(Not Very) Snowy Day

January 25, 2013 by WoolyMama

Yesterday we drove way down to Farmville, Va to pick up two new female geese to be companions for our poor lonely Uncle Waldo.

He’s been on his own for a few days after he lost his two lovely ladies to a tragic dog – related accident. (In other news, George the dog has gone on to his forever home where he is learning that “Geese are friends, not food!”).

No, I don’t want to talk about it. I am just glad it all worked out for everyone and Georgio has older, bigger dogs to mentor him and keep him in his place now.

Luckily sweet Orzo never understood the fun involved in full – scale poultry slaughter, and has been happy to just keep a wary eye on those big, noisy, bossy birds.

So we brought home two lovely new ladies – these ones Toulouse geese. They look mighty similar to the Pilgrim geese we lost, and so far have rather sweet, if stand -offish personalities.

We’re calling them Agnes and Tilly. Waldo seems to have taken to them rather well. They’ve started going off on those little goose expeditions around the pasture that I am always so fond of watching. They don’t appear to have any real destination in mind, but they certainly waddle with purpose, wherever it is they are going.

Neve has been helping out with chores since we have to bring down big wheel – barrows full of hay a few times a day. Now that the temperature hasn’t been above freezing for awhile we are also carting down buckets of water, since our lines out to the pasture are frozen. If this keeps us I will have abs and thighs of steel.

I don’t want to talk about that, either.

Neve doesn’t mind, since Piper and Wren like to come up for ~~grain~~ snuggles.

Jerry doesn’t mind having a much smaller, easier target to bully for the bucket of grain.

Cross your fingers the ice thaws soon and we can get a field delivery of hay before long. I’m sick of feeling the muscle burn.

Sunny Days

January 22, 2013 by WoolyMama

We have been so busy these last few days enjoying the sun! Everyone was rejoicing when it finally returned; the animals were kicking up their heels to play and stretching out in the hay to dry off and soak up the warm.

Though today it has gotten much, much colder and more windy, we are still thankful for it to be dry. Even the indoor animals are spending their days moving from sun spot to sun spot.

It’s forecast to be even colder the rest of the week. The hoses are already frozen solid so there will be plenty of water – bucket carrying going on. The fireplace will be on more or less all the time, and there will be plenty of bread and soup making to get us through.

Stay warm, wherever you are.

Winter Makes Its Debut

January 17, 2013 by WoolyMama

I know I am very unpopular when I say how I love snow, but I’ll tell you this: it would be a darn site nicer to have had snow the last few days rather than the rain. Our field became a mud pit, our bridge is nearly inundated with rushing water. My boots were sinking in the mud each time I went out to feed (which is a lot, because we’ve been taking wheel – barrow – fulls down at various points during the day).

Then around 3 this afternoon it changed. First a slushy, icy snow, which only added to the misery. At this point Emily and I constructed a temporary (and not great) shelter out of the dog kennel and a tarp. Only the goats are using it. Sheep actually do just fine in the cold and wet, but I wanted to be able to keep their hay dry and give them an option to get our of the driving rain. Since then it’s been a rather lovely snow to look at, and I’d have enjoyed being out in it more if not for already being soaked through from the rain.

We had an abbreviated school day today, knowing I would need to spend more time tending to the livestock, and afterwards I made tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches (our standard winter day fare).

I am fond of the Tomato and Cheddar Soup recipe from this book. It’s basically onions simmered in butter, half and half tossed in once they are soft and clear and foamy. Shredded cheddar is added with a little bit of flour and then a can of Fire – Roasted Crushed tomatoes. Salt, pepper, and alspice to taste. It’s only slightly more complicated than heating up condensed soup and it goes smashingly with grilled cheese!

Emily was my right hand (or arm, more like) today. When it comes to the farm, Emily earns her keep.

Amelia, like all the rest of the animals, looks a little worse for the wear. They’ve been getting extra grain the last few days to make up for the lack of a large quantity of free – choice hay. Plus the combustive process of their digestion provides them with body heat.

See the outer wool dripping? We’ll ALL be glad to see the sun again.

The ground looks great, doesn’t it? This is what it looks like at the gate; why a truck wouldn’t make it through.

The geese, on the other hand, think this wet weather is the most amazing thing that has ever happened. They’ve been flapping about, splashing in puddles and having far too much fun.

On tap for tonight is chili for dinner followed by board games and popcorn by the fire.

Bring it, winter. It’s about time.

Staying In

January 16, 2013 by WoolyMama

We are on what feels like day 100 of cold rain and fog. I think in reality it is more like day 3, but we have at least another day or two to get through, and we’ve all pretty much had our fill of it.

The ground was so saturated this morning when the hay delivery came that there was no way to get the heavy bale out to the field where the animals are. It sits in my driveway, waiting for some miracle or genius idea to strike. We peeled off an armload to take out this morning with breakfast in order to tide the sheep over for a bit.

Normally I’d like to imagine myself out in the British countryside on a day like today; wrapped in wool, wellies on my feet. But I am too worried about how to manage this hay!

The chickens are muddy and forlorn. The sheep are muddy and forlorn. After approaching the gate where the dogs tried to greet me, I am muddy and forlorn.

School will be done in front of the fire today. These two like to fight over who gets the most exposure to the heat.

Even the cats see the wisdom in curling up with a thick wool blanket.

Since I can’t spend the day curled up with them in bed I will content myself with some espresso by the fire and work on my sweater.

Stay warm and dry, wherever you are.

And if you have any genius ideas for how to get a massively heavy bale of hay down a slope, across a swampy bridge and up again into a muddy field, do let me know.

Partings

January 15, 2013 by WoolyMama

Sunday night was the last book club for our dear friend Theresa. Tomorrow she and her family are moving to New Jersey, where her husband will be taking on a new role as a professor. While we wish them well in their new home and exciting new adventures to come, Theresa’s departure leaves a void not easily filled (and I doubt we’ll even try).

Gabi made a lovely stack of books cake with three of Theresa’s favorite books we’ve read (The Thirteenth Tale, The Shadow of the Wind, See You in A Hundred Years).

It was a bittersweet night; trying to get as much Theresa as we could before having to say goodbye, while remembering our favorite – and funniest – moments from our collective past. We tried to find meaningful ways for her to “take us with her” in a sense – a margarita glass signed by all of us, a framed print of our group photos from the beach, and a book charm bracelet with some of our books.

It will be sad, moving forward, but we still have email and skype, and she will continue to join us at the beach every summer.

I can tell you I am particularly proud to have known Theresa, as she joyously and fearlessly embraced my journey to become a shepherd and farmer, lending a hand wherever and whenever possible. She came through and saved our backsides when it came time to process our meat chickens – without her help it would have been a lot worse, I assure you. Not for nothing do we refer to each other as “soul sister”. Her daughter Zoe and my Oona have been fast friends – making this bittersweet for Oona as well (or just bitter, if you ask her).

Good luck, Theresa. You really are the sweetest of us. We’ll miss you dearly.

Stopping By

January 11, 2013 by WoolyMama

What do you blog about when you’ve spent most of the week trying to hibernate?

Yeah, I don’t know either.

It’s been quiet. Most of the holiday decorations have been put away. We are back to the normal routine of school and work.

The weather is terribly, disappointingly warm. I fear we will pay for it this summer.

We did trek out into town yesterday to make a Trader Joe’s run and to visit my friend Jessie in the hospital – she’s just had her appendix out.

I bound off the body portion of my Wicked sweater; now I have only to do the sleeves. I want to fly through them so I can get to a new project because I have seen – and felt – the new Juniper Moon Farm yarn. It is swoon – worthy, just you wait and see.

I have a decent stash of Sabine I’d like to put to use, and I may have mentioned that I have been hoarding a stash of Chadwick since it’s been discontinued. So much knitting to do, so little time.

The good news is that I’ve seen a lot of Susan this week. It’s lovely to have her back around after her extended stay in Texas.

The animals are doing splendidly and our heads are full of plans to improve the land come spring.

It’s a good time to hibernate.

Happy Christmas

December 24, 2012 by WoolyMama

Happy Christmas, all. Hope it’s a beautifully warm and cozy one!

The Return of the Light

December 21, 2012 by WoolyMama

Another solstice upon us. The days will start getting longer again with the promise of spring and renewal. I don’t know why we don’t celebrate this any longer as a culture or society. Perhaps the ease with which we light and warm our homes means we don’t need to rely so much on the sun’s light anymore and we are just that much less grateful to it. I don’t think so, though. So many people I know struggle through the darker days and eagerly await the their lengthening again. Perhaps we simply lack the tradition of recognizing and celebrating this yearly right of passage?

Either way it is one of my favorite days of the year, because although I love fall and winter and enjoy the colder weather, the early darkness every day takes it toll on me.

Tonight we’ll celebrate by having a fire, enjoying each other’s company (the adults will partake of some Jameson’s and gingerale, my favorite winter drink) and work on whatever crafts we want to finish for gifting.

We welcomed three geese to our little farm today as well. You may remember them from Juniper Moon Farm. You may also recall that Susan (and all the animals, if we are being honest) never really cared for these pesky critters. Geese aren’t the friendliest birds. But as geese go, these ones aren’t really mean. I am keeping them around for snake control.

We’re calling them Abigail, Amelia, and Uncle Waldo. You’ve seen The Aristocats, right?

Wren and Piper have been giving me sweet little lamby kisses.

Being nuzzled by those soft little noses can cure just about any ill.

Happy Solstice, all.

A (Guard) Dog’s Life

December 18, 2012 by WoolyMama

There are days when it seems like the dogs are so much trouble for how few animals I have. They are still rambunctious puppies, after all. and you know how puppies can be. They like to fight with each other – sometimes violently – and manners are something neither one has had much interest in. Had I left them at Juniper Moon Farm they would have continued learning proper behavior from the senior dogs – but I interrupted that to bring them home.

When George started chasing the sheep around I decided it was high time to be strict. I contacted my friend Cindy over at Jacob’s Reward Farm for some advice. Cindy adopted the previous litter of puppies from Susan, and so if anyone had some insight on raising that particular blend of personalities, I figured Cindy would. Thankfully, she reinforced what I was already thinking.

I separated George into his own private pen so that he could be in the middle of all the livestock action, but could not actually chase them or touch them.

Orzo immediately calmed down. George immediately calmed down.

Two unaltered male puppies together = chaos. Separated they are much more trainable.

Now we are able to work on manners. George is leaning to be completely calm before he gets fed and petted. Both dogs are learning to sit back from the gate when we are opening it. Orzo is learning not to jump all over us.

We are still having some hiccups – George still loses all focus when I allow him in with the other animals – on a lead – and refuses to hear my commands. But, little by little this is improving.

Orzo has been taught by both Milkshakes and Jerry that he is not in charge. He no longer tries to eat out of the trough when I bring grain out to the sheep and goats – thanks to being butted a few times by bratty Jerry – and Milkshakes knocked him down a time or two when he got too energetic for everyone.

There is no doubt in my mind they are worth every bit of effort, however. I awoke very late a few nights ago to the sound of both dogs barking furiously, and while my first instinct was to be annoyed, I heard something out there answering them back with a high pitched growling / yelping noise. I couldn’t see whatever it was, but I could hear it retreating.

Those dogs earn their keep.

Besides, Milkshakes seems to have taken a liking to Orzo.