Goodbye February - Hello March

February 2011 is coming to an end and as many times as I have thought I would like to help it out with a boot, I am feeling bad about being so hard on the month.
We enjoyed a few sunny days intermixed with snow storms and below zero temperatures.
Valentine's Day was fun; I got President’s Day off and only had to travel to Lincoln once.
We got some big projects either finished or started at the farm and still got to enjoy some of those lazier cold days when we couldn’t work outside.
Seedlings are starting to sprout indoors and I am sure if I looked, I could see the same outdoors as well. It was a very good month.

As for March - there are only a few days left before the drawing for the free bars of Goat’s Milk Soap – so if you haven’t entered be sure to do so.
I was quite flattered to see that Catherine Friend, the author of a book I just love called  Hit By A Farm, who also has the blog Farm Tales, stopped by my blog and entered the drawing.
Thank you very much for all of your entries and nice comments.  I wish I could send everyone a bar of soap.  I truly do.

We are anxiously awaiting the Madison County Bird and Animal Auction coming up this Sunday.  I just love this auction and have bought and/or sold every year since we have been in Nebraska.  Just to give you an idea of what is available; here is a list of the pre-consignments:


Items called in early include:

Miniature horses

Black Australorp large fowl chickes. Pr. mature 2010 hatch, assorted sizes late 2010 hatch, show stock.

Pr. Rosecomb Rhode Island Red large fowl chickens-show stock

Pr. Black Wyandotte bantams-show stock 2010 hatch

2 pr. Butterscotch call ducsk-show stock-2010 hatch

Pr. Khaki call ducks-show stock-2010 hatch

White call duck hen-show stock

Pr. Gray call ducks-show stock

English spot rabbits- Sr. buck, Sr. doe, 2 Jr. does, show stock, and pedigreed

Chocolate tan rabbits- Sr. and Jr. bucks and does, show stock, and pedigreed

Black tan rabbits- Sr. and Jr. bucks and does, show stock and pedigreed

Blue Tan rabbits- Sr. buck and Sr. doe

Black Otter Netherland Dwarf rabbits-Sr. and Jr. bucks and does, show stock,and pedigreed. Rezac, Avesing, and Coin/Nelson lines

110 gallon aquarium: LIght oak trim-complete with lid/lights/UGfilter/Magnum 350 filter system/heater on a light oak cabinet

45 gallon cube aqarium: Dark walnut trim-complete with lid/lights/UG filter/Tetra back filter/heater on a very nice dark walnut cabinet

Large collection of new and used aquarium supplies

Buff Brahma hens and rooster

Dark Brahma hens and rooster

Araucana cross roosters

Pearl guineas

female canary - brown and white

cockatiels - 1 grey and 2 yellows - 2010 hatch

pair diamond doves-light grey female, dark grey male,

Brown llama - neutered male

Black llama - neutered male

Pr. canaries-orange female, silver-grey male

male yellow singer canary

male spotted singer canary

society finches

Pr. turquoise parrotlets

Pr. parrotlets-green female, lutino male

crested society finches

fawn finches

English zebra finches

Black cheek zebra finches

Cordon bleu finches

Light Sussex chicks-5 weeks old

1 Ruddy Shelduck hen - 2 years old

chukar- 25-30 game permit required

Bobwhite quail- 25 - game permit required

Ringneck pheasants-mostly roosters-game permit required

Gray Call ducks

White call ducks

mallards

Valley Quail eggs-100

knives

Pekin ducklings-1 week old

This is just a teaser list, as it is only a small fraction of what is actually sold on sale date.  It really takes a lot of will power on my part not to buy all I want to.  Believe me, I have been there.  The worst thing I can do is come with a horse trailer.  This year I am only bringing a truck with no topper in effort to prevent myself from hauling home any hoof stock larger than can fit in a large dog carrier.  I don’t have a husband telling me “no” and I have myself and my kids telling me “yes” and this can lead to excess in a hurry!

Well, in the beginning of this post I mentioned only having to go to Lincoln once this month and guess what - it's today.  So - see you all when I get back.
Take Care
Michaele

Goat's Milk Soap and Give-Away

Alas, 

Sisters Five Soap and Lotion Works
 goat's milk soaps are cured 

and ready for retail. Yea.

The first place I have listed my products is with

the Nebraska Food Coop.  I just love this coop.

(My product list may still be pending review at the 

time of this post, but I wanted to give you the link 

if you wanted to check out the website).

I became a member in December 2007, buying and

selling through them for a year. They were very supportive 

and I had very good sales each month.

I loved being a part of the coop The only

drawback for me at the time was there was no drop off

or pick up in my area and it meant driving or paying shipping

to get my products to Omaha and then driving again the

following week if I placed an order, to go pick it up.

I am so delighted that now they have  pick up and drop off

in Norfolk and I can order all I like now.

There is an amazing list of products.

If you have a food coop in your state, I wholeheartedly

encourage you to join.  

This is their mission statement:

Our Mission: To foster a local food community and promote a culture of stewardship by cultivating farmer-consumer relationships, promoting the enjoyment of healthful food, increasing food security through diversity, and enhancing overall rural sustainability. 

We will also be displaying our products later this summer

at local farmers markets, along with veggies and herbs from our garden. 

I would love be part of the Omaha Farmers Market - 

but maybe down the road.  

I am not willing to give up a whole Saturday just yet.

Our website is still in development.

I have three pages so far, but have to be

in a really creative mood when I work on it,

and that isn't just ordered up.

In the meantime, I would like to host the drawing for 

a free bar of soap I promised I would do once the soaps were cured.

Here is all you need to do to be entered in the drawing:

Post a comment stating which soap you would choose if you were 

one of the three lucky winners of a free 5 oz. bar of goat's milk soap.

The drawing will be held on Friday, March 4, 2011.

If you don't have a blog, please either email me or comment on

how I can contact you if you are a winner.

This is the list of soaps available to choose from:

Apple Jack w/ ground yarrow leaves

Gingersnap w/ ground cinnamon

Coconut Lime Verbena

Tahitian Vanilla w/ ground oatmeal

Summer Fling

Rosehip Jasmine w/ lavender leaves

Soapy Clean

Almond and Honey w/ ground oatmeal

Red Clover Tea

Rise and Shine w/ ground oatmeal

Cool Waters

Lemon Verbena w/ lemon verbena leaves

Lilac and Lavender w/ lavender leaves

Tea Tree Oil w/ ground oatmeal

 So, post your comment

and good luck

This post is part of  Verde Farm
Farm Friend Friday.
Please go check out all the fun and
interesting farm stories and photos!

Moments

I have twin teenage daughters.
These two are the youngest of my five daughters and have the misfortune opportunity of being at home with mom while the older siblings have flown the coop.
I had my first child when I was 19 and the twins were born when I was 37.
If that tells you anything, it should be that by now I have been around the block a few times.
My philosophy about life in general, as well as child rearing has grown and changed over the years.
Now days, I am all about living in the moment, which is natural because as we age we become more aware of just how many moments we might have left.
I don’t harp on awareness to the girls, but they have heard me remind them not to wish their lives away and appreciate what “is”.
They have, on occasion, listened to CD’s on meditation and they are familiar with yoga.
For the most part, I don’t expect them to respond to or embrace these ideas, as it will all happen in its own time.  But I always hoped that they were at least grasping the concept.
Well, the other day, I was able to witness the “concept” in action.
We had pulled up to order ice cream, and no sooner had we gotten our cones in our hand, when Rylee piped up and said what kind of ice cream cone she was going to get “next time”.
I gently reminded her that she hadn’t even enjoyed the cone she had and was already thinking about her “next” cone.
Her sister, Rikki, immediately followed up with a humorous bit of advice that I just cherish.
She said “Ya, Rylee, BE the ice cream”.
It was funny and it was correct and it was proof that she was at least listening.
That was a very good moment for me.

Here are a few moments in time I would like to visit again.

Guard Dogs

A few weeks ago we went to visit a Nigerian Dwarf goat breeder.

Like all serious goat breeders I have ever met,

she had guard dogs.

This is one of them.

This is a Great Pyrenees, and guarding the flock is his life.

Most breeders will start these dogs when they are pups

with the herd or flock and leave them to bond with the

sheep or goats while having as little human interaction

as possible.

The dogs spend their day with the flock and their

nights are usually spend scouring the perimeter of the 

farm and barking.  Both of which they are very good at.

Although it is a little hard to see, there is a Great Pyrenees puppy

lying by an igloo, in the upper left part of the photo.  She had

just gotten this pup a few days before our visit.  He was beginning his

bonding with the herd.

A few years back, when we lived in Wyoming and raised a

small herd of Nubian's, I purchased a Sheep Dog/Great Pyrenees cross.

He didn't, however, bond with the goats.

He bonded with me, and I with him.

Have a great day everyone.

And be sure to check out 

Tuesday's Show and Tail
for more great stories.

Ice Capsules

A beautiful layer of ice completely encapsulated

every branch,

and every blade of grass,

and every weed,

like crystal clear glass.

Rikki's Retro Floor

This floor was so fun to do

and awesome to look at.

Makes me thirsty for a cherry coke : )

A Welcome Sight

Last week the garden was covered in snow.

Today we found spinach.

We just stood and stared at it

trying to take it in, like 

we'd never seen green before.

Also, you should go check out Marla's blog Lilac Lane Cottage

she has a really cool give-away for her 1 year blogging anniversary. 

Why Nigerian Dwarf Goats

As an avid Nubian goat person/breeder/lover, I am here to tell you I never thought I would see the day I would consider changing to another breed of goat, let alone a dwarf breed.

I have had my experience with pygmy goats and that is enough said about that.

Although Nigerian Dwarf goats and Pygmy goats share similar origins, they are each a separate and distinct breed.  Nigerian Dwarfs are dairy goats and are bred to have length of body and fineness of structure in proportion to true dairy character.

They have a gentle and loveable temperament of which I have never seen the like. Even the breeding bucks are easily handled.  Their size and gentle natures makes for perfect pets and 4H projects as they are easily handled by young children (and middle aged women who like to carry goats around).

These goats provide a surprising amount of milk for their size and although the Nubians have the highest butterfat levels of the standard-sized goat breeds, the Nigerian Dwarf goats possess the highest butterfat levels of all the goat breeds. According to the 2009 data from the American Dairy Goat Association, Nubian goat milk has approximately 4.8 percent butterfat, while Nigerian Dwarf goat milk averages 6.4 percent butterfat.  This milk will be wonderful for our soap and lotion products!

Other things I like about Nigerian Dwarf goats is the wide range of color and the fact that the newborns weigh around 2 lbs. and are just the cutest!!

We are patiently waiting for this big mama to deliver.

How about you?  Are you considering adding goats to your homestead?  

Goats are sensitive and intelligent animals.  They can be trained, but they do require proper care and nutrition.  They are dramatic and vocal, don’t mind tromping on your toes or using you for a springboard if you happen to be kneeling down.  In my experience, if the goat has food and protection it will not spend its day trying to escape fencing. They can provide milk, fertilizer, companionship and hours of entertainment (for the easily entertained).  Some breeds are good lawnmowers and weed eaters, but not all, so look into that ahead of time. Above all, be sure to get more than one goat. They really can’t handle being alone.  If you have a buck that will be separated from the does for part of the year, but sure to get a companion wether (castrated male). There are many goat breeders who would happily provide you with a wether for little to nothing in price.

I love to talk goats, so talk to me :  )

And check out all the great Farm Friend Friday posts at:

Verde Farm

Save Those Seeds

I read and subscribe to a long list of blogs, 90% of which have a common thread - a lifestyle of simple, rural, self-sufficiency.  Anyone striving for self-reliance is interested in growing their own food.  And anyone striving towards simplicity in their lives is interested in using what they have and saving money.  What better way to accomplish a true self-sufficient lifestyle than to be able to save your own seed for use from year to year?  Planting open pollinating seeds is not just about jumping on the bandwagon against Monsanto.  We rural folk don’t do bandwagons, but we do take care of our own and we do know the difference between a fresh egg and a store bought one.  We appreciate our food more, because we know where it came from and just like the egg, we know what a tomato is supposed to taste like.  We know our home grown tomatoes don’t last in the refrigerator for six weeks, and we know they wouldn’t make it on a truck shipped thousands of miles cross country.  We don’t need them to and we don’t need the hybrid seeds that produce thick skins to prevent bruising at the cost of real flavor.
So, forget not supporting Monsanto.  Forget saving the world, or at least your family and neighbors, with your heirloom seeds when the loss of biodiversity threatens catastrophe far beyond our imagining. Do it for you this year.  Do it for the people you care for and give or sell you produce to.  Plant heirloom variety open pollinated seeds and enjoy food the way it was meant to grow and taste.  Learn how to save seed that will come back “true to type”.  Harvest a little more from your labor this year, by gathering the seed also.
Think of the cost savings in not having to buy seed year after year because the hybrid seeds were never meant to be cultivated.  It just makes good sense!  I promised myself that I would not preach on modern seed development, but I would like to say that, you, a lone, backyard vegetable gardener, keeping heirloom seeds alive, can potentially make all the difference in the world.

Basking Wiener(s)

More Love

"The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals"

- anonymous -

Love Is In The Air

Lena is so excited!

She has some very good news!

 You will never guess!

Can you guess?

Let me give you a hint.

It involves Ole.

Have you guessed yet?

Do you know what her 

very special news is?

Her and Ole were married today!

And love is in the air!

It was a beautiful Valentines Day wedding.

Father Time officiated 

and Lena's sister's husband's nephew's boy, Agnar,

presented the rings.

It am so happy for them.

Won't you join me in congratulating them?

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!

luv, michaele

Get 'er Done

One floor done

Another to start.

I have a new pellet stove to put in this room,

but haven't done it because the carpet needed replaced.

I don't know how I am going to haul the carpet here,

what kind of carpet I want, a thing about laying carpet,

but this carpet had to go!  Nothing would get me going

on this project faster than tearing out the old carpet and

having the results to look at.

It was a good thing I didn't know ahead of time how

hard it is to pull up glued down carpet!

It was killing us!

Finally Rikki and I went to the shop to find something

to use besides our bare hands.

See that "pincher" tool in the middle?

If it weren't for that tool,

we would still be tugging up an inch at a time

and whining about it.

We also learned to work together,

rather than in our respective corners.

I would "pinch and pull" and the girls would "claw".

We got the job done.

Time for a little relaxation and a movie.

Then head back to town

for a Frosty Float from Wendy's.

(OMG good!)

Ramzie is very knowledgeable about

vehicle safety.

Be safe, be warm, work hard and eat well.

luv, michaele

Rampent Rodents and Rabbits

There has been a plethora

of activity 

on the farm

while I have been away.

And,

much to my chagrin,

this is what it is all about.

I tried to warn them, 

but they paid me no mind.

They have gone so far as to create

a major highway that runs from the

grain bins, across my garden

and into the woods.

Then again,

it has been a harsh winter.

I am glad they found food.

I just hope not to see any strange mutations

come spring.

I mean,

what kind of animal makes tracks like these?

Comment if you know

and put my mind at ease

please.

luv, michaele

Honored

I wrote a poem a few years back and was very proud of it.
I put it in my Christmas cards to family and friends.
And I submitted a copy to Countryside Magazine.
I never heard back from them.

A few years later, I saw it had been published and was delighted.

A few years after that, I found it randomly posted on the web and
it would also come up whenever I typed my name into the search engine.

It is funny where and when it will pop up.

Last year sometime, I was emailing back and forth, as part of my job,
a feedlot owner in Nebraska.
One email I received back from him said " Are you the Michaele Oleson who
wrote the poem about the hens?"
I got a chuckle out of that.

Today, I was reading all of the really neat Farm Friendly Friday posts that
I mentioned yesterday in my blog post.  There were darn near 50 of them.
I opened this one:  Field Of My Dreams  and there my poem was again!
It just made me feel so good that it was being shared with like minded bloggers
and animal lovers (especially chicken lovers).
I know the post had nothing to do with me - but I still felt honored.
Made my day actually.

I Love My Barn

All my life I have wanted a barn like this.

A barn with a loft.

When I was 5

I would have broken my arm in this barn.

I just know it.

When I was 7

I would have played cowboys and Indians

and horses and farmer.

When I was 9

I would have been a veterinarian

and nursed broken-winged birds back to health.

I would have been a pet store owner

and fed bread to the mice.

When I was 11

I would have had sleepovers in the loft

and we would have told ghost stories 

and giggled by the light of the moon.

When I was 13

I would think about having my first kiss in this barn.

I would have dreamt the day away.

When I was 15

I would write

and I would be kissed

and I would write about that too.

When I was 16

I would cry here

and toss my broken heart as far as I could see

and cry some more

and maybe start smoking cigarettes

 in this barn.

When I was 17

I would have no use for a silly barn.

When I was 30

I would begin my long journey 

back to the barn.

So that my daughters

could have what I only just dreamed of.

But they say the loft is "scary".

Oh please!

The loft is not scary.

Having your face fall off 

and no one around to put it back on

is scary!

Stay warm fellow barnhearts  : 0 )

This post is part of....

follow the link below to visit Verde Farm and

read all the other Farm Friendly Friday posts!

Verde Farm