Tuesday Dose of Cute: A Refreshing Drink

Of cloudy water? Yep.

We've been buying 50 pound bags of food grade diatomaceous earth (which also comes in smaller quantities) for years, and yet we're still finding great new uses for it, like to keep algae from growing in the animals' water. What a time saver. We sprinkle it in everything from the little chicken waterers (just a teaspoon or two) to the 250 gallon tank (a few handfuls) that we use to haul water from the spring out to Donkeyland and the front field.

Diatomaceous earth isn't 'earth,' but the fossilized remains of the microscopic shells created by one celled plants called diatoms. It's a totally natural, very fine powder that looks like glass shards under a microscope but is safe for people, pets, and the environment.

We use it for all sorts of things around the farm, garden, and house, including feeding it to the animals—and lately, ourselves! I finally got around to writing about some of the many things you can do with diatomaceous earth in yesterday's In My Kitchen Garden post, Attack! Using Organic Diatomaceous Earth on Blister Beetles and Other Pests in the Garden and Around the House and Farm.

Even if you're not a gardener, you may want to check it out. I know that discovering diatomaceous earth has really changed and helped our lives. And it thankfully seems to be working on those blasted blister beetles!

Diatomaceous earth has recently become more well known because it's apparently a good way to naturally get rid of bed bugs. If you can't find 100% pure, food grade diatomaceous earth locally, you can order it online.

Do you use diatomaceous earth for anything?

© FarmgirlFare.com, where every little green thing really can make a big difference.

Friday Daily Dose of Cute:Water Babies - A Story in Pictures

Eager Anticipation - The Water Tank Has Arrived!

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where pool season has officially begun - and the poor, disgusted, decidedly non-swimming sheep are now being forced to drink contaminated dog water.

Thursday Farm Photo:High Level Dining Experience

Meet Lazy, Lazy, Lazy, & Lazy

A year of Farm Photos ago:
5/15/07: All You Can Eat Buffet

And two years ago the creek was running:
5/13/06: Morning Mist Rising Off The Wet Weather Creek
5/13/06: Weekend Cat Blogging - Cat Fishing?
5/14/06: Weekend Dog Blogging - Beagle In Paradise
5/15/06: Sheep Crossing

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where there's no reason to waste all that energy bending over to eat when you can just stand in the creekbed instead.

Saturday Farm Photo: Sheep Freedom Day!

No More Hay! Yay! Yay! Yay!

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the best part about Sheep Freedom Day is watching the wooly pile up that occurs when the first sheep out of the barn door come to a screeching halt the second they hit sweet spring grass - while giving no thought whatsoever to the dozens of sheep racing toward freedom behind them.

Monday Farm Photo: Scuffle In The Barnyard

Chick Fight



Chick Fight Referee

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where you're encouraged to make friends with everyone and talk out your differences - but some of us are more hard-headed than others.

Farm Photo 3/7/08: Waiting For Lunch

On Top Of Breakfast

A year of Farm Photos ago:
3/7/07: Baby Cary Turned 10 Months Old Yesterday!

Two years ago:
3/6/06: Freeze Frame
3/7/06: Harbinger

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where sheep can make you smile and nobody likes to be far from the food.

Farm Photo 3/4/08: Auntie Rose

Sometimes Known As Hayhead

This is an actual conversation that took place last November.

My mother: What's that one's name?

Me: Auntie Rose.

My mother: That's kind of a dumb name.

My head turns, my eyes widen in disbelief.

Me: You named her!

My mother: I did?

Me: Yes!

My mother: I don't remember.

Me: It was years ago. For some reason we'd started calling one of The Chippers Uncle Chip, and you said there should be an Auntie Rose to go with Uncle Chip and we needed to name this ewe Auntie Rose.

My mother: I did?

Me: Yes!

My mother: I don't remember that.

Me: I always wanted to change her name to something else, but I was afraid I'd hurt your feelings.

My mother: I really don't remember.

Me: So you mean to tell me that all these years she could have had a better name instead of being called Auntie Rose?

My mother: I don't remember any of this.

Maybe my mother should enter politics.

Want to see more?
Sheep Photos
Farm Life Tidbits
Haying Season Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the hay covered foodie farm blog where almost everybody gets a name eventually, but it might take a while—and it might not be a good one.

Farm Photo 2/16/08: Snowed In, Day Six

Just Chillin'

Nobody gets in, and nobody gets out. The half-mile-long, steeply curved part of the driveway is still covered with an impassable layer of snow and ice from Monday's crazy storm, and the rest of the farm hasn't defrosted much either. Yesterday I rescheduled the sheep shearer for the third time.

The sheep are restless, the donkeys are bored, and the chickens are threatening to fly south until spring. Topaz, who had become quite the little outdoorscat, ventured onto the front step this morning and hightailed it right back into The Shack. Robin The Mostly Retired Beagle Dog has been camped out by the woodstove all week and must be forced to go outside and pee.

But the temperature has warmed up slightly, the builders are hoping they'll be able to make it down the driveway on Monday, and we were only without electricity for a couple of hours. There's plenty of firewood, plenty of food, and that pesky little plumbing problem has successfully been fixed.

Thursday I sowed a patch of Swiss chard seeds in the greenhouse. This morning I watched a bright red cardinal bopping around in the snow. The scenery is beautiful, and the animals and farm chores keep us plenty busy. Winter is good.

Want to see more?
Snow Photos & Snowstorm Stuff
Farm Life Tidbits
Sheep Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where 240 acres of snow and ice is fun for a while, but it's starting to feel like we live in Minnesota.

Farm Photo 2/4/08: Saturday Was A Snow Day

And Doris Was Thrilled

Not.

Want to see more?
Sheep Photos
Snow Photos
Farm Landscape Photos

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the sheep always let you know what they're thinking and all the animals believe Farmgirl Susan is directly responsible for the weather.

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 12/25/07: Today's Holiday Performance Schedule

Who needs TV when you have Lucky Buddy Bear?

There will be breakdancing by the barn at 1:00 and 3:00, along with a special bedtime performance at 5:00 which will be followed immediately by molasses tuck-in treats for all.

Have a Merry & Amusing Christmas!

A year of Farm Photos ago:
12/24/06: There Are So Many Ways To Show Someone You Love Them
12/25/06: Wishing You Life's Simple Joys This Christmas

And two years ago:
12/24/05: It's Over 100 Years Old But Should Work Just Fine
12/24/05: Christmas Eve Greetings From The Farm
12/25/05: Merry Christmas To You

© FarmgirlFare.com

Farm Photo 12/22/07:Strange Things Happen On The Solstice

Did He Stretch That Fence With His Ears?

Happy first day of winter!

A year of Farm Photos ago:
12/17/06: J2 With A Good View
12/18/06: Autumn Sunflower 2
12/19/06: Cary Can Find A Snack Anywhere
12/20/06: Goodbye Autumn
12/21/06: A Beautiful First Day Of Winter

And two years ago:
12/17/05: She's Not Over There
12/18/05: Do You Think She's Been Stolen?
12/18/05: WCB: A Glint Of Trouble In The Doodle Monster's Eyes
12/19/05: Donkey Doodle Dandy Is Fluffing Up For Winter
12/20/05: Farewell To My Favorite Season In Missouri
12/21/05: Happy First Day Of Winter

© Copyright 2007 FarmgirlFare.com

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 12/5/07: Spy Sheep

Who Looks Like She's Still Half Asleep

Want to see more?
You'll find lots of lamb photos here, all sorts of sheep photos here, and pictures of black sheep (which I love so much and which fade to brown in the sun) here.

Welcome new visitors!
Click here for a brief introduction to this site.

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

Wednesday Farm Photo: Ram Lamb Transport

All in a Day's Work

A year of Farm Photos ago:
11/1/06: Frozen Breakfast On The Run
11/2/06: Autumn Sunflower
11/3/06: Autumn Color One Week To The Next
11/4/06: Grace & Beauty Are Everywhere (one of my favorite photos)
11/5/06: Self-Portrait In A Puddle
11/6/06: Little Cary Is Six Months Old Today!
11/7/06: Walk In The Woods
11/8/06: Donkey Doodle Dandy Is Quite The Dainty Eater
11/9/06: Big Sky
11/10/06: 240 Acres & He Wants To Be On Your Foot
11/11/06: It's The Little Things
11/12/06: Beyond This Door There Be Treats
11/13/06: Petite Rouge Heirloom Lettuce In The Garden
11/14/06: Did You Say Snow? (I'm so glad we don't have snow predicted yet this year!)

And two years ago out of the kitchen came:
Simple Summer Harvest Soup (The Autumn Version)
Mexican Monkey Cake (made it last week for my mom & she loved it)
Beyond Easy Beer Bread Recipe (my most popular recipe)

© 2007 FarmgirlFare.com the heavy lifting foodie farm blog where sometimes it's just easier to pick them up and carry them where you want them to go.

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 10/28/07: Oh, October!

You've Gone And Done It Again

October is my favorite month on the farm. It always feels like we're being rewarded for surviving another Missouri summer. Things weren't quite so colorful in my kitchen garden this morning, though. They were more like frosty white.

Want to see more?
You'll find plenty of autumn color here, and there are all sorts of farm landscape photos here. If you'd like to see how much our scenery changes from season to season (and sometimes even from day to day) check out the Same Scene, New View photos 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 10/16/07: A Beautiful Autumn Scene

That's Our Dan!

There's nothing like an October morning on the farm. Changing leaves, grazing sheep. . .and a little donkey blissfully rolling around in the dirt.

Want to see more?
You'll find lots of other Donkey Doodle Dandy photos here. And the story of how Dan came trotting into my life is here. There are more farm landscape photos (with and without a donkey in them) here.

A year of Farm Photos ago:
10/13/06:A Lucky Little Something For Friday The 13th (And she's doing just fine, by the way--all grown up and as sweet as can be.)
10/14/06: Freshly Picked Fall Color & A Green Tomato Relish Reminder (My recipe is more like a salsa, oh-so-easy-to make, and the perfect way to use up all those green tomatoes in the garden.)
10/15/06: Lucky Buddy Bear On Garden Guard Duty

Two years ago:
10/12/05: I'm Addicted To Our Walks Through The Woods
And just like this year (and last), I'd Fallen Behind
10/13/05: Autumn From A Different Angle
10/14/05: Dan & His New Charges
10/15/05: Dan's Opinion Of His New Charges
10/15/05: WCB#19 New Cat On The Car Roof
10/16/05: It's A Hard Rock Life For Us
10/16/05: WDB#5 Evening Roundup
There was also The Tail Of Uncle Dan

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

Farm Photo 10/11/07: Living By The Light

Tana Enjoys The Breakfast Buffet

My life in the city was ruled by the clock. Now it's ruled by the sun. Animals don't wear watches, and they don't stick to fixed timetables. The system they live by is simple: when it's light you wake up, when it's dark you go to sleep. In between you eat as much as you possibly can. Their lifestyle, in turn, determines ours, because it would probably be easier to knock the earth off its axis than convince a flock of sheep in July that it's time to go to bed at six o'clock. I spend my days acutely aware of sunrises and sunsets.

The other thing I now pay attention to is where the sun is actually shining during the different seasons. Sometimes this is for practical reasons; it's handy, for instance, to know when the laundry line is going to be in the sun or when the greenhouse will be in the shade.

Other times I'm reminded of the constantly changing angles of the sun when I come upon a scene like the one in the photo above. There are only a few misty mornings each fall when the light hits this tree in such a way that the big branch on the right appears to extend down to the ground. I captured it last year, then forgot all about it until the other day when it started happening again.

I love these comforting little reminders of how some things really do stay exactly the same from one year to the next.

Want to see more?
You'll find all kinds of farm landscape photos here and lots of other sheep photos here. (Additional photos will be added to these and other "search label" photo collections as I catch up adding Blogger labels to previous posts.)

A year of farm photos ago:
9/29/06: Perfect Landing
9/30/06: Seeing Double (Tana & Her Daughter BB)
10/1/06: Bodyguard or Nanny Bear?
10/3/06: Follow The Yellow Dirt Road
10/11/06: Glowing Glimpse Of Autumn

Two years ago:
10/3/05: Winter Food For Sheep Or Giant Dog Fort? (Sadly the barn only has about half this much hay in it this year.)
10/3/05: WDB#3 Robin Sitting Pretty
10/6/05: There Is Absolutely, Positively No Place Like Home
10/7/05: Settling In
10/9/05: Weekend, Work, Wood, Warmth (Here's another thing that doesn't change from year to year--we were just out cutting firewood this morning.)
10/9/05: Weekend Dog Blogging #4
10/10/05: Haybarn & A Hint Of Color
10/11/05: Into The Mist

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

Farm Photo 10/5/07: Staredown

She's A Tough Fluff

Welcome new visitors!
Click here for a brief introduction to this site.

Want to see more?
Scenes & Stories From Lambing Season 2006
Scenes & Stories From Lambing Season 2007
Miscellaneous sheep & lamb photos

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