Down on the Farm

We're learning alot during this first year of calving on the farm.  Hopefully you met Briar, our first calf to be born, in a previous blog post.  His birth was amazing in that we watched the whole thing progress from start to finish.  He's a spunky little guy though, so we weren't able to get our hands on him much.  He has had a halter on, but he's not too fond of it (neither was his mama).  

Our next mama due started labor in the late morning.  Jonathon was concerned she was having a hard time, but we watched and kept an eye on her.  Eventually we saw hooves.  Uh oh, back feet coming first is not good.  Jonathon had to leave for a short bit, but I kept my eyes on her and gave him updates as I could.  At one point I text him that we needed to help her when he got home, and only 8 minutes later I went out to check her and the baby was born.  Our first still born calf.  The mama licked, nudged, and kept trying to bring her baby to life with no success.  I'll admit, I did cry.  Watching that mama try so hard to get her baby up and not leaving baby's side was quite heart wrenching.  She stayed by that baby all night and the next morning, before she finally left it's side.  Jonathon went out and brought the calf up to the barn so we could bury it.  That mama mourned for 3 days, mooing sadly and going back to the spot where she had the baby.  It really was sad.  The farmer was just as sad to watch her grieve and watch the other mama moo at her like she was trying to console her.  The animal world is fascinating.  

The farmer was even sadder when he realized that the calf was his first heifer.  Our first girl.  Jonathon, Diella and I dug a hole.  What a sad day on the farm.  

A week later, I look out my kitchen window at the cows in the field and commented how that other girl out there sure looks miserable.  Farmer thinks she'll have her baby before the end of the week.  Next morning I'm taking a shower and Alegra comes in with news that there is a calf out in the field and it looks like the mama and calf are dead.  Ugh, WHAT???  Can't I just have a peaceful shower!  Jonathon had told me that when she went into labor, he wanted me to keep a close eye on her because she looked so big.  Why hadn't he mentioned to me before he left for work that she was in labor?  Did he even know?  

So, I told Alegra to go out and check to make sure they were alive.  She came back with a happy, full of life report.  After I got out of the shower, I called the farmer, "So, you have a new member on the farm."  His response, "WHAT???"  He apparently didn't check on them before he left for work.  What a relief that her labor was during the night and all was well.  We named that cow Flo since she flowed on her own and she seemed to be a much more mellow mama than Blossom.  We were actually able to get to the calf to tag the ear (#2) and check her over.  We have us a little girl!!!  The farmer is so happy!  

On day 2 he was feeling a little concerned about her because she was sleeping out in the hot sun all day long without nursing.  We walked out to check on her, where she let me really give her some lovins.  What a sweet, sweet girl.  She's got my heart.  I just might be turning into a farmer's wife, but, shhh, don't tell the farmer.  ;)  Alegra named this one, and her name is Fern.     

 Isn't she just the sweetest thing.  Oh, and Briar is pretty fond of her too.  He was right with her in the field with her mama when we found them that first morning.  

There is more happenings on the farm too.  We're waiting for one more mama to have her baby.  She's getting bigger.  She is one of our Herefords that was artificially inseminated, so she might have a cute little hereford calf.  We are excited to see what she has.  Our other cow may or may not be pregnant.  We aren't real sure at this point.  She wouldn't be due til a little later, so we watch and wait.  Rosie is up next though.

Jonathon has also been busy doing hay to prepare for winter.  He's such a hard worker and loves his animals.  Knowing that he has cattle and machinery back on the farm does his heart good and mine too when I hear him talk about it.  It's not a luxurious life, but it's our life, and we live it together, all while raising our children to work hard, love the animals and love the land.
  

When you have a friend over who loves the country life too, she gets to learn how to bale hay. :)

And make lots of memories on the farm too.

The garden is planted and looking pretty good so far.  Strawberry plants are growing and hopefully we'll have our own to pick next year.  Herbs are planted and getting established.  Our rhubarb patch didn't do so swell, but we'll plant again in the fall in the spots where it died.  We've got chicks galore and a crazy dog who thinks he's the keeper of them.  He loves getting in their pen and keeping them herded to the designated place he makes for them.  He's becoming quite the farm dog and making up for all the times I was ready to send him back to the shelter when we first got him.  It's taken a lot of training and he still has some areas he could grow in, but overall, I can't complain since he's cooperative with Hadassah crawling all over him and he doesn't mind all the little critters that are around here.  He's been hearing, "Good boy!"  more and more.

Some Activities to end our Summer 2015

It's harder to keep up with blogging around here with the added baby.  Finally feeling like I'm getting into the swing of things again, but it sure has felt slower going this time around.  I wanted to catch up on some summer fun that I didn't get around to doing because we were preparing for baby.  Not much exciting but charted memories for my children to look back on.  You just might enjoy it too.  :)

I was so afraid that I wouldn't have much energy to get canning done.  It seemed as though our shelves were pretty bare by the end of the summer.  Thankfully, one day at a time, I was able to get produce from the garden harvested and canned as it ripened.  We also went and picked some other produce to can that we were in need of too.  Peaches are always on the list of needing done.  We love peaches in this house!  Thanks to my momma for the help she gave us at getting stuff done too.  It is always nice to have the extra adult hands.

This summer the girls also got their book back that they wrote.  It is a story about my dad when he was a boy.  It was so much fun putting it all together.  They are selling these as a fund raiser.  What a great thing for them to have as a keepsake as well.

This fall the girls wanted to try their hand at hunting.  Grandpa Dan takes it seriously and decided to build a for real blind back in the woods of our friend's.  The three men worked hard and had some little hands helping when they could too.  They hunted a few times, but it didn't work out for them to get anything.  Maybe next year they can try again and have more success.

 We sure don't have a problem finding things to do to keep us busy.  :)

Right now the children have been going to the neighbor's farm to learn about caring for the cows.  The girls are learning how to feed the calves, so they can step in and help with that job.  The boys are learning all sorts of stuff.  Today we had some sick ones, so we got out baby books and looked through and now Jonathon is setting up the old projecter to watch old, old family films.  I think I'll feed a baby and go take a bath.  :)

Hard Work in the Field and Ice Cream Rewards

While some people think of outdoor recreation on lakes as their summer entertainment, our family is a little different.  We do enjoy time on the boat, fishing with my parents, but some of the things that make our summer a delight are maybe over looked by some.  

After a quick run to the library, a quick stop at the grocery store, and stopping to give a hug to a friend on her birthday, we headed to the garden and blueberry field.  The garden has one patch that gets overly weedy, so the children worked on that while Jonathon and I worked on the blueberries.  We've been working at getting all the weeds cut back from around the plants, so they can be fertilized easier.  They look pretty good out there.  Still not overly big, but they're coming along.  We have one area in the field that is especially wet.  Those bushes didn't survive, but the other rows look pretty good.  

Yesterday I told everyone that once the field got completed, we'd bike to Stroh to get ice cream.  The job got accomplished today during this beautiful day we had.  While we were working on the bushes, Uncle Norman came in the field with his tractor and rake.  Benaiah sure enjoyed watching him rake the hay that he had already mowed.  Watching the field get mowed and baled is one of our favorite things during the summer.  It just feels like we're in the right place when it's happening.  Jonathon of course loves to help, but today he stayed in the field at the blueberries to get that job done.  Uncle Norman finished raking, we finished cutting back weeds, and I went in to start supper as Jonathon took his tractor and a cousin's bush hog out in the field to mow the rest of it down where he wants to dig some spots to see how the field would hold water for a pond to irrigate the blueberries.  

Field done, supper done, weeds pulled in the garden, and kitchen cleaned up from supper.  Time for a bike ride to get ice cream!

I would say our ice cream treat was well deserved by all!

 The garden area is closest to the camera and to the left of the mowed grass area.  Hay field all raked.  Blueberries all weeded, now we just need to get it all mowed in between each plant to get rid of the extra tall weeds where a plant died. 

 Bush hogging to clean up the area a little.

 We love when it's hay season!

 Some boys enjoying the work on the tractor.

 Our littlest farmer.

 There's something about a freshly mowed and raked hay field.  It looks and smells so good!

Off to get ice cream!

 She usually needs some help.  

On the ride home, she really needed help.  She used her little napkin to keep her lap clean, but it just wasn't enough.  Drip, drip, drip.  :)

Today was such a wonderful day!  Some hard work accomplished by all, some good exercise, and a yummy cold treat to top off our hard work.  My legs feel a little jelloey from the bike ride home, but I made it.  My body is ready to get some sleep, but I'm thankful that it can do all that it does despite being pregnant.  Love being pregnant during the summer to keep it in shape, ready for labor and delivery.  2 1/2 more months to go!  Until then, I'll keep myself busy and enjoying this lovely summer with my family!

Aloe Vera Harvest

I've had these Aloe Vera plants for quite some time and they have grown so heavy, they just can't hold themselves up anymore.  Time to harvest them.  Typically when I harvest it, it's during summer when someone has burnt themself.  This time, I decided to harvest it ahead and freeze it.  Here is my step by step tutorial on getting all that amazing gel out of the plant to keep for future use.  Hope this helps someone!

Cut the leaf at the base to get the fattest part possible.

Carefully cut the green away from the gel.

 Cute one side and then the other.

 Have a nice clear strip of gel in your hand.

 Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze.

When frozen, simply peel off and store in baggies for future use.  Works great for cooling and healing sunburns. 

Don't forget about having a cute little helper to lend a hand.  One touch of the gel and she decided it wasn't something to mess with.  Yuck!  :)

Green Bean Harvest and Canning

Today was one of those days where I just wanted to pinch myself.  Some people may think that this simple, organic life that we live is crazy, but I rather love it.  Sure, we have our moments just like any family, where I'd like to ship my children off for a few weeks.  Then I take a breather and look out my window.  Usually one of my children is doing something cute or funny, and I have to remind myself how truly blessed I am.  I really am!  

After piano lessons for Alegra and Josiah, we went home to get a quick bite for lunch, then start on the job of the day.  Today the produce stand was closed, so all the beans that were left over, we canned.  Friday's customers get fresh picked beans, so we needed to take care of these, so they weren't wasted.  All of my children helped in some way.  Some more than others of course.  We did have some fighting with a couple of them ready to quit the job, but they quickly adjusted themselves and got back to work.  Diella stayed home and hauled jars upstairs and started washing beans.  She is such a great helper!  

Time for everyone to work.  They were real troopers.  I didn't end up with as much as I was hoping, but I'm sure we'll have more throughout the summer to get the rest of our winter stock up done.

Then just as two are fighting, I go over to start some coffee because I just needed a calming moment.  I looked out the window to see Benaiah standing with a homemade fishing pole at a hole that he filled up with water.  Wondering what he was doing, I asked, "What are you doing?"  To which he replied, "I'm fishing for alligators".  Now if you know Benaiah, you know that he doesn't talk right (we're working on that).  I had to ask him what he said to make sure I heard him correctly.  Sure enough, he was fishing for alligators.  I'm so glad he didn't catch one!!!!

The rest of my evening I didn't capture on camera, though I wish I would have.  After supper, while the children did their supper chores, Jonathon and I sat on the porch swing and discussed more of our dreams for our farm.  Slowly but surely things are coming together.  It's so exciting to dream together!!!  As we were sitting there our neighbors from around the corner and across the field came riding down the road on their horses.  Saphira sure enjoyed watching them go by.  She was so cute watching.  After awhile, here they came back, only they came right into the driveway and up to the house.  Best treat ever!!  It was nice to visit with them and enjoy watching their horses.  Such a great night for a ride and for a visit from the riders.  

As they left, Jonathon's sister came to take the children to Stroh for ice cream.  So, off they went (except Saphira) and there we sat again on a quiet porch.  He walked over to visit with his brother who was mowing and Saphira and I played with the kitten who had jumped up on the swing.  She sure loves that little kitty.  After a bit the children came home and we all walked over to his brother's house to look at some rocks and just enjoy the evening outside.  A walk around the farm to check on the elderberry bush and other herbs, is so delightful to me.  It truly refreshes me to see how many natural things God put around me to help my family.  

Back into the house to check on my beans.  Fourteen quarts done, all sealed, and ready to save for a cold winter day.  Love when I use lids over again and they all seal.  I know, probably shouldn't do that, but it does work, and I don't have to spend extra money.  :)

Everyone ran off to bed, I sat down to check a few things online, and I looked out the patio door to a beautiful moon.  As I stood there and watched, a bat was flying in the back yard.  Now, usually I'm not a fan of bats, but that one was doing a fine job and catching bugs, I just know it.

I really enjoy where we live.  The sights and sounds are so lovely.  The neighbors are great, which helps.  The dreams can come to life, and the children can be a part of that, hopefully something that will be truly a blessing to us and our community.  Time to close things up and head to bed.  A work day tomorrow, blueberry picking, and maybe some fun in the evening.  Our days get full, but I wouldn't want them any other way.  

While Waiting for Customers

The children have been running the produce stand again this summer.  They are open on Mon, Tues, and Fridays.  They've upgraded to a shed to keep them out of bad weather, but so far we've had perfect days when they are open.  The garden isn't in full swing just yet.  I'm thinking in a a couple more weeks, we'll have the shed full of yummy, nutritious produce.  They are also selling homemade items such as jewelry and jams.  The baked goods are by special order only.  That reduces the extra baked items left over that we have to eat.  :)

They are enjoying the gorgeous days we've been having.  Playing outside on the farm stuff and with the animals keeps them entertained while waiting for customers.

Alegra has been really reading and practicing her photography hobby.  She's been taking portraits of her siblings and of garden items.  I thought I should share her best shots here, so she can look back through them when she becomes a professional.  :)

And last but not least, I got tractor lessons.  It was a snap!  :)  Wood hauling has been filling our spare time.  It feels good to get the barn full of wood for winter.

Our blueberries are doing great!  We are so excited for when we can officially open for a U-Pick.  We'll need another summer of root growth to strengthen the plant, then I think we'll be ready to invite you all to come enjoy our berries.  So excited!!!  We did go through and pick blossoms off, but we found that we missed quite a few, so those were a special treat.

We've had such a lovely summer so far of bike rides, kayaking, swimming, fun with friends, bale jumping, and the warmth from the sun.  We are blessed and I have to remind myself often of that, so I don't take this life for granted.  He gives and He takes.  Right now, He is giving to us, and we love all of His good gifts that He's giving.