Lancelot Acres

4/20 - Our Critter Count is Rising...

Our critter count is rising...

Ok, I have a couple of interesting stories.  The first one is sure to make you laugh...

We bought two hens last weekend.  One red hen and one barred rock.  We have gotten one egg per day since bringing them home.  I figured that was pretty good since they were probably stressed out from the auction and new home, etc.

Well, everytime we feed them, the barred rock, "Stripey", does the little rooster call...if you have chickens, you know that call.  I kept thinking maybe that's a roo...but he has the body style of a hen, so maybe she's just doing that chatter. 

This morning Lance was working in the garage and heard a very sorry sounding rooster crow.  He said he didn't know what it was at first, but then walked outside and saw it.  He asks me tonight if I realize I bought a rooster.  LOL.  I find this comical, I can't help it.  So we thought we were getting three hens, ended up bringing two home and now only have one.  LOL.  At least she's a good layer!  :)  Lilli was already asleep, I can't wait to tell her.

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Story number two...this one is interesting too. 

Lance's uncle owns a parcel of land just down the road from us.  It's currently for sale and he allowed Lance to cut hay on it last year.  The last cutting is still sitting in that field, covered with a tarp. 

Lance decided to load up a trailer full (these are big round bales) and take it to the auction in Wayland on Tuesday evening.  The bales are going for $20-$68 each at the auction, and we don't need all the hay we have in storage right now.

So...He loads up the trailer and pulls onto the road...now we are talking about very little distance from that field to our house...we can see the field from our garage, it's that close.

He decides he better check the tires on the trailer while he's on the pavement so he stops the truck on the road.  There is nobody in sight and it's not a busy road.  He just wants to walk around the trailer and look at tires.

He steps out of the truck and here comes a big red truck in the other lane.  The truck stops, it's a neighbor who lives nearby.  This neighbor has cattle.  He (Tony) asks Lance where he got the hay.  Then asked if Lance knew of anybody else who may have any for sale.  Lance said, "I'm taking this to the auction Tuesday".  Tony asked how much he wanted for it.  Lance said he got right out of his truck to get his money out...blocking both lanes of the road.  LOL

So Lance sold him the hay for $30 per bale.  Cheap, but saves Lance driving all the way to the auction and loading/unloading, etc. 

So they go up to Tony's house and unload it.  Tony wants as much hay as Lance will sell him.

Then Tony asks what Lance was going to auction for.  Lance said he's looking for steers.  Tony said, "I'll sell you steers".  He then walked Lance to his back forty acres and showed him what he had.

We now own 4 more steers.  These are beef breeds but I'm not sure what they are exactly.  I'll have to find out and I'll post when I know.  They are good size and healthy and Lance paid $500 each for them.  He has two sold already (people who have said they'd like us to raise them a beef), so hopefully we'll turn a profit on beef this next year.

The steers are very close-by, so they shouldn't be too stressed with the short move.  Tony is going to deliver them on Saturday morning. 

I told Lance he'd better keep the rest of our hay instead of selling it...we are going to need it to feed 8 head of cattle!  The pasture is coming in green now, but I don't think our pasture is big enough to sustain 8.  We'll see.

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I'm not sure when I last blogged...here's a little update on us lately...

Friday I took Lauren to my parent's house during the day and came home to try and tackle my mountains of laundry.  Then after school, Lilli, Lance and I headed to South Haven.

Lilli, Lance and I went bowling with my SIL Vicki and niece Alyssa, and my brother Tom, his wife Connie and my nephew Tommy.  My parents watched Lauren for us.  Dustin had to work late, we missed him :(

Then Lilli spent the night with my parents Friday night. 

Saturday I stayed home all day!  I haven't done that in quite a long time.  I thoroughly enjoyed it too.  :)

Dad brought Lilli home Saturday evening.

Sunday (today) Lilli and I went shopping while Lance and Lauren stayed home.  Lilli and I had a very nice day together.  We went to Target, the Old Country Buffet, and Wal-mart.  We were gone almost 5 hours though!  We took our time and enjoyed ourselves.

I bought a stainless steel deep fryer for the kitchen, and a new (very cheap, junky) waffle machine.  Mine quit on me over a week ago and we NEED one.  It was the only one Wal-mart had.  Hopefully it will last until I can find a better one.  I always make the waffles and freeze them and then Lilli eats them for breakfast before school. 

When I got home this afternoon we played outside in the sandbox for a bit and then a little later we pulled out the play do.  I'd been putting that off as I thought Lauren might try to eat it, but she did great with it and had a wonderful time.

Also when I got home this afternoon, I boiled chicken and picked it off the bone to use in chicken tacos for Lilli and maybe some BBQ chicken if there's enough left.  I  made a roast with potatoes and carrots for supper.  I made biscuits to eat with our strawberries (strawberry shortcake).  I cleaned and cut green peppers and strawberries for Lilli's lunch.  Then I made cheese bread in the bread machine...also for Lilli's lunch.

For her lunch this week she is taking deli ham and turkey slices, strawberries, green peppers, cheese bread, cashews, and string cheese.  She uses a Laptop Lunchbox and it's working great for us.  She loves that she can just open one or two lids and see all her foods.

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Plans for this week:

Lilli has acro on Monday evenings and I usually take her for that, but dad is planning to take her tomorrow night.  He took her to dance a lot last year and she misses that special time with him.  They are both looking forward to it :)

I have a knitting class to attend at the library tomorrow night.  I'm excited about it.  I want to learn how to make dishcloths.  My aunt made us baby washcloths when Lilli was born (almost 7 years ago) and I have used them as dishcloths ever since we got them.  They have lasted all this time and are just now showing signs of wear!  I want to learn how to make them :) 

Luckily I ran into an old lady at Walmart when I was trying to pick my needle size.  She asked if we knit and I said I was just learning.  She said she makes dishcloths.  LOL.  I asked what size needles she uses and she said size 8.  I looked down and I had size 13 in my hand.  HA!  I was glad I ran into her!  She also said I needed cotton yarn for them and I'm not sure I would have gotten cotton otherwise...unless by chance luck.  LOL

Tuesday is open.

Wednesday Lauren has her 18 month well-child appt.  I hope she's well by then.  She still has a cold and congestion but is obviously better than she was a week ago.

Thursday is open.

Friday is my dad's birthday!  :)  Happy Birthday Dad :)

Friday is also Lilli's snack and sharing day at school.  She wants to take my dad for show and tell!  I think it's a great idea if they'll allow it.  I can't imagine why they wouldn't allow it, but I need to ask.  She can share all the fun things (troubles) they get into.  :)

Friday night we hope to go bowling again, this time in Bangor.  I asked Lilli if she wanted to go bowling or skating this weekend and she said bowling.  It's a fun activity (poor Lauren is a bit young yet and it's not so fun for me if she's there and I'm chasing after her all the time).  We'll see how the week progresses.

Saturday we have our new steers being delivered in the morning.

Sunday is open.

We'll spend most of the day on Saturday or Sunday at my parent's visiting.  It will depend on the new steers if we go Sat or Sun.  Just have to see.