Truck Me Up

A few weeks ago my husband and I drove to Salem, MO to an unusual auction. The park service was auctioning off their used vehicles, loaders, boats and UTV's. In the pouring rain we and about 200 other people looked over used equipment before the sale. We looked over the truck briefly then focused on the UTV's and the brush hogs. But I kept wanting to look over the trucks. They might go for cheap in this rain storm. So we looked them over and I realized that this is what I need, a truck. They had a handful that met my needs, automatic, big tires, cloth seats, in ok condition and can handle snow and rain. My 1990 Volvo is not good in floods and icy roads, but a 4x4 is. So we ran through the trucks and saw they were selling for a song. We were outbid on another then this one was the 2nd to last truck under a ton. We won it for a good price and I got to drive it home. My new/used  grey Chevy Silverado, 4x4, 1/2 ton, automatic, no frills farm truck. My first truck ever!

It has a big bed for farm feed. I just need to add some bling to the outside. Like mudflaps.

Good back seat for my German Shepherds, groceries and saddles.

I like the grey interior/exterior as it won't show dirt. So now my husband drives the one ton and I get to drive the 1/2 ton. Life is good.

All the Pretty Flowers

Recently, I went to the local greenhouse to look for some bedding plants. Since it is a local grower, I had more variety to choose from than a "mega-mart type" greenhouse. Such beauty abounds the eyes and the nose. Hanging plants, veggies, bedding plants, unique cacti and more were all home grown and for sale.

Too many to choose from!

By buying local I kept the business nearby happy instead of feeding the commercial mega mart. Plus the owner of the greenhouse was very knowledgeable about the plants he grew. Try getting that from an impersonal mega mart.

Colorful Clematis in the garden

 With all the rain we have has my plants are blooming like mad. My three clematis are blooming big vibrant blossoms  They almost look artificial. 

Candy cane

Violet and fuchsia mixed together.

Here is one of my veggie gardens. The yellow collards are going to seed after a long winter. My iris are blooming well along side the strawberries and the broccoli. The basil and the mint are in a race. My tomatoes are slow coming up. But the peas are very happy with the cool nights. Some days are hot and humid and some days damp and rainy, but still weeding has to happen. The straw cuts down on my weeding chores. The straw also makes for happy spiders and snakes in the garden. They visit my garden waiting for a snack during weeding time.

Hickory Chickory

Last Wednesday we hatched out 15 chicks out of 20 eggs. It was a good hatch.

These are our own home grown farm mix. Marans, Old English, Reds and Buffs are all bred with strong 4 different roosters. One rooster is a bantam and will soon have bantam hens of his own.

We gave away 10 of the larger chicks and kept the slower later hatched ones. With the addition of a new rooster we are getting different chicks this time. More color in the feathers and smarter behaviors and less aggressive. It is always a challenge raising your own. But so worth the effort. I love my farm life.

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.