I love maps

Beggers

Farming is rarely glamorous

Dry wall

Step 2

Get drywall into the dumpster.

Baby fever

It's a bitch.

So green!

Meet the yaks

6 month old heifer yaks.

The girls are about the size of an adult newfoundland dog.

Next step is getting them used to haltering and walking on a lead.

Cali on Christmas

The smaller 2

Gifts

That's my mom!

Beautiful Decor

Mom skyping

My mom skyping my youngest brother Kyle who is stationed in Germany.  This is a traditional Norwegian sweater "Dale of Norway".

Modest tree

Dough

Joy

Puppies all grown up!

Girl, boy, mom.

I'm afraid the 2nd boy fell through the cracks :(

He went to one of Johnathons friends, who let his cousin have him...couldn't have dogs at his place so went back to the friend...to be rehomed to another friend.

I have no control but knew 2 people who really wanted a puppy and would have provided good forever homes.

Can only hope he's happy, well taken care of, and in his new forever home.

Johnathons sister has the boy pictured Diesel  (both he and the pig are being neutered this week), his mom has the girl Stella, and of course Johnathon has Sheetz.

Very true

Farmer Hoggett

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/01/02/james-cromwell-on-why-he-became-an-ethical-vegan/

The rational and perceptive human absolutely can not work with pigs and remain silent about the horrific treatment the majority of pigs on this planet endure.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Trickle Down Talent

#Trickledowntalent

Pot belly

Johnathons sister took in this cutie.  Only 8 weeks old.

Grandpa turned 88 last Sunday

We surprised him.

Family is so special.

Turning away work?

http://www.meetup.com/Tyrs-Good-Hand-Asatru-Study-Group/events/227562943/#description-tab

"This is a mandatory event for all, because we will be voting on some basic laws for our tribe. There will only be four laws I am presenting for vote, but anyone is welcome to present laws to the group to accept or dismiss. This is why attendance is so important. I already cancelled plans this day that included making some decent cash for the farm with private fiddle lessons."

Interesting concept.

Babysitting

So silly

Playing with snake skins with my cousins.

I'm in the green.

I love this place!

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/reb/5352965968.html

3 tiny houses at that?

Very Interesting

I'll be following this closely.

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/263610-price-gouging-ceo-indicted-on-securities-fraud-charges

Still paralyzedish

Mr Wonky leg

That's singular though!

Only one leg down.

That's workable.

Calis cart

Bed bugs

Sharing a bed

Sorry about the poor quality photos but I only have data on a crappy pay as you go phone and I want to share how cute they are!

Littles and Sadie.

Couldn't help myself...

 "If there is a warmer way to live in this world than kindling collected by the sweat of loved ones, let me know? "

I watched the sweat shop episode of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia today and that CAF quote made me laugh out loud.

As far as closure on this blog I think her quote summarizes it perfectly.

Use and abuse, the CAF way.

What are your 4 and why?

I envy Mama Bear

Christmas Gifts

What gifts are you most excited about giving this year?

Are you giving anything to yourself?

My gift to myself is having the apt carpets cleaned.  when you find yourself trying to disguise a smell...its time to fix the problem.

Lawyer without law school

In 5 states you can become a lawyer without going to law school.

This is very interesting.

http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-to-become-a-lawyer-without-going-to-law-school

Heretic

Why do I associate the word heretic with negativity? Because the heretic was the one burnt at the stake?

I feel like being a heretic would be positive, albeit unpopular.

her·e·tic

\ˈher-ə-ˌtik, ˈhe-rə-\noun

: someone who believes or teaches something that goes against accepted or official beliefs

Smashing, bashing, and laughing

Yesterday at work demolishing a bathroom.

Recycled Thredz

#sewingtosell

My aunts at it again!

Repurposing leather into lovely clutches.

Starting at $35.00

Ayrshire Farm and Loudoun County Animal Services

Ayrshire Farm

For more information and how you can help the abused, neglected, and inhumanely treated pigs at Certified Organic and Certified Humane Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, VA please follow, like, and share the link below. Ayrshire Farm is owned and operated by nationally recognized animal rights advocate Sandy Lerner and Large Livestock Manager/Licensed Vet Tech is Crystal Ritenour.

Pictured is a pig from Ayrshire Farm suffering from untreated mange.

https://www.facebook.com/ayrshirefarmabuse

http://e.gofund.me/ayrshirefarmabuse

https://www.change.org/p/loudoun-county-animal-services-director-tom-koenig-hold-ayrshire-farm-responsible-for-animal-cruelty-owner-sandy-lerner-allows-a-cycle-of-abuse-cruelty-and-neglect-through-large-livestock-manager-crystal-ritenour-and-staff-you-have-been-provided-evid?recruiter=137231485&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

Cold Antler Farm is not welcome here

It has come to my realization this blog has become a 110% bitch fest.

Many moons ago I read and commented on the Cold Antler Farm blog. Jenna Woginrich was offended by my comments and asked that I no longer comment on her blog.

So I commented about it on my own blog.

At this point every post I make become a "Jenna" post.

For example...the post about my great grandparents I posted on thanksgiving.

Im requesting CAF and Jenna Woginrich no longer consume this blog.  She disgusts me. Everything about her is disturbing.

This blog has turned into 99.99% Cold Antler Farm content and it's time to take it to the source:

Here are some alternatives...

1. Jenna can be reached directly by email and by commenting on her blog.
2. If you have been taken advantage of in an illegal manner, contact the appropriate authorities or agency necessary to right your wrong.  This blog can't help you. This blog won't "factually" help others. Take her to small claims court.
3. http://coldantlersham.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sham-that-is-cold-antler.html?m=1

I'm not saying to stop discussing the wrongs, just direct the comments  to  the blog created to expose Jenna Woginrich.

Constantly reading all the comments that come through my email about Jenna Woginrich is distracting from my cause.

Ayrshire Farm abuses and neglects animals and deceives/manipulates people on a scale so much greater than Jenna it's hard to fathom. The combined suffering and untimely deaths of Jennas animals from day one occurs within a week at Ayrshire Farm. 

No, the train wreck is not as obvious to you but it is to me. Want to help? Become a soldier for my cause. 

Call Loudoun County and send emails. If the amount of people that are engaged (hundreds) in the CAF posts all emailed Loudoun County they would spring to action.

The lack of comments and traffic on my Ayrshire Farm posts are heartbreaking and disappointing.  If those who comment about Jenna truly cared about the suffering of animals they would also take time to help the animals at Ayrshire.

This is no longer going to be a forum for drama and words, it is a forum for action.

I never gave Jenna a dime, I don't have evidence other than her own admissions of animal abuse. I know others have been stolen from. I know others gave witnessed neglect.  It is up to you all to speak up.

Again, my focus is Ayrshire Farm and that's what will be the highlight of this blog. Myself and my cause has been buried by Cold Antler Farm in a way that I'm no longer willing to allow.

I'm sorry for those who are disappointed. Please use the sham blog to discuss CAF or start your own blog, I'd be willing to post a link here.

Tight lipped

Here is an example of a response I received concerning one of the many illegal activities occurring at Ayrshire Farm...

"Your concerns were investigated when initially received and appropriate actions were taken."

Seriously?

No follow up email, and this is the response when I ask for an update from a government agency.

Now I'll likely have to FOIA that information where they will quote me another thousand dollars.

This is all totally unacceptable.

2.54 miles

Day 1 run.

2.5 miles in 30 minutes.

Slow and steady!

I'm making this a daily occurrence.

For my mental and physical health I need to get in shape.

I need something to be proud of.

Silly creative

I intended to paint a rock pied piper set.  I have a handful of painted "rat rocks"...the plan was to tell the story with the rocks. When the rats died you spin the rock upside down to show it belly up.

Just being silly.

I miss creative energy. Every thought is to Ayrshires pigs.

Feels like a lifetime ago.

Fall 2006

Pre calis amputation.

You can see her front left nub pretty clearly.

Fall 2006

I had recently adopted Sadie.

senior year of college

Skinny and me

I miss my boy.

I had a contract to purchase him which Ayrshire Farm reneged on after they failed the inspection by Humane Farm Animal Care.

This was punishment for having them inspected.

What's wrong with you?

That's the look I get when people ask if I'm married? If I have kids? Why not?

What's wrong with you?

At 31 with no spouse or children there's nothing wrong with me. There's quite a bit right with me.

I hate answering these type questions that are all to prevelant this time of year.

What do you do for a living?

Well, I'm focusing time and effort fighting to end the abuse at a farm in VA owned by an influential and wealthy property owner. (What I want to say is I'm barely holding it together and daily grieve what Ayrshire Farm does to this pigs and what they did to me. My heart is broken. The corruption I'm up against and how voicing the truth has "ruined" my reputation can't even be described).

Do you have kids?

No. (What I want to say is I'm jealous of mothers and am terrified I might not have the opportunity to be one)

Are you married?

No. (I want to be loved, appreciated, and admired by a good man more than anything...to be a partner in a happy healthy relationship and have a family...even of 2 would be such a blessing).

No career, no kids, no husband.

The look I get brings me to tears.

I'm doing important work, I was loved by a good man, I had a miscarriage.

There is so much more to us than answers to questions.

This time of year, especially meeting friends of friends or extended family of others can be difficult.

Give yourself the gift of self acceptance and love this year...and every day of the year.

Work Cancelled

Work for today was cancelled and I'm working on Ayrshire Farm research.

Virginia Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services just quoted me over $1,000 for a FOIA request.

So frustrating.

Same blog?

Seriously are we reading the same blog?

"Finally I want to mention allowing comments on the blog - and not letting this dictate the content of the posts. On the one hand I appreciate it because, for example if Jenna posts a request to recommend fave homesteading books, or podcasts I find out all kinds of new things from other commenters. I also sometimes cringe at how cruel and bossy people can be when they are 'invisible' behind their computer or phone - if I had some of those directed at me I would want to crawl into a hole and hide, block all comments, perhaps be selective and only approve the positive ones to appear, or spend all day being angry and agitated justifying myself in replies to negativity. Instead, she handles it with responses where she feels appropriate, and moves onto the next thing.

Oh! I forgot to mention the great and relevant sponsors of the blog, and of course the amazing giveaways. "

She turned off comments, censors all comments from certain individuals, and doesn't let all comments through.

Giveaways?

In exchange for good reviews I guess.

Mini Donkey coming right up!

I worked at a farm in high school that had a Clydesdale stud (Nobel), 2 Belgium mares (Mary and Pearl), Nobel and Mary's son (mcduggle aka bug), a Clydesdale gelding (Spike), a warmblood (Sven), and a percheron/quarter horse cross I ended up leasing (Ranger)......and a handful of mini donkeys they bred!

Pictured here is their mini donkey stud Guito.

Meme me me Mimi?

Noooooo!

Littles is very opportunistic.

Littles Trump

Squished

Gnome me?!

One of my most prized worldly possessions.

A Rien gnome.

I love love love this "fictional" creature.

Ironically David the Gnome was a childhood favorite tv show.

A Little Mother To the Others

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Mother-Others-L-Meade/dp/8132054911

I'm trying to catch my breath within the first thousand words.  Children with this names of constellations who prefer an outside classroom... a walled garden of FIVE acres.

I'm e reading it. Unfortunately hard copies are difficult to come by.

Every night. Every day. All weather reminds me of Ayrshire. I fear for the pigs.

Antique Agricultural is my cup of tea.

Bring on the 5 acre garden and 4 hardy adventure loving kids.

Reverse psychology

Sometimes I eat out of a take out container (like the plastic Chinese ones) to make it feel like I went out to eat and had leftovers.

Usually does the trick!

Floor is done!

Cold Antler Sham

As a companion post to the Cold Antler Sham blog I'm asking to post instances when you have been robbed or burned by Jenna Woginrich of Cold Antler Farm.

Please only provide personal experiences. This includes donations!

Do not turn this into a discussion, use other posts for that.

This is a running list only.

Please do feel free to post bad reviews and past instances of poor business practices buried in the internet...such as etsy or graphic design work from way back when.

Also quotes such as the over purchasing chicks etc. Anything that highlights poor business practices, bad animals husbandry, or illegal activity.

Have at it.

I'm sick and tired of people being scammed. I'm tired of her excuses. There is no accountability.

She calls me a slut shaming stalker as a way to deflect her wrongdoings.

Jenna will continue to leave a path of destruction and suffering unless we can point people to a single source of complaints.

Have at it.

Jenna Woginrich you are disgusting.

Jenna Woginrich, Crystal Ritenour, and Sandy Lerner are disturbed sociopaths that hurt people and animals.

This is unacceptable.

Heathen heathout

Are heathens a widely persecuted group in the US today?

Jennas acts as if she's part of a terrorist sleeper cell.

Why would people care if she's a heathen? Registered sex offender...probably. heathen? Not so much.  Being heathen is about as interesting as being Jewish.

"Basically I have recently been reaching out to local community organizers in the business, charity, and conservancy areas around my town. Today while talking to an Evangelical Christian food pantry (our towns only food pantry) about our groups December Food Drive I realized how flippantly I introduced myself as the "Organizer of Tyr’s Good Hand, the local Heathen Kindred” as if I was a Lutheran gal from the town over... To her credit the slightly built middle-aged woman in soccer mom attire didn’t so much as blink an eye at that. She just wanted to know what that meant and who we were. Explaining something as complicated (and to some, weird) as Heathenry isn’t easy and I didn’t try. I basically said we were mostly Asatru leaning Pagans and community service was important to us. How could we help? That was all she needed to hear. She didn’t ask anything else but went with me through the food pantry isles to show me the kinds of canned goods and toiletries they needed. We shook hands, she asked my name again, and I had the schedule and the community needs to report back to my tribe.

I walked out of there feeling 5 inches taller. "

To her credit?!

She can't be serious can she?

She doesn't have enough wood to heat her home for winter, too busy carving wooden God poles.

"God Poles! We have Odin (Thanks to Tim and Jo) and I am working on the masculine god pole carving very much this month. "

Stop carving and start cutting.

Can't finish a paid project...too busy purchasing and building websites for heathen group,  honing in her ax throwing skills, getting drunk on mead, and pretending as if she is going to volunteer somewhere.

Jenna olsteen here we come!

I like the idea of her inviting more and more people to her property. Any extra eyes on the condition of the animals is good.

New Project

Laminate hardwood going in the kitchen.

Loving learning new skills and getting paid a little bit to do it!

Pigology

That's what I want my masters in!

Hmmmm

How fun would it be to have a masters course in sustainable and ethical farming principles.

Heifer International - donation complete!

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL DONATION CONFIRMATIONOrder #100893713   |   December 2, 2015Dear Meredith ,

We're so grateful you chose to make this generous gift to Heifer International. With over 70 years of experience in alleviating global hunger and poverty, we're well-equipped to make sure that the impact of your contribution lasts for generations.

Here are the details of the life-saving gifts you've shared with families across the world:

Order Details
Send a Girl to School Qty: 1Price: $275.00

Share of a Community Animal Health Worker Kit Qty: 2Price: $20.00Total: $40.00 

Grand Total: $315.00

Greenhouse house

Building a greenhouse around your home?

Brilliant....I think?!

Definitely clever. Wonder what, if any, the cons are.

Reminds me of the movie Biodome (a must see...very silly).

http://ecowatch.com/2015/11/30/greenhouse-around-home/

Favorite blogs, websites, books etc

Lets get a good list going!

Quick and easy broccoli and cheese soup

1. Boil broccoli
2. Drain
3. Add Alfredo sauce

Eat!

Seriously it tastes just like broccoli and cheese soup.

The buck stops here

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-buck-starts-here.html?m=1

Bringing a buck that needs fed 365 days a year to breed just 2 goats once a year? Interesting game plan.

Wonder if he's proven?

Also, quarantining new livestock is always a good idea.  Hope the missing hair isn't caused by a parasite or other contagious condition.

Adding up the "pay it forward" account

I'm ending the donation window on December 1st.

If you'd like to "right a wrong" or simply give to heifer international  please send your donation to via PayPal to:

Meredithamonson@gmail.com

All those in favor (who donated) to "send a girl to school" say so or make an alternative suggestion!

Way to go you all!

Shot by my great grandparents

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are your plans?

Free Ranging Chickens

Does it work for you?

Why? Why not?

When I had chickens in Bluemont, VA I couldn't free range safely unless I was outside or very active between inside and out.

I lost my first chicken to a hawk and the rest to a fox or coyote. I replenished my little flock but hated having to keep them in a fort knox enclosure. They paced and paced wanting out. I eventually got lax and allowed them to free range and I lost that group as well. All were killed during the day.

To have chickens they'd have to be kept enclosed. I was in the midst of building a chicken tractor when I ditched poultry/had the house fire.

I miss having chickens and am considering getting a trio in the spring if zoning allows.

So for me free ranging was too dangerous.  I now purchase eggs from those who can safely free range their chickens.

Free ranging pigs?

I've never seen free range pigs before.

Raised outdoors, yes.

Free range...not so much.

Electric fences equal NOT free to range.

Its like saying chickens in chicken tractors are free range.  Not so much.

Manipulative marketing.

Name that tool?!

Let's play a game...name that tool!

Blow this up!

You think they were going to blow up no evidence of abuse or neglect?

Loudoun County Animal Services was formulating a plan of action when higher ups had the case closed with no charges filed. 

They don't deny abuse, just trust it won't continue.

That is stated in a recorded conversation.

For every claim and allegation I have evidence to confirm my statements.