Spring Chores

Spring is peeking through the grey ground again. Our horses are off the pasture and in a dry lot again. Got to give the pasture a chance to regrow again. Have to move the greenhouse and start seedlings. Have to build a second garden fence in the horse dry lot. All that black soil will be used for tomato and zucchini plants again. Will try to plant corn again this season. All my roses are in bud and life is starting again. Looking forward to fresh veggies and flowers to share.

Short Cold Auction

I went with a horse buddy to our local horse auction in town last Friday. It was very cold and snowy but it is always fun to talk horse. It was the same place I bought my first two pregnant mares three years ago. I have learned a lot since then about buying horses at auction. But it turned out well for our mares and now we have two wonderful young fox trotters to ride.

There were only a handful of horses being auctioned on this night. Only a few were said to be broke to ride. 

This one had a lame back leg but was kind and loved people. She was a big QH mare that

needed some groceries and a bath. Her injury looked recent and was left untreated to be auctioned instead of calling a vet.

This wild grey gelding had a lot of spirit, I am a softy for greys. He looks like my mare. Greys are hard to keep clean and are dirt magnets. 

This mule was very fat with a cresty neck. While rideable I am sure there will be some founder in its future.

This Standardbred mare was once taken care of as she had a short coat for winter. However, she suffered some accident in her left hip causing her to limp badly.

I was able to buy a bridle and a few tack items before the horse part began. I go these auctions to see how other people treat their horses. And I learn to take good care of my horses after seeing how neglect causes such suffering in these beautiful animals. Not all these horses are neglected, some are from broken homes and each has a story when they are at the auction. For my mares their story has a great conclusion, they are in a good home with clean water,green hills and warm hay. They are rideable and useful animals and will have one even after they are no longer useful..

The Long Hatch

About a two weeks ago my game hen was due to hatch her clutch in the coldest part of the year. I looked under her and two chicks were dry and hungry, but she did not leave the nest. So I put them in the brooder inside the kitchen. Next day another chick and still my hen refuses to leave the nest. After the first week I had 4 chicks. This week I have 6 chicks and my hen still does not leave the nest. So I have chicks of all sizes and ages inside my kitchen brooder box. While their mom is a great broody hen, she has gotten careless with her chicks. With chicken prices soaring these days, it is worth it save them from harm and let them grow up strong.

Americana and a Rhode Island Red chicks

Cute little red rooster and another Americana

Gotta love the grey/green legs and chipmunk stripes of this chick.

Cinnamon Nap

I have not had luck making my own cinnamon rolls from scratch. Until I got the mix kit from King Arthur Flour Company. Wow, they turned out great. On a cold day on the farm it hit the spot for us and our neighbor. It takes a little prep work and time to rise, but so worth it. 

My cat, Snots, took a nap while I made the rolls and the bunny looked on. I did not get a shot of the finished buns since they did not last a day.  At least the smell of cinnamon stayed in the house for a bit.

Hen Horsing Around

I really enjoy having chickens on the farm. They are always up and about on my farm.

Some are bold and fearless followers of where I go and what I do.

They push my shepherds away so they can eat their dog chow.

They get into stock tanks and feed bags all the time.

They crow, cluck and chirp all day long. While the roosters are so pretty the hens are

the real workhorses on my farm.

My snippy and flighty Leghorn born on my farm. Leghorns dress out nice but 

are too much drama in the nest box and in the fields. 

One of my 3 Cuckoo Maran's given as a gift. Great hens that lay all winter and follow me

around like puppies.

Marans, Guineas, and an Buff following me looking for ham bits. I am hoping these Marans will give me better layers when crossed with my English Game Rooster. They are broody, hardy and kind birds to have around.  I enjoy the deep dark brown eggs they give me.

Seeing Lights and Shadows

It has been a difficult week over on the farm. I lost a good hen to a stuck egg vent. I should have treated her but got busy and forgot. So I had to walk her carcass up the hill, into the frozen woods and tie her in a sapling for nature to take care of business. I had to go to a funeral and wish I had more time to talk with friends. My father is having a second surgery after recently having one two weeks ago. The skin on his legs will not heal and the cause is not known. The good news is that I will get to see him in a few weeks. I wish I could bring him my farm eggs and farm veggies, but that is not possible for so long a distance. So I will work with what is available where he lives in the city. The good news is also that spring is around the corner. 

Seeds are waiting to be planted, bulbs ready and flowers coming up. Two chicks hatched on the farm and are inside growing up with humans. Life begins anew and I am looking for the light of spring sunshine. And the shadows of winter will begin to fall behind me.

Iced Friday

We woke up to ice everywhere on Friday. I had to slide down the hill to feed all the animals. Then got on a pair of ice cleats and life was better. Our cars were coated in ice, took an hour to clear them off. Had to clear them so we could deliver eggs in town. My Volvo does not do ice, so we took the Subaru and got the errands done. Husband got to play with 4 wheel drive.

Chiminea in ice.

My favorite seat on the farm, iced over.

The view from the back door.

Even the birds got iced.

Horse gate and post coated in ice.

Maple waiting for her breakfast.

More frozen gates

Horse tape still holding a charge even with ice.

Mice-roni Duck Treats

And the big drake goes down the field. He is being chased by the 

opposing quarterduck on the outside.

The teams heads for the 30 yard line and they have the goal in sight.

Touchdown! The winning duck gets to eat the frozen mouse I threw in the forest.

Yes, my ducks are well fed. But once in a while they get a 

frozen mouse caught in the water bowls. I guess everything likes mice, even poultry with no teeth.

Skunk Me Week

Zilla and Osa got sprayed for the last time. Osa got this 7 pound skunk after many nightly battles. 

She died with her skunk boots on.

You know a week is going to suck when on Monday you have to move a very stinky dead skunk in the freezing weather from your back door. You have to hide it from your smelly farm dogs or it comes back as a zombie skunk. Then you find out you have a very ill parent far away from you. Then a friend dies suddenly the next evening. Then you have an ice storm and have to do chores in the slippery pelting ice. The animals are miserable and wet like you are. I just want to curl up like this frozen skunk and take a nap. But you have to cowgirl up and get things done. Animals need you, friends need you and plans have to me made. Luckily I have my husband to drag me out of bed, make me lunch and get me going again. 

When there is good coffee,  I can deal. 

Farrier February

Does this truck make me look fat? 

Luna, our fox trotter, waiting for the farrier. All our horses are tied to 

our farm truck waiting. Luna can get fat on air. She is never grained and still gets plump on hay.

Taking a nap.

Luna and her son, Bean. Bean is a gelding of 2+ years.

Not the best confirmation nor neck. He is still growing and may fill out.

He is about 14.5 hands, easy to get on. He will be my horse since he is a short one.

Bean waiting and Maple digging to China. Maple is a very busy brained horse, like her Mom.

She loves to have a job to do. She is trying to rewire the truck then the horse trailer. So she was moved to a tree for time out. Poor tree.

Bean just waits. He does have a nice long red mane and tail, very showy. 

Decking Down Time

Zilla on our deck and Pepper in the door. Taking a break in the setting sunbeams.

Half a Dozen

My neighbors Boer goats gave birth again last week. They now have three girls and three boys.

Mama and boys

Boy's club

Mama and her two girls

A boy and an "oreo" cookie girl in the back.

Sowing Stones

There has been a lot of people around me that have died this year. And many have gotten close to death as well. Old, young, my age, some close and some far away, all part of my life here. Having moved so many times growing up, I never had to deal with human death. Funerals happened and then the person wasn't there. The family packed up and moved away. And I have been running away from death my whole life. But now that I have stopped moving, death has come again full blast. So instead of running from death, I look forward to the spring and life anew. Seeds mean plants and flowers this summer. I'd rather plants seeds for new life than dwell on the things that have died around me. I try to enjoy those living around me and my farm.  Knowing that one day they won't be there. Cherish the living and bury the stones under the ground.