It's so hot....

...that when it hit 100* today, Mr. Tom T Turkey decided to play goose. He stood in the deep dish pan full of cool water and laid right down in it like the geese are doing with their bath tub! I saw them chase him out so found a short sided rubber tub and put it in the shade near him and filled it up. Typical turkey that he is, he didn't realize he could do the same in the round tub (which actually fit him better) and waited for another turn in the rectangular dish pan. I didn't have a camera but will keep an eye out and see if I can get a pic of him doing it again some time. Poor boy ....

I just don't know enough about turkeys and definitely about turkeys who live in normally hot summer temps. Tom has dropped or rubbed out almost all the feathers on his chest and underside. He still has them on the inside of his drumsticks but his chest looks weird being nekked!

Tomorrow we're to ONLY get to 88! It's going to feel wonderful! But we are desparate for some rain.

How hot is it?

It's so hot the sun is panting! It's so hot that we have set a heat record of 103. It's NEVER been that hot in this area in all the years they've recorded weather stats. We've hit 100 some years.... in August! We're in a drought! I've never lived in a drought! I've never heard of wells drying up from a drought here! This is the Great Lakes! Every day this week we've set a record that was last recorded in 1887, 1987 and 1918! It just doesn't get like that here! It's so hot and dry we aren't having a lot of humidity problems! Yuppers, I'm about to whine!

IF you normally buy hay that is grown and shipped from the Northern states, WATCH OUT! Not only is the corn drying up without getting it's growth, the hay fields are all dried up bad and possibly enough to have killed off a lot of the grasses. The alfalfa is gone from them. They may only get 1 cutting this year. I tell you, it's NOT good. We've had some rain go by us but we've not had any rain since back in May! We never had Spring rains this year and very little snow last Winter. It's BAD - VERY BAD.

And you still want to know how hot it REALLY is, right?

Well, my sweet goatie, Jewels, told me to feed her cocoa on the milk stand and she'd give me hot chocolate!

WeatherBug's New Hurricane Tracker

http://weather.weatherbug.com/hurricanes/hurricane-tracker.html

I have weatherbug on my desk top and got a notification email regarding their hurricane tracker. With the damage a hurricane creates, I thought I'd share the link with you. If the whole link doesn't work, try www.weatherbug.com of course.

I do like the program. The weather seems to be closer to what our thermometer reads and gets me the info before the tv alerts do so it's more timely. Plus when I check the radar it shows what I'm seeing whereas the tv sometimes doesn't. It also has a photo section with a LOT of categories that I enjoy an occasional perusal of.

I don't know if you need a hurricane tracker, but if not, maybe you have family or friends who are in the path and you'd like to follow.

If you're in the path of Irene, our thoughts and prayers for safety are with you and yours!

(2 posts in a day! Does that make up for a day missed?)

Saturday Ramblings

We had storms today with heavy winds and it knocked over my new zucchini and summer plants with the tiny little squashes forming. The ground was just saturated and they didn't want helped back up. I hope they can "rise and shine" on their own. I lost my early plants from storms this year so sure hate to lose these now too. They are at the same level of growth. I'm suppose to have tons of zucchini I want to be rid of, aren't I? Not this year!

I picked our first little red, ripe tomato the other day and the rain has mashed the tomato plants too. That tomato was small, but hubby sure enjoyed it! It will be a bit before we have more but that was a fun discovery. It was well hidden until it got ripe enough for the red to show through!

It sure seems like we went from roasting to cooler weather awfully fast, doesn't it? I love these cooler nights for sleeping though!

I was really good at Goodwill this week and only bought 5 cookbooks. They had a LOT of really nice ones but I was spending too much, have so many and the prices had gone up on them. Having restraint isn't as much fun as scouping up a bunch of them! Having restraint does mean that I'm appreciating and enjoying the 5 I got more!

I've been wanting an electric ice cream maker for some time and sure wish I could find one at Goodwill. I finally made up my mind as to what I want so looked at Walmart but they don't have any. I forgot to look at Meijers. I probably should check out the websites and see if they have they there. There's always ebay too.... There's still hope in finding a good deal though! It's just harder to find what I want being I'm looking for one that has to have the "bowl" frozen and not use ice and salt. I also need electric as I can't crank the old one we have any more. That also uses ice and salt. I'm definitely "paying a price" for being so specific in what I want, aren't I?

I hope you all have a good weekend!

Summer!

Today is the first day of Summer! Summer is my favorite month, followed closely by Spring. Everything is green and lush. (Being the yard tractor is "down", it's TOO LUSH!) There are, of course, pros and cons of every season so there are things I don't enjoy about summer too.... such as mosquitoes and the few super hot days that zap me physically. But over all, Summer is my favorite.

The 2nd major thing about Summer is I can wish my cherished mare a happy 11th birthday. Where did the time go? I still remember her birth and early foalhood! Summer is my equine soul mate. I'm so very lucky to have her and even after 11 years, I'm still in awe over having a buttermilk buckskin! And to think I bred her, raised her, and am so deeply attached to her. She's quite attached to me and ALWAYS comes to see me, talks softly, and really seems to enjoy being with me. It's sometimes hard to put emotions on some animals, but with her I almost have to say I think the feeling is mutual. Happy Birthday, Summer. I hope you have many many more!

I hope all of you who kindly read my blog have a wonderful Summer also.

I'm in Conflict

with the weather! I so hate Winter and was so glad to see the end of it, but I didn't expect to have July and August in the Spring, and in May and early June. PHEW, and I'm not doing to well with it physically, either. I'm in the upper midwest and not use to this early and excessive heat.

I don't know about you all, but I'm VERY concerned over what our Summer temps are going to be! It's MIGHTY darn hot sitting so close to a hot goat to milk as it is now!

I hope you all are taking pecautions to stay safe as this seems to be nationwide!

I need to go buy feed and am concerned about over heating to unload it! With the price of gas, I don't want to buy it and not get it unloaded due to the extra weight being a gas guzzling weight to haul around!

Me? I'm about to go out and buy an air conditioner! I've been looking at them online and Lowe's has one that looks to be helpful! In the meantime I'm off to get more ice, a wet towel (cold) and am considering hugging a frozen beef brisket while it thaws!

(Wrapper is doing well. Hubby's finally in here so it's about time to rewrap his leg so I can check on it. He's snoozing in front of "his" fan after a snack of fresh leaves and some grass I picked him. He's going to be more spoiled than his momma at this rate!)

It's Been a Long Week

You probably didn't even miss me! It's been a long and busy week. Our electricity went out for a day from all the storms. Considering the tornadoes, storm damages, injuries and deaths, I'll not complain. It does however cause added work and can make things difficult. We've had rain EVERY DAY for over a week too. What a yucky, muddy mess all over the place! I've also been quite sick which was sure the wrong time for it!

As usual, even without electricity, the critters still "live on" and could care less. In spite of storms and incessant rain, they still need fed, managed, milked, etc.

I also ended up with a doeling that I just love who was "down" and either ill or injured. I had no place to keep her safe from the rest of the traffic so back in the house she came. She's not been out to the barn all that long so quickly settled right back in to inside life. She mostly laid around the first couple days anyways. She only got up and moved to potty or follow me around. She went right back to using her papers at the door as long as she was near. Once she started perking back up she was better at getting to them. I'm still not real sure what the problem was. She was in pain as she was grinding her teeth a lot. She also acted like it hurt to walk and be moving around so she just laid until she absolutely had to get up. I had found her in the pen with the big does the day before and a few days before that. So one possibility was she was head butted pretty hard and hurt. She was peeing and pooping normally. She was drinking and nibbling hay, wanting to eat paper, and taking her bottle. She didn't act like it was a digestive issue and no clumpy poop to indicate over eating. Clostridiums can kill a goat quickly though so I wasn't ruling it out. I ended up giving her shots of banamine for the pain, thiamine because goats have issues with it in times of stress, clostridium antitoxin and had to repeat them a few times. Hubby started calling her pin cushion. She was also getting probiotics to help her gut if it was a digestive issue. Fortunately she has pulled through without specifically "telling" me what the problem was. I do think it was an injury though. She did act stiff in the front legs and moved away from gentle strokes along her shoulder and sides. I sure wish they could talk human or I could hear goat!

I also am now wondering if my incubator hatches will produce any chicks after a significantly long power failure and temp drops. I'm still keeping them going though as I've heard some folks have the same situation and have chicks hatch. That being, I'm not expecting much but still hope that some will hatch! Last year I had fun with incubating and this year it's been a bummer. I think I have a fertility issue going on too.

My turkey hens were setting in the large dog shipping crate and in all the storms and rain, even with a tarp over the crate and the opening away from the driving rain, they got very wet. They looked like a couple drowned rats and were soaked totally through all their feathers. They stoically stayed on the nest though. One hen did come out and was cold and shivering. I put her in the barn as she'd not have made it if she stayed on a wet nest. I did use a LOT of shavings in the box and kept taking out wet but the hens were also wet so it was a lost cause. There were also 2 chicken hens setting with them. I got the crate moved inside the barn and one T hen stayed on it with the 2 C hens. I don't know how they could have maintained a good temp to hatch during this. I'm not expecting much success there either. Another bummer of a hatching season. I don't know if the turkeys will start laying again this season or not. Right now they just need to get their weight back up and lots more feather grooming.

Things are returning to normal but it's STILL raining and suppose to rain tomorrow too. We're suppose to go to a bbq tomorrow but I really don't want to go if it's nasty out. It's a friend of hubby's, so he wants to go of course. I'm not sure how so much time has passed, but tomorrow is also our anniversary. It's the 40th! I can't believe it. If a birthday doesn't make one feel old, that realization can!

I thought this was going to be a real short post to appologize for being AWOL and to let you know what's going on. I think I've written a book instead!

I hope you all have a good weekend and some fun too being it's a holiday on Monday!

Lilacs & Crabapple Tree

They are IN BLOOM, looking GORGEOUS, and they are giving frost warnings for tonight and tomorrow. BAH HUMBUG! I hate getting frosts when these are in bloom as they are such a "sight for sore eyes" and a good mood elevator! I thought I had a photo of them but don't find it. I'll have to try to get one today without the rain.

I have a vase of lilacs here in the living room and they smell sooooo good! I still remember what all it took, including breaking 2 shovels across the blade getting them planted here years ago. I guess I better go get soaked and pick more so I can put some in the dining room too. I have to make sure I get my enjoyment from them as some years they are pretty sparse. This year they are quite loaded.

The honeysuckle will bloom shortly too. It's setting it booms nicely. We usually get about a week where the scent is heavy in the evening and oh-so intoxicating. I always wish I could bottle it to last the rest of the year.

It's only 41* out and after 2 pm. Not good with the frost warning. It will also decimate the fruit crop if it happens. I guess I'll need to travel around with my fingers hexed to try to ward it off, huh?

My wish for the day is NO frost or freeze. I want to enjoy the beauty and aroma of these blooming bushes!

A Short Update

I thought I was going to have time to post but the weather is turning ugly. We have a LOT of wind gusts and a storm is coming in. I'll need to get off the computer shortly.

Yesterday was 80 and hot in shorts and tee shirt. Today is cold and wet with the temp in the low 50's. Today is sweat pants with a tee and flannel shirt. It was also bundling up a bit to do chores in the rain and wind.

Yes, you guessed it! The milkstand moved in the barn today! Between yesterday's biting flies and today's rain, inside it went. Fortunately it wasn't too hard to move. The hardest part was my "help" who thought jumping on and off was helping. Everyone needs 3 little ND goaties to help them of course! And not to mention the 3 does who also wanted in on this game. I am thinking if I wanted to move a milkstand around much I'd better put it on wheels. That might not be a bad idea either, if the wheels have locks.

The news on tv tonight was a very sobering "event". The last few days while they talk of opening the flood gates on the Mississippi river has had me feeling sad for the folks who ended up with the river being routed to their farms and neighborhoods in order to spare others' homes due to the damage that is going to happen and which was the lesser of "2 evils". How horrible to be "the ones" who end up with the massive floods coming their way. How could one ever pack up their belongings fast enough to escape this torrential devastation. I've heard from others who are out west and in the evacuation line for the forest fires. How does one plan or act upon an evacuation when they have livestock? My heart goes out to them, as I'm sure yours does. It can't be too great to be the Army, who has had to make the decisions as to what is the best thing to do with such a monumental effect regardless of which way they decided. My heart goes out to them too. My prayers are with all who are "a part" of the whole discouraging disaster. I hope all lives are spared.

The storm is close and I need to get a move on. I'm sorry to end on such a sad note. I guess it shows that sometimes things aren't all exciting and cheerful in life or for homesteaders, farmers and ranchers.

Bless you all, stay safe and have a good weekend!

It's a BEAUTIFUL Day

It's 52* out and SUNNY! The grass is GREEN and growing. The tree leaf buds are swelling my and lilacs have a tinge of green to them! I picked a few daffodils and brought them in. THIS is Spring! I LOVE IT!

I'm getting some things done outside today! Yesterday I had to take hubby to the dr, pick up prescriptions, get a couple groceries, etc.

We made our regular trip to GoodWill too of course! I found a JUICER! It's a cheaper one as it's one of the dark blue with speckles on it type like the water bath canners, but it's a jucier and they are expensive new. This looks to be practically new. Unfortunately the booklet is not with it, but I belong to a couple canning groups. I'll try to find a few blog articles with photos too. I found a couple neat cookbooks too! Sometimes I get too excited over such little things!

The laundry on the line is dry too. I love to hang my laundry out to dry. I miss that over the Winter. I'm thankful I don't have rules telling me I can't do this!

Back to work. It's time to fill some milk bottles and get the disbudding done! Everyone gets a bottle to help comfort them through the drama.

Patches is now able to be done too! He's able to jump for joy and cause havoc. Hubby is calling him a guppy - goat + puppy. He flies across the living room and into hubby's lap now. He's traveling in leaps and bounds. It's time to see if he can be incorporated in with the rest of the kids again. There aren't any goats in the isle of the barn now so IF needed, I can pull the 2 biggest boys out so that it's more of a fair situatio to all who are left between size and being disbudded. Hopefully that will work or I'll adjust the situation and find what does!

I'm working on getting the pics of Patches and Lady's trip to the vet done for a post.

Today

It's another day with LOTS that needs done. It's 32* though and misty rain. The snow is melting! YAA! We still have about a foot of snow but with the melting it's compacted down and easy enough to walk on. It's also easy enough to pull a loaded sled with warm jugs of water without it tipping over. Our road is a dirt road and it's now slick ice, making the curves and turns a challenge. We now have flood warnings as the rain combined with melting snow is raising the water level in the rivers, etc. That being, it's almost MUD season!

I'm having a terrible time with the TSC chick order form. I'd LOVE to order 10 chicks of each of the 3 Brahma colors and 10 of each of the Cochin colors, excluding blue and black (have those!). I can't afford that many chicks and I have the "want it now" syndrome! Getting some this year and some next year is the more sensible way, but when it comes to chicks, common sense is a challenge for me! Which I want most is not getting me far at all either! What a conundrum!

Pictured above is a Brahma hen (white with black trim) and a blue Cochin roo. Would some buff Brahmas in that pretty buff/gold with black trim be gorgeous? YES, of course they would! I do have about 20 birds for sale so there will be room!

One of my goals is to have my purebred birds so that I can sell some hatching eggs from to help pay for feed. I'd also like to have some chicks to sell from my own hatchings. The Brahmas and Cochins are very calm and friendly so they are popular breeds.

The does are making some "serious" changes in their pregnancies. I'm wondering if Monique will be the first to kid. She has a "whole" udder and teats are separated. It just needs to fill up now with all that rich colostrum. I'm now sure who will kid next as they are all so closely due. Spirit is filling up a bit faster than Claire and Kendra isn't as far along but has had the most kiddings. While doing chores last night, I thought that I probably should have looked for a few sweat shirts or sweat pants at the Good Will Last Chance Store for cutting the arms and legs off for kid coats. I need to get a few extra bags of shavings for extra bedding to sop up the wet spots. I'd like to get a couple bags of the pelleted bedding too at that works wonders in wet spots. I like to bed with the pellets and then the shavings on top. Then the pellets contain the extra fluids in a smaller spot and are easier to fork it up and then fluff the shavings back over the top and waalaa, dry bedding.

The ice has weighted the chicken wire down in the outside pen. There's another reason that Susan's idea of cattle panels being a good idea. The cattle panels would also support tarps for covering part of the pen for protection from the rain and wet snows. I've got a job to do there to fix that up! I don't have the money for cattle panels right now (and yet I want to buy chicks - I think I have a priority issue here). I'd love to find some 2nd hand ones! There are 4 trees in the pen so I think I'll try lashing some trimmed branches between the trees and help support it with them. I also have a bit of field fencing that should help. I do need the center to be elevated to get it too high for Bandit to reach. He's being destructive with his horns.

Yes, there's a lot of post Winter work now needing done! Guess who's going to get to do it!!

Just An Update

I'm sorry I've been AWOL except a couple fast posts.

My male Pembrooke Corgi, Murphy, has been in a major crisis. It was looking like he was going to need VERY EXPENSIVE emergency surgery, which I can't afford. I had a very hard time with the first couple of days with it looking like I'd have to put him down. The vet was VERY HELPFUL. But, he's improving so far and it looks like it's going to be a maintaince "program" now. He evidentally passed a "stone" which was a bloody mess and extremely painful. He got nasty sick too which didn't help. Where there is "a stone", there are more "stones". He wasn't eating or drinking either so couldn't be given anything for pain. He took the antibiotic shots very well also.

Fortunately, he LOVES his crate and is very good about spending time in it. So he chose to be there which was a lot of help and made it so he didn't have the stress some dogs do who never learn to be crated. He has only had to deal with the being sick and in severe pain. I'm very pro-crate for just this type of situation. It's also a great way for dogs to have privacy and a chance to relax with a treat without feeling the other dogs will try to sneak the treat. It's great if a dog is food aggressive, and Murphy is. Murphy also eats in his crate and it works well for him as he's very slow at eating and just nibbles on his food for hours. So if he's out of his crate and his food isn't gone, his crate is shut so the other 3 can't go in and steal his food or treats.

It also pays to be able to give shots and have livestock med supplies on hand. This crisis had to occur during a storm and I couldn't get out . Fortunately I had a selection (think $$$$) of antibiotics for the vet to choose from for using on Murphy. They are injectible though so he had to have them via shots.

Anyway, the good news is, he IS improving and not going to have to be put down. He'll be going to the vet this week to see what the next steps need to be to avoid this in the future. I already have a pretty good idea, but still want to discuss the future with the vet because I don't know everything! I highly suspect that much of this is because of a change in dog food due to our feed store closing and having to go to a different one. It's been the right amount of time that urinary stones could develop and become a problem.

Other than that, it finally got warmer out today and I was able to fill the stock tank and freshen up buckets out to the barn and pens. It was also warm enough out that a skunk had to leave it's calling card during the night. With getting up with Murphy wanting outside we unfortunately had to be made aware of that. PHEW and YUCK!

I'm really enjoying the little Bantams so far. They are quite calm so it's easy to pick them up and they all "gather around" to see what I've brought them and watch me feed and water them. I usually take a few minutes to hold one and talk with them. They are responding to my voice too. I've added my little blue Bantam Cochin I had to the group and she seemed to like moving back to the trailer to be with them.

The goats are doing well and I've done another check on all of them. With it being winter, they are hairy little beasties and they hide early udder development pretty well. I'm noticing teats that are "filling out" and firming up so they aren't just hanging and slack. Most all of them are at a very similiar point of development and it's looking like most will kid at the expected short time frame. Most are getting pretty wide. Mo'Nique didn't kid last year but definitely will this year. I've told the "poor dear" that she might be mostly Boer, but she has to be a milk goat now. The same with Macey. It's also time to get some foot trimming done. I'm a bit behind on that and it shows.

Bobbi is healed from her spaying and has her stitches out. She sure didn't appreciate getting them snipped for removal! She was very angry and said so!

Time to call it a night and wish you all a good week!

Weather!

We got probably 6" of snow yesterday. SOME of it was pretty coming down in huge blobs the size of tennis balls. It accumulated quickly. Then the temp warmed up 2 degrees and turned it to sleet and then rain. We now have ICE! Fortunately we haven't lost our electricity and I'm very happy about that! The rain has compacted the snow and fruze a layer over the top. The dogs can walk on it and I fall through losing my balance. No school, no traffic on the road.... just ICE. Now it's snowing heavily again but this is a fine snow and it's windy so it will drift.

Two days ago it was 54 out and today 21! I'm READY for Spring! Let's get to it!

Goat & Chicken Feed

YIKES! Prices have just SKYROCKETED! My feed store had been biting the bullet for a few months and hadn't said anything. They have had to raise the price and the goat feed has gone up over $2/50# bag. Along with that, the sunflower seeds are no longer included! The reason is corn prices have escalated again and there is now a huge demand for corn. The other is that corn is being bought by other countries and China and Russia had BAD growing seasons last year and are buying up as much as they can. Chicken feed as also gone up, but I feed more to my goats and a mix that helps them balance their physical needs and either milk production or a developing pregnancy.

The chicken scratch was cheaper than the goat feed so I got it for the poultry. The problem there is I have goats with the poultry so that it discourages hawks, owls, etc from preying on my chickens. I'll have to start making a soy meal mash for the poultry to up the protein for the layers. I have to come up with a way to keep the goats out of it though.

Now I'm wondering how much chick starter and grower is going to have shot up! I think I used about 8 bags of starter last year with incubating.

I went and got stocked up a bit on feed today as we have gotten some warmer days the last couple days and will have for about a week. We're going to have a couple 50 degree days that the night temps will stay above freezing. So the snow is melting fast and that means the frost line will warm too and we will change seasons to MUD season. Then I can't drive to the barn to unload feed. So today is "do it all" day and get my van back to the house on the drive and "firma terra". Mud season is hard on getting to and from the barn at best. I have to buy it and have a load so when we have some nippy nights I can drive out in the morning before the ground thaws back to mud and unload it quick. Sometimes I end up with filling a couple of buckets and carrying out a day's feed.

I sure could have done without the extra grain expense! I paid more last time I was there too and thought that would be the increase! NOT SO. Not good!

I need a productive money tree that is hardy in zone 5 and 6!

Rough Winter

It's sure been a rough winter here. We haven't gotten the annual average snowfall yet but we've been below normal in temps all winter. Winter is rough on livestock too. Mine all have shelter and wind protection. I can't control the temps though, nor accidents.

Sadly, I've had another loss. A week or so ago I lost my silver laced Cochin roo. There was a pic of him and his hen in the post. They were by the kiddy picnic table and appeared to be deep in conversation. I've now lost the hen. (See: http://viewtoponder.blogspot.com/2011/01/sadly-another-loss.html )

I found "henny" not feeling well and someone had been pecking on her as she had some peck marks on both sides of her head and one on her comb. There was a bit of blood and some smeared on her neck feathers. I brought her into the house to see if I could pull her trough it. She wasn't sneezing, wheezing or coughing. She didn't show being egg bound, and I did suspect she was dehydrated and cold. Her crop was full enough and not hard. So I treated her for dehydration and a crop impaction along with adding antibiotics as directed by the gal I see on a chicken list who has a LOT of experience and knowledge. "Henny" seemed to be improving and opened on eye, seemed more alert and I was hopeful. Alas, she took a quick turn for the worse last night and died. I hope it was easier on her than being outside as it's bitterly cold again.

I really liked this sweet little hen and she always came near when I was doing chores. She was very calm, gentle and cooperative - no flightyness or meanness at all. She was the type of hen I liked and want to have. What a BUMMER to have lost the pair.

It now leaves me with the silver laced Bantam Cochin pullet. I hope I can get my hands on some more silver laced Cochins or eggs this Spring.

Bummer! I'm so tired of Winter and ready for some warmer temps. Supposedly we will get up to the low 30's next week. I'm READY! I think the critters will be too.

Another This & That Post

THIS is what 2 feet of snow looks like!

PHEW! We got through the blizzard without losing our electricity. The wind was horrendous and kept pounding on the end of the house. That's not normal at all and was rather disconcerting every time it happened. It was a weird storm! We were getting hit with the winds and end of the snow storm out of Canada and the one out of the midwest/WSW came in over it dropping snow that came down is a massive swirl. It showed on the weather on the news and I don't recall seeing 2 storms from different directions like that. It sure does give one a science lesson on wind currents and how diverese they can be! It drifted at the front and back of the house quite deeply. I can't really tell how much we got because of the drifts. In the lower spots it was still over my boots which are 10" boots. So we definitely got about a foot and maybe more. West of us got 20" and East and North got 13 - 16". I didn't catch the amounts for South of us but would think they were closer to the 20". We have an adult foster care a few houses from us so the owner had to drive his tractor to the highway (1 1/4-1 1/2 miles) so an ambulance could get in and followed them back out. So that's finally over! Now we get a few "sub-artic" type days with the highs in the single digits at best. Then what will the weather/news come up with next for our seasonal entertainment?

I do believe I'm going to miss my vet appt. tomorrow! It may be best anyway because I have a doggy in heat, 1 coming in and the 2 squabbly boys! We're not doing any pups so I don't need the shenanigans to deal with and try to keep them separate elsewhere! Here in the house I have the crates, gates and schedule all organized. Bobbi should still be able to go get her kitty girly parts tended to on the 11th.

The rascally ground hog at the zoo near here saw his shadow this afternoon as the sun peeked through. What's with that? Getting some sun peek through during a blizzard! Not to mention thunder and lightening? BUMMER! Ole PPhil in PA didn't see his. I'd gladly take the early Spring. Does that mean we need to get the local groundhog officially documentated as a fraud?

Two days of storms and my hard working hens didn't let it phase them at all. I got 8 eggs yesterday and again today. I didn't expect to see more than a couple, if that today! What dedicated works those girls are! The girls laying are definitely not slackers being they didn't even take of a weather day when all the schools, the courts, the county, state offices, GM and colleges closed! Does that mean we should be hiring and electing hens to fill the jobs? At least they get their job done!

The 3 goats who have been in the outside pen (with shelter) were very happy to have been put in the barn over night. I'll keep them in for a couple days until we through the bitterly cold nights. They seem to enjoy going in side to butt heads and spar with the other goats. The 2 does don't like being with the 2 older Alpine does though so this time they are with the 2 younger Alpines and the ND's. It seems to be going well. There's head butting and bickering over who's going to eat hay in what spot and eat from which grain bucket which is normal and not a major issue. The ND's seem content to move away and watch the antics while staying out of it. Bandit was put with the 2 older Alpines and Nipper. That also worked well other than a goat "table" was tipped and a large dog shipping crate flipped and on the wrong end of the pen. I think that was more from Bandit flying around and trying to impress everyone with his gymnastic routines and abilities. It's much more fun to leap into the air from a perch than off the ground. I probably should be amazed he wasn't at the top of the ladder with a few hens! They have the old rickety wooden ladder for their roost. It gives them a roost but also adds to the room to get out of the way of each other. The turkeys really like the height of the ladder and hanging out on it even in the day time. It makes them happy so.... it is what it is and adds to their enjoyment.

I guess with 30 states dealing with this snow storm and the Eastern states dealing with a surplus of snow it probably wouldn't help to put a sign by the road offering free snow. Craigslist probably wouldn't do the removal job either. I guess I'm just plain stuck with it and stuck in it!

Some Random Things

Tomorrow (Wednesday) thru Saturday we will have a bit warmer weather. Thursday we are to have rain. Rain on our frozen dirt road equals ICE ICE ICE! Not good. I hope it melts quickly so I don't have to drive on it or that the sand they put down will stay on top of the mess and still be helpful!

I'm definitely ready for a few warmer days though as I have 3 goats who I really need to do some hoof trimming on again. It'll be nice to be able to not be bundled up so I'm the size of Frosty the Snowman to do the job.

I also need to wrangle some more wire and it will be nice to be able to do so without the bulk of a winter coat.

It's been a rough couple of days here. I had bought the dogs some treats at the dollar store. I got a package of pig ear strips along with others. I was saving them for special occasions. I forgot that I gave them some at Thanksgiving and it upset their guts. Well, I gave them one Christmas day and the more than upset their guts. This has been a NASTY, gross issue. Why do I tell you this? Only because I thought you might want to be very careful of what you get your dogs for treats! I quit using the rawhide chews when we heard all the problems with them coming from China and being recalled. So now I'm not going to be buying any like these again either. When I buy them bones, they sneak them outside and bury them. I guess the buried bones are a much better deal though! We're just going to boycott the rawhide chews and now the sliced up pig ears. Nothing like giving my dogs a tainted treat for a Christmas present! Poor pupsters!

We aren't doing anything special for New Years Eve. We need to get to town this week to pick up some prescriptions so will pick up a couple things for a special treat. I think I'll pull a turkey out of the freezer for New Years Day. With the way the pullets are laying, I may do a few deviled eggs too. Being the oven will be going, maybe I should try out one of the sugar free cookie recipes I've acquired! Cookies are something I've missed the last 6 months. I found some sugar free chocolate chips so am ready for cookies. Doing nothing exciting is fine by me! I'm just glad that we finally have a New Years that hubby is not laid up, nor deathly ill. A quiet NY evening will be just fine!

Good news! I've spent a significant amount of time online incubator shopping. I've made up my mind. I'm getting a Genesis 1588 without the turners. I kind of like doing that turning by hand as I've gotten into this thing of talking to the eggs while doing the magic, good-luck chant of "Grow babies, grow!" over them! It gives me a chance to watch for any problems (rotting egg = NASTY) before they are a BIG, stinky problem. I also candle them as I go. Anyway, I do want to look on eBay before I order from the other company I chose (Cutlers), just in case.... I also found a catching net for poultry on there for $13. I've seen one used and it sure was a handy thing and I'm debating if I want one. It could be VERY handy and could be one of those things that one wondered how they did without it in the past. I can usually pick up most of the hens in the pen and barn if I want too. The roos tend to try to stay out of my way and they are the hard ones to catch. With my disability and balance problems it might be worth the money. I've wanted to make one, but the problem was the weight of a homemade one and my shoulder issues. This is a a pretty light weight one so maybe I should.....

I'm soooo ready for hatching to start!

Funny as it is, I was trying to take pictures of the chickens so I could count them! I sure can't get an accurate count in person! I need to know how many roos I have to get rid of so I can put an ad on Craigslist. That will help a lot! I also have to decide which I'm keeping!

I'm also trying to figure out which are the roos and am trying to put them outside in the buck pen with the others as I figure who who is who. I'm then going to start moving the hens so I have them all inside and separated from the roos. I need them to be without a roo for 30 days so that when I start to collect eggs for hatching that they will have been fertilized by the rooster who is the same breed and for a few, the right color and breed.It actually takes at a minimum of 3 weeks and in a few instances longer for the hen to be clear of unwanted "swimmers". It would seem like this would be an easy project, but it's not as it requires figuring out the young boys, catching them and transfering them from pen to pen. I'm also trying to decide which of the Cochin roos I want to have a harem and which I need to part with. There are more roos there than I had thought! If the horse trailer wasn't full of hay, it would sure be helpful for this shuffling around!

I also need to put some plans down on paper so I can arrange a hatching schedule around eggs I want to obtain for hatching and my own I'd like to hatch! I have to decide if I want to set a full hatch (48 eggs) all at once or if I want to stager them some. Do I want to set the full 48 or maybe 16 per week or even 24 every 9 days. I am saying 9 days due to the 3 day lock down for hatching. I'm thinking of moving them into the hovabator for the lockdown and hatch. I have to plan for brooder space for the hatchlings too. I can't just hatch eggs and have no where to put the chicks! Decisions decisions.... What do you think?

If It's Not One Thing....

... it's definitely another! Our used refrigerator didn't make it a year! It CROAKED! It also ran up the electric bill for the last couple months. OUCH! I could have bought a NEW refrigerator for what it ran the bill up. It's one of those home-ownership issues that we deal unhappily with! I have a much newer used refrigerator coming Friday. I've spent a few days researching new and found the "affordable" new ones have a very limited life expectancy. What happened to the refrigerators of the past that lasted 25 or more years? The first new I looked at (Frigadaire) has a year's warranty. The reviews were less than 50% happy and all complained of the noise. One stated their's croaked a month after the warranty expired. I expect a refrigerator to last longer than 13 months! Are these made by children in China? I really shouldn't even "go there"!

The good news is that on our way to town, we got caught on the edge of quite a rain storm. Fortunately as I turned South we drove out of it. We got to town and while in Good Will it hit there. I had expected to see a rainbow but didn't. The sky just looked like it should be a beautiful canvas for one. We drove out of the storm and into sunshine with it still pouring. When we left the store and were returning home, we enjoyed a slightly cooler air but it was very clean and fresh smelling. I haven't noticed the air smelling so nice in some time. I wish I could bottle that! Refreshing and a very nice drive. The scenery is so brown and blah though. To see a Winter wheat field, means it stands right out and looks odd with the surrounding pre-winter look. To me, trees look so much nicer in their Summer green, than their bare Winter nakedness.

I've had a short sit-down and now it's time for chores and milking! It will be dark in an hour! Then I need to return to throwing out refrigerator contents. The chickens are sure enjoying their treats.

My work never ends.

This That and the Other Stuff

Bummer. We've already had snow a couple days, but then we've had a bit over a week of really nice weather again. It has been nice and I've really enjoyed it and tried to make good use of it. Now it's raining which wasn't to start until "sometime after 9, after dark". It started about 4 while I was outside getting more pre-winter stuff done and chores.

The goats are pretty well set for winter. I have moved Nipper and Bandit (bucks) into the barn. I have 2 large pens in the barn for the goats which use to be my huge, double foaling stalls. I still have the turkeys and chickens in the one but put Bandit in one with Macey and Mo'Nique for company. Nipper is in the other with the ND does, his 2 doelings and the 4 Alpine does. The 2 doelings need me to take them to their new home real soon.

The rubber buckets and tubs for winter watering are almost all in place. I hate having my good buckets bust from the water freezing and expanding. I'm almost done covering the top of the buck pen so the owls and hawks can't get my chickens and so the chickens and the turkeys won't be able to fly out either. Now I need to move more chickens out there as soon as we have another couple days that will be non-raining so they can get around and adjust a few days. I'll move the turkeys out there at the same time. I need another roll of chicken wire to finish the top of the pen and hope to get that this coming week. I think I can get the larger chickens all moved out before the top is finished though.

I have almost all of the destructive mess cleaned up from Buckley, who's major source of enjoyment was trashing anything he could while rubbing his itchy horns and head on it. Some of that was frustration because he wanted out with the does and couldn't get to them. I do hope he'll be happier in his new home as he was to have some does of his own. He's really a nice boy but was frustrated with does in heat and knowing the other 6 boys were all "with" the does in his thinking. All that is left is some broken up pieces of wood to bag and keep dry for starting the wood stove over the winter.

I still need to get the chain link fence that was given to me moved so it's not mangled in snow plowing over the winter. I have finally decided where I'm going to use it. I have a spot behind the barn that is only needing 2 sides fenced to move the turkeys too for next summer and I'm going to use it to do that. Then I'll only need a cover over it to keep predators out. It's also in line with the electric fence so I can have a couple hot wires for coons, possums, coyotes or such to get the message.

I'd like to get half dozen pallets moved out by the barn so if I need any over the winter I'll have some close instead of trying to get them moved so far from where they currently are. Every winter it seems I come up with a couple uses for a few. Then if I don't use them they'll be there for a new compost bin come Spring.

I still need to move the glider and a couple things outside the back door around the corner and cover them with a tarp for winter.

I need to get the electric cord run out to the stock tank for the horse and her heater in the tank. I need to put a couple stakes in to make sure the plow knows where the cord lays so it's not plowed up. I heard that Lowes has some solar driveway lights that work great in a chicken coop and such and are only $18. I'd like to get a couple for out by the barn and buck pen. I'd like one of their led hats too. That would sure be handy! It also has me wondering if there is any type of a solar pack that has an electric outlet attached that could have my stock tank heater plugged in and not use electricity. It would sure be handy to have the tank where I'd rather have it (not under a walnut tree)! I need to fill the tank again soon too.

An the last of the bigger projects left is to move the gate out the front door to it's new spot, move the older fence out, and pull the 2 fence posts. Then if hubby is laid up again this winter (needs more surgery at some point) I can get him in and out of the house a lot easier as I'll be able to park within a few feet of the front door to load and unload him.

We also have some wood that is split and piled out back that needs to come up from the woods yet. That can be worked on soon as the bow hunter who hunts on our property will be done hunting until musket season and he's the one who so kindly has helped up with wood cutting and splitting the last couple of years.

I think I'm about ready. It's a good thing too because I'm sure worn out! Are you about ready for Winter? Do you get a lot of snow? Ice?

Do I need An Umbrella?

http://www.doineedanumbrella.com/

This was kinda fun and definitely neat! It was FAST too!

Yes, it's been raining here and started during the night. So when I typed in my zip code it has a huge YES! I also had the perfect graphic for a change! Sometimes it's hard to find just the right pic or graphic. You can snag him if you want!