Thank yous

Thank you Toby Small and family for giving me the push to go from reading and researching to getting pigs.

THANK YOU landlord for not only allowing and supporting my farming pursuits but taking an active interest.

Paul thank YOU for building the amazing pen with me, getting covered in fence paint, and driving to Romney, WV to pig up piglets...and most importantly knowing that an extra pair of helping hands is only a phone call and 2 miles up the road.

Thank you Mom for bring me scraps and thank you Aunt Debra for dozens of apples so generously saved for my pigs from your orchard.

I could not enjoy or even be raising pigs without the support, encouragement, and help provided by you all. This little farm on a farm is an asset in my life providing me endless joy and happiness.

I am grateful, thankful, and so very blessed. Or in blog talk....grateful, thankful, and blessed I am.

Thank you for supporting me and for supporting American agriculture!

foster

fos·ter (fôstr, fstr)

tr.v. fos·tered, fos·ter·ing, fos·ters

1. To bring up; nurture: bear and foster offspring.

2. To promote the growth and development of; cultivate: detect and foster artistic talent.

3. To nurse; cherish: foster a secret hope.

The word foster has many definitions.

I foster dogs.  I love adore appreciate and respect the species and it pains me to know the suffering which they are exposed to.  Many people turn a blind eye, some people don't care, some can't be bothered, others are too self rightious to look beyond themselves to see what good their time and energies would do in anothers life. 

Others have hearts that don't stop giving.  I luckily found a group of individuals with huge hearts and giving sensitive spirits and together we save dogs.  Most recently I fostered a border collie mix.  He went to a couple on a trial basis yesterday evening.  Oddly enough, i met the husband while creating a flyer for the collie at a local print shop.  Come to find out they live less than a mile down the gravel road from me.  They took him last night to be vetted by their personal vet prior to formally adopting him.  Hopefully this boy is one adoption fee and formal paperwork away from his FOREVER home!

A quick recap: 

Stray in WV in need of a foster home in a more populated adoptable area.

After the transport from WV to MD, hanging out before being loaded into my car for his ride to VA where he will be vetted, evaluated, and fostered in my home with my 4 personal dogs.

Foster destination Bluemont, VA...feeling cherished

on the farm, stunning in the sun

two peas in a pod

business in the front party in the back!

the whole crew

that's how its done folks.  in as little as 4 weeks a dog went from slated death to an adoptable (hopefully adopted) family pet.  altered, UTD on shots, housebroken, and happy!

best of luck my collie boy.

Ladies and gentleman

Today is the day. Shy my border collie foster dog goes to his forever home....a mere mile down the road! Thrilled to have him close by, cali will be requesting we invite him down for some wrestling action!

Hurray! Another dog rescued from rural WV, altered, and adopted.

Luke

] The Apostle Paul referred to Luke as the beloved

physician. [2] Certain popular stories, such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, are found only in this gospel. This account also has a special emphasis on prayer, the activity of the

Holy Spirit, women, and joyfulness. [3]

Luke presented Jesus as the Son of God, but turned his attention especially to the humanity of Jesus, featuring His compassion for the weak, the suffering and the outcast.

Love the pumpkins

Bull Fight Today

Thank you

The pigs have a secret santa!

Adopt me!

festive food

1.5 scoops swine feed, 1 gingerbread cake, 2 pots boiling water. My pig pen smells like a Yankee Candle.

Some Farms

Focus on what feels right. Some farms focus on ovines, bovines, or equines...this girl, this farm focuses on swine.

Doesn't get better than piglets basking in the morning sun.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Screw count, I day dream of these chicks. I can already see and hear them slough there is no sign of hatching. She's been sitting on them for about 3 weeks...hatch already!

Piglets tomorrow!

13 weeks old, asking $60 each. Perhaps she'll go for $150...buy 2 and throw in a runt 1/2 price?

Raking in the Rain

My office dwelling 9-5ers therapy of choice tonight. 

Cover crops werent a top priority this fall so I'm blanketing the garden with leaves.  I hope the chickens will use it as a midwinter blues buster by frolicking and scratching through the deep piles before the garden catches up to the already snow covered yard.  It will also be nice to recover the ground of the chicken kennels with fresh leaves through the winter.

Perhaps the pigs will root through the deep pile of leaves on a cold sunny sunday afternoon? Yes, I must make sure that happens.

mountain rain

When it rains I have a routine inner dialog:

1. When's the last time each dog was outside? I should probably let them out pronto before it pours.  Three of my dogs boycott going outside in the rain, that battle is easier won in a light rain or sprinkle.

2. pull the towels and bathmat off the deck railing. confession...towels and bathmat alike are currently rain soaked and flopping in the wind. I didn't feel like folding the items in the dryer and they quickly became too saturated to hang in the house. They'll get a good post washing machine rinse and dry smelling as if the cloth was infused with mountain air.  Granted the first few times I use the stiff line dried towels ill yearn for a fluffy machine dried replacement. My dryer often runs to unwrinkle clothes before I fold or hang them, to counter that extra usage I line (or deck, over a door) dry all blankets, towels, pillow cases etc. I haven't yet embraced the way clothes fit and feel when line dried, there must be a technique I'm not privy to.

3. Are my car Windows shut? Did i think it felt like rain enough earlier to plan ahead or are all windows down as low as they can go without cali being able to jump out?  I'm sure my car has been rained in more than most. I was once the recepient of a note taped to the door of my rental house senior year of college with the following scribbled 'white corolla windows down' and have commuted to work sitting on a plastic bag over a wet seat more times than id care to admit.

4. Do I have any frozen marrow bones for the dogs? Marrow bones are the perfect pacifier for pent up dogs stuck in a one bedroom tenant house.

5. Organize, read, sleep, or clean?

Rainy days are the only times my house feels cozy.  I need to find a solution before spending a long winter in a home I don't enjoy. Suggestions? How does one make a space their comfort zone?

Pig pen progress

It's getting there.  Pallets make for mucho painting, so many boards!

Sadie kept me company through the last sliver of sunlight.

pallet pig pen

Broody!

Novembers Full Moon

Know to the Algonquians as the Beaver Moon and Hunters Moon to the English.

Easy to understand why.

Tasks requiring light were accomplished under this mighty moons illumination

Bluemont has its fair share of black stary skies, but tonight...not one of them, the Blue Ridge met a blue night.

Much was done under this moonlight tonight.

coop relocation
brooder coop created
9 eggs candled

A majority of the eggs appear to contain chicks. This first year layer buff orpington has been sitting on 10 eggs for about 2 weeks now. Nervous about winter brooding but so excited at the possibility of home grown chicks!,

Loudoun Clear

nothing runs like a deer...except an actual deer.

Norwegian Fjords and Kunekunes

Excellent temperament, versatile, and cute as a button.

My future horse.

Friendly, grazers, easy on pasture.

My future pigs.

http://www.kunekunepreserve.com/index.html





when I can't remember

the last time I found a feather worth keeping I know I haven't been exploring our natural word enough.  heading to the woods.

savor it girls

it will be cold soon enough

Trappe Road

this "folks" is how its done

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Raising-Chickens-For-Meat.aspI'x

I've become increasingly exhausted of individuals who raise their own meat and claim to be in it for the welfare of the animal but in actuality are as callous as can be towards the deaths and welfare of the livestock on their properties. 

The link above had me grinning ear to ear. 

A few favorite quotes:

"I grab the knife with my right hand and swipe off his head. While he bleeds out, I dry my eyes. That’s how a chicken lover has to do it."

"Of the two females in my first flock, one was a nervous wreck who was convinced from day one that I planned to kill her. The other one used to peck at my foot until I sat down on the grass, then she would sit in my lap. If there had been any future for her, I would have kept her alive. But not only would my layers pick on her without a mother hen’s protection, her white feathers would have made her an easy-to-spot meal for predators. I still think about her."

"Strangely, it’s only because I have life-long affection for chickens that I can kill them at all."

Now that is how its done.  A refreshing  well written and informative article, one that fuels my desire to expand my level of self sufficiency.  I can not relate to the writings of those who are indifferent to killing their animals or come home to killed livestocked without blinking an eye let alone shedding a tear. 

If Ms. Roland can do it, perhaps I can too?

Flocking for Melons.

from seed to stomach this cantaloupe traveled less than 50 ft. 

no listeria here my friends.

...and the smell, sweet enough to bottle.

The culprit

Till tracks

Artwork as far as I'm concerned!

A Soiled Garden

Who would have thought?

Amidst a weekend that found me ankle deep in paper towels armed with a Windex bottle filled with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution (what seemed more often than not) some great accomplishments were made (not to include the liquid crate blow out, dog vomit in my car, or the stream of urine at my front door).  I'm going to be hesitant to open my door when I get home today, Bass has been out of sorts and a vet visit is possibly in order...but back to the weekend report!

Bass dog (press play and tilt the head) had his first bite on the sleeve during protection work at Schutzhund training on Saturday.  This little mixed breed mutt has drive and intensity comparable to those pure German Shepherds selectively bred and trained for such talent.  Bass has it and he's not afraid to show his prey drive off.  About a month ago I took him to training to have him evaluated and he displayed great potential, potential I thought would take months to perfect to work up to sleeve work.  Within 2 minutes he progressed from a leather tug on a lungeline, to a puppy jute toy on a leash, to the real deal sleeve.  Steve (my trainer) certainly can bring out the best in his pupils, hopefully I can keep up with my steed.

I tracked him Sunday and he was much more methodical and and collected than I had expected for his first time with his nose to the ground.  The few times he lifted his head I put pressure on his collar toward the ground (flat collar for now) and he slowed his paced and momentarily layed down.  I'll have to talk with Steve about how to encourage his head without his body following, I don't want him to crawl down his tracks.  It is nice that his body follows his head, as i feel he'll stay straight on the track...i need to figure out that balance.

Obedience didn't go as well.  I tried to use a toy rather than introduce food and he was much too spirited.  I need to prong him for obedience to avoid my ear/cheek/fingers from getting nipped as he lurches and lunges for the toy pressed against my left shoulder.  He will be fussing in fine form in no time, i'm sure of it.

Cali, Sadie, Bass and I went to Sky Meadow State Park for a hike Sunday afternoon.  Sadie is off leash the entire time (shhhh) and Bass got to run on the quiet mountain balds.  Cali always remains on her line, all 30 ft of it.  Bass has a HUGE bark and he enjoys using it when strangers approach.  I love hearing it and do not correct him at all.  If i don't want him to bark i'll avoid the situation, but this dog (for the sake of his schutzhund training) will not be limited in his vocal or vertical actions.

Brice and littles enjoyed a quiet evening at my parents while the other 3 rested at home.

When tending to the coop I opened the back and what did I find?!?!?  Two perfect brown eggs.  My buff (or buffs) layed for the first time.  I can't help but wonder if introducing the rooster to the flock jump started their egg production?

I'm thrilled.

New Kids on the Block

A local Craigs List find...meet "Roger"...as his former family called him.

Once on my property chickens become nameless.  With all the predators in the area the less emotionally invested in the chickens the better.  Not sure being referred to anonymously as hens or roosters would lessen the impact of one getting killed, but its been my long standing philosphy with foster dogs (their breed is their "name" while hanging at my place) so I'm going to give it a try.

The two buff orpingtons took to him immediately and the bantams seemed to enjoy him as well.

He flew out of the fenced in area yesterday and roosted somewhere out of sight, i checked all outbuildings and ran the spot light up and down all the trees.  I figured he found a good spot and i'd wake to his crowing.  I doubted his longevity after watching a fox lope through the yard, but indeed, he was strutting his stuff as I looked out my windows this morning.  The thought of potentially having chicks is exciting and I look forward to seeing if and when any of the hens get broody.

Speaking of nameless foster dogs, here's Bass, named and already pulling the heart strings.  I haven't fosted in a year so its nice to have a change of pace and a new personality in the mix. well, i could say i still have a foster as the senior rat terrier (pulled from a local shelter) is still here...but i consider him one of the fold...and after all, he has a name, on a tag, with my name, number, and address.

Bass is a 9ish month old GSD/American Bulldog mix (best guess) I took in when a friend decided he no longer wanted to invest the time, energy, and money it takes to move...and bring your dog with you.

I don't normally take owner surrenders, but Bass is super special and an all around lovely boy.  He is wonderful off leash, doesn't stray, looks to me for guidance, and best of all gets along with my other 4 dogs and pays no mind to the chickens.  I hope he sticks around for while as Cali needs a buddy to bring her out of a winter funk.  My other dogs don't really play with her, Bass couldn't be more playful.  He literally brings toys to other dogs and drops them at their feet.  If that's not a demanding play with me right now tactic, i don't know what is.

He was neutered Tuesday and I have a few people interested in him.  If I didn't already have 4 dogs he woudln't be going anywhere.  He's ideal...and even has Schutzhund potential.  Adopting out what i'm convinced is my heart dog? I dread the day.

sneak peak

Blue Ridge Mountains - my backyard view.

Back on a property I left 2 years ago, with two additional dogs (total of 4) and now 3 hens.  I rent a tenant house on a small farm which is currently vacant, except for a couple dozen cattle who rotate through our fields. 

The hens are making it through their first winter...happy with fresh water, scratch feed, a blanket of straw atop the snow, and daily culinary surprise these chickens are doing alright. The bantam stopped laying for the winter and I expected the buffs to start laying sometime soon, reading they are hearty winter birds I expected eggs once they reached maturity.  Come on girls!

Thankfully Virginia hasn't seen much snow this year and I am thrilled for that (especially after a 8 hour commute due to one foot of snow in January). Last year around this time we had no idea two back to back storms would shortly dump several feet of snow and create drifts so high Maryland was left in a state of emergency. I batten down the hatches at my parents and rode it out with the 3 dogs and plenty of knitting supplies.