Today I was told that I really wasn't a farmer. OK then.........I may not be the biggest producer in the world but I do have many clients that have been with me for years. They have seen prices go up and never down. They understand working with animals is not the easiest thing in the world, let alone try to turn a profit.
I'm sorry that the day of the family farm is over but guess what consider yourself lucky if you had lived that way. By the way big shot.......why are you driving a truck for a living now? You could have cared for your parents and still run your farm. Your only kidding yourself.
I may not have the largest farm in the state but it is basically self funded and grows from it's own profits. I can not afford to go in debt to wait for years of maybe payback.
The other new is ........you guessed it. This is the way of the future. Lot's of small farms that support many families in their local communities. Just like is was in the old days of guilds. A town baker, a town butcher and I also will have the candle thing taken care of too.
I'm told that corporate farms are all that are left. What narrow sighted people we live with. More children are interested in animals and farming than ever before. Get your heads out of your IPods and off the DVD screen and look around. Things have not changed too much. We (the small farmer) just make technology work for us. We don't work for technology.
When the manure hits the spreader as it someday wil, my children will be able to live off of what is left of our precious land and help others. Don't count Americans down and out yet. Blame the government for all that has happened but guess who voted most of those politicians into office wise guy.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Ford Dealer.
It amazes me that car salesman actually make any money.
Don't they realize that most of the decision making, money budgeting,fashion statement as well as utilitarian use has to get through us woman first?
What idiots!
I recently purchased a different vehicle for my husband and had nothing but a hard time from a salesman who thought my bark was worse than my bite.
Poor him. He did not realize who he was dealing with.
I warned him that I was going to take the vehicle to my dealer to go over and all the work that I had requested be taken care of before the sale had better had been preformed.
You guessed it.........what a list came to me on that account from my Mechanic.
When I spoke to the Mechanic from the original purchase dealer he said that they had gone over the truck and it was in fine working condition. When I talked to the Sales manager he backed up the mechanic and the saleman. I then told him how could his Mechanic have even looked at the vehicle since the odometer read exactly the same mileage as when I first test drove it? What did he do? Lay his hands upon the hood and ask almighty to show him any sign of malfunction?
They were unwilling to fix the truck or buy it back. I don't trust these people nor do I want anything to do with them anymore. Since I paid cash the truck, it was now in my name and they didn't have to do anything. I mentioned the warrenty and I was laughed at.
Well I called Ford Motor Company Customer Assistance that is just what I got. Yup more fuel for the fire. Ford regretted that due to the age and mileage of the vehicle(NO I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW ONE) they could not purchase back the vehicle. Customer assistance told me to work it out with the dealer, they were however forwarding the transaction to the executive branch of the company and the dealer was going to hear from them. I said "fine, you don't want to help, guess who has more control over this than you?"
I said, the Department of Motor Vehicle.
Who would have guessed that the dealer would have called me so quickly the next day. Offer to pick the truck up and make the repairs my mechanic had found. Who would have thought that the Sales Manager would have been shown the actual worn out parts. Who would have thought they would put new tires on the truck and fill it with gas like they should have done in the first place?
Why does it have to take getting me spark spitting mad before anyone will take me seriously. I'm a very big girl and they should just know not to tick me off. The Sales manager said I was being sarcastic.........I said better sarcastic because what happens instead will make the reciever melt in your hand, burn your head and cause brain damage.
So now they will deliver the truck back to my mechanic, who will go over it again to make sure things were repaired as they said they were. Maybe mentioning to the Ford Motor Company that this dealer was selling vehicles that were unroadworthy and untrustworthy. That they failed to represent Ford in a honest and trustworthy light. Perhaps mentioning that in this economy when things are hard enough for most of us and they should appreciate customer loyalty. Customer Service noted my long history of purchasing Fords and using Ford Dealers for repairs.
The damage has been done. I have a network of people that span long distances who have friends.....well you get the idea. I do my best to say nothing at all when I have nothing nice to say, this time however I will not hold my tongue.
Don't they realize that most of the decision making, money budgeting,fashion statement as well as utilitarian use has to get through us woman first?
What idiots!
I recently purchased a different vehicle for my husband and had nothing but a hard time from a salesman who thought my bark was worse than my bite.
Poor him. He did not realize who he was dealing with.
I warned him that I was going to take the vehicle to my dealer to go over and all the work that I had requested be taken care of before the sale had better had been preformed.
You guessed it.........what a list came to me on that account from my Mechanic.
When I spoke to the Mechanic from the original purchase dealer he said that they had gone over the truck and it was in fine working condition. When I talked to the Sales manager he backed up the mechanic and the saleman. I then told him how could his Mechanic have even looked at the vehicle since the odometer read exactly the same mileage as when I first test drove it? What did he do? Lay his hands upon the hood and ask almighty to show him any sign of malfunction?
They were unwilling to fix the truck or buy it back. I don't trust these people nor do I want anything to do with them anymore. Since I paid cash the truck, it was now in my name and they didn't have to do anything. I mentioned the warrenty and I was laughed at.
Well I called Ford Motor Company Customer Assistance that is just what I got. Yup more fuel for the fire. Ford regretted that due to the age and mileage of the vehicle(NO I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW ONE) they could not purchase back the vehicle. Customer assistance told me to work it out with the dealer, they were however forwarding the transaction to the executive branch of the company and the dealer was going to hear from them. I said "fine, you don't want to help, guess who has more control over this than you?"
I said, the Department of Motor Vehicle.
Who would have guessed that the dealer would have called me so quickly the next day. Offer to pick the truck up and make the repairs my mechanic had found. Who would have thought that the Sales Manager would have been shown the actual worn out parts. Who would have thought they would put new tires on the truck and fill it with gas like they should have done in the first place?
Why does it have to take getting me spark spitting mad before anyone will take me seriously. I'm a very big girl and they should just know not to tick me off. The Sales manager said I was being sarcastic.........I said better sarcastic because what happens instead will make the reciever melt in your hand, burn your head and cause brain damage.
So now they will deliver the truck back to my mechanic, who will go over it again to make sure things were repaired as they said they were. Maybe mentioning to the Ford Motor Company that this dealer was selling vehicles that were unroadworthy and untrustworthy. That they failed to represent Ford in a honest and trustworthy light. Perhaps mentioning that in this economy when things are hard enough for most of us and they should appreciate customer loyalty. Customer Service noted my long history of purchasing Fords and using Ford Dealers for repairs.
The damage has been done. I have a network of people that span long distances who have friends.....well you get the idea. I do my best to say nothing at all when I have nothing nice to say, this time however I will not hold my tongue.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
New Horse
Well we went, saw and fell in love. What a beautiful animal. Very up right and had nice action (winged out a bit on the front left no biggie), handsome condition and well behaved ground manners. He put his very large (about half the size of my daughter) head down and let my daughter hug him. Loves people. What a guy. Load up we're going home baby!
Draw back, feet. He had shoes on and had lost a rear one. I noticed his right front looked odd and it turned out he had damaged it while running loose down the paved road. He is a big boy around 1800 lbs so his feet are very important. I need a horse who can go barefoot. Pony actually just had his feet trimmed for the first time in two years. I maintain them myself but there comes a time when a pro needs to do it.
His hock on the shoeless side was swollen also. He did have ice pads on but still he should be able to loose a shoe without having too much effect. I will call his farrier and ask what the story is. I know it will take at least a year for that front hoof to grow in properly (the front clip must have really tore up the outer wall). That makes it in the neighborhood of an extra 150.00 every six to eight weeks until then and what happens at that point is only speculation and I am not going there. Imagine a lifetime of shoes all around on a back yard trail horse? Especially size five (regular riding horses take a 00 or a 0)?
From there we went to the co op for grain for the Pigs. Over 300.00 a ton. People ask why the grocery store food is so expensive? Lets start there......Cost of raising livestock has gone way up. Can't wait to see the cost of hay this season. I shutter to think about it. With the new horse, I should easily add and additional 400 bales to the 1300 I use now. Just one more drawback on the horse.
We had to wait for our grain while a large Trailer truck unloaded "Wheat Middlins" a major ingredient in grains and we watched the trailer and augers at work. Off we went for a terrible but fun lunch of Boston Cream and manager special donuts with orange pineapple juice for the kids and Mom had a bagel and coffee. Lunches like that don't happen too often. I was concerned the children were going to start chewing on the truck door arm rests. They had gone through two apples a piece and several pounds of carrots. Yes we always pack food for the ride.
On the way home we discussed the horse and my son did very well with his interpretation of what my husband would say and it made me realize that we wont be purchasing the lad.
Found we had been visited (pile of empty egg crates by the porch) by a friend who is anticipating the birth of her kidd goats. She is trying to plan around it and I told her that very much like humans there is nothing to be done to hurry them up and for crying out loud be patient. The girls will kidd when the time is right.
Onward home to have a conniption fit over my husbands new truck. The %$*&#(*& dealer we bought it from did nothing to prepare the truck for road worthiness. Now I have taken the battle on for having the retreads repair the truck under warrenty. I have already reported the dealer to Ford and DMV form K-35 is next. More on this subject at a later day.
I'm on vacation this week with the kids and am very late getting out. Such wonderful weather we will be outside all day.
Draw back, feet. He had shoes on and had lost a rear one. I noticed his right front looked odd and it turned out he had damaged it while running loose down the paved road. He is a big boy around 1800 lbs so his feet are very important. I need a horse who can go barefoot. Pony actually just had his feet trimmed for the first time in two years. I maintain them myself but there comes a time when a pro needs to do it.
His hock on the shoeless side was swollen also. He did have ice pads on but still he should be able to loose a shoe without having too much effect. I will call his farrier and ask what the story is. I know it will take at least a year for that front hoof to grow in properly (the front clip must have really tore up the outer wall). That makes it in the neighborhood of an extra 150.00 every six to eight weeks until then and what happens at that point is only speculation and I am not going there. Imagine a lifetime of shoes all around on a back yard trail horse? Especially size five (regular riding horses take a 00 or a 0)?
From there we went to the co op for grain for the Pigs. Over 300.00 a ton. People ask why the grocery store food is so expensive? Lets start there......Cost of raising livestock has gone way up. Can't wait to see the cost of hay this season. I shutter to think about it. With the new horse, I should easily add and additional 400 bales to the 1300 I use now. Just one more drawback on the horse.
We had to wait for our grain while a large Trailer truck unloaded "Wheat Middlins" a major ingredient in grains and we watched the trailer and augers at work. Off we went for a terrible but fun lunch of Boston Cream and manager special donuts with orange pineapple juice for the kids and Mom had a bagel and coffee. Lunches like that don't happen too often. I was concerned the children were going to start chewing on the truck door arm rests. They had gone through two apples a piece and several pounds of carrots. Yes we always pack food for the ride.
On the way home we discussed the horse and my son did very well with his interpretation of what my husband would say and it made me realize that we wont be purchasing the lad.
Found we had been visited (pile of empty egg crates by the porch) by a friend who is anticipating the birth of her kidd goats. She is trying to plan around it and I told her that very much like humans there is nothing to be done to hurry them up and for crying out loud be patient. The girls will kidd when the time is right.
Onward home to have a conniption fit over my husbands new truck. The %$*&#(*& dealer we bought it from did nothing to prepare the truck for road worthiness. Now I have taken the battle on for having the retreads repair the truck under warrenty. I have already reported the dealer to Ford and DMV form K-35 is next. More on this subject at a later day.
I'm on vacation this week with the kids and am very late getting out. Such wonderful weather we will be outside all day.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Such fun
Well Mom and I had a blast. We got to enjoy her company for a few days before she retreated to the sanctity (sanity) of home. We went out to a few stores and found some good buys. I found an entire wardrobe for under 50.00. OK, so I am not a fashion statement and it is unlikely I will accidentally be shot by hunters (Have you ever noticed how bright colors don't sell well with the larger clothing chains?) but I have clothes without blood stains or holes for a while at least.
We found some Hershey Kisses filled with Champagne (you know I am making a special trip to get the rest of the display) that are on the soft side even before you little mitt gets on them, no need to exercise chewing, however delicious they are.
Found a computer program for my son. He really liked it and had to be pried away from the computer to do other things. Special treats for everyone. It was Oma's birthday and my sister had gotten a cake for her. It was huge and we were able to have some delectable deserts for quite a few days. Carrot cake with walnuts and raisins, apricot creme filling with butter frosting (the only drawback in my book, yuck) and the flowers decorating it were absolutely beautiful. My daughter wanted them all. Fine with me. Oma brought Christmas cookies too. They never last long. Good thing Oma has a freezer full.
On the farm we had one doe Kidd. She was a day early and kidded in minutes since we only left her alone for a short time. One doeling was dead, the other weighed only 4.5 pounds. Smallest Kidd we have ever had but she is spry and frisky and eating her food albeit only ounces at a time. Were used to feeding out gallons so we must be careful not to over feed her.
My son went to the chicken showmanship on Saturday and came away with knowledge and the desire to show his birds as well as some different breeds of roosters who needed a home. Not the best examples of chicken hood but breed different enough to bring to the fairs to let people see them.
I have Spring Fever and have gotten seeds to start. So this week with the school week off we will start some of the cool weather plants such as peas, lettuce, potatoes spinach the list goes on but you get the idea.
The bees are happy and are foraging pollen already, Skunk Cabbage and the Maples have started. I will go in and check to see if they need anything and to make sure the foundations have been drawn and there are eggs being laid. Not that I could do much except order new packages or a queen at least.
Enjoying the rain free weekend (not as was predicted) but too cool to do much except take a load of items to the "Put and Take". In our town we have people bring stuff to the dump that may be someone elses treasure.
Off to look at the new horse tomorrow. I am leaving the trailer home so I have time to think about it. Kite flying down at the beach with the kids too. Fun day all around.
We found some Hershey Kisses filled with Champagne (you know I am making a special trip to get the rest of the display) that are on the soft side even before you little mitt gets on them, no need to exercise chewing, however delicious they are.
Found a computer program for my son. He really liked it and had to be pried away from the computer to do other things. Special treats for everyone. It was Oma's birthday and my sister had gotten a cake for her. It was huge and we were able to have some delectable deserts for quite a few days. Carrot cake with walnuts and raisins, apricot creme filling with butter frosting (the only drawback in my book, yuck) and the flowers decorating it were absolutely beautiful. My daughter wanted them all. Fine with me. Oma brought Christmas cookies too. They never last long. Good thing Oma has a freezer full.
On the farm we had one doe Kidd. She was a day early and kidded in minutes since we only left her alone for a short time. One doeling was dead, the other weighed only 4.5 pounds. Smallest Kidd we have ever had but she is spry and frisky and eating her food albeit only ounces at a time. Were used to feeding out gallons so we must be careful not to over feed her.
My son went to the chicken showmanship on Saturday and came away with knowledge and the desire to show his birds as well as some different breeds of roosters who needed a home. Not the best examples of chicken hood but breed different enough to bring to the fairs to let people see them.
I have Spring Fever and have gotten seeds to start. So this week with the school week off we will start some of the cool weather plants such as peas, lettuce, potatoes spinach the list goes on but you get the idea.
The bees are happy and are foraging pollen already, Skunk Cabbage and the Maples have started. I will go in and check to see if they need anything and to make sure the foundations have been drawn and there are eggs being laid. Not that I could do much except order new packages or a queen at least.
Enjoying the rain free weekend (not as was predicted) but too cool to do much except take a load of items to the "Put and Take". In our town we have people bring stuff to the dump that may be someone elses treasure.
Off to look at the new horse tomorrow. I am leaving the trailer home so I have time to think about it. Kite flying down at the beach with the kids too. Fun day all around.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Having fun
Well Mom's been here for a couple of days and I hope is content with the goings on. Mom loves to cross stitch (counted) and works on that and some puzzles (crossword and the such) when looking for a change.
My children love her do death and so do the critters except the house bird. Razzeldazzlewooohooo is a Sun Conure who doesn't like people other than the regular occupants of the house. He will attack anyone while he is out. He lands on your shoulder and proceed to chew on your ears, neck or any exposed skin. What the heck happened? I have no clue. He is learning to speak so my son is teaching him the phrase, "get the gun" when people knock on the door and the dogs bark. I think the bird is also barking like the dog which in itself is pretty funny. So any burglars be aware if the dogs don't get you the bird probably will.
Life on the farm is stable (no pun intended) with only one ill critter at the moment. Seems he doesn't want to be weaned and has gone on a hunger strike. Chicks are doing well and the turkey hens have brought in some wild toms. Now that will be interesting. I will have to get some eggs and incubate them to see what that bird will look like.
Late to do morning animal care...........yes it's kind of drooly out. Grey and damp. Makes the house eucalyptus smell good though.
My children love her do death and so do the critters except the house bird. Razzeldazzlewooohooo is a Sun Conure who doesn't like people other than the regular occupants of the house. He will attack anyone while he is out. He lands on your shoulder and proceed to chew on your ears, neck or any exposed skin. What the heck happened? I have no clue. He is learning to speak so my son is teaching him the phrase, "get the gun" when people knock on the door and the dogs bark. I think the bird is also barking like the dog which in itself is pretty funny. So any burglars be aware if the dogs don't get you the bird probably will.
Life on the farm is stable (no pun intended) with only one ill critter at the moment. Seems he doesn't want to be weaned and has gone on a hunger strike. Chicks are doing well and the turkey hens have brought in some wild toms. Now that will be interesting. I will have to get some eggs and incubate them to see what that bird will look like.
Late to do morning animal care...........yes it's kind of drooly out. Grey and damp. Makes the house eucalyptus smell good though.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bulk shopping
I call it GROCE. That is all you can call it when you only grocery shop about every four to six weeks. Of course we have all our own meat, eggs and milk but there are other things we should have to prevent scurvy and the such.
So today I went to BJ's and spent over three hundred dollars. No I didn't plan to spend that much, no I didn't go hungry (for a change). Most all the items were makings for meals. I don't usually buy prepared foods and go out to a Japanese or Chinese buffet if I don't feel like cooking. That is always a treat.
So totally not what I had planned to do today. I was supposed to visit a piggery with a chef who wants local product and this farmer is willing to grow pigs on grain instead of garbage like most of the larger growers. However the farmer called and he had to go cut firewood (to supplement pig farming, we all have to do something) so he couldn't meet with us. I was then supposed to get some Chicken food and soy meal in bulk from the co-op and perhaps stop for a much needed cup of tea at a friends house. Didn't happen today.
My Mom is coming by for her birthday this week and will spend a few days at the least (one can only hope, sometimes she has to go home to take care of other things, we hate seeing her go).
So tomorrow I will go and get the grain and stop by some stores as Mom is looking for organizing bins for my son's room. We will see how it goes. Not like I have any money left to buy anything...........I can't stand shopping anyway, unless it is a hardware or grain store.
So today I went to BJ's and spent over three hundred dollars. No I didn't plan to spend that much, no I didn't go hungry (for a change). Most all the items were makings for meals. I don't usually buy prepared foods and go out to a Japanese or Chinese buffet if I don't feel like cooking. That is always a treat.
So totally not what I had planned to do today. I was supposed to visit a piggery with a chef who wants local product and this farmer is willing to grow pigs on grain instead of garbage like most of the larger growers. However the farmer called and he had to go cut firewood (to supplement pig farming, we all have to do something) so he couldn't meet with us. I was then supposed to get some Chicken food and soy meal in bulk from the co-op and perhaps stop for a much needed cup of tea at a friends house. Didn't happen today.
My Mom is coming by for her birthday this week and will spend a few days at the least (one can only hope, sometimes she has to go home to take care of other things, we hate seeing her go).
So tomorrow I will go and get the grain and stop by some stores as Mom is looking for organizing bins for my son's room. We will see how it goes. Not like I have any money left to buy anything...........I can't stand shopping anyway, unless it is a hardware or grain store.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Ups and Downs
Well as expected the poor little calf (named Maybe) didn't make it. We were not surprised. We also realized that he waited to die until after we left him for the night. He had been expired for a very long time. The other calf is strong and flitting about enjoying his nice, clean, large stall.
I will go and get a couple more calves this week since we are making plenty of milk. In the next few months I would rather use it than toss the milk to the compost pile. Sure it makes for great compost but the waste of it annoys me. With the constant monetary set backs the milk room (and license) and the slaughter room are moved down the schedule of jobs to be done. Frustrating to say the least, but such as it is, move on, suck it up, quit my whining you big baby...........
OK, into the hives I went today with the family looking on and helping (?)........
One hive is very strong and had created their very own comb on the bottom of the inner lid, filled it with the sugar nectar and was trying to make honey. What not enough foundation for you ? The other hive is very weak. No I don't know why but now I know why so many people recommended two hives to start with. Compare and figure it out. So I will guard one and leave the other more alone. Your supposed to tap on the side of the hive to make sure they are in there. The strong hive can be heard from feet away, the other you need a stethoscope.
Both queens were freed and nectar levels were noticeably lower and refilled. The kids were so excited with the comb piece the bees had made. Dave took a big bite from it and actually said it was delicious. I asked him if he had checked to make sure all the bees were off yet, he had grabbed it so fast.
So off to the rest of my day of fences, animal care, autopsy and anything that rears it's ugly head.
I will go and get a couple more calves this week since we are making plenty of milk. In the next few months I would rather use it than toss the milk to the compost pile. Sure it makes for great compost but the waste of it annoys me. With the constant monetary set backs the milk room (and license) and the slaughter room are moved down the schedule of jobs to be done. Frustrating to say the least, but such as it is, move on, suck it up, quit my whining you big baby...........
OK, into the hives I went today with the family looking on and helping (?)........
One hive is very strong and had created their very own comb on the bottom of the inner lid, filled it with the sugar nectar and was trying to make honey. What not enough foundation for you ? The other hive is very weak. No I don't know why but now I know why so many people recommended two hives to start with. Compare and figure it out. So I will guard one and leave the other more alone. Your supposed to tap on the side of the hive to make sure they are in there. The strong hive can be heard from feet away, the other you need a stethoscope.
Both queens were freed and nectar levels were noticeably lower and refilled. The kids were so excited with the comb piece the bees had made. Dave took a big bite from it and actually said it was delicious. I asked him if he had checked to make sure all the bees were off yet, he had grabbed it so fast.
So off to the rest of my day of fences, animal care, autopsy and anything that rears it's ugly head.
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