Frost + Sweat = a Perfect Day

Around the farm the change of the seasons means a change in the work load. Just before our first frost I finally received my hay order. A Good News, Bad News situation.. I am thrilled it is here but it means putting it in the barn and out of the weather that is coming.. That is two ton of heavy bales to place one by one on my little pull trolley, pull it to the largest barn and then start stacking them so they are ready for winter feeding. All of this is done by me, one bale at a time and without the use of a tractor. While most would think this is a horrible way to spend my Sunday - I find the work rewarding. With each bale I give thanks that I have the health, strength and time to give to this work. I give thanks that I will have feed for my wonderful four legged furry family members when the wind is blowing it's subzero temps and they are growing the next generation of babies soon to arrive in the dead of winters night. This is the work that reminds me that I am alive, well and living unlike most folks - besides who needs to go to a gym when you move two ton of hay in a day?? This means a hearty dinner, hot bath and a warm heating pad in bed for this farm gal... Hope your day was as great as mine!

There's a FOG BANK out there!!!

Quick - do you know what movie that line is from???? Yes, I had to pull it out and start watching it while answering emails and pulling orders - one of my fav's.

With a little bit of snow showing on Pikes Peak this morning and an erry fog coming thru the pasture it was a PERFECT morning for me. Yes, I had to have a hat on to do the morning chores and my Icelandic Sweater to ward off the chill in the air - just my kind of morning. Even the animals where thrilled with the change in the weather, that is except for my sweet little hens. They are not sure what to make of this thin layer of ice on their water container but soon it melts off and all is back to normal. Fall is here at the farm and life is FANTASTIC!

Magical Mushrooms

Did you think I got lost again?? I have been one busy gal here just trying to get caught up. While the weather has been so dry here at the farm I was so amazed to find this clump of mushrooms under one of the big pine trees in the yard. They measured 8 " tall and the group was also over 8 " wide. Since I am highly allergic to mushrooms I hate to say they went into the compost bin but I must say what an incredible find. You just never know what the Funny Farm will come up with - maybe a unicorn next!

Chick Alert!!!

Can you believe how big my girls are getting?? They are now 38 olds old and doing fantastic!! I have everyone that arrived here and I must say I am thrilled. There is one that has no tail feathers to speak of - little tiny ones but the others all have full long tail feathers. I have added a hugh waterer in their section of the coop because I was having to fill their baby one every hour. It took them a day before they would use it but now they enjoy having five gallons available at all times and so do I, for as much as I love them to pieces I really needed to get things done and get a few hours of sleep would be nice.

The lone black older hen goes over the gate to eat their food and at first they were really scared of her. She did nothing to them but bully them at their feed dishes. I warned her that soon they would realize there was more of them then her and work together to force her out... Well, today was that day. As I filled up their dishes and Black Hen hopped over and started eating a few of the bigger ones came up behind her and pecked her on the butt. She jumped, letting out a startled sound and jumped over the gate to her side. She gave me a look as if to say "Mom, did you see what they did to me"? I gave her fresh food on her side and again tried to explain that bullies get bullied.... I am not sure she was listening - fresh food and popcorn clouds the mind of this sweet gal.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and I promise to keep you up on all the coop goings on.

There is the little Mink - what a cute one..

I hope you can make out my sweet little carmel colored mink...
He is right behind the piece of wood - his little head is peaking out of the top left edge. It is ever so cute and he just moves so fast that it is hard to get a picture of him. I call him a HIM because that is what I seem to have the most of at the farm and after raising two sons I think in those terms...

He has been watching me while I paint and twice has gotten into the house while I had doors open as the paint was drying. This day he desided that Sophia was getting to close to getting him so he was especially fast. I am keep a close watch out that he does not get any designs on the new little hens but for now he is more scared of them then anything. The Black Hen even chased him two days ago because she caught him too close to the screen door of the coop. I hope he behaves himself or it will be a nice furry cuff for me....

BEWARE of Big White Dog with the Big White Teeth!!

For those who have not met my Sophia she is one of my three Great Pyrenees who work this farm and live close in my heart. Since my power house Kasha is getting up there in age and I worry about her health so I have forced Sophia to step up her game around the farm to relieve the pressure off of Kasha. Sophia is now guarding close to the house and has taken over the duties of not only watching over the animals but she will be guarding the shop during business hours... She has really come into her own with these new responsibilities and I was so proud of her the other day as she kept at bay a stranger who wondered onto the farm without notice. This man had no intentions of shopping for fiber goods, nor did he have an appointment to view animals for purchase - not sure what he was up to but Sophia took care of him and sent him running... A special scrambled egg dinner with sausage was Sophia's reward for a job well done.

What a pretty girl and look at those big white teeth!!! The better to eat you with my dear..

It's that time again - PAINTING!

Over the years I have had many homes and have painted countless rooms, windows, doors, barns and rabbit hutches but this year I find myself very tired of the whole process. However, I admit it, once I am done I stand back and love the finished work. Now there is just one problem - I am scared to death to be on a ladder so this makes finishing this home a bit tricky. I have four levels to this log home so NOW WHAT?
These are the doors to my shop which is on the ground level. This was half way thru but I finished them late last night by head lamp - Yep, I have been known to do such things - I ran outside between commercial breaks so I could watch Bones and Fringe - Again, Yep I do strange things but it works for me...

Once I finish cleaning the glass and getting the front all spruced up I will share a picture of that too but for today I will be finishing up this and then moving on to the chicken coop. OH HAPPY DAYS - MORE PAINTING!!! Really my next place will be a Yurt where NO PAINTING is required!!!!