FFF Photo a Day - Day 90
Today we are spending the day at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon. We took 24 kids with us and are having a blast. Today is 4H day at the fair. If you are here look for the green shirts! (And the crazy sheep...)
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Monday, 30 March 2015
Growing strong
FFF Photo a Day - Day 89
Our seedlings are growing strong, leaning towards the sun and the warmth. They can't wait either!
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Looking ahead..
FFF Photo a Day - Day 88
The weather is windy and chilly today and everything is brown and wet.
Today's picture is therapeutic to the soul.
Looking forward to days of lush pastures and big skies.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
A taste of summer sun
FFF Photo a Day - Day 87
Tonight I'm making risotto with last year's sun dried tomatoes. It is so nice to still have a little slice of sunshine from last summer.
So looking forward to warmer days!
Friday, 27 March 2015
Time for chores
Time for chores, everyday! Feed the chickens, water the cattle, collect the eggs, milk the goats, repeat.
Farm life has a reassuring, re-occurring routine that is both gratifying and aggravating all at the same time!
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Squirt the sheep
FFF Photo a Day - Day 85
Today's photo features Squirt, the sheep who arrived at our farm as a bottle lamb several years ago. I forgot what a cutie pie he was!
You could be two pastures over, if he heard your voice he would come running, bawling all the way!
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Don't you wish....
FFF Photo a Day - Day 84
Don't you wish that you could understand what they were trying to tell you....
Their expressive eyes or facial expressions seem to be willing you to understand, to know what they want.
Avery is one of the most intelligent dogs I know... almost too smart! It gets her into trouble, a lot! Luckily we love her anyway... almost too much!
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
What's your favorite?
FFF Photo a Day - Day 83
Our favorite thing to do with fresh goat's milk is make yogurt and yogurt cheese! It's so simple and results in a tangy, creamy yogurt and an even better cheese!
What's your favorite thing to do with goat's milk?
For those interested in how we make our yogurt cheese, this previous post will walk you through it!
Monday, 23 March 2015
The bucket...
FFF Photo a Day - Day 82
If your back door is anything like ours, the entrance way sports a collection of muddy barn boots, discarded work gloves, coveralls and hats along with the eternal bucket.... could be a bucket waiting to be filled with water, could be a bucket of kitchen scraps waiting to go out to the pigs, or it may be an bucket of eggs coming in to be washed.... but there is always a bucket.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Friend or foe?
FFF Photo a Day - Day 81
The other day when we were moving the chicken, one flew up on the roof of the coop.
She seemed to be laughing at us from up there until the barn cat wandered over.... Spoiler alert: All ended well!
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Eat your crusts!
The other day our nephew called to see if we would take some stale bread to feed to our animals.
We've been tossing slices to our hens to eat and have learned an interesting fact about them... they are just like spoiled children... they don't eat their crusts!
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Time for a Change!
FFF Photo a Day - Day 78Wednesday, 18 March 2015
A chicken's evil eye!?
FFF Photo a Day - Day 77
This girl was giving me the stink eye the other day when we were wrangling her and her sisters from the barn to the chicken tractor.
She changed her tune quickly when she saw where she was going. Clucked happily along scratching at the fresh grass.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Not just another pretty face!
FFF Photo Day - Day 76
Gaston is a 8 month old Dexter bull calf. Him and his mother have been enjoying the sun and warm weather.
Monday, 16 March 2015
Worried about water...
FFF Photo a Day - Day 75
We rely on our retention pond on our property to irrigate our fields and our animals throughout the warmer months.
The unseasonably warm weather we have had over the past few weeks has melted the snow and ice from around the pond.
Typically at this time of year we see our pond full to overflowing, brimming with snowmelt. I've never seen it so low.
This doesn't bode well for the upcoming growing season. Let's hope for some steady spring rains to bring things back to normal!
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Happy hens
FFF Photo a Day - Day 74
Temperatures reached near record levels today! By mid-afternoon we were enjoying +14C and sun. Normal temperatures would be more like -1 degrees Celcius. Beautiful!
We took advantage of the early spring weather to move the hens outside. They've been stuck in the barn all winter and were soooo excited to get on grass again!
We have several 'chicken tractors' that enable the chickens to get fresh grass and bugs at the same time as being protected from the elements and predators. We move the tractors to fresh ground once a day.
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Food, farmers and fun
FFF Photo a Day - Day 73
Today I made a batch of yummy pork kabobs for tonight's Small Farms Manitoba Potluck.
Always enjoy a chance to connect with others with similar dreams over good food.
Tonight we were talking about what we do when we need help on the farm. Hired help or interns - whether you need one or want to be one check out the job board on the small farms Manitoba website.
Big thanks to Bruce and Marilyn from Almost Urban for hosting!
Friday, 13 March 2015
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Spot the dog...
FFF Photo a Day - Day 71
Can you spot the dog? I caught Avery sprawled in one of our front garden beds tonight. I assume the soil is warm from the sun and affords a soft cozy place to relax.
I almost walked by her as she is well camouflaged.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
A Spring Haiku
FFF Photo a Day - Day 70
Some of our first seedlings are up, stretching towards the sunlight.
To celebrate, I offer you a spring haiku:
Planting has begun,
Seeds germinate in the sun,
A sure sign of spring.
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
You talking to me?
FFF Photo Day - Day 69
Is it just me or do cows always have a sardonic look on their face.
It's a bit like the dolphins in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... do they know the secret and just aren't telling us?
Perhaps I'm over thinking this...
Monday, 9 March 2015
An odd egg...
I don't profess to understand the science behind the odd eggs that invariable come from our hens, however, I'm sure there is a likely explanation.
I prefer to imagine that there is intentional artistry involved.... that the hens congratulate each other on particularly funky looking eggs like we revere artist and their work hanging in the art gallery.
I wonder what this egg symbolizes for the artistic hen that created it?
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Seeds of spring
FFF Photo a Day - Day 67
The weather outside is getting warmer and the days are longer but the true sign of spring is when seeding begins!
While its a hopeful and exciting sign, it also fills me with a sense of urgency and a bit of anxiety. It means that the time of renewal and pause that comes with the cold weather is almost over and the busy, frantic time is to begin.
I look around and see all the projects I intended to finish this winter and sigh...
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Chicks in the sun...
Our hens hang out in the barn during the cold winter months.
As we move towards warmer weather and the sun is more and more powerful, we leave the door open for them to get sun and wander.
Today Farmer Phil was hauling water in and out of the barn and the hens were taking advantage to enjoy the warm March sun.
Friday, 6 March 2015
Friday farewell...
FFF Photo a Day - Day 6
Captured the sun as it sunk below the horizon tonight.
As the day (and week) ends I hope that you had a wonderful week and that you have an even better weekend!
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Dirty Deeds!
FFF Photo a Day - Day 64
We have a heavy clay soil in the Red River Valley. We have worked hard to cultivate a more welcoming soil for our veggies on our farm but this takes many years.
For our seedlings we take our soil and mix it with Peat Moss. We generally mix a 50/50 blend. This helps the plants get off to a good start.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Sun dogs
Snapped this photo on my drive this morning. Gorgeous shot of intense sun dogs.
Of course, most people know that sun dogs = bitter cold and it was.
I guess its the price we have to pay for beautiful sight!
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Prepping for Spring
It's coming... its getting closer... the sun is getting warmer, days longer and the forecast is looking just a little less grim. Spring is around the corner and we are getting ready!
This is a tray for 200 seedlings. It will be used for onions this week. The nice thing about these trays is you don't have to deal with tangled roots when it comes time to transplant to the field.
And given that we've never transplanted onions except on a cold, windy, wet spring day... that's a good thing.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Breadwinner
Photo a Day - Day 61
A few weeks ago, I shared my success with making a sourdough starter.
Over the past few weeks, I've been experimenting with different recipes from traditional sourdough bread to crackers, muffins and cakes. Not all things have worked but most have.
This weekend I built on a previous successful recipe for sourdough bread and created a whole wheat version.
I have discovered the secret to the yummy chewy crust is to mist the bread with water periodically as it bakes!
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Caleb the cat
FFF Photo a Day - Day 60
This is Caleb the cat. She's a 14 year old barn cat that has more than 9 lives.
When we first moved to the property the barn was overrun with mice and we needed a barn cat. A relative gave us one of her 'tom cats' and we named him Bob.
That was until he gave birth to three cute kittens! After quickly fixing Bob, we named the three cats after our three children (regardless of gender).
Caleb the cat is the only own that is still around 14 years later. She nabs a drink of water any time she sees you with a pail!
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