Sage Grass
Sage Grass Cat
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Thanksgiving Day Song
Over the driveway, and down the road, to Mother's (and Father's) house I go.
The Waldorf Crown Salad Awaits....
....as does the Corn Bread Salad
The Crescent rolls are on their second rise, and I'll soon pop them in the oven.
The Ranger knows the way, to carry me and the food and, hey,
there's no white and drifting snow! Oh! (Yeah!)
there's no white and drifting snow! Oh! (Yeah!)
The Waldorf Crown Salad Awaits....
....as does the Corn Bread Salad
The Crescent rolls are on their second rise, and I'll soon pop them in the oven.Then I'll load up the truck and make the two minute drive to my folks house, and enjoy a day of good food and visiting with family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Especially to my brother Ronnie and family. Miss you guys and hope you have a great day.
Especially to my brother Ronnie and family. Miss you guys and hope you have a great day.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Scattered Thoughts....
Scattered thoughts and observations tonight. Just got back in from checking the sheep for the final time this evening. It is so beautiful outside. The temps are mild, the sky a deep dark blue, with white lacy clouds slipping by. The moon is three quarters full and shinning brightly, with stars twinkling backup.
The weather was frenetic the last few days, with rain, cold winds and a drop in temperatures. Saturday brought some sleet, rain and generally dismal conditions. Today was warmer, with the sun out in full force. The wind was strong, but not too cold.
I took the dogs for a walk earlier, and because deer season started yesterday, we all had our 'hunter orange' gear on.
We just walk down the roads, but the woods and fields press in on all sides, and the hunters are not always wise. The deer are plentiful this year, and it's been wearing driving to work the last few weeks. Just this week I've seen six deer dead on the roads and have had several sightings of live ones, to close for comfort. The ditches haven't been mown much this year, and tall growth easily conceal the deer until you are right upon them. All the same, I'll be glad when hunting season is over, as it isn't a pleasant time around here.
The sunsets have been unbelievable recently. It's hard to capture the extent of their dramatic beauty with the camera, but I keep trying. God is an extravagant artist!
I was pleased to get a call from my 'wood guy' this past week. He had found someone to let him cut, and already had my wood up at his house ready to deliver. I begged off a few days until payday, and then he brought it over. It's beautiful stuff, nicely split with some green and dry mixed together. He brought three cords, with a little extra thrown in. Isn't that just a pretty sight? Look at those nicely crafted ends.
Then compare (if you must) to my sorry little stack featured in an earlier post. 
Having this wood eases my mind, and should last me this year, with close to a cord to carry over for next year. I've still got a nice stack of last years wood, plus all that was hauled up from the ice storm piles. It's very dry and burns wonderfully.
Left to right are Sprat, Omen and Orion.
Tonight when I fastened the chickens up, I came up one short. The one missing is an Ameracuana, and is a light grey with a reddish cast. In other words, at dusk, she would be almost impossible to find. First I checked the hen house thoroughly, then the pen, then under the hen house. It's always a bad feeling when one comes up missing. Chickens that don't go into the house don't make it through the night around here... too many 'coons and 'possums. So standing there, scanning the sheep paddock and thinking where to check next, I noticed that the plastic tub that I keep under the sheep mineral was in a different place. I usually keep it bungee corded under the bottom of the mineral feeder to catch the loose stuff. However the sheep often un-bungee it and move it around. The thing was it was upside down... hmmm... I went over and flipped it over, and there she was! I thought she was dead, as she didn't move, but turns out she was just 'frozen' like they will do when in the dark. I picked her up and she squawked loudly and long. She jumped up on the roost in the hen house, so I'm hoping she will be okay. Geesh....
In other sheep news, the plan, now, is to break up the breeding group next weekend. I plan to take Sprat, Orion and Omen over to Allena's. The O's will be spending the winter over there in Allena's little ram flock. I'll re-evaluate them in the spring, if they aren't sold and go from there. I went to the big city Saturday and when I got home had a rude shock. I looked out at the main ewe flock and saw this rack of horns in amongst them. What? About then Sprat's head popped up and I realized that he was not where he was suppose to be! Argh. I wanted to cut down and have an easier lambing season, but now it looks like it'll be just a 'normal' one.. bah. At this point it looks like eight ewes have been exposed to Sprat....at least. His raddle paint was pretty worn off so the evident markers weren't there. However I'm pretty sure by their, uh, messy hair styles that both Rain and Tabitha were cycling. The last time Rain cycled she tried to bash down the fence to get with Sprat (as in backing up, running and ramming the fence! The hussy....), and this time she succeeded. They managed to open about two wires in the corner of a gate, for Sprat to squeeze through. All the big, fat, fluffy ewes in his breeding group couldn't fit through, so they were all still where they were suppose to be. I've fixed the fence, and hoping no more 'incidents'...enough is enough. On the plus side, they are all Shetlands and there is no questions on paternity. It'll be real nice to get all the girls back together. Then I'll need to put up a second fence line to keep Blue (the Merino ram) from coming in contact with the girls when I move him into his winter paddock. It'll be much easier with 'only' three sheep groups to care for. (Right now there are five--three ram groups, one ewe main flock and the breeding group).
I'll leave you with a picture of the kitty boys, taking advantage of an unmade bed and the warmth from the wood stove.
Have a good week everyone.....
The weather was frenetic the last few days, with rain, cold winds and a drop in temperatures. Saturday brought some sleet, rain and generally dismal conditions. Today was warmer, with the sun out in full force. The wind was strong, but not too cold.
I took the dogs for a walk earlier, and because deer season started yesterday, we all had our 'hunter orange' gear on.
We just walk down the roads, but the woods and fields press in on all sides, and the hunters are not always wise. The deer are plentiful this year, and it's been wearing driving to work the last few weeks. Just this week I've seen six deer dead on the roads and have had several sightings of live ones, to close for comfort. The ditches haven't been mown much this year, and tall growth easily conceal the deer until you are right upon them. All the same, I'll be glad when hunting season is over, as it isn't a pleasant time around here.The sunsets have been unbelievable recently. It's hard to capture the extent of their dramatic beauty with the camera, but I keep trying. God is an extravagant artist!
I was pleased to get a call from my 'wood guy' this past week. He had found someone to let him cut, and already had my wood up at his house ready to deliver. I begged off a few days until payday, and then he brought it over. It's beautiful stuff, nicely split with some green and dry mixed together. He brought three cords, with a little extra thrown in. Isn't that just a pretty sight? Look at those nicely crafted ends.
Then compare (if you must) to my sorry little stack featured in an earlier post. 
Having this wood eases my mind, and should last me this year, with close to a cord to carry over for next year. I've still got a nice stack of last years wood, plus all that was hauled up from the ice storm piles. It's very dry and burns wonderfully.I took this picture of the three ram lambs before putting Sprat in with the ewes. The picture turned out rather dark, but I still enjoy seeing the little boys together. Orion and Omen are off in a separate pen now, near where Jeff and Callum live. You would think it was outer Siberia the way boys act.
Left to right are Sprat, Omen and Orion.Tonight when I fastened the chickens up, I came up one short. The one missing is an Ameracuana, and is a light grey with a reddish cast. In other words, at dusk, she would be almost impossible to find. First I checked the hen house thoroughly, then the pen, then under the hen house. It's always a bad feeling when one comes up missing. Chickens that don't go into the house don't make it through the night around here... too many 'coons and 'possums. So standing there, scanning the sheep paddock and thinking where to check next, I noticed that the plastic tub that I keep under the sheep mineral was in a different place. I usually keep it bungee corded under the bottom of the mineral feeder to catch the loose stuff. However the sheep often un-bungee it and move it around. The thing was it was upside down... hmmm... I went over and flipped it over, and there she was! I thought she was dead, as she didn't move, but turns out she was just 'frozen' like they will do when in the dark. I picked her up and she squawked loudly and long. She jumped up on the roost in the hen house, so I'm hoping she will be okay. Geesh....
In other sheep news, the plan, now, is to break up the breeding group next weekend. I plan to take Sprat, Orion and Omen over to Allena's. The O's will be spending the winter over there in Allena's little ram flock. I'll re-evaluate them in the spring, if they aren't sold and go from there. I went to the big city Saturday and when I got home had a rude shock. I looked out at the main ewe flock and saw this rack of horns in amongst them. What? About then Sprat's head popped up and I realized that he was not where he was suppose to be! Argh. I wanted to cut down and have an easier lambing season, but now it looks like it'll be just a 'normal' one.. bah. At this point it looks like eight ewes have been exposed to Sprat....at least. His raddle paint was pretty worn off so the evident markers weren't there. However I'm pretty sure by their, uh, messy hair styles that both Rain and Tabitha were cycling. The last time Rain cycled she tried to bash down the fence to get with Sprat (as in backing up, running and ramming the fence! The hussy....), and this time she succeeded. They managed to open about two wires in the corner of a gate, for Sprat to squeeze through. All the big, fat, fluffy ewes in his breeding group couldn't fit through, so they were all still where they were suppose to be. I've fixed the fence, and hoping no more 'incidents'...enough is enough. On the plus side, they are all Shetlands and there is no questions on paternity. It'll be real nice to get all the girls back together. Then I'll need to put up a second fence line to keep Blue (the Merino ram) from coming in contact with the girls when I move him into his winter paddock. It'll be much easier with 'only' three sheep groups to care for. (Right now there are five--three ram groups, one ewe main flock and the breeding group).
I'll leave you with a picture of the kitty boys, taking advantage of an unmade bed and the warmth from the wood stove.
Have a good week everyone.....
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Just Dogs
Just thought I'd post some old pictures of the dogs. Jody passed away two years ago. Ariel is now 11 and Boone looks a whole lot better than he did in some of these pictures. You can see how puppyish looking he was, even though he was still thin and his hair hadn't slicked down yet. Hope you enjoy.
Jody--just home from the groomer
Jody, just groomed. (That is sweet Salome the Himalayan just behind her)
Ariel, just home from the groomers (they went twice and hated it both times! ;-)
Ariel and Boone, checking out an interesting scent
Beautiful Jody and Boone, shortly before Jody passed on
The pack.... a couple months after Boone joined us.
Ariel & Jody out for a walk in the field
Scrawny Boone and the girls out for a walk (Boone is on a flexi-lead)
Jody and Boone on the pond bank.
Jody on the pond bank...kinda looks like a scene out of Lassie
Boone....lets play ball!
Boone and Jody
Good dogs, good days.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Coming Home
Out for a drive one day, I snapped a few pictures........
........back before the trees started to change
When I turn in the driveway, the first thing I do is glance up to the yard to see the dogs. Sometimes they bark, but sometimes they don't. If they know it's me, they will bark for sure. This is what I see when I pull up to the yard. My very own fan club/welcoming committee. (She's here! She's here!!) Every time.
It doesn't matter if I've been gone ten minutes or ten hours. Humans could take lessons.
How can that not make your heart happy?
........back before the trees started to change
I seem to be obsessed with hay.
When I turn in the driveway, the first thing I do is glance up to the yard to see the dogs. Sometimes they bark, but sometimes they don't. If they know it's me, they will bark for sure. This is what I see when I pull up to the yard. My very own fan club/welcoming committee. (She's here! She's here!!) Every time. 
It doesn't matter if I've been gone ten minutes or ten hours. Humans could take lessons. 
How can that not make your heart happy?Monday, November 03, 2008
Chick(en) Pics
As most readers of this blog know, my flock of chickens, is, well, old. Senior citizens with feathers, as it were. I don't 'plan' (and we know how that goes) to get any new chickens until the Tough Old Birds finish out their lives here. In the meantime, I get enough eggs, most of the year, to keep me supplied, with an occasional overflow to family members.
In the distant future, when I start a new little flock, I might try something that is on the rare list, but I do like my Ameracuanas, which are most likely 'easter eggers', but I really don't give a hoot. They are such a tough little bird,lay consistently and come in a large variety of colors.
So, anyway, back 'in the day', about every other year I would buy a small batch of assorted breeds from the hatchery. Then there were a few years where a determined hen 'stole' a nest and tried to hatch out a few babies (usually with disastrous results, so that I would end up going to the hatchery anyway to supplement her hatch.) In the end, my flock was pretty diverse, but for the most part purebred---Dominiques, Production Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rock, Black sex-links, and a colorful assortment of the Ameracuanas.
Here is a picture of a Black Sex-link (these are very similar to Production Reds, in shape and production values, but can be sexed at birth as the hens are always black, if I remember correctly). They lay a large brown egg. I bought six of these little chicks in 1997--yep, 1997, so that makes her.... 11 and almost a half. She is the last of these girls. Really she has aged remarkably well, she isn't hunched up like her picture implies, (she thought there was a bit to eat there on the ground), and until she molted a few weeks ago she looked shiny and very healthy. She also crows. Quite well, in fact. Wing flapping and all. The rooster doesn't seem to mind, as she is one of his special ladies.
Next is one of the 'younger' generation. Her name is On'y (as in Only) as the broody hen who hatched her only managed to produce one live chick. Of course this resulted in me purchasing 13 day old Ameracuana chicks from the hatchery to 'keep her company'. Hatched in July of 2002, On'y is in her prime at just 6 years old. Her dad was a lovely russet colored Ameracauna, and her mom was, you guessed it--a black sex-link! She really is a pretty girl, and even has the full muff and beard of the Ameracuana. I think she lays brown eggs, but have never been able to catch her in the act to know for sure.
Lastly are two hens that are simply known as 'the twins'. They have been inseparable since hatching back in July of 2003, and are the youngest and last hatch on the farm. They did have two Ameracauna hatch mates, and I purchased some Buff Orpingtons to round out the hatch. I ended up selling all but these two and one silver Ameracauna hen (I suspected the ones I sold were all roosters). These girls are very petite and almost 'game -like' in their appearance. They are 'slick feathered' and have no muffs or beards. They are also very fast, and on the spooky side. Interestingly enough, they are also an Ameracuana and Black Sex-link cross, even though they look totally different from On'y. Again, I'm unsure what color eggs they lay.
That's it for today, from the hen house at Fairlight Farm!
In the distant future, when I start a new little flock, I might try something that is on the rare list, but I do like my Ameracuanas, which are most likely 'easter eggers', but I really don't give a hoot. They are such a tough little bird,lay consistently and come in a large variety of colors.
So, anyway, back 'in the day', about every other year I would buy a small batch of assorted breeds from the hatchery. Then there were a few years where a determined hen 'stole' a nest and tried to hatch out a few babies (usually with disastrous results, so that I would end up going to the hatchery anyway to supplement her hatch.) In the end, my flock was pretty diverse, but for the most part purebred---Dominiques, Production Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rock, Black sex-links, and a colorful assortment of the Ameracuanas.
Here is a picture of a Black Sex-link (these are very similar to Production Reds, in shape and production values, but can be sexed at birth as the hens are always black, if I remember correctly). They lay a large brown egg. I bought six of these little chicks in 1997--yep, 1997, so that makes her.... 11 and almost a half. She is the last of these girls. Really she has aged remarkably well, she isn't hunched up like her picture implies, (she thought there was a bit to eat there on the ground), and until she molted a few weeks ago she looked shiny and very healthy. She also crows. Quite well, in fact. Wing flapping and all. The rooster doesn't seem to mind, as she is one of his special ladies.
Next is one of the 'younger' generation. Her name is On'y (as in Only) as the broody hen who hatched her only managed to produce one live chick. Of course this resulted in me purchasing 13 day old Ameracuana chicks from the hatchery to 'keep her company'. Hatched in July of 2002, On'y is in her prime at just 6 years old. Her dad was a lovely russet colored Ameracauna, and her mom was, you guessed it--a black sex-link! She really is a pretty girl, and even has the full muff and beard of the Ameracuana. I think she lays brown eggs, but have never been able to catch her in the act to know for sure.
Lastly are two hens that are simply known as 'the twins'. They have been inseparable since hatching back in July of 2003, and are the youngest and last hatch on the farm. They did have two Ameracauna hatch mates, and I purchased some Buff Orpingtons to round out the hatch. I ended up selling all but these two and one silver Ameracauna hen (I suspected the ones I sold were all roosters). These girls are very petite and almost 'game -like' in their appearance. They are 'slick feathered' and have no muffs or beards. They are also very fast, and on the spooky side. Interestingly enough, they are also an Ameracuana and Black Sex-link cross, even though they look totally different from On'y. Again, I'm unsure what color eggs they lay.
That's it for today, from the hen house at Fairlight Farm!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Autumn Musings
Still, here and there , unexpectedly there were stunning glimpses of color; sun reflecting on ambers, golds, and scarlets, refracting light so it seemed the whole world glimmered in that moment; storms rolling in with dramatic cloud formations, shadow and dark highlighted by the sudden breaking through of a shaft of sunlight.
Last night the 'time changed' or at least we humans pretended it did, and now the long nights begin. The dogs and I meandered out through the field for a soon to be rare evening walk. The weather is lovely and warm, maybe a bit too warm, but at this time of the year I won't question it. The breeze was soft and the earth smelled warm and damp.
Sunset
Ariel
BooneAs winter creeps closer, I am still marking off 'things to do' from my list and it is actually almost all done! This weekend I managed to get plastic up on the chicken house, bathe both dogs and wash up all the dog bedding, pull up the frost killed garden plants and a few other odds and ends.
Some of the girls and their giant bale of hay(that is Echo the cat on the top of the bale)
Sweet Chickie and I hope you have a great week.
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