First off I want to dig my eyeball out of my head with a spoon. Severe migraines and farm chores do not mix well. I took some meds and can see out of my right eye once again. But I am grumpy, so if I don't reply to comment today or your blog, it's because of that.
Secondly, I have cleaned up my blogroll, and it contains only blogs now. If you are still interested in articles, forums and shopping links from me, scroll down and look through the side bar.
Lets get to those blogs!
The Flaming Grasshopper is the company blog of Chelsea Green Publishing. And because they say it better...from the website; The Flaming Grasshopper is the new Chelsea Green company blog. The grasshopper has been our logo for the past 20 years, a symbol of potent life energy contained in a small "insignificant" exoskeletal package, capable of covering great distances in a single leap, and ancient symbol of good luck. Flaming grasshopper because we are a company "on fire" with a great mission to save the planet (among other things) and, perhaps like the dragons of old, to protect that which we hold precious from the onslaught of government/corporate/military forces currently on the march across the globe. We can guarantee you that this blog will be provocative, informative, funny, and interesting. We invite you to post and to become a part of our extended readership community. Just remember, one small book can change the world.
Flip this body is the first blog that I responded to through The Bestest blog of all-time. I really dig the author Julie. Not only is she perusing her dreams to be an actress, but she is journaling her weight loss. Her positive attitude ad her humor gets the rest of us sucked into her life and cheer her along. She's doing everything on a limited budget and succeeding. So I ask that you mosey on over say hi, and tell her how fabulous she is doing. WOOHOO JULIE!
Free Range Living, this is the first blog I have ever responded to. Cheryl is trying her hand at urban homesteading, and doing better than I. She has to deal with police stakeouts in her tomato patch while home schooling children. She has pictures up of some of her fabulous meals that will make you go rummage through your own fridge just to fill that craving.
Fresh Food Fresh Blog, is no longer being updated. It was created for the Blogathon 2006. I did leave it in my blogroll because of the interviews and articles that have been written about family farms. This blog's charity was Farm Aid, as was mine. Go look around and learn a thing or two to amaze your friends with.
on more thing. . .
I AM READER OF THE MONTH!
Over on Gardening 1 on 1. This blog has lots of info on spring planting, summer harvesting and seed saving. Got gardening questions? Andrew's got you answers.
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Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Felt like sharing
I am contemplating weather to breed my doe or not. She is stuck out there with two wethers so I am going to need to find a buck.
Looking around at some goat husbandry sites I ran across this one that just cracked me up. Enjoy!
Fias Co Farm:
Looking around at some goat husbandry sites I ran across this one that just cracked me up. Enjoy!
Fias Co Farm:
Squatting & Back Arching:
Question:
Ever since we bred one of our young does has been doing this weird squatting thing. She squats like she is going to pee, but then she tucks/curls her bottom in, her front and back legs are very close.... she kind of turns into a ball. It's like she is trying to push/squeeze something out, but nothing comes out! I have seen it 5 or 6 times, and it's getting very troubling. She has no discharge or blood, but I wonder if she's aborting or having an abnormal pregnancy.
Answer:
Your doe is having what we refer to as a "girl boner", for lack of a better term. It looks totally involuntary - like she has no control over what is happening.. right?
The act you describe is what a doe does when she "comes" when a buck breeds her. It happens right when the buck has a successful thrust and meets his mark. You want to see arched back at breeding; it means a good solid "poke" that satisfied everyone. She is not trying to squeeze out the semen; it really means the semen is on it's way.
We have seen our does have "girl boners" many, many times over the years. We can't really explain the whys and wherefores for it, but we do know, at least in the cases of this that we have seen in our own herd, it is absolutely nothing to worry about.
I am easily amused.
Several Things
As I tend to be easily distracted, a.k.a. flaky {so says my husband} I have several things to discuss, if I do not put them all in one post, I will never get to them.
Let us begin with a recent letter that I wrote the Governor of the State of Kansas. The letter was about NAIS, and why I thought that this program should not be allowed. Her response is as follows;
Dear Ms. Phelan
Thank you for your letter regarding the National Animal Identification System. I appreciate the time you took to contact me about this important issue
Because the federal government controls the NAIS, my office does not have jurisdiction over this matter. I have forwarded a copy of your letter to your Congressman Todd Tiahrt for his consideration. His office will be better able to assist you with this matter.
Thank you again for your letter.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius.
Seeing as it is an election year she really needs to get an opinion. She was recently at my husband's work, talking about how if re-elected she would not change the helmet laws. I am pleased that she believes in personal freedoms, and can stand behind that. She has done well by our state, listening to the majority, and trying to find a compromise for the minority. But this...her minions should really find out where she stands before sending out there form letters. It ticks us off. She left me a phone number, maybe I will call it and leave a message with her minions.
PEAR JAM.
No, not Pearl Jam, though it turned out as soft as they are. I added the sugar in the beginning stages instead of at the end. It's soft, but I think it will be fine. Keep your fingers crossed.
Last night I got lazy, very lazy, and made tomato ketchup with a packet of seasoning. It made things simpler though I feel like I sold out.
Of course this picture was taken after this one;
Why on Earth would I take a picture of all those cans? Curiosity and this post Frugality in Practice over on Get Rich Slowly. I love this site. Happened to find them because of Blogathon 2006. If you haven't yet, check it out. There are some great posts on finances. But I didn't take this picture to out do anyone, I wanted to put how much preserving I have done so far this season in perspective. I still have much more to do, maybe I will take another photo this winter. And that's not all the cans I have done, I have given a few away and forgot to put in the 5 jars of pickles and 1 jar of relish up there.
My husband brought home some canning equipment the other day. A jar lifter and a funnel, two things I didn't have. Wow! They make life so much easier.
We are down to 22 chicks due to various reasons. My 2 year old decided their feathers were not silky enough and poured a full bottle of conditioner over them. 1 died of stress related to transport, and 1, I am not sure what happened. But the rest are doing well. Because of the early swing season I have not taken them out into the nursery yet. They are still in my master bath.
After doing as Blogger said, I am still unable to post photos through them.
Let us begin with a recent letter that I wrote the Governor of the State of Kansas. The letter was about NAIS, and why I thought that this program should not be allowed. Her response is as follows;
Dear Ms. Phelan
Thank you for your letter regarding the National Animal Identification System. I appreciate the time you took to contact me about this important issue
Because the federal government controls the NAIS, my office does not have jurisdiction over this matter. I have forwarded a copy of your letter to your Congressman Todd Tiahrt for his consideration. His office will be better able to assist you with this matter.
Thank you again for your letter.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius.
Seeing as it is an election year she really needs to get an opinion. She was recently at my husband's work, talking about how if re-elected she would not change the helmet laws. I am pleased that she believes in personal freedoms, and can stand behind that. She has done well by our state, listening to the majority, and trying to find a compromise for the minority. But this...her minions should really find out where she stands before sending out there form letters. It ticks us off. She left me a phone number, maybe I will call it and leave a message with her minions.
PEAR JAM.
No, not Pearl Jam, though it turned out as soft as they are. I added the sugar in the beginning stages instead of at the end. It's soft, but I think it will be fine. Keep your fingers crossed.
Last night I got lazy, very lazy, and made tomato ketchup with a packet of seasoning. It made things simpler though I feel like I sold out.
Of course this picture was taken after this one;
Why on Earth would I take a picture of all those cans? Curiosity and this post Frugality in Practice over on Get Rich Slowly. I love this site. Happened to find them because of Blogathon 2006. If you haven't yet, check it out. There are some great posts on finances. But I didn't take this picture to out do anyone, I wanted to put how much preserving I have done so far this season in perspective. I still have much more to do, maybe I will take another photo this winter. And that's not all the cans I have done, I have given a few away and forgot to put in the 5 jars of pickles and 1 jar of relish up there.
My husband brought home some canning equipment the other day. A jar lifter and a funnel, two things I didn't have. Wow! They make life so much easier.
We are down to 22 chicks due to various reasons. My 2 year old decided their feathers were not silky enough and poured a full bottle of conditioner over them. 1 died of stress related to transport, and 1, I am not sure what happened. But the rest are doing well. Because of the early swing season I have not taken them out into the nursery yet. They are still in my master bath.
After doing as Blogger said, I am still unable to post photos through them.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Flinging about wildly
As a child, there was a game we use to play. Adults taught us this game as a way to become empathetic to others, while we enjoyed the game due to it's cruel side. I give the game credit to teaching us that the world can be hard, and that you could never completely trust anyone, and what it would be like if you were suddenly struck blind.
More than a simple game to teach the young about the world of darkness, it was a game that opened our eyes wider to see that while we needed others to help us along, it was ultimately up to our own instincts and experiences to guide us through life.
Yet once you find yourself, once again a neophyte, you feel as though you have donned that blindfold and your guide is withholding few, yet important directions/instuctions and you end up smacking a street sign post with your face. So what does one do about that? You can't remove the blindfold because you have thoughtful stitched it to yourself, per your dedication and pride. Your only choice now is to wipe the blood from your mouth, dry up those tears and carefully move around that post. Then you find yourself a new friend. ALAS! You are still blindfolded. Here is where you begin flinging about wildly, groping at the air, in the hopes that your desperate hands land on someone that will not be so ambivalent to your needs. Only to find yet another friend that will lead you in the correct direction of your destination, but neglect to inform you that the sidewalk you are on, is under construction ,and you break your ankle in an unfilled hole. And we start the process over.
Welcome to the world of a neophyte. But not just any neophyte. This is the land of the dangerous. Where one mistake can mean failure by death or illness, not just re-stitching something and moving forward. Even the "experts" can find themselves into trouble. A child being killed by a swather, a tractor turning over on grandpa, an arm being amputated by farm equipment, or a tornado picking you up along with several of your livestock, and disposing of you miles from home. Those examples are the extreme side of homesteading, but when you know the families that these things happen to, it is always in the back of your mind, especially when you attempt something new.
Yet on the other side, there comes a point where you can take that blindfold off to see what you have accomplished. And it is indeed a wonderful sight. You begin to enjoy your new found skills, and joyfully you are convinced to replace the blindfold so you can march blindly and bravely into the next obstacle, no matter what the possible consequences are. That's where I am. The blindfold only comes off for a brief moment when I have been successful more than once in the same feat. Yet it is stitched on so well that I am soon a bloody faced mess as I repeatedly hit that post. Call me masochistic, but I love it. You wouldn’t believe the amount of pride, self worth and happiness comes out of living like this.
Just makes you want to come out here and homestead, doesn’t it?
Kansas Farm Accident Facts
More than a simple game to teach the young about the world of darkness, it was a game that opened our eyes wider to see that while we needed others to help us along, it was ultimately up to our own instincts and experiences to guide us through life.
Yet once you find yourself, once again a neophyte, you feel as though you have donned that blindfold and your guide is withholding few, yet important directions/instuctions and you end up smacking a street sign post with your face. So what does one do about that? You can't remove the blindfold because you have thoughtful stitched it to yourself, per your dedication and pride. Your only choice now is to wipe the blood from your mouth, dry up those tears and carefully move around that post. Then you find yourself a new friend. ALAS! You are still blindfolded. Here is where you begin flinging about wildly, groping at the air, in the hopes that your desperate hands land on someone that will not be so ambivalent to your needs. Only to find yet another friend that will lead you in the correct direction of your destination, but neglect to inform you that the sidewalk you are on, is under construction ,and you break your ankle in an unfilled hole. And we start the process over.
Welcome to the world of a neophyte. But not just any neophyte. This is the land of the dangerous. Where one mistake can mean failure by death or illness, not just re-stitching something and moving forward. Even the "experts" can find themselves into trouble. A child being killed by a swather, a tractor turning over on grandpa, an arm being amputated by farm equipment, or a tornado picking you up along with several of your livestock, and disposing of you miles from home. Those examples are the extreme side of homesteading, but when you know the families that these things happen to, it is always in the back of your mind, especially when you attempt something new.
Yet on the other side, there comes a point where you can take that blindfold off to see what you have accomplished. And it is indeed a wonderful sight. You begin to enjoy your new found skills, and joyfully you are convinced to replace the blindfold so you can march blindly and bravely into the next obstacle, no matter what the possible consequences are. That's where I am. The blindfold only comes off for a brief moment when I have been successful more than once in the same feat. Yet it is stitched on so well that I am soon a bloody faced mess as I repeatedly hit that post. Call me masochistic, but I love it. You wouldn’t believe the amount of pride, self worth and happiness comes out of living like this.
Just makes you want to come out here and homestead, doesn’t it?
Kansas Farm Accident Facts
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
How to Tow a Car with a Motorcycle.
My son and I went into the city last night, the birthday boy. I took him to pick out his birthday present and get our slider turtle a new tank. We had a good time goofing around the store, picking out the nerdiest of clothing for his older brother. We stayed a little too long, and it was dark before we headed out. My car began to act funny about 10 miles from home. The dash lights went dim, the fasten seatbelt sign came on, the door is ajar buzzer sounded. I pulled off the main road onto the back roads that would take me home. 5 miles from home. . . my car went dead.
My 5 year-old slept in the back seat as I tried to restart the car. Nothing. I wanted to scream at the coyotes that were celebrating a kill, sounds too much like laughter. I woke the 5 year-old, and told him we would have to walk. That idea was not to his liking. You could hear dogs barking in the distance, and the coyotes still giggling at us. You will have to steer the car then. He wasn't sure about that. I told him to keep it between the tall grass and we would be good. ok
I pushed the car a good quarter of a mile {painfully} before a truck came by. The older couple laughed and asked was I really pushing that car. yep. Had to, the little one wasn't going to walk it. The older couple gave us a ride home, asking several times if I was going to be able to get my car home. sure sure, I have a truck that can pull it. Anyone to help you? yes. We chatted on the way, I found out that the peacocks I see wondering around haven't escaped from something, they are free range. They are free range because they are a nuisance.
Home at last. My husband wasn't too thrilled by me appearing sans vehicle. And it turns out that the battery in my car came out of the truck because the alternator belt had popped off of the car, and the battery had died. hhhhmmm wonder what happened this time.
After an hour of gritching by my husband, we woke our eldest son up to watch over the two sleeping boys. I grabbed a tow line and hopped on the back of my husband's bike. Off we went to get my car.
My husband hooked the bike and car together and with me behind the wheel, we towed the car safely home. I don't care what some people say. Harley's are built very well.
My 5 year-old slept in the back seat as I tried to restart the car. Nothing. I wanted to scream at the coyotes that were celebrating a kill, sounds too much like laughter. I woke the 5 year-old, and told him we would have to walk. That idea was not to his liking. You could hear dogs barking in the distance, and the coyotes still giggling at us. You will have to steer the car then. He wasn't sure about that. I told him to keep it between the tall grass and we would be good. ok
I pushed the car a good quarter of a mile {painfully} before a truck came by. The older couple laughed and asked was I really pushing that car. yep. Had to, the little one wasn't going to walk it. The older couple gave us a ride home, asking several times if I was going to be able to get my car home. sure sure, I have a truck that can pull it. Anyone to help you? yes. We chatted on the way, I found out that the peacocks I see wondering around haven't escaped from something, they are free range. They are free range because they are a nuisance.
Home at last. My husband wasn't too thrilled by me appearing sans vehicle. And it turns out that the battery in my car came out of the truck because the alternator belt had popped off of the car, and the battery had died. hhhhmmm wonder what happened this time.
After an hour of gritching by my husband, we woke our eldest son up to watch over the two sleeping boys. I grabbed a tow line and hopped on the back of my husband's bike. Off we went to get my car.
My husband hooked the bike and car together and with me behind the wheel, we towed the car safely home. I don't care what some people say. Harley's are built very well.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
It's all about the frogs
My middle child turned 5 years-old on labor day. What better way to celebrate than with frogs! Of course he loves frogs, so we stuck with that theme.
I made a Devil's food cake topped with white chocolate almond frosting. Using black colored gel piped icing my husband drew out the frog, log and flies. I couldn't draw a stick figure if it saved my life. I used green decorator piped frosting to fill in the frog, and crushed walnuts for the log. Click link if you want the recipes.
We had a great time, and even allowed the birthday boy to start a small camp fire {that boy loves fire}
Our strawberry popcorn harvest has come in. The early rains cause some of them to mold, so it is a small harvest {that and my husband tilled under our white popcorn} Even with the small crop, we still get to enjoy warm popcorn on a snowy night.
The decorative sunflowers that I did NOT plant a few years ago, has over ran my peppers. We removed a half acre of these renegade flowers in the spring, but my husband thought to leave a row as a wind block. I did ask him if he remembered how these things grow and that they were too close to the peppers. When will he remember I am right?
I finished up my pear project this weekend. Pear Preserves, and pear Jam. I made a mistake on the pear jam {will post that tomorrow}
The preserves were easier than I thought they would be. More waiting than cooking.
We also opened up a jar of the pizza sauce I canned. It turned out great. Everyone was happy with it. I must say that I can't help but smile when I taste the "fruits" of my labor that have turned out so well. It's called pride, something that anyone that knows my life history, knows I have had little of.
I have also been listening to gun fire the past few days. I need to check if hunting season has opened, or if I have poachers roaming the roads.
I made a Devil's food cake topped with white chocolate almond frosting. Using black colored gel piped icing my husband drew out the frog, log and flies. I couldn't draw a stick figure if it saved my life. I used green decorator piped frosting to fill in the frog, and crushed walnuts for the log. Click link if you want the recipes. We had a great time, and even allowed the birthday boy to start a small camp fire {that boy loves fire}
Our strawberry popcorn harvest has come in. The early rains cause some of them to mold, so it is a small harvest {that and my husband tilled under our white popcorn} Even with the small crop, we still get to enjoy warm popcorn on a snowy night.
The decorative sunflowers that I did NOT plant a few years ago, has over ran my peppers. We removed a half acre of these renegade flowers in the spring, but my husband thought to leave a row as a wind block. I did ask him if he remembered how these things grow and that they were too close to the peppers. When will he remember I am right?
I finished up my pear project this weekend. Pear Preserves, and pear Jam. I made a mistake on the pear jam {will post that tomorrow}
The preserves were easier than I thought they would be. More waiting than cooking.We also opened up a jar of the pizza sauce I canned. It turned out great. Everyone was happy with it. I must say that I can't help but smile when I taste the "fruits" of my labor that have turned out so well. It's called pride, something that anyone that knows my life history, knows I have had little of.
I have also been listening to gun fire the past few days. I need to check if hunting season has opened, or if I have poachers roaming the roads.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Blogger will not allow me to post replies.
I have been trying to post replies to different blogs the past two days. There seems to be a problem with the blogger beta version. So I will post replies here.
Jessie, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I will be keeping you in my thoughts today. Lots of love.
Julie, thank you for the props. I give you lots of credit for what your doing.
Jessie, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I will be keeping you in my thoughts today. Lots of love.
Julie, thank you for the props. I give you lots of credit for what your doing.
Urban Homesteading: General Topics
I have discussed the 3 general topics that can be accomplished as an urban homesteader. Since Donkeys can't sleep in the bathtub, and I have no advice on making your own clothing, I was told it is cheaper to buy, then to make clothing though I save torn cloths to make quilts with later, the urban homesteading class has come to an end. You might be interested in Path to Freedom.
If there is something that you wish for me to go over in detail, please ask me. If not, I will be taking guest blogers to discuss their topic of interest on Sundays. With links to your site.
If you are interested in being a guest blogger, please e-mail me at eirennaigh @ Juno dot com
If there is something that you wish for me to go over in detail, please ask me. If not, I will be taking guest blogers to discuss their topic of interest on Sundays. With links to your site.
If you are interested in being a guest blogger, please e-mail me at eirennaigh @ Juno dot com
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