Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sadie is sick

Not sure whats wrong with my little Sadie but she is certainly under the weather. She was off last night...not interested in treats and didn't sleep in her usual spot.  This morning she didnt go out and I didn't make her, it was pouring.  I am still working but stopped by my house in route to check on pigs in the garden...when I realized I didn't take a lunch so Sadie hadn't been out yet! Ugh, feeling like the worst caretaker ever. During the day she pooped in this pantry room I have and while a bit runny did not offer any clues.

I'll take her temperature tonight and run a fecal using the farms microscope tomorrow if she hasn't bounced back. Dreading a vet visit but it will certainly be in order if my boss (a vet tech) and I can't figure it out.

Sadie is by far my 'best' dog in the category of lifestyle compatibility.  She minds herself, keeps an eye on me, is sweet but snarky and totally rules any and every roost even at a mere 14lbs.  My other 2 dogs have quirks that can be emotionally/mentally draining....not Sadie though.  She is my 'reward' dog. A true gem. 

Sorry Cali...your high prey drive run away always has to be leashed dog aggressive highly demanding self can be difficult to enjoy at times (though I love you dearly). With you I am ever vigilant and always aware, never able to drop my guard. Keeping you safe is a full time job!  You do have many amazing qualities and I'm blessed (i think, though cursed may be more appropriate) to have you.

Littles...you know I don't appreciate your endless yearning to mark everything. Inside or out. Unless you're crated I know you will try to sneak a squirt in...or two (twenty). Just this week you marked one of my shoes (yes the ones INSIDE) and that does not make me happy. I give you an inch and you mark for miles. Thank God you love your crate...probably too much actually.

Sadie...I have known from day one after adopting you (when you bit me) that you were street smart.  I can't trust you around children or adults that don't know shit about dogs and that's fine by me. You hold your own. You are loyal, devoted, and just the sweetest most feisty little thing. Get better!

Here ye here ye!

I will take your money but I will not take you comments, questions, concerns, criticisms, or critiques.

Please think of those child soldiers when you're donating to me!

OBNOXIOUS

I'm other news...it stopped raining! Slipping and sliding through mud but so grateful I'm not getting assaulted (ok, yes...a little drastic I agree) by water from the top down and bottom up anymore!  The pigs are thrilled as well. Cold and wet is not a good combo for person or pig (relatively mild now, but that's because I'm dry, thanks to a complete mid day wardrobe change ).  Well, dry except for my feet due to not having proper footwear for farming. Need me some waterproof boots and knee high wellies!

Currently saving up...cheap options are not an option. Rather have a good fit soaking wet than dry and otherwise not functional (like the unisex boots I tried on at southern states).

The mare pictured is a Shire named Desi. She loves to sleep laying down.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Poem of the day

Headlamps
Will allow you to distribute extra bedding after dark on Christmas eve
Will not prevent you from catching your leg between the first and second strands of electric fence *
Headlamps

*fence is plug in not solar and therefor always on point - shocking

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Found a favorite steed!

Had a lovely hack today on a gelding Ive never ridden. Darcy is laid back and goes with the flow, my kind of horse.

Though my ass was in the saddle my heart is always with the pigs.

Get to know pigs...and I mean KNOW them and (im my case) you'll find the relationship with horses pales in comparison.

It's all in the eyes.

Cow bells

Researching a cow bell I found in the barn yesterday led me to this gem of a forum...back from when the internet was just a baby.

http://thetreasuresofutah.yuku.com/topic/656/Old-bell-found

Some of the comments are amusing as these users are just getting familiar with Google...posting pictures, etc.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Pigs...playful opportunists

Buried treasure

I thought I'd struck gold when I found the apple press in the attic of the old dairy/veal barn...until I spotted these!

Hawking

verb (used with object) 1. to peddle or offer for sale by calling aloud in public.

www.dictionary.com

Isn't that ironic?

I've got my 'owl' on you!

Poem of the Day

Workshop
You work
I shop
Workshop

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Farmers hours

10 hour day ( at a minimum), 2 minute lunch, and no weekends. Exhausted!

Now to tend to the dogs...

This picture is of Belly the babysitter and a piglet who was brought in due to a prolapsed rectum. So grateful to have a sweetie who looks after the little ones.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Duck duck goose!

Cali in the snow with diamonds

Dancing bears...

I've been thinking about capturing, training, and exploiting...I mean partnering with a wild animal of my very own. I believe a dancing bear is my kindred spirit, now to break the spirit of this majestic beast so it will do as I command. How fun and exciting! There are very few of us who dance bears, an elite sport not for the faint of heart. Please follow along in my journey as I stalk, trap, and convince this predator through hunger that I am its new world. For one lucky bear, a life in the dangerous wild will be replaced with all the luxurious a bear could ever want...I'm basically rescuing it. My bear riding shot gun (blindfolded, handcuffed, and in a straitjacket) will be the envy of all.

Picture from http://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dancing_bear_in_Bulgaria_about_1970_1.jpg

Monday, December 9, 2013

Felting?

Parasite management in pastures pigs?

Budgeting time and money?

Transitioning to a morning person?

What advice, experiences, thoughts, or insights do you have on the above...or whatever else!?

Ho Ho ho

Friday, November 29, 2013

Bird blood in those veins?

After trapping and releasing 2 hawks handling these birds has become as familiar as brushing teeth. Wish I caught on that fast!

"Though I have trapped two now, they were released. It is funny that a year ago holding a hawk in my arms felt like something from a storybook. Now handling wild adult hawks feels as normal as picking up chickens. There isn't fear, nor is there a lack of awe, just comfort. These birds just feel a part of me now."

Jenna Strong

I just might have some bracelets made.

Sell them for $15 to support...myself (just kidding).

For $60...that's less than the cost of 4 bracelets 'folks' (or 48 essays, permission to look around a property, AND the ability to comment for 1 year) do the following:

Purchase a Flock of Hope from www.heifer.org!

A Flock of Hope may include chicks, ducks or goslings, depending on the cultural, climate and dietary conditions of the region. Families will also receive training on the birds’ care. Your Flock of Hope donation:

Egg production begins almost immediately, which means malnourished children will now have something to eat. Eggs and poultry can also be taken to market and sold, raising much-needed funds for medicine, clothing and more. A Flock of Hope is a remarkable gift that can lift a family from hunger and poverty and ensure their future.

Sun!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Holy hawk...

Cool your jets girl!

Birds of prey aren't as easily fooled as people.

(interestingly enough the word raptor comes from a Latin word which means to rape/steal).

Nature doesn't believe in immediate gratification.

The season to 'trap' continues for about 8 weeks!

From the NY State DEC website:

Current Licensed Falconers Capturing a Raptor

When attempting to trap a wild raptor for falconry purposes an individual must have their New York State Falconry License and USFWS (Federal) Falconry Permit. Falconers must follow the limits specified on their individual licenses for the species, age and quantity of raptors that can be captured.

Raptors may only be taken from the wild during the following authorized seasons:

Eyas (nestling): May 1 - July 15 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Passage (first year raptors): September 1 - January 25.

CAFaux Son!

My heart aches for the lamb Jenna Woginrich from Cold Antler Farm 'lost'.

Found immobile on 11/2 and brought inside a warm home for 2 days...after no vet care and slow recovery (if any?) put back outside with the flock. If no recovery was seen, why put a down animal back where it was pulled from for being down?

"I have a weak little ram lamb that has been down since Saturday morning when I found him near the water trough. He was brought inside to be inspected, medicated, and observed constantly - so I made him a lay-lined bed in the dog crate right in the living room. He spent two days inside and showed slow recovery, if any. It was confusing because when most sheep go down like this they either die or are back on their feet in under 36 hours. Not this little guy. ProPen and electrolytes weren't helping, but his body seemed unable to walk and stiff. I decided it was most likely White Muscle and gave him a shot of selenium. He was also drenched for worms... I'll check on him in a bit, as I hope that will do the trick. I can not call the vet, as its simply too expensive right now to even consider for the cost of the lamb. So I am trusting my own experience and care, time, and a little prayer."

3 weeks later, on 11/20 he is still immobile and not able to walk, Jenna worries about his fate.

"The lamb is still unable to walk, but eating and drinking well. He seems mentally sound, just as if his spin stopped working. I'm talking it over with some small livestock neighbors, friends and farmers but I may have to put him down. I won't until I talk with a veterinarian and several friends, but I worry about it."

On Monday November 25th she found him dead.  Based on her post of having to bring the body down a hill it appears he was put back out with the flock.

I don't know her property layout personally, but I believe that means he was in a run in shed...immobile for over 3 weeks.  Letting him in a warm house to be put back outside, not able to move to a sun spot or get in close proximity to other sheep, I imagine he experienced a long slow cold death never even being seen by a vet.

From the 2nd to 23rd time, money, and energy was spent on hunting deer (how often does she even target shoot for practice?), hunting hawks (endless hours and GAS...doesn't she drive a V8?), and...game night!

"Every day, for hours, I am outside in my truck with hawk traps, scanning the countryside for a juvenile redtail."

It truly is hard to believe the neglect.

Sorry for your loss little lamb, you were born onto the wrong farm.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

It's official

A man invented internet horoscopes...

. ." Don't get so caught up in the intellectual aspect of things that you forget about the sensuous side of life."

http://my.horoscope.com/horoscope/mobile/mobile-index-horoscopes.aspx?s=3&type=dailyhoroscopes

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Seriously?

http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/28632.html

It clearly states one must get a federal permit.

Is she blind?

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behavior), an overwhelming need for admiration, and usually a complete lack of empathy toward others. People with this disorder often believe they are of primary importance in everybody’s life or to anyone they meet. While this pattern of behavior may be appropriate for a king in 16th Century England, it is generally considered inappropriate for most ordinary people today.

People with narcissistic personality disorder often display snobbish, disdainful, or patronizing attitudes. For example, an individual with this disorder may complain about a clumsy waiter’s “rudeness” or “stupidity” or conclude a medical evaluation with a condescending evaluation of the physician.

In laypeople terms, someone with this disorder may be described simply as a “narcissist” or as someone with “narcissism.” Both of these terms generally refer to someone with narcissistic personality disorder. Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

In order for a person to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) they must meet five or more of the following symptoms:

Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

Requires excessive admiration

Has a very strong sense of entitlement, e.g., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

Is exploitative of others, e.g., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

Lacks empathy, e.g., is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

Regularly shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-symptoms/

La la...connect the dots....

"Jenna. When I met you, just three years ago, you were… farmCurious. You had three sheep, a few chickens, and that's it. Now you have mastered this place."

Brett isn't one to hand out compliments. I didn't believe him, but he had my attention. Master? Are you kidding me? Yet that strong a word has a lot of weight and it made me pause, think, and reevaluate what I had all around me.

I thought about how the day before I had taken two live roosters and turned them into food. How I taught this skill to a friend and together we butchered seven birds. I thought about my demonstration bird and the perfect kill stroke of the hatchet. I thought about the dozens and dozens of birds it took to get to such a point of confidence in teaching such a slaughter to others. The woman just a few years earlier was a vegetarian who thought fox hunting was along the same lines as vehicular manslaughter. That growth is something.

I thought about the sheep I just sold him, four large and healthy animals we loaded into the back of his truck with our own hands and my dog. Gibson and I are not sheepdog trial stars, nor are we anything special. But we did work as a team, him reading me and I reading him and communicated the work of gathering sheep and at the end of the day he had certainly helped to do the work he was bred for. That doesn't just happen. It was three years of working and living side-by-side, on this little farm. That relationship is something.

I thought about that hill side I am so ashamed of. And how even if it is a disaster, it is MY disaster. That this is land I own, bought myself, and raise food on. That I had a whole plan on paper for re-seeding and healing my mistakes and that is something. Even though it was a sloppy first-three years it was also impermanent. This wasn't a jail-sentence, but an interim. And a mistake that one summer of proper seeding and nature's blessing could return to grass, and eventually, livestock. The video is showing you dirty underwear, but you can do laundry. It's never too late to wash those drawers. That realization is something.

And yes, my body isn't something you'll find molded out of plastic at the GAP modeling a sweater. But you know what, it's my body. It is alive in every sense, and only getting better with every year. It's got curves and it knows what to do with them. It can buck hay, carry full-grown goats, ride a draft horse up a hill, and hit a bullseye with a good arrow. It can run, swim, smile, and shine. It has loved men, climbed mountains, and smote epic summer jogs. Plastic people can not do these things. They do not even try.

So from a few dead chickens, a dirt hill, and four sold sheep I got a little perspective, thanks to Brett McLeod. All it took was letting myself choose to see the positive instead of my haunting negatives. I am all those things I said in the beginning of this post, but I am more than that, too. I am a woman (not a girl) who has fought and won the life she desperately wanted. I have gone from half-hour rides on dressage horses at lesson barns to traveling miles by horse cart from my own front lawn. I have learned to spin wool, chop firewood, heat my home, milk goats, breed critters, and sell pigs. I am a hopeless romantic, morally secure, spiritually wealthy, and a powerhouse of hope and force. I have grown so much, more than anything else on this farm that was ever so planted and it truly floors me when I think about it. You can go back to the beginning of this blog and read a life from a total beginner who had no idea what was happening, just the passion to try. Now there's a lot more frustration and fear, yes. And a lot of healing of mind and land to happen, but I am certainly equipped to pull both off. I needed a lumberjack to tell me that. I needed a witness.

I am not a failure. Cold Antler is not a failure. It's just a beginning.

And that's some serious perspective.

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/11/perspective.html?m=1

I'm fairly certain Jenna pulled off meeting not just 5 but all symptoms of NPD in the above post alone.

I have been reading the Cold Antler Farm blog for sometime now, and almost immediately I noticed an overwhelming if not overpowering trend of self congratulating superiority.  Blogs and books are written with the driving force of a woman obsessed with being unique.

It's a me vs them mentality...

I assure you Jenna, western saddle vs dressage/english, horse vs pony, riding vs driving, kilt vs skirt, falconry vs volunteering at a wildlife rescue, a large border collie vs small border collie, curves or not, hot tubbing and drinking vs tubing and drinking (ugh, stupid frat kids)...it goes on and on.

So you take hobbies or skills enjoyed or known by many and try to spin it as something out of the realm of possibility and if that's not enough belittle those who don't participate or do so in a different manner.

'It's got curves and it knows what to do with them. It can buck hay, carry full-grown goats, ride a draft horse up a hill, and hit a bullseye with a good arrow. It can run, swim, smile, and shine. It has loved men, climbed mountains, and smote epic summer jogs. Plastic people can not do these things. They do not even try.'

Is it possible by curves you mean fat and by plastic you mean fit?

I assure you, it doesn't take curves of nonplastic to carry livestock or ride a horse, to love or be loved, or to simply be active...or just be.

Being special isn't being better or superior, its being your own special self.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

CAF Indie Day observations

Jennas perspective
http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.ca/2013/10/lovin-indie-days.html?m=1

Comments from participant
http://jacquidenomme.wordpress.com/

"Jenna had two immediate concerns on our arrival: 2 of her sheep were limping because they kept trying to jump the fence and getting their legs caught. She keeps a careful eye if this happens to make sure the injuries are not serious and heal properly. Jenna is also becoming a falconer and today was the day that State authorities were arriving to scrutinize the facility she had built for her hopeful hawk. If they approved (which they did) they would sign the paperwork she would submit in advance of receiving a license to trap a hawk of her own which she would then train and use for hunting. Jenna just received a book advance to write about falconry and was really hoping her license arrived before winter after which it would be too late to get a hawk of her own before spring. This was all new to me and although I don’t have a personal interest in this subject, I thought it neat that she never seems to run out of new adventures to embark on that are at the same time interesting and practical."

It is beyond my ability to reason why a 'shepherd' continues to allow her sheep to injure themselves on half ass fencing.

Wonder if the pigs ever got their forest field or if they're still in the preliminary pen.

Miss Jenna needs some serious learning when it comes to proper animal husbandry.

It's unfathomable people pay to be taught skills the instructor herself still needs to learn.

Fencing I'd farming 101.

Sure, farming is a career and lifestyle of constant lessons...but you'd think one would eventually use those lessons to learn a thing or two...or 22.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Season pass?

"Email me at jenna@itsafarwalk.com if you want to grab the last season pass, on sale for $250 for any workshop you want to attend (that isn't full!) for an entire year."

So a season pass is only good for workshops that aren't already sold out or for workshops that don't sell out?

Wonder how many season passes have been sold? What would happen if everyone signed up for every workshop?

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Browdband anyone?

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/10/announcing-cold-antler-confidential.html?m=1

I may be confused but it appears the browdband is behind the ponys ears?

...as she holds a firm grip on the throat latch and halter.

Unfair. There's a reason this pony won't perform as the neighbors donkey duo. Pro fit vs I know what I'm doing pride.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Fostering community

One craptastic dog food crapuffin at a time.

Nothing like name dropping a local business only to crap on their products.

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-am-addict.html?m=1

It's either Jennas way or the shit highway!

We can continue this discussion on Facebook amongst carefully selected agreeable friends with comment editing capabilities.

Nice to know donations are going towards impulse purchases turned dog food...

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

My older brother Neil.

The scruffy one in the middle.

http://blogs.raiders.com/tag/go-pro-bomb-squad/

Saturday, September 21, 2013

5 hours from now

...a year ago I was moments from driving up to my rented tenant house.

Dropped foster dogs off to be neutered and went back home to tend to routine matters before work.

I pulled in the driveway and all was not good on the home front. My house was on fire.

This day would trigger the beginning of my most challenging 12 months.

Much has changed, been forgiven, been forgot, been found, been lost.

Old man Brice is no longer living.  Thinking back on a year defined by a nomadic existence, I am relieved he did not have to experience the instability.  The memory of him does not dominate my thoughts. At times its as if his brief romp through my life was imagined...but then I picture his face, see his expression and know he was real...and really loved.

Everything is different.

Everything is the same.

3 dogs and me...no longer finding but creating seeking and searching.

Catch me if you can.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Future plans!

2 days shy of homeless (again) and almost 4 months since I left my job....hundreds of miles driven over several states, sleeping in my car...and wrapping coins....À JOB OFFER, well internship/job.

This position has been in the works since early spring.  A farm to fork focused internship at Ayrshire Farm.  The first year program has shifted a bit...but for the better.  I will be extensively working with the shires and learning how to drive AND integrating them into agricultural working horses...and learning pastured based commercial raising of heritage breed cattle and swine. Certified organic, Certified Humane, etc.

Quite the opportunity!

It's been a long journey since the house fire and resigning from my previous job...but this reward is worth those risks.

http://www.ayrshirefarm.com/AyrshireFarm/AFHome.html

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Holy ruptured ovarian cyst!

Have any of you ladies experienced a ruptured ovarian cyst?

Love to hear your experience if you feel comfortable.

On Saturday after about 12 hours thinking I was experiencing normal (horrible) menstrual cramps my pain worsened severely.  My body, especially abdomen, hurt to the touch and I felt pain throughout my body up to my collarbone ans neck.  I was unable to stand straight and could not walk more than a few feet without feeling like I would faint...which I did.  Knowing something was seriously wrong between the pain level, cold sweats, and inability to walk w/o collapsing...off the the ER I went.  Thank God my bf was available to drive me there avoiding the stress and anxiety of calling 911 and being transported by ambulance.  Not having health insurance this wasn't an easy decision, but at the time I though I might be dealing with appendix issues which can become live threatening if not treated immediately.

Turns out a cyst on my left ovary ruptured twisting my ovary, leading it to enlarge 4 times its normal size...and releasing blood and other fluids into my body.

Ouch.

Decided not to go the surgery route. 

Hello painkillers!

Freaking ovary.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Buckets and Bowls

The highlight of my day?

Soaking, scrubbing, and rinsing the pig and chicken feed and water containers into like new condition...getting ready to be put in the trailer for a 'little' vacation.

I miss farming...

Screw the animals and soil...at this point stalls and buckets make me smile!

Confused

...concerning late payments be it truck, phone, credit card or loan. If you skip, miss, or pay one late the following bill will be double...maybe more to include a penalty fee.If you pay only ONE bill amount, be it the late or current...the next bill will still reflect the double bill.  Unless post  payment your account balance is zero...you still owe and are not caught up. 

Is that not how it works for other people?

Monday, July 29, 2013

Barn Raising

What's more fun than paying your mortgage, student loan, and truck payment?

Barn raising for your recently acquired equines!

http://www.bedlamfarm.com/2012/06/15/barn-raising-at-cold-antler-farm/ 

Priorities are a major reason we're in this fiscal mess.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

By scary

...do mean predictable, avoidable, how did you not see that coming?

Theres a reason responsible adults don't buy every shiny object that catches their eye.

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/07/had-i-not-been-away-at-work.html?m=1

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Working goats

Got brush?
Got goat?
Got work!

Left: post goat
Mid: goats. Hog panels upside down to MAXIMIZE browsing. They stretch to graze, trailblazing a path parallel to the panel...clearing a foot trail used when 'flipping' panels. Fresh swatch!
Right: ungoated

Bonus?

Sheep tractor

Beatrix Potter

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14872/14872-h/14872-h.htm

Beautiful.

Always been a hero.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Farms save Cities kill

Jk

Farms aren't necessarily heros and cities are not uniformly evil, despite what one might hear (or read).

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Buckmaster

Member!

Nah, $.25 yard sale find.

Hello Annie Oakley..belts...$5 each. Now to acquire the matching guns and ammo.