May 13, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 1 Comment
After yesterday’s sun and beautiful weather, today is cloudy and there’s thunder in the distance. I don’t mind. It changes the way the light reflects on everything. There are less shadows and more contrast.
On my way home the other day, I noticed a dark lump in the road as I approached my house. A little black and brown hen had been hit in the road. They like to cross on the back side of a little hill, hidden to the fast drivers that fly down the road. She was buried in my vegetable garden where she will feed my plants and the worms that like to hang out there. If you’d like to learn more about worms, go here. (Worms are so very interesting. I found out that Nightcrawlers can live from four to 20 years. Isn’t that amazing?)
Joel and I finally got the concrete mixer going and installed the new umbrella style clothesline that I ordered through Amazon.
The installation directions are floating around somewhere in the house and for the life of me, I don’t know where I put them. I finally found a website that showed how deep the hole had to be dug and how much concrete had to be poured into said hole. But there she is at last! A nice round hole, 20 inches deep with stone in the bottom and a plastic tube in the middle for drainage. The taller piece of pipe got pulled out so that there’s a hole all the way to the stone in the bottom. There’s laundry hanging outside right now!
There was a small amount of concrete left over, so we went ahead and patched a crack in the concrete on the back of the house. It was at least two inches wide and four or five inches deep and was one of the sources of water leaking into the basement. I dug all the leaf mold and worms out of the crack and then sprinkled water on the existing concrete and foundation blocks before filling the crack with wet concrete. Cross that one off the list of things to do! Yay for the cement mixer!
Joel and I worked so well together on that little project, we decided to start another larger one that we’ve been putting off. And I start telling you about this by asking a question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. We’ve been putting off the pasture fence for too long. The fence posts were purchased. We have one roll of stretched fence to start with. And the ground was dry enough to drive the tractor out to the far side of the field. What better time to take a bite? We got two fence posts augered and set without so much as a hitch. Only one tree root held us up, but not for long. It is a start. So, maybe, when you can’t even take a full bite, you take just half a bite. That’s how I need to look at things nowdays.
Sadly, now that we’ve started doing the fence posts, I want to keep going. But then it rained and it is too wet to dig in the clay rich soil without making a gigantic mess. I’d say by the middle of this week we’ll be ready to go at it again.
My hops vines are growing! They need to be planted, but where? Still thinking on that one.
I did get asparagus in the ground. Potatoes, tomatoes and onions are next. One bite at a time, one bite at a time, one bite at a time…..
May 7, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 1 Comment
It has been rainy, hazy and overcast the last week with more in the future. I rather like days like this. Don’t get me wrong, I love sunny days usually, but overcast days are almost relaxing. The world seems smaller and cozy. It has brought to mind the children’s book Under the Saskatoon Tree by Solveig Paulson Russell that my mother used to read to me.
We’ve had so much rain in the last few days that there are flood warnings. The little creeks and rivers are high and the lakes are overflowing. So, of course, that’s when Joel and I decide to go fishing.
The river we threw our lines into first was so swiftly flowing that my little panfish spinner just skipped along the top of the water. We both agreed that the river was flowing way to fast to try and fish in it.
Our next stop was at Thornapple Lake. There was a nice little spot near the boat launch. And while Joel tried a new yellow spinner I bought for him, I dug around for a few worms to put on my hook. There was a nice blanket of fallen leaves around the edges of the parking area, so I pulled them aside and picked several nice worms laying on the surface of the ground. I threaded the worm on the hook, attached a fluorescent bobber and tossed my line into the choppy water.
Within minutes I felt a nibble and pulled out this cute little fellow:
I let him go, of course. And then caught two more, smaller than the first. They both went back into the drink, too. When Joel accidentally caught his new yellow spinner in a tall tree then had to cut the line and let it go, I talked him into putting a #6 hook and bobber on his line, too. Unfortunately, Joel didn’t catch anything this time. But after I caught those three little fishies, he became a believer in putting a real worm on his hook. We left the lake when the wind picked up and the sky darkened.
We made our way back home with a shop table I traded for some sewing, a dozen dark purple lilac starts, and a couple of hydrangea plants. The lilacs are being planted along the road with the goal of blocking the view to our back yard. It’ll take a few years, but they’ll fill out nicely, I think. I’ll also be planting some forsythia bushes and burning bushes out there for some Spring and Fall color.
It rained last night and today was gray and overcast again. Most of the plants that I have put in the ground are getting a nice start to their new home. … If the chickens can leave them in the ground….. I planted 36 Impatiens and at least half of them have been dug up and pecked to death. The Euonymus bush starts and hosta plants are fighting for a chance where the chickens haven’t noticed them. Did I tell you that there are dust bath bowls around the foundation of the house? I’m thinking of putting a fence up just to give the plants a chance to grow.
So, here I was tonight, just finishing up my animal chores and I notice Joel digging through the dirt in my vegetable garden (I haven’t planted it yet) looking for fishing worms. So for a good half hour, we ran from place to place around the house and yard picking up everything that sits on the ground looking for night crawlers. They are so very fast, we didn’t get hardly any. But we did get a gob of red wigglers that will serve the purpose just as well. We’re going to feed the fish again! Wahoo! It reminds me of searching for night crawlers with my dad when I was young. We would go to the golf course and try–as much as kids can try–to not talk and to walk so very quietly that the worms would stay on the surface of the ground. If we weren’t careful, the worms would disappear almost instantly. Those suckers move fast, unlike me at the end of the day.
May 1, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 2 Comments
I am building on last year’s test garden plot by one third. (For last year’s blog post, go here). The compost was spread last Spring and allowed to “vegetate”– grass and weeds grew well in the composted soil, aerating the clay borne soil beneath. So this year, the area was mowed to knock the vegetation down, then brown cardboard layed out one layer thick.
Damp straw was layered over the cardboard.
It’s nice to do this just prior to rain, as it will make the straw heavy with moisture and stay put. …. Unless your chickens discover your garden plot and then “help” you by scratching the straw around.
Here are my tomato seedlings, ready to go into the ground:
There are Yellow Pear Tomatoes and Heinze. I also have Jalapeno peppers, Poblano peppers, and Bell Peppers reaching for the sky as well as my experiment with True Potato Seed. These are my little bitty potato plants:
I’ve saved seed potato from last year’s yield, ready to go into the ground, along with purchased Yukon Gold and Irish Cobbler. These should be planted any time now.
I must go through my stash of seeds and choose what else is to be planted. I know Hubbard squash and Buttercup squash for sure. And how about some cantaloupe, watermelon, and then there are the greens: lettuce, arugula, spinach, and lots of kale. I love kale.
The next purchase is a yard rake… there are many, many walnuts to rake up yet. Walking through this part of the yard is like walking on marbles.
So, my overcast day ended with a looking for Mama Turkey who is searching for a new nesting spot. Her chosen spot, in the crate in the shed where she hatched last year, was raided and her unfertilized eggs broken last night. I’ve placed some fertilized chicken eggs in there for her, but I’m not sure she’ll return to the spot or not.
Mama Turkey was located finally and Peahen observed her return to the coop. I thought Plastic Owl looked a little taller tonight. Plastic Owl has some pretty strong shoulders, don’t you think?
April 30, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
Ssshhh….
Dad and I entered the Sacred Wood to search for the elusive Morel. They were there, laying in wait, silent and still. Each of us carried a paper bag in case we found any. And we did find a few.
The tally: me, eight. Dad, zero.
Morel hunting is big business this time of year. Scads of ‘shroom hunters comb the woods to collect the highly prized fungi.
Morels are more likely to be found near a dead elm tree, close to the ground and can vary in size, color, and shape. You must be careful to distinguish the true Morel from a False Morel, which are poisonous.
I had a great time. My main focus was find Morels, but I found a few other things along the way. I identified quite a few plants, trees, and found clues of the wildlife in the area.
Evidence of wildlife, some dead, some alive:
There were at least five burrows, three of which were freshly dug. Groundhogs appear to be the occupants.
I found Jack-In-The Pulpit:
And Cleavers:
And Dogwood:
Blue violets (there were all different colors out there):
But in the end, I had a great time with my Dad. That’s all that really matters, isn’t it? Thanks, Dad. I’ll remember this always.
April 23, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
There’s a little black hen that insists on going into the hay shack at night, not into the chicken coop with the rest of the ladies and gents. And when this morning I checked and she was still sitting on her “nest”, I ousted her and picked up 18 eggs that she had started to “hatch”. She was quite upset with me, as you can understand. But, while up on the stack of hay, I looked down and a large “crack” between the stacked bales revealed where other hens had been laying eggs for quite a while. By the time I was done digging them out, there were at least 60 eggs. Most of them were old and bad. I threw most of them into the compost and brought the rest in to be candled and floated. Just goes to show how much you can’t “see” most of the time.
And I didn’t see this stash of eggs either:
Found these in the currently defunct meat chicken hut. The door has been closed to keep everyone from trying to roost in there, so somehow they figured out how to scoot under the wall. Sneaky little stinkers.
Well, I have succumbed to the current bronchial infection that has been laying so many people low of late. It’s a kicker of an infection, too. I took off Tuesday through Friday and am fortunate that this coming week is Spring Break for schools, so I get the time off, too. I hope to feel better, soon. Please, let me feel better soon.
Spot, the pig, has also succumbed to some inner disaster, too. Some type of infection, she is wasting away. Sometimes you can see something every day, but not really notice a change until all of a sudden it’s there, right in front of you. So, Spot has received a commercial wormer (where previously she’s only ever received diatomaceous earth to combat intestinal parasites, but hasn’t gotten any in a long time). She’s also receiving daily penicillin injections of which she is not happy about at all. So far it has only been a few days, so I am hoping to see an improvement soon. Not a happy pig at all–you can see it in her eyes.
Early in the morning, when the little black hen leaves her super secret hiding place in the hay shack and makes her way into the pig pen, she keeps Spot and Lola company until the other chickens have been freed from the safety of the chicken coop. I don’t think Spot and Lola mind at all.
April 22, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
Today we went on a little drive to pick up a pony for my niece. She has wished for a horse all her life and her parents finally consented. The trip was not without peril. There was a flat tire on the trailer prior to picking it up and a very windy trip home. But all arrived safely.
The pony is a cute little thing, broken to ride and started on a cart. She’s little, but just the right size to get used to having a large animal. Already pampered… see the purple halter? It is a new beginning, a new chapter, a new endeavor, a new responsibility, and a new life. I wish for her all the best that an equine friend can bring.
Way to go, girl!
March 24, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
No one seems to know where this painting actually originated. It depicts five women in a kitchen working together baking pies. A child sits on the floor in the middle, enjoying their efforts. The painting measures nine feet long by four and a half feet tall with colors bright and bold and large as life. There is no artist signature, I haven’t a clue who put the paint on the fiber board. I did hear, though, from the previous owner that this was an one in a series of advertisement paintings. I would love to know something about it.
I found it in a doctor’s office in Royal Oak, Michigan. When she sold her practice, the buyer took the painting off the wall and stored it in her garage. When I asked where the painting had gone, she asked if I wanted it. Huh? What would you have said? I responded with a resounding, “Yes, I would love to have it!” The painting now resides on my living room wall in my 1893 farm house, and reminds me of all the women who’ve lived here and participated in domestic tasks, such as these.
The donkeys have been begging to get out of their small lot to get to the green grass that has sprung up over the last week. They’ve been standing at the gate staring north, waiting for someone to come and release them from their prison. So I put up the electrified poultry netting and let the donkeys out under the apple trees to nibble on the grass and clover. Latte got a wild hair and kicked up her heels and ran in circles, divoting the lawn and making a general mess of it, with Creme joining in the antics. To make sure that they didn’t try to jump the fence, I put their halters and leads on both of the girls and then they settled down to their dinner.
They wanted out again the next night, but were only out for a short time as a storm blew in, bringing rain with it.
Joel has developed an interest in fishing of late. We attended a
free class at the local outdoor sports store and then came home and dug my old fishing poles out of the garage. They’re nothing special, old really. But they do the trick of giving him an opportunity to cast a sinker and bobber out into the grass to see how far it flies. We’ll be buying fishing licenses and dipping our hooks into the nearest lake to help subsidize the grocery bill.
By the way, we need to cut the grass already. Can you believe it? The last week of March and the grass needs to be cut. Other things have “grown”, too. My magnolia tree has bloomed and is already losing its’ blooms due to the rain. What a shame. It’s beautiful. Bob’s Magnolia Stellata is beautiful, too. And a most heavenly smell. I will need to plant one of those here.
March 14, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
Meet my new farm assistant:
His name is Plastic Owl. He lives on top of a fence post between the chicken coops, for now. But before the hawks get used to seeing him in the same spot all the time, he’ll move to a different fence post nearby. What with the warm temps during the day lately, the chickens have been getting out of the coops and spending most of the day outside. And so far, there haven’t been any chicken dinners served up. Buck is appreciative of the help in keeping his “girls” safe.
The hens have been busy, too. They’ve been combing their respective territories for tasty morsels and have been going to bed every night with crops so full they could burst. And you can alway tell where they’ve been when you see “chicken circles”. Little bare patches of earth that have been cleared in circles approximately the circumference of a chicken. This particular location is right in front of the donkey’s hay shack. Almost as good as writing “the chickens were here”.
It was so nice out today I opened the windows upstairs and let the breeze blow in. Our house is old and the upstairs windows are just a mere six inches from the floor. That means that when you open a window, it’s a great place for a kitty to perch and observe the birdies in the leafless trees just outside said windows. Vixen likes the windows.
Historically, March is not usually the time of year for 70 degree weather in Michigan. But that isn’t stopping things from sprouting out, thinking that it’s really, truly Spring. I have a feeling we may still have some freezing weather or even a snow storm, it’s happened before (a few years ago saw 10 inches of snow in April).
These are white lilacs. Not a very good photo, but you get the idea. So much of the landscape is gray and brown, that when you see a little bit of fresh green, you notice it.
And as gray and brown as it is outside, here’s the perfect spot of color.
March 7, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
My friend Linda G. is one of those people you just have to admire. She retired this last summer, having owned a yarn shop for quite a few years, and was so worried prior to retiring that she would be bored. That is so not the case. In fact, now, it’s really hard to find her at home. She volunteers for all sorts of things and gives of herself to the point of going without. I admire that, too.
Linda has a few hobbies. She weaves, sews, knits, and crochets. I am sure there are a few things that I didn’t list. Look at this adorable quilt she just finished for one of her grand children:
It is patterned after an antique quilt that she keeps on her bed, stitched by her husband’s grandmother. All hand quilted and meticulously stitched. What a treasure!
Linda also prides herself on keeping a Victorian home that is immaculately kept. Her husband is constantly repairing, building, and upgrading the house they’ve owned for so many years. Check out the beautiful color they painted it this last summer/fall:
This is not the front of the home, but the side. And the colors she chose to complement this beautiful light purple are turqoise, yellow, and white.
Makes me want to paint my house.
Bye, Linda! Thanks for the visit!
March 5, 2012 - Posted by Misty - 0 Comments
I bottled the Sweet Brown Ale a few weeks ago. The bottles and caps were sanitized and bottling went well. But, somewhere in the fermenting process, the wort had picked up a wild yeast and now has developed a “plastic” smell and taste. (Could have been airborne, could have been on or in the primary or secondary.) How disappointing. Don’t get me wrong…the alcohol content is right up there and you “feel” it as soon as you start drinking it. But it’s hard to get past the plastic smell. So, out with the old and in with the new, since the new batch of Peat Smoked Stout is ready to be bottled. I will dump the bottles out and re-sanitize them. I am being extra cautious with the secondary with this new batch, protecting it from the light (which can produce a whole new slew of bad tastes and smells). But it needs to be bottled toot sweet and I am under a ten pound lifting restriction… I’ll need help from the husband this time.
I am recovering from a hysterectomy. Glad that it’s done, but my shoulder took a beating during surgery. It popped out of joint and it’s all I could do to maintain my sanity as I was waking up from the anesthesia. It’s a pain like no other and I felt claustrophobic. I couldn’t get away from the dislocated shoulder, no position alleviated the agony. I couldn’t get out of bed because of the anesthesia. I was rendered immobile and it was not a good night. Fortunately, my knight in shining armor, my husband, spent the night with me in the hospital and made sure that I was taken care of. I had a good nurse during the night, at least, too. She was the only person in the hospital (besides Joel) who believed I had legitimate shoulder pain and insisted that two disbelieving female resident doctors come and “inspect” me three times before they would order up x-rays. By the time the x-ray tech came, the shoulder had popped back into the socket, yet the muscle pain remained. It took 48 hours before I could fully feel my right hand from the fingertips to the elbow. And still another 72 hours before I could sleep through the night without the pain waking me up numerous times. Thank goodness for pain relieving drugs.
Joel returned to work on Friday and then had to leave early to drive me to the chiropractor who relocated the scapula to its’ proper position. She explained that in the dislocation process, the bones had rolled over a nerve bundle that runs through the shoulder and that’s why the numbness and tingling had lasted so long. It also explained why it felt like someone had sucker punched me in the deltoid muscle at least a thousand times. My neck is still swelled and I’m having problems dressing myself, but it seems to be getting better a little bit every day.
In the meantime, my lovely husband has been doing my farm chores. The pigs and donkeys aren’t time consuming. But the chickens, or I should say the chicken coop, is what he doesn’t like doing. It was designed and built for my stature, not his, and is a little small for his taste in there. Plus, all the pen doors are propped open inside the coop, so it takes longer to navigate the hallway with the buckets of water and food. Hopefully all of this will be repaired this coming summer, along with a new hawk-free pen with a netted top. (I have the net… it came from Cutler Supply.) The chickens don’t have as many problems with hawks in the summer, since they seem to melt into the underbrush at any sign of danger.
Onto sad news, my father’s older sister has died from complications with cancer surgery. The memorial service is coming up and family are crossing State lines and congregating as we speak.
Our two cats have been taking turns not feeling well. Vixen had another bout with a urinary tract infection and is now feeling better from the antibiotics. Tigger hasn’t been feeling well, either. So Joel took him to the vet tonight and the big cat has some congestion in his lungs (the vet said it sounded like he had emphysema in one side). Now he’s on antibiotics, too. Hopefully he’ll be back to his old self soon.
Creme and Latte have been confined to their shelter of late since their “dry lot” isn’t dry at all, but more like a mud pit for four wheel drives. Blech. Tonight is the first night I’ve been able to go into their pen to deliver their hay in nine days and I was greeted by both of the girls, but Latte insisted on getting a good butt scratch as it is her favorite. Creme seemed more interested in the hay than me, but I know she was glad to get some attention, too, since she grabbed not so much as a mouth full of hay, but a mouth full of glove and held on tight. Their pasture pen will be installed in the Spring, or sometime when we can get the tractor through the field without sinking out of sight in the clay borne soil. The tractor has a nice three point post hole auger that is most handy and much faster than post hole diggers. I’m sure we’ll have to buy at least one more roll of field fence (330 feet long). Sam brought one brand new roll down and gave it to us and is much appreciated, even though a tree had fallen on the top of the roll and bent it out of shape. During the stretching process it will straighten out and be just fine. In exchange for the fence, I am to deliver soap. Maybe I can get some done this coming week. (The anesthesia is still causing me to be extremely tired.)
