This Morning's Sky

 

Oh my, look at the sky…

Beautiful sky this morning.

 

Glorious pinks and golds,

Backlighting the mountain peaks,

Bringing joy to this lucky observer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Tree...check!

This morning, Glenn and I went to get our Christmas tree.

 

Over the years, we have patronized several of the local Christmas tree growers in our area.  This year we revisited Francisco Farms.  Glenn drove the back roads making a short trip a little longer.  I enjoyed watching the rural country side.  Unfortunately, I also noticed many  pastures abused by overgrazing and many old barns deteriorating with age which made me sad; but, one old greyed barn with a hand-laid stone foundation, sitting at the edge of a dirt road, sporting a wreath of greens and red bow was a joy.  I smiled.
 

 

When you no longer have young children...

When we arrived at the farm, we were the lone customers.  December 15^th is not exactly a timely date in which to buy a tree, but it is pretty common in my family;  going back to my childhood when my birthday (12-14) was celebrated before Christmas decorations ever came out.

 

Nature's ornaments?  Bagworms...not my tree of choice!

 

 

Here  it is ...not too full, just tall enough!

 

 

back and forth, back and forth....

timberrrrrr

The weather was pleasant and enjoyable; none of the freezing temperatures, blowing wind and snow of seasons past to squelch our adventure.  Glenn grabbed a saw and off we walked onto the hillside of a plantation of white pine trees.  The trees were gorgeous; full and perfectly formed; not the kind of tree I was looking to cut.  I wanted a tree that was sparse; it had to have air space to actually hang ornaments from and between the branches.  We found one; open branches and a perfect height and width for the small area designated in our living room.  Glenn had that specimen sawn down in less than 60 seconds; then, back down the hill, tree dragging along the dry earth and hoisted into the back of the pick-up (no tie downs necessary), pay the twenty bucks (I will not pay more) and return home along different county roads.
 

 

At home, the tree was placed on the back deck, in a bucket of water until tomorrow…when the fun begins!

waiting patiently in a bucket of water..I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will still be able to have this beauty decorated by Christmas 

 

Note:   Growing perfect Christmas takes a lot of work; I know, but I still prefer the less-than-perfect tree.   Back in my college days, I had the opportunity (or should I say unfortunate task) to spend one day trimming white pines in our Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Plantation.  I was a senior; club President; and evidently, it was my turn.  I went into the chore with zeal; I wanted the experience of trimming Christmas trees.  Well, about 30 minutes into the job, I had all the experience I needed or ever wanted - slicing off and shaping pine branches at an angle with a machete in 90°+ sunny, hot and humid air; walking from tree to tree  through 24” tall grass infested with chiggers (my body was covered with large, itchy bites for weeks - I looked like I had a skin disease so I wore long pants and long sleeves to cover up; and yes, it was still muggy and in the high 90’s); and profusely sweating with no relief (no one carried water bottles in those days)…I had had enough!  Twenty bucks…probably worth $100, at least.

Repurpose Our Silo?

There is a very nice silo on the ‘55’ farm.  It is not being used, except by a few pigeons; nor will it ever be used as a silo by us. Silos were used mainly by dairy farmers to store silage (chopped, green feed).  We are not dairy farmers.  We are grass-fed cattle farmers.  We rarely feed our cattle directly with purchased hay, and never with stored silage; they feed themselves, year round, on the grass and other growing forage in the pastures. 

 

The next best thing to an empty silo…is to repurpose the silo.
 

 

Becky decided that the silo would make a fabulous and very unique farm office.  Stepping into a silo to conduct farm business would be entertaining as well as functional.  I could see myself spending a lot of time in that office, just enjoying the circumstance.  

 

The three of us made a quick trip to the Fort Lewis Lodge in Bath County, Virginia to see their repurposed silo.  Their silo is used as guest quarters for the Lodge.  Since the Lodge is closed December through March, the owners were amiable to our pre-arranged visit.

 

John, owner of Fort Lewis Lodge, showed us the design for his silo renovation and gave us plenty of useful information.  After all, he has already been through the process.

 

We have a lot to consider if we are going to proceed with such a plan.  Of course, money for such a project is the biggest determining factor for not proceeding. But,…

 

Dreams do come true!

 

Note: The Fort Lewis Lodge facility is magnificent.   I have never had the opportunity to stay at the Lodge, but I did have the opportunity to partake in one of their evening buffets - such a wide variety; fresh, flavorful and plenty of choices to satisfy anyone’s preference.  The silo is only one of several accommodations available. Put some R & R on your 2013 agenda with a stay at the Fort Lewis Lodge.

Check out their website for more information at fortlewislodge.com.

2012 Calves Sold To Polyface, Inc.

We are trying something new, again…

 

We have, for the most part, sold our calves at a local stockyard auction.  Sometimes the price is OK, sometimes it is poor.  We take our chances and hope for the best.

 

Now, that we have changed our management to the more desirable grass-fed approach, we also wanted to find a more appropriate marketing outlet for our livestock; and, I think we found that outlet with Polyface,Inc. farm.  Both our farm management goals are similar.

 

Polyface, located in the county just north of our farms, has gained international recognition for their farming methods and policies.  Joel Salatin and his family put environmentally sound practices to work, sell their products off the farm and in their on-farm store, and keep a somewhat hectic schedule as featured speakers at events sponsored worldwide.

 

We initiated the business venture by asking if Polyface would be interested in buying our grass-fed calves and lambs.   After two farm visits, they were interested in purchasing all our calves and indicated that they would try 20 or so lambs.

This week, son Daniel, loaded 20 of our grass-fed, yearling calves. These calves will spend the next 12 months or so on the Polyface pastures finishing.  In a few weeks, Daniel will return to pick-up the 20 or so lambs.  It is definitely an honor to have Mountain Glen Farm livestock incorporated into the Polyface regime.

13 on...7 to go

all loaded and ready to hit the road back to Polyface Farm

Providing an exceptional product to the consumer with minimal impact to the natural environment is a win-win situation.

a sampling of the calves we sold to Polyface - we retained these three heifers for future breeding stock

 

Only time will tell if the Polyface-Mountain Glen relationship will endure…I hope it does!

A Deer Incident

Even though several herds of white-tail deer feed and live on our pastures and surrounding woods, we rarely hunt them.

 

There are several reasons….1) butchering is time-consuming, 2) I do not like the taste of wild meat, and 3) they look majestic as they jump and run at will.

 

Albeit, the local populations of deer are on the increase; and, barring any disease or ailment, their numbers grow. Eventually, food sources will not keep in balance with the populations and disease will trigger a natural decline.

 

Last month, Glenn, Matt and Becky decided to hunt on the farm.  Matt shot a doe and Glenn a yearling.  We now have venison packed in the freezer along with our farm raised beef.  Variety is good.

 

What else is good?   I have learned to roast unsavory cuts of meat into tender and tasty meals.  This meat will not go to waste here.

see doe on right side of photo - its leg is hanging in the fence

 

This morning as Glenn and Becky started their chores, they discovered a deer in need just yards from the house. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fairly large doe evidently miscalculated and failed an ordinarily easy leap over a pasture fence.  Her back leg was entangled; this doe was stuck.  If not for Glenn to help her out, she would have died; a perfect example of life’s ups and downs. 

Glenn gingerly clips the fence wire while trying to keep the deer as still as possible to prevent further injury.

 

Free...and, off!

And, gone!

 

 

Today, this deer had an ‘up’!

Early December - Evening Sky

I awoke to a gorgeous, blazing sunrise...I just continued to lay in bed and enjoyed the red of the sky.

The day ended, just as spectacular...

                                                                 again, the sun  displaying full glory and ever changing color!

 

Tomorrow will be different.

 

 

Jake's Ivy?

December 1st - how has the year passed so quickly?

 

 

The weather has been so mild and continues to be; so, I am taking advantage of the warm and comfortable days to get back in the garden to weed and clean-up before winter weather arrives.

 

I started to trim up the ivy patch in front of the house.  This ivy grows like the proverbial weed and I cut it back several times during the growing season.  I competed a major trimming in late August and thought I was set until next year…wrong, the ivy kept growing, kept covering my walkway.

 

Recently, Jake retuned to an old habit of sleeping in the ivy bed.  Soon, Buddy joined him; though reluctantly because Buddy knows that trampling the ivy is a definite no-no. But, our dear Jake is getting old and stiff.  I relented, and I allowed him to take his naps on my ivy. And, doing so results in dog-sized indentations in the foliage; eventually causing the foliage to die back.  Not a pretty sight, but Jake deserves a bit of comfort that the ivy vines provide.

 

Jake perked up when I began the trimming.  He gave me a look of disgust, ‘Getting rid of my comfy, cozy couch?’ 



And, what are you doing with my ivy???

 

I assured him that I left enough ivy for him; I did not even get close to his favorite spots. He has several.

That's more like it!

 

Jake was satisfied as he returned for another nap.