Category Archive: farming

2018
03/15

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Tractor hunting

This afternoon we went tractor hunting.  We had already looked at the John Deere, so today was Kubota day.   There are many choices and though we were looking at the lower end, these creators cost plenty.  So how do we find a used one that we won’t have to spend a lot on repairs?  I don’t yet know, but will try to learn.   Farming is expensive and labor intensive!  Even though I don’t want to pay any more than I absolutely have to for my food, I also realize how inexpensive it really is to go to the grocery store and purchase it.  I am thankful to those who spend their time and energy in this way.

This little mountain lap quilt is now ready to quilt.  It will measure about 53″ square when finished.

2018
03/13

Category:
farming
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Gate came tumbling down

I left the gate lock open so Beau could follow me up to the barn, and apparently when he pushed it open, the gate came tumbling down.   When I started back to the house, this is what I saw.    This is only one of the reasons, it is difficult to accomplish what is on my list.  It is a vicious cycle trying to keep everything from wearing out before one is done using it.  In our case, fence posts have been here long enough that some of the posts are rotting.

2018
03/11

Category:
farming
Life
quilts
sheep

COMMENTS:
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With arms wide open

 

http://www.elefantz.com/2018/03/with-arms-wide-open.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JennyOfElefantz+%28Jenny+of+ELEFANTZ%29

“With Arms wide open” is the best post I have read in a very long time.   I want to share her blog with you and let you be blessed as I am.

The mountains are coming along.  It will be about 48 x 50″ plus whatever I decide on borders.

It was such a stunningly beautiful day here, it was difficult to stay indoors.   So, I worked in the barn for awhile, cleaning stalls, and shifting sheep.

2018
03/10

Category:
farming
Knitting
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Time goes by socks

I have now completed two pattern repeats on “As time goes by” socks.  I think I will need 5 repeats, so 3 more to go.  This name just seems so appropriate as the time has been flying by.

The big equipment fellows finally came back this week and are once again working.  They left the machine here all winter, so I can only assume it was too wet to need it.  They are now removing dead trees and blackberry brambles.  Then we can plant pasture

Another unfinished project.   The iris didn’t get weeded much last summer, but they are still volunteering to come back up and give us a show of beauty this summer.

2018
03/08

Category:
farming
Life
quilts
sheep

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Wee sheep movie plus

IMG_2287   I’m trying something new here.   If you click on the blue IMG, you should get a 14 second wee sheep movie.    It is so fun to watch them play.   It is good for the soul.

Plus I actually got a bit of sewing done today.   Without a doubt there will still be color shifting.

Jack and Jill are today’s arrivals.  This mother is a first time and did a terrific job.

2018
03/07

Category:
charity
farming
Life
sheep

COMMENTS:
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Feeding triplets

Some days it feels as if I  spend the entire day feeding triplets, even though that is not true.  It just seems that way.   This morning for the first time in 3 weeks, I was able to spend my hour at the gym.  Although I come home tired, it is worth the time.   I try to get a rest time on those days, for at least half an hour.  However do humans who have triplets manage all this – they can’t walk away for 2 or 3 hours,  knowing all will be safe until they return?

This afternoon we made a quick trip to the church with some gloves we picked up for the homeless as JoAnn’s is having their sale to move out winter items.   They were at a terrific buy at $.50/pair and perfect for this in barely above freezing weather.  This is Beau’s favorite place.  He loves it when we can include him in a car trip.   I must have 2 dog biscuits.   One when he gets into the car, then the second is expected when I come back to the car from wherever it is that I had to go, whether for 10 minutes or for a quick trip to a door.   He is such a funny boy!

In between feedings, I also get to slip in the fun things like laundry, cooking, and some cleaning.  I’m hoping to visit the sewing studio tomorrow, but there are more plants that need to be put into the ground as well.   This is such a wonderful, busy time of the year.

 

2018
03/05

Category:
farming
Garden
Knitting
Life
Schedules
sheep

COMMENTS:
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Time blocks

 It seems my life is currently measured in 4 hour time blocks.

  • 6 AM: feed babies, check everyone, and let them outside for the day.

  • Home to a selected project for an hour and a half before prepping breakfast

  • 10 AM: feed babies, sheep check, and give mothers food and fresh water

  • Home to normal daily activities such as laundry, minimal housework, etc

  • 2 PM:  feed babies, again the check on everyone

  • Usually by this time, I need to take a rest or at least find an activity that sits me down

  • 6 PM:  feed babies, feed adults plus water and close the doors for the night.

  • Family time, worship, and maybe knitting time

  • 10 PM: feed babies, last check on everyone plus any needed water

  • Home to drop until 5:30 AM time to prepare bottles again.

Bottles babies are a lot of extra trouble, and it only lasts 2 months, but on the other hand, one does have to delegate the time blocks so they don’t get away.  After the first feeding, I try to use that hour plus to sew, quilt, plant, or check on my seed growing for the hoop house.

Since we are still doing renovations to the barn, that takes supervision and choices as well during the day.  Today, Mary came over for some quilt help and we were both tired enough, we rested while visiting after feeding babies.

Tonight after the 6PM feeding, I was able to get some knitting done, but at this time of day, I am slow.  I am knitting this lovely pattern found on Ravelry, using the yarn at the top of this page.   It has a 20 row repeat, but only on 12 stitches on each sock.   The rest is all knitted and therefore goes quickly.

Here is today’s “cuteness” photo

2018
03/04

Category:
farming
quilts
sheep

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Mountain blocks

The mountain blocks have been put together.  Now I have to decide on an arrangement.   I was surprised at how fast they went together.  I  laid them all out in piles and then just chain sewed them.   Fast and easy.

These little ones start solid food early.

2018
03/03

Category:
farming
food
Life
sheep

COMMENTS:
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Amos and Andy arrived

Amos (dark) and Andy arrived in this world while I was bottle feeding thee three that started the birthing event this year.  Most of these lambs have a dark daddy and a white mother.  And they are pretty well split between the dark and the white.

We had company share lunch with us today.  I made a lasagna using foods from the freezer, which were tomatoes, zucchini and Swiss chard.  It was delicious.   I’m working hard on my goal of using all the foods in at least one of the two freezers before we start putting food in for the next winter.  We start with strawberries, so we will need some foods in the second freezer to carry us through until the bulk of the seasonal produce that we freeze gets ripe.  But it would be nice to start the winter with totally new foods in the freezer.

It was suggested to me tonight that if I wanted to be inspired to lose some weight, I should watch a Netflix film “Obesity – the post-mortem”   It was an interesting film, but takes a strong stomach.

2018
03/01

Category:
farming
Life
quilts
sheep

COMMENTS:
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Meet Peppy

Meet Peppy, our latest little ewe lamb, who did it right.   I fed the bottle babies, went home to get something, came back 15 minutes later.  She had entered the world at 9# and was already nursing.    It would be so wonderful if every baby entered this way and we could let nature do all the work.   She is #13 and the 9th ewe lamb.

We are expecting another 10-12 babies in March.  I am also anticipating good moms that will have plenty of milk so there will not be more bottle babies.   In that way, I’ll also get nightly sleep and perhaps be able to get some sewing and quilting done.

Other than that, we spent a share of our day at Costco, and of course going back and forth to the barn to feed the bottle babies.  So for the first time in over a year, I did not finish my “One monthly goal” with Elm Street Quilts.

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