Meeting Goals — revisited

I said a while ago that we were going to make some big changes to the homestead. Those changes are starting to fall into place and the result is a quieter/simpler life with more time to rest, more time to do a job properly, more time to enjoy the homestead.

HM sold her goats — I already posted about that.  We sold 9 rabbits and have 5 more to sell.   We are only keeping 2 does and a buck.   I also  sold Lizzy (and her lamb) and Elsy (with her lamb) this week.  I have decided to keep Abby, Betty, and Bess.   That means I will be selling Libby, 2 little ewes that were born this season, and 3 ram lambs.  Although CK and MA would like us to keep the ram lambs and have them slaughtered this Fall.

We gave this year’s wool to the shearers.  I sold the spinning wheel and carders.   It felt good.  Every time I looked at that darned spinning wheel I’d go on a guilt trip.   So no more spinning wheel, no more guilt trip.  A very happy Kim.

The new chicken coop will be started this weekend.  The wood for the posts and concrete arrived this morning.  Hopefully by Saturday evening you’ll be able to see some major progress.  It will be slow since work can only happen on Saturdays, but I hope by June to  have the girls moved into their new coop.  The old coop is going to become a shed.  We need a place to store the bikes, some emergency gear, and the lawnmower.  I plan to turning the chicken yard into a covered “porch” for the shed.

We divided the garden area in half.  MA helped me take the beds apart and move the dirt into the other beds.  We used the wood to repair a few beds.  I have 6 rows of beds.  That means each day (We don’t work on Sundays.) I have to weed one row.  It works out quite well.  It doesn’t seem nearly as overwhelming to say 1 row as to say 2 rows!  The area that used to be garden is now a compost heap and soon will have the new chicken coop and yards.

For my personal goals:

1.  I am on  target to read through the Bible again this year.

2.  I have completed my dog trainer training.  I have 1 client and another that will start in a few days.

3.  In the last 18 days I have lost 7 pounds.  I’ll share a little more about that in another post on another day.

4.  I quit trying to memorize James.  I got side-tracked by the issue I blogged so much about.  I’ve been reading many books on Creation Theology.  I’m branching out a bit into revelation, ethics, and a correct understanding of Biblical authority.  One of these days I’ll get around to summarizing my view.

orphan rabbit kit

6 day old orphan rabbit kit

Raising an orphan rabbit kit:

Feed three times a day: 3 parts distilled water,1 part puppy milk replacer (esbilac), 2 parts heavy whipping cream.

Weigh the baby and calculate 25% of its weight.  That is the total amount of formula you’ll feed each day.  Have the bunny in a sitting position when feeding.

Keep the baby at 85 degrees and not in bright light.

____________________________

We’ll try, but I don’t have much hope.

Edited to add:  The poor little thing died this morning at 8:30.  We think it got chilled last night and couldn’t recover enough body heat.  We had it inside, in a cloth diaper with rabbit fur around it.  This morning we filled a hot water bottle and put that under it.  It drank a little milk, but not as heartily as last night.  A few hours later it was gone.

my buddy

I posted this on Jake’s dog blog, but wanted to share it here too.  This is my buddy Jake.  He’s about as tall as he’s going to get, but has some filling out to do.

the end of an era

We have had goats on and off (mostly on) for 11 years now.  But last Thursday, HM decided she didn’t want to keep goats any longer.  They are wonderful pets, but they were pets–not livestock.  They did a wonderful job stretching fence, breaking fence, eating the grass and weeds and roses that grew along the fence line.  They also did a wonderful job eating the newly transplanted strawberries.

Within 24 hours of posting the goats for sale, they had a new home.  They went to live on a larger farm with a herd of 60.  I’m sure they’ll be happy.

The funny thing, so are we.  The homestead is a lot quieter these days.  There is no rush and panic to check fences and count heads when we go out in the morning, at lunch time, or before bed.

Garden week 2

This week we have planted radishes, leeks, Swiss chard, spinach, and fava beans.  I’ll be planting peas and onions tomorrow.   That will make an 8×8 bed filled this week.  Last week we filled a 4×8 bed.

The horseradish bed is beginning to look good.  HM left some bits in there last Fall when she harvested and they have come up.  I’d say the bed will be REALLY full later this summer.

There are several more beds ready to be planted but the weather has been too cool and damp.  The local farmers and gardeners plant most of the crops during Derby week.  The Kentucky Derby is sort of the formal greeting of good weather.  Usually.

We just finished harvesting the last of this year’s asparagus.   We got quite a bit for the first year of harvesting.  We ate it 4 nights this past week.  It is very good, very sweet, and tender.  Yum.  I can’t wait for next year when we can harvest for a longer period of time.

Abby’s Lambs

Abby, who was absolutely huge, just finished delivering triplets.  At least I hope she is finished!

A little white ewe, a little white ram, and a little black ram.

This picture was taken within minutes of the birth of the white ram.  That’s why he looks yellow!

Abby's 2009 lambs

Abby's 2009 Lambs

the garden begins

We’ve been working all week to clean up the garden area.  It is looking really good right now.  MA has been moving compost into beds that needed filling.  He’s also working to turn the compost heap–a major undertaking.

The garden looks so small.  We really cut down the size we’ll be planting this year.  I do think the size is more realistic for HM and I to keep up with.

So today I planted the first bed:  arugula, English sorrel, kale, and four types of leaf lettuce.  HM finished transplanting strawberries from the old strawberry bed into the main garden.

Today we also harvested asparagus!

asparagus

Lizzy’s Lamb

Abby is still waiting.  So Lizzy decided to go next.    She had a good sized little ram lamb.   Elsy’s lamb (the cute little black one) is ram lamb too.

Lizzy's lamb

busy bunnies

Those little bunnies sure have grown up.  Here’s a picture of them now.

Elsie’s lamb

I just thought Abby was next.  Elsie beat her to it.

This is Elsie’s first time to lamb, so she’s a bit skittish this morning.  She had one lamb, but I can’t tell if it is a male or female.  I don’t want to stress her out, so I’ll wait to find out.

Elsie and lamb

Edited to add:  It is a little ram lamb.

Happy Easter

Betty’s Babies

Betty's 2009 lambs

Betty had her lambs this afternoon.   About 12:45 I noticed a couple of white splotches in the barn doorway.  I hollered (that’s the official farm term) and ran for the barn.

The little white one is a male.  Poor boy, he’ll have horns and hormones — so he can’t stay.  The pretty little white with gray and black is a girl.  She is a cute little thing.  Betty is my favorite sheep and this little girl is adorable.

Holy Thursday

Today is Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday).    Today we remember Jesus washing the disciples feet, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, His prayer in the garden, and the betrayal and His arrest.   My favorite retelling of these events is Matthew 26 (although John 13-17 is a close second).  I suppose I prefer the conciseness of Matthew.

I found this picture and couldn’t resist putting it on here:

It’s Lego Last Supper!

Psalm 116

I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

I said in my haste, All men are liars.

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 142

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

April

The real work of keeping up with our homestead is upon us.  April has arrived.  I once remarked to a friend that April and October are the two busiest months around here.  Here is our list of April to-do’s.   It isn’t complete, because someone always finds something to add to the list.

April plans:

1. start building new chicken coop
2. muck out old chicken coop
3. muck out bunny barn
4. muck out sheep shack
5. clean main pasture (loads and loads of tree branches from Hurricane Ike, 2 ice storms, and 3 severe storms this winter)
6. fence two to four new sheep folds
7. move more strawberries
8. weed garden
9. plant garden
10. mow grass
11. tidy orchard (remove any dead, remove fruit from young plants to allow roots to develop better)
12. clean cistern
13. power wash deck and sidewalk
14. re-stain/protect deck and sidewalk
15. build second deck gate
16. weed herb bed
17. move flowers from dog yard
18. repair front screen door (Jake thinks it is a dog door and keeps walking right through the screen.  So we are going to make it a dog door.  If you can’t beat them, join them.)
19. tighten clothes lines
20. order next winter’s hay
21. clean fans
22. clean stove pipe, stove, and repaint/blacken stove
23. finish eating the canned fruit from last year
24. make beer
25. make more beer
26. make even more beer