It's Monday, I'm recovering from the weekend. Slept until 1:00 Got up, fed the horses, had breakfast: a bagel with peanut butter and a cup of tea. Met some guy who drove down from Milaca to see how our CSA works.
Pretty sure I told him (via email) not to come, we're a really small farm and aren't really doing anything this time of year. So instead he called and Mom and she told him to come anyway so now 'Sean' is spending the night in his van parked in our driveway...creepy!
I guess he's from California but moved to Minnesota to be with his fiancee. They're starting a CSA up there so he's doing a tour of CSA's around here to learn their secrets. He actually reminds me a lot of Kenneth from 30 Rock. So yeah, super creepy in a nice guy kinda way.
I'm operating under the assumption that serial killers out number regular people, and nice people are rarer than... well something really rare, like A class Malaysian Serama's.
So that's his cover story if we all disappear or turn up in various locations around the farm. Cheery thought, eh? Ha!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kitty Makeover!
Safina got a haircut today (actually yesterday, but it sounds better if I say today) it's a yearly thing for her, for ever so many reasons.
1. Her hair mats if I don't brush it, and will rip out by the roots when the mats get too big *ouch*
2. She hates being brushed and will gnaw on my arm if I even try it
3. She gets overheated in the summer with that big old fluffy fur she has
4. She likes it!
She loves the sensation of the clipper and being able to groom herself without getting hairballs. Plus we make sure to tell her how pretty she looks and she just glows under all the attention. I swear she'd be blushing if she could. Of course we make sure not to mention that she looks like a giant gray squirrel, I don't know how she'd take it...
Relaxing during her 'spa day'.
Nap time!
1. Her hair mats if I don't brush it, and will rip out by the roots when the mats get too big *ouch*
2. She hates being brushed and will gnaw on my arm if I even try it
3. She gets overheated in the summer with that big old fluffy fur she has
4. She likes it!
She loves the sensation of the clipper and being able to groom herself without getting hairballs. Plus we make sure to tell her how pretty she looks and she just glows under all the attention. I swear she'd be blushing if she could. Of course we make sure not to mention that she looks like a giant gray squirrel, I don't know how she'd take it...
Relaxing during her 'spa day'.
She looks like she's giving me a disgusted look, but she's really in mid lick.
Nap time!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Farrier Fun
The weather was so nice today and the horses were behaving so well, it was a perfect time to trim Ben's hooves.
When I had the big horses I hired a professional horse hoof trimmer called a farrier to trim their hooves. It's a physically demanding job and takes a lot of skill and experience to balance them properly. The hoof wall on a big horse is about as thick and your finger and it's very tough to cut through even with the right tools. It's a really important job when you're working on a riding horses because besides carrying their own weight they have to carry a rider too. Hooves that are not trimmed correctly can lead to lameness or injury.
The little guys have much less weight to carry and their hoof wall is much thinner and relatively easy to clip. So I gave it a shot.
The tools of the trade
I rasped my hand in the process and Ben managed to turn almost completely around while I was holding his hind leg but they turned out really well!
When I had the big horses I hired a professional horse hoof trimmer called a farrier to trim their hooves. It's a physically demanding job and takes a lot of skill and experience to balance them properly. The hoof wall on a big horse is about as thick and your finger and it's very tough to cut through even with the right tools. It's a really important job when you're working on a riding horses because besides carrying their own weight they have to carry a rider too. Hooves that are not trimmed correctly can lead to lameness or injury.
The little guys have much less weight to carry and their hoof wall is much thinner and relatively easy to clip. So I gave it a shot.
The tools of the trade I rasped my hand in the process and Ben managed to turn almost completely around while I was holding his hind leg but they turned out really well!
I wish I took a 'before' picture. The 'after' picture is not so impressive without it. Just trust me they look way better now.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Mud
We are in full mud season here in Minnesota. Springtime here is a mess of melting snow. The chickens and horses take full advantage of it, stomping in the puddles, and for the horses it's the perfect time to try on a new coat color.Candy has been wondering how she'll look as a grey. I don't think it's a great look for her but she just keeps putting on a new coat of mud everyday!
All the horses are a little scruffy looking this time of year as their winter coats fall out. Soon they'll be looking sleek in their summer coats and I'll get some good pictures of them.
The chickens on the other hand are just happy to be outside. The roosters have settled down a lot, although Pumpkin is still in his own spot away from the other boys.
Apollo has made a full recovery and is enjoying taking a stroll with little Paris. ^
So cute.
In other news I've started seeds for this summer. Peppers, onions, leeks, shallots, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, and eggplant are done. I'm working on broccoli, and cabbage.
Spring is in full swing now!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My Week (Part 2)
The rest of Wednesday is spent sleeping. I had a couple of crackers and some water and went to bed.
Thursday~ Well, I'm not throwing up any more but it's still hard to move and I have a pounding headache. I managed half an english muffin but had to have a nap after that great effort.
Went out to try to get everything ready, we're planning a weekend trip to Brainard leaving Friday. Cleaned and filled feeders and waterers and put stuff on Apollo's eye. He's no worse for wear thankfully.
Looking at his fence all the seams are weak. I remember from last year that the snow pushes at the fences and they need to be restrung, wish I remembered that before I let Apollo out yesterday! I think it was Monterey who whooped him, which is weird because he hardly has a mark on him. Roosters are jerks in the spring, stupid hormones.
Came in had a nap, an apple, another nap. Packed for the trip, looking back I think I was dehydrated, at least that explains the clothes I packed. Everything mismatched and for some reason I packed knee high socks, maybe I was cold?
When I went to put the chickens to bed I see Leif huddled in the corner covered in blood. At this point I may have screamed something that rhymes with mitt very loudly, who can say for sure? I brought him in and cleaned him up.
Leif only has one eye, he lost the other one to an infection after a fight with Pi (who went to live on a farm in Milaca) so I was devastated ~the dehydration may have made me over dramatic but come on!~ when his remaining eye was swollen shut. I put a cold wet cloth on it and prayed the swelling would be gone by tomorrow when we're supposed to leave.
Thursday~ Well, I'm not throwing up any more but it's still hard to move and I have a pounding headache. I managed half an english muffin but had to have a nap after that great effort.
Went out to try to get everything ready, we're planning a weekend trip to Brainard leaving Friday. Cleaned and filled feeders and waterers and put stuff on Apollo's eye. He's no worse for wear thankfully.
Looking at his fence all the seams are weak. I remember from last year that the snow pushes at the fences and they need to be restrung, wish I remembered that before I let Apollo out yesterday! I think it was Monterey who whooped him, which is weird because he hardly has a mark on him. Roosters are jerks in the spring, stupid hormones.
Came in had a nap, an apple, another nap. Packed for the trip, looking back I think I was dehydrated, at least that explains the clothes I packed. Everything mismatched and for some reason I packed knee high socks, maybe I was cold?
When I went to put the chickens to bed I see Leif huddled in the corner covered in blood. At this point I may have screamed something that rhymes with mitt very loudly, who can say for sure? I brought him in and cleaned him up.
Leif only has one eye, he lost the other one to an infection after a fight with Pi (who went to live on a farm in Milaca) so I was devastated ~the dehydration may have made me over dramatic but come on!~ when his remaining eye was swollen shut. I put a cold wet cloth on it and prayed the swelling would be gone by tomorrow when we're supposed to leave.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
My Week (Part 1)
Tuesday~ Poker at Dave and Ty's with Phia, Nate and Issac. Fun!
Tuesday night~ Puking my guts out every two hours. I will add as this point it had nothing to do with Tuesday. Dad was sick last Sunday, Mom got it on Monday, now it's my turn...
Wednesday~ Sick as a dog, I swear. The whole body cramps make my clothes feel like they're made of sandpaper. It took me THREE trys to get out of bed. When I did get out to take care of everybody I looked in the chicken yard and see a white mass of feathers in the mud. Which I quickly identify as a dead chicken. I will try to reproduce my thoughts as they happened...
"Oh no, it's Shawn! What happened??"
"Wait there's Shawn over there" relief immediately followed by heartbreak
"Is it?" Sees the broken fence to Apollo's yard
"It's Apollo?!?"
"No!"
I climbed over the fence and went to pick him up. When I touched him I was shocked he was still breathing. He's on his back and covered in mud only his belly is still white, his face is covered in blood. I take him out and put him on the grass, he can't hold his head up or stand but he's moving his legs and trying.
So I take him into the house and wash him off in the tub. He's steadily getting stronger. I take stock, he's still got both his eyes although he's squinting on one side it doesn't look too damaged. His comb is ripped up and there's blood everywhere but miraculously he doesn't seem to have any serious injuries.
By the time he's dried off he's preening himself and crowing!
Phew! Close close call, he's going to be ok. I have triple antibiotic ointment for his eye and stuff for his comb. He's really going to be ok.
I still feel horrible but at least he's going to be okay.
End Part One ~just wait my week gets better~ note the irony here.
Tuesday night~ Puking my guts out every two hours. I will add as this point it had nothing to do with Tuesday. Dad was sick last Sunday, Mom got it on Monday, now it's my turn...
Wednesday~ Sick as a dog, I swear. The whole body cramps make my clothes feel like they're made of sandpaper. It took me THREE trys to get out of bed. When I did get out to take care of everybody I looked in the chicken yard and see a white mass of feathers in the mud. Which I quickly identify as a dead chicken. I will try to reproduce my thoughts as they happened...
"Oh no, it's Shawn! What happened??"
"Wait there's Shawn over there" relief immediately followed by heartbreak
"Is it?" Sees the broken fence to Apollo's yard
"It's Apollo?!?"
"No!"
I climbed over the fence and went to pick him up. When I touched him I was shocked he was still breathing. He's on his back and covered in mud only his belly is still white, his face is covered in blood. I take him out and put him on the grass, he can't hold his head up or stand but he's moving his legs and trying.
So I take him into the house and wash him off in the tub. He's steadily getting stronger. I take stock, he's still got both his eyes although he's squinting on one side it doesn't look too damaged. His comb is ripped up and there's blood everywhere but miraculously he doesn't seem to have any serious injuries.
By the time he's dried off he's preening himself and crowing!
Phew! Close close call, he's going to be ok. I have triple antibiotic ointment for his eye and stuff for his comb. He's really going to be ok.
I still feel horrible but at least he's going to be okay.
End Part One ~just wait my week gets better~ note the irony here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spring Cleaning
Ahhhh the coop is CLEAN! It took me three days but it's done. It's so nice when it's clean, it was getting pretty bad after about 5 months. I have cleaned it in those five months but not with bleach and water like I like to.
Maybe it's working outside or maybe it's the bleach fumes but spring cleaning always brings questions to my mind, like 'what the heck is that?' as I discover some hidden treasure the chickens have left. And 'how do they get poo on the ceiling!?' After I find poo, well, on the walls and ceiling. It's not even a particularly low ceiling, it's 6 feet. But perhaps those questions are better left unanswered.
For now I'm just happy to have the place clean.
Maybe it's working outside or maybe it's the bleach fumes but spring cleaning always brings questions to my mind, like 'what the heck is that?' as I discover some hidden treasure the chickens have left. And 'how do they get poo on the ceiling!?' After I find poo, well, on the walls and ceiling. It's not even a particularly low ceiling, it's 6 feet. But perhaps those questions are better left unanswered.
For now I'm just happy to have the place clean.
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