Gardening...

From this: To this (and they got even bigger than that!): To this: Lightly steamed with a little salt and pepper...
Our cabbages grew enormous!

I'm afraid we won't be doing much gardening this year....I may put a few plants out, but I have to rig up a good little fence up around it if I want anything to survive. The goats will eat it all or the dogs will dig it up!

This was some produce from our winter garden a year ago. Little Man and I loved the broccoli we grew...who knew it actually tasted like it did; sweet and not bitter at all. We all loved the cabbage.

I would like to put some bell peppers in, some cukes for relish, and we also grow some seriously yummy huge canteloupe. I plan to go to a local farm and pick tomatoes to can and blueberries since we can get them for a $1 a pound! I made so much jam last year, but it's almost all gone!

I will plant the big garden again, but that area has housed the pigs and now calf. We need that meat for the freezer and we're very glad that we're doing that since the prices of meat has really gone up.

Any suggestions on generators? We're purchasing that next. I will not raise all this meat and then lose it all during an outage!

The Pigs are gone...

Amazingly enough I'm not at all bothered that they are gone! I was sooooo ready for them to take the their one way trip to Freezer Camp. My wonderful hunter neighbors did the deed for me and we hauled them off to the butchers this morning. The kids weren't bothered much either. They had some questions, but to them it was a big slab of meat I guess...

They were not witness to any of the killing or cleaning, but they went to the shop with us and they can't wait to taste some yummy ham, pork chop, bacon and sausage! Mr. Charlie says that I did a good job feeding them out. That they are going to be quite tender and they were sure nice. He also says that the men did a great job cleaning them up before we brought them in! Thanks fellas...tomorrow I'm taking them homemade bread, a jar of jam and some cookies. They all love that.

I didn't get pics of the hogs hanging-kinda gross really. But the butcher said that together they weighed in at 300 lbs. That did not included the heads or feet. Not bad at all! Next time I do it, I'm going to halve the space, rotate spaces, and use electric wire around the fence...part of the reason I'm glad their gone is that this afternoon I had to fill in a number of holes along the fence line, repair a bunch of the wire and now I need to get someone in here to till the area up and level it out a bit. It's a mess!

We should be picking up most of the meat tomorrow! Mmmmm I can't wait! Fresh pork chops!

I really need to be in bed!

Remind me not to go and drink soda so late at night and then eat a super rich turtle brownie! I absolutely can not get to sleep! I finally got up and I got on the computer to fool around a little thinking that I'd start getting sleepy. Well...it's not working!

I'm usually so good about keeping this site updated though so I might as well use my insomnia to my advantage. Let's just say it's been a busy couple of weeks though and not a whole lot exciting going on...

Our little soccer team had an away game last weekend and did super! I was so proud of them and their teamwork. They actually ran circles around the other team and we're able to keep the play mainly at our goal end. We had many attempts at goals and got two! The kids were quite proud of that! We ended up tying with the other team: 2-2, but it was definitely our game. The other coach even said, "You've got a great little team; they sure can run!" LOL...

After the game, a few of the kids from J and B's team came back to the farm and played for a while. They all had a blast and I even saddled up Pedro to ride. He is such a great horse! No matter what the kids did, he only walked when and where I did.

The kids have been busy getting school work done, playing with their friends, messing with the farm animals as usual and learning as we go along in our days.

On Monday we got 40 bales of beautiful hay. I am so glad to have found this hay supplier! He was supper nice and has awesome hay. The best I've had since living here. He is even storing the other 40 for us in his barn until I can get it! We got it stacked in the run-in shed right now and yesterday I got the tarp hung up in the front to keep it from getting wet. I had good timing too since today it poured and most of it came in sideways!

I took the kids today to see our friends and their kids who recently moved to town. We just love and miss them! The kids always beg to go visit.

B's birthday is coming up next month. She wants to go see the movie 'Enchanted' (seems really cute), get her nails done and have lunch. She is inviting a few girls to come along and she's so excited about it! Jacob wants to come see the movie, but he's says no way is he getting his nails done! LOL!

I had a Pampered Chef get together to attend tonight with some friends of mine...I love their stuff, just can't always afford to buy...I'm hosting a party next month though so maybe I can earn a few things! Much to Steve's chagrin, LOL.

When I got home though, I found Steve outside with our neighbors son (the neighbors whose dogs killed all my chicks and was in my pig pen last night-I'll get to that in a sec) trying to catch one of our pigs! It shoved it's porker self under the fence probably because it saw a human and they were late being fed! Duke had busted off his rope (I knew it was bound to happen) and was trying to catch it himself...maybe he was helping us to herd it back! Yeah right! I'm sure his only thought was: L-U-N-C-H! Steve had just got home and all was well, then Maggie went crazy outside baying and howling! He went out and didn't see anything, told her to hush and went back in...only to go back out because she was still going at it (I don't think he's quite learned her calls yet!) and saw Duke and a pig run by in the back! Here I am dressed up nice, running to the back and had B bring a lead rope to catch the darn thing with...pigs aren't all that friendly when you catch them! They will back up so fast like someone lit a fire to them. It flew between my legs sending me sideways (F-U-N-N-Y sight I'm sure!). We did eventually get it back in the pen. It just wanted to stay out and eat the acorns under the live oak tree!

As to the neighbors dog being in my pig pen last night...I'm pretty ticked off about it. It was like 9:30pm and Duke was barking about something. I went out to look...didn't see anything off hand and told him to hush. Then he went nuts and wouldn't hush. I walked out and I could hear barking that sounded like it was coming from my pig pen. Ummmm, pigs do not bark! They can make a ton of noises, but I've yet to hear one bark!

I grabbed my pants, flashlight and J's wooden gun (just in case I had to swing at something-too bad I didn't have a real one!) and ran out. There I see my goats huddled together, panting and calling to me, then I see my pigs running around grunting and the flash of a dog go by...I am not a happy camper when I see that it's the red dog of the neighbors. He had shoved himself up under the goat fence, jumped out, then dug a huge hole under the wood fence into the pig pen! Steve carried him to the neighbors behind me where I sharply banged on their door with my flashlight...they weren't too happy to see me and I can say that I knew that they knew I wasn't happy to be there!

Anyone got any ideas for a nice stinging type gun?! I'd actually like to shoot it, but unfortunately I'm a bit soft-hearted and as Steve says, that's not a very good idea for good neighbor relations. Well neither is their dogs constantly coming over and killing or terrorizing our animals. It's too bad that I put the extra dog kennel in the attic last week. He would have gone straight into it and I'd have called the pound in the morning. This is getting to be too danged regular for my tolerance level anymore...I don't want to shoot it, but at this point what do you do?!

Baaaaaaaaaa...

That's the sound I heard at 6:30 this morning complete with hogs squealing, horses nickering, goats bleating, hens clucking, dogs whining, cats mewing and the rooster crowing over and over and over. Good thing the kids weren't up...I'm sure they'd have been whining that they were hungry too! LOL!

I had to get up a little earlier than usual to get the trailer hooked up, catch the sheep and haul them down the road, to my friends house, for a two month vacation with his handsome ram. Let me just say that my sheep are not like my goats. We've had them since they were young, but that doesn't mean they jump all around happy to see us everyday like the goats do. They don't look at us like the goats do: "Hey you human, you personal body scratcher you, come scratch me here, here and here. Oh and please, please, please, put down that bucket of feed or we'll jump all over you and try and stick our goofy little heads in the bucket anyways because can't you see we're starving!"
LOL!

The sheep are like..."We know you don't feed us, though we hollar every morning for it and sometimes you feel pity and throw us a little corn-ha, ha, ha, even though we are as wide as the broad side of a barn. Really it's just the wool...not our rotund bellies, honestly. But now we see you with not corn, but grain! Oooooh, sweet grain, but wait, you have a rope...uuumm...we think we know what's happening, but oooooh the grain smells so good, munch, munch, aaaack rope! Run! Run fast...oooh, but the grain. Dang, she got me, but ooooh, the grain is so good...go where? Um I don't think so! I'll just pull back and fight you on this one. There's grain involved someone might get hurt!"

So then I drag her over and tie her to a tree while I catch number 18...the hard one! Repeat the same process with a lot more running involved and some stealth manuevers on my end, which probably look absolutely hilarious to anyone watching as I'm falling down since the grass is so dewy and now I'm all wet and cold (it was actually 58 this morning! I know I've mentioned that I love fall!). She just couldn't resist the grain though and I mananged a quick grab and snatched her up by her leg. Course now it's time to hang on for dear life! These girls probably weigh as much as I do! I did manage to get a rope on her and then the even more fun part starts....getting them to the trailer which I had the forethought to back up as close as I could.

I got them in with a large heave after I put their front feet on the trailer, slammed the door shut, and sat there trying to breathe! Boy was I wet and man did I stink! Those sheep have their own funny smell when they are wet...

I ran inside and got the kids up with the promise of a stop at our local country 'One-Stop' shop for breakfast...Nothing like a little bribe to get them moving a little faster. Bad Mommy! LOL.

We got there, early even and unloaded the girls. We'll be back for them in December, but the roundup will be a lot less work...he's got a border collie to do the deed! :-)

Calgon take me away...

Let me preface this by saying that my kids are normally really great when we run errands. People compliment them on their manners and behavior. They are quite patient and I explain the places that we'll be going and about what time we'll be done so they'll have a little understanding of what will be going on for the day....today was not one of those good days...

This post is a major vent and so will be kind of long....

This morning started off good. The kids were excited that we were going to be 'skipping' school for today. I had tons of errands that I needed to take care of and wanted to visit the Scholastic book warehouse downtown for their 50% off sale-the kids love books too and so they were excited. I didn't end up finding a whole lot, but did get a huge animal book (great reference book for school) that the kids wanted, a Christmas gift for my nephew and two stocking stuffer's for our two. Plus I had a $10 off coupon I got to use. Anyways....

I herded the kids along to get dressed in some timely manner and then out to feed the animals, check for eggs, and get things picked up before we headed out. I had nicely agreed to let them bring their Nintendo DS along for the ride (I hate that thing though-most of the time they gripe when each other is playing it-they know if I hear it, I'll just take it)...thought I was being nice, but it ended up biting me in the butt later. I've now learned my lesson.

Headed to the bank, took them over to the nearby Waffle House (their favorite and we're getting one in our little town. They are ecstatic!). Had a nice quick breakfast and then out the door to Scholastic. Heard a little grumbling that so and so was getting more time on the game...I had to warn them that I didn't want to hear it and that I was watching the time so they each got the same. That if they kept complaining they'd be done for the day. Checked out and headed over to Target (my favorite store). Made them put the game up since we would be in and out of stores for a bit-more grumbling. We got some groceries, they spent their allowance and off we went to Smoothie King since everyone was thirsty and I had a 'buy one get one free' coupon (I love coupons). The "Can we play the game?" badgering had already started while leaving the store and "Aren't we done yet". No! Off to Office Depot to make a return, then over to PetSmart to get a harness for Maggie and some more dog treats, one of which she's devouring right now. Kids ask to play games on the way home and I agree to flip a coin (daughters favorite). We did the "pick a number 'tween 1 and 10" the first time (son's favorite). So I flipped and it didn't flip, just fell to the console-sister is gloating that she won, but I always flip three times and she knows it, so she pitches a fit that "that's not fair, I won" and brother is hollering that it didn't flip and so I turn around and holler back...NO ONE IS PLAYING THE REST OF THE DAY! That went over well and I dared them to fuss...they know I'll add another to it. Did I mention I hate that thing. Oh and another "Aren't we done yet?". NO!

Then to Wal-Mart (a place I despise-many, many reasons why) to make a return. Well after dealing with the 'service' desk associates (what ever happened to good customer service? I worked that department for a time, some years ago...one thing you don't do it imply that a customer is lying!) I let them know that they just added another reason that I have stopped shopping in the Wal-Mart stores. So now I'm off to Taco Smell (YUCK!) to get my son a Crunchwrap Supreme that I agreed he could have weeks ago after passing another one on our hurried way home. Sister doesn't want yucky Taco Bell (don't blame her) and we drive next door to McD's. Don't care for that place either, but their little snack wraps are a filling little snack. Asked her three times what kind she wanted: Grilled with Honey Mustard. Are you sure you want grilled? Yes, not crunchy. So I ordered...she opens it up and all of a sudden she busts out squalling with crazy alligator tears...what the! I pull over and look at her only to hear her say: "I didn't want this one! I wanted the one with the crust!" Ummmm...that's not what you said... you said, "Not crunchy". You do know the meaning of crunchy and grilled don't you?--Nods head a little--One is on the grill and one has a crispy crust. Just give it to me...I was going to eat it. She stuffed it into her mouth....the Drama Queen at her best. I really don't want to see what she's going to be like when the hormones start kicking in! She's already way too overboard some days for me...

We get back on the freeway and I text messaged my hubby...been having issues with it though and once again I got the message: "duplicate message: deleted" back...so I decide to call Verizon (nice customer service). They have to take care of it when I get home...I need to be off the phone.

Got home, started to head out to feed animals...had to ask the kids multiple times to get the stuff out of the truck and put away. They're still aggravated that they can't play 'games'. Got all the feed ready and headed out to the back. Got the goats fed, but got ticked that the darn horned buck had rammed me in the back of my leg and horned me behind the knee! That spot is tender. The pigs had just rolled in their muddy wallow and as I went to feed them they decided to get up close and personal and then shake...Gross! Got the eggs collected (had a friend coming for a dozen) and then started on the horses.

I have to tie them right now because the shed area is out of commission with all the dirt sitting there. Pedro (17 yrs old) is a pig and gets barely a handful of feed and will go steal Charmers who is a yearling and gets a good bit since he's growing. I tied them up and got started on the feeding...I don't know what set Charmer off, but all of a sudden he sat back on his halter (a 'be-nice' halter-they aren't nice when a horse pulls back) and started to thrash...then he thrashed more when he realized the halter wasn't coming loose...all I could do was watch as he proceeded to pull my wooden post and rail fence backwards...he cracked the 4x4 post at the ground (cemented in-that's going to be fun to fix) and pulled 3 of the 2x6x8 boards off and 3 others loose from the neighboring posts...the fence held though and he quickly realized that he wasn't getting loose and came forward. I don't think he'll be doing that again for a while. He tried that the day before while tied to the trailer, but with a regular halter on. Hence why I changed to the "Be-nice" one.

Little did I know I had an audience of 3 men (neighbors) and 3 kids (2 being mine) heading to the pond to fish. The men were snorting, one saying..."you shoulda tied him to a better post". (Uh, Yeah I know that!) and my son was asking "whatcha doin' "-he asks me that all the time, but I sure wasn't in the mood for it then- as I untied the horse, put him on the post I usually (and should have) used and proceeded to start repairing the fence...

Good Grief...

I didn't feed him right then, but took him off to lunge him...for some reason he's 'forgotten' how to circle round me and respect my space (he's been bad about that lately so we've been working on it. Yesterday he tried to run me over and smashed my calf muscle with his hoof-nice!). I refreshed his memory on how to circle, back up, whoa, move forward, keep trotting and stay out of my face...some of it wasn't pretty and I found out that I still had an audience of 3 men! I'm sure they had a running commentary going on over there...

I'm heading off to bed now with a headache, a few more bruises, and a sore knee that the arthritis has started in on this evening...gotta love that. It's going to take me forever to get to sleep at this rate...tomorrow will be better...at least I hope so!

AWWWW or EWWWW!?

I had someone email this to me recently and thought it was hilarious! My first thought was: "Awww, how cute!". My second though was: "Ewww, please someone wash that babies mouth and tongue!" Cute but Yuck! Atleast she wasn't here attempting to kiss one of our pigs. She would have ended up with a mouthful of dirt.

Pigs...friends of horse or horse eaters?

Let me preface this by saying that one of my horses, Charmer, likes the pigs...he was raised with one and seems to have no issues what so ever with them. I can walk him through the pigs pen with no problems. The pigs can snort, squeal, run, grunt, and even touch his legs with their little muddy, snotty snouts. It makes taking him to the round pen next door for training, quick and easy.

Now Pedro on the other hand....he does not like the pigs. He will reluctantly eat out of his bucket with the fence between him and the pigs. He has absolutely no desire to allow them up close and personal though.

Normally I have to take him around through the goat pen, then out through the sheep pen to get him to the neighbors barn to tack up (I store riding stuff in there and I use her saddle and round pen to work the boys). It's a bit of a long way around, but if it's not feeding time for the pigs then he isn't gonna walk through there without a fuss, since they'll want to say 'Hi' in their own piggy way, which he is not keen on! LOL! Plus I really don't need a horse hoof laid into one of my pigs!

That all said, I took Pedro out yesterday evening for our first real ride down the road. I've only had him less than a couple of months and I've only ridden him in the round pen. He is a good horse, but has a lot of energy to burn. He's a retired Polo horse, but he doesn't seem to know that yet, even though he hasn't played in a while and is 17 years old. I was going to ride with a friend and her horse hadn't been out on the road here either. I was thinking that it could be really interesting for the both of us!

Well I took him out and as we walked toward the barn I noticed he was acting up a little...I thought it was the pool (he snorts at the pool as we go by), but he was doing more than his usual snort! I looked back and there were the pigs...they were not in their pen! As a matter of fact, they realized that they weren't either and started running around the back yard! Dogs were barking, pigs were grunting, Pedro was freaking, mom was yelling, to get the kids running, to get the dad that was coming (but not fast enough!!!!) with a bucket of feed, to get the piggies that were all too happy to be freeeeeeeee! Oh Good Grief!

So I tied up Pedro at the end of the fence where he stood quivering and pooping! A pig ran up to him and I thought for sure he was going to take the whole fence rail off, but he didn't. The pig touched him and checked out the poop (ewww!) and I just kept thinking, don't go under him, don't go under him, pleeeaaassee don't go under him! He didn't go under him and ran around back of him. Neighbors were coming since my friend was on her way over on her horse and hollered for them. Steve got the bucket out to me right after I wrangled one 'horse eater' into the pen and shook the feed bucket while calling, "PIG, PIG, PIG". He came running and in the pen he went...food is such a motivator for almost any creature!

Pedro survived it all though and we tacked up and rode off. We had a nice almost 2 hour ride and he only fussed with me a couple of times. I have noted that he does not like being in the back. Course I don't blame him, but that's something we'll have to work on.

...note to self: teach hubby to say "ready", "1-2-3", "I'm taking one", or something when taking a picture, so I can ready myself better. I look like a darned hunch-back! My Nanny Pat will be horrified to see this picture though! I never had good posture growing up and I won't forget her always touching her thumb to my back to get my to stand straighter :-) !

What a Pigsty!

After nearly 4 days of rain this past week, the kids were glad to be able to finally play outside. B. had her friend come by to swim in the pool which was now very full. We keep the water level some inches lower since J. isn't quite tall enough to keep his head above the water while standing. Poor fella. One day he'll shoot up...

I went outside yesterday evening to see what J. was up to and I find him in the pig pen...not normally a good sign since it's so muddy in there and he loves mud.

I of course brought the camera and this is what I saw:

He said that he was 'decorating' the pigs (with dirt and grass clods). He was so filthy, but enjoying himself. A country kid's life at it's best I guess (or for a country mom, another muddy mess to clean up after in the house! LOL).

He really likes our pigs though. They are Hampshires and are pushy with me, but gentle with him. In about 50 more pounds or so, I won't be letting him go in there alone. They'll be over 100 lbs then and could hurt him unintentionally. These are not pets though...they will eventually be in my freezer. He knows that and enjoys them while we have them.

I love what the pigs are doing to my garden though. They are the best natural rototillers ever! I have them in a pen where my garden was and they are really doing what they do best: