Has been an interesting few weeks to say the least. Blind Hog and Acorn have been doing all the things, and with Acorn seemingly taking off (literally) every 5 -7 days, no wonder the garden is behind!
Good news is that the tomatoes and eggplants are out, cabbage, onions, broccoli etc all doing well. Even saw some green strawberries!
The dawn redwood has transplanted just fine, and even the two ginkgo trees have leafed a bit.
Was storming up a treat during recording, hard to complain when May rain brings on great summer pastures…
And most important dear listeners, please get a fire extinguisher to keep in your car- you could save a life!
The ONE yellow duckling just cracked me up…Nice place to visit, but the farm is HOME!
Acorn has made four trips to Florida since February, and with only two nights at home between trips #3 and 4, she is more than a bit unsure of the calendar. But alas, farm life is definitely a routine that provides muscle memory, and back into the usual tasks she went.
Apple trees are loaded with blossoms, Asian pear also looked really good. Garden and yard were both mowed. Time to plant some veggies in the dirt- Asparagus is Rising! Hallelujah!
Pi’s bull calf is doing well.the other three cows will begin calving in another week and a half. Blind Hog set out the humming bird feeders and plopped some grape jelly in the special dish for the orioles. He even hoisted Acorn up in the sky to hang the martin gourds and the purple martins are most appreciative.
Acorn needs to bake up some things for Blind Hog- a Bundt cake, brownies, cookie dough and a loaf of bread before she leaves again, like in 5 days. Sam would prefer she stay a bit longer…
Sorry folks! Acorn had to fly away again for a few days and just returned home. Going to skip the pod today, fingers crossed your favorite farmers will be back by the microphones next weekend.
Good news! Blind Hog “woke up” the old Cub Cadet from winter slumber and is mowing the yard for the first time this year. 2-3″ of rain possible in the next 48 hrs so now is the tine to get this done.
A new calf was born just before Acorn caught her flight, little guy is doing well.
Yes, Acorn was called away again due to family needs and Blind Hog held the conn with Sam.
Meanwhile the livestock scale worked, then didn’t, then got fixed. Plans made for geese, cows, garden, goats.
A delicious loaf of Icelandic rye bread, baked for 12 hrs is sampled. Perfect during the crazy weather when Mother Nature can’t decide between low 20’s with flurries and 70’s and sun… Here is the brown bread recipe.
Goat Guardian CatDairy barn catching the sunOvernight rye bread
While Acorn was able to replace the tie rod ends, little did she and Blind Hog realize the ball joints all needed to be replaced as well. That little issue was discovered at the shop when the front end alignment was started. It is what it is… Have a farm? You must have a working truck.
Goats are being milked and then there is yogurt for the freezer. Load feet installed on the goat tilt table and the weigh unit calibrated! Working goat scale! No more picking up kids!
Fields are greening up, calves will be born in about another 7-8 weeks. The future of cattle here on the farm is discussed.
Hooray for the last of the barn cats to be neutered! Boots and Ink went in together. Of the 5 remaining barn cats we got from Judy, these two are right tame!
A productive week on the farm~ Blind Hog and Acorn repaired the F350’s tie rod ends. Was the picture perfect set up of a 20 yr old truck up on jack stands in the front yard. Once the pair of farmers got started, it was “just that easy.”
Road Commissioner has promised to send a road grader, but the county is so big and the tax base so small, they are not expecting much.
Blind Hog got the three paddocks of the west field clipped, broom sedge is now mowed and the field all leveled out. Grass is already much greener where the livestock are not grazing so yes- the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!
Goat kids are bouncing around, 43 “tighty whities” running here and there. Still have a few more goats to kid. Now for the cows- this may be Lulu and Calpurnia’s last calving. At 16, their arthritis is really slowing them both down.
Ethel is is in “egg mode,” laying an egg every other day. 4 in the nest. Acorn will wait for a few more more eggs and then will steal four for the incubator. Will see if the pair can raise any goslings. Last year none of her eggs hatched and the attrition from black snakes eating her eggs was high.
Gas line parts have been acquired, the camp stove used for sap reduction is now a “fixture” under the carport, next to the grill. A flanged “tee” in the line allows for a separate line to the camp stove- now both units are hooked up to the main propane tank. Of course, there is a cut off valve just before the tee. Cannot trust the valves on the grill or camp stove to be super tight and “off” totally. Sweet!
34 commercial kids born Monday through Friday. Sired by the same buck, they are all white- quick eartagging and notes help tell kids apart when things get confusing in the barn!
Snow storm pretty much missed the farm- just had some flurries yesterday but not “inches of accumulation.” Works for Acorn.
The tie rod on the F350 broke- the connector sleeve wallowed out the threads and so the rods pulled apart. New tie rods are already delivered, will be installed next week. Acorn texted the road commissioner to voice her angst over the condition of the road. Barking out the door and no one to hear…
Blind Hog and Acorn 