Ready To Plant

Then

and now.

We are sooo ready to plant.  If the weather would just cooperate.

 Herbs.

 We use the lemon balm in our goat's milk soaps.

 Kale.

Peppers.

Watermelon.

Pumpkin.

Tomatillos.

And that is just a few of the plants ready to go in the ground.

The lettuce is staying where it is, in my kitchen window.

Just because I like having it there.

Here is a portrait Robert Duncan did of me in the garden.

Okay, so maybe not, but  it is a beautiful print.

Someday I will do a post on all of my Robert Duncan prints.

They are the only reason I lock my house when I leave.

It's Arbor Day today.

Arbor Day originated in Nebraska.

Since I work for the State, I got the day off.

I already did my tree planting post on Earth Day,

so this Arbor Day the post will have to be about garden plants.

Enjoy the day friends.

One Step at a Time

Let me start by saying how much I love our little goats.

I am a nurturer and nothing feeds my soul like caring for animals.

Especially baby animals who think I am their mama.

They have also been a good project for the girls and I,

because everyone wants to be held and cuddled at once 

and I don’t have that big of lap (and hope I never do).

BUT every time we get one challenge out of the way, 

there is just another to follow.

1. Disbudding

2. Vaccinating

3. Castrating

4. Weaning

We are in the process of #4 as I speak.

What makes this a challenge is that the goats are still at our place in town.

If they were at the farm full-time, they could scream their little heads off 

all they wanted and we would just get through it.

If they do that in my garage . . . well they can’t do that in my garage.

So, this is going to be a longer process then it should be.

They get their full bottle morning and night and 

only partial bottle the other two feedings.

They are not happy with me, but are pretty quiet.

They are offered alfalfa hay and Quaker Oats sprinkled with milk replacer.

We also gather dried leaves and grass for them, 

as well as let them out to gather their own in the afternoon. 

They go to the farm with us whenever we go and 

manage to find a plethora of palatable items to ingest.

My goal is to get them to be at the farm full time by mid-May.

Which brings us to

#5 Contain

We have been working on our goat fortresses.

Only this year, the problem is reversed.

I build not to keep the goats in, but to keep predators out. 

Much like the thinking that goes into building a chicken coop.

I worry that I can’t keep them safe.

Which brings us to:

#6 Establish a Herd

Well, I guess breeding would fall in there somewhere,

but the whole point of this process is to maintain a healthy dairy herd

which will provide milk and pleasure for our family and our family business.

Every step is a challenge.

We will get there – one step at a time.

If I can just keep these little buggers safe.

Linking up with Verde Farm Farm Friend and Farmgirl Friday.  Check it out
and have a great weekend!

Nurse Robbie To The Rescue

My second oldest daughter, Robbie, is a nurse.

She knows how to use needles.

She even gives babies shots.

She can handle screaming.

She was here for a week,

but I waited until the very last day,

the very last minute, and gave in to

asking her to give the goats their CDT vaccines.

I was afraid to be there and afraid not to be there.

I needed to learn, but was worried I would start bossing

a job I couldn't even do myself.  

We did make one minor change this time around.

Rather than offer them their bottle 

after the needle we offered it during.

I am here to tell you only one of the four even flinched.

There was no screaming, no jumping and no drama.

Although I just might be able to repeat the process

myself next time around, I told Robbie I would be

expecting her back for their annual booster.

She thought that was a grand idea.

Painless Lawn Mower Starter Cord Repair

I have a dog who can't be left alone with a lawn mower.

She immediately chews the starter rope in two.

I have to haul the mower to the repair shop,

 and wait a few days to pick it up and pay for it.

This year I decided I would learn how to do it myself.

It was getting rather embarrassing and expensive.

It really is very simple.

Let me show you how simple it is.

You can surprise your husbands with your initiative,

and buy yourself something nice with the money you saved.

This is a Briggs and Stratton mower.

The first step is to take off the housing that holds the pulley.

Use a 3/8" socket.  There are only 3 bolts to remove.

The housing holds the spring loaded starter pulley

and usually the other half of the chewed rope.

Go ahead and remove the old rope.

Then turn the pulley counter clockwise again and again until

there is full tension on it.  You will have to keep a hold of the pulley

at all times with one hand so as to hold the tension.

This is a good learning opportunity for the whole family. 

 The photos don't show, but there are two holes that 

need to be lined up so you can insert the new cord.  One hole is on

the outside of the housing and one on the pulley.  I was lucky and 

the cord when right through with no trouble.

(note that I am still holding the tension on the pulley)

Tie a knot in the end of the rope and slowly let off of the tension

on the pulley and let the cord wind in. 

Reattach the housing with the three bolts.

 This is another good learning opportunity.

Show your daughter, and anyone else who might be interested,

 how a ratchet works.  They will thank you for it when they are older.

Pull the cord up the lawnmower handle 

through the looped screw used to hold it in place.

Fire up the mower and hand it over to your daughters to do the rest.

Try to ignore your show off neighbors and remember how good 

walking is for you.

I was delighted to be able to start up that motor, 

but not everyone was ready for all that noise.

Have a great week friends.

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In My Easter Basket

This is what was in my Easter Basket:

A large blue flash light.

A rain gauge.

A chicken wind chime.

A five pack of utility knife blades.

A three pack of garden gloves.

A box of Milk Duds.

And a hand-made card.

Are my girls the greatest or what?!

The Day After Earth Day

Ten days ago we picked up our tree order.

I had ordered 25 northern catalpa tree and

25 elderberry bush seedlings.

When I unwrapped the trees at the farm,

I saw I had been given 50 elderberry.

They said I could keep them rather than 

make the trip back.

I had mixed feelings about this.

But they were mine now.

We had some of the holes dug ahead of time,

but when we were ready to plant, we got 5 inces of snow.

We waited two days and planted the catalpa trees.

I don't think we have ever been muddier.

Knowing we had nothing but wet weather in the forecast

and more snow likely, I dug more holes, for later,

and toed in the rest of the seedlings in the garden.

That is where they have been for at least a week.

My daughter from Wyoming has been visiting this week.

It has been wonderful to have her here.

Since she is leaving tomorrow, and today the weather was

halfway decent, we brought her out with us to help with the planting.

She helped break up the dirt and then placed the wood 

shavings around the seedlings.

Here are her and Rikki working together.

Rikki planting elderberry bushes.

Rylee planting elderberry bushes.

Such teamwork.  We got the seedlings planted in no time.

It was also a great way to celebrate (the day after) earth day.

When we got home, Rylee started her sunflower garden.

Check out all those sunflower varieties in the windowsill.

We still aren't done with the seedlings.
Maybe I should put them in a blog give away  (lol).
We also have grape, raspberry, and blueberry plants
to get in.  They have been leafing out for weeks now
in a sunny window.  The farmers are behind in getting
the corn planted.  Those who planted early will most likely
have to replant because the seed will have rotted with all the
wet weather we have had.
I thought April would mean sunshine at last,
but it looks like May will be the magic month.

What did you do on Earth Day?

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Tie Dyed Easter Eggs

You will need assorted food colorings.

Lots of hard boiled eggs.

Plastic wrap and paper towels.

Lay the plastic wrap out to protect the surface

you are working on.  

Remember - this is food coloring

not Easter egg dye.

Tear off one paper towel, wad it up and dip it in water.

Wring out excess water from paper towel.

Open the paper towel and lay it out over the plastic wrap.

Now drop single drops of food coloring

in a small area of the paper towel.

Gently wrap the egg inside the paper towel.

Like so...

 Pour a little more water onto the towel wrapped egg.

It helps spread the color around.

It gets a little messy but what kind of fun doesn't?

 Repeat the process with all the eggs

making different color combinations

or whatever suits your fancy.

 Place the wrapped eggs back into the egg carton

and (this is the hard part) leave until dry.

When dried, carefully unwarap

and (viola) enjoy your art.

Have a very fun Easter my friends!

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