I saw a huge flock of geese fly over this morning, heading south, I presume. I had just finished feeding the chickens, and had opened the door to their run, when the sound of honking filled the sky. Over the barn they came! The chickens ran to the side of the run that afforded the best view, and tilted their heads to look up into the sky at their airborne feathered kin - and I stood still as well to watch as they flew over, amazed as always at how they, and other migratory birds, always know when, and where to go, following the same route every year.
I wished them well on their journey, and I hope I see them upon their return in the spring.
However, we pulled it off. Everyone at the farm, human and animal alike, had a nice Christmas, although the entire event came down to the wire and ended up being somewhat hastily assembled at nearly the last minute. I attribute this to utter exhaustion on our part and a sort of bleary-eyed surprise at how quickly the Christmas season overtook us yet again. It seems as though I JUST took down last year's tree, packed away the decorations and vacuumed up the last of the pine needles, went to sleep, woke up and had to drag everything out again.
It is perhaps telling that DH and I abandoned our annual dialogue about whether bulbous multicolored lights or tiny, sparkling white lights should adorn the tree (DH, paying tribute to his childhood memories, advocates for the former; I tend to want the tree to reflect our own taste; white lights, glass ornaments, careful touches of color, ribbons, etc.). No one cared this year - as long as the tree was placed upright in the stand and arranged in a somewhat pleasing fashion.
I was also too tired to suggest, as I do each year, that rather than cut one down, we simply go buy an artificial tree (an idea that DH has steadfastly resisted lo, these nearly ten years of marriage). DH, on the other hand, was happy with the first tree he encountered - a rather slender, slightly sparse 6 ft. pine that would have been scorned in other, less frenetic years.
Hah, no, this wasn't it. Cute, though, eh? Our own Charlie Brown Christmas tree, compliments of my BIL, who bought it for us last year. I love it. Too adorable.
We had a lovely dinner, which took the greater part of two days to prepare (including the baking, which is done ahead of time). We actually celebrated on Christmas Eve, which was when family members could make it here to be with us. Once everyone had departed, and the animals were snuggled away for the night, I pulled out my big fluffy comforter, claimed the couch and watched the 1951 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol with DH. And then drifted off to sleep.
Although my posts would seem to indicate otherwise, I have been productive in my studio. I just have to brave the (now-cold) weather, drag everything outside, keep it from blowing away and try to snap a few photos.
Soon!
It is perhaps telling that DH and I abandoned our annual dialogue about whether bulbous multicolored lights or tiny, sparkling white lights should adorn the tree (DH, paying tribute to his childhood memories, advocates for the former; I tend to want the tree to reflect our own taste; white lights, glass ornaments, careful touches of color, ribbons, etc.). No one cared this year - as long as the tree was placed upright in the stand and arranged in a somewhat pleasing fashion.
I was also too tired to suggest, as I do each year, that rather than cut one down, we simply go buy an artificial tree (an idea that DH has steadfastly resisted lo, these nearly ten years of marriage). DH, on the other hand, was happy with the first tree he encountered - a rather slender, slightly sparse 6 ft. pine that would have been scorned in other, less frenetic years.
We had a lovely dinner, which took the greater part of two days to prepare (including the baking, which is done ahead of time). We actually celebrated on Christmas Eve, which was when family members could make it here to be with us. Once everyone had departed, and the animals were snuggled away for the night, I pulled out my big fluffy comforter, claimed the couch and watched the 1951 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol with DH. And then drifted off to sleep.
Although my posts would seem to indicate otherwise, I have been productive in my studio. I just have to brave the (now-cold) weather, drag everything outside, keep it from blowing away and try to snap a few photos.
Soon!
Or:
How I Spent My Christmas Vacation.
Well, folks, the story this year has been rain, and lots of it, and in an area where there is little concrete or other hardscape, the predictable outcome is mud. Mud, wonderful mud. Anyone know of any practical use for mud? Just wondering, because I happen to have a surplus on hand at the moment.
But I digress.
Observe:
Ordinarily a photograph of a muddy rut wouldn't qualify as remotely informative or interesting, but there is more to tell. Our neighbor's Kubota became mired in this spot on Thursday afternoon and absolutely could not, would not be moved; every attempt to pull out of the slop only resulted in a more stubbornly planted machine.
So, after a few jokes about how our neighbor might have to swim for it, we trudged up to his place to get his truck (although ours is also a 4 X 4, his has more towing capacity). Said truck was positioned in front of the Kubota, which was then chained to the truck hitch, and the fun began. Several minutes (of spinning tires and flying muck) later, not only was the Kubota still sunk in the mud, but so was the truck.
Quick time out for a few chuckles all around. Ah, fun.
After consulting with one another on the matter, and engaging in a bit of experimentation, we arrived at an improvisational method of successively shortening the chain and tightening it as a brace against the motionless pick-up truck, which allowed the Kubota to crawl a couple of feet out of the pit - enough so that DH could lower the struts and use them to lift the machine up and sidle it out onto drier ground.
But still, there was this:
And this:
So, our truck was called into service for a first attempt (that's my neighbor waving - wave back!):
Nope, didn't work, and the concern was that we were going to leap-frog across the field with bogged-down vehicles all afternoon, so in came the sidelined Kubota for one more play:
Voila! Finally.
All the spinning of tires and lurching around of large machines startled a small unidentifiable field creature, and it ran terrified around the vehicles, trying to escape. It wasn't a mouse. I'm not sure what it was - it was rather tiny, brown, with large, dark eyes. I felt sorry for it, so I picked it up by its tail, carried it some distance away and gave it a gentle toss into the brush.
The tiny thing was frightened. I have received mercy on so many occasions in my life; who am I to be hard-hearted, even toward a creature of the fields?
Still. I've come a long way!
In other news: The horses had a good time outside in the mild weather. They rolled around on the wet ground and undid the good brushing out we had given them the night before, as horses will do, turning themselves into great muddy yaks, but it was gratifying to see them enjoying themselves.
Grooming horses is good exercise, so I suspect we'll do it all over again.
And YES. It's raining. STILL.
How I Spent My Christmas Vacation.
Well, folks, the story this year has been rain, and lots of it, and in an area where there is little concrete or other hardscape, the predictable outcome is mud. Mud, wonderful mud. Anyone know of any practical use for mud? Just wondering, because I happen to have a surplus on hand at the moment.
But I digress.
Observe:
So, after a few jokes about how our neighbor might have to swim for it, we trudged up to his place to get his truck (although ours is also a 4 X 4, his has more towing capacity). Said truck was positioned in front of the Kubota, which was then chained to the truck hitch, and the fun began. Several minutes (of spinning tires and flying muck) later, not only was the Kubota still sunk in the mud, but so was the truck.
Quick time out for a few chuckles all around. Ah, fun.
After consulting with one another on the matter, and engaging in a bit of experimentation, we arrived at an improvisational method of successively shortening the chain and tightening it as a brace against the motionless pick-up truck, which allowed the Kubota to crawl a couple of feet out of the pit - enough so that DH could lower the struts and use them to lift the machine up and sidle it out onto drier ground.
But still, there was this:
And this:
So, our truck was called into service for a first attempt (that's my neighbor waving - wave back!):
All the spinning of tires and lurching around of large machines startled a small unidentifiable field creature, and it ran terrified around the vehicles, trying to escape. It wasn't a mouse. I'm not sure what it was - it was rather tiny, brown, with large, dark eyes. I felt sorry for it, so I picked it up by its tail, carried it some distance away and gave it a gentle toss into the brush.
The tiny thing was frightened. I have received mercy on so many occasions in my life; who am I to be hard-hearted, even toward a creature of the fields?
Still. I've come a long way!
In other news: The horses had a good time outside in the mild weather. They rolled around on the wet ground and undid the good brushing out we had given them the night before, as horses will do, turning themselves into great muddy yaks, but it was gratifying to see them enjoying themselves.
Grooming horses is good exercise, so I suspect we'll do it all over again.
And YES. It's raining. STILL.
Meh.
I'm off to make a pot of the best lentil soup you'll ever hope to taste. I may also put some of my sprouted grain flour to good use and bake a couple of types of bread. I do need to start a sourdough and keep it going so we have some really good stuff to nibble on through the cold months.
Hint to DH: I am hoping to score a hand-operated grain mill *cough* soon. Or a food dehydrator. Or both.
It also is nearly time to order seed catalogues. Anyone else planning on growing Heirloom or Heritage vegetables? Saving seed?
...but of a different kind.
I think it was 16F this morning when I got up and went out to the barn to feed the horses, cats and chickens. I didn't even bother opening the door to the run for the ladies (and our suddenly self-important rooster, now known informally by the acronym SIR) until later in the day; I just turned on their light and let them stay snuggled inside. Their coop is actually quite cozy; aside from the fact that the structure itself is fully insulated, the chickens themselves put out quite a bit of body heat, more than you'd expect.
The temperature is supposed to moderate later in the week; still, I can't complain - it is December, after all, so every day that isn't miserably overcast and bearing a malevolent wind or laced with snow or freezing rain is a blessing.
Shortly after the morning caffeine revival (I have never been more exquisitely thankful for coffee than I have been since moving here) we assembled our tools and headed out to one of the many projects we are currently working on.
We took down two old paddocks and have been putting up new ones. This is the largest one. It was a cold day when this photo was taken (obviously).
Today's quota of work. The remaining second and the entire third row of boards should be on this week. There is still much to do, but it's coming along. We have pasture for the horses, but the goal is to have a couple of large, well-constructed paddocks as well. This is the (almost) end result of the preliminary work posted in the earlier photos of the Horse Fencing post - one large paddock.
Ben, in one of the spare stalls, waiting while his stall is cleaned and new bedding laid down (and his feed and hay are brought in). This big guy is all heart. He and Sally joined our family nearly eight years ago, and with our family they will remain, Lord willing, until the end of their days, hopefully many years hence.
I think it was 16F this morning when I got up and went out to the barn to feed the horses, cats and chickens. I didn't even bother opening the door to the run for the ladies (and our suddenly self-important rooster, now known informally by the acronym SIR) until later in the day; I just turned on their light and let them stay snuggled inside. Their coop is actually quite cozy; aside from the fact that the structure itself is fully insulated, the chickens themselves put out quite a bit of body heat, more than you'd expect.
The temperature is supposed to moderate later in the week; still, I can't complain - it is December, after all, so every day that isn't miserably overcast and bearing a malevolent wind or laced with snow or freezing rain is a blessing.
Shortly after the morning caffeine revival (I have never been more exquisitely thankful for coffee than I have been since moving here) we assembled our tools and headed out to one of the many projects we are currently working on.
...some weak sunshine, yes, but I think the wind chill is something like, oh, 12F. We're continuing to put in fences. It's (what's the word I'm after)...bracing. Yes, it's bracing, to say the least.
The chicks venture out into the run and just as quickly retreat into the coop. The horses, clothed in thick winter hair coats, are unfazed while they scarf down as much hay as they can recycle, and the cats are glad of the warm tack room to retreat to when the wind carries just a bit too much sting.
Life. is. good.
The chicks venture out into the run and just as quickly retreat into the coop. The horses, clothed in thick winter hair coats, are unfazed while they scarf down as much hay as they can recycle, and the cats are glad of the warm tack room to retreat to when the wind carries just a bit too much sting.
Life. is. good.
I wish I had a camera better suited to photographing detail, with less of a tendency to blur any image shot at close range, but this will have to do. A new camera is not a part of my immediate future. Alas.
The old doors pictured a few posts back are nearly stripped of their old finish. Will post an update as soon as possible.
I will also try to post a picture of a portrait I'm currently working on later today; hopefully I can make it outside to photograph it in natural light. It's a balmy 28 degrees outside and I have stalls to do and horses to groom. It's a glad task, however. I may even ride this weekend, if time and weather permit.
More to come...
She's well-fed, vaccinated, spayed and very healthy, not to mention a very pretty girl. Yup, she's family.
...soon! Very soon!
Photo-taking will accompany their arrival, of course. I can't wait to bring them home!
Photo-taking will accompany their arrival, of course. I can't wait to bring them home!
The shed is currently the repository of unwanted junk left there by previous owners, and it is beginning to lean...but a couple of burrowing animals have taken up residence underneath it, so it seems a shame to bring it down. Restoring it, on the other hand, is a project for which I simply do not have time.
I suppose the wood can be reclaimed for some purpose or other...it is silvery and shot through with sienna, and not in terrible shape. Picture frames? What else can be done with splendid old wood (besides the obvious)? I love old stuff, and really don't like the American tendency to knock everything over and pulverize it into dust simply because it has gotten a few years (or miles) on it.
The shed would also make a somewhat wistful painting, with the great dead pine trees behind it. Maybe once the weather warms up again...
However, we did finally make it to the sawmill and discovered that a truck bed full of sawdust for the stalls is only $8 (and we don't even have to load it).
And...I scored BIG last night at an architectural salvage yard where I found the doors pictured above - solid wood, both pieces (four panels) for a grand total of $14. I had actually gone in search of loose table legs (I was recently given an antique solid wood exterior door, perfect to make into a new dining room table - but it needs legs). Table legs of the appropriate style and size were in short supply, but lo, I turned the corner and found these cool doors...and what a deal!
I am thinking about sanding them to a silky smooth finish, applying some really interesting (possibly ethnic) designs, and using aniline dyes to add some subtle color...the usual sand-stain-and-polyurethane doesn't seem to be...well, the right approach.
Add hand-forged hinges and latches, and voila! instant room divider or large window privacy screen.
What do you think? Good plan?
Edit: The glazing is working out pretty well and is adding a lot of depth to the color. Will post an update in a few days.
Also working on two portraits and a mandala, so I should have some new stuff to post fairly soon - or at least more "in-progress" pieces.
I think I may try making crock-pot yogurt today. There is a small, family run dairy farm near us that sells raw milk. I also have a recipe for making butter - wonder how that will turn out? However, with butter approaching $5.00/pound in the stores, I think I ought to negotiate the learning curve.
Plans are tentatively in the works to plant an orchard next year...
Lot of work to do today. It's cold, but we need to get outside and get going.
The ladies, for their part, made themselves quite at home. They moved in, redecorated a bit, took over "S's" favorite spot on the roost and even pecked at him a little. By evening everyone was in the run, playing and running about and "S" was busy overseeing his new charges.
So far, so good.
Beautiful bird, though - social and gregarious for a nine-week old chicken.
There are some additional details to attend to, but hardest part is finally complete. I am beyond sore and extremely tired; however, I fell asleep too early in the evening (napped, really), now I'm awake and annoyed with myself.
The only remedy for this state of affairs is a good book.
The photo illustrates that we couldn't make up our minds whether to pound the fence posts into the ground (Method 1), or use an auger to drill holes and pour concrete to fix the posts (Method 2).
So we took a chain saw and shaved off a bit of each post, anticipating that, yeah, Method 1 was the way to go. However, when it became clear that we were not going to be able to obtain the necessary equipment (an apparently Herculean task) to have a go at Method 1, we decided we liked Method 2 better anyway. Hence the pointy posts turned upside-down in the post holes, and a paddock that is somewhat reminiscent of a medieval encampment, surrounded by pikes.
Anything potentially dangerous to the horses will be removed before they even lay eyes on their new digs. Safety first!
(More art to come, btw...I've been gourding, and two new drawings are in the works. Studio time - tomorrow, absolutely, even if I have to drag myself up there, which seems rather likely.)
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