Stranger, Not So Much Danger...

The other day, after I discovered the little surprise, a man came calling. He had been turned around with some misguided directions, saw the egg sign and thought"Why not ask here?" So, he asked about eggs, asked for directions and was completely mesmerized by the chickens and the cats. So much so, he wanted to take a look about. Why not? Sure, if this was the city I would be thinking he was casing the place. So, he even took a few photos as he toured. He also showed me some pics of his cats on his camera. Physically he reminded me of my Father yet not so much with the cat love though.

He was thoroughly enchanted with it all. Admitted he was from the city. I asked which one. Same city I'm from I told him. He was a bit surprised and I knew this by the lifting of the eyebrows. So, here I am, showing another person about the yard. For a few minutes of my time and theirs, I've managed to make someone happy even if it is only for a few minutes. It's an incredible thing as he was a stranger after all.

The boys being home this summer has curtailed my computer time. The problem with this is not so much the lack of Blogging time and Ravelry time etc... but the fact that it's my bloody computer and I should be able to be on whenever, 24/7 if I so wanted!! We do not have satellite tv, so youtube, netflix renting movies etc...there is the entertainment. Meanwhile chores are piling up and I refuse to do anymore washing of towels if I don't even get to use one!!(buggers) Washing dishes and as I do them a stack of dirty comes out of nowhere!! The issue is they are all old enough to know better and are getting away with murder. So, today, I knit, spin, sit my butt in front of the computer for however long as I wish. "Buy your own! " I exclaim.. followed by "If you don't like it, pick a door. There are many to choose from here and watch it doesn't hit you on the way out!!" Can you feel the love?

What A Wonderful Surprise!!

This morning, while moving the chicken tractor, I noticed a hen out grazing. She wasn't far from the meat birds. Thing was, I hadn't let the chickens out yet..They usually come over and try to eat the meat birds' feed while I'm moving the tractor about, so less trouble if they wait until I'm done. If you recall, I had been given a bunch of hens from the owner of the last 3 sheep I had purchased. Well, I hadn't seen her for ages. I thought she had been eaten by a predator. It happens. She and a few friends had taken to perching in the trees at night, much like turkeys do...

Sometimes my hens sneak out from under the bottom of the coop and I soon expected to see a few more of the smaller ladies joining this one. But wait, what is that sound? I've heard it just recently , in the house as my eggs are hatching 3 days early!! Well, look at that! She hatched some chicks!! All on her own. After I completed the feeding and watering and relocating of the might meats, I slowly approached to check them out. Holy cow!! There are about 15 of them!! Mostly look like Mom, who is black but there was a brown striped one and a silvery grey with white...Hmm. And here I am with an incubator full that looks to be a successful hatch this time around... 6 so far... I am not complaining. I am tickled pink that I finally have a hen that can do what Nature intended for her to accomplish!

Here are a few with Momma hen in the background.


Her nest is located in the base of a tree trunk. I am so glad to see the little ones as just 2 night prior, we received a real soaker around midnight that lasted some time and flooded a few fields. It also resulted in me going out at night trying to get the might meats to higher ground. I was wading in inches of water...sadly 1 chicken did drown. It was then I decided that I was not attempting a third batch this year. Too many losses within this first batch already.

On a knitterly note, I am knitting a shawl, almost completed another.. and washing Misty's fleece. I have half done... you certainly do lose a lot after skirting and washing. It is an amazing color. Too bad I don't have a decent camera too capture it.

July? Where Is The Sun??

It's July. Looking at the color of the sky, I'd say November or February. As it stands, I don't like theses shades of grey with all the shades of green. I much prefer the greenery highlighted by sunlight...these moments are few and far between this Spring..oh yeah, it's Summer now!! Who knew?? Well, things must still be tended to, although challenging to clean eavestroughing and paint fences when rain is imminent or forecasted for the next 4 days...

It surely is a contrast to last summer and is it any different in the end result? So, not a farmer by trade, I have observed enough to come to the conclusion that one , like investments, must diversify in order to gain more profit in case crops don't yield or die off etc... So, in my corner of the world, if you are fortunate enough to hold a milk quota, you also do crops. The milk quota pays the bills, the crops keep everyone fed...it's more complicated than that but you get the idea. So, I feel badly for the folks who sell Farm CSAs. You buy a share and in return you get vegetables...So far. Strawberries are the only bumper crop I've heard of, besides mosquitos!!

So here's a pic of something not entirely green and not grey!

I still have some fleece for sale. I will be contacting the Mill to see how far down the waiting list I am....

A Vintage Weekend

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon at Upper Canada Village on behalf of the Ottawa Knitting Guild. Other tables were set up to display rug hooking, the Ottawa Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild, Bobbin Lace, needle felting, ..there was also a large walking wheel and a quilt display that was pieced by some folks in South Dundas.... Ironically, I knew people from every boothe except bobbin lace. But, I went over for a few minutes and they kindly showed me how it was done!!Bobbin Lace making is another craft that needs more folks in order not to disappear.

Rare Breeds Canada was also there and we know each other well. I find that if you have a critter that is considered rare, you often have another. So, today Tessa was loaded up and sent to Cumberland Village Museum. What a beautiful spot!! She is spending her time there with a Clydesdale mare named Misty.

Tessa decided to start pacing and showing off her floaty trot and suddenly came to a stop. Stock still, head raised and staring off in the distance. She was listening to the sound of an outdoor mass being held at the park . A few folk complimented me on her appearance and it was then that I decided that I should breed her to keep those genes and bloodlines going before she gets too old. I was also inspired by a Canadian at Upper Canada Village yesterday who was with her 10 day old foal. So, I had better save some pennies for that!!



Misty from Mountain Meadows Clydesdales





The mares listening to mass!



My New Web Logo!

A few weeks ago, a lady had come by to purchase some eggs. While here, she asked if she could take some photographs of the animals and farm, but specifically the chickens. Well of course I said. I understand how sources of inspiration can come about and anything to help an artist-I'm in.

We began chatting and I mentioned how I was a bit conflicted on a website logo for the farm. Well, she takes photos and then sketches them and also paints them. So, she said in exchange for the privilege of the photos, she would sketch something.

She returned this weekend, with some photos for me and a sketch. She has also painted and exhibited some featuring my chickens and Tessa.

So, what do you think? I briefly told her what I would like and here it is. I was very impressed. By the way, it's Liam's head on the left.

Her business name is Paintings To Order and her name is Carrie Keller 613-774-1906 she's in Winchester. www.paintingstoorder.com she said there is something funky happening with her website so maybe call or email  paintingstoorder@yahoo.com

I am very pleased. So now, no excuses to get started on the website!! But I need to go to the feed store!!!

To Fleece Or Not To Fleece...

The weather here has been less than acceptable. However accept it we must as we can't change  the weather. We can change our destination. My destination of late has been indoors due to all the rain. I have realized that I may suffer from SAD-seasonal affective disorder. I need light and lots of it. I can't thrive in an office without a window or work in a basement.(done both) So, with all the gllom and doom of the clouds, I seek out my studio with skylights. I also seem to be attracted to the heatlamps for the turkey brooders like a moth to a flame. The turkeys are in my studio. I have 14-fingers crossed that there are no more losses.
Everyone and everything seem to be moving at a sluggish pace...including my cleaning of fleece and knitting.

I currently have 1 fleece that's almost entirely skirted and needs a few washes. The color is quite unique: 3toned start from taupe brown to chocolate brown to blonde tips. Wonder how that will spin up?? I'm debating on what to do with the fleeces..Sell them? Have them processed? Sell the processed end product? Keep it all for myself?? tough choices....

As I write, the sun is toying to make an appearnace or make us plead to come out for just a little longer.I've also discovered that while sequestered due to weather, I need a camera to take much better photographs for the blog and I could use with a laptop- my very own, nobody, under pain of death touch it, device. All 3 boys, my husband and prodigal son's girlfriend are all trying to use some kind of digital devices and argue about who's next etc...Buy your own I say to them yet I know I will have to pull it out of thin air...kids...

I am currently knitting a blast from the past. It is the Sunburst Pullover by Norah Gaughan, featured in Interweave Knits Summer 2002!! I remember attempting it once before, but never finished. If it works out, and fits properly, it will only require just over 4 balls to complete!! A very frugal consumption of wool indeed. Should be done this weekend.*(*good intentions lead to.. which is why I don't like to give deadlines)

Tessa Will Be A Museum Piece!

It is now incredibly hot. It is mindboggling how one morning you need a sweater and the next, you feel as if the biggest oven in the world is preheating your buns. Today is one of those "hot, sticky" days where you don't even need to move and you break into a sweat. So, not much woollie things happening here. I've knit a few rows while watching the computer shows until someone needs to get on and play games....

Today, I was asked if I could lend my horse to the Cumberland Village Museum for a heritage display. Why not? This way folks can see the real thing and find out about the history behind the Canadian Horse. For those of you whom have never heard of them, here is some information and History about them. So, they are repairing some fencing and my darling will be off to be a horse in a different field so that people can gawk at her. Which leaves me with 2 horses. In fact I was thinking I should downsize as any income I earn is through the sale of fleece, eggs and poultry. Not enough to live on but keeps me fed for a while. I enjoy tending to the animals(ask me when all the water buckets are frozen) I've decided to not look for employment anymore as I was wasting a lot of time and being frustrated by my lack of success. Now, the warmer weather is here and really, life should be less expensive in the warmer months.

Totally off topic, here's a pic of Fingal, taken by my friend Tina who popped by on shearing day. 2 days later, she announced she had bought goats!

He is now on his way to becoming a wether...