Home Sweet Home
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Hay, deer, cow round-up

I've been kind of lazy the last week.  Things need to be done and I haven't felt like doing it.  Here is what I have gotten done, though.

I am trying to spend at least 30 mins in the garden each evening weeding. It's been too hot to do it during the day. And I finally got my tomato plants tied to their stakes.  I should have done it sooner, though. 

I am not pleased with my strawberries this year.  I had a ton of flowers on them, but most of the berries were small and I've got some kind of moldy ground thing going on under them.  Also, chipmunks have been eating them.  We (meaning, the kids-LOL) ate most of them, so we're going to have to pick at a farm this week so I can freeze some.

I'm thrilled with the rest of the garden, though.  And I can stop buying lettuce now-yeah!!

Got all the grass mowed. 

Caught the hen that had poop stuck to her behind and got that off and washed her up.  That was fun, as you can imagine.  I gave my son the job of catching her in the henhouse when they went in there for the evening.  You should have heard the racket going on in there during that. 

We put fresh sawdust in the house with the mother hen and her chicks.  The remaining 8 chicks are doing very well.

My dh has started getting round bales already.  Last year we were scrambling trying to find hay for the animals because we waited until August.  So, we had 2 farms lined up this year to get hay from.  He went and picked up 11 round bales the other day-it took him 3 trips.  Here's a pic of him and Jonah pushing round bales off the truck & trailer:

We're not getting anymore round bales from this particular farm because he raised his price to 28 dollars/bale.  He didn't tell my dh that until after he went to get them.  We found out that a friend of ours does round bales, but it's chopped hay in the bales and you have to have a round bale spear to move them because they fall apart when the wrap comes off.  Now that we have a tractor with a spear, we can buy his hay.  And guess what-they're 15 dollars/bale and it's nice hay!!  I'm so thrilled and wish we had known this before we bought 11 from the other farm.

Here's Pat moving the round bales to prepared spot with pallets.  We will keep them covered with tarps:

Hannah has been doing a lot of trail riding with the neighbor girls this week.  She went one evening with Ashley & Alli.  Two of our horses went out for this ride.  Ashley rode her horse. Ashley keeps a cell phone in her sock and she called me to let me know that one of the dairy cows were out up on the hill(from a friend's farm).  So, we called the farm and they went to get the cow in and the girls got to help herd the cow back in with their horses.  Hannah was so thrilled at being able to help do that.  The horse she rode has helped with cow rounding up before when we had loose beef cows.

We had some visitors the other morning and I was so excited to see them so close to the house.  I hope they don't come close to my garden, though.

Can you see them?  One was a buck, one a doe and we couldn't tell what the third was.

I've been working in the kitchen in the mornings.  I've made granola bars, butter, cultured milk w/ kefir, put leftover cheesy onion bread thru the processor to make bread crumbs and today I hope to make graham crackers.  I also hope to pick or buy strawberries today.  I need to see where is the best price.  I'll make some jam and I'll freeze the rest.


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Comments

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - Garden....

Posted by Glammon


Your lettuce looks great! I wish I had planted mine close together like you did. Will have to remember that next year. My strawberries aren't doing well either. I know the birds are eating their share, but everything else (mulberries especially) froze so I feel bad for them. Good luck with your garden! Have a great day!
~Gretchen


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Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - hi there

Posted by Cyndi


Holly:

somehow ran across your blog; remember me from CHC, Cyndi Sell? Wonderful seeing your blog. Will have to catch up with you.

Bless you


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Thursday, June 28, 2007 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>

Posted by mustang


Hi Cyndi! Yes, I remember you!! Are you still at CHC? I visit there every occasionally, but don't usually see much posting going on. I'll try to get over there soon again. It's so great to hear from you! Do you have a blog? Love, Holly

oops-that's me, not my dd.

Edited by mustang on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 06:15


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Thursday, June 28, 2007 - catching up

Posted by Cyndi


HOlly:

No somehow I gotten taken off of CHC. Not sure why, but that is ok. Do not have a blog but guess I should. Not sure how to go about it.. Nice to see your blog though and how your sweet family has grown. Cyndi


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Sunday, July 1, 2007 - Hey Holly!

Posted by MissArabian07


Hi holly it's Danielle! How are you doing. my birthday party that I went to was fun.
I realy liked letter boxing and I wanted to know if I could go with you guys again.
We are going camping next wednesday with my nana and popa at old forge, I can't wait to go to the water safari! We are staying in a cabin right next to my nana and popa. The only thing I can wait for is the very hard beds! Thay are realy uncomfortable. My cousin Macey is going to go to since there was one extra bed. My cousin jordan would have came but she is in arkansas with her dad.
Right know I am at my nana and popas house for dinner.
My grandma got a computer for her work and my mom feels like the only people that does not have a computer. So whenever I can I spend a little time on my blog.
Well dinner time already by!


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Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - The deer..

Posted by HarvestMom


We giggled when we saw the deer looking your way.. my husband said they had garden on their mind! Cute..! I enjoyed reading your blog this am..
Blessings, Theresa


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Thursday, July 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by HandsNHearts


I would be thrilled to find decent round bales for $28....and totally totally tickled if I could find it for $15!!!! Congratulations!!
It's been so dry here, the hay is looking pretty junkie :o( And folks are scrambling to get even the weediest, scrap hay they can find just to have it.
So far, we have none. Thankfully, we are small on the animal side...just the two horses and two goats. We tether them out at various places around here during the day. LOL....good news in that is that I don't have to mow the yard...we need it for the animals :o)

Ahhh, a silver lining can be found in everything, can't it?
I loved the peek at your homestead....thanks!
Deanna


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Thursday, July 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by GoofyMamma


Where do you guys live lol? I want to be your neighbor. We can't grow anything but palm trees is seems lately. We are still trying to move but the housing market kind of stinks right now so we still wait. But I just love your pictures they keep my hopes up.
Blessings.
Kim


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