Monday Farm Photo: Rise & Shine

It's A Beautiful Day!

Want to see more of the same?
7/31/05: Homemade Swing
9/13/05: You Can't Fence Out a Sunrise
9/23/05: Swing Shot
10/26/05: Why We Cut Firewood
11/12/05: Same Scene, New View
12/8/05: Same Scene, New Snowy View
11/23/06: Thankful To Call This Place Home
9/18/07: A Peaceful Slice of Life
7/26/08: Morning Commute
8/17/08: Quiet for Breakfast

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the crazy heat wave that gave us days in the 70s last week has frozen, and it finally feels like November! The wood heat seeps into our bones while a big pot of homemade chicken stock simmers its way to flavorful goodness on the stove, sending thoughts of steaming bowls of creamy artichoke soup wafting through the house. Oh yes, November.

Monday Farm Photo: Just Doing Her Job

Warning: This Area Protected by Marta Guard

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we find non-stop, all night, coyote-scaring barking to be sweeter than the sweetest lullaby that sends us off into a deep and peaceful sleep each time we hear it—but it's probably a good thing that our nearest neighbors are several miles away.

Wednesday Farm Photo:Somewhere Under the Rainbow

Just When I Thought My Favorite View Couldn't Get Anymore Colorful

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where there probably wasn't a pot of gold under the rainbow that popped out for just a few minutes after an unexpected little rain shower the other day, but we didn't care because our emotional bank account was overflowing with beautiful, peaceful (and pleasantly cool!) scenery.

Sunday Farm Photo: Little Beagle, Large Backyard

Robin in the Hayfield

Want to see more pup pics?
Robin
Lucky Buddy Bear (Stockdog Extraordinaire)
Fluffy White Livestock Guardian Puppies

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where, at nearly 12 years old, Robin's daily inspection routes around the farm are a lot shorter than they used to be (and her time spent in the house impossibly curled up in a cozy cat bed is a lot longer than it used to be), but our little beagle baby still gets around—when she's not busy keeping those crazy donkeys a safe distance from The Shack and her yard, that is. (Robin hates donkeys. Hates them even more than cows, and she hates cows a lot.)

Wednesday Farm Photos:The Higher and Higher Cost of Farming

The truck wasn't armored, but it probably should have been.

It's always nice when you realize that your bank account is at the point where you can splurge on something big. For many people that means a relaxing vacation or a faraway trip—maybe even one with three or four stars. Others purchase a gorgeous new wardrobe, indulge in a designer shoe addiction, or head to the jewelry store for a sparkly little bauble. Some might decide to finally buy that fishing boat or four wheeler or even a brand new car. Us? We fertilize the fields.

Just like vacationing, ideally you want to fertilize every year, but in both cases that often isn't feasible. And when we were given the price quote for fertilizing this summer (our fertilizer guy literally asked if we were sitting down before he told us) we realized—as have many other struggling small farmers this year—that this may very well be our last opportunity to fertilize for a very long time.


Heading out to spread the wealth.

Last month we paid a whopping $4,300 to organically fertilize 44 acres of grazing pastures and hayfield. Two years ago it cost about half that much—just like feed and fencing supplies did. And of course we're all dealing with the doubled price of gas.

But we know we're lucky compared to the farmers who use toxic chemical fertilizers. What they could buy two years ago for $200 now costs $1,200—if they can even get it. A lot of fertilizers are simply no longer available at any price. The main reason for the shortages and skyrocketing costs? The corn-based ethanol fuel craze—which is definitely not the answer.


Fertilizing the Front Field

The one upside to all of this is that farmers who have never thought about natural alternatives are now being financially forced to try them—and they're discovering that they work. Of course that's another reason our fertilizer costs have gone up, but it's one I'm a lot more willing to pay for.

Want a bigger small farm experience?
(some categories may overlap)
Farm Stories
Farm Life Tidbits
Farm Landscape Photos
Haying Season Photos
Lambing Season 2008 Part One
Lambing Season 2008 Part Two
Back to the Beginning: My Early Farm Adventures

© FarmgirlFare.com, the fertile foodie farm blog where fertilizing season is the only time we're glad that much of our 240 acres consists of hilly forest rather than open fields—and some welcome late summer rain has really helped that high dollar fertilizer we put down soak into the ground, which makes a big difference.

Sunday Farm Photo: Last Day of Summer

And A Hint of Fall Color to Come

A year of Farm Photos ago:
9/18/07: A Peaceful Slice of Life
9/23/07: Hello, Autumn!

Two years ago:
9/20/06: Heart Rocks, Morning Sun
9/21/06: Clip Clop Swish, Clip Clop Swish
9/22/06: Morning Calm Before the Storm Rumbling Overhead
9/23/06: Last Night of Summer Spectacular Show
9/23/06: Autumn Is Here

Three years ago:
9/20/05: Green, Green, Green—But Not for Much Longer
9/21/05: Donkey Doodle Dandy Loves to Hang Out in Corners
9/22/05: Happy First Day of Fall

And out of the kitchen came:
What To Do with Green Tomatoes? Make Salsa-Like Relish!
Kissing Summer Goodbye with the Easiest Greek Salad Ever

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where, now that it's no longer sweltering outside, my trusty stock dog Lucky Buddy Bear and I are trying to get back into our routine of daily walks on the ridge above the farm. For years we went four miles a day nearly every single day, but for various reasons we slacked off. Way off. We're starting up again with just two miles, though it is the steepest two miles, and this photo was taken on our way back. Speed is not a factor, especially considering that this afternoon (which was beautiful) we must have stopped at least six different times to admire and take pictures of wild mushrooms. Unfortunately they weren't chanterelles. Who knew there were mushrooms that are blue?

Sunday Farm Photo: Quiet for Breakfast

There's That Tranquil Morning Mist

Want to see more misty mornings?
7/6/05: Misty Morning Sunrise
8/3/05: Breakfast Under The Mist
8/10/05: View Through The Dew
8/26/05: These Misty Summer Mornings Feel So Peaceful
9/25/05: I Can't Resist These Pink Sunrises
10/11/05: Sheep Into The Mist
11/22/05: From Out Of The Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/26/05: October & November Same Scene, New View
2/19/06: Five Seasonal Views of the Haybarn
3/12/06: Misty Morning Rose Lamb
5/13/06: Morning Mist Rising off the Wet Weather Creek
5/25/06: Donkey In The Mist
5/29/06: Sun Hits Morning Mist
8/16/06: Misty Morning Peace - Stop & Breathe It In
11/23/06: Thankful To Call This Place Home
1/1/07: Two Trees Dancing Under The Morning Mist
12/13/07: Slow Traffic Ahead
12/14/07: Good Next Door Neighbors
4/8/08: A Fresh New Day

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winng blog where we always enjoy the morning mist (especially in summer since the moisture saves the fields when the rainstorms continually go around us), but the photos are deceiving — everything looks so crisp and cool, but actually it's hot and muggy. It is, however, as quiet as it looks. Unless Cary is complaining about something. Or the rooster is crowing ('cause they don't just do it at dawn). Or Bear and Robin are barking. Or one of the hens is laying an egg. Or, god forbid, Donkey Doodle Dandy is upset. Okay, so maybe it's not so quiet around here after all. But at least this is the kind of noise we don't mind hearing!

Sunday Farm Photo: Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Keep Those Hay Bales Comin'

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the most important thing we learned during haying season this year is that you always need to double check the shear bolts (and anything else) the kid at the local hardware store picks out for you, because returning the ones that are the wrong size makes for an hour of driving, a lot of frustration, and some very expensive bolts considering the price of gas these days. But thanks to my hunky farmguy's masterful skills with duct tape, at least baling operations didn't have to shut down during the mad dash back to town.

Saturday Farm Photo: Grass Fed Donkeys

Daphne & Dan by the Front Field Last September

Want to see more?
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy Photos
More Donkey Photos
Farm Landscape Photos
Same Scene, New View Photos

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we're wondering if it really is possible to sweat to death in June, but are comforted by the thought that if we survive after summer it'll be fall — and Daphne just keeps getting more pregnant.

Tuesday Farm Photo: A Fresh New Day

Our Morning Mist Is Back

Want to see more hazy photos?
8/3/05: Breakfast Under The Mist
8/10/05: View Through The Dew
8/26/05: These Misty Summer Mornings Feel So Peaceful
9/25/05: I Can't Resist These Pink Sunrises
10/11/05: Sheep Into The Mist
11/22/05: From Out Of The Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/26/05: October & November Same Scene, New View
3/12/06: Misty Morning Rose Lamb
5/25/06: Donkey In The Mist
8/16/06: Misty Morning Peace - Stop & Breathe It In
11/23/06: Thankful To Call This Place Home
1/1/07: Two Trees Dancing Under The Morning Mist
12/13/07: Slow Traffic Ahead
12/14/07: Good Next Door Neighbors

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where spring green-up has definitely begun - but the grass on the other side of the barnyard fence isn't growing nearly fast enough for our several dozen 'we're so sick of being on The All Hay Diet' sheep. (But keep those nightly grain treats coming!)

Farm Photo 3/19/08: Flood Watch

No Crossing Zone

Many of you know about our wet weather creek that starts meandering through the farm after a heavy rain or big snow melt. Well yesterday that pleasant little stream quickly became a raging, unpassable torrent. The rain, which continued throughout the night, has finally let up (and now there's light snow predicted), but the creek won't crest and begin to recede for several more hours. The fields are flooding, and the barnyard is pretty much under water.

After driving a truck full of hay over to the barn while we could still get across yesterday, we worked in the pouring rain doing what we could to divert some of the several mini rivers that were rushing down the hillside and into the barnyard. Joe managed to dig out a drainage runoff trench that was already overflowing, and in lieu of sandbags we packed handfuls of wet leaves around a large tree limb in one spot, but the water simply went around it.

At one time there were 40 homes down here in our little valley, and over the years all of them flooded except for The Shack. The new building we plan to move into is located just across the farmyard on one of the only other spots that hasn't been under water at some point in the last 70 years.

So we're safe and dry, but we haven't been able to get over to the barn - which is full of two dozen extremely pregnant sheep - since 4:00 yesterday afternoon. The donkey peddling cowboy will be here soon to check on the girls and feed everyone hay. Cell phones don't work down here, so we'll have to shout to each other across and over the sound of the rushing water. Until then there's nothing to do but wait, wonder, watch, and worry.

Want to see what the creek normally looks like?
3/18/06: Meandering By The House Exactly Two Years Ago
3/26/06: The Bigger The Water Dish, The Happier The Dog
5/15/06: Sheep Crossing
1/15/07: Running Water, Rubber Boots, & Mud (This is looking across the water toward where I was standing when I took today's photo; that's the same little clump of cedar trees, and those bare trees on the rocky beach are the ones now midstream.)
1/19/07: Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life Is But A Stream
2/25/08: A Rare Winter Sight - And Geese!

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where some days it's more obvious than others that Mother Nature is the one in control around here - and the donkeys are safe but soggy.

Farm Photo 3/5/08: Seasonal Eating

Hay - It's What's For Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Want to see more?
Snow Photos & Snowstorm Stuff
Haying Season Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

A year of Farm Photos ago:
2/24/07: Curious & Oblivious (aka Patchy Cat & Robin)
2/26/07: Finding More Foodies (Are you a foodie? Add to the fun list - leave a comment and tell us how you know!)
3/4/07: Daffodils Already? (This year they're popping up through the snow.)
3/5/07: Zelda & Her Twins, Age Two Hours (The first 2008 lambs should be arriving any day now.)

Two years ago:
2/24/06: Falling To Pieces
2/25/06: Anyone Recognize Those Ears?
2/26/06: Start Small, Think Big
2/27/06: First Day Outside For Martha's Baby Boy
2/28/06: Martha & Her Twins
WCB #38: Purrfectly Content
WCB #39: Patchy Cat Keeps An Eye On Everything
WDB #23: Donkey Doodle Dandy Adores Lucky Buddy Bear
3/1/06: I'll Spring To Life If There's Trouble
3/2/06: A Brief Distraction From All The Cuteness
3/3/06: Skinny Chip Checks Out One Of The Little Attention Grabbers
3/4/06: Next?
3/5/06: Lounging Lambies

And Out Of The Kitchen & Garden Came:
Lowly Turnips Are Tip Top

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we don't serve up a whole lot of hot meals this time of year, but at least we knock the icicles off for you.

Farm Photo 2/24/08: Snowed In More

The 'No Accumulation' Just Keeps Piling Up

So the agreed upon plan was that yesterday the snow and ice would start melting off, today it would finish melting off, and by Monday morning vehicles would once again be able to get up and down our driveway. But when I sleepily padded by a window this morning I found myself blinking confusedly. Everything is a whole lot whiter out there than it was when I went to bed.

Phone call to the builder. Phone call to the drywall finisher. Phone call to the sheep shearer. Phone call to the general store in town where they've been holding a package for us since Wednesday.

Now I love Weather Underground as much as the next girl (actually probably more than the next girl), but once in a while you have to step away from the computer, take a look outside, and accept the fact that no matter what everybody in cyberspace is telling you, it most definitely is snowing. And accumulating.

Want to see more?
Snow Photos & Snowstorm Stuff
Other Photos Of My Favorite View
Same Scene, New View Photos
Hayfield Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where it doesn't take a meteorologist to predict that someday this really will all melt off and we'll be able to get in and out. In the meantime, it sure is pretty. Kind of a pain in the butt, but pretty.

Farm Photo 2/10/08:Blue Skies, Nothing But Blue Skies (For Now)

Yesterday's Sky Looked Fake

Which was especially nice to see since tomorrow the forecast says rain, freezing rain, sleet, ice, thunderstorms, and ice pellets. How can that much weather be squeezed into one little day? Today it was sunny but windy and cold, and we spent much of it enjoying the brisk, fresh air while cutting a big load of firewood to keep us warm.

Some of you will recognize this photo of part of the hayfield as my favorite view on the farm. It also happens to be some of the view I'll see when I'm standing at the big stainless steel triple sink in the little artisan bread bakery we're slowly building (the sheetrock finishers will be here in a week!) - or looking out the window from the bedroom in the new living quarters above the bakery. I can't wait.

You know I love hearing about the weather in other places. What's it like in your neck of the woods?

Want to see more?
Other Photos Of My Favorite View
Same Scene, New View Photos
Hayfield Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where a day spent cutting firewood brings aching muscles but toasty toes, and we never need to Photoshop the sky.

Farm Photo 1/31/08: Breakfast Blend

Winter Colored Sheep

But this is all about to be wiped out by white. It just started to snow, and they're predicting 7 or 8 inches of accumulation by tomorrow. Unfortunately we have a lot of driving to do today. Yikes.

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where former California girls still get a little freaked out during snowstorms.

Farm Photo 1/27/08: Fence As Farm Art

Form And Function (And Unfortunately Falling Down!)

Want to see more?
Handmade Fence Photos
Farm Landscape Photos
Found Art & Farm Junk Photos

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we find beauty in the everyday and prefer to use terms like seasoned and weathered rather than broken down and falling apart.

Farm Photo 12/14/07: Good Next Door Neighbors

They Aren't Nosy & Are Obviously Into Food

Have you voted for your favorite food blogs yet?
Voting for the 2007 Food Blog Awards ends tonight at 11:59pm EST. There are 14 categories to vote in, and Farmgirl Fare is up for Best Food Blog - Rural!

Farm Photo 12/6/07: Cary Baby

Finally, A Cary Update


That's My Girl

Don't know who Cary is? Click here to read her story.

"Are you ever going to breed Cary?" Joe asked me a few months ago.

"Of course!"

"Your baby?"

"Of course! I just didn't want her getting pregnant last fall when she was still so young and small. Besides," I said, "How else will I get a Cary baby?"

Cary, who turns 19 months old today, is doing just great. And as you can see, she still looks much the same as she always has.


Scratching An Itch

She did lose that tuft of baby wool on her head during the summer. You can see the last little bit of it in this photo from July 16th (which is one of my favorites).

What you can't see is that there is a lot more of Cary than there used to be. She's got that narrow, unwooly head, and then everything just widens out. If you look down at her from above, she's shaped like a large fluffy teardrop. When she runs, her ears and belly bounce separately from the rest of her body. It's very cute.

She hasn't quite realized that she isn't as small as she used to be, though. Cary had pretty much melded into the flock this summer, not really paying attention to me or drawing attention to herself. But then one day she saw me carrying a bucket of feed down to the barn and all of her memories of being The Privileged Animal apparently came rushing back. And how do sheep get to what they want? They PUSH. As she shoved her way through the barely open barn gate and then tried to squeeze her way (along with me) through the partially open Treat Room door, my only thought was, "Geez, that girl's gotten big!"

Once inside, she turned around and around in circles, knocking things over and frantically looking for food while I tried to push her out the door, laughing hysterically because the whole scene was so hilarious. I still let her into the barn with me sometimes while I'm filling up buckets of treats, but I had Joe install a little latch on the Treat Room door. I now lock myself in there while Cary and The Nanny Bear wait outside.

Cary knows she doesn't have to suck up to me, either. Once in a while she'll allow her face to be scratched, but if I try for a hug when there's obviously no chance of a treat along with it, she takes off. Meanwhile I'll have six or seven other sheep surrounding me, all clamoring for pets and hugs.

Then out of the blue she'll surprise me. She still likes to be the first one through the barnyard gate each morning, but one day, instead of heading right off down the driveway, she stood next to me as the rest of the flock filed past us. I scratched her head and talked to her for a little while, and then we walked out together to join the group.


Hanging Back With Mom

The sheep keep to a fairly regular grazing route each day, and at this time of year they're usually at the far end of the hayfield by mid-morning. One day back in late October I was standing at the edge of the hayfield fence taking photos when they started filing by. I heard Cary's still recognizable (though much deeper) bleat and looked over to see her running toward me at top speed just like she used to. I was so surprised. She stopped just on the other side of the fence and proceeded to quietly munch grass while the rest of the flock kept heading out into the field. After a minute or two she looked up, saw that everyone was several hundred feet away, and ran off toward them.

Cary may not show it very often, but we both know she's still my little girl.

Because of losing several baby lambs to a still unknown predator during lambing season 2006, last spring, much to their dismay, all of the sheep were locked in the barn each night for several months because it was the only way we could guarantee the babies would be safe. When the big boys, who had been kept in a separate pen during lambing, were put back with the flock, I let them sleep outside in the adjacent barnyard if they wanted to. While Bear and I herded everyone else into the barn in the evenings, at least six or seven of the boys would start settling themselves under a large oak tree.

After a few nights of watching this, Cary decided to join them. She'd sit right down with the boys and give me a defiant stare. Make me. Since she wasn't a mother, there really was no reason for her to spend nights locked in the barn, and so I gave up the fight and let her sleep out under the stars with the boys.

Next year things will be different, though. Studly Do-Right Jefferson (who is about twice the size he was last year) went to work at his one and only job on October 13th, and less than 24 hours later he'd. . . nailed my baby. So if all goes well, around March 13th we'll have a Cary baby. I do hope it's a girl.

Want so see more? You'll find lots more Cary stories and photos here.

© Copyright 2007 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Farm Photo 11/6/07: Hayfield Grazing Rights

Wild Turkeys Up Front, Sheep Toward The Back

Wild turkeys are plentiful in these parts, and there are two females who have been living in the woods at the edge of our hayfield for years. Once when we were walking along the field's perimeter, Robin trotted out of a thicket with an enormous turkey egg proudly clasped between her little beagle jaws. (We put it back.) Each spring the mothers parade around in the grass with their babies lined up behind them. If we're lucky we catch a glimpse of flying lessons.

I think the babies usually venture off on their own once they've grown up, but a few weeks ago a flock of eight turkeys started spending hours each day in the hayfield, happily pecking around for bugs and whatever else wild turkeys like to eat.

They aren't bothered by the sheep in the least, and the other evening I watched as they completely ignored three deer who were leaping around playing right next to them. When Bear and I appear, though, they always run off to the safety of the woods. We did manage to sneak up on them the other day, and I was able to quickly zoom in to 16x with my trusty little camera and snap a few halfway decent photos before they noticed us.

Yesterday morning I was surprised to see them hanging out down by the spring. This time they fled by flight, flapping into the air in their ungraceful turkey way and landing just a few yards into the woods. Then they continued on foot, crashing up the hillside through the fallen leaves while gobbling excitedly to each other.

It kind of feels like turkeys are taking over the farm. I guess they know we usually have beef on Thanksgiving.

Want to see more?
There are more hayfield photos here.
Lots of farm landscape photos here.
Plenty of autumn color here.
And you'll find all sorts of sheep pictures here.

© 2007 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote acres.

Farm Photo 10/29/07: Frost Is On The Pumpkins

Hay Is In The Barn

Want to see more?
You'll find plenty of autumn color here, and there are all sorts of farm landscape photos here. If you feel like revisiting summer haying season, just click here.

A year of Farm Photos ago:
10/26/06: Did Someone Order More Fall Color?
10/27/06: Donkey Doodle Dandy Is Fluffing Up For Winter
10/28/06: Out Of The Blue
10/29/06: I Don't See Colors Like You Do

Two years ago:
10/26/05: Where We Cut Firewood
10/26/05: Why We Cut Firewood
10/27/05: Where Sheep Sleep, Take Two
10/28/05: Local Real Estate
10/29/05: Patchy Cat Is Out Of The Loop

© 2007 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-wining blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote acres.