Where have you been?

Has it really been two years since I last blogged?
Of course it has. Don't have much time to post as the farm is doing well and keeping it pay for itself has turned to keeping me busier than I would like.

Load that up with children learning, household maintenance, and... well I'll try to do better.
I guess I'll start tomorrow.

Today of all days.

Our parents have Pearl Harbor and we have the World Trade Center.
Remembering that day on September 9, 2001 happens more than once a year.
When I see Veterans I always say thank you shake their hand and ask to give them a hug. It's not only for them but the others who continue to help protect us from such acts.
While speaking to my children this morning I asked them what made Pearl Harbor and The World Trade Center different and my son said "nothing". Both were acts of war. The difference I told him was that after Hiroshima and Nagasaki our morals were changed drastically. But how can one have a war without innocent people getting hurt?
The answer I gave was you can't. That is why our troops have been over in the middle east for so long. They are trying to get the factions that planned the attack, hurting as few innocent people as possible. Terrorists will always use a human shield of innocence, when they can, to protect themselves. The innocent will learn to stay as far away from the terrorists a possible (hopefully).
Unfortunately there are always those who haven't anything, that when promised something (anything), will do what ever it takes to achieve that given something.
Stalin, Hitler, Hiroshima and Lao controlled the populous by saying that they were down trodden due to others. They just gave a target and history repeats and repeats and repeats.
The only way that I see an end to war aggression is an end to the world. There will always be those who have and those who have not. Unless you are willing to do what it takes to make gains. Sometimes there is just nothing to be done on a large scale and it needs to start at the bottom and work its way up, together.
There will also always be those who want and take things that don't belong to them. Trying to gain the easy way. But at what cost?
So today is a history lesson. Today is a Critical thinking day. Today is a day to think outside the box of our own little existance and do something for the greater good.

Dentist, Hell's Kitchen

My mouth was in really good shape until I moved over the Ct. River.
I have had soft teeth and have tried to take good care of them.
Three years ago when my Dentist relocated I used his replacement who basically just did cleanings and fillings and sent me to a Dr. in Groton for some more extensive work.
Both screwed up big time and I am now paying the price. I now have four broken teeth with probably no recourse and no way to repair them.
Deep Sigh......There is no such thing as a one stop dentist anymore, much like every other aspect of life everyone has to have a specialty. It's not enough to just be you and be special.
All I can say is there is nothing special about me. Just a regular girl trying to make ends meet. Trying to raise regular children. Draw little attention.
So the real motto is keep low, attract no attention, volunteer no information.
Maybe I will look forward to gumming my food, most likely not. Love crunchy food. Lots and lots of bunny grub for me.
So after a lot of calls and web search I have found a Dentist I am willing to try.
Pain is an enormous motivator. I live with chronic pain so if I consider myself in pain it's just best people and critters stay away least I use my voluminous Opera Voice to convey my feeling and thoughts.

Speaking of Opera voice;
We have a local Chef (Kevin Cottle) who is on the Television program "Hell's Kitchen". Although not the type of programing I would normally watch, we are having a good time watching. Unfortunately the main character drops the F-bomb on a regular basis and calls those who fall below standards British slang cuss words. Insulting to say the least and although my children are watching with my guidance they are being shown how really nice Mom and Dad are (because we could always try to live up to that guys standard of verbal humiliations).

Since our budget around here is tight we don't have cable or a dish and we watch the following day on the web which is cool but the screen is pretty small. Still all in all good fun. We are rooting for the Chef from Connecticut and his professionalism is showing. My crystal ball reads that it will boil down to Kevin and the short female blond chef. One would expect the Executive Chef of a world famous restaurant to have a modicum of class which most of the rest of the contestants don't.

Life on the real farm is moving along. Both meat and vegetable gardens are doing very well. Another 50 chicks and 25 poults today. Down to harvesting next week but that is how we pay our bills.
We need to redo the pig pen since I tried to expand production (under pressure and duress) which just didn't work. Second to the last pig stomped the womp outta me and since I'm not a young bumble I just don't bounce or take a beating like I used to. Probably how I broke that tooth, the Purple pig hit me so hard. I'm going to design a gate system that will squeeze them onto the trailer where I don't actually have to be in with them coaxing or grabbing an ear and tail and tossing them on.

Well we have a lot of errands to run and must get to them. Enjoy the sunshine if you have it since it wont be long before the white stuffs a flyin.

Pignic!

What a wonderful time.
About 150 +/- friends and family came to visit and have and share some wonderful eats.
There are those we missed but there are always good reasons. No matter, they were missed.
Hopefully next year we won't coincide with another event that took some friends away.

Jamie Larimie won the Tequilla and glass set.
Paul and Joan Tangary won the Bailey's and glass set.
Charlie Wicklien won the 100.00 Gift Certificate to the River Tavern in Chester, Ct.

We are still tired and still cleaning up but it is well worth it.
Pencil off this weekend again next year as we sold most of the T-Shirts and there will be another Pignic.
Thank you to those who donated extra to make it happen.
Just wonderful warm thoughts and hugs go out to everyone. We are all grateful that the weather paused in the rain loop to give us only one down pour early before the fun started. The sun shown, laughter a plenty and more smiles and hugs than one can imagine.

Busy girl

You have it. We have been very busy.
This year I have grown many more critters than usual due to a persistent client who knows what he likes.
More work for me and everyone else.
I have come to realize there are too many.
I will finish this year and reduce numbers next year and people will have to be happy with what I have to offer.

Our Linear Appraisal went well with our girls just the other side of comic relief.
We will do less fairs since it is my belief that the virus we caught at one of last years fairs has been the culprit to most of our troubles this year.
Jeopardizing the whole herd to prove you have nice animals is not in the realm of my consciousness.
We will continue with the fairs we did last year (OK, maybe not all of them) and be happy to know we have nice animals but keep them to ourselves.

The stinking bees swarmed already but gave us 25 lbs of honey which someone bought the whole kit and caboodle. Some people are not sharing well.
That's OK, their bill is paid and so are mine.

I am now getting concerned with my hay supply. The weather has been less than good for making the stuff and I am wondering what I am going to be feeding everyone.
Matter of fact I just got up and called and left a message to the person whom I get my hay from. Better start looking now.

I am still looking for a bull for the cows. I did find a Short Horn (yes it is a breed type not a fashion statement) and hopefully he will be here soon as the girls are nine months into their lactation and this may leave me milkless over the dead of winter. What will I do with myself without teats to pull?

Our ducks have been hatching and we have had three sets of fourteen. We also learned that that is too many and we have to take many away for safty reasons. They actually drown. The duck are not too carefull where they lead the little ones and sometimes they get caught in deep buckets and when just hatched they don't float very well if at all.

My hatchery has once again threw a wrench into my well laid calander of events and if not the wrong bird the wrong time. I bought an incubator last year and will hatch our my own ducks and geese and depending on the turkeys maybe them also. I will set it up this weekend and set some chicken eggs to see how well it works.
The incubator is a larger cabinet type which hatches hundreds of eggs at a time. I only need a few dozen at a time. Might as well work out the kinks now, as the way things go for me it will be better to make the thousands of mistakes and get them over with.

The Garden looks fabulous (if a little muddy) and almost everything is growing well.
My herbs didn't come up so I will have to purchase plants and I have been comparing prices and it is going to be expensive.

Now to look foward to the Pignic. Make the pinata and get the menu planned. Must send out the flyers. I guess I will do that now.
See ya.

The Black Hole

Well it has been quite a few weeks.
Very tiring.
Water heater had to be replaced (nightmare for today), Cow is back from Vermont, Kidd trouble (lost a few but have since found out it wasn't my fault, yippie doesn't make it easier), a Friend loosing one of her Does and Kidds, just so many little things it isn't worth being listed nor being reminded of them.
I have decided that it has been those horrible e-messages that you get from people warning if you don't forward them you will suffer bad luck for so long.........well I'm not going to chance it any more. If you get a message from me that has the subject of ****one of those**** just delete it.
A vortex is bad but this black hole just won't quit!

All is well

Things have been going well.

Many kidds have been place in pet homes and the Does are milking well with only two now had to be dried off. They are both single milkers and were having problems with their udders.

Lovely went to live on a farm in Vermont. The people kept asking what was wrong with her since she was priced to "sell". I told them the truth, that we wanted her to go to a home. That I encourage farming and Lovely will make a great family cow. They said the deal was too good to be true.

"Welcome to my vortex" I said and I'm sure they will call frequently to update her life. That is fine with me.

Now I will be forced to pick up the pony in Maine for my daughter. I told the person who owns the horse that if my daughter doesn't work with the horse or is frightened of it the horse will go home at the end of the summer.
Since I haven't heard back perhaps they don't like the conditions. At this point I am happy with one less mouth to feed.

We only have a handful of Does to kidd and on to start the gardening season.
Looking forward to grubby nails again.

I am going to have a meeting of "natural mom's of New London". People who are interested in raising their children closer to the earth. Well our farm is a good place to start.

I will have to ask Amy how to handle the whole project.

Second set of chickens and duck have arrived and all are doing well. I am going to purchase a plucker to make my life a bit easier. I so love being in debt. With any luck the birds of this year (in the hundreds) will pay it off.

Still working on the Farmers Market and what I will have available to sell.
Well there are always my children......

It seems to me....

Since I have been so busy that I don't get a chance to enter Blog notes. Probably since I now have a facebook page I do get messages from those who care to read what I write there (but I don't write much there either).

I guess I will make monthly (or more often as the mood irks me)entries here.

I have been invited to several Dinner at the Farm dinners since my last installment. The food was delicious and I have made some new friends.

I have installed a new bee package where I was the only person out of probably a hundred who reported a dead queen making me scramble to drive back to Marlborough to pick up another while the worker bees sat and got really angry at me. Installing the package wasn't too bad since it had been a warm day and by the time I got back it was almost dusk. I used cardboard to scrape clusters of bees from the side of the garden shed and put them right into the hive. I don't think I lost too many and the next day they were busy doing what bees do.

I had lost a total of five adult Does and probably eight unborn kidds went with them. Most of the Does were Oberhasli or some part there of. Listeriosis (from bacteria on the ground or from silage they got into while loose from their pens)and Menegialencephalitis. Nothing could have been done to save them. Doesn't make matters any easier.

I have been invited to several Farm Markets but don't really have any product to sell unless I beef out my youngest Guernsey who is not making quite enough milk to be able to stay here. I am working on getting her a home and would rather go that route.

I have severely reinjured my back and have been wearing electronic stimulators to help the pain and keep me functioning and walking. The children have been wonderful and I am grateful for them.

Here we go!

Finally Kidding season has started. Two sets of triplets with three doelings and three bucklings. Everyone is fine.
My most favorite Oberhasli Doe has passed overnight 3 days before she was due to kidd. She was fine the night before since we start bringing them in seven days before due date. Personable and full of loving and hugs. Next day she is acting odd and overnight dies. Too many tears this year already. I am chanting better in the barn and not in the home. It does help me maintain perspective.

Cakes baked and eaten, so much food this family eats. My son now 14 has hit the six foot mark. I wonder where 12 more months will see him. My daughter no slouch either at over four foot at nine years old.

Home schooling is going well. The taxes are almost finished. Probably two more days of entries. Yes I know, I said I would start earlier well, maybe this year......

The girls are loving the hay from New York.
Not much going on worth talking about.
Piglets are making tunnels in the snow to get to the feeder since the big pigs left yesterday. I shoveled a path for them. They remind me of Dachshunds plowing through the snow bellies dragging.

Joined a site called Face Book, kind of like classmates but free and quite a bit of fun. I will look up lost friends. I'm the one who is lost not them.

So have you found your change yet. I am contemplating drawing up a petition to keep presidential campaign spending to the total of what the office promises in salary. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants? Do the same for the inauguration. Wouldn't the lobbyist die of dehydration and lack of clean pants!

It is quite the learning experience having the children listen to the President speak. Now that he has been in office a few weeks we compare what he promised when getting elected and what he is saying now. Easy to talk when your not the one calling the shots. God speed to him and let him guide our country properly. He is only one person, and, well, we know how one person can get so much done.

Sometimes I just want to stay in bed.

Our loss total is three Does and six kidds. It seems that they may have had an infection but not being able to spend probably upwards of 1000.00 for a diagnosis I will go with that supposition. It could have been numerous things but one thing is for sure unless it is slow to manifest we should be in the clear. No other Does have shown any signs of illness or early termination of pregnancy.
I take full responsibility for the losses. Although I could blame my children it is I who should have checked that all gates were locked. We feed silage to our cows and have a dump pile of moldy silage for the ducks who are unaffected by it. The duck and turkey pick out the kernels and the rest decomposes.
As people walk through gates some sneaky beasts push gates open and head for the grain shed that is usually open when animal care is happening. The grain shed is definitely locked (to help keep out vermin)when we are not around. Several have started testing gates. When they are ajar they leave (sometimes un-noticed) and forage around the lower yard.

One such incident happened just last week with the cows out and roaming but earlier about two weeks ago it had been the goats. I don't know how long they had been out but obviously it had been long enough to get into trouble. Two Does were inseparable and got into what ever it was together. The second young Doe is a glutton who would have followed or seen any creature who may have found anything worth eating and glommed it for herself. They love silage which is bad for them for just this reason. Although cows may be unaffected it targets the smaller ruminants I suppose. Even the calves eat it without mishap.

The hard ground makes if difficult for the old machine to dig a proper hole but I managed to make one deep enough to contain all our losses, with enough room in case we should acquire some more. I will forever dig a hole in the fall and cover it just in case this happens again.

I am not above saying that the goats may have had hardware disease either but one Doe has very neurological symptoms. It makes me think of others who have passed over the season and makes me realize how much more sensitive goats are from cows and all the other farmyard animals. The Does have nearly chewed through several places on the sheds and I wouldn't doubt that they may have gotten some kind of sharp metal object either. They always seem to find a favorite spot somewhere out of regular checking that goes unnoticed till Spring. Again my fault.

The coming weeks will have us repairing all outdoor sheds for loose boards,nails and screws. One wonders how you depreciate buildings on your tax form? Just visit my place and I will show you just how it happens.

It's a ....

Rosita had a doeling. An eight pound plus doeling. Yes, I am surprised since she was quite large and only had one. The Doe I lost was not as large yet had three. I can predict an eventful year this year with the girls. I hope my year doesn't turn out quite like last year but I know I have the strength to get through it all......of course with your help and you know who else.

Hurrah, we (my son and I) get to pick up our new eyeglasses today. My husband will pick his up tonight after work. Instead of a two hour ride home from Stamford he can look forward to about three and a half ride today. No fun what so ever.

Yesterday was fun. Games played with the children. A fun movie with morals that were discussed. Books read. Seeds ordered. Roasted Potatoes devoured. I will never understand how they can eat so many except the fact the potatoes are delicious. I use regular all purpose potatoes with sweet potatoes, what a delectible combination, that is if I can keep the children from eating the raw potatoes (ok, they did learn it from me!). Cheese made for wood-stove ziti, as always that was devoured also. I had a bit of cheese left over (no it doesn't happen often) so I made a quick salad of cubed fresh cheese with sun-dried tomatoe, onions, garlic (of course), cucumbers and thinly sliced fennel and green peppers a little salt and black pepper with Canola oil. Served on some shredded lettuce it was a taste of the coming season. Yumm....

It is upon us.

Kidding season has started. Rosita is in the barn as we type in labor. Doesn't seem like she will kidd for a while, no rush to go watch yet. But since the last entry I have gotten silage several times, Grain about a dozen times, a load of hay from New York, gone visiting and finally finished the farm Web-site (at least for now www.soeltlfarm.com).

Kidding season has not started well. Two deliveries two weeks too soon left one Doe dead along with all three of her kidds. Another Doe alive but not her kidds. Not the best start to say the least.

Found my daughter a different pony but now my window to pick him up has closed. He (of course)was free for the use but he is in Maine. I will work in getting him in a few weeks.

The hay from New York is everything that people say it is. Very green and not very stalky even for the first cutting. Sure there is higher protein in the first cut but if they don't eat it what good is it? We have had a thaw and the cow pen is covered in uneaten hay. What a waste. The corn the girls are getting is not the best either so milk production is lower. The ducks and poultry are happy since there are a lot of non-digested corn kennels available to them. The wild turkey will be ecstatic. The veal calves are getting bigger and my daughters new 4-H project calf is due to be weaned. That will be one unhappy calf watching the others suck down three gallons of milk a day.

I will head out and look for some new veal calves to start. I have quite a list of client already. Finding decent calves however is proving difficult.

Four pigs have gone in to harvest and another seven have been started. Chicks and ducklings are due this week to start off our growing season. Many are already sold.

It is raining currently and I am going to grab my seed catalog and place my order. This week I will prune the fruit trees and bushes. I have to lay out all the pens and figure out how to concrete the breeding pens. I must look for two decent Solar Fencers. Our terrain is so rocky our ground rods are not effective and the fence doesn't shock the critters as it should. Having a personal fencer for several pens will help the rowdy critters maintain sanity, or not. Maybe I will just make them more difficult to contain.

What's New

As we prepare for the kidding season I have been busy developing and learning how to build a web-site.

I have created my own website: http://www.soeltlfarm.com and although it will be under construction forever it is really a learning time for the children and me. I found a host that has template pages and I just fill in the blank but will eventually learn how to change the templates and make my own very personalized web-site.

I have also had the opportunity to meet some of the patrons for "Dinners on the Farm" by being the "guest speaker" at a dinner this week. Located in beautiful downtown Chester the River Tavern, Jonathan Rapp in charge, was warm and cozy. The ambiance was settling. With mother nature tried to keep me on the farm with another snow storm but I had a load of silage in the back of "old red" and didn't have to use the four wheel drive as we passed many a wipe out on the trip there. My husband went with me and both of us met some old friends and some new.
I so appreciated them coming to the dinner to see "Me" as scary a thought they may not have realized. I brought them a gift of my own grown Canna Rhizomes packaged by the children and I, in burlap bags (we made them on another snowy day), pine and cedar shavings and several handful of our wonderful compost, tied with a hay string bow and instructions.
It was impressed that they were appreciated and I was happy that they felt that way. I don't truly get off the farm much but both my husband and I walked away with a good feeling. My husband enjoyed the many different plates of food (in presentations that I could not have dreamed)kudos the chef James Wayman, accompanied with wine from Jones vineyard that were a very nice enhancement to the varied flavors and textures of our plated canvas of delectables.
Usually wines will give me instant heartburn and I shy from them but these (there were three)enhanced the flavor of the food as well as relaxed the guest. I would recommend them to anyone - Jones Winery, Shelton Ct.

Winter harvest has been long and tiring. A few of my friends have been sick and I have cut wrapped their products as well as my own, just increasing my work load. My family is happy since now they have beef instead of our endless supply of chicken and turkey. Sure I make regular dishes I just insert poultry instead of beef and pork but they have not starved from lack of red meat. Such picky people however they usually eat what is delivered to the table without too much complaint. They just know better.

The girls are waiting and so I must leave.

Loading Day

Well despite the darned blasted cold weather we are having "Old Red" gifted us with starting this morning. Of course see was plugged in, since this past cold snap she did not like to run and was out of commission for several days.

I truly think that the sulfur recipe change of the fuel is what has her skirts twisted. I poured a little 911 fuel additive and she is doing better but will have to get the White bottle of 911 to prevent waxing. I have come to realize (after being freaked out at) that Gas Station attendants don't like it when you use a gallon of Kerosene to cut the diesel. You would have thought that I had lit a match at the pump for gosh sakes.

So today a pig and a veal calf went to market. I really don't like to load piggies. I wind up riding them, and if you have never ridden a pig they really don;t like it and buck like a horse but will bite you if they can. However "Blondie" loaded nicely. The Veal calf "Mum" was a little less cooperative. She's gone anyhow. The other pigs are enjoying the extra milk and I gave them a little more hay to make up for the open space. They are all getting so big thought I'm sure that she wont' be missed for long. The house was getting a little crowded.

When the pig was loaded the first thing the calf did was try to kick her. Pigs are quicker than you would think. I was quicker and closed the door after making sure she wasn't hit.

Both hens we put eggs under are no longer broody. Very disheartening since now I have to build an incubator. I will research and buy a turner that will fit into our creation as well as a fan and automatic heater.

I am being forced into attending a Dinner at the River Tavern that I will be the person on display. I made a gift for those who attend. I put several Canna rhizomes in a burlap bag tied with a hay string with direction for planting and storage. I figure if the people are attending they would appreciate a tropical looking plant for their fresh spring garden.

I have hit a wall about getting more farmers to join the Google group. A slow start but I'm sure it will take off for all those involved.

I am ordering my seeds soon and will plant more exotic vegetable for the Chefs to use. A very exciting time here as we are finding new clients and our future is looking very bright.

Where I've been

You may be asking yourself (or maybe not) where the heck is She?

Well I have been visiting a very dark place. Doesn't always happen this time of year but I re-injured my back and I believe the Summers adventures are catching up to me.

When I re-injure my back and it is all I can do to be civil to my family, friends and the critters. It is exhausting to just get through another day. I thank God for such a wonderful family who supports me and knows enough to stay at arms length least they meet with my wrath. It is unavoidable at times and when I feel overwhelmed I try to take a nap. Of course I don't sleep because of the pain but it is quiet time that I can reflect, find the strength that God gave me and calm myself down. Copious quantities of hugs from loved ones helps tremendously.

I was also challenged by a person of "faith" about how my relationship with God wasn't as it should be. I have found my peace again, although that took some time. This person made me feel "wrong" about my love of God and my relationship with him and all that goes with it. I have determined that "NO ONE" should be able to have that kind of power over anyone. Faith is faith, just have it and bask in the love of God and feel it to your soul. SHEESH! I also have noticed that since I have not followed that persons path that they no longer socialize with my family or myself. Their loss.

Well today is the Inauguration of the forty fourth American President. I will have my children watch and co-ordinate the occasion with Martin Luther Kings' theories and principle of "Civil Rights". I will also teach my children to listen to what they say as well as realize that all people who speak to you are giving you their opinions and beliefs. Not all people practice what they preach and a person should be well informed from many different sources. Our country was built on Slavery not only of black people but of white people who were sold into servitude when our nation was very young and were looking for a better life. Many of our first settlers were people who served masters that treated them with cruelty and never made it out of this servitude. In America third to Illegal Drugs Sales, Weapon Sales, Human trafficing which is also illegal is the third most popular form of business. How can this happen? I don't know but it still exists and something should be done to change our way of dealing with it. How about making it more public for a start?

One thing for sure is the next American President can not fix our current economic or social situations in the mere four years that he will be in office. I can only hope that he serves his constituents with honesty (which would be a first) and loyalty. Let's face it although he won by electoral votes he only won by three percentage points of the popular vote (I haven't quite figured this out yet, I guess when you win a state you must get all the electoral votes as they don't share?). However has anyone noticed that the winner is embraced and supported because it was a fair election (no matter how mind numbing the length!).

The farm is well and we are trudging through about a foot or more of the Winters fruit. It has been exciting weather and we are enjoying it with sledding, four wheel drive and lots of tea and hot chocolate. We are nearly out of wood but I am unable to do anything about it. When the last fire dies the cold will settle to my bones. I hope they will be able to pry me from the water bed.

Soon kidding season will start. I must order new supplies immediately. Then the Chick, Poult and hog orders. Eye Glass appointments for the family. Well I will start with the cookie trays and wait for my client who is picking up 250 eggs. This will help the income slump and help pay for the load of grain tomorrow.

Stay warm and I will try to post more often. My back permitting. Can't sit too long these days......like I ever do?

What is new?

Well life is slowing to a mere mad scramble now. Take care of the animals and make sure the water stays open for drinking. Birds harvested and pens and coops cleaned for next season.

With Christmas around the corner I have decided to stay home and send out our Christmas cards. The cards were designed and made by us. It was a fun project and everyone participated.

My one Guernsey has decided she does not like being milked by machine so she needs to be hobbled every day twice a day or she will kick. Sure I milk her by hand still but sometimes there is a need to other things that can be done while she is being milked. I don't understand but I am trying and am being patient with her. I don't blame her as I remember how when I would express for the children when breast feeding it wasn't always the most pleasant of sensations. For some cows the let down process can be painful and if brought on quickly I can only imagine what the poor girl is thinking (what beast is attacking me now........kill it with a kick!)

We are about half way through our winter supply of hay and will request some more soon as I would like to save some of the second cutting for the Does when the Kidd.

The chickens are laying up a storm and I have a regular client who picks up 200 eggs about every week or so. Nice. We have been without eggs for so long I will be sure never to let the layers run out again. Supplemental income during the winter is a valuable asset since not much of anything else is available.

4-H is quiet and I have realized that the leader is slowing down on her exuberance. They are not planning as many events since the turn out was mostly us and their children and the burden to help the club thrive should come from all the members.

So I am off to clean the Kitchen and get ready to start baking cookies. The children are busy doing their school work and later we can bring the trees in for decoration. What fun.

Are we winding down yet?

Well just when I thought things were going to get easier well lets just say it was a fleeting thought at best.

All three calves have been born and now we have enough milk for everyone. Yes one cow was late one on time and one early. I hope to make some hard cheeses this winter while I await the frenzy of Kidding season.

A couple of holidays in between but no parties again this Christmas. Even my children have mentioned that they miss the parties that we have, First the Pignic in July, Pumpkin carving in October and the Christmas Eve open house. This year I have decided not to have a Christmas Eve open house but will instead have a "cabin fever" party sometime in January. Maybe the third week. I often still have my tree up until the early teens so I feel this is a safe time. I tend to take the tree down when there is a definite chance of spontaneous combustion with the heat from the wood stoves. I am such a safety minded person aren't I?

No rushing to make the cookies, just sit back and relax and wait until things get boring and whalla lets have a get-together.

I will have the cookie trays ready and by then Christmas would have worn off and some rich treats will be just the thing to go with Cocoa after a sledding afternoon or just a day out doing animal care or wood gathering or what ever it is that one does during the coldest part of the year. Yes napping sounds awfully sweet at this time of the day.

I hope the cookies will be appreciated at least. I make so many and if people would rather I not I would understand. Wait, I think I will make the cookies for Christmas and just go around visiting everyone and see their tree and decoration. I so believe that Christmas is about children and the one who walks with us all daily. I like to see how others celebrate.

All and more turkey were harvested for the Thanksgiving holiday and I still have about 30 birds left. One set of roasting chickens to go and that is it until next February. Wait.........I guess I don't have much down time really......what am I thinking.

I will go and advertise on some cyber sites but am doing little in the way of paying for advertising since I have learned in the past that I don't get any return on Newspaper adverts. Marketing is very difficult.

I am going to buy some 4-H Curriculum for the children (of course with me in mind). Entrepreneur, small engine repair, computer lab, and several others that are pertinent to our lifestyle. I hope this will give them a better understanding as to why we do what we do. Life experience, since we will put what we learn into practice.

Perhaps I will even get to the Blog a little bit more........I am not promising anything......

I thought you were late

I felt that the first time heifer "Lovely" was over-due her calf date. I was very correct because "Just" had her calf last night! That would make "Lovely" over due by about two weeks!

Just in case you were wondering it was another Bull calf who has yet to be named. OK, I just named him "Ditto" since they are colored exactly the same (well about as close as you can get) except the second one has a bit of curl to his hair and probably horns too. Close enough and the message to the children is the same.

Well tomorrow is Election Day. Yes, I am deep in thought still. I will vote and I hope you will also. Don't come and complain to me unless you do vote. It only takes a few minutes and then we can talk about politics. Not that I like talking politics but if you participate I would be willing. I was surprised at how many people don't vote. There were 200,000,000 (that's two hundred million)voters in 1997. There must be more by now. In the average election only around 50% of registered voters will participate. Disgusting numbers and disappointing to say the least. Nuff Said.

Well I must go. I have to take some animals to auction, and the Ducks that were harvested (18 total) to where they are wanted and go to a "Mega" store and purchase just enough food to see us through next week. I miss the garden already. It was very convenient to just go out an pick dinner. So many different combinations.

My son and daughter have dug up all the "Canna Rhizomes" (don't you just love fancy words) and my son wants to try and sell them at a dollar a pound. A real bargain since they go for 25.00 per plant at any local nursery. The Canna roots that he dug up will set at least five per rhizome.

Well off to my busy day, have a great one.

Miracles and the Constitution

We were blessed with another birth on our farm last night. Our first time heifer Lovely had a beautiful bull calf that I have named "Clive". This name because it refers to a fictional character that we know of who is dead. This helps the children realize that the calf is being raised as red veal. The birth was uncomplicated but the heifer (OK, cow now) was difficult to milk out. With my very bad back, I, on a constant basis say "THAT'S IT, I AM DONE WITH COWS!". She kicked as I tried to gently wash her udder, kicked while I not so gently clipped her udder, and kicked while she was trying to be milked (can you imagine she let the veal calves all nurse on her and one had a weaner ring!). I have given up trying to milk first time fresheners by hand. In the past I have been injured which took many months to recuperate. Then I think of all that golden milk and flavorful cheese and yogurt and well I just keep the cows........Guernseys are a wonderful home milker.

There are things in my life I can count on. A frisky first time freshener, the Sun rising in the East, the weather in New England to change quickly. One thing I also understand and hold to be true is the Constitution of the United States.

In Connecticut every twenty years the question is posed to the voters if they would like to hold a Constitutional Convention. This would allow the delegates to try and change our Constitution. Am I missing something? I believe there is nothing wrong with Our Constitution. What is wrong is that Lawyers and Politicians (who are mostly blood sucking lawyers, shall I really tell you how I feel?) want to change the Constitution to fit their greedy agenda.

It is the same greed that caused the recent Stock Market burp. Greed that brought down the Federal Mortgage Company's of Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac all of which not a single person has been accountable. I know there were "very important people (at least in their minds)" who were in charge that were paid obviously more than they were worth. None will take responsibility for what happened, saying they never saw it coming. The highly worshiped Alan Greenspan is shocked that all these events have happened and doesn't understand how. We let these people govern our lives?

I don't understand how one person can enter Harvard Law School with a 3.3 GPA no honors after two years at Columbia and finish 4.0 GPA Magna Cum Laude. Another miracle must have taken place (information from the Wall Street Journal). Are you sure it wasn't Hogwarts he was attending? Another enters the prestigious Naval Academy to wind up fifth from the bottom. Honesty. It is all I am looking for. Life experience does count. A stable up bringing may now be a thing of the past.

Well it isn't a thing of the past around my house. Be reasonable. Don't try to fix what isn't broken. If it has worked for he past 2oo plus years without too many amendments perhaps you should just leave it alone and grow some common sense and learn how to take responsibility for your actions. This country still has streets made of gold but you may (should) only be able to get there with hard work, honesty and loyalty. Greed shouldn't play a factor. Use your good old fashioned know how, present ideas that will work in new and different ways that can pay for themselves. There are no "Free rides". Like everyone else, follow the rules (don't try to change them) and you too can walk the golden highway.

Just another day

It is very difficult to loose any thing of value.

It is especially difficult if the thing is a living breathing object (most difficult being a loved one which is not the content of this entry).

There are some who say a farmer becomes insensitive or callous when it comes to harvesting or culling herds or flock. I believe that it is the realization that the strong preserve the species (profit) and the weak will die sooner (loss). As any good business person knows it is imperative to stay in the black.

So, what do we really have invested and what investment is it worth into any particular aspect of the farm? There are exceptions to every rule. A favorite dog, cat, cow, goat, sow, horse as you can see there is a point to this.

How much does one invest (spend) to save a pet. Being realistic and with children and high taxes to pay and realizing the replacement costs of the original animal I have in my minds eye a very specific target. Others who have disposable income or little outside interests can get carried away with how much they invest in an animal or pet. I have, in the not to distant past, lost my beloved Rottweiler. The vet suggested (fraud in any other form?) that I have him go through chemo and the such to help him live another 6-12 months. The tune was 5000.00. We will run it through your health insurance. I have children the farm and of course where I live and trying to make ends meet. There was no option, on decision, just the heart wrenching guilt that "I didn't love my Rottie" according to the veterinarians implied remarks and termination of Doctor client relations (oh boy a topic for another rant).

It is even more difficult if you have sheltered your children from the experience of death and haven't let them learn how to grieve. The children expect you to spend absorptive amounts of money to "SAVE" whomever the pet is. How can you say no? When do we realize that grief has a price tag? Loneliness has a price tag. I'm sure it is quality of life not quantity of life all of us reach for. Visit an elder care facility and tell me the drugged limp creatures that need to be rolled so they don't develop sores would think their quality of life was wonderful. This is why we have living wills, (pull the plug please).

Reeves (his first name escapes me) who broke his neck in a horse riding accident had the money (disposable income) to maintain a level or quality of life that he felt was acceptable.......or was it his wife and family? Can you imagine the stess, how depressed he was, can't be good for any care taker. When he died (bedsore infection) she died 18 months later (lung cancer). Do you think stress played a roll?

Back to the animals. If you have animals love them and care for them as they deserve. I would highly recommend that you not spend monies that will keep you in debt to save a life whose quality may not be the best. Learn how to grieve and not to guilt. There is a big difference.

So your saying what the heck is this all about you babbling idiot? Well yesterday I spent three hours digging a very large hole for my neighbors rescued Primerian Mare. An animal who had lived an awful life but who's last year was wonderful. An animal of compromised Constitution but never the less loved and cherished. It was obvious (to me anyway) that there was a lot going on with this animal. I am not say she was neglected but she was a large draft type who was an easy keeper, gentle and had given up her head of herd position. The horse knew, the owner didn't. A couple of incidents and conformation issues I noticed but never mentioned. I have been told I am a control freak, obnoxious, over bearing, opinionated, so I now say "well if it were mine this is what I would do" or "I can tell you what I would do if it were mine" (besides your gonna die). This gives people the chance to ask my opinion or not. These days I prefer not.

So end of story. They didn't ask, I didn't tell, just gave the support asked for (OK, maybe a little more). The mare died, I knew she may not have gotten the treatment I would have given her, but to the same end. They are a 1000.00 in the red after making her spend an agonizing night trying to keep her alive.

I dug the hole and buried her. Careful to move the rock from under her head, place her legs in a comfortable position. Cover her with a tarp and put dirt over her to prevent the rocks from hitting her. Every time I bury an animal it seems I relive all the loved ones I have ever lost. It is not the death that brings the tears it is the absence in my heart and hand that bring on renewed grief.