A Day in the life...CSA Day (Picture Intensive!!)

One of the items on the 101 list was to do a "Day in the Life" blog post.  

It was requested that I do a CSA delivery day.  I didn't feel like it was a "typical" day as I am off the farm and in town, but then when I thought about it, yes, twice a week this is a typical day.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, I pack up the "little dump truck" with all the farm goodies for my wonderful friends/customers that have are subscribers to various items off the farm.

After the morning milking (no pictures of that....until I get a staff photographer, not enough hands to milk AND take pictures!), we load up the car and head the 25 miles south to the city to meet with my wonderful ladies.

This day, Boy went with me because he was going home with one of his best buds (whose mom is one of our friends/customer, too) for a sleepover and fun at one of the local water parks.

After the pickup, I also had food to take to my Reyn BFF, as her father-in-love had just passed away and I only know one way to comfort...food.  This ended up being a whole 'nother "Rea" fiasco because later I discovered that I had left the food at the wrong house, and the residents were sure that the chocolate chip cookies I left must have been poison.....sigh. 

And what timing!  My car turned over a milestone while I was out! 

(And yes, I am aware that there are TWO check engine lights, and that I am out of gas!) 

After all the deliveries, over to Sam's to pick up coffee (something I am not able to grow on the farm) 

And fuel, because everyone gets nervous when I am out driving on fumes. 

And briefly looking at a new "milk mobile" because of the check engine lights..

Then finally a stop at the grocery to pick up prescriptions and my vice, Diet Citrus Drop (something else I can't grow on the farm -grin) 

Then back to the farm by 3 pm.  

Unload the car.

Milk jars to be sterilized.

Brief nap to take.

Then chore time....chores were a bit longer tonight as my Boy was off having a blast!

This is our only named chicken, Omlet.  She lets us pick her up and pet her.

More about her soon!

Taking care of my "flock" of turkeys.  OK, it's only 2:  a male (Stuffing) and female (Cranberry). 

Omlet is their 'pet chicken' too.

Taking care of the "girl dogs" Kristl and Iona.

Taking care of the 'herd' of rabbits.  Currently 38.

And the Twins!  They are getting so big!!

Miracle (left) and Franci (right)

Mama Cow, Hershey, out on her pasture line.

And Yellow Cat waiting patiently for his dinner.

Calling the hens for their dinner (sorry the video is choppy)

After all the Critters are fed and watered, it's time to go in and feed the people.  After fixing dinner, eating, and doing dishes, it's time to go do some work in the gardens.  

Danny Dog is my farm dog and comes along for all the chores....plus, he LOVES raw beans so he keeps me company with the hopes of getting a few (and usually does!)

This is the brassica patch in the front and behind that is the bean patch.

The Roma tomatoes are finally starting to change to red!!

Then as the sun gets ready to go down, it looks as though a storm is rolling in...

and I was able to get some amazing pictures of the sun rays!

And off to the house to finally get some sleep before it starts up again tomorrow morning!

Happy March

Yesterday was a day full of prepping for this next storm. I am sooo ready for spring.  It was nice that the sun was out for the morning and it actually got into the mid 40s by the evening chores.

All the bunny cages got clean (which was a feat since everything was frozen) But almost everyone was moved. We have 6 potential mamas this week so they needed moved to bigger cages with nest boxes. The potentially pregnant Lops still need moved. 

Milking is getting a bit easier as I am starting to figure out a routine and how the machine works. Hershey has figured out that I am the "feed" lady so she will walk up to me. She is still very skittish about having her face or neck touched. So hooking her halter is still a bit of a challenge. 

Today she got her first look at the pasture. She walks around with a good stride and even trotted a few times. She followed me up and down the fence line. She even let Man approach her. I do think in time she'll settle down into a good family cow. While she wandered the pasture I got both of her stalls mucked out. Then let Weldon out to muck his. 

I am getting a good amount of milk, but it seems like she should be giving more.   I am trying to be patient with both of us, but know if she drops in production and stays there it's difficult to get it back up.

Enjoy this pretty day before the storms roll in again!

Now I can Route...

I found a picture of a hay rack that I wanted.
 I showed it to my hard working Man and asked for him to make me one.

Then as I stood in his woodshop, I saw all these scraps that were exactly the same size...I started playing with them and set 'em up how I thought the rack should look. And showed it to him and said "like this."

But then I said, but I'd like the wood routed...so he showed me how to route!!

Guess what. I can route!!
Two hours later and learning lots of new tools.....

Ta-Da!


My camera was on some wonky setting..

My hard-working Man "modeling" our rack!

Boy helped me attach it to the barn wall.


Weldon checking out everyone in his stall. 

Yum!

 

Taking a break from mucking the stall.

 

It seems my life revolves around....

...this bovine!

 

It was warm enough today that I let the chickens and ducks out to free range. 

This is what it looked like on my path to the barn tonight:

 

In the barn, another "peaceable kingdom" picture. 

This sad rooster has been relagated to the barn.  His comb got all frostbitten and bloody on the first really, REALLY cold night.  Then the blood was covering his nose and air passages and he was making a terrible wheezing sound.  I was sure he was as good as dead, so I kept him in the barn away from the other chickens.....alas...two weeks later and he seems to be fine.  And started crowing again this morning.  This evening he was sitting on the stall wall behind the rabbits, and then Yellow Cat hopped down from the loft to see what was going on. 

 

 

Finally the view from the Barn as I finished up chores...

 

Barn Progress....

Day 1 (5/16):

The big crane to hold the second floor up



AH!  Taking a chainsaw to the beam!