January (in review via pictures)

So I know that there are a few more days of January but....
one- I'm ancy for this month to be over
two- I'm home from work due to the Polar Vortex- part deux!  (refer back to "one")
three-I'm crazy busy this weekend so you are getting your Sunday blog entry a little early!

 On New Years Day, we came up with our own, make-shift, fondue pot and had cheesy fondue for lunch! This set-up actually worked quite well-- but maybe I'll get our family a real fondue pot for Xmas next year! 

Here is Pick Pick enjoying some bread and cheese!  I could live on bread and cheese! 

The cheese was part gruyere, part swiss and some Morel infused cheese my mom gave us for Xmas!   

Cheers! A toast to 2014!  J and I had some left-over red wine from the stew J made the night before.  The boys had "spicy water" in kool-aid glasses ("spicy water" is La Croix sparkling water). 

Here is James the barn cat- mid-"meow".  We typically see him once a day (by our back patio door).  We are now buying him kitty food and feeding him well (and keeping him hydrated) during this cold weather.  We have thought about trying to bring James into the house, during this arctic weather spell, but I think James would prefer to freeze to death than spent time in our warm home.  And... I have no idea how we would catch him...

One of my favorite Xmas presents!  Every farmhouse needs a Shop Vac! 

Pickle would beg me to let him do more vacuuming! He thought the Shop Vac was a pretty nice present as well!  Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Here are the ewes and Padraig! Aoife is in the front of the picture.  I can't believe how much weight Beatrix is putting on, even over the winter months.  They both seem very healthy!  

Another shot...but with Ciaran in this picture!   Notice all the brown poop pellets on the ground.  When these poop pellets are frozen, they actually act like frozen salt- giving the farmer some extra traction under his/her boot, reducing the risk of falling on the slippery, frozen snow! 

The opening to the bottom part of the barn! This is where the goats and sheep sleep (and stay when it is so cold). The inside of the barn is kept relatively "warm" from all the straw bedding and large animal body heat. Additionally, as the bottom part of the barn is build into the earth/hill- it makes their 'home' extra safe and warm'ish. Despite the cold, cold weather, the animals prefer to come out into the fresh air than stay inside!

J is pretty certain that both sheep are pregnant!  If so, we could have some lambs by March.  I should read some James Harriet to prepare for our upcoming "lambing" season! Farmer J told me that because my hands/arms are thinner and smaller than his, I would be the one to "assist" the ewe, if there was a trouble with the birth process.  I'm already praying for uneventful births, with no need for human intervention! 

Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Stay warm! 

Hot Yoga

Sledding goats

Ciaran and Padraig each took turns sledding down the pasture hill with JJ!!! I wish I had a picture for you all! 

I do have some pictures of the animals grazing in last years garden. Yummy mid-winter snack!

Do you think the ewes look pregnant?

RIP No Named Hen

Sadly, we lost a hen....one of the Buff Orpingtons. On Monday, Farmer J was out doing his chicken chores and noticed a hen, roosting in the rafters of the chicken coop, while all the other chickens were out enjoying their freedom. Upon further look, he could see the chicken was not moving. She died peacefully with her head still nuzzled under her wing.

I came home to find the hen "lying in state" (as Farmer J put it) on the back kitchen porch step. She was laid out beautifully, with lovely branches framing her motionless body. J opened the back door so I could see her better; after a long day of work, I felt the view from the window was perfectly respectful.

Death is not uncommon when you live on a farm. So far, we have lost at least one hen to a raccoon, two simply went missing (never to be found) and the most recent death of our Buff. And, of course, the "harvesting" of the roosters. The boys knew that the roosters were "meat birds" and have known that we have "lost" birds but this was the first dead bird they have seen (we left the farm for the "harvest"). JJ was not affected. Pickle (the youngest one) was deeply affected. He was most upset about seeing the bird's "frozen eyes".

Since the bird passed on, Pick Pick has been asking many questions about death, dying and afterlife. One gift (of the many) of living on a farm is learning at a young age that death is a fact of life and that it is o.k. to talk about death and dying and ask questions about 'what happens when you die'. I assure you, I am no expert on answering the tough questions that my two little boys have been asking me over the past few days but I tried to keep my answers simple, kind, loving, and honest.

When I was little, I heard a church pastor say that animals don't go to heaven because animals do not have souls. I respect his beliefs... but in my heaven, there are chickens (but they don't poop!)

December (in pictures)

 JJ's Gingerbread Stable (with pink and yellow animals droppings in all- yes, he officially is a "farm kid".

 Pick Pick's Stable--with a red, gummy bear "baby Jesus"

 New holiday decor from Hobby Lobby- don't worry, I don't get any kickbacks :)

 More Hobby Lobby decorations!!  Someday... real holly!

 Thank you Aunt Sal for the beautiful hostess gift!

 Holiday baking with Mimi and Papa (and official quality control tester, Pickle)

 My mom (Mimi) taught me how to make fudge this year!  After numerous batches, I was a pro (with a sore arm). 

 I still prefer reading my recipes from handwritten cards vs a tablet or computer!

 Raspberry Jelly Thumbprint cookies

 Milk chocolate "Haystacks"

 White "chocolate" covered Pretzel Sticks-- the boys had lots of fun making these!  Sprinkles everywhere!!

 Chocolate Bon Bons (a ladyfinger cookie with a Hershey Kiss in the middle)

 Above you can also see the many tins of fudge (marshmallow whip and all) and the 7 layer bars as well! We baked from mid morning to dinner time!  We gave away a lot of fudge for holiday gifts and I took a holiday dessert tray to a "Downton Abbey" Christmas party.  We ate the rest.  All was gone way before Christmas Eve!!!  We don't believe in delayed gratification (when it comes to desserts) in our family!

 I wish you could all feel how furry the goats and sheep are with their winter coats in full force! 

 Ace...minutes before leaving the farm! 

 A handsome lad.  Hopefully we will see some of his lovely features in the faces, fur and body types of baby lambs!  Fingers crossed! 

 Did you know that Suburu Foresters are good for Ram transport?  No kickbacks here either!

 Goodbye, Ace.  

 Younger brother equals snow dog! 

Fun in the deep snow!  

Record Cold Midwest Weather

Per my local "wunderground" weather report, it is currently -13 (but "feels like -35"). No school for the boys today or tomorrow! Ah, the life of a child. Farmer J has been on vacation doing some winter camping (I'm not joking) so I have been doing the animals chores alone in the midst of this "polar vortex". Let me tell you about doing winter farm chores when it "feels like NEGATIVE 35". Two words: It stinks (both literally and figuratively). I've dropped some more colorful language during my winter chore activities but I'm trying hard to keep this blog PG! Chicken chores: -Fill up the bucket with hot water from the mudroom -Carry the bucket to the coop via the snow-blown path (Thank you Papa Tom!). I found out the hard way that I slip and fall when wearing my black boots! Brown boots- much better traction- which is great because I often run from place to place as it is so, so cold out! -Try and unlock the lock on the coop door as quickly as possible because my fingers are already frozen. FYI-Mittens and farm chores don't work. -I open the door and the hens rush me! Picture "The Birds" movie! Immediately, I smell Nasty (with a capital "N") chicken poop smell. The hens have been in the coop so much- their droppings are ALL OVER the coop (and not on the ground, etc.) -Farmer J bought blue water buckets that stay warm so the animal's water doesn't freeze. Pretty nice invention! I empty the water in the dish- as it is Nasty (with a capital "N") and full of chicken droppings, straw, etc. I fill the bucket with clean water. - I put the bucket outside and start giving them feed. I tried taking my gloves off (when I was reaching in the bag to reach the feed) but my hands got way too cold so I put my gloves back on (luckily, I was wearing Farmer J's farm gloves. -Grab the metal bucket handle ("feels like NEGATIVE 100") and head to the barn Goat and Sheep chores: -Walk to the barn with the remaining water (or refill water in the mudroom and warm up for a bit) and try and not spill the water all over my boots (like I did today). Pick up some staw/hay. Skip getting any goat treats because it is just way too cold and there is no way I can carry goat treats, a bucket of water and an armful of hay-- and I am not making two trips. -I carefully walk down the slippery hill, with the frozen goat turds helping with traction, towards the lower barn door. Tonight, because it was SOOOOO cold, I only opened the top portion of the door, threw in the hay, lifted the bucket inside the barn, shut the top door and proceeded to run back to the house! I can't wait until it's a balmy 35 degree (as projected) on Friday! -