Saturday, September 22, 2012

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The day was softly warm and slightly moist, nice Fall day.

Once again the cows and sheep were all down in Pocket field at milking time and didn’t want to budge.After only a few minutes of my ringing it, the sheep responded to the sound of Linda’s bell, their lost sister.Fern didn’t move her head. She raised her head and stared when I beat on the bucket and waved my arms but did not move. I went back in the house and made blueberry muffins using Grandson Harper’s recipe. When I came back out about 9:30 Fern and Milton were in the Beefer Pen.

Martin and the kids arrived at 10AM.The kids and I ate muffins while Martin hitched the manure spreader to the Moline for an experimental run. He has done a lot of work on the spreader, a classic old thing, and now it works.Hurrah! The photo shows a tractor painted John Deere green by a former owner but it is really a Moline and should be Prairie Orange.Someday we’ll get it repainted.Martin’s pointer, Milo, is next to the wheel.

Martin did lots of work including repairing the fence and chain sawing firewood. He went out with Milo for a while and put up some woodcock.

Monday, September 24, 2012

DD Sally sent this link to an interview with her son Gabriel (my grandson) who lives and teaches in Kazakhstan.It’s all in either Russian or Kazakh – neither of us understands a word of it but maybe somebody does.Anyway, we are proud of him!

http://www.rus.24.kz/novosti/culture/item/za-rubеzhom-rastеt.html

I glanced up while milking this morning and saw framed in the tiny open window a hawk sitting on the top rail of the chicken run. She was staring straight into the henhouse and did not see me until I got up and moved to the window for a better look. She was small but bigger than a sharpshin. She flew off without getting any of my chicks.

The weather is getting colder.I brought in the last of the peppers and cukes.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

It’s been another day of fine fall weather.

Once again this morning the cows were down in Pocket Field. Last night we did not get the gate that keeps them near the barn shut in time so I was late with milking.If somebody else had been around to let the sheep out I could have slept in which would have been lovely. I stayed awake last night to listen to On Point, a forum led by Tom Ashbrook that is rebroadcast at midnight. He takes on hard subjects, this time global warming.He interviewed four involved scientists.The Arctic ice cap is at its lowest point in recorded history and is melting about four times faster than projected.At this rate it will be completely gone in another decade.Antarctica is adding enough new ice to compensate in surface are for possibly a quarter of the missing Arctic ice but it is much thinner ice. It was hard to go to sleep after this news so I was tired today.However, I did manage to finish one new section in my editing (writing about machine milking.)

A few days ago I sent DD Sally a spray of aromatic blue flowers from a plant I was puzzled about, since my description over the phone was inadequate for her to identify it. It turned out to be Petrovskia (Russian Sage), a very fine plant.She had actually sent for it last winter and potted it up and forgotten about it. It has been blooming in its pot on the deck. I then looked up its requirements and set it out on the south side of the barn.It wants full sun and not too damp a soil.It is only hardy to Zone 5 and we are Zone 4 so I hope I can keep it going. It is a truly stunning plant that makes blue spires that can be 4 ft tall.

Each morning after I let Fern out of her stanchion she always diddles around in the aisle as long as she can.One of the things she likes to do is go and sniff the old “cow bra”that her mother, Jasmine, used to wear.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Since my last entry we have had a night of rain followed by clear cool weather. Nancy came and sawed up a fallen tree by the river. I set out a beautiful potted rudbeckia and dug some more potatoes.This evening I started a large batch of chutney.I promised it to Martin for his birthday last June and am just getting around to it.

I did not see anything of Abby yesterday.Tuesday evening when she got back to camp, fortunately before dark, there was unmistakable evidence of an intruder.In fact she has been suspecting this and has been making a point of getting there before dark for that reason.She spent all day Wednesday dealing with this.The sheriff was there and went over everything.Abby found the house open including the front doors wide open. It appears that the intruder(s) fled out the front of the house when he heard Randy S arrive to mow the lawn about 4 o’clock. There was damage to the lock.The house is totally empty except for the room in which Abby is staying and she did not miss anything. The sheriff thinks it was probably a thief looking for copper.

On a lighter note, Abby found a sheep today in the carriage house (garage). Later she wrote me saying,” I was walking back from the barn at one point and she or he (one of the young 'uns) was bawling loudly & plunging about in there. I quickly closed the garage door. Then I closed the door to the buttery. Then I opened the back door to the field to ponder if he/she could jump down that far. He/she immediately ran over, screeched to a halt upon seeing the perilous drop, glanced sideways at me standing there, then squeezed his/her eyes shut and leaped. Ran off.”

Friday, September 28, 2012

Abby and I raced off to Farmington today and saw Mitra at the farmer’s market.It was a pleasant day and there was a steady stream of customers at all the stalls. Besides Mitra’s popcorn, there were many fine displays of vegetables, meats, dairy and baked goods. Afterwards we went to the gourmet shop and had coffee and picked up some elegant cheese before driving out to White Water Farm for grain.

The price of grain is getting scary.

Now that (the steer) Milton’s collar is off he is a lot less touchy and head shy.That is always a symptom, being head shy, if the collar is getting tight. One has to check collars constantly.

I started chutney yesterday and canned it tonight.I made 12 half pints.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012Yesterday (Saturday) Nancy H walked the north fence line all the way around Pocket Field and found that it needed very little help. Now the gate is open but the critters haven’t noticed. Tomorrow DD Abby is going to lead them down there. I want them to have that lovely grass. Frost was predicted for last night but we didn’t get it. Tonight the warnings were even more specific so I dragged in all the potted plants. Abby picked more tomatoes and some sunflowers. It really does  not seem very cold. It has been a beautiful day. Abby made an apple  pie.with flavor enhanced by  reduced cider I made last week.
 Monday, September 17, 2012We did get frost last night.  It went to about 30F. It took all the leaves on the squash and cukes but that was to be expected. I had moved the potted plants into the carriage house and Abby put sheets over several things. The cows failed to notice that they had access to the Pocket Field. Abby finally led the cows and sheep down there late this afternoon. They were all thrilled.  DD Marcia in Sonoma County CA sent a picture of one of her roosters. Murray. She ssays, “He has taken over motherly duties to the three Sebright chicks and one black silkie. He is just adorable. I have NEVER owned a sweeter chickie. He is a Polish. He is living in the rabbit pen now as he is scared to death of the layers and Bertie Wooster.”            Bertie is a Rhode Island Red, I think.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012Ferny Fern was so in heat this morning that it took me a half hour to separate her from Milton (who wasn’t helping) to get her in for milking. I got them into the Beefer Pen, the big room where the hay ring is, but then getting her the rest of the way into where we milk was a challenge. The hay ring takes up the middle of the room and round and round we went, 20 times, no exaggeration and I could not get her to turn aside and go the rest of the way in. I was so sweaty! Even after I got her in to the milking room she ignored her grain and would not put her head in the stanchion for a long time. I guess she had to weigh the satisfaction of racing around with Milton against eating her grain. I stood quietly blocking the door holding my ski pole until she finally made up her mind. Once I had her locked in she was her usual perfect self. Dear cousins Holly and Richard came for a goodby lunch, bringing all the food. Richard made a very fine pizza and a cake called blueberry buckle. They are about to leave their summer place and return to Minneapolis where they are active members of the chorus and theater community. In the late afternoon I went out with the wagon and harvested the squash. Frost is predicted for tomorrow following rain tonight so I thought  it best to get them in. I filled half the wagon. This is about half of last year’s crop but I think will be plenty. A wind driven rain has hit so it’s a dark and stormy night.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012It rained and blew hard all night but is quiet this morning. Fern is once again her old self. After milking she led a stately march down to Pocket Field, stopping on the way to have a drink from the little stream before gliding off with Milton and the sheep to graze. We went to Rumford for my new glasses. On the way home we bought big pots of chrysanthemums. There is a new moon and the coyotes are howling in a chorus.
Thursday, September 20, 2012It did not get as cold as predicted, only down to 32F here at the house with very little  new damage. Abby made butter today. I potted up my rosemary plant for the winter. It has done well. I have been reading James Howard Kuntsler’s new book, Too Much Magic. :Wishful thinking, technology and the fate of the nation.  Once again, he nails it. My new glasses for use at the computer are a big improvement.
Friday, September 21, 20129:30 AM I have not milked Fern yet. Both bovines and all 6 sheep are down in Pocket Field enjoying the grass so much that they are ignoring my calls. Some fence repair would control this.10:30 AM.  The sheep finally paid attention  to me and came bounding home. Fern said,”Oh well, if you insist”, and trundled along fairly soon too. She was up a half gallon from yesterday.  I picked the last of the beans and cukes. Abby and I dug a few potatoes. Our backs gave out after digging about 15 pounds. They are beautiful potatoes. Last month the vines were struck by blight so not many are large. They are clean but of course could not get bigger once the leaves were dead. Martin and the kids arrived for supper. I had braised some breast of lamb, made Bret’s Spanish rice recipe, cooked some of the beans and Abby made a corn pudding. The kids were pretty lively.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

On again off again showers this morning before drying out enough for Nancy to mow the grass.

Martin, Abby and I finally got organized to band the tails on the four lambs.  It was hard work. What big bounders they are now at close to five months. Abby had to trim some wool off of their tails before Martin could get the Elastrator on them. When it was done they did not act as though they even cared. But maybe they are feeling insulted and ashamed of their funny appearance. This evening the ewes are standing at the barn blatting to come in and the lambs are not showing up.

With major help from Abby, I canned eight pints of tomatoes and four quarts. They are beautiful with all the different colors, red, pink and yellow. More tomatoes are coming on but just since yesterday the vines have been hit by blight and are all yellowed and withered.

I joined Martin and the kids for pizza at their camp. A great storm is whipping  up with high wind and white caps on the lakae. Martin secured the boats more tightly. The lambs finally came running in.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Ther weather has cooled down a lot. It got down to 45F last night.

The recent rains have brought on a lot of new grass that the cows and sheep are enjoying.

Last evening I heard a fox bark and this morning a lovely family of a hen and 9 chicks had vanished. Such a disappointment.  Those chicks were among the prettiest I have ever seen.

Another new family of 10 chicks showed up while I was milking. I heard all  kinds of peeping and found the hen in the main aisle clucking to her chicks on the floor above coaxing them plummet down about 6 ft.  They all did it.

Abby and I took a walk along the river with Willie dog. I thought we might find the fox’s den or some feathers or some apples or at least some mushrooms. But none of the above. All we brought home was more tomatoes from my garden. There are no apples at all this year on my farm unless there is a wild tree somewhere that I have missed. I have never known it so barren of apples. This is due to the hot spell last February followed by very cold weather. The buds were killed.

Abby made an excellent cheesecake yesterday using quark instead of the ricotta that the recipe called for. To make quark all I am doing is draining well flavored clabber through a linen cloth for a few hours.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

I witnessed something interesting with the sheep. The old ewe, Agnes (4), has been spending a lot of time by herself because the others have been ignoring her and following Susie (3). She blats for them endlessly. This morning when I went to let them out instead of lying around chewing cud they were all on their feet. The lambs (4 ½  mo) were watching Agnes and Susie having a fight. They were butting heads like rams. I thought I could hear Agnes saying “What’s that you called me?” Wham...and Agnes answering “You heard me right”.. Wham. They kept it up until I got tired of watching and ran them out. Later today I was out on the deck and Agnes was by herself in the cavernous area under the carriage house blatting way. The others were far down near the river. She marched out to the brow of the hill and blatted for them and they all came trotting up to her. So for  now at least it looks like she won the battle over who is boss.

DD Abby and I both saw the optometrist today. He says my WMD remains stable in my left eye and the MD in my right eye also is the same as six months ago

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

More fine weather today, warm but not hot with blue sky.

Nancy set out the big box of blooming Helenium that DD Sally planted last spring from seed. They are a perennial and I hope prove hardy. She attempted to set out the showy Rudbeckia, also planted from seed by Sally. She just got everything arranged in the bed I suggested when she noticed a big hornets nest in the lilac just above her head. The residents were buzzing around her but thank goodness she did not get stung.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The excellent weather continues.

One of our three cats has gone missing, Cecil, the sleek grey fellow. I suppose a fox got him. We are sad about this. He was Abby’s favorite.

Abby and I went to Rumford again and I ordered glasses for use at the computer. We stopped at the fish market on the way home and bought scallops and corn for our supper. We have one great meal after another that money couldn’t buy. We also had sliced tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden.

Friday, September 14, 2012

It was actually hot today, 80F and humid but I still enjoyed it. I walked down to Pocket Field, the farthest field. There are some apple trees at the edge of the gully that I thought might be bearing, but no. I also checked the sand bank as there are often woodchuck holes or a foxes’ den but I found none of those either. However there is an animal trail all the way from the barn that something  is using. What I did find is another place the fence is down. It is only between the North and South fields, not somewhere they could leave the farm. One good report: the grass in Pocket Field is up 10” and in fine condition. I did not walk its entire periphery so did not leave the gate open for the cows but will hope to get someone soon to walk the line and report. Fern could use some better grass.

Abby and I had a lovely 2-woman picnic at the lake. I made a yogurt and cucumber salad, she made wonderful spaghetti and we stopped at the Weld General store and bought ice cream for sundaes. We had hopes that Cousins Holly and Richard would join us but probably we called too late for them to make plans.

In the last week we have had three more hens present us with little flocks of chicks. One lot that was established out in the chicken yard and has vanished. Yesterday DIL Mitra was awakened at 5:30 in the morning by the sound of a fox making off with her mother hen. Likely that is what happened to mine. Mitra now has five motherless chicks to care for. As of this telling, Roshan has them in her lap while she does her homework. And they follow her around the house.

Martin came down from camp and gave my sheep their worm medicine. Well, he caught them (the hard part) and I administered the medicine. The lambs struggled as hard as they could but the ewes stood like ponies, once caught.

Last  night I joined Martin and family at the lake for grilled steaks. It was a fine evening. They had climbed Tumbledown again. It was a 6 hour hike and the kids made it just fine. DS Mark and DIL Annie were with us and stayed over until today for a nice mini vacation.

Tonight the lambs were very naughty. They did not come in with their mothers. It was fully dark by the time they showed up at the barn bleating their heads off.

Monday, August 27, 2012

I have been having trouble at milking time with inadequate vacuum pressure. I have addressed every little thing I could think of in my machine or procedure that could be causing vacuum loss and not seeing much improvement. Three days ago I switched machines and began using the Surge on Fern. She accepted it like a lamb although she had never had the surcingle on her before. But it didn’t milk any better. This convinced me it was the fault of the pump. I thought maybe it was worn out. Martin was quite concerned, as he had already tweaked the obvious things. Late last night he wrote saying he had realized it was not a matter of pressure but of volume. In other words it was clogged somewhere. He and the family stopped in here at 8 o’clock on their way back to Biddefordand he set to work disassembling the gullet on the thing and using a chopstick removed a bunch of gunge. For the first time in weeks I had no trouble with teat cups falling off. Huzzah!  His sisters and I agreed, his RPI education was not wasted.

My garden in general this year is a disaster, the shining exception being the tomatoes. The vines have no evidence of blight and there is no blossom end rot – I scarcely dare breathe this for fear of jinxing them. I am not sure what we did right. DD Sally planted a mixed packet of heirloom seeds in a box last February. Nancy and I planted them out in June in soil that had formerly been a comfrey patch. Two years ago DD Marcia got rid of the comfrey by solarizing the patch (cooking it) with a double layer  of tarp. Sally further prepared the ground last fall with rotted cow manure. The tomatoes look like catalogue illustrations. Many are those huge yellow and pink ones that usually go squishy before you can race them to the table.

For supper I made salade nicoise with lots of tomatoes and cucumbers – my cukes are pretty good too.

Tonight I made a point of putting the sheep in earlier and got them  in all nicely together.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Two days of superb Maine weather to brag about, bright, dry, around 65 – 70F.

Nancy H was here and worked all day harvesting the oats and wheat. It was a perfect day for the work. I kept trying to make her stop and rest but she said she was enjoying it.  It is all spread out now on sheets upstairs in the carriage house.

For dinner I am making ratatouille and roast breast of lamb, all of it from the farm.

Abby went to Rumford on errands. The cats were out of food.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

My poor old Bagel dog has a tumor and has become weak and disoriented. Last night he leapt through an open window of the carriage house and fell about 8 ft into the sunken garden. Now he can scarcely drag himself around. My vet is out of town.

Abby has written to decline the job in Oregon she was offered. There were some major uncertainties of wage and expectations. We are all relieved.

The weather today was once again very fine.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday morning:

Bagel lay down on the lawn yesterday and would not be moved. It was a warm night so we got him onto an old quilt and left him there. I slept on the couch so that I could go out every couple of hours and check on him. He moved only once all yesterday and all last night and that was to drink a little water. Today we gave him an analgesic to ease his pain. I do suspect he is in pain. I guess most people would euthanize their dog at this point. It is a struggle to decide whether to let nature take its course. Last time I had my dog, old Muffin, euthanized I did not feel good about it. I did not expect Bagel to be alive this morning. His eyes are shut. His breathing continues to be rapid.Now it is starting to rain. We have constructed a little tent over him.

This evening:

We gave Bagel some pain pills we had on hand but they didn’t help so far as we could tell. As the day wore on we foresaw another night of worse suffering. We explored the options and finally called Dr. Patterson in Farmington. He agreed to euthanize Bagel if we would bring him over. He would have come to us but he was exhausted from doing a 3 hour C-sec on a cow and he is as old as I am. Abby and I were able together to lift Bagel on a sheet and put him in the back of her car. Dr. Patterson gave Bagel a tranquilizing shot and a little later sodium pentothal in a vein in his lower leg. So now his suffering is over.  Dr. Patterson figured that Bagel did not absorb the pain pills.

Martin’s former partner,Mike Herkes is staying at camp and will come down in the morning and bury Bagel for me.