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Pets and Livestock

The Song of Spring in the Country

April 2, 2017

The cheeping of baby chicks is the song of Spring.  We picked up our baby chicks and ducklings at the post office. They were shipped from Cackle Hatchery. Now, they are next to the wood stove in the basement. There is a heat lamp hanging over their box. There is fresh water and feed and clean papers for them to poop on.

Now, I can enjoy a cup of coffee and watch them settle in.  It is warm and cozy and I love their song of Spring time. It is the beginning of our new season. I will keep them in the basement until they get too stinky. When that happens, they will be banished to the barn.

The chicks look bedraggled  because the ducks splash around in the water dish. The chicks get a few drops of water on their feathers and food sticks to them. No worries. They are fine and keeping warm under the heat lamp. They just look a little rumpled.

Everyone will have their own spot in the barn. The chicks will go into the Brooder house that Bob built. They will stay there until they grow some wing feathers. The ducks will go into what was the “goose house” They will have a big, plastic baby pool to play in. Our geese were moved to the big barn and are enjoying the attached outside run.  They are laying eggs.

Meanwhile, just for right now, I will drink my coffee and enjoy the song of Spring performed by my baby chicks. It is a beautiful thing!

Garden

Diapers — Garden Trivia

April 2, 2017

Hanging flower baskets will soon be hanging from my back porch. I am filling them with new soil and Diapers. I line the bottom of the basket with a clean disposable diaper, add the soil, and plant my flowers. The diaper holds moisture inside the basket and as a result, it cuts down on my watering time.  Size small disposable diapers work really well. Try it, you will like it.

 

Pets and Livestock

Wool Comforters

April 1, 2017

Our sheep are born here at Milk and Honey Farm. They grow up here, protected by our Great Pyrenees guardian dogs. Once a year, in the spring, a sheep shearer comes to our farm. Bob helps him and I take pictures of them shearing the sheep.  This year we took the wool to St. Peters woolen mill in St. Peter, Minnesota. It will be cleaned, and carded, and become wonderful warm comforters.

We have queen size wool comforters available for sale.  Contact me for our wool comforter information.

 

Pets and Livestock

Poultry Project Update

March 26, 2017

The chicks have been living with baby ducks in the box in the basement. They get along all right but the ducks splash around in the water dish and the chicks get wet. Both chicks and duck babies are messy and scatter their dry feed all over their box. The dry feed sticks to the chicks wet feathers. They are a mess.

Bob solved the issue today by fixing up separate areas for the babies. The ducklings are in the brooder in the barn. The chicks have a new clean and dry box in the basement. I hope this works and the feathers dry and fluff out. Maybe I will have to brush them.

Bob brought home a plastic baby pool. It’s a gift for the geese.  He filled it with water this afternoon. The geese are having a blast splashing around in their private pool. They flap their wings and get everything very wet. They are happy geese.

Depending on what type of poultry involved, water is fun to play in. The ducks and geese love it. The chicks not so much. There is an old saying ‘ There is nothing madder than a wet hen”. I believe it.

Our poultry project will turn into free range, organic eggs for sale. We will have baby geese (goslings) available to sell in May. The Mama geese are laying eggs now. (March) For information use the “Contact Us” page and I can give you all the details about the Poultry Project’

 

Pets and Livestock

The Cat Came Back

March 25, 2017

The cat came back this morning. He had been gone for over three weeks. I was thinking that he had lost in a fight with a huge coyote. He is  thin and rumpled. I was really glad to see him. He is a good cat and does all cat things well.

I fed him an egg on top of some cat food, petted his head, and told him to stay Home.  I talk to my animals and this conversation with my cat went something like this.

“You need to stop this roaming around. You have a good home. The barn has several resident female cats for you to play with. You have a safe place to sleep on the side porch. You are loved and appreciated right here. You have a fulfilling job. It is an important job for a cat.  Killing mice and rats and rabbits is vital to the well being of the farm. It is your job and your are good at it. I remember the time when you killed three rabbits in the main garden. I know this because you brought them to the porch and put them in your food dish. I understand that there are cat temptations out there. They may be interesting for a while. In the end, they will leave you mauled, maimed, and hungry. I will take good care of you, but I will not chase after you on one of your expeditions for excitement. If you are gone too long, I will give up on you and get a new cat. You will be replaced, in my heart and in my home. So I hope you will get the big picture and stay home while you have the chance.”

He is still here and meowing for more attention. I hope he listened and got the point.  When considering my conversation with him, it seems to me that this message is not just for my cat. It has a deeper meaning for husbands who may be considering an adventure away from home. Maybe it is for the rebellious teenager who is thinking about running away.

Observation: Much is learned from my animals and my garden.  In the Bible, in the book of Job 12:7,8,9,10, it says that the animals will teach you and the earth will instruct you.  Today, from my adventuring cat, I saw this principle at work.

Hallelujah! The Cat Came Back!

 

 

Pets and Livestock

Good Dogs Good Dogs Good Dogs!

March 25, 2017

Not to be outdone by last weeks kill by our front yard Great Pyrenees guardians, Two of our sheep and barn guards took care of business by dispatching a huge racoon.  They kept it out of the barn and far away from my poultry and stored grain . Good Dogs!  

The racoon was carefully placed in an empty sack that had once contained dog food. It was buried in the dumpster.  I am thinking that the racoon was moving around looking for food and made a mistake this morning. A huge mistake.

We do not have any issues with raccoons or coyotes or other forms of predators that roam around. No worries at all. Our big dogs are on patrol.

Seasons

Let the Games Begin

March 25, 2017

Spring means Spring cleaning. It is something that I do not rush into. It takes a while to get me started.  Items are stuffed into the back of closets . Outside things are stacked up in the green house. The air conditioners are in the storage room as well as the porch pillows. The Pantry is crowded and disorganized and the kitchen cupboards need rearranging and cleaning out.

It has been three months since I fell and fractured a vertebra in my back. It is healing thanks to a lot of prayers and the fact that I am taking it easy.  Healing takes time.  It also helps to be sensible with activates. I rest between projects, do not lift heavy things, and never climb up on a ladder.

My plans for Spring Cleaning are “Slow and Steady as She Goes”. This morning, I attacked the refrigerator.  It received a serious cleaning out and scrubbing. Our chickens will be happy for bits and pieces of unearthed food stuffs and the slimy green things. In addition, they will get the unrecognizable foods called leftovers.  This afternoon, I will take a nap and rest.  The kitchen cupboards are next.  Maybe I will do them today and maybe not. Tomorrow would work just as well. It is suppose to rain.

 

Boomer Life

Living Theme

March 25, 2017

My theme for the new Boomers and Beyond.Life Blog says it all.

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful, the good Lord made them all.”

by Cecil Frances Alexander

This describes perfectly the life I write about.

Seasons

More Spring Things At Milk and Honey Farm

March 20, 2017

Everywhere I look, I seen the beginning of Spring. Tiny green garlic shoots are pushing thru the straw mulch. The mulch has kept them warm all winter, but now they want out. The straw will be removed soon and added to the compost pile at the back of the main garden.

A grisly sign of Spring is the dead racoon in the front yard.  The raccoons are moving around looking for things to eat. I do not raise my chickens and ducks for the raccoons.   They are protected by the Great Pyrenees dog guardians who patrol the farm. Last night, they took care of business. Good dogs! Bob will bury the dead racoon in the dumpster.

There is a new copy of American Bee Journal sitting on the table next to Bob’s chair. He is busy now, building more hives for our bees. That project gave him a good excuse to buy another saw!  We will set up the hives in April, right about the time the dandelions get ready to bloom.  Bees love dandelions.  We love dandelions too. I make dandelion fritters.  It is easy and they are yummy.  I cut off the yellow heads and roll them in a basic fritter batter. They are fried in coconut oil and served with maple syrup.  This is one of our favorite Spring treats!

There are still remaining patches on snow on the ground. The wind is brisk and brings a chill, but Spring is coming if you know where to look.