Cottonwood Farm

Yes, the wind is blowing, again.  Today was actually rather quiet, and I think the warmest day of the week.  It's downhill from here; with temps below 10 degrees, and windchills worse.  The wind has really come up, although I don't know if it's snowing...yet.  Keyword, that one.

Lambing starts in about five weeks; surely the weather will improve!  In spite of the spring in the cow pond, we've had to chop ice all week for the cows.  They are going thru hay like there is no tomorrow, but not hitting the lick tub as hard as we thought they would. 

The baby pigs are weaned, and do come out and play at times, but they don't like this cold anymore than the rest of us do!  The chickens go to roost early in the afternoon, and who can blame them.  And of course, they wouldn't consider laying an egg in this! 

The fire is going, supper is done, and all that's left to put to bed are the dogs and humans.  I'm dreading going to work tomorrow!

The cold bothers me more than it use to, and darnit, I'm not that old! 

Hope every has a wonderful New Year!

Ok...it's May 2nd.  We've had the April showers...oh, man, did we ever.  So much it's now spread into May.  It's chilly and damp outside, and I'm bitting at the bit to get outside and do something....but there is nothing I can do! 

Can't plant, too muddy.  Can't mow, too muddy.  Need to vaccinate and work the calves, and get the bull out; can't do it.  The newborn lambs are learning to jump the mud puddles, or simply learning that they can get their little feetsies wet! 

I do have the potatoes and tomatos in the ground, but that's about it.  My strawberries are thinking about coming back to life, but the 40 degree nights are restraining them.  The hedge tree leaves are bigger than squirells earsI a sure sign it won't freeze again), but that's about the only sign of spring so far!

Any one else feeling the rainy day blues?

Is Spring on the way?  We finally got an egg today; the chickens started laying about a week ago, but we think the barn cat is beating us to them.  All we've found is a crushed shell!  But tonight, one whole entire safe egg!  A clue that Spring must be on the way, right??

I checked the calandar tonight for ewe and sow breeding dates.  We could start having lambs as quickly as a week from today!  Wow...I knew it was coming soon, but I'd best get the barn and the jugs ready!  Working full time in town sometimes makes that difficult, but this weekend, I'm off, and the weather should be beautiful.  Roberra, our sow, shouldn't farrow for another five weeks or so.  Our cows are almost done calving; one more to go, and she is behind the others. 

I keep walking out to the gardens, and looking around; not sure why.  Wishing for spring, I guess.  Five weeks, and I'll plant potatoes!  Lynn and I are both of very strong Irish breeding, so of course, the taters will be planted on St. Patrick's Day!  We plant ours in tires, two high.  It works very well, and I am able to use garden space that would other wise be unusable. 

So I do believe Spring is truly on the way...and I, for one, can't wait!

Man, it's freezing!  The high today was 16, and I don't even want to know what the wind chill is! 

The lambs unplugged the heater tape for the hydrant out at the barn during the night, so it was noon:thirty before we could finish chores and the morning watering.  The lambs seem to delight in making life hard around here; they played with the float in the tank a week ago, and made a skating rink of the feeding pen.

I'm sorry to report that we lost our 32 year old mare, Mimski, two weeks ago.  She had a great life, and we cry for our loss, but not for her death.  She is buried at the north end of the sheep pasture, where she and her now grown up little girl did so many circles together.  Mimski carried not only our daughter, but a friend's boys to many state championships, and many feel her loss.  GodSpeed, our Mimski!  At least she left us before this horrible cold set in.

The first calf heifers are bagging, the ewes should start lambing in about six weeks; sure signs of spring not that far off...and it's just officially winter today!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  And a wonderful New Year!

This time of year always makes me reflect on the past, and I realise how blessed we have been.  Our children are grown and gown, and happy, and still turn up on our doorstep now and then, with their spouses, and various pets(but then leave for their own homes!).  We have been blessed with good health, happiness, and a feeling of satisfaction when we turn out the lights at night.  The lambs are fed, the chickens have gone to roost in the barn, the piggers to their house, and the almost 33 year old mare is resting quietly, one foot cocked, south of the lean-to.

Life is good!

It was a dark and stormy night...oh, wait, it was a clear, crisp, sunny day!  Oh, yea, we are in Kansas!

As we close the windows, crank up the fireplace, things are winding down for the winter around here.  The hens have gone on strike, and I sold my last three dozen eggs yesterday.  Now, when we do chores, the hens have already gone to bed, and no longer share their supper with the lambs.  I told them that one egg a day wasn't going to cut it, but as chickens do, they just ignored me.

The lambs are now content with hanging around the hay feeder, now that the pasture grass is pretty well dried up.  They still go out and graze, but are happy to see the feed buckets twice a day.  They are a gentle group, easy to work with.  I like these Dorper crosses!

The ewes will come home from pasture soon, although the lambing won't begin until February.  It's easier to hay them here at the house.  We are buying some purebred Dorper ewes, who will lamb in January, starting the exciting times around here sooner...which is fine with me!

We've started on a new venture, with piggers!  I've always loved pigs, and now have one sow, who, of course, is named.  Roberta Rae had 10 piglets, that are now weaned, and so funny to watch.  We've sold half the litter, and will raise the balance for our friends and family.

We've had a good year, finding more markets for our lambs, and eggs.  I hope to expand the hen flock next year, so I can make a better attempt at keeping up with the demand.

With the economy like it is, I find that more people are looking for home grown, family raised food.  I think it's the right move, regardless of the reason.