The soap will be ready for sale about the 1st of March. I did make vanilla lime shamrocks for St Patrick's Day and the Margarita Lime large eggs and Rosemary Lemongrass small eggs for Easter.
Monday, February 17, 2014
New soap on the way
I spent all weekend making soap. Several batches of the traditional favorites, but also a couple new ones and brought back some I hadn't made in a while. Some of the exciting new ones are Plumeria, Jasmine and Margarita Lime. Also made a batch of Chocolate Chunk (contains real cocoa powder).
The soap will be ready for sale about the 1st of March. I did make vanilla lime shamrocks for St Patrick's Day and the Margarita Lime large eggs and Rosemary Lemongrass small eggs for Easter.
The soap will be ready for sale about the 1st of March. I did make vanilla lime shamrocks for St Patrick's Day and the Margarita Lime large eggs and Rosemary Lemongrass small eggs for Easter.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tough (and lucky) rooster
New Year's Day was about 45 degrees and sunny, so I let the chickens out to run in the pasture about 2:00. That would give them a couple of hours of "play time" before dark.
When I went out to do chores about 4:00, I found Slim Jim, my Black Australorp rooster and a Rhode Island Red hen in the lower corral by the hay storage. It's not unusual for the hens to be in this area, but I'd never seen the roosters in there. As I focused on Slim Jim, I thought, what happened to your tail feathers? It seemed odd that one of the other roosters would have pulled them all out. I picked him up to exam him further as there was a bloody spot on this tail. Under the wing feathers, he'd had a whole bunch pulled out of his body and there were some bloody scratches (not deep).
After searching the area better, I found a pile of tail feathers and then another pile of body feathers.
It appears that something tried to get Slim Jim - most likely a fox. But Slim Jim is a tough old guy and managed to get away and I think give all the hens time to escape. No hens appear to be missing (although when you have 70+ of them, it's a bit hard to tell).
The next morning a dusting of snow revealed fox tracks (possibly more than one). So I won't be letting the chickens out to pasture for awhile. But with the coming cold and snow they won't want to be out anyway.
When I went out to do chores about 4:00, I found Slim Jim, my Black Australorp rooster and a Rhode Island Red hen in the lower corral by the hay storage. It's not unusual for the hens to be in this area, but I'd never seen the roosters in there. As I focused on Slim Jim, I thought, what happened to your tail feathers? It seemed odd that one of the other roosters would have pulled them all out. I picked him up to exam him further as there was a bloody spot on this tail. Under the wing feathers, he'd had a whole bunch pulled out of his body and there were some bloody scratches (not deep).
After searching the area better, I found a pile of tail feathers and then another pile of body feathers.
It appears that something tried to get Slim Jim - most likely a fox. But Slim Jim is a tough old guy and managed to get away and I think give all the hens time to escape. No hens appear to be missing (although when you have 70+ of them, it's a bit hard to tell).
The next morning a dusting of snow revealed fox tracks (possibly more than one). So I won't be letting the chickens out to pasture for awhile. But with the coming cold and snow they won't want to be out anyway.
End of a Legend
She showed up when we built the barns and moved the goats in. Mice and warm milk (plus some cat treats) were the attraction. She spent the next 8 or so years living part time in our barn and barn time in the neighbors barn . I think she spent her nights at the neighbors, as no matter what the weather I'd see her come across the pasture at milking time in the morning. Then she'd head back across after evening snacks were finished. If the snow was too deep you could see her walking at the edge of the gravel road between our houses.
A couple of young black cats showed up at the barn in about 2009. Bernadette told them they could stay if they respected her position. They did.
An interesting transformation occurred, Bernadette's demanding voice became nicer and she actually enjoyed being petted. As if to say"It's about time you let me inside".
Bernadette is buried overlooking the barn.
The neighbor says that she showed up to their place when they moved in. That was in 1990. Bernadette was at least 23 years old.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
"The Night Before Christmas" (farm version)
The Night Before Christmas
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the farm, not a creature was stirring not even in the barn.
The buckets were hung on the nails with care in hopes that St. Nickolas soon would be there.
The kids were nestled all snug in the straw, while visions of banana peels danced in their heads
Molly in her kerchief and Arlo in his cap had just settled down for a Winter Solstice nap. When out in the corral there arouse such a clatter, Arlo sprang from the straw to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The full moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear, but Papa’s red sleigh and eight tiny goat deer. “Hey, everyone, it’s the relatives from the north!”. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, he knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid that chickens his coursers they came. And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixon, On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the coop, to the top of the barn! Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away all”!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the rooftop the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, Arlo heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As he drew in his head and was turning around, down off the roof St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in Carhartts, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all covered with hay.
A bundle of treats he had flung on his back, and he looked like a delivery man bringing in the milk.
His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The sprig of wheat he held tight in his teeth, and the fragrance of pine needles encircled him like a wreath.
He had a broad face and little round belly that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, right jolly old elf, and Arlo laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the buckets, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, but the wall he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But Arlo heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the farm, not a creature was stirring not even in the barn.
The buckets were hung on the nails with care in hopes that St. Nickolas soon would be there.
The kids were nestled all snug in the straw, while visions of banana peels danced in their heads
Molly in her kerchief and Arlo in his cap had just settled down for a Winter Solstice nap. When out in the corral there arouse such a clatter, Arlo sprang from the straw to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The full moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear, but Papa’s red sleigh and eight tiny goat deer. “Hey, everyone, it’s the relatives from the north!”. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, he knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid that chickens his coursers they came. And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixon, On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the coop, to the top of the barn! Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away all”!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the rooftop the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, Arlo heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As he drew in his head and was turning around, down off the roof St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in Carhartts, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all covered with hay.
A bundle of treats he had flung on his back, and he looked like a delivery man bringing in the milk.
His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The sprig of wheat he held tight in his teeth, and the fragrance of pine needles encircled him like a wreath.
He had a broad face and little round belly that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, right jolly old elf, and Arlo laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the buckets, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, but the wall he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But Arlo heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Fresh straw
New member of the family
As many of you know our old yellow lab, Cap, passed away almost two years ago. We finally have a new "baby" that will eventually be Vernon's bird hunting partner.
Meet Ollie. He was born September 14 and arrived at our house mid November. It's been a job "puppy proofing" the house. It is like having a very agile toddler with extremely sharp teeth! (I've raised several puppies in the past, but it has been a long time......)
And I'm not sure where we will put the Christmas tree - even though the living room is blocked off. So far Mattie has been able to get into the living room and have it as her sanctuary. However, I'm pretty sure Ollie will be able to follow her very soon.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Getting ready for winter
We've been enjoying the nice fall weather while rushing to get everything ready for winter. Our first taste of winter came on Friday Oct 4 with 3 inches of snow and a very cold frosty day. The new barn hadn't been totally winterized yet and was a bit drafty. The sudden cold caught as off guard and realized how much still needed to be done. The hose was frozen and I hadn't plugged in the water heaters. Many of the goats came down with a cold - been treating them with essential oils and they are much better now. Had not received the winter supply of hay yet either. That supply started showing up on last Tuesday. The new "Garage in a Box" shed are now full. Three hundred bales each (that's about 15 tons). Still need about 3-400 more before we are totally stocked for the winter.
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