OINK!

This is not a new subject in our household.  In fact, the subject has come up annually for years.

 

That subject would be raising pigs.  Yes, pigs. 

And, the task of raising pigs is not new.  Glenn raised pigs during his high school 4-H years.  Yeah, yeah, yeah…that was soooo long ago; but, some things a person does not forget and that includes pig husbandry.  I hope!

 

But, this time…the one doing the raising is Becky.  Why not? She is raising chickens for eggs, cows for feeder calves and beef, sheep for lamb, and now…pigs for feeder pigs and pork.  

 

PORK!  I love pork.  I was raised on dumplings, gravy, sauerkraut and roast pork - the family’s favorite Sunday meal - nothing better.  My mouth is already watering in anticipation. 

 

So last night, Glenn, Becky, Becky’s friend Colby and I drove one hour to SEE the gilts (young females).  On arrival, we were met by the seller at the beginning of his driveway.  We followed him up the bumpiest, longest, most unpleasant driveway I ever rode on.  When we reached his home and small animal farm, I was so jarred that I did not think I could get out of the truck to walk around.  I did.

 

We looked at the gilts.  We looked at the week-old piglets - so cute!  We talked.  We looked at the gilts.

 

We, I mean Becky, returned with two gilts.  The beginnings of Becky’s pig farming.

 

As for me, I just want to eat pork!

Matt Back

Son Matthew has returned from overseas duty and is back in the States ...

 

Happy Days are here again - enough said!

Angel Wing Begonia

My friend Ann had a fabulous Angel Wing Begonia growing in a pot on her deck.

 

I asked for a cutting; and, this spring she handed me a pot with the beginnings of the begonia.

 

I transplanted the plant into a larger pot and placed the pot in the most protected corner of my deck.  I watered the plant as directed.  And, I watched the plant grow, slowly, during the summer.

 

This is my plant today. Isn't it gorgeous?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The patterned leaves and the fabulous 'pretty in pink' flowers really add a spark to a dark corner of our deck.

 

I am looking forward to enjoying this gem for many years to come. And, I will be thinking of Ann, all that time, too!  



Little Things....Good and Bad

The little things keep creeping back into my daily life.  An off color or a slight movement that is out of its element… grabs my attention.

Yesterday, on my morning walk, I noticed a small white flower blooming.  I had never seen this flower.  As I continued on my way home, I wondered why this little flower was growing in solo.  Today, in passing that same white flower, I took a more determined look.  That little flower was not growing alone, but it was in the company of several others. The small group of petite white flowering plants growing in the deep understory of the woods, rooted among the thick duff, was like a small oasis of hope - a bit of light surrounded by darkness.  That little white flower exhibited incredible strength.

Earlier during today’s walk, a slight movement along the gravel of the farm lane caught my eye. 

Gorgeous color combination!

 

A millipede.  I have not seen a millipede in a very long time…probably years.

This rotund, little critter moved quite quickly.  Why not?  Each segment has two pairs of legs. These legs stayed in motion.  The most impressive characteristic of my little friend was his color…just amazing!  My love of color is dominated with flowers, but it now includes creepy crawly arthropods.  

What is not small and inconspicuous this season is the obvious and abundant fall webworms.  The webs are everywhere.  I can look in any direction and I can see a ’nest’ of these caterpillars - uggggly! And, oh so damaging to the trees, shrubs and miscellaneous perennials.

 



I could have included many more photos, but I think you probably get the idea
of the size and abundance of these nuisances!

 

And, to add to my disdain of the webworms…the stink bugs are back.  For some reason they had taken a most welcomed hiatus during the summer. Unfortunately, they have returned.

Small wonders are like life…you have to take the good with the bad.

 

My 9" X 13" (I Do Not Mess Around) Apple Pie

My apple pie making season started yesterday.

YUMMY!

Now, the apples (like so much of my other 2013 harvest) are not pretty…small and wormy; but, I am able to cut out the bad parts. 

 

 

 

 

Peeling these less than perfect apples takes twice as long, but the taste is worth the extra effort.  There is never any waste as the chickens love the peels, worms and all. 

 

And, I finally remembered (with Glenn’s reminder) to include my raisins that I dried from our grapes.

 

In many ways, all the sweeter!

 

Funky Spuds

Glenn dug up these beauties yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, I ask...how am I suppose to peel them?

Separating the Sexes - I'm Talking Sheep Here

 

 

Yesterday was a livestock day.

 

The cattle returned home, the day before, from spending time grazing at the neighbors.  I call it their vacation…5 star, no less, as pasture rental is expensive.

 

The sheep and cattle were reunited…for a day.

 

After a wellness check, a bit of fly-spraying, and some parasite control; the ram lambs and breeding ram were separated out of the flerd and brought up to the barn paddocks.  This separation is the easiest option of reproduction restraint for the ram lambs.  The other option…castration.

 

The ram lambs are only 4-5 months old, but old enough to attempt to breed with the ewe lambs of the same age.  Some would be successful.  Thus, the separation as we do not want the ewe lambs bred.

 

Once in the barn paddocks, those little ram lambs were lost because the grass is much taller than even our larger breeding ram. 

 

In a day or two, the grass will be eaten down enough so that I will be able to enjoy the sight of sheep grazing nearby. 

 

And, I will be listening to ‘baaing’ in stereo - the rams up at the barn and the ewes down in the lower pastures.