I need your help!
It's cool and dreary outside, the kids are away, and no one "needs" me right now, so I've been experimenting with the look of my blog.
I've always liked this Barn Board Background (say that fast 7 times in a row!), and have been trying to figure out how to make it fit with my blog, and still have it look simple and easy to read...
For those of you who are just reading this now, I had some white text, which was kind of hard for some eyes to read (including mine). I made some changes, and like this much better!
I'd be interested to hear what your opinions are!
Thanks...and enjoy your weekend!
Alica
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
We've Got Goats...
They're here...and very dear...
Isn't that the way the saying goes?
Somehow it didn't quite feel like that this afternoon when we brought Jenna's 4-H goats home...
All was going smoothly...and that's when we should have been ready for trouble! We had goat #1 unloaded and safely inside the pen. However...we forgot to fasten the gate securely while we retrieved goat #2 from the truck. Big mistake!
Goat #1, from hence forth referred to as "Speckled Ears", escaped from the pen, just because he could, and took off running across the yard, with the dog in close pursuit. Before we knew it, he had crossed the road, run across the neighbor's yard, wiggled through the fence, and took off across the open fields. Once he tasted freedom, he couldn't get enough. On and on he ran, for about a half mile, across two farms and into the third before he finally slowed down. (Sorry Reuben...I didn't want to run across your newly seeded alfalfa, but I had no choice!) A friend and I chased on foot, and my Dad hopped in the truck and met up with us down the road a piece.
Once "Speckled Ears" tired...I was huffing and puffing too...my Dad and I finally were able to grab hold of him and carry him to the truck, and back to his pen where goat #2 waspatiently waiting bleating his little heart out, wondering where his friend had taken off to.
Goat #1 on the left...aka "Speckled Ears", and Goat #2 on the right...
The rest of their day went much better, at least from our perspective. They hid behind the big tree for a while, and then ventured out to explore their pen. Most importantly, they found their hutch, their feed and their water.
These guys aren't quite as tame as the does Jenna had last year, so there's a lot of work to do, taming them and handling them. I would imagine that she will have to spend a lot of time in their pen, just letting them get used to her.
In the next few days Jenna will also come up with some real names for them...I'm interested to see if she sticks with the original names she thought she would use..
They're here, and they really are very dear! And they ought to sleep good tonight, after that adventure!
Linking up today to Farm Girl Friday !
Isn't that the way the saying goes?
Somehow it didn't quite feel like that this afternoon when we brought Jenna's 4-H goats home...
All was going smoothly...and that's when we should have been ready for trouble! We had goat #1 unloaded and safely inside the pen. However...we forgot to fasten the gate securely while we retrieved goat #2 from the truck. Big mistake!
Goat #1, from hence forth referred to as "Speckled Ears", escaped from the pen, just because he could, and took off running across the yard, with the dog in close pursuit. Before we knew it, he had crossed the road, run across the neighbor's yard, wiggled through the fence, and took off across the open fields. Once he tasted freedom, he couldn't get enough. On and on he ran, for about a half mile, across two farms and into the third before he finally slowed down. (Sorry Reuben...I didn't want to run across your newly seeded alfalfa, but I had no choice!) A friend and I chased on foot, and my Dad hopped in the truck and met up with us down the road a piece.
Once "Speckled Ears" tired...I was huffing and puffing too...my Dad and I finally were able to grab hold of him and carry him to the truck, and back to his pen where goat #2 was
Goat #1 on the left...aka "Speckled Ears", and Goat #2 on the right...
These guys aren't quite as tame as the does Jenna had last year, so there's a lot of work to do, taming them and handling them. I would imagine that she will have to spend a lot of time in their pen, just letting them get used to her.
In the next few days Jenna will also come up with some real names for them...I'm interested to see if she sticks with the original names she thought she would use..
They're here, and they really are very dear! And they ought to sleep good tonight, after that adventure!
Linking up today to Farm Girl Friday !
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Happy Cows...
Yesterday it was the heifers' turn to go out on the meadow at the other farm, and today it was finally time for the cows here at home!
This morning we went around the meadow fence to check for spots that needed repair. Jim decided that we needed to redo the entire section along the road, as the wire was rusty and sagging in spots. It ended up taking longer than expected, so we decided to let the cows out in the meadow while we were finishing up. I went back up to the barn to let the cows out, and tried to capture a video as they headed out to pasture. It's just a short clip because my camera wasn't cooperating with me this morning...
You can see their excitement! These cows that you are watching, are mostly the young, first calf heifers, kicking up their heels. The older cows went out first, a bit more calmly, but once these girls were released, they wasted no time!
Once they were in the meadow, they were relatively calm...they were too busy eating to care about much else. There were a few "fights", where they pushed each other around, head to head, establishing their pecking order, but mostly their heads were down, munching away...
After we brought them back in around 3:00, I was in the barn cleaning up, and the atmosphere was almost an eerie quiet. Typically at that time, they're bawling for their late afternoon snack. Today however, they were contentedly laying down, chewing their cud.
Green grass and a meadow to wander around in...what more could they want!
This morning we went around the meadow fence to check for spots that needed repair. Jim decided that we needed to redo the entire section along the road, as the wire was rusty and sagging in spots. It ended up taking longer than expected, so we decided to let the cows out in the meadow while we were finishing up. I went back up to the barn to let the cows out, and tried to capture a video as they headed out to pasture. It's just a short clip because my camera wasn't cooperating with me this morning...
You can see their excitement! These cows that you are watching, are mostly the young, first calf heifers, kicking up their heels. The older cows went out first, a bit more calmly, but once these girls were released, they wasted no time!
Once they were in the meadow, they were relatively calm...they were too busy eating to care about much else. There were a few "fights", where they pushed each other around, head to head, establishing their pecking order, but mostly their heads were down, munching away...
After we brought them back in around 3:00, I was in the barn cleaning up, and the atmosphere was almost an eerie quiet. Typically at that time, they're bawling for their late afternoon snack. Today however, they were contentedly laying down, chewing their cud.
Green grass and a meadow to wander around in...what more could they want!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Heifers on Pasture...
Today was the day!
This morning Jim finished tarping off the silo while I repaired a small section of fence around the meadow at the other farm. Then it was time to open the wire and let the heifers, dry cows and the new bull into the meadow...
They were happy to be out in the meadow, finally, but not nearly as excited as I thought they would be. Now when it comes to the cows here at home? When we let them out in a day or so, they will literally kick up their heels for joy!
I don't think any of them lifted their heads for very long...
Don't they look happy?!
This morning Jim finished tarping off the silo while I repaired a small section of fence around the meadow at the other farm. Then it was time to open the wire and let the heifers, dry cows and the new bull into the meadow...
They were happy to be out in the meadow, finally, but not nearly as excited as I thought they would be. Now when it comes to the cows here at home? When we let them out in a day or so, they will literally kick up their heels for joy!
I don't think any of them lifted their heads for very long...
Monday, March 26, 2012
It's Almost Time...
...to let the heifers and dry cows out on the meadow at the other farm!
Look at this luscious looking grass...
This morning, Jim walked around the meadow fence at the other farm, checking to see that it is secure and ready to contain twenty to thirty rambunctious animals. He pounded in a few fence posts around the pond and repaired a few other spots...
Did you notice he's back in his coveralls and knit hat? It felt like true March weather out there today! The wind blew hard, and it was cold! We were glad that the warm clothes hadn't made it to the basement yet...the shorts and T-shirts might have to wait until next week!
In the mean time, the ducks enjoyed the solitude...at least until we came around...
Once the animals are left out onto the meadow, they will spend most of their time grazing, and won't be hungry for much else. So this evening Jim tarped off the silo, to preserve the corn silage over there until we're ready to start feeding it again.
They will be so excited! I'm hoping to take my camera over when we let them into the meadow tomorrow...it's that much fun to watch!
Look at this luscious looking grass...
This morning, Jim walked around the meadow fence at the other farm, checking to see that it is secure and ready to contain twenty to thirty rambunctious animals. He pounded in a few fence posts around the pond and repaired a few other spots...
Did you notice he's back in his coveralls and knit hat? It felt like true March weather out there today! The wind blew hard, and it was cold! We were glad that the warm clothes hadn't made it to the basement yet...the shorts and T-shirts might have to wait until next week!
In the mean time, the ducks enjoyed the solitude...at least until we came around...
Once the animals are left out onto the meadow, they will spend most of their time grazing, and won't be hungry for much else. So this evening Jim tarped off the silo, to preserve the corn silage over there until we're ready to start feeding it again.
They will be so excited! I'm hoping to take my camera over when we let them into the meadow tomorrow...it's that much fun to watch!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
4-H Market Goats...
It's that time of year again, to pick out goat kids for 4-H!
Tonight we went to choose Jenna's two market goat projects. There were four human kids who chose from seven goat kids for their projects. They each picked one, and then three of them picked a second one.
Jenna thought that she would end up choosing two does, but decided on two wethers (castrated males) instead. Here is her first choice! I really like his coloring...
Her second kid wouldn't hold still long enough for a picture, so you'll have to wait until next week for pictures! We'll bring them home at the end of the week after we move some calves around and prepare their pen. We think we have it goat-proofed after last years learning experiences!
Let the fun begin!
Tonight we went to choose Jenna's two market goat projects. There were four human kids who chose from seven goat kids for their projects. They each picked one, and then three of them picked a second one.
Jenna thought that she would end up choosing two does, but decided on two wethers (castrated males) instead. Here is her first choice! I really like his coloring...
Let the fun begin!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Happenings...
Sometimes I get writer's block...or blogger's block...or whatever you want to call it. This was one of those weeks! There was a lot happening here on the farm, but nothing that was exciting enough to warrant a post of it's own. Or at least I didn't think so until it was too late!
...Jim took down some winter barriers on the west side of the barn and spread lots of manure...
...I mowed the yard for the first...and second time...and got my first bright red nose of the season...
...I saw the first onion top peeping through the garden soil...
...Half of the chickens were moved to another temporary pen to try to salvage what is left of the grass in their pen! If we get the rain we're supposed to this weekend, I think it might recover...
...We vaccinated a bunch of heifers at the other farm...
...I weeded the iris bed...
...Mom's taxi was running non-stop to and from school for track practice...(I guess that's not really a farm event, but it involved the farm kids!)
In the midst of my blogger's block, Jenna went out and snapped a bunch of photos, and told me that I could post them for you to see. She enjoys taking pictures, and has an eye for unique shots. Enjoy!
A disgruntled hen...
When I moved the chickens, they weren't too happy with me, and didn't lay many eggs for the first two days. Finally today, I got 32 beautiful brown eggs from 32 chickens!
These hyacinth smell so good...
Hydrangea bud...
I love these shots of the Pasque flower...
I hope you enjoyed some of these beautiful spring shots! I'll have to put the photographer to work some more!
Do any of you have ideas/requests for events that you would enjoy reading about/seeing pictures of? I would love to hear your suggestions!
...Jim took down some winter barriers on the west side of the barn and spread lots of manure...
...I mowed the yard for the first...and second time...and got my first bright red nose of the season...
...I saw the first onion top peeping through the garden soil...
...Half of the chickens were moved to another temporary pen to try to salvage what is left of the grass in their pen! If we get the rain we're supposed to this weekend, I think it might recover...
...We vaccinated a bunch of heifers at the other farm...
...I weeded the iris bed...
...Mom's taxi was running non-stop to and from school for track practice...(I guess that's not really a farm event, but it involved the farm kids!)
In the midst of my blogger's block, Jenna went out and snapped a bunch of photos, and told me that I could post them for you to see. She enjoys taking pictures, and has an eye for unique shots. Enjoy!
A disgruntled hen...
When I moved the chickens, they weren't too happy with me, and didn't lay many eggs for the first two days. Finally today, I got 32 beautiful brown eggs from 32 chickens!
These hyacinth smell so good...
Hydrangea bud...
I love these shots of the Pasque flower...
I hope you enjoyed some of these beautiful spring shots! I'll have to put the photographer to work some more!
Do any of you have ideas/requests for events that you would enjoy reading about/seeing pictures of? I would love to hear your suggestions!
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