spring in the midst of winter

We walked the park trails for 3 hours today. All 3 kids, me, and of course Dawg. He had to have all his matted long hair cut off before he was to have a bath. His underbelly was one big mess! This nice weather has afforded the luxury of his kitchen sink bath and mommy special haircut.

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This is a stone wall at our treasured local state park.
As you can see, it has a Green-man water spout with a small catch basin just under it. That then over flows into a 2 feet deep 4 feet wide cement pond which in warmer weather has an abundance of green slimy frogs. No frogs today but a visit is a must. This is lil' mans favorite spot. I wonder why....During our long trek through the woods-did I mention I pulled that wagon through ALL the trail paths- the last quarter was a bike trail- We saw a group of deer!Their coats were so light in color, they almost appeared grey. They were running about 100 feet to the side of us. A few stragled behind and seemed curious of my little group. Then Dawg started to whine because we dared to stop in the middle of his walk. So off they went. I was so happy the kids were able to see such a large group together. Before spotting them, we had seen their tracks all over the trails. The even made a comment how they wished they could see them. And their wish came true.
So how nice was it here in Northeast Ohio on December 29?
Yeah. And its usually half that this time of year.
Look what else we found on the trails... ..
Makes me wonder what the next few months of weather will be. I mean come on! A snake! In the midst of winter. In the north. Just sun bathing outside. Above ground. In winter!
SSSSSSweet dreams,
Tammie

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Hey kids, its show and tell time!

Ahhh, what warm furry coats the girls have grown. So thick and long. I so badly want to brush it for them- if they would only stay still long enough for the underbelly and udder area to be brushed! Of course that won't happen for Lady Chia. She has mud caked all over and she is starting to get a bit knotty in spots. She is a mess! ( she is on an incline so her belly has smooshed downwards with gravity- makes her look very pregnant at that! Maybe she really is a fatty...

The urge for a hot soapy bath is so there! I know they would love to be pampered and massaged. They receive the indulgence during nicer weather on the back deck with many buckets of warm water to rinse with. Is it even safe to do? If I WERE to do it, it would be in...yes thats right.. in my house bathroom tub. Thats where the dogs (remember Jack is their size!) get their baths. I would worry about her getting a chill or worse- somehow escape and go run through the house making havoc at every turn! Could you imagine?! Jack would be trying to play & chase her which she would of course run away- in turn would make Jack even more happy. Goat berries all over the place, mud on the floors and furniture... Well, maybe that bath can wait a few more months...
On to Clyde.

He flew for the first time today! Well at least the first time I have seen "him" fly. Right out of the chicken pen and about 8 feet high into the air above me-not a comforting sight when you see the wingspan and those nails! Which brought my attention to Clyde's age. If the muscovy's were 2 weeks old the day I bought them from auction, then that would put my last living Muscovy at 5 months of age. So how do I know if Clyde is really a Clyde and not a Bonnie? Looking back at pictures, Clyde was the bigger duck but that method is not 100%. I have searched for more information on their red knobby head masks they acquire as they mature. When will Clyde be full grown? WHen will the knobby mask be at its full or half way point? Clyde hisses. No quacks. Clyde is loving. He follows me around and eats from our hands- never mistaking a finger for a worm.

But how long will that last before I know a drake or a hen? I have heard of the drake mating behavior when they have no hens around and turn towards chickens and humans. Not looking forward to it. I would like to know Clydes sex so I can give him a harem or acquire another buddy for "her". Any hats ya' wanna throw in the ring? For your further inspection, the above 2 photos are frm this very afternoon.
Now onto little Cleo. I do believe I know the ending to the goat soap opera. Are you ready?drum roll please...........
~ If it was Buddy, at the latest , the due date would be in 2 weeks. Now does this look like a goat due in 2 weeks?~

Looks like Rudy is going to be a daddy! Somehow the 2 girls have slimmed down on their sides! Maybe they were bloated for awhile due to a food change? Maybe it is from deworming them a few weeks back. They have been able to free range due to all the mild weather so lots of excercise and walks had by all. I have cut back on the pen size ALOT for the winter. I want to keep them close to their cabin and in my site from the house.Babies due within the first 2 weeks of March 2007! The only spot unseen is the chicken coop roof which now serves as their play ramp and leads to a small section on the opposite side of the goat home.The chickens now use just the arched roof as their coop and have a new run (pen) which blocks the goats entry to the coop and blocks the chickens entry to the goat cabin. I gave away 5 chickens ans now am down to 5-my 2 oldest hens, 2 roos captain feather and turken, plus the 1 young turken hen. Daisy and root beer shake have found a new home too-the same as the chickens.
Oh, I almost forgot! Guess who got a camera for holiday?
Yep- the pictures you will be seeing from now on are from an Olympus FE-170!
I have yet to get the crisp great pictures with 6 mp, but I have only had it since the 24th. I love the quality so far, but the time lapse between pictures SUCKS!
I will not look the gift horse in the mouth...
sweet dreams,
Tammie

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Feels like Spring spirit & the goat soap opera

Picture of the bluebird egg Panda & I found this last spring. It feels like Spring out here and I do believe the tree's are being fooled too. I see buds! Wanna see more pictures of bluebird eggs and their life? Here is a link to a flickr slideshow . Beautiful pictures showing the daily new egg and then the hatching all the way up to the second brood! Go check it out and get that Springy feeling...

~Goat update~I dewormed the girls with safeguard on Saturday. Chia was getting rather fat and something just told me to do a fecal on her. Well she seemed to have an overload. I do not know why or what caused it. They had been dewormed weeks before going to the breeder and I thought they would be fine until after the new year. Since giving her the medicine, she has slimmed considerably in her girth. I thought worms made 'ya lose weight not gain it. But she has had the opposite happen. Gain girth with worms lose the girth as she loses the worms. Looking back at when she first came to us, I realize Lady Chia has even longer long hair now (a winter coat) and is Fat( winter insulation plus growing young ones). She is due to kid around March 15th.
Now onto Cleo. Here it is the last half of December. So -IF- Cleo is pregnant from Buddy, she would be 4 months along at the earliest. Remember, Buddy went to auction in August. Now I have tried to keep a good record of her belly and udder region in photos. And you also must consider she is still growing herself. She will be 1 year old next month. Yes I know, many of you may be clucking tongues at her age and possible young pregnancy. Keep it to yourself please. I did say IF she was pregnant from him- not that I bred her to him! Follow along...
So back to the subject at hand- I am having strong doubts on the buddy daddy thing. Now if she was bred by Rudy,
then that would put her at only at about 2 1/2 months. The problem here is, she is "showing" in her belly growth already. Now I say the doubting of Buddy because Cleo has not had any other development to her udder region since I posted the picture here.
Confused yet? Well so am I. Who knew a goats pregnancy would be so hard on the human! The suspense is killing me. It is like watching a soap opera drama unfold. Who did Cleopatra conceive by? was it Buddy the strong country Amish buck? Or was it the regal young stud Rudy? Only time will tell and I am horrible about waiting.
Goat filled sweet dreams
~Tammie

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A costume clothes rack & in need of hop rhizomes...

I have been planning to make a rack to hold all of the costumes I have made for the kids (i.e the cloaks, capes and dresses). I could not find a single example of what I wanted until I came upon this:
Now this is what I am talking about! Of course the price tag is not what I deem affordable ($433) but I have sharpened my carpentry pencil and came up with a how to for my own. I sat at my desk looking over all the details and have come up with a supply list in the cost range of $30. I am speaking of inexpensive woods but not plywood of course. It is very simple. Once I sat and let those gears do their thing. I love that feeling I get when I get in my creative mind frame! Such a rush! The flat top will hold a Rubbermaid style chest drawers for all the accessories like jewelry, wigs, and the yarn beards I am making now. This is for their Winter holiday gift. Panda will also get her very first sewing machine! My MIL picked it up at BJ's warehouse club for $40- a singer brand but she said it looks like the ones she sees for $90 elsewhere. I also picked up 3 wooden kid flutes. I am making (hand sewing) them each a flute carrying bag to go with it. My machine is down for the count along with my camera so here it is the week before & I am trying to brainstorm the back up gifts.
So on to the hop Rhizomes. Anyone have extra they are willing to share? I have not been able to successfully grow any from seed. They just sprout then die. So I am in hopes that someone may have extra rhizomes they are looking to be rid of (or so kindly share?) . Its a long shot but stranger things have happened. I would like them for planting in the old house front garden bed-see picture on right- where I am putting in some white trellis walls with an arch in on them. I hope anyway the arch holes will fit around the glass block window areas so as not to block the light out. (message break- The picture is from this last Spring. The walls are brick facing over cement block so have cracked from the bad job the workers did- it is not my foundation cracking. The rust stains are being removed along with the old handrail which has caused it. It will be replaced with a newer railing. now back to our message). All that wonderful rich soil will be trucked up to the hill and placed in my raised garden beds. The area will be flattened and grass seed applied. The bricks and stones have all been removed thanks to that sunshine and 60 F degree weather yesterday! I have some metal garden chairs (4 green ones) I will put there to give a garden nook spot. I also hope to put a trellis wall blocking the side view and grow some hops up it for a more private area. The trellis walls with the arch's were so nicely given to me from my neighbor who lives behind us. He is a single dad of a 14 year old who has been dubbed "tractor boy" due to his midnight rides around the yard with his many yard tractors. He has a sleeping disorder- he doesn't sleep! Seriously. He sleeps a few hours and that's it. Dad barely sleeps too. But wonderful neighbors! I will miss them when we leave. So I am off now to pick up my wood supplies and stop at the thrift store for more accessories.
"Hop's" dreams,
~Tammie

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Rambling about changes

The Fall of 2003 project

Do not let these sun filled days fool you! Cold weather is here and despite the great urge to play outside, the inside of the house is calling. There are walls to be painted- every wall in the house actually. Floors to be tiled, along with a certain little boys room which needs carpet laid -since in a recent fit I ripped it up after discovering the dogs and said little boy were having- dare i say it- a pissing contest!
So while the homestead on the outside sleeps, the inside must get a reawakening.
I started the walls back in 2003. Yes 4 years ago. The kitchen and dining room have that 80's style wall board with a floral print on it. I filled every single line notch on every wall which took 3 days which then required the sanding that took 2 days to do then a month to clean up from doing it.

I have not accomplished much more then those walls since our purchase of our home. Other then ripping out carpets and painting, I have only messed with the outside and looking back at pictures from that first year, I have to say I like the way it looked before the barnyard on our hill.

Now I bring this all up because this house will go on the market this coming Spring. I have tried to view everything about this place from an outsider view. I have realized, I am a rarity. There really are not alot of people who would want the animals or have used the property as we have that would pay the price we need and am told this place is worth. Changes must be made and spaces opened up once again.
I think the old chicken coop/ goat house/ back to a chicken coop has to go. Along with all my perimeter fencing. I must focus more on the resale of this home no matter what it takes. I will not get rid of my girls but may need to cut down on the hens. All of last years spring chickens except the turkens, must go. I may try to offer them with Mr. Echo in the Spring. I know, I know- what about Clyde?! No way am I getting rid of my Clyde! I will cut back to 2 roosters and 3 hens and then cross my fingers that the "slow" turken hen will go broody for the start up of a turken flock as we had hoped for before all the other chicks were umm played to death with by dear old Jack.... That leaves Captain Feather Sword and Turken for the roos. Then for the hens we will keep our 4 year old hens Fletcher and Dr Seuss plus keep the young turken hen.
All of the animals will be kept in the goat cabin come Spring and share a run. I will put a small covered corner box for the hens to lay in and goats to lay on- preventing the eggs from being smashed plus put an old wood ladder in there for night time roosting. Lots of other changes will be made but despite my downsizing, I will NOT go without my gardens.
That reminds me,I need to build some compost bins for that big mound out there. I am sure it would give a more tidy appearance to any potential buyers. Just the idea of having to appear like we do not live here gets me all hyped up. The Captain and I, 3 kids with only 1 of school age, 2 dogs of 2 extreme difference in size, 2 goats with babies on the way, 5 chickens and a Muscovy drake all live in this house with a first floor being 1,120 square feet with a walkout basement being of the same sq. footage plus the property of 1.18 acres. I need to keep all of this clean and great looking for any potentials who drive by or for that spur of the moment call by the realtor.
Yep. Sounds like a ball of laughs to me.
I seem to have left out a tidbit. The captain is looking to get a promotion which involves a relocation to Hagerstown Maryland. (its on the east coast of the U.S) So I have been trying to look around just over the borders in W.V & Pennsylvania for ideas on where we should look for land and build a home. Haggerstown is within 20 miles of both of those state borders so we could live in which ever we like. But it seems prices there are not any better then here as I had hoped.
Frog has finally nursed herself to sleep so I am off to do my night time cleaning.
Sweet dreams
~Tammie

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Beautiful Henny. How I adore you...

I made a trip to the Tractor supply for more feed. They had all their holiday gift items out for all to drool over. I received the flyer in the mail which included a sample of barnyard cookie cutters by Ann Clark Ltd.
They showed a rooster in the sample picture but my local TSC did not carry it. Instead they had one titled "The chicken". It is similar in shape to the "Henny" pictured above by Warren Kimble. I loved it and thought of how wonderful it would be to decorate our tree this year with barnyard cookie cutouts!

The children and I made a big batch this morning with our new cookie cutter and the recipe for butter cookies on the tag that comes along with the cutter. I added a bit of food dye to get a brown orange color similar to our old hen Fletcher. pictured above in the far left

I also added cinnamon and ginger to the batter. They came out beautiful! So perfect in fact I tried to get that darn@* camera to work but I do believe it has finally gave out. So most likely there will be no new pictures until after the holidays. We will purchase a new one as a family gift after the new year (hopefully).
My baby brother, "Army", will be sent a package of home baked goodies containing some of the Henny cookies with frosting, Some of the Apricot chocolate Rugelach, and a few others to soothe his sweet tooth from home. He has been ordered to take an officer training during the holiday time frame so will not be home to enjoy my cooking/baking. That's o.k though. He promised he would make a trip home after the new year towards Spring time.
So it seems we are to receive warmer weather and no more snow for a while. I am sure the girls will be happy since I have shut them into the goat cabin for majority of the day. I let them out for an hour or two after or before their feeding times since it has been less the 20 degrees F. Clyde & Mr. echo have been very diligent about keeping themselves as companions to the goat cabin too. They rarely associate with the chickens except at feed time. Otherwise they are hanging out with Chia & Cleo.
So I am now off to let the chickens roam the entire pen for the day. After all, Zoning is closed on the weekends...
Sunny dreams,
~Tammie

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My curb side find and the belly drooping Cleopatra

Yep. Old wood frame 8 pane windows! There was a total of 5 sitting on the curb, but these 3 were the only ones fully intact. The 2 on the ends are of the same size and the middle one is somewhat bigger. I have plans for these babies. Big plans. But first I hope to get a winter family picture like this (picture a family of 5 and a duck named Clyde sitting on the bench) ~I made the bench ( and another one) last Spring from scrap wood I picked up at a lumber yard. ( I also made my own milking bench from all the scrap wood, which I shared on my old blog but not on blogger- so it may pop up in the spring with me *hopefully* milking one of the girls). I collected fallen pine branch's for the swag. The children and I made snowflakes to decorate our front windows and had some left to decorate these ones for our family winter picture. I sprayed a mist of water onto the windows and VERY quickly put the tissue paper snowflakes onto the wet spot. I then misted them again and of course it being 20 degrees F outside, they froze very nicely.
I misted the rest of the window space to give it a frosty illusion for the picture. There is a 100 feet tall pine tree there behind the windows too.










So now you know about my find that I have been absolutely giddy over. You see, These kind of finds are rare in my area. I know. I have been looking for years to find some like these. Now you may ask- "Farmchick, what exactly do you plan to do with your great find of windows?". Well I plan to repaint, distress, and add hardware to turn them into useful household decor. I plan to make one into a shelf and mirror. Imagine the big one rectangle shaped. Glass replaced with mirror and an old distressed piece of wood at the bottom for a shelf with angle cut end caps. Then I will add coat hooks along the shelf bottom. The other two will be used for pictures of our little unusual family and barnyard. They too will be repainted/repaired - but add some color then distressed and maybe add hinges so this can sit in a corner or something like that. Maybe I will add all B&W/antiqued pictures of us and the animals to add some character to our home corners.
But its first use is as you see above. It will be used as the winter picture backdrop. And yes. Clyde will be in our holiday picture card this year. I think it adds that extra greatness. LOL.
~On a different note~ Cleo is looking plump in the belly. Instead of wide it seems her belly droops. She does have some side belly to her but the droop is getting bigger and bigger. Her udder area has not shown anymore growth then what I have shared before. I will keep you posted on this. I find it very interesting that nowhere online do they share such information. They show udders in full milk or just before giving birth when they have swollen up. But no where does it show the gradual development in a goats udder during pregnancy. Chia of course has had babies before so she has the much larger teats and saggy skin around her abdomen and udder area. Lots of wonders in detecting various things in the animals. Words and descriptions just do not help when you know not what is in comparative for the situation. I have noticed many different changes in her "nether regions". From swollen and dark one day to flat and pale the next to only change to swollen and pink the next. I have yet to feel any babies. I am rather sad about that. I had really hoped to feel them moving by now. On Chia, she just has too much loose skin and chubbiness to her for me to even try for more then a minute. So my friends, I leave you to ponder and possibly share your ideas on what I should do with my trash to treasure find. I would love to hear what you would do with the 3 of them.
Sweet dreams
~Tammie

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My unusually unusual family's First Snow of the last month 2006

We have our first official sticking to the ground snow fall in our part of Ohio. This is the reason why I moved to my birth state- for the 4 seasons. I would dream of future days filled with snowman building and snow ball fights with my children and husband to be followed with hot cocoa and fresh from the oven cookies. Then a cozy fire to snuggle up by with my Honey.
I detest the cold biting wind which keeps us in the house and when there is no snow on the ground to go out to play in during the winter months.
I love the snow but truly cannot stand the extreme.

I am looking into the child size snowshoes and a pair for the adults in our house. I would of course love to make our own but the materials are either not attainable OR too expensive. It seems they are not of a bad price, I just like making stuff and showing the children the work it takes to result in a product. Here is a rather fascinating site that has loads of how to's for snowshoes and some great sleds!
If only I had more time...
I guess this means no more outdoor Yoga then, huh...














I am off to snap some pic's of my ummm curbside find from yesterday. I cant wait to start on this project but the holiday gifts have priority right now.
Have a great Snow filled day with your honey's!
Snowy Dreams
~Tammie

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Yes, it is down again!

I am writing you via the wonderful Library. My modem which is 4 years old has finally succumbed to "old age". I am told that it is a good amount of time for one with children who are around it on a regular basis along with pet hair and dust that rarely get dusted off.
I do appologize for the comments not being posted- I do have my moderating of comments on to avoid nasties. I have ordered the new modem and will have myself back on line as soon as possible. I have a terrific "curb" find I cant wait to share. Actually it was discovered on my way to write this very post! I made the trip back home to drop it off and ventured back here.
Please hang in there. I have not abandoned my little blogging adventure.
~Now I must be off to enlarge some templates for holiday gifts.
Enjoy your week.
~Tammie

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