Another month gone by.....

We had a wonderful thanksgiving--we went to Pats' sisters for a family gathering.  Good food, good times! Of course there is always a fest--and naturally everyone eats too much!  At least we are blessed to able to have plenty!

The weather has been decent--makes it hard to believe it's the last day of November!  Patrick and I discussed building onto the east side of the shed (next to the chicken coop/stanchion addition we put in a year or two ago!) so I have  nice place for a birthing "stall" or foster calves or whatever needs doctored/housed alone.  I could even use it for storage for feed or small squares of hay.  Never hurts to have extra shed space for whatever comes up! 
Well, since we have the supplies already, and I have my Carpenter Guru on board--it's a go.  Ok, it goes more like this:  I'd build it myself; but it won't be near as good as if he dictates/does the most of it.  I'm a good go-fer and holder-upper and laborer, he knows that. 
Sometimes I give advice (imagine that) but usually it goes unheeded because I'm the "short-cut/get-it-done" type, and he is Mr. Picky.  I have to say, what he builds lasts, so I don't usually complain.  :-)

We moved stuff around in the garden yesterday, I mowed the (dead) asparagus and we burned off some dead grass.  I'd love to let the steers in there, but they are like little kids and will mess with things they shouldn't, or chew on my cherry tree! The chickens can go in there, but my 'grand plans' for them working it over aren't going like I envisioned.  I guess they didn't read my mind nor listen to me!

I am getting a whopping 1 egg a day, two of the girls look horrible, they are moulting.  I don't know how the egg-layer gets out, but she does and insists on laying her egg in my straw stockpile in the stanchion.  (Right next to where one of the cats sleep!)  Sigh.  So I put straw in 3 nesting boxes....and fresh hay in another 3, but I guess that wasn't good enough? 

We've gotten a couple of letters from Kyle, his GF has gotten several.  He called on Thanksgiving, talked to us for about 3 minutes, and his GF for like 25!  We did find a few photos online of him...but they want $20 or $30 for a few wallet sized photos.  Bah.  The photos aren't "that" good! ha

Jared and Chandra are doing fine.  He sent photos, of him making their kitchen table, it looks nice! 

Deer meat and musings

Pat (right) and the neighbor (and kiddo) with their deer

 

Well, for the week-long hunting season, Patrick got a deer.  Problem is:  we don't have much room in the freezer!  So we are making Jerky and Smoked Sausage out of it.  The neighbor got three--but he went out more times than Pat.  It's okay....less work for me! :-)

 

Not much has been going on, I've been lazy at getting "inside" stuff done since it's been so nice outside!  I did find my chickens (rather, chicken--only 1 is laying right now!) likes to lay her eggs in the stockpiled straw in the stanchion area.  Two are moulting and look horrible!  I lost my older hen a few weeks ago, so now am down to 5 hens and Mr. Rooster.  Once egg production ramps up I'll see who is/isn't laying well and cull the slackers. 

 I'd like to entice the banty-cross to set, but not this time of year!  Plus I'm sure she'll be a troll once the chicks would hatch.  Her mama was, and her mama was friendly to people--this one isn't so much!  (Her mama is the one that would fly up onto our shoulder and  go for a 'ride'.  She used to sit on Dolly's back to keep warm.)  Ahhh the antics of critters! HA

 

I sold one of the steers, and am getting another milk cow.  I can't wait to meet her and get her home!  Her name is Daisy (a very popular cow name!) and is used to kids, etc.  I need another "Dolly-type" cow, and I'm pretty sure Daisy will fit the bill.  She is to calve in March, and she's still in milk--so I will have milk for a bit before I have to dry her off.  No biggie--I'm uber-excited to have milk again!

 

The weather has been decent--spoiling me.  Forecasts say an Arctic blast is coming next week.  Ugh.  I'm not ready for it--and it's hard on the animals when temperatures yo-yo high, low, high low.  Plus colder weather makes more work for me with watering, draining hoses etc.  I shouldn't be complaining, I know it could be alot worse, and much colder and snowier already! ;-)

 

I am hoping to get a letter from Kyle any day now....we'll know his mailing addy and get 'news' of when to come get him.  His girlfriend is probably more anxious than me to find out! ;-)  I just hope he's doing okay.....no news is good news I say!

 

Chandra sent me a photo of Jared working on making a kitchen table for them.  We haven't heard much from them.....and the kitty they got from here is awful ornery.  (Good training for future kids!) HA

Kyle is off to Basics

Kyle just before we got to Ashland to drop him off

Kyle arrived at Basics training late last night.  We took him to Ashland on Monday; and in true Military fashion he and others had the 'hurry up, then wait, and wait and wait, then hurry again' treatment. ;)  He is "only" about 7 hours away, so going to pick him up is going to be easier (and cheaper!).
I didn't see too much of him the last few days, as he had Drills, and he spent lots of time with his girlfriend.  But hopefully all goes well for him--keep him in your prayers!

All is strangely quiet on the home front.....thus far! ha  Jared and Chandra are settling in (I heard her reprimanding the ornery kitten in the background as I talked to him yesterday) and I hope to see them at Christmas!

I had to get more hay yesterday, the previous bale had lots of straw in it.  I used the rickety small pickup box trailer to get it, I wonder how many people laughed at it (me) on the way home.  I made it here safely, and Patrick helped me unload it--with the help of the truck and a lariat.  :)  (True redneck style--but it works!) ha ha ha  The bovines are happy, happy, happy now!
Patrick also helped me put in my tank heater, oh yes it's that time of year again (bah humbug!).  I only filled it about 1/3 of the way to check for leaks.  So far, so good! 

The chickens are molting, and I get 1 or 2 eggs a day.  Not much, but better than nothing.  Someone gave us some pork ribs, and I realized the fridge was, well, a mess as I stuffed them in it.  So all the critters (dogs, cats, rabbit, chickens) got 'treats' as I cleaned out the refrigerator yesterday. 

We haven't had much rain/moisture the past month--and temps have pretty much been decent.  But we'll take all the rain/snow we can get, we need it!  (I just don't want the cold and wind!)  ha  ;-)

That's about all the "news" here for now.