From Town to Country: A Wife's Tale

• Friday, November 7, 2008 - First Snow Fall

Today we got the bad news that we will be losing our current internet service as of Monday so I might not be around for a while.  Rich is going to try to see if we can get the service extended for a month so we can get a new provider.  It seems we use too many of our minutes (we have a wireless card through our cell service) on the wrong tower.  But we have no choice and Alltel knew that when we signed up, but whatever!  We have a new service, unfortunately, not until Dec 4!  UGHH!!!!  OK, enough complaining about that.

So when I got up this am and looked out the door, this is what I saw:

First Snow Fall

It was a very wet slushy snow and most was melted and gone by 2 pm.  We are suppose to get more.  Here's a couple pics Rich took this am:

Red Bourbon Turkey Hen

Highlanders in the snow

It felt a bit like spring as the weather was above freezing.  The goats were in the barn tonight and looked like they were freezing to death.  What a bunch of babies!  It's not even COLD here yet!  But there they were all huddled in the corner of the barn trying to get Madison's sympathy, lol.  The little stinkers.

Rich believes Caitlin looks different today so maybe we'll have a calf here in the next few days.  I thought she looked thinner then yesterday.

We decided to breed 2 of our rabbit does today.  We also stuffed all cages with lots of straw as its gonna get chilly tonight so we want all bunnies warm and dry.

Time for bed, we have an early day tomorrow.  GoodNight!
Carol

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• Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - Ham, the pig

Oh, I'm not happy with our pig.  Rich called me today while I was at a doctor's appt with Chas.  He saw Ham kill a chicken.  Now we know she actually is killing the birds so we need to figure out how to deal with this behavior. 

I want her penned but Rich says the chickens will still try to eat with her.  So tonight we decided to feed the chickens first then Ham hoping to chickens would stay clear of her feed bowl.  Well, it worked for the chickens but our billy goat, George, has figured out that grain tastes pretty good and Ham is scared of his horns.  So he takes over the bowl and Ham just cries.  So Austin stood with a panel keeping George out of Ham's way so she could eat.

That worked and Austin got quite the work out but it takes too long.  Tomorrow  Ham will be penned at least at meal time so she can eat undisturbed.  I hope that helps.  We will still have a problem with the chickens but penning should limit that a bit, at least I hope.

I sold 2 of our bunnies to friends we are visiting this weekend.  We are getting a llama and highlander cow from them.  I'm hoping the snow holds off or is done before we make that 3 hour one way trip on Saturday.  I'm looking forward to seeing Theresa again. 

I'm out of here.  i have a few things to do before I head to bed.  GoodNight!
Carol

 

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• Sunday, August 31, 2008 - Chickens and Goats

I can't believe that August is over.  Today was the day we were intending to move back to town.  The farm has won and gets to keep us another month

Do you know how to tell if you've kept a broiler chicken alive too long?  I do, they start laying eggs!  LOL  That's right, we have about 12 broiler hens that are laying eggs.  We have fallen behind on the butchering schedule and these gals have escaped the knife.  I suppose they figure I won't put them in the freezer if they lay eggs for me.  Don't tell them but they will find themselves in a roasting pan or stew pot sooner then they think. 

I think Madison has collected over 2 dozen from them in the last few days.  A few have been double yolkers so Rich never knows how many eggs he's getting with breakfast but enjoys the surprise.  We know the farm fresh eggs will be coming to an end soon enough.

I got a chance to talk with my friend Theresea today.  I was calling about her katahdin ewe sheep and ended up with a llama, lol.  We will be picking up the llama and a highlander cow (I think her name is Louise) in a few weeks.  We are very excited to add a cow to Caitlin's pasture.  She looks so lonely all by herself.

I forgot to mention that yesterday we found ourselves a new billy goat.  Rich found an ad on Craig's List from someone who was giving away their boar cross billy as he had served his purpose on their farm and they needed new genes.  We were the lucky ones to get George.  He's a handsome fella and is a nice addition to the farm.

The other goat in with George is Alex/Jack.  He's a yearling wether.  We have George separated from the ladies as we don't want kids in February.  So he doesn't get to meet the girls for a few weeks yet.  Alex/Jack is his roommate for that time.  George is in full rut at the moment and is a weebit smelly but has a very nice disposition.  He seems pretty tame compared to Slick Willy, our previous billy.

Time for me to go.  Goodnight!
Carol

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About Me

We've been working on the family farm for 3 years trying to get it back to a working farm. The farm was neglected for 15+ years before we took it on. The summer of 2008 is our family's first experience living in the country, so began our journey from town to country...

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Canning 08

• Applesauce - 42 1/2 pts
• Apple Butter - 7 half pints, 3 pts
• Apple Juice - 4 qts, 2 pts
• Mint Jelly - 4 half pts
• Raspberry Sauce - 4 pts
• Tomatoes - 4 pts
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• Tomatoe Sauce - 20 pts
• Tomato Juice - 11 qts
• Chili Sauce - 11 pts, 1 half pint
• Roasted Tomato Sauce - 3 pts
• Corn - 32 pts
• Green Beans - 6 qts
• Dill Pickles - 11 qts
• Pickled Beets - 16 pts
• Pickled Pepper - 2 qts
• Chicken Broth - 4 qts, 10 pts

Freezer 08

• Corn - 43 bags
• Green beans - 15 bags
• Broccoli - 19 bags
• Peas - 3 bags
• Sweet Peppers - 52 cups
• Celery - 13 cups
• Pumpkin - 28 cups
• Freezer Coleslaw - 8 cups
• Rabbit - 13
• Turkey - 1
• Chicken - 167 birds

Critter Count

• Cats - 8
• Dogs - 1
• Layer Chickens - 70
• Broiler Chickens - 0
• Bantams - 11
• Turkeys - 8
• Ducks - 11
• Rabbits - 22
• Highlander cattle - 8
• Goats - 16
• Sheep - 5
• Llamas - 3
• Pigs - 3

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