Mule me Over

This is a gaited mule that belongs to a trail rider in our town. She is a sweet and well trained mule.

She has a pretty head and stands when being haltered. This gal has manners.

Parking out for us.

Isn't this the coolest truck accessory? I love this heavy cut steel artwork on the back of their truck. 

Three Stooges

Life on the farm is never boring. Last week my shepherds killed a pair of armadillos. Apparently, they were parents of these three babies. These guys showed up next to my garage and were just plain too cute. I wish I could have held one, but they carry leprosy. So I took photos of their rooting around the grass. Armadillos are bad in that they dig up foundations and veggie gardens. But still they are cute when they are the size of your hand.

They are eating ants and grubs that are all around the area.

We left them alone for them to find a new place to live. I am sure I will meet them again when they are bigger. But I hope they just go back to the woods and be happy growing up there.

Poppy Life

This is my barn cat Poppy, whom we rescued after being run over as a kitten. He lives outside at night but come inside for napping on cold and rainy days. He is also my constant companion when I work in the garden. He goes after voles and mice and crickets. He hides in the deep thyme and the tall grasses. And he also passes out on my sofa, dead to the world. He is not a cuddly cat but he is a buddy cat. He always has my back and shadows me on the farm.

Sunny Monday

While I had a busy Monday, my cat enjoyed the warm weather and a nap on the deck.

Our ducks doing a food search.

Cowboy Poetry

A few weeks ago my husband and I volunteered to decorate for a special event. The Missouri Cowboy Poets were going to perform in our small town. So we rounded up our horse tack, rugs, cow skulls and hats to decorate the stage. The talent came in and we got a treat. Real cow folks singing and reading stories. I wished the younger generations had come by. These were stories and songs of the way of life that still exists today here in the Ozarks. Cows escape, lost horses, changes in the old ways and nature were some of the topics shared. I even got to read a poem written by a trail rider. It was a fun morning and was over too quickly. I am so glad I was there to experience this unique event. 

The donated back drop and our props from around the farm.

Hobble Horse

Our trainer taught our horses to be hobbled. He also showed us how to use them to mow the lawn. My husband is leading Maple and hobbling her on our front lawn a.k.a. pasture.

She is so busy munching she does not notice the hobbles.

Even hobbled Maple can run backwards on two legs faster than I can run.

Very happy horse.

Goat Gardening

Since we had a late winter here in the Ozarks and I forgot to put down a weed block, I had weeds in my garden. I decided to borrow my neighbors goats to let them eat their fill. The hard part? Getting the goats to walk away from the herd. We put them in a UTV and drove them to my garden. After a bit they ate everything except my mint. And the goats fertilized as well. It was worth the effort. What I learned is that we  would have better luck using our own hand raised goat. These guys missed their herd. We are planning on raising a milk goat or two. They are fun to have around on the farm. They are great lawn mowers. Down side is that they eat everything, yes, even your flowers. So protect the stuff you do not want eaten and weed that yourself. Everything else is fair game.

Older nanny goats no longer productive but can still eat.

Making Spring

I can't wait for spring any longer. I have plants and crops to set out and these cold winter days just won't stop. We had flurries this morning! But I still set our my veggies and flowers and protected them too. Can't count on the cat to keep them warm. At least the plants are growing in spite of the cold nights. I have very hardy plants, herbs and veggies. But the good thing is that we have had lots of rain and the grass is tall. This means a good hay crop. I have baby chicks as well, but luckily they have fully feathered out and can take the cold in the coop now. I hope by May it warms up so my next hatch stays warm. Life is never boring on the farm.

Neighbors Farm

Our neighbors raise Boer goats and have had to separate their billy from the does. And they are building a new barn to house the goats and chickens.

The billy is now separated from his does with his pal. This was feeding time and hoof doctoring time.

The billy loves his grain trough.

Gracie the dog and her minions.

Rick and his second barn. Made from rough cut lumber and recycled old windows.

Rum Cake

Today was my hubby's birthday. He wanted a rum cake made from his grandmothers recipe. 

His sister was kind enough to send me the original recipe and I followed it to the letter. 

After it comes out the oven you add the rum butter glaze. I let him do that as I had dishes to clean.

You can see the rich buttery glaze in the cast iron pot.

The cake sat overnight in a cake pan and turned out exactly as he remembered it from his childhood. 

It was a great sharing it with friends after dinner.

Piggy Surprise

Today, we were invited out to dinner with friends from our church. Millie had a surprise waiting for me in her car. She gave me her handmade set of ceramic pigs she painted herself. I had admired them in her home and she gave them to me. They are so happy looking and I needed to see some happy pigs smiling at me.  I will add them to my farm kitchen. They can sit and smile at me while I cook.

So cute, detailed and well painted. Each one has it's own cute face. I can tell they were painted with care.

Beefalo me now

Last Sunday we were invited to a friends farm to meet his Beefalo. He has a real buffalo that has been bred to an Angus bull creating buffalo hybrids called Beefalo. His livestock is tame and likes to be pet and given snacks. We got to pet a real live buffalo and her offspring.

The buffalo was extremely fast moving for such a large animal. We were quick to get out of her way when she decided it was time to move.

She is chasing the horses away from snack time.The upright tail means she is mad.

Ready for more petting and treats.

Coming around fast for more attention.

The gravy train arrives and they all get a snack.

These hybrids are very hardy and survived the drought last summer and winter with no problems. The Angus the farmer had did not come out of winter as well as these Beefalo. They were ribby and thin. The hybrid meat is very lean and full of flavor. It was very exciting seeing what other farmers raise. Buffalo can never be moved from where they are raised. They will destroy any fence to get back home again by walking in ever widening circles. This buffalo was saved as a baby and raised on this farm. This is her home and she is the queen of the herd.

Let There be Shelby

After much talk about the pros and cons, we decided we needed another equine around our farm. Since we have 3 horses one will always be left behind. Our younger horses really go nuts when left behind. We heard that a jenny was needing a new home. Her price was the trade of our two adult turkeys. They needed a new home and we needed them out of our coop. The donkey is hard to catch and needs more handling, but she is healthy and our filly needs her. This was the first time all week my filly was calm for a change. Our other two horses are at the trainers. The jenny's name is Shelby. Since she is very fast the name works.

Maple and Shelby

Looking out for Maple and her new pasture.

Learning about the lead rope and its limits.