On the 12th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me.....

On the 12th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me.....
-12 Toes for Trimming-
11 dozen cookies, 

10 loaves rising,

9 ladies laying,

8 mommys baking,

7 cats for chasing,

6 nights of canning,

- 5 BALES OF HAY -

4 baby bunnies,

3 dairy goats,

2 dozen eggs,

and A Bald Eagle perched in a Pine Tree

The toes I am referring to are Goat "toes"  Our goats get a pedicure every month. Goats have cloven hooves and can get sore feet like people. It's amazing how much animals can be like people.... or maybe people are like animals (I know some people who are animals!) Anyway they get their feet trimmed once a month. I don't get a pedicure that often. Sometimes I think they have it better than I do!

On the 11th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

On the 11th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

- 11 dozen cookies -

10 loaves for baking,

9 ladies laying,

8 mommys baking,

7 cats for chasing,

6 nights of canning,

- 5 BALES OF HAY -

4 baby bunnies,

3 dairy goats,

2 dozen eggs,

and A Bald Eagle perched in a Pine Tree

Whew.... I have missed how many days? I tell you just when I think things are going right- something comes right in and overwhelms me.  This weather has been very difficult to deal with. Farm chores have almost seem to double.... and the days are shorter! Thankfully we got plug in heaters for the water troughs for the chickens and goats- so the only one we have to hike out warm water to is the rabbits (twice a day)

The cold has me a bit nuerotic....I am actually having nightmares that we forget to put up the goats and the chickens freeze. I worry that the rabbits will freeze, though I know they love the cold. I worry that the goats are going to jump on the pool and go through the ice..... essentially I am worried in that there will be some sort of frigid end for someone on the farm. The hows and whens change but the theme remains consistent. Icy demise.

I have so much going on and so many extra Christmas things to do... no wonder this is called the busiest time of the year! How I would love to sit in front of the fire and relax, maybe roast some chestnuts (although I used all that was left of those for my Thanksgiving dressing- but it's my fantasy) But to relax would be lovely... I have to make tonight a short entry because I am doing my baking, cleaning and working all at one time while trying to blog... I just can't focus (go figure :~)  Hope you all are staying warm!

on the 7th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me....

on the 7th Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me....

7 Cats for Chasing

6 nights of canning

- 5 BALES OF HAY -

4 baby bunnies

3 dairy goats

2 dozen eggs

and A Bald Eagle perched in a Pine Tree

that's a snapshot of what my day looks like really. How funny. Tonight is a busy one... I should have written "A Million Presents for Wrapping"  I have so much to do - and I feel like tonight is a good night to catch up. So on that note.... have a great night all!

On the Sixth day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

On the Sixth day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

Six Nights Spent Canning

- FIVE BALES OF HAY -

4 baby bunnies,

3 dairy goats,

2 dozen eggs,

and A Bald Eagle perched in a Pine Tree

I am always canning. I love it because it's a great skill to have- even though I haven't mastered it yet :)

I am always trying new things and sometimes they turn out great- other times not so much. I have lots of things I like to can... I could give you recipes, or your welcome to come over and we can Can something together. It's fun for me!



Tomato Sauce I Canned this Year



Canning is a great way to store summers bounty for winter. and Without extra chemicals or crazy processes that the Food Industry uses on our everyday food.

It is amazing how much food our family eats over the winter- part of the reason for the current 'experiment'- and it seems basics like tomato sauce go fast.... Experience is the key to figuring this all out it seems. (But I think it's the key to success at anything really- so I'll keep at it)

When I'm not canning (and it's cold outside) I like to cook, bake, sew or scrapbook or just read. I love to read books about Country Living and the like. There are alot of great references available out there- My favorite book is by Carla Emery and is an all inclusive look at country life. I also like magazines like Mother Earth News and Grit. There is always something new to be learned and I love to soak it all up. I don't know/ realize how much I retain until things pop up where I need the knowledge. Recently SugarBear got a mild case of Bloat and I knew to go get her some feed grade soda at the Co-Op and almost immediately tragedy avoided. So it does pay off. Other times it just is awesome to have them on hand.... like when it's time to process a deer. Who knows that stuff unless they have done it before? And it's not like there is a college class called Deer Gutting: 101 

So books are great to have around. I love the Internet but there is something much more personal about curling up with a book; it's a warm cozy feeling that is just not replaceable. I also can't take my computer in the tub with me - and I love to read in the tub.

All the critters are doing fine except for one Henrietta who really doesn't like the cold. She is the thinnest of all the chickens and I wondered about her possibly being ill previously. She seems to be chilled and stays in all the time and is not very active. I am watching her closely and bringing her food...We will see tomorrow if she is ok. Everyone else is doing good. Cold but good.

The first day of the Food Experiment was successful. I am dubbing this Operation FallOut. This is an inside joke but it has been a success so far today. I really wanted processed sweets tonight so I made some meringues. They are homemade (egg white, salt, AC vinegar, sugar) and have no extra chemicals etc that say an Oreo would. And it still tastes like creme filling :)

Anyway so far so good... hopefully the weather will start to warm up soon. I'm not sure what the Farmer's Almanac says but at this rate maybe we will have another white Christmas.

Merry Christmas to All and To All a Good Night.

on the Fifth Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

on the Fifth Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

- 5 BALES OF HAY -

4 baby bunnies,

3 dairy goats,

2 dozen eggs,

and a Bald Eagle perched in a Pine Tree

5 Bales of Hay is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. Especially this time of year when all everybody eats is hay. 

Hay can be expensive too. We have enough pasture here to make alot of hay- but we don't have all the equipment. (We do have the right tractor- but not the right attachments yet) So we buy hay.

This year we are realizing that we should just buy the attachments because the weather got cold and the hay got pricey! There are lots of different types of hay... and different animals need and prefer different types. I am just learning all this. Apparently, all grass is not created equal. (I was aware of this growing up vaguely because my dad was obsessed with the lawn) There is hay with a legume mix for more protein, stemmy hay that has more roughage .... there is so much to know! Thankfully my goats will eat it all (but prefer less stems), my rabbits love all greens so far (and love the cheaper hay the best) and I just use the hay to line the nest boxes for the chickens but they will sometimes eat the seeds out of the goats waste hay. Goats waste alot of hay. I often find myself scolding them like children... GarnerGoat you did not eat your greens....

Today was a very cold day. There are no leaves left on the trees and all thats left for the goats to scavange for is my out of control mint patch (the garden once had flowers in it as well but the mint took over very quickly) grass, and pine. They really like pine but they don't eat too much at a time. Probably is too acidic or something. The chickens have no bugs to scavenge for so I am plussing up their diet with everything I can clean out of my fridge. Yesterday I gave them 2 bowls of bread and milk that was quickly devoured. Today I gave them a filet of salmon. They are too funny the way they love to eat different things and they go into something like a feeding frenzy. I have learned watching them recently that I will definitely not take them anything extra next summer while I am barefoot. My toes would be in danger.

Tomorrow I am starting my food "experiment" It is actually going to be an experiment 2-fold. I am going to do this for 1 week. I am convinced of 2 things now... I have more than enough food for the time, and that I am addicted to processed food. SO I am going to attempt to do without processed food in addition to the original experiment of only "shopping" in my pantry. Tomorrow I am going to get a gallon of milk, cat food, half  'n' half, and potatoes to make sure that I have those staples. I had went shopping at Wegmans already and got some very nice veggies so I will have fresh veggies to go along with this experiment. -I don't want this first week to be too painful- Otherwise I am using only things that I already own. It was amazing what I could come with for the week when I really looked inside my pantry- my menu is below if you are interested:

Monday- Venison Roast with Celery and Carrots in Crock Pot, Potatoes, Broccoli

Tuesday- Flank Steak / Chinese Stir Fry Veggies, Rice

Wednesday- Venison Chili, Corn Bread

Thursday- Chicken, Green Beans, CousCous

Friday- Rabbit in the Crock Pot with Veggies and Potatoes (I'll also make homemade bread)

Saturday- Homemade Pizza (leftover dough from bread makes great pizza dough)

Sunday- Something to celebrate... probably steak :)

I will make treats along the way to keep up morale... they will depend on how everyone is holding out.

Wish me luck!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me....

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me....

- 4 Baby Bunnies -

- 3 Dairy Goats -

- 2 Dozen Eggs -

and A Bald Eagle Perched in a Pine Tree

The Baby Bunnies are cuties. They always are. We don't typically interact too much with them, it's easier to not get attached that way.  So the bunnies are cute, but not really that friendly. It is not hard to tame a bunny... it just takes a consistent amount of interaction. But like I said we don't interact with ours too much.... Last night I had a friend over (to can, we had so much fun!- Love ya Alicia!) and I decided to show her our bunnies - they are 6 weeks or so right now- and I picked one up. My whole chest is clawed up. You would think those bunnies were tiger cubs.  It was a bit embarressing. What was funnier was that she put one in her jacket and it climbed all around.... too funny!

We don't interact with our bunnies because they are "the Edibles" Their parents- Jesse and Precious are our pets, and we love and adore them. But unfortunately for them, (fortunately for us) the bunnies have a different fate. Precious (our doe) is actually in the corner of this shot. Isn't she cute? She is a sweetie. She is the best mom. She had her first litter in a snow storm and did not loose any kits. (that's what the hairless pinky babies are called) She actually had never lost a kit until this summer when she decided her nesting hut was too hot so she had the kits in the hay manger/ rack. One of them fell through. When I went out to check on them and saw what had happened I moved the kits to their box. (you never move baby bunnies as a rule because the mom may not take care of them) Anyway, I moved them to their box and within half an hour she decided she would take care of them. Mother of the year!

Our rabbits are a great addition to our farm and a tasty addition to our freezer. My favorite was to make rabbit is to make them as if they were chicken. I think the best, and easiest way, is the crock pot. Seasoned like chicken, with veggies from the garden and homemade fresh bread it is a gourmet dinner at home in the country. Country chic at it's best. Well I am off to eat dinner... tonight is Pork chops stuffed with homemade Rice-A-Roni, and Brussels Sprouts. BUT I am going to make Brioche after dinner so we can have it for breakfast tomorrow. If you want the recipe let me know. :~)

on the Third Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me....

On the Third Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

- 3 Dairy Goats -

- 2 Dozen Eggs -

and A Bald Eagle Perched in a Pine Tree

Here are my 3 Dairy Goats. (this is actually a shot of their backsides)

Because they are so adventurous it can be difficult to get them all in one shot. The only reason they are all staying still (relatively) is because they are eating the chicken scratch (aka goat candy)

Food is essentially their main motivation. You can get a goat to do anything with food. Pretty much all food works but GarnerGoat LOVES Rabbit feed. Spot Loves Layer feed and Sugar Loves Strawberries. See picture to the right :~)



Sugar Mama



Spot and Sugar



I know that you have probably seen this picture before. ->

But I just have to show it because it is one of my favorites. She is the cutest goat ever I think (I may be partial- but I'm not certain)

<----  This is them trying to figure out who is going to get this stawberry.

Spot has an ongoing battle with the Peach tree that is quite hilarious. He is always trying to assault it (so he can get that one leaf that is just out of reach)

Peach Trees (leaves) are actually bad for goats - but they think they are the best thing since... well anything that grows in my garden. Maybe it's like Humans. Peach Leaves are Goat Crack- it might be able to kill them, but they just can't get enough.

GarnerGoat is in the background of this picture. He is always the one on the outside... the misfit. We have a house of misfits. GarnerGoat was a bottle baby that was very sickly- that's why he is so small- but he is quickly catching up to the other 2.

Here is a picture of him as a baby. The Picture next to him is of Spot. They were taken the very same day.

He (Garner) is soooo small huh? 

And isn't Spot huge? No wonder he is the one in charge!

Well as you can see 3 Dairy Goats are a Wonderful Christmas Present. I am happy to have them and feel so blessed to have them in my life. (Even though sometimes I might not always feel so loving- I always do love them)

Goats are alot of work.  Like everything in life- with Goats you get back what you give. Our family invests our hearts, time and resources into our farm and we feel that we receive an overwhelming bounty in return. This morning I was so tired... this life can be physically tiring and with the colder weather it is actually more difficult. Warm water has to be brought out to the animals in jugs and feeding has to be done at a minimum of twice a day to ensure that everyone has enough "fuel" to keep their engines burning. This is hard work. So this morning I was tired and I needed some motivation. I got some great advice (from humans) but ultimately I ended up going outside and giving the chickens some bread in milk. The best advice came from them- the fact that they run to me when they see me, because I equal good things is motivation to keep providing for them. And it was motivation to do the same for all that I care for. I want to be the person that can be depended on. Run to me if your looking for love, support, or good eats.

Have a great night all.

on the Second Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me...

On the Second Day of Christmas My Farm Provided Me

  - 2 Dozen Eggs -

& a Bald Eagle Perched in a Pine Tree

Today Austin sold 2 dozen eggs! He sold them to his teachers. We are letting him keep a portion of the $ (the other portion goes to cover the costs of the animals)  He is very excited about it, and so are we. Maybe one day he will be able to buy a car with egg money....

I am very tired right now and not able to keep my thoughts together. So- I will write in the morning. On the Third Day of Christmas! BTW we are having 25 days here at the farm since there is so much love, fun, work, and so many chores to go 'round. So keep checking... and don't give up on me today, read yesterday's blog and look at Sugar's cute little face. She is just one of the reasons I'm exhausted. And I LOVE it. (but need to get some sleep)

Have a good night. Sweet dreams of goats dancing/ climbing on clouds. (they don't simply jump like sheep- that's too boring)

on the First Day of Christmas the Farm Provided Me...

On the First Day of Christmas the Farm Provided Me...

A Bald Eagle Perched in a Pine Tree

The Bald Eagle was Perched in the Pine Tree so it could scope out my little Henriettas.

You can't blame the Eagle too much. I mean I love to watch them, they are adorable!  They are not enjoying the cold weather... I am only getting 6 eggs a day now. (out of 9 chickens) Hopefully they will lay in the winter-winter. I tell you feast or famon is the name of the game of this farm. I really need to figure out how to ration and spread things out. OR make it so everything happens all at once so I only have to CAN like mad for a short period of time. Then I will have all my Jelly done in one setting... Hmmmm..... things to remember when planning the garden.

Speaking of the garden. Do you know that I am just loosing my strawberries.     Look!

I bought these "Everbearing" Strawberries last year because I wanted the fruit all summer since I have very little fruit on my property.

(I currently have a peach tree and wild raspberries and a few blackberries. I also have a persimmon tree- but I don't know what to do with that) I planted a fig tree this year so I hope it makes it through the winter. Since it was my first year with the strawberries I didn't have alot of experience so they were small and I ended up feeding alot (alot) of them to the goats. The goats have NO manners but they are sooo cute. As demonstrated...

As you can see Sugar is really just the cutest thing ever. If you aren't used to seeing goats- don't they have different eyes? Their eyes are as expressive as humans. Sugar is as spunky as 3 three year olds hopped up on candy and soda at ChuckECheese on a Saturday. (anotherwords she is a spunky but stubborn little cutie)

Well to bed I go because it is late and FarmChores come early.

tomorrow is the 2nd day of Christmas....

any guess what the Farm will Provide to Me?