwing them away. Today he presented me with a website for a company that offers reusable canning jar lids. I think it's such a great idea I'm going to share it here:<br />
<br />
reusablecanninglids.com<br />
According to the company website TATTLER reusable canning jar lids contain no BPA. They are safe for pressure canning, water bath, and vacuum sealing.<br />
<br />
"Tattler Canning Lid's proven success, as a reusable product, has earned them the distinction of widespread customer satisfaction and acceptance since their origination in 1976. The years of development of this product have brought to the home canner a jar lid that is truly reusable. In fact, the longevity of TATTLER Canning Lids presents the likelihood they will be handed down to the next generation of food preservation enthusiasts!"<br />
"Properly used, with any standard Mason jar and metal screw band, these reusable lids will last a lifetime. If you ever wear this lid out, we will replace it free! Follow standard directions and procedures, for two piece canning jar lids, with any normal home canning process, and obtain excellent results."<br />
A package of 3 dozen regular mouth lids and rubber rings costs $20.95 from their online store. Replacement rubber rings cost $2.50/dozen. <br />
They also offer bulk packages in 500, 1500 or 2500 lids each <br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to trying them with my next canning project!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-87602178418074146392010-11-15T07:32:00.000-08:002010-11-15T07:33:01.536-08:00Talkin' Turkey<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TOFPk4SLjuI/AAAAAAAAAb4/l-Wpf4kHXmw/s1600/DSCN2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TOFPk4SLjuI/AAAAAAAAAb4/l-Wpf4kHXmw/s320/DSCN2833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We have two whole pasture raised turkeys in the freezer waiting for their big day. Brian wants to deep fry one. I confess that much hot oil over an open flame scares me. He says "Just don't look."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>The second bird will be prepared by my daughter - in the oven. I'm sure she will put some new twist on the traditional bird. And I'm equally sure it will be delicious.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-8592756591495457512010-11-12T13:45:00.000-08:002010-11-12T13:45:02.446-08:00Buckeye Update<div style="text-align: right;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uIWyU5II/AAAAAAAAAbc/_IGq7idnxFo/s1600/pig+at+the+library+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uIWyU5II/AAAAAAAAAbc/_IGq7idnxFo/s320/pig+at+the+library+091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye hens- notice the rose comb? </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;">When we decided to transition over to a sustainable flock of Buckeye chickens we looked at our current poultry system and found it lacking. Rare breed birds are farely costly and well.... rare. We love the concept of free range chickens, but there is a large population of hawks on our farm. The hawks think that mobile chicken pens are like kitchen cabinets or the refrigerator in your kitchen - it's where you store your food until you're ready to eat it. So this year when we ordered Buckeye chicks and hatching eggs, we made the decision to renovate our first hog shed into a chicken coop. So we gutted the hog shed. Cleaned it all out. The building has three separate sections. One we finished for my mom's Auracauna chickens - Green legs the rooster and his party colored harem girls. The other side is for the Buckeyes. The third section is yet unfinished. I'm planning to close in 2 sides and add chicken wire to the third this spring for the chicks we hope to hatch in our incubator.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We did all these improvements to the building so we decided we would put what we know about feeders and waterers together to automate the chicken chores as much as possible. We invested in 2 oil catch pans - the plastic one you use to catch the nasty old oil out of your truck when you change the oil and 6 bolts with washers and nuts. We already had a couple of lidded plastic buckets. Brian's little zip roater made fast work of cutting out holes along the bottom edge of the bucket sides for the feed to flow out. Then a few holes drilled in the bottom for the bolts, slap on the pans, tighten down the nuts and VOILA! A chicken feeder that will hold enough feed for about 4 or five days for full grown birds... much longer for chicks. So after successfully engineering feeders we turned our efforts to self-waterers. All the waterers commercially available were expensive and too small to really reduce workload much. So once again we took our experience with cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs and various watering setups and put it all together. </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uhaSgS-I/AAAAAAAAAbk/ZK1wIdiwzDI/s1600/pig+at+the+library+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uhaSgS-I/AAAAAAAAAbk/ZK1wIdiwzDI/s320/pig+at+the+library+098.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Closeup of the spigots on the holding barrel. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We have been using 55 gallon plastic barrels as water reservoirs for our hog waterers for years and we had a barrel that wasn't in use. Brian added two taps and set it up on a sturdy stand about 30 inches from the ground. Two sections of hose and gravity carry the water from the barrel to the water cups. We had those laying around too. They were left over from our short experiment with goat keeping. The drinking cups work with a float shut off and are just the right size so several birds can drink at once. We just mounted them to the side of the new coop with a couple of screws. Of course in the winter the watering system will need to be drained. We'll be using rubber pans during the winter so we can empty out the ice daily. For now we water about once a month.</div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uSY3ziaI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tF_BI383swU/s1600/pig+at+the+library+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1uSY3ziaI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tF_BI383swU/s320/pig+at+the+library+096.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hens coming up to the drinking fountain. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> We moved the chicks into the coop as soon as they were ready to come out of the brooder. Three dozen or so fuzzy Buckeye chicks and about the same number of Auracaunas with a few wing feathers looked pretty small in all that space. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Now they are full grown and magnificent. The buckeyes are some of the handsomest birds I have ever raised. The hens are lovely dark russet red and the roosters with their iridescent green/black tail feathers are striking. The hens should start to lay nice brown eggs next month. Then in the spring we'll start hatching chicks. I love spring!</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-29894145328933120192010-11-12T07:16:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:16:32.028-08:00My friend Donna is writing her second great American novel this month during NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. Since I can't go anywhere I thought I'd start my great American novel and I did.... then I got sidetracked. <br />
My son and his family are moving to a homestead in Kentucky close to Emily's parents and my SIL has been bitten by the Red Wattle Bug. No not hog lice! Ewwww!<br />
He loves the Red Wattle pork and wants to raise his own. <br />
<br />
So now I am writing <em>Everything I know about farming or What not to do cause it don't work... believe me I tried it!</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1aKanDwRI/AAAAAAAAAbY/BePigNK8Eew/s1600/images%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1aKanDwRI/AAAAAAAAAbY/BePigNK8Eew/s1600/images%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div>I hope to have it done by Christmas so I can tuck it into their stockings.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-67374158079322341262010-11-12T07:02:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:02:09.490-08:00My Anchor<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1V2RCSbxI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ZbhEcv6eLuk/s1600/pig+at+the+library+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN1V2RCSbxI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ZbhEcv6eLuk/s200/pig+at+the+library+100.jpg" width="200" /></a>On October 29 I had knee and foot surgery. Then spent 10 days in a leg splint whining on the couch. Now I have a "Barney" purple cast to anchor me down so I don't overdo things. The crutches are interesting too. We have an old house with narrow doors, odd heighths on the steps to get out to the sunroom and a narrow open staircase to basement. I'm not even going to attempt the basement steps until I'm walking without the crutches. I'm getting pretty good at going sideways through doorways and balancing down the 2 steps from the kitchen to the sunroom though!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The cast is supposed to come off on December 1. Then a walking boot and physical therapy. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All I've gotta say is I wanna go to the barn!!</div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-90268715946897283152010-11-12T04:20:00.000-08:002010-11-12T04:20:46.156-08:00Piggy"s Night at the Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN0v-MHV7jI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bkuSUc51LnQ/s1600/pig+at+the+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TN0v-MHV7jI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bkuSUc51LnQ/s320/pig+at+the+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last year for Christmas I made all my grandkids soft, stuffed Red Wattle pigs. This year on Halloween weekend Taylor's pig went to a stuffed animal slumber party at the library. The kids all dropped off their stuffed animals on Friday evening and then came back on Saturday morning to pick up their animals, a treat and pictures of what their animals were up to during the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Red Wattle Piggy listening the Charlotte's Webb on tape. I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Taylor's daddy said it would have been funny if Piggy was reading a pork cookbook!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wonder what else he was up to all night? </div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-31008545986031823912010-11-04T18:19:00.000-07:002010-11-04T18:19:14.920-07:00National Small Farm Conference and Trade Show/RWHA Annual MeetingAfter spending half the day pulling together reports, printing cards and brochures, hauling piglets to the vet, filling out health papers and generally dashing about madly, Brian & Kacie headed out for Missouri. Ok so all the dashing about madly was done by Brian and Kacie. It's hard to dash about madly in a splint with an ace wrap up to your thigh and crutches. I was limited to organizing the paperwork and supervising. <br />
I had really been looking forward to the conference and our annual RWHA meeting. It's one of the few times during the year that so many alternative/heritage breed farmers gather in one place. And the RWHA annual meeting is the one big RWHA gathering for the year. Not for me this year. I just couldn't see myself hopping around the exhibition hall when just bumbling out to the bathroom exhausts me. <br />
So here I sit snuggled up on the couch with the laptop for company, my son and his little family sleeping in the next room because I can't be left alone in case I should fall or worse yet - not be able to carry food from the kitchen to my little nest on the couch. Contrary to popular opinion, I think I could live on the bowl of apples on the end table for 3 days quite nicely and I've learned to hang my lidded travel mug from the hand grip on my crutches. <br />
It could be worse, I suppose, but I do miss being outside and taking care of the animals. <br />
Oh well. Hopefully, Kacie will take lots of pictures and Brian will remember to turn on the recorder for the meeting. I'll just have to wait and see.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-46312044919119401682010-10-07T12:36:00.000-07:002010-10-07T12:36:33.524-07:00This little piggie went to market....We are off to take 3 not so little piggies to the processor. Then we will have Red Wattle pork available again at Double Oak Farm Green Grocery, located at 1120 Washington in downtown Columbus, Indiana. <br />
<br />
The folks at Double Oak offer locally raised beef, pork and lamb as well as seasonal local produce and preserves. They are expanding their inventory all the time so stop by and see what's new!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-10618032779252216782010-10-06T19:04:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:04:07.017-07:00A new farm record!We put 120 chickens in the freezer today and we were done before the sun went down!! It sure feels good to have all that meat in the freezer.<br />
Guess what we had for dinner>>>>><br />
<br />
MEATLOAF!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TK0qZT3akJI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Jf-_vmRpto8/s1600/HPIM1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TK0qZT3akJI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Jf-_vmRpto8/s320/HPIM1231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Chicken has to wait for a week before I can face it again. :^)Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-38021667191105799362010-10-05T17:46:00.000-07:002010-10-05T17:46:05.478-07:00Prep for the big dayThe vats are scrubbed and the knives are sharpened. The birds had their last treat this afternoon - sunflower seeds. We are ready to start bright and early tomorrow morning.... off to bed for me. <br />
My alarm is set for 5:30.Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-4616613360684904402010-10-05T09:21:00.000-07:002010-10-05T09:21:57.405-07:00Bye Bye Birdies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TKtPosEFY7I/AAAAAAAAAa0/86wxB1Jz9HI/s1600/HPIM1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQdldn8G810/TKtPosEFY7I/AAAAAAAAAa0/86wxB1Jz9HI/s400/HPIM1162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow is butchering day. We will be putting 120 birds in the freezer. Our friend Arthur and my son and his fiance will be over to help. Brian will be at school. Hmmmm you think he planned that? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It will be nice to have all that chicken in the freezer and it will cut down on chores for the winter. We're hoping this is the last year we will be buying meat chicks. Next year our Buckeyes should be producing enough fertile eggs for us to hatch and grow out our own Kiss My Grass Farm pasture raised all natural chicken. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sustainability here we come!!</div>Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322476066412373037.post-478381259973256162010-10-05T04:22:00.000-07:002010-10-05T09:27:10.926-07:00I know I've been absent...absent from writing this blog, absent minded...<br />
<br />
Well I'm going to try my best to work on that. I know I keep saying that.... but I mean it this time. LOL<br />
<br />
So updates:<br />
<br />
We traded houses with my daughter. We are in the little yellow house at the front of the property. Most of our things are still in boxes, but slowly I'm digging out. My mom is staying at the big house and will be living with my daughter and her family. <br />
<br />
The garden was a bust this year in the draught. We had to decide whether to water the garden or the animals. We decided on animals. <br />
<br />
Next year the gardens will be small, raised and hopefully will produce enough for us to get by. With Brian in school, we are really pulling back our production. <br />
<br />
We'll still have pork available and eggs when the hens cooperate. <br />
<br />
So now it's time to get out and milk Hazel. .. so gotta go!Dothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841500661349030418noreply@blogger.com0