Newest Barn Quilts...

Finally got my two newest barn quilts hung:). 

Another Barn Quilt Done and ready for hanging...

Another barn quilt done and ready for hanging:). Yippie... Can't wait to see how many of these fun things we end up hanging all over our farm before I decide enough is enough.

Barn Quilting Fun:)

I absolutely LOVE my hobby:). I am determined to add a little whimsy to all of our outbuildings and barns:)... 

Who Lives Here?

I love creating intentional and unintentional homes for animals around our farm. Makes me wonder who lives in this cute little house:). 

My Newest Barn Quilt...

I absolutely LOVE making these things! They add so much character and whimsy around the farmstead. I usually start out with one idea or pattern in mind and end up with something totally different:). 

Newest Barn Quilt

I LOVE making these barn quilts. They add so much character to barns and other out-buildings:).

Beauty Around the Farm...

Trying to breath and enjoy beauty around the farm instead of focusing on all of the damn snakes I have encountered lately. I have seen more snakes in a 2 week period than I have ever seen in my life. I encountered a copperhead in the garden yesterday (woooo freakin' hoo for me). By the time I returned with a gun, it was gone. Of course.... So... Every time I return to the garden, I will be worried about copperheads. FML.... 

Beauty Around the Farm

Took a break to enjoy some beauty around our farm... I love taking time out to "smell the flowers," so to speak:). 

Re-Purposing

So... Today, I plan to re-purpose a portable greenhouse I purchased (similar to this one) into a "chicken" room. I will keep the door/flap rolled up permanently and will place chicken friendly plants inside. This will give the chickens something else to do to keep them busy and will make me happy because I will feel like I am doing something good:). Will likely place marigolds, catnip, mint, etc... inside the greenhouse. I will post pictures once I have it all set up and ready to go!!! Exciting! I love developing new enrichment activities/areas for the kiddos! 

Guinea Hens for Dinner

Dinner plans changed. Someone hit 2 of our guinea hens on the road and drove up to tell us, thankfully. Still warm so not wasting the meat. Heart breaking bc these were pets and insect eaters. But... Can't control where free range birds go. Bummer!

Worm Bucket

Finally got fed up paying retail prices for worms... Yes... WORMS!

So... I decided to make my own small worm farm using compost our animals loving poop out daily. We let it "bake"until it is ready and it makes the MOST wonderful potting soil, etc...

Decided to use it for my little vermiculture experiment this time, however:). 

I bought one container of worms and let them wiggle their way down through the rich soil. I also dug up a few and added them to the bucket. I will let them do their thing for 60 days or so, adding things they will eat from time to time, and see what we have at the end of the 60 day period. 

I threw some cut boards over the top to keep interested animals out of my experiment. Plus, it adds some darkness to their new home. 

Keepin' it interesting:).......... Love farm life! 

Life on the Crazy Farm...

So... When you live on a crazy farm, sometimes you just have to throw your hands up and laugh with it all...

Earlier, my daughter's border collie, Missy, growled and barked at our potbelly pig, Amelia. The growl/bark must have infuriated Amelia because as soon as I could blink, she was chasing Missy through the house. LMBO.... Missy ran and jumped up onto the couch to escape "the pig." Taaaahaaaahaaaa!!! Family:). Gotta love all of them:). 

Electric Chainsaw

I LOVE my new electric chainsaw. It is in the 5 pound range, so it is easy for me to control. I tried picking up my husband's chainsaw and struggled. Even the small 8 pound gas powered chainsaws were uncomfortable to hold for any period of time. 

At first I insisted that I wanted a gas operated chainsaw until I read the reviews on the electric ones. This small saw is perfect for the small projects I will do around the farm. 

LGD

Getting our Kangal/Great Pyrenees puppy next week. Opted for a female just because I like female dogs. Hoping the Great Pyrenees mellows out the Kangal's fondness of roaming. Don't need a roamer. Fingers and toes crossed... Wish us luck!!! 

http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_pyrenees/index.cfm

http://kangal.ca/breed-information/temperament/

Farm Life

Farm life is NEVER boring... From broken water mains, to harrowing pastures, to vaccuming stalls, to messing with chicken vents..... Never a dull moment:).

Chickadee is Coming Home

We thought our chicken had a prolapsed vent. Thankfully, took her to a wonderful vet who said she had an abcess. He popped the pouch, emptied it, gave her a "stay suture", steroid shot, and an antibiotic. He was the ONLY vet I called that would see a damn chicken. Other vets who said they see birds, REFUSE to see chickens which is annoying as hell. So, they only want to see birds that do nothing but sit in a cage and look pretty as opposed to a bird that actually has a job? I called 5 vets who supposedly see birds, and NONE would see her:(. So, we drove 2 hours to see one who would. 

Busy, Busy, Busy Summer:).

I haven't been very active on here in a couple of months and really miss it:)... I like writing and sharing life. Summer around the farm keeps everyone busy. From re-seeding pastures, to clearing woods, to painting houses, barns, and other outbuildings, to organic pest control when you can go the organic route...... One of my major "tasks" for the past few months has been combating fire ants. Although I have tried using organic methods to combat these pets, I have been unsuccessful. The only thing that seems to work is chemical eradication, which normally, having other farm animals, I wouldn't go for, but these pesky insects make everyone and everything cringe. In ground bees have been more pesky than usual this year. I do, use an "organic" method for killing those bad-boys, however.... Horses and in ground bees DO NOT mash. But.... Neither do humans and in ground bees. Believe it or not, I have spent at least 2 days a week for the past couple of months fighting those pests... I don't bother bumble bees or honey bees, but HATE, HATE, HATE wasps and yellow jackets with a PASSION! So, of course, farm duties coupled with "general life," makes for a super busy but fulfilling schedule. But..... Not lost, are the days of enjoying "CHICKEN TV," (watching the colorful and very active chickens, guineas, and ducks play), and our goat herd (that includes 2 sheep and a barn cat). The barn cat loves HER HERD, and goes everywhere they go. She is their shadow. Gotta love barn kitty! I will be more active on this blog from now on:). Can't promise HOW active, but certainly MORE active!!! 

Quack Quacks

Our babies playing in their outside yard until they are old enough to free range.

Gotta Love Them Kiddos:)

I just love my goat/sheep herd. Blessing, the goat at the bottom, is such a great milker..... She LOVES tree leaves. Probably her favorite food......... Above..... Roxy and Eduardo enjoy grading. Eduardo is a Herdwick sheep (very rare). Had his balls banded as a baby and wish I wouldn't have now.... The picture above the sheep is what happens when you yell "here Kiddos," around my house, lol......... They are my shadows and I love it:).

Bummer

We lost one of our Indian Runner Ducks to a damn black snake today...... Super bummed. Our beautiful Indian Runner Duck was about 2-3 months old now, and was developing beautiful color and feathers. She was the largest of the 2 indian runners, and tried protecting the other ducks/guineas/chickens from the snake. She lost her life. The other sad part is that I had to kill the snake. I don't like to kill non-poisonous snakes, but this snake would have kept coming back for food if I would have simple tossed it out in the woods. Was about a 6 ft long black snake. Double bummer!!!!!!!