Picked up the chickens from the Bennet's today in Gladys. They have a beautiful farm with a farm store that we had a blast in. Was able to purchase pounds of grain, dried beans, locally ground coffee, ect. The chickens turned out great - most between 4-5 pounds and some even at 6 pounds! So happy.
We even picked up our first two rabbits to breed from the breeder in Union Hall. We have a black boy and a gray girl. They are four months old. We probably need to pick up one more doe to breed once we get these guys settled in. I need to find all our rabbit equipment.
Mother-in-law and brother-in-law coming to visit today from NJ. Will be getting a great big chicken on the grill soon :)
New Rose Bush
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
August 17, 2011
Busy still with canning and fencing. Put up 12 pints of applesauce on Saturday with Olivia. We picked most of our little gala apple tree. The apples were splotchy and ugly on the outside, but perfect on the inside. I could have sliced and frozen them, but we sauced a big jar.
David had 4 days off and really worked on the fence. We have the whole front road fenced in and then he finished the entire woods side of fence on Tuesday with Joel. What a blessing. One more small side by the barn and our whole front 4 acres will be fenced in. Almost time for the llamas to come - so exciting!
Picked tomatoes and wondered what to do now. So I had to turn to tomato pudding. The family is not excited, but they're made and in the freezer.
Took 23 cornish rock chickens to Rick and Betty Bennet for processing last night. They only process at 2:00 in the morning so they should already be done. We'll travel back to Gladys tomorrow morning to pick up the birds fresh and ready to cut up or freeze. Have a few to give away and sell. The next batch of chicks are coming in September. I'm so glad we get a break from feeding, watering and moving for a while. The Bennets only raise meat chickens in the spring and fall and I'm beginning to think that's the best idea around here. The summer is too stressful on them and it's so difficult to keep them watered. Next year we'd like to try 50 in the spring and 50 in the fall and be done with it. It'll be eaisier to get away in the summer too.
Time to get fall crops in the garden. I did put in a planting of lettuce and carrots already. Need to get in my cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli for the fall. I want to put in plantings of greens each week from now through September to ensure a steady supply of lettuce on the table. Hopefully, we can travel to that great little greenhouse up in Wirtz to get some vegies to plant when we go to pick up the sheep meat from J & P Butchers.
Purchased a riding lawnmower on Saturday from Coast to Coast Small Engine Repair. We've been giving them alot of business fixing our push mower and weed wacker. They had a great used Cub Cadet we purchased. It's really great to get the paths down to the pond done again. Hope to have Joel pick up some downed branches and trees today to finish the path from the pond to the spring house. It's such a nice walk down there.
Made these Pecan Bars for our Bible Study Picnic yesterday:
Crust: 2/3 c. confectioners' sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 pound (2 sticks) softened butter
Mix together and pat in 9x13 pan. Bake 350 degrees for 20 min. Remove from oven.
Topping: 2/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 1/2 cups shelled pecans (used walnuts), coarsely chopped
Mix and spread over crust. Bake 25 min. Cool.
I thought they were too buttery, but everyone loved them. Took a tomato pie also that turned out well. Everyone seemed to have an abundance of tomatoes to share in our meal. What fun.
David had 4 days off and really worked on the fence. We have the whole front road fenced in and then he finished the entire woods side of fence on Tuesday with Joel. What a blessing. One more small side by the barn and our whole front 4 acres will be fenced in. Almost time for the llamas to come - so exciting!
Picked tomatoes and wondered what to do now. So I had to turn to tomato pudding. The family is not excited, but they're made and in the freezer.
Took 23 cornish rock chickens to Rick and Betty Bennet for processing last night. They only process at 2:00 in the morning so they should already be done. We'll travel back to Gladys tomorrow morning to pick up the birds fresh and ready to cut up or freeze. Have a few to give away and sell. The next batch of chicks are coming in September. I'm so glad we get a break from feeding, watering and moving for a while. The Bennets only raise meat chickens in the spring and fall and I'm beginning to think that's the best idea around here. The summer is too stressful on them and it's so difficult to keep them watered. Next year we'd like to try 50 in the spring and 50 in the fall and be done with it. It'll be eaisier to get away in the summer too.
Time to get fall crops in the garden. I did put in a planting of lettuce and carrots already. Need to get in my cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli for the fall. I want to put in plantings of greens each week from now through September to ensure a steady supply of lettuce on the table. Hopefully, we can travel to that great little greenhouse up in Wirtz to get some vegies to plant when we go to pick up the sheep meat from J & P Butchers.
Purchased a riding lawnmower on Saturday from Coast to Coast Small Engine Repair. We've been giving them alot of business fixing our push mower and weed wacker. They had a great used Cub Cadet we purchased. It's really great to get the paths down to the pond done again. Hope to have Joel pick up some downed branches and trees today to finish the path from the pond to the spring house. It's such a nice walk down there.
Made these Pecan Bars for our Bible Study Picnic yesterday:
Crust: 2/3 c. confectioners' sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 pound (2 sticks) softened butter
Mix together and pat in 9x13 pan. Bake 350 degrees for 20 min. Remove from oven.
Topping: 2/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 1/2 cups shelled pecans (used walnuts), coarsely chopped
Mix and spread over crust. Bake 25 min. Cool.
I thought they were too buttery, but everyone loved them. Took a tomato pie also that turned out well. Everyone seemed to have an abundance of tomatoes to share in our meal. What fun.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
August 9, 2011
Took two sheep to J&P Butcher shop last night. What a nightmare trying to get them loaded. They are so wild. We had to corner them and David grabbed them while I tried helping to get them on their butts so we could grab their legs and carry them to dog crates. It was really hard. I was so stressed out about it all I got a horrible headache. Luckily getting them out was a breeze - because we put them in butt first. They just jumped out and into the waiting pen. It was nice to have a chute for them to go down into also.
The rest of the day yesterday and today was taken up with canning - 11 quarts of apple pie filling and 5 quarts of tomatoes and trying to get the lawn mower fixed. It took a couple of tries but the lawnmower now has a new pull start and spring and the weed wacker had the throttle fixed. We should be all set.
Was able to get alot of weeding done because even though it's 90 plus degrees there's a nice breeze blowing and it doesn't feel that humid. I planted a couple more spots of lettuce and carrots too. I hope it all comes up. Waiting for cabbage and broccoli to grow big enough to transplant in the main gardens.
Picked okra and sauted it with onions, zucchini and tomatoes. It's really good when it's sliced thin and the okra is little.
Bought two new halters today from Tractor Supply for the sheep. Can't wait to HALTER TRAIN all the sheep so we won't have to go through what we did Monday night.
Scheduled butchering date for this batch of chickens for next week in Gladys. Ordered the last batch of chicks for September 13th. It'll be a little easier when the weather is cooler I think.
The rest of the day yesterday and today was taken up with canning - 11 quarts of apple pie filling and 5 quarts of tomatoes and trying to get the lawn mower fixed. It took a couple of tries but the lawnmower now has a new pull start and spring and the weed wacker had the throttle fixed. We should be all set.
Was able to get alot of weeding done because even though it's 90 plus degrees there's a nice breeze blowing and it doesn't feel that humid. I planted a couple more spots of lettuce and carrots too. I hope it all comes up. Waiting for cabbage and broccoli to grow big enough to transplant in the main gardens.
Picked okra and sauted it with onions, zucchini and tomatoes. It's really good when it's sliced thin and the okra is little.
Bought two new halters today from Tractor Supply for the sheep. Can't wait to HALTER TRAIN all the sheep so we won't have to go through what we did Monday night.
Scheduled butchering date for this batch of chickens for next week in Gladys. Ordered the last batch of chicks for September 13th. It'll be a little easier when the weather is cooler I think.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 7, 2011
Lightening Strikes! No, literally, it struck somewhere very close to the house last night. It fried our electric fence, leaving my sheep defenseless all night. It also has done something to our telephone. We're not sure what yet and if it can be fixed or not. We're working on it.
It also tripped the breaker to the electric in the garage. Luckily I went out to the garage to get a package of hamburger for lunch and found all the electric out. I would have really cried if I lost everything in my freezer. It's stuffed to the top with chicken, beef, tomatoes and fruit. I do hope that never happens again.
We luckily were given a new electric fence box from Gene Suggs at church so David is hooking that up right now.
Had our first two sheep shorn on Friday, so that we can get them to J&P Butchers on Monday night. Looking forward to marinated lamb chops on the grill soon! The fiber was pretty bad. They may be a Catawba Sheep mix so the fiber was more like hair on some parts. I'm glad I'm butchering them. We still don't have enough pasture for 5 sheep. The third new sheep I'll butcher in the Spring.
Talking about fencing, David and Joel were able to put up the first part on the woven wire on the fence in the front pasture! So excited. The sheep really need more to eat.
Still getting alot of tomatoes from the garden. Froze 4 tomatoe tarts last week. Will probably dry more tomatoes this week. Should I make more salsa too? Probably a good idea. Great to take to parties. Just picked apples and peaches at Fruit Hill Orchard so will be doing some canned apple filling tonight or tomorrow.
The lawnmover broke - the pull ripped right out so will have to get that fixed on Monday. It finally rained a bit yesterday and I really have alot of grass to cut. May have to use the weedwacker for a while.
One more week till I can get this batch of chicken to the butcher. They are nice and plumb right now. Hopefully I can get them even more stuffed before butchering.
It also tripped the breaker to the electric in the garage. Luckily I went out to the garage to get a package of hamburger for lunch and found all the electric out. I would have really cried if I lost everything in my freezer. It's stuffed to the top with chicken, beef, tomatoes and fruit. I do hope that never happens again.
We luckily were given a new electric fence box from Gene Suggs at church so David is hooking that up right now.
Had our first two sheep shorn on Friday, so that we can get them to J&P Butchers on Monday night. Looking forward to marinated lamb chops on the grill soon! The fiber was pretty bad. They may be a Catawba Sheep mix so the fiber was more like hair on some parts. I'm glad I'm butchering them. We still don't have enough pasture for 5 sheep. The third new sheep I'll butcher in the Spring.
Talking about fencing, David and Joel were able to put up the first part on the woven wire on the fence in the front pasture! So excited. The sheep really need more to eat.
Still getting alot of tomatoes from the garden. Froze 4 tomatoe tarts last week. Will probably dry more tomatoes this week. Should I make more salsa too? Probably a good idea. Great to take to parties. Just picked apples and peaches at Fruit Hill Orchard so will be doing some canned apple filling tonight or tomorrow.
The lawnmover broke - the pull ripped right out so will have to get that fixed on Monday. It finally rained a bit yesterday and I really have alot of grass to cut. May have to use the weedwacker for a while.
One more week till I can get this batch of chicken to the butcher. They are nice and plumb right now. Hopefully I can get them even more stuffed before butchering.
Monday, July 25, 2011
July 25, 2011
More and more hot days torment us right now. Was really thankful for the wonderful weather in May, June and most of July! Storm finally came through last night, but as a result knocked down part of the fence, scattered branches and killed three meat chickens - or was it the heat? Anyway, three are gone, now down to 23 from this batch. They're growing fast and we'll butcher at 8 weeks. Don't think they can hold on longer than that. Would like to get the coop in the shade - think it will help greatly.
Harvested 200 pounds of honey this past weekend! David worked hard to get it all done and cleaned up before the storm hit. The honey is very dark - maybe from all the clover in the farmer's field next door. it tastes delicious!
Canned 7 jars of tomatoe sauce this morning, after letting it cook all night in the crockpot. I love doing it that way - and blending the whole tomatoe with skin and all., What ease! The sauce turned out lovely. I also cleaned the house and did three loads of laundry, hung it out to dry, and got a zucchini surprise in the crockpot for dinner before it got too hot - around 10:00 a.m. Still have clothes hanging on the line but that's OK. Will have to time to pick them and fold them and remake the beds throughout the day. There is another chance for rain today - sure hope it does. The more the merrier right now in these "dog days of summer."
Harvested 200 pounds of honey this past weekend! David worked hard to get it all done and cleaned up before the storm hit. The honey is very dark - maybe from all the clover in the farmer's field next door. it tastes delicious!
Canned 7 jars of tomatoe sauce this morning, after letting it cook all night in the crockpot. I love doing it that way - and blending the whole tomatoe with skin and all., What ease! The sauce turned out lovely. I also cleaned the house and did three loads of laundry, hung it out to dry, and got a zucchini surprise in the crockpot for dinner before it got too hot - around 10:00 a.m. Still have clothes hanging on the line but that's OK. Will have to time to pick them and fold them and remake the beds throughout the day. There is another chance for rain today - sure hope it does. The more the merrier right now in these "dog days of summer."
Friday, July 22, 2011
July 22, 2011
Summer is here for sure now and it's hot! Way too hot! The tomatoes are coming in full force - need to can or freeze every day. Picking green beans every other day - waiting for the next crop to come in already. Put in a second crop of tomatoes and looking to start the fall garden. Just read the book aout gardening year round and want to try it. Will try with low hoops, but hope to put in a high tunnel to walk in and grow crops - at least cool weather crops all winter without heating it. Looks fun and interesting. Don't know if it'll profit us - but will give it a try.
The new icelandic sheep I got, Holly, must have caught her horn int he fence and ripped one off last night. There's blood all down her side. She won't let me touch her so there's nothing I can do. She's acting fine, so we'll hope it grows back because the horns are quite lovely. The blood is what's disgusting. hope the flies around her don't cause a problem in this heat. We'll have to watch over her.
Everything needs water right now - it's very, very dry. Wish a good rain would come and bless our farm. Need to water a little over everything - left the sprinkler on last Sunday morning when at church and lost our pump to our house. It took the rest of the day to replenish and get it working again with a little help from the neighbor! So for good neighbors.
It's honey extracting day tomorrow! Hope we get alot.
The new icelandic sheep I got, Holly, must have caught her horn int he fence and ripped one off last night. There's blood all down her side. She won't let me touch her so there's nothing I can do. She's acting fine, so we'll hope it grows back because the horns are quite lovely. The blood is what's disgusting. hope the flies around her don't cause a problem in this heat. We'll have to watch over her.
Everything needs water right now - it's very, very dry. Wish a good rain would come and bless our farm. Need to water a little over everything - left the sprinkler on last Sunday morning when at church and lost our pump to our house. It took the rest of the day to replenish and get it working again with a little help from the neighbor! So for good neighbors.
It's honey extracting day tomorrow! Hope we get alot.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 5, 2011
We've really had alot happen and I havn't kept up like I would like to but here it is in a nutshell: In the middle of May we had a tonadoe rip through the farm and take down many trees - including an over 100 year old Tulip Poplar that shaded much of the back yard (side yard actually). The house was fine and we were fine but what a mess. I lamented over a huge apple tree we lost that was loaded with apples, but found out later it was the worse tree in the orchard - always rotten apples! It was weeks of cleanup after that with a big group of workers coming from Fluvanna Baptist with chainsaws and lunch provided by Morgan's Baptist. What a time!
The garden is producing alot. We've had a bumper crop of zucchini and it's still coming. Still have a problem with squash bugs everywhere. I need a better organic spray. Hope to find one. The tomatoes and beans are just coming in and lettuce and peas are done - but we got alot. It was great. I put in a later field pea and dry peas and beans but not much is coming up because of lack of rain. I need to get my drip irrigation going. I found out nothing will make it without irrigation down here.
The rest of our time has been spent on putting up perimeter fencing in the front 4 acre pasture. We had to cut some trees in the way this past weekend. Joel has been helping immensely in pounding in the fence posts. We rented an auger for the wooden posts - but needed to dig every hole even deeper. Two of the three gates are up in the field. I can't wait for it to be done.
We lost several chickens to a stupid dog (he's gone) and possums. We now have a beautiful retired breeding collie - Lancelot - from Blessed Acres Farm. He's gorgeous and wonderful - takes care of the animals and chases away the deer. We love him. Hope he doesn't get killed on the road. Every once in a while he runs for the old store across the road. Something is obviously living under there.
Besides Sweet Pea and Lilly, we now have Holly, Rose and Bluebell - three icelandic sheep we got from the Furhmans. They are beautiful and all getting along well. We have them int he Premier 1 electric fencing and so far it's working out.
The first batch of meat chickens were a heritage breed I'll never try again. They were so puny - after 12 weeks of trauma and feeding. What a disappointment! The next batch or Cornish Rock meat chickens are in the chicken tractor and have three more weeks to go before butchering. I'm going to feed them ALOT! Looking forward to some great chicken on the grill!
Purchased an outside wood stove - a Hardy - this past week to burn all the wood from the storm and hopefully have a warm house this winter. Looking forward to that!
The flowers are incredible. Sandy Lane came over two weeks ago and gave me a tour of everything including hibiscus which are blooming right now, sea lavender, indigo, pistachio, another mulberry, smoke tree, mimosa, hops and so much more. This yard is full of incredible plants that are found only in Botanical Gardens! What a gem the Lord has given us. There are many plants to dry and make wreaths with. I'm dryin lavender and sea lavender right now. Need to pick the artemesus and more soon.
The garden is producing alot. We've had a bumper crop of zucchini and it's still coming. Still have a problem with squash bugs everywhere. I need a better organic spray. Hope to find one. The tomatoes and beans are just coming in and lettuce and peas are done - but we got alot. It was great. I put in a later field pea and dry peas and beans but not much is coming up because of lack of rain. I need to get my drip irrigation going. I found out nothing will make it without irrigation down here.
The rest of our time has been spent on putting up perimeter fencing in the front 4 acre pasture. We had to cut some trees in the way this past weekend. Joel has been helping immensely in pounding in the fence posts. We rented an auger for the wooden posts - but needed to dig every hole even deeper. Two of the three gates are up in the field. I can't wait for it to be done.
We lost several chickens to a stupid dog (he's gone) and possums. We now have a beautiful retired breeding collie - Lancelot - from Blessed Acres Farm. He's gorgeous and wonderful - takes care of the animals and chases away the deer. We love him. Hope he doesn't get killed on the road. Every once in a while he runs for the old store across the road. Something is obviously living under there.
Besides Sweet Pea and Lilly, we now have Holly, Rose and Bluebell - three icelandic sheep we got from the Furhmans. They are beautiful and all getting along well. We have them int he Premier 1 electric fencing and so far it's working out.
The first batch of meat chickens were a heritage breed I'll never try again. They were so puny - after 12 weeks of trauma and feeding. What a disappointment! The next batch or Cornish Rock meat chickens are in the chicken tractor and have three more weeks to go before butchering. I'm going to feed them ALOT! Looking forward to some great chicken on the grill!
Purchased an outside wood stove - a Hardy - this past week to burn all the wood from the storm and hopefully have a warm house this winter. Looking forward to that!
The flowers are incredible. Sandy Lane came over two weeks ago and gave me a tour of everything including hibiscus which are blooming right now, sea lavender, indigo, pistachio, another mulberry, smoke tree, mimosa, hops and so much more. This yard is full of incredible plants that are found only in Botanical Gardens! What a gem the Lord has given us. There are many plants to dry and make wreaths with. I'm dryin lavender and sea lavender right now. Need to pick the artemesus and more soon.
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