Snow!

Jay is loving the snow! We went sledding yesterday for about 30 minutes. We currenlty have about 5" of snow on pic nic table this morning. 1-3 " more snow coming tomorrow.

Firewood supply used approx 1/2 (actually a little less) but doing well. Maybe this year we'll get ahead?

Snow doesnt seem to phase the pigs much. They are growing, ready in Beginning of February.

Anyone interested my neighbor has for sale: 1984 Ford f250, 4x4, Cab/ chasis. 302. 4spd. Runs good, 4x4 works. Will need gas tank (current one works, rusted on top). Using for farm/ firewood truck- began to build flatbed. Willing to part out. $450 obo. Email me.

Note: Prayers please, for Grandma P she was diagnosed with stomach cancer yesterday. Thanks.

Life without lights

The winter storm that swept through the Mid-West last week left us without electric. The storm left a blanket of snow 3-4" then approx 1/2"-3/4" ice, then another 1-2" of snow, the ice especially was terrible on trees and roads; even the local radio stations shut down. Just like earlier times in history we used our oil lamps for light, and of course our wood stove for heat, we stored food outside in the cold, heated water for dishes and washing on the wood stove, we cooked on the woodstove and white-gas camp stove. I was able to fashion a radio (we lack a battry powered radio!) out of an old car radio, a car battery, and two speakers. The outtage didnt seem to phase Jay, as he played like always. I quote my wife, "at least our house is warm and boring." Life went on as usual, went to work as usual, just closed off a few rooms to keep heat central, and ate great food, chores done the same, and played board and card games (below is a pic of our favorite new game). The electric ceased on Wednesday Jan. 28 and came back on early morning Monday Feb 2; though we borrowed a generator on Saturday the 31st, to run the refridgerator/ freezer. As much of a hassle or inconvenience as it may seem, it was a great vacation from these modern times. Mother Nature you are the boss!

Moving Bubba

The story of our lives: we have been really busy. Recently with the cold snap our lives have revolved around getting chores done, hauling firewood and staying warm. Last week the newest member of our Dexter Cattle herd was delivered, a 15 month old- born Oct 2007, black, dexter heifer, we named Autumn; we will have pictures of her on soon.

This week we borrowed a trailer to move Bubba our Angus Beef steer, to the neighbors farm where he finish growing out until butcher time. The story with Bubba: he was abandonded by his mom, and adopted by one of our dexter cows("Sassy Sally") that had a calf die. They are very attached to one another, he has been impossible to wean, he now towers over her by about 6-8 inches and is 9 months old and still trying suck off mom. We have to wean him, because his mom "Sassy Sally" is carrying a calf to be born this spring, the calf needs the nutrients to grow. He was tough to catch, we ran him into the barn, and then he entered the trailer easily, and unloaded at the Sayres easily. Pulling the full size stock trailer with a Toyota 4 cylinder truck in the snow is another story, LOL. Pictures following of: Farmer Jay and his new farvorite boots (can you tell he is mine?) and moving Bubba following.

Hay Day

This winter we have been feeding a combination of round bales of hay- available to cows all the time and small square bales- which we feed at night. The small square bales are of higher quality ( higher protein) and have been stored inside. This is one of my neighbors tractors, for green and yellow it gets the job done somewhat well. We also went to look at cows this weekend and have decided to purchase one- a yearling heifer, the other two- 2 y.o. cow and yearling bull are headed to the Sanders Farm, another local couple.