What's going on on your homestead today? [Archive]

bookwormom

11-28-2007, 04:17 AM

maybe we should just go out and buy stuff like that, but things are so expensive. so we are making a feeding station for our new dexter cows out of scrap lumber, and battens. I hope this will cut down on waste of hay, too. we are almost done, except for the "tray" that goes underneath it to catch spills that would fall on the ground and get stepped on. we need a wide piece for that which we do not have and need to get at the amish saw mill. I made a gate yesterday, one of two, since we have to keep the access to our place closed, which is difficult with the ancient old cattle gate we have there now, it wears me out to drag it open and shut. Otherwise sooner or later the lifestock will surely go over to the cemetery that is across the road and I am sure the church it belongs to will not like that. I would not.
We went to TSC monday and priced feeders and the smallest is 84 bucks, and we do not intend to feed much grain. we only want to utilize square bales or loose hay, since that is all we can handle. (Just what I need, a round bale rolling down the hill. Seems like our place consists of steep hills and narrow little hollows.
we got a lot done according to people who do not come here much, but all we seem to see is what needs to be done. we finally got the water running again day before thanksgiving. but the basement was flooded again after monday's heavy rain. the guy who was here to fix it obviously did not. If it is not one thing it is another.

gardenfay

11-28-2007, 08:19 AM

There is not alot going on here except me playing on this computer! hehe. my hubby may second guess his decision to get a new one as i may get hooked "talking" to you guys; but there is some good news on this "homestead". It looks like D is maybe laid off for at least a little while. He is talking about starting to set traps; but has to wait on some species until Dec 1. Also they extended cow-only elk season for our areas of MT here; so he might get an tasty elk. (I really like elk meat; so would really prefer a cow to a big tough bull) And I am laying in a big winter garden for our part of the country (that is, i stuck some green onions from the grocery store into 2 of my geranium pots and will do the same with some garlic cloves so i can cut off onion and garlic "greens" for the winter.) Ive never tried that before; have any of you??

jen_in_southtexas

11-28-2007, 12:54 PM

Well Im not living on the homestead full time (it will be a little while yet)but I tend to it couple times a week.

I had someone come and knock down some dead trees for me and didnt do that great of a job at it. (This was done while I was still at my ol' job so I was not there when this was done.) Needless to say, in a way Im glad he didnt shred all of them because they are mesquite trees and we love to use that for BBQ-ing. So after I mowed about a half acre, I got busy with the chainsaw cutting the knocked down trees till the chain fell off and of course no tools at hand. Nothing like the smell of burning wood sittin' around with friends on a quiet, toasty evening.

Other than that, Im still tinkering trying to figure out what all the "gadgets" on my new truck are for. Well its an '04 but its dang well new to me. Its my first truck and Im so excited. I dont feel so limited as I did with my car. Now I can drive out to the back of my property by the pond where there are a ton of deer tracks and put down some feed whenever I want. I use to have to wait till my friend would visit with his truck to do that. Now I can drive around and pick up scrap wood if I find it to build stuff. When I had the car and I would find stuff 99% of the time it was stuff that would not fit in my car.

Anyhow, this weekend I hope to put my solar panels up. Ive put it off for some reason or other. Thats it for my neck of the woods. Doesn't sound like much but it sure keeps me busy and I enjoy it.

-j :)

AlchemyAcres

11-28-2007, 01:05 PM

And I am laying in a big winter garden for our part of the country (that is, i stuck some green onions from the grocery store into 2 of my geranium pots and will do the same with some garlic cloves so i can cut off onion and garlic "greens" for the winter.) Ive never tried that before; have any of you??
Hah!!!

Interesting that you mention that...I'm kinda surprised..not a commonly known delicacy.......green garlic is just plain delish!!!!
Baked pototo salad with sour cream. green onions and green garlic is awesome in the middle of winter......goes perfect with ham!!!!

~Martin :)

AlchemyAcres

11-28-2007, 01:14 PM

It's my day 'off'...
I hunted for a couple hours this morning (it's deer season here in PA)
Came back home and did the standard chores....I just bought a crossbow so i messed around with that some.....
Harvested some kale....and unpotted some ginger I've been anxious to make use of!
Split some firewood...I've been selling firewood to renevate my little woods and get rid of some crappy trees...I've got customers coming for firewood on Sunday....
Turned some compost for my little aerobic/vermiculture experiment....trying to keep compost worms breeding all winter long here without expensive imputs....
Winnowed and sorted some saved seeds....
and here I am...LOL

~Martin :)

bookwormom

11-28-2007, 01:33 PM

quote
(that is, i stuck some green onions from the grocery store into 2 of my geranium pots and will do the same with some garlic cloves so i can cut off onion and garlic "greens" for the winter.) Ive never tried that before; have any of you?

It had not crossed my mind. sounds like a great idea. thanks for posting that gardenfay. I am anxious to try it.

elh

11-28-2007, 01:46 PM

Not much going on here. Working nignt shift, hard to get much going working 6 pm- 6am. Feed the critters , clean ashes in wood stove , bring in wood. eat and go to work.

gardenfay

11-29-2007, 08:09 AM

Well, now, two of you have mentioned the garlic in the flower pots and I still haven't put those in - just did the green onions the other day; so I am gonna go put those garlic in the dirt, by golly and get some more Christmas lights strung, too. Talk to you guys later. oh and Martin, I will try the garlic that way on a potato, sounds good.

11-29-2007, 11:27 AM

I harvested this doe that has been coming by my stand every few days limping with a bad front leg/shoulder...

http://www.fototime.com/3C332087B62F374/standard.jpg

Today i cut a Christams tree and took it to my fav Subway, and traded to the manager there for my "lunch".... the 12" sub of my choise... lol

Deberosa

11-29-2007, 01:20 PM

Being the middle of the week not much happens here since it's dark most of the time! *The sun did peak out a bit today though (called a "sun break") in these parts. ;-) *I quick took out the tractor and got the heavy water bed out of the truck in preparation for my monthly trip to town to shop. * They didn't quite get it all drained.

Kurt had a very bad tooth ache and pestered the dentist to move his Monday appt to today so he got his tooth pulled. *He's in much better shape now than I thought he would be, but then when I had wisdom teeth pulled it was all 4 at once instead of a single one. *So glad that turned out OK. *

Jake rounded up some buff pullets - he's turning into a great farm dog - he pins them down with his foot until we get there to pick them up.

Hey, that's a pretty good deal DM! And congratulations on the deer. I sure wish I had some venison in the freezer but hunting around here is pretty pathetic for deer and I have no idea what we would do with an elk!!!

humbug

11-30-2007, 01:46 AM

I work a rotating schedule. Today is the first day of my weekend. I have four days off. I have to go get a load of straw. I am going to use the straw to make doghouses for a couple of dogs that I am dogsitting. Next summer I will use it as mulch in my garden and then on to the compost bin with it.

I am going to go and cut a couple of pick up loads of wood. I am considering making a set of wooden racks for by pick up so I can haul more wood each time. Any ideas??

On Sunday I have to teach an Emt class. Then I am going to do some Christmas shopping. I want to get my outside Christmas lights and decorations up too.

On Monday I am meeting up with a friend who gave me some blackberry bushes. I am going to get those in the ground. I know it is late but our ground is not frozen hard yet.
That should just about take up my weekend. I still have to do househould chores..cleaning..laundry etc.

Deberosa

11-30-2007, 01:43 PM

Today has been damp and cold all day. My order of compressed bales of Timothy hay came in at the feed store so I went and got them and put them in the barn. Daisy really likes the Timothy hay and it happens to be at least a little cheaper! The compressed bails are alot smaller but they are heavier than regular hay bails! Thick bands hold them together, I'll have to stand back when opening them.

Tonight we've got a good supply of wood in and ready to hole up for the weekend. So, I've mentioned before we are weather wimps - it's going to be in the 20's brrr!

Jake had his first trip in the truck. We have been lax in getting him used to riding around and he really hates change of any kind. I had to wrestle him into the truck but on the way there he seemed to like the new scenery. Time to start taking him everywhere - he's very well trained, just doesn't like to go off the property - go figure.

bee_pipes

12-01-2007, 12:21 AM

I second the weather whimps. This is as far north as I ever want to live again. We have had a few nights below freezing, but Tennessee winters are mild in this part of the state. The news today is about the storms in the north - 20 degrees below zero? That's crazy talk. My dad was from Minnesota, mom from South Dakota - that sort of tollerance for temperatures did not pass on to me.

Today is garlic planting and bed building. The garlic bed is ready, just a matter of breaking up heads and planting cloves. It's late - we should have had it in by the beginning of November, but the mild winters give us an extended grace period.

Karen bought this mechravence that hooks up to the mower and sweeps leaves up - sort of like a big carpet sweeper. We run the yard and pick up leaves and other yard litter for the garden beds.

Yesterday most of the fruit trees arrived - we can start planting the new plants also. I hang onto every scrap of fencing we make, and will fashion cages for the new plants to hold mulch and old leaves around them through the rest of the winter. Peaches, apples and grapes.

I have three more holes for trees that a friend punched through with his post hole digger. Our method for making tree beds has been to bust up a circle of soil 10 ft. in diameter around the holes with the rototiller. Well, the last time we used the roto tiller, the pull cord came off in my hand. Appears the knot at the end of the cord came untied. Better than a broken cord, but I hate disassembling those tops on small engines. My goodness, they do pack a lot of spring in one of thse devils. Last time I repaired one of those, the spring shot past my head and over my shoulder. Hopefully I'm older and wiser now.

We got below freezing last night, but the sky is clear. In our little hollow, if we can get sun, no wind and temperatures up into the 40's, it's tollerable and good working weather. Temps in the 50's are better.

I generally check in here once a day or more, my bookmark for the site is the "50 most recent posts". The last few months were really disappointing - mostly political and current event stuff. Glad to see an increasing number of more practical posts. I guess everybody was busy working the season and the forum's activity was mainly folks that had time to chew the fat over social issues.

Regards,
Pat

MadTripper

12-01-2007, 12:08 PM

I spent most of the day in the woods. That is good pretty much any way you look at it. I didn't manage to harvest a deer but did bring some firewood home.

Tomorrow will be more insulation for the underside of our floor, or the ceiling of the basement depending how you look at it. With this weather, I wished I had concentrated a little harder on it but the wood stove evens the sides.

Tripper

ryanmercer

12-01-2007, 01:57 PM

oldnndway

12-01-2007, 03:54 PM

It was nice here
Maybe in the 70's (?) I don't know...it was nice
I set on the back porch and whittled a good part of it then spent the rest of it looking up books and taking a nap

Deberosa

12-02-2007, 08:00 AM

Today is a perfectly nasty day outside. Slush has been falling out of the sky all day and it's dark and cold. BRRRR. So I am reorganizing my kitchen - pitching stuff left and right! Plus dreaming about next years garden.

We got the stock tank yesterday to construct our wood fired hot tub. I'll order the stove tomorrow but the deck simply won't go in this weekend for sure. THe stock tank sit's in the bed of the pickup filling with slush. :-[

Mac_Muz

12-02-2007, 08:07 AM

I am waiting for the storm... Nuthin yet, so I spent a part of the day making sure nothing was left out to be buried and plowed in for the rest of winter.

I took a walk around in the woods with my wife and the LL's dogs.

Most of the day I worked at setting up wood working tools to get them arrainged to flow in a small place.

I like a shop where flow is unhindered, and tools can be use with a certain ease, and small places can be a tuff call.

For example the table saw i have no is table top mounted in theory, but I will either canterlever it off a work bench to be apx 1/2" higher, or build a table for it near that height, so wood cut will fall, no more than 1/2", and I can use the same bench for assembly work.

The simple fact is I have too much in too small a space. But I don't have much choice.

humbug

12-02-2007, 01:46 PM

I am returning after a day of teaching and shopping. The good news is all of my Christmas shopping is done. As soon as I get the decorations up I can sit back and enjoy the holiday. ;D ;D

The dogs are nestled snuggly in the dog houses and my son and I are hunkered here in the house in front of a cozy fire. It has been cold over the last couple of days so is nice to be so cozy.

One more day of freedom and then I am back to the grind for a few. I found a new woodcutting buddy so will head out again next weekend for more wood.

Txanne

12-03-2007, 12:54 AM

I am returning after a day of teaching and shopping. The good news is all of my Christmas shopping is done. As soon as I get the decorations up I can sit back and enjoy the holiday. *;D ;D

The dogs are nestled snuggly in the dog houses and my son and I are hunkered here in the house in front of a cozy fire. It has been cold over the last couple of days so is nice to be so cozy.

One more day of freedom and then I am back to the grind for a few. I found a new woodcutting buddy so will head out again next weekend for more wood.

Humbug--How I miss that----heading out for a winters supply of wood.

Its hard for some to believe i would give up finger nails---fight the ticks and go into the woods --JUST to look at which tree was coming down.

Depending on the bulk of the tree---as to when i would cut it down[[had a friend whos husband did that for me]]I was taught its not wise to do that sort of thing alone--if the other person only watches--fat chance around me.

Its cold here today also---HOW I miss that old woodburner--it was the height of my day---building a fire after I came in from a day splitting wood in the wood pile.

Brewing up a cup of spiced black tea--reading all my BWH mags over again---and again--gaining knowledge and making friends.

Today--I am getting ready to go to bed--this cold weather makes for much more pleasant day sleeping-

Working nites--- I have little time outside--But if my plans work--next year i'll be getting ready for a spring and a fall garden--and building my chicken pens.

But today--its nap time---and dreams of things to come-- ;D

Txanne

bookwormom

12-03-2007, 07:32 AM

it rained cats and dogs yesterday and the three black cattle would not let Brownie and the calf into the barn. It made me all nerveous to see them standing with the rain pouring down, but there was nothing I could do. I hear it is not a big deal, there are thousands of cows around here and none have any shelter.
It is clear and a bit brisk today. This morning our four billy goats had an appointment with the butcher up the road. we do not have a trailer and husband rigged up something utilizing a cattle panel. It worked, but it is a sad day. To get my mind off of it I worked from 9AM to 3PM in the woods and now I am tired. Sawbriars hang from trees like curtains, with five leaves on the very top. Those things are tough to clear, and I need some really heavy duty work gloves.
we are debating whether to hire a bulldozer to clear a few acres of pasture, he charges 370 per acre. of course we could continue as we have, heavy duty snippers to cut down all the saplings that are crowding around, then go in with the bush hog. One thing for sure, this lifestyle has some advantages, for instance, I do not have those flabby upper arms that you see on women my age.
Tomorrow we have to pick up the hay we bought together with the cattle. The lady said no hurry, you can leave it and get it when you need it, but now she is keeping somebody else's cows and two horses and I get the impression they are eating my hay. Time is a wasting.

Backwoods_Bob

12-03-2007, 09:49 AM

Got a foot and a half of snow this weekend, now it's turned to rain. Can you say Slush?
Not sure I'll be able to drive very close to home tonight, even with chains and 4x4. We're about four miles past county roads, so they don't get plowed except by me.

Saturday we had a lazy morning, just milk the goats, fed the animals and then fed ourselves and stayed inside enjoying the warmth.
By the middle of the day I was out in the barn building the last horse stall that we need.
I did plenty of small chores as well but they escape me right now.

Sunday I shoveled the trails around the homestead, the hooked the plow up on the pickup and chained it up, and plowed about a mile of old logging road that leads to our place.
After dark I finished up with our crawler tractor and front end loader, clearing our yard.
So, it seems like I dug snow all day.

The wife and I had a very relaxing evening by the light of kerosean lamps though.

Mac_Muz

12-03-2007, 10:58 AM

Dug snow? Why when you have snow shoes do you dig snow? Man if a machine can't move it wear snow shoes.. I shovel in front of the out opening storm doors and that's it!

The rest a bob cat can do later in winter and my plow do like today...

I respect that 4 miles in though. I used to lived dead center in the Ossipee Ring Dike. I had apx 2 miles of class 6 public un-maintained to plow there. narrow one laner, with a loggin bridge and no rails..

Didn't bother me any, but not too many friends went over that bridge more than once in winta' ;D

That storm I was waitn for,,, well it arrived... My breeches are still wet from getting in and out of the truck.... Ya dig snow.. odd....

humbug

12-03-2007, 01:19 PM

Today was my last day of freedom. I am back to work tomorrow for four days. I didn't get nearly as much as accomplished as I had hoped to.

I discovered that one of my female corgi's is going to have pups. She didn't look pregnant until I looked at her today and she definately is. She is too young and I am definately not happy about it. She only got out once while she was in heat..but once is all it takes. I am keeping her inside at night until she has the pups.

I met up with my friend who is supposed to be giving me blackberry bushes and was dissapointed when she admitted that she had forgotten to bring them. So a trip to town wasted. I only got about half of my Christmas decorations up so will have to finish them up next weekend.

Not all that productive today.

MadTripper

12-03-2007, 11:43 PM

It was 20 out when I woke up with the wind still howling. I did my morning routine with the shower and coffee maker. After that I brought the chicken waterer in next to the fire and gave them a large black water/feed dish to get them through the day. I piled some wood on the fire and opened the dampers a hair. After that, kisses to the wife and kids and off to work. It ended up being a snow day though so I can catch up on projects without interference.

Tripper

hillbillygal

12-04-2007, 07:56 AM

Brought enough wood for a couple of days from the woodpile to the house. Then we split a couple of pieces for kindling. Spent some quality time with the dogs which I sometimes miss out on during the colder months. It's supposed to be warmer later this week and we're going to try and move the shed we're converting into a chicken coop into place.

bookwormom

12-09-2007, 11:48 AM

when I stepped out on the porch this morning I thought it was summer, it seemed so warm and humid, then it rained all day, we had a dilly of a thunderstorm around noon and now at night I hear thunder again. The pond is overflowing and unfortunately, the basement wall leak has not been plugged, the guy who installed the water pipes into the house has been here three times trying to stop it from running into the house but so far he has not been successfull and we had to use the shop vacuum today to suck up the water on the floor. It used to be worse, still, it gets old when you have to do it every time it rains.
Husband is making a door in the barn so we can take hay to the cows without walking a circle around the barn and into their shelter (it is attached to the barn on one side), a real step saver. Summer was bone dry and now it won't stop raining. I am knitting socks for my grandson on the side, thinking of making gingerbread men if it keeps up with the nasty weather. Also the first seed catalogs have arrived.

rideaway

12-09-2007, 12:29 PM

Tried to sleep in, but we got a new king sized soft sided waterbed yesterday, and I was a little sea-sick this am (on a good note, my back didn't hurt as much), so woke up early. Fed the horse and goat, picked up branches from our huge windstorm last weekend, while my husband spread wood chips in the muddy horse pen. Waited for my nephews to arrive (7 and 8 years old-yikes).

Then, after they got there, I was going to do some baking, but the neighbor called and asked for help with getting her outdoor Christmas decorations out of storage. I took advantage of that offer to teach my nephews about "passing it forward", so off we went. While we were doing that, she mentioned paying some neighbor guys to hang the lights for her-no way...so, we went back home, fixed lunch and went down the road to her house to get her decorated.

Then, came home, fed the horse and goat again (didn't I just do that) and did some more cleanup outside. Not alot accomplished for us, but lots of "good feelings" inside!

bookwormom

12-10-2007, 03:56 AM

wow, what a great site. thanks for mentioning spreading woodchips in the horsepen rideaway. It is getting mighty mucky where the cows hang out and I got piles of woodchips on top of the hill where the power company piled them. why didn't I think of that myself.

rain is still coming down heavy. I have to go up to the family butcher shop that did our bucks , make room in the freezer, vacuum the water off the basement floor and carry in more firewood. Got a pot of beans on the stove, looks like we will eat beans for three days.

humbug

12-10-2007, 01:43 PM

I cut another pick up load of wood today. It is pretty cold here and snowing off and on so was good to get back home. I put chili in the crock pot this morning so we are getting ready to sit down to some chili and cornbread. ;D

RangerRick

12-10-2007, 10:50 PM

Hopefully with the ice storm moving out think I'll be out with the chain saw cuttin broken tree limbs.

Rick

chloe3388

12-11-2007, 08:08 AM

Split some firewood, which felt strange as it was 85 out.. Unloaded feed, raking up some leaves to put in the garden. Did some cleaning in the goat shed.. more stuff for the garden ;D Need to do some Christmas baking but it is just to hot and can't get in the mood. So out to clean gutters..

bookwormom

12-11-2007, 09:34 AM

I sucked up more water this morning. Actually it is worse than it was. It used to come out of the wall like the wall was peeing, and I had rigged a piece of roofing that made it un into a five gallon bucket. now it just seeps and the whole wall is soaked. I don't know what to do with that guy.
the basement was dry as a bone when we got all that rain during Hurricane Katrina so I know the guy who put in the cistern and pipes is the one who did it.
It was in the 70s, hung out the laundry, then spaded up some places to put out the bulbs that did not get planted earlier, plus the grocery sack of wild ones from up at the pasture. They got dug up when we disked and reseeded. Hope they all do well and look pretty come spring. Husband can barely walk, his back is really giving him a hard time.
It feels more like spring is coming than christmas. When the weather permits I take the critters grazing before the sun sets. It is peaceful to stand at the edge of the woods and have the goats eat brush, look at the sky, listen to the sounds.

jen_in_southtexas

12-11-2007, 10:22 AM

Well this weekend i got up and called up a number in our local ad section about a someone selling "slightly used" 4'x8' lattice panels. *I went to look at them and they were in great shape. *Bought all 6 at 8.00 a piece. *Turns out the elderly gentleman was a very nice man who was a retired farmer. *Gave me lots of useful information and sold me a 30gallon plastic tank with valve and all for 5.00 and it great shape. *Im gonna get some pecan trees from him sometime when the season is right to plant them in this area and some grape vines. *Says they make some great jam.
Went and bought some cheap 2x4's to fab up a fab table to have something to work on outside and got the sides/legs done and nailed together till the batteries in my 2cordless Skilsaws were drained. **note: *I forget how good service from a locally owned hardware store can be. *Even though there were other people waiting the man was still took time to show me the nail selection they had*. *I was kinda tired by then and started to feel lazy so that was ok. *I got in my truck and drove to my back fields and pond area to put some feed out for the deer that *trample around there.(tons of deer tracks) *After piddlin' around there for a while i headed back up to the trailer and laid on my tailgate and just listened to the wind blow, the birds singing and all the country sounds. *I kept hearing gunshots down the road but in a way that was music to my ears. *Probably someone sighting in their gun sight. *Anyhow, it was Sunday i was losing daylight and decided to get up and head on back to my Moms about 50plus miles away to the city :( (since i live with her at this time)to get ready for the daily/weekly grind of the rat race. * *
I had a quiet peaceful time nonetheless. *I missed my friend though. *He usually goes out there with me and we have a great time.
Well that was my weekend at the homestead. *Oh yeah I forgot to mention that i put up some solar garden lights around some trees and my main gate entrance. *Gave it a warm touch.

-jen

PS....it was in the 80's all weekend and very very humid. Supposed to get down in the 30's this Saturday night. Go figure.

elh

12-11-2007, 11:48 AM

Rain-Rain Not complaining understand we were getting dry. Our neighbors north and north -west were covered with ice some reports of 1 in of ice. Power lines down all over OKC area. We had about 1/4 in ice. started melting soon changed to rain.

Northern_bushrat

12-18-2007, 05:10 PM

Fed and watered the ducks a couple of times and went for a walk with the dogs. Just had a dump of snow over the last few days so now we're busy keeping our walking trails open until the point where we'll need snowshoes for everything. Saw lots of fresh moose tracks, they're wintering around here but haven't started crossing the lake yet (ice is 4 1/4"). Cut and hauled some firewood in the afternoon, and chopped the waterhole open again - have to put the styrofoam lid on there. It's about 8 degrees and foggy cause the lakes here haven't all frozen yet. Finally got hold of our neighbour who hadn't answered his radio for days. Now surfing the net and soon making dinner!

bookwormom

12-21-2007, 04:16 PM

bushrat, what styrofoam lid? that sounds interesting and maybe helpful.

I can't believe I saw a bat flying, It has been in the sixties today and is still balmy outside. Just came back from a walk to the mailbox. going and coming makes almost a mile. wow, the moon is almost full and has the biggest corona. I hated coming back in, it is an evening to keep on walking for a couple of miles.
Grumpy still has not had her calf, I keep watching her udder, looks like nothing is amiss. I get to enjoy solitary living since husband and daughter are visiting son and his family. I baked the last of the fruitcakes this morning, am finishing up a sock for daughter when I sit down.
I notice it is the goats that are the big wasters of hay, so I keep them locked up so they can not go into the cowshed and toss all the hay on the ground. Cows do not waste half as much. Had to walk over to the neighbor's to check on his place, he is up in Ohio, so took the goats along, and they pigged out on honeysuckle along the powerline. One of the geese has started laying, I got four eggs so far and now I feel bad about baking my fruitcakes with goose eggs. some folks may be squeamish about eating something with goose eggs. I am wondering if I should tell or just let them enjoy. (it is a good fruitcake if I may say so myself)
it has rained so much lately, I have piles of brush to burn where we are clearing more pasture, but it is just too wet. Maybe tomorrow evening if it does not rain again. Forget dreaming about a white christmas. (I did get a dancing snowman at ALDI with two penguins ringing bells and a tree lighting up, it plays "walking in the winter wonderland" when you press the button.My 40 year old handicapped son is going to love it).

rideaway

12-22-2007, 07:57 AM

Bookworm, don't tell 'em about the eggs...I know that for myself, I hate mushrooms but if I can't see 'em and don't know they are there, I enjoy what I'm eating.

Today I'm going to help a friend find the last of her holiday decorations, then do some baking, then off w/ hubby to the "holiday" party for the foster kids he works with (they can't call it a Christmas party, but there will be a tree, gifts and Santa. This PC attitude burns me). Anyway, then back to do some wrapping and more baking, then out to a Community Christmas Concert w/ local musicians playing. Only $8 for the family and I'm looking forward to doing something different.

Still very wet here on the Oregon coast, but no more big wind storms. I'd like to see some white stuff for a change, after all the children are home safe from college.

Northern_bushrat

12-23-2007, 01:49 PM

Bookwormom, about the styrofoam lid - it's just a square piece of styrofoam, about 3" thick, that we put over the waterhole in the ice. When banked with snow, it keeps the hole open or, if it's really cold, just a thin skin of ice forms over the water hole. Also prevents the dogs from falling through a thin crust (as happened to our neighbour last winter).

gardenfay

12-23-2007, 03:02 PM

Yesterday, went up into the national forest to help hubby reset his traps. He got called back to work and so had had to set them off since we prefer not to have to check them at night.
Anyway, it was beautiful in the mountains; just 4-8 inches of snow except for where it is drifted. But it really puts a person in the Christmas spirit - oh, except for all the mountain lion tracks - that puts me in the looking up in the trees every once in a while mood! ::)
But went to church this am - it was great, as usual.
Tonite, drive around and look at the lights and maybe go to the community Christmas program. Tomorrow, the Christmas party at the local diner (boy, it is a feed. Hubby is going back up to check traps and I told him I just couldn't do it! What i mean is i couldn't go up to even those beautiful evergreen, snowy forests on Christmas eve and eat sardines in mustard sauce while thinking of shrimp cocktail and all that other great food). Tomorrow evening, the candlelight service at church. And then, our little family on Christmas day. Anyway, very thankful to have such nice things going on at our little place on Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

jen_in_southtexas

12-23-2007, 05:26 PM

Well I went to checkup on my property yesterday(Saturday). It was a nice day except that the winds were gusting again. I picked up some pallets for free at our local hardware store. I also bought some cinder blocks. I'm wanting to attempt to make the wood shed that i saw online made from pallets. So Im trying to gather them a little at a time like when they look to be in good shape.
I walked around and tried to figure out where a good spot for my first real garden would seem ok. Im going to start small like a 4ft x 8ft area. I also decided that I want to clear another area of tall grass. I went to the back of the property by the pond to see if the deer came by to eat the feed. They hadnt eaten it in over a week which i found to be very unusual. But they did clean every kernal up so i put some more out. I havent seen any more mouse evidence or activity. I hope Im not speaking too soon.
I then decided to go into town for some items then for a country drive. I was wanting to stay at my travel trailer because i didnt really feel like taking that 60something mile drive but the temperature was dropping fast and i was unprepared. I was also wearing shorts and a tshirt and only one thin comforter on the bed. And i havent replaced the leaky fitting on the propane tank so that means no heat.
Needless to say, I decided that it was time to go. It was good therapy to say the least.

-j

WileyCoyote

12-23-2007, 05:33 PM

Well, since tomorrow's Christmas Eve - I have been working on Christmas dinner. I make everything from scratch and I take a lot of it to the fire and police station locally so that they have stuff to eat in between calls. Today I had to make the caramel for the apple pie as well as the icing for the banana bread. I peeled and sliced the apples and made a crumb topping for the pie, too. I thawed some cherries and made the cherry pie too. I had some oranges that were getting a little soft so I made an orange cake with cream cheese and pecan frosting; had to zest my orange peels for the extra flavor. Plus I'm doing laundry. Sigh. It has been very rainy and wet here the past couple of days and tonight it is cooling off, so I reheated the leftover homemade chicken vegetable soup I made last night for supper. I thawed and dried off some blueberries that I'm dipping into chocolate tonight.

Just another day... sigh. Can't wait til the time for sweet things is over! LOL My thighs can't take much more 'sampling'!

flatwater

12-23-2007, 09:21 PM

Snow plowing for about an hour then sitting back with a hot toddy watching the snow come down. Most of my animals are sold before winter come and or eaten. Not the dog though , kind of fond of her.
Flatwater

bee_pipes

12-24-2007, 07:03 AM

Yesterday we got the last of the fruit trees in the ground. These were transplants from another spot. 8 blueberry, a cherry and 4 figs. Already in the ground were a cherry, 2 apples, 2 peaches and 3 grapes. Was pleasantly surprised to find a few of the tags intact, identifying the variety. Half of the blueberries are identified and all of the figs are identified. We have a small map of where things were planted so they can be identified in the future. It is my hope that in the future when we want to increase fruit trees we can work from cuttings or graft additional varieties onto existing stock.

The dogs were all picking on the small male, Zeb, so I pulled him out as I finished caging and watering the trees. He did pretty well sticking close, running off and running back. Seemed overjoyed to be out of the pen and happy to be the only dog. The trees all got caged and pennants were tied to the cages. The neighbor said deer don’t like the motion or noise the pennants make when there’s a breeze. Could be an old wives tale, but I have been tying pennants on the garden fence and around the beehives. So far a deer has yet to crash through or jump over these flimsy fences. Since the pennants only cost time and not money, I’ll keep putting them on. If nothing else, they will call attention to some of the almost invisible wire and prevent the dogs from running into/through them. While Zeb was running around, he found a guinea head in the woods. We are missing two guineas and this one looked fresh. There was a good bit of flesh left on the head. I imagine it was discarded by the predator that ate it. Possum or raccoon. Gotta get a trap. These crafty devils do well at staying out of sight and must be climbing the tree the guineas roost in. One night I saw a guinea outside on the ground. I had taken the dogs out to pee. Something must have spooked the guinea out of his roost.

Much of the month has been spent researching dairy goats. I think next year we will add dairy goats to our holdings. Mini-Nubians seem to be the way to go. They are a cross between Nigerian Dwarf and standard Nubian. There is a fascinating article on BHM at
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanderson95.html
The hootch she has made for her goats looks fairly simple, and I think I could construct something similar out of our own lumber
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/images/sanderson95-3.jpg
Fencing is a concern – particularly with all the new fruit trees just planted. For the pen – fencing around the goat shed and immediate vicinity – hog panels seem to be the preferred material. This would take care of containing the goats for the night. With our creek, the pen could extend across the creek and provide a constant water supply. We have cleared land behind the house that could be used as pasture, but anything set up for the goats must include brush and trees. We have ample areas like this, and with portable electric fence we could rotate areas. Hopefully that would reduce the store-bought rations needed to maintain the goats. There are a number of folks in the area with goats. Some Boer (strictly meat), Nubian and even dwarf. Pygmy could be mistaken for immature goats, so it would take some hard looking to determine of you’re seeing a pygmy or a large kid. There are also breeders within a close distance of home, though many are raising show-quality lines and charging premium prices for their goats. The real bargains are unregistered crosses. It takes four generations of breeding to make a true mini-nubian, capable of breeding true mini-nubians. We’d be okay with a first or second generation. It has all the advantages we’re seeking, and breeding is not a consideration. Kids that might eventually be kept to replenish our holding could be bred against a mini-nubian, but a dwarf would be adequate for meat and refreshing the does for milking. There are dwarfs in the neighborhood, some of them bucks.

The turkeys, a hen and tom kept for breeding next year, are confined to their hootch. They each flew into the dog pen and got chewed up by the new pups. The hen got it pretty bad, missing a chunk of meat on her back. I caught the tom while they were still plucking him. He lost a lot of tail feathers and primary flight feathers - must have smarted something awful. I was worried about the hen - she got it the worst, but seems on the mend and her feathers have filled back in nicely. They'll sonn be ready for grazing outside with the chickens and guineas, but for now they have to be fed and watered. The training for the pups is coming along - I rarely have to call them off of chasing birds, but they are a ways away from being trusted out of sight.

Mornings usually consist of watering and feeding the turkeys and turning loose the chickens. When the turkeys were living with the chickens they slopped the water and feed. They are too big and can cause quite a ruckus. I had gotten out of the habit of keeping water in the chicken house, so the chickens all get their water from the creek. Every morning they are let out and there is a mad dash for the creek. The system seems to be working out well. They are locked back up in the evening, called home with scratch. The guinneas are too much trouble to lock up, and cause a lot of hate and discontent when confined with the chickens, so they roost in the trees, locked out for the night. In the morning when the chickens run for the creek, the guinneas run into the house to get to the feeders. During the day the pens and house are left open, with both groups returning during the day to lay eggs. After dropping off in October, egg production is starting to pick up again. Everybody seems to have finished moulting.

The wood for the next day or two is stacked on the porch, next to the door. Daytime temps are mild, even with freezing temps overnight. I just replaced the lightbulb in the well house last night, so we are ready for the holidays. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you observe. Here's wishing you all a prosperous, productive and happy 2008.

Regards,
Pat

12-24-2007, 07:24 AM

Well, night before last it was 40* and raining HARD, and melted the 8" of snow we had....

Then yesterday afternoon it cooled off and started snowing and blowing like heck!! This morning the wind is gone, and there's 8" of new snow on the ground again!

So, i'll get the tractor out and blow all the snow out here in a few... Not too bad a job with a tractor/blower...

Looks like we will have snow for Christmas after all!

DM 8)

oldnndway

12-24-2007, 09:00 AM

What's snow ?

It has been down in the 30's at night here but gets back in the 60's and 70's during the day.
We did get a little rain Friday.

I have, so far, only split a couple more days worth of firewood and stacked it on the back porch.
I've got a Vermont Castings wood heater.
It warms the place up pretty good.

Doing a little cooking...wife usuually wants me out of her way when the real cooking starts, but she lets me make hot crackers and a big pot of Mexican bean soup.

Plan to go down in the woods today sometime and see if I can pick up some pine knots or driftwood from the creek bottom to whittle on.
I'll have my rifle in case I happen upon anything to shoot at.

I sure do enjoy reading all of the postings from all of y'all that's doin

I hope all of you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Deberosa

12-24-2007, 09:34 AM

We had three pick up loads of wood delivered Saturday and have been dealing with that. Had friends over for home grown home cooked meal. Listened to the remaining dark cornish roosters crowing in the field as we dined on a very tasty roast chicken, string beans and squash from the garden topped off with home made pumpkin pie made from pumpkin and eggs from the farm also.

We got into a bit of a bind with the wood this year because we were considering switching to a pellet stove in January. Our chimney sweep got me to thinking twice about that - suggested feeding smaller pieces to control the heat level and it worked (stove runs all day when I am home). That combined with the new wood fired hot tub and we needed wood all of a sudden! Got 2 and a half cords dumped in the driveway just as the storm hit this month - it's soaked but it was also green to begin with so not much good till next year. With the loads we got Saturday we are set for the rest of the winter and will have a start on next year.

Took today off work and will finish wrapping presents and visiting friends for the holiday.

Merry Christmas

Debbie

Deberosa

12-24-2007, 09:45 AM

Pat,

I had one of my turkeys attacked by a raccoon when she was setting. Tore her tail completely off and huge gash on her side. I thought she was a gonner. I put this stuff on the wounds - called Scarlex. It's a blue spray that is for horse wounds. That stuff works great and now you can't tell her from her two daughters out in my field!

WHen I had a raccoon attacking the birds in a tree, I simply set a live trap at the base of the tree. Worked like a charm - except I caught a huge feral cat, not a raccoon! Seems when they come out of the tree they are still hungry and go right into the trap.

I'll be curious to hear how your goat containment works!

bookwormom

12-24-2007, 10:39 AM

too much!!!!
well, cold enough to have to chop the ice on the water. nice today so far. go the house straightened up and bread is in the oven (woodstove) this minute. Just cleaned half a dozen tools that were sticky with mud from digging to fix my leaky basement. glad to have chilly ready for lunch. we have to get a tree yet, daughter is getting ready to put it up as soon as hubby and son (remember I have a handicapped son and it makes his season to cut the tree).
Saturday I stopped by the lady I bought my dexters from. she sold me a barn full of hay, to go witz the cattle. it has been so muddy we could only get 24 bales so far. there should have been about sixty in the barn. maybe more, not less. I noticed that she has taken in boarders, a cow and two calves and two horses, and they have eaten and wasted my hay. Hitailed it back there and there were 8 bales left, and bad ones at that. She came out hustling and bustling, telling me that last night she heard the most awful racket and the animals tore down the gate and look at the mess they made in the barn.
someone give her a screwdriver for Chrsitmas so she can tighten the screw that is loose in her head. I am madder than a wet hen. with the hay we have on hand I might have enough to go to middle of february. That was part of the deal, I would not have bought the cattle without the hay, not this year.
well, just finished a pair of mittens for a tyke that is hard off, mommy just got involved in drugs and truckdriver Dad takes the little one with him on the road, they are homeless as of now. They will be here for Christmas.
Good deeds at times pay off. Our good friend, another trucker, ran out of gas out nowhere and started walking with a canister. nobody stopped to help him for miles. Then this guy turned his rig around and came back and helped him.
My woodstove has a17 gallon reservoire and the water is boiling.
son just called that the car quit running (husband was picking them up) the spaghetti just boiled over and I wish you all a merry Christmas. (just took the first bread out of the oven and it is just right :)) doors and windows are open.
STrawbale houses are what they are cracked up to be, they hold the heat in.

humbug

12-24-2007, 04:21 PM

I finally have a day off to be home. I took the opportunity to get caught up in my house. It was raining when I got up followed by a light snow. It is verrrrry cold here today. It is 12 outside now. Kept the fire burning in the woodstove. I made my pies for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Started browsing seed catalogs to get an idea of what I am going to plant next year. I am working on a seed shopping list. ;D ;D

Deberosa

12-25-2007, 04:20 PM

It's snowing - we actually got a white Christmas! It has been trying all day but now at about 4 PM it's started in earnest and everything is now white.

Otherwise we've had a nice quiet day at home.

humbug

12-25-2007, 05:36 PM

I woke up to frozen water pipes. It took a couple of hours to get them thawed out and working again. The day kinda went down hill from there. Glad its over...back to work tomorrow.

exodus

12-27-2007, 10:19 AM

Planting some herbs, basil, 3 different kinds,marjoram, chives, etc. Need lots of it. grow lights/fans are in place. Oh I forgot, lettuses, too.

Pat

bookwormom

12-27-2007, 05:40 PM

well, we noticed a notice on the bulletin board at the feedstore yesterday and now we got a new dog. blue heeler and Australien sheepdog mix.

At home we had a contraption in the barn that consisted of a big wheel with sharp knife spokes and a chute to it where you put hay and oatstraw and by turning the crank it got shopped into little pieces. I do not remember ever any hay being wasted by the animals and it just irritates me to no end how wasteful mine are, especially the goats. well, we just got an old Kemp chipper shredder from friends, it does chop the hay kind of small, but I need to get the hang of it, it is slow going, our contraption at home was super fast by comparison and made no noise.
had to go to Lowes today and it was a thrill that we only needed to spend 23 bucks. I told them soon they would not see me at all anymore, except maybe once a year.

Deberosa

12-27-2007, 06:00 PM

well, we noticed a notice on the bulletin board at the feedstore yesterday and now we got a new dog. blue heeler and Australien sheepdog mix.

*At home we had a contraption in the barn that consisted of a big wheel with sharp knife spokes and a chute to it where you put hay and oatstraw and by turning the crank it got shopped into little pieces. *I do not remember ever any hay being wasted by the animals and it just irritates me to no end how wasteful mine are, especially the goats. well, we just got an old Kemp chipper shredder from friends, it does chop the hay kind of small, but I need to get the hang of it, it is slow going, our contraption at home was super fast by comparison and made no noise. *
* had to go to Lowes today and it was a thrill that we only needed to spend 23 bucks. I told them soon they would not see me at all anymore, except maybe once *a year. *

Hey - you will really like that dog! Here is my Blue Heeler/ Austrailian Sheppard mix!
http://deberosahomestead.wordpress.com/2007/12/23/the-farm-dog/

Crate train him and take him along on chores right away all the time an you will have a great companion!

bookwormom

12-28-2007, 02:01 PM

quote:
Crate train him and take him along on chores right away all the time an you will have a great companion!

sorry, I do not understand Crate train. To me a crate is a big wooden box.
He looks more blue heeler than yours. We had one before, lost him to a very tragic accident on Oct. 3d. He was the greatest dog. Jake huh? we named him Jack, husband said he hit the Jackpot. I hope he will be okay. the folks we got him from live along the railroad tracks with no land to speak of and had a bunch of dogs, each tied to some crappy doghouse. He has never run freely and is scared of everything. We felt so sorry for him, we just had to take him, a blue heeler mostly, who likes nothing better than to run and be active, spending his first nine months tied to a rope. How awful, and he simply reeks.

AlchemyAcres

12-28-2007, 02:13 PM

Hey - you will really like that dog! Here is my Blue Heeler/ Austrailian Sheppard mix!
http://deberosahomestead.wordpress.com/2007/12/23/the-farm-dog/

Crate train him and take him along on chores right away all the time an you will have a great companion!

I had an Aussie/Blue Healer cross...Maggie...she was an EXCELLENT dog. Unfortunately she died from a freak infection. :-[
Pictured here huntin' woodchucks, shortly after I bought my land.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/cooko75/6952op.jpg

~Martin

flatwater

12-28-2007, 06:42 PM

Well today was kind of a bummer. My neighbor just called the police on me because I plowed snow across the road. He claims the middle of the road towards his farm is his property. The police came out and said technicly he is right. More reason to move as soon as possible up to my cabin. The nearest neighbor is 1/4 mile away.
flatwater

WileyCoyote

12-28-2007, 08:47 PM

Ouch, flatwater. Technically, he and the cops are wrong.

There is a such thing as 'right of way'. This normally takes in not only the road, but a certain measured strip (the measurement changes according to local and state criteria) alongside the road. "right of way" gives the 'right' of passage for not only those who use the road, but for (paved road) pavement and painting trucks, as well as (dirt/gravel road) graders, sand and snow plows, etc to maintain and keep the road in operating condition. Some areas require locals to keep the right of way mowed/cleared of snow, some do not.

Unless the guy owned all of the property around you, and only deeded you an access right of way for 1/2 the road, you are perfectly within your right to clear your side of the road.

I'd suggest that you tool down to the courthouse and get your plat out and look at it, especially make a copy of all rights of way as described, and find out the laws pertaining thereto in your area. Then take the facts to the Chief (never fool with underling cops when you have to educate the whole force) and explain the laws and rules - and subsequent ignorance of the police - with the maps and laws in print. Be polite - not all police chiefs are stupid, and not all of them know how ignorant their own officers are - and let him know that YOU know the law.

Deberosa

12-28-2007, 09:19 PM

Well if it makes you feel any better, if it snows here you can plow half of my road and I won't complain at all! ;)

Sounds like the guy is looking for a beef - geeze!

I had a neighbor plow out my driveway entry during the one big storm I've had here since moving in and I really appreciated it...

MadTripper

12-29-2007, 10:11 AM

Laws are quite different all over however if I remember correctly, the state owns 14 feet from the center of the road in both directions around here. Additionally, it is illegal to plow acrossed a road although it is done frequently.

As stated, for that guy to call the police on you is pretty rediculous only slightly outweighed in craziness by the fact that the police actually responded to that call. Apparently they were pretty bored and your neighbor must be a real pain in the ass. This is a situation where I'd look for legal ways to annoy the hell out of them. I'm sure you can figure something out and it is great mind excercise.

Tripper

humbug

01-01-2008, 08:35 PM

It was a beautiful clear day here. I decided to load up the dogs and chainsaw. I got to my favorite wood cutting spot (this wood cutting is becoming an addiction) and enjoyed the afternoon cutting wood and filling up my pickup. It was just about dark and I was on my last tree when another pickup came up the road. Keep in mind that I was up in the middle of nowhere. This guy stops and hops out and says he is heading up to cut wood. It was almost dark. I had the chainsaw in my hand idling. He stood there chatting with me and kept looking at the running chainsaw..I was starting to get an uneasy feeling. I used my favorite cover up..He had ask me how the wood cutting was here..I told him he should go ask my brother, that he was just up around the bend in his pickup. Maybe it was better there. The guy got in his pickup and went up to see my brother. I got in my pickup and got out of there. The guy may have been harmless ...but IMO a person does not head out to cut wood when it is just about dark I rarely have a problem when I am out doing things on my own...this is only the second time. I guess you just have to consider it one of the drawbacks of being a single girl in the woods.

WileyCoyote

01-02-2008, 05:48 AM

Trust your instincts.
I have been alone a lot, am considered happy-go-lucky by most, but my instincts never waver when I am alone. I can 'smell' wrongness on someone, like a dog can; most people can if they give themselves a chance. I have been stalked twice - once by an ex - and it is a very uncomfortable feeling when they are nearby. You didn't know this guy at all? Would that be strange where you live? One of the worst things about living in a peaceful and quiet place is that everyone wants to move there too - and sometimes they are not the type of people who should be alone, because they need privacy and secrecy for what they intend to do, particularly to others.

Were you on private or public land? Could he have been considering that the property was 'his' and wanted to stop you cutting, but when he discovered you were a woman, went up to harass your 'brother' instead?

Good thing you had the chainsaw - and good thing you left. Be careful out there. I'm less afraid of snakes and wild animals than I am of deranged humans. Animals don't pretend to be something they are not to get what they want.

Deberosa

01-02-2008, 10:33 PM

You were right on Humbug! *I've been there in the past too.

And it's not just out in the woods - it's anywhere. *Having lived in intercity Denver for 10 years I've learned to be suspicious. *I go by my intuition as to who I can trust and who I can't and I am seldom far off the mark.

I had 1/3 acre near the heart of Denver in the early 90's. *A little cottage on the back corner of the property so all of my garden was a "front" yard. *I worked in it all of the time. *It had a split rail fence about 6 feet back from the sidewalk and was a corner lot. *I was out with a machette chopping down old sunflowers along the fence and a guy walks up to chat. *Then he walks across the 6 ft space to the fence. *I very calmly reorienty the machete in my hand, just soooo... *He all of a sudden thought of somewhere else he needed to be! *Sure was glad I had that in my hand even in the middle of the day in the middle of the city!

City life gives you an awareness of your surroundings and what is happening that may not happen otherwise. *I know I didn't have it until I lived in Denver for a while but I think the way of the world is such that you have to be more and more this way anywhere.

Glad you are OK.

Debbie

TNDadx4

01-03-2008, 06:22 AM

Humbug: Good instincts, there! You can never be too safe, especially when out alone in the woods.

Let's see, as far as what's going on, I recently picked up some small rubbermaid-style bins and began filling them with firewood. Its an idea that I remember reading in a magazine somewhere, Countryside, maybe? Anyway, the idea is that you could have an organized stack of small containers with large wood at the bottom, followed by some smaller pieces and then kindling with the idea that the wood would be used in reverse order.

nancy1340

01-03-2008, 10:40 AM

bookwormom

01-03-2008, 04:23 PM

well, I hope everyone is safe and sound. I never was afraid in woods before, but times are changing. I noticed that someone could hide in the woods and watch the goings on on our place without us noticing.

Deberosa

01-03-2008, 05:50 PM

Hey Deb, I lived south of Colfax right where the old Blue Bird theater used to be. I think it was the 2nd house on the right hand (west) side of the street. I lived in and around Denver for over 12 years.

For two years I lived on Lincoln right behind a "adult" theater that was on Broadway. One time I was out back sunbathing when some jerk came out the back door of the theater. He started to come over to the fence, short chain link. What he didn't see was my Dobbie laying on the grond between me and the house. He asked me what time it was but when my Dobbie stood up he suddenly lost interest in the time and decided he was late to be somewhere else. LOL

I lived a couple of houses from the corner of Colfax and Glencoe, where there were bullet holes in the windows from a drive by one day (good thing I lived in the basement!) I lived in the 200 block of Ogden where arsonists burned down a high rise across the street as part of a union dispute. My 1/3 acre was on Leyden St - near the intersection of Leet'sdale and Monico. My cottage sat back by the alley. One day I heard screaming out back and peeked through my fence to see a guy beating the crap out of a woman. I ran in, called 911 and then grabbed a shovel and headed for the alley. I was going to crack his head open but they both were gone by the time I got there. That's when I bought my first gun, a nice little Taurus.

bookwormom

01-04-2008, 04:26 PM

well, Deberosa, I hope it will never come to that, needing a shovel to run someone off. Maybe someone wants to start a thread about homestead guns. Not me, I barely know the front of a gun from the back.

here it has been a little too busy lately. I am just glad the waterline did not freeze. I was gone two days and it got really cold and the water in the stocktanks froze, I got a big piece of styrofoam to put on it, but I guess hubby forgot what it was for. I built a new doghouse this afternoon, since I inherited another dog, a friend died and left me her dog. If anyone wants a pup let me know, she is going to have some soon. she looks like she is mostly sheltie, but prettier, but the father is a hound. We have been nursing a sick newborn calf, someone told me that I should feed it goatmilk, and I still have some frozen goatmilk, hope that will do. the house gets so much dirtier from carrying wood in. I mop twice as often, but you sure can not tell it anymore. I have wheat soaking for my next breadbaking episode, and I ought to get up and bake a cake, it is my son's birthday tomorrow. I can't believe I am the mother of such old children. Maybe I can use another goose egg to bake.
Jack. our new Blue Heeler)Aussie is a bit odd, I hope he gets over it. scared of his shadow.
It was a stressy day, but I like being active on the place.

Deberosa

01-06-2008, 05:33 PM

Is your dog getting used to you now? It would not surprise me that Jake would be very wierd if he went to a new home. Not sure if it's the breed or not but he hates to have things change. However once he gets the hang of things he is all gung ho.

The latest was going in the car. We had not taken him places in the truck mostly because it was a struggle to get him in it even! But we had to get him in for his shots so I started to force him into the truck and took him to town with me to get the mail several times. Now - a month or so later we say "ride" and he bounces around like any "normal" dog. Go figure! So give Jack a bit of time and I think he may come around, it's all new routine for him and while many dogs just adjust these dogs don't seem to.

Debbie

Deberosa

01-06-2008, 05:35 PM

Today I got back from the conference in SanDiego and it's back to the chores around here.
We went and got straw to put down for the cows - both in their lean too but also a thick layer outside the lean too to help with the sea of mud. Daisy and T-Bone helped with the spreading! They liked tossing the bales around with their horns once we cut the strings on them. Now at least for a little bit they have a cleaner/dryer place. The lean too is nice for them but just outside was getting to be a gooey mess.

MadTripper

01-07-2008, 05:26 PM

We spent the weekend in Delaware visiting family that has moved down there years ago. They seem to enjoy it but wow, I have never seen so many developments! Anyways, we had fun down there but today was back to the grind. I have to finish insulation this week which hopefully will be the end of that. Other than that I'll need to start getting the basement/garage in some organized form.
I have been figuring out what trees we need to get our orchard started and have a shopping cart set up at millers. I'll hopefully get those ordered in a week or two. Chickens should start laying according to their age however I'm not giving them any supplemental light so I'm not banking on it real soon.
The weather has been freakishly warm for January so the road is mud. It feels like I'm driving with 4 flats when I get on our road.

Tripper

bookwormom

01-07-2008, 06:52 PM

well, I saw a frog today. It was in the mid seventies, so we ate lunch on the porch. At the feedstore they sell big, used plastic tubs that used to contain minerals. I got five of them for two bucks a piece. those things have come in really handy. I think they will pay for themselves in no time flat. I have tried all kinds of things trying to keep my critters from wasting hay, including using an old Kemp shredder to chop the hay in little pieces (works great, the animals love it, but it is an extra chore and starting that thing ruins any arm and shoulder). well, I find putting their hay in a tub does the trick. I am surprised how they keep their head in the tub and waste very little. I had to think of something since Grumpy is in the shed with the manger (she is wasting more now than the others put together).
well, it sure was a great day for drying laundry, we got a start on a cattle panel greenhouse. I made out a list of the seeds I want to order. sure miss not having suitable neighbors to share with. Heck, what am I going to do with 150 broccoli seeds?

solarman

01-25-2008, 01:43 PM

I just installed another solar panel this morning, a sharp 80 watt. that gets me to 255 watts all together on my cabin.

LaMar

FirestarterKY

01-26-2008, 04:41 PM

Solar, that is something to be proud of, congrats!
I did some horse brushing, Shy had a bad tangled mess under her tail at the top, need to stay on it better.
Though, the horses seened to miss one on one time, so I spent some time with them.....need ta get on one!
:)
Fed some hay and took care of the chickens, feeling bad for them too, they have to stay in for a little while, the Hawks are really keeping an eye on them!
I Made a mentle note to clean the coop tomorrow.
Need to kill the new rooster tomorrow....yuk, what a mess but he's disrupting the order of things.
There's one Rooster, "Big Daddy" and he's all I need.
The new "OOps" Rooster, thought I was letting them set on hens only....is spending every minute inside because "Big Daddy" won't let him out.
I could use a pot of dumplins though and he's not too old yet, just now full grown.
Well, ended my day watching the Turkey fly up into the tall trees for the night.
I gathered a bunch of stuff today to take to a mtg tomorrow, doing a "give away" while at the meeting. It's an Indian tradition at some gatherings.
Just take things you dont want and give them away.
It's fun, and it helps keep me from becomming a pack rat and stay as minimalist as possible.
I gathered some gourds today for an Elder "Momfeather". I'll see her tomorrow.
The chickens laid 9 eggs today!
Keeping the light on a night here and a night there in the coop is helping.
I was only getting one if not none per day.
I don't keep the light on every night, maybe two nights per week.

Well, you all have a nice eve and stay warm!

rideaway

01-27-2008, 02:57 PM

it's snowing here on the southern oregon coast...we live about 3 miles inland, and it came down really hard for a while. It was beautiful, and we got out and went for a walk or two. The chihuahua wouldn't come out of the house, but our collie mix did. The horse and the goat just stood in the lean-to and watched us like we were crazy! More expected according to noaa.org Since we don't get it often, I'm excited-44 years old and still a kid when it snows.

humbug

01-27-2008, 04:17 PM

It is snowing here in north central Nevada too. Acccording to the weatherman it is supposed to snow all week. I needed to go to the grocery store so I braved the 40 miles to town. I stopped by the home of one of the guys I work with who gave me a couple of elm trees to burn for wood that he had cut down. I wanted to see how much work it was going to be to get them cut up. I told him I would come by next week on our next days off and bring my pickup and get them. Now I am tucked back away inside and not going out until I have to go to work in the morning.

Deberosa

01-27-2008, 04:37 PM

It's cold and nasty here. I did get some wood chopped and got the hen house nests cleaned out since the pullets that are now sold used to sleep in the nests - I had too many chickens! Now I am getting eggs without extra lights and the 16 pullets I kept are starting to lay. Put down another thick layer of straw throughout the coop so it should be ready for hauling out for compost in the spring. We will be hauling water for the cows all this week it looks it. Tried to get the hoses working but no luck and it's not going to get much above freezing all week long. At least a couple of 5 gallon buckets of hot water is keeping the tub free of ice for them for now.

Having septic issues - will have to deal with that next week. The drain field is now drained but there is a plug in the house, only slowly empties the lines so it's no cooking and laundromats for now - yuk! Will resort to plumber tomorrow to clear the line. That means list summer's project is creating more drainage to get the ground water moving off of the field in the heavy rain season. THis is the first year here where it's been a problem at all...

Other than that it's been inside chores, just getting ready to hit the ground running if it ever does clear up!

There's a free Austrailian Sheperd/Blue Heeler female in the paper. Hmmm. Would make a good mate for Jake but we decided it's just too much to take on two dogs and then puppies.

Can't wait to start a February thread - January has been wayyyyy too long!

Catalpa

01-30-2008, 01:25 PM

Hard to get much done on my homestead this time of year, since there's not much daylight left after work.

But I've been home today - the weather here has made life interesting.....a Canadian cold front blasted down through and hit us hard. Yesterday the temp was 42, with a windchill of 35, still above freezing. Last night the winds howled in bringing heavy rain that instantly froze and turned into tiny sharp ice crystals that sounded like a scatter gun against the side of the house. The temp has dropped to 5, with a windchill of 25 below zero.

The power is out, so I had to get the generator out of the garage and bring it around to the house. The lock on the garage door was frozen, so I had to get out the propane torch and thaw that, and then struggle to get the tractor started and pull the generator over and hook it up to the house, all the while dressed so heavily I could hardly move my arms. They say a person will get frostbit inside of 10 minutes out there right now. What made things more fun is the fact that I had insul-foamed shut the window that I feed the generator line through, so I had to take out a pane of glass.

So every two hours I have to go put gas in the generator, and for each cycle I have to decide if I'm running the frig and freezer, or the the well pump. It's going to be a long night...and they're saying we might not get power back until the weekend. I'll have to go uptown and hopefully be able to buy some gas, since I only have 5 gallons left.

But I'm so thankful to have a generator!!!!!!!

The dog was pretty funny...wanted to go out with me and play in the wind and snow (she's half husky, doesn't mind the weather) but as soon as I fired up that noisy generator she was headed back in the house! LOL

Cat

humbug

01-30-2008, 05:12 PM

I am starting to get really tired of winter. I took the day off because the roads and weather is so bad here. This afternoon I decided to go check on my neighbors and got my four wheel drive pickup stuck up the the bumper. My son and I shoveled and shoveled and couldn't get it out. We however got lucky when a local farmer came by with his tractor and pulled us out. We finally got home and changed out of our wet clothes. We had really bad winds last night and they blew the tarp off the wood pile (wood shed is on the project list) so we are dealing with trying to burn wet wood. :( :( :( Hopefully the weather will break...but we are supposed to have snow all week.

Deberosa

01-30-2008, 05:44 PM

I've had enough of winter too. We are resorting to getting a motel room in town to get a shower and use the bathroom! The snow and ice turned to pouring rain and my field and neighboring drain field is a lake. I have a siphon hose hooked up to drain the field because I do have a 3 ft deep hole that I dug there this summer that is collecting the water so it can be pumped out. Kurt left for the hardware store to get a sump pump, but with 3 more inches of rain expected it is only keeping even. Everything is wet, mud and gooey and oh yeah, mix in a whole bunch of really soggy cow pies out in the field. Had the plumber out Monday and $1200 later he fixed a broken pipe between the house and the septic tank. He did it in the pouring rain and snow and after one hot shower Monday that was the end of the space in the tank. So while one problem is fixed the other took it's place! Of course where he dug it up is a sea of gooey mud!

I got the siphon hooked up to a series of pipes and stuff of increasing size to get the water downstream. It's quite a setup. ;-) Of course the cows had to come over and see what I was doing - Daisy had to scratch her nose on my handywork and pull it all apart!

So it's off to town for a while tonight to clean off!

I've never seen such horrid weather!

annabella1

01-30-2008, 10:10 PM

Drove home from work at 3:00 am, -30*F wind chill they said on the radio.My car thermometer said -11*F . And the wind was really howling. It was 51*F when I left for work at 2:30pm yesterday. Lots of people at work were unprepared for the cold. Loaned out a few blankets I had in my car. When I went to go to my car I thought it could be worse the snow is not that bad then I walked to the other side of my car and there was a drift clear up to the window. I got in through the passenger side. Most of the roads were clear but then you would come to a big drift, didn't seem to have any reason for where the drifts were. Got home and my brothers house was unusually warm, seems my niece took the week off of work so the thermostat didn't get turned down like she normally does when she leaves for work. Slept in late got up at 9:00 (usually 7:00) I think it was because the room was so warm. Fixed me some hot wheat sprouts for breakfast, ran errands for mom then went to her place and made her lunch and dinner. She had chemo last Friday and is feeling mighty poorly. Then it was back to work at 2:30pm got all my blankets back but one. He said he would bring it back tomorrow left it in the other car. I am ready for it to be March. I don't like winter.