Sunday, December 14, 2014

Fun on the Farm

Today, the temp is up to 50 degrees F, bright and sunny.  It started a bit colder.

I began my day bundled up in a fleece-lined jacket, with gloves and a scarf over my Manure Movers of America sweatshirt and jeans.  I tied the strings of the jacket hood, which was over my scarf.  As I tackled the brush around the farm shop with loppers and hand shears, the day warmed and I began the old farmer's strip tease.  I lowered the jacket hood, then took off the scarf and gloves.  Before long, I took off the jacket.  You can work up a sweat doing this kind of work.

As I organized and cleaned the inside of the shop, it became clear to me that I have to do something about the wild vines and brambles which are trying (successfully) to come inside through the windows.  So I managed to clear one long wall and started around the side of the building.  Unfortunately, the slope and the fact that there is a pasture fence near this mess doesn't lend itself to much mechanical short cutting.  I'll just work my way around the building by doing what I can on warmish dry days until it gets done.

Right now, the pasture side looks much like what Snow White's castle must have looked like with all the brambles and weeds.

The cows are sharing pasture with the goats.  I noticed that the calf kindergarten was having fun running wildly through the grass.  They must have noticed that this scared the goat herd and made them run in the other direction.  A new game.  What total fun!

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

December

The cows have been cycled into the last pasture near the barns.  There's a lot of grass there which they are currently chomping down.

We've had a little snow, some freezing rain, and a good number of cold but sunny days.

The farm work shop is getting organized.  I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Many loads of cardboard and metal have been hauled to the recycle center.  Trash has been bagged.  "Lost" treasures have been found and located with items of similar function. 

I've gotten down to the nitty gritty of sorting screws into see-through containers, which is very tedious.  However, it will be nice to find just the right size and type when doing projects and repairs.  I now know where many power tools and hand tools are located.  The drawers are labeled.

I've got a short list of other indoor farmy projects to keep me busy during the Winter months.

Bear sightings are on the rise.  I haven't personally seen any yet this year, but some of the neighboring farmers have killed bears on their land.

I've only heard the coyotes screaming once so far.