sad news

Lost another chicken today poor little lady.  I don't know if it was the cold or what.  Earlier in the season when the winter weather was still mild we lost another one in the same manner.  That's to say that we have no idea what happened to them.  Neither appeared to be injured or sick.  I have followed every source I can find about wintering the flock.   Hoping not to loose any more.

Happy New Year

2011 is over!  Was your year good, bad or the same so-so mix?  Are you dreaming big for 2012 or just wishing for improvement on 2011?  Did you celebrate with a bang or a quiet night in?  For me we celebrated by joining some friends at their house for some Chinese take out and board games,  we played a new (for me anyway) game called "Farckle" (a dice game).  The hubs, Dj and I left early though as I had to get up for work this morning had to be to the hospital by 7am which means I had to leave the house at 6am, needless to say I was in bed by 11pm and did not watch the ball drop in Times Square NYC.  Dj stayed up to see the ball drop on TV.  2011 had a few sad moments but many more glad moments so I am hoping that trend contiunes on through 2012.  Big plans are underway for us hopefully a fix up of the barn, a remodel of the bathroom and perhaps a vacation.  I am starting (this very day) a 365 photo project in the hopes that it will boost my photography business and of course some serious weight loss.  Please wish  me luck in both these ventures. 
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!!!!!!

Seeds and Chickens

We have recieved 2 new springtime pursuit catalogs this month, the Murray McMurray Poultry Catalog earlier this month and last night the Burpee Seed Catalgog!!!!! Looking through these has me so excited for spring, because really what could be better than baby animals and seeds growing in the garden.   In fact we have already placed our poultry order for pick up on March 21,  we did not use Murray McMurray this year instead we are using a hatchery that is here in Michigan and allows us to pick up the birds so we can have a smaller order.  What did you order you ask??? we ordered 15 Silverlaced Wyandotte's, 15 Goldenlaced Wyandotte's, 5 Buff orpington's and 5 Aracuna's (these ladies lay colored eggs like Easter eggs) in additon to the chickens we ordered 4 turkey's (2 for us and 2 to sell to a couple of people) plus and I am oh so excited about this part I ordered 2 geese.  Can't wait to have a few to browse the seed catalog and decide what is going in the garden this year, hubs has made me a few more raised beds and perhaps in the spring when we clean the livestock barn out we will be able to make a few more.  Last year's garden started with a bang but didn't end up working out very well in the end, mostly because of time constraints and Romeo the cat who ate all the begining plants.  I am hoping that this year I can make the garden grow enough to can some stuff that I grew myself instead of what I was able to buy at the Farmer's Market.  It would also be awesome if Thanksgiving Dinner 2012 could come enitrely from the backyard. 

Happy Christmas

 There was no snow, which the chickens appreciated.  We slept in a bit, tended the animals and then had fun opening presents and playing with our gifts (the hubs got me a first edition copy of "Gone with the Wind") before geting ready to go to my aunt's house for a big family Christmas dinner.  In addition to supplying the turkey, we brought deviled eggs and apples with a carmel dip.  It's a grand compliment indeed when the food you have brought is gone within the first hour of the party.  Lot's of complients on the taste of the turkey.
I hope that you all enjoyed your christmas celebration as much as I enjoyed mine.

Victorian Farm Christmas

Turkey's and Santa

I am pretty sure it won't be a white Christmas on the farm this year, the sun was out this morning melting away the light dusting of snow we recieved last night.  Oh well I am sure the chickens appreciate it, they do not like walking in the snow.  This morning I opened the coop door and nothing.. usually they all run out to peck the ground... then slowly a couple of the ladies started inching thier way down the ramp, concerned I opened the big door to find them all standing in a line waiting to get out.. guess those first girls really didn't like the snow.

The turkey's we bought and raised over the spring and summer grew up big and healthy!! One supplied us with a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and the other has been dropped off to my aunt's house and is being prepared for a Christmas Feast!!!  Many people have asked me how I can I eat something I raised from a baby, "wasn't I attached to it" "didn't it upset me" (these were the more tame comments I recieved) my answer is I live on a farm I respect the lives of the animals that I raise in the sunshine, tall grass and clover, give them treats of fresh pea's plucked right off the vine, and in return the animal supplies my family with fresh, delicious chemical and hormone free food, that not only do I know where it came from but what went into it, and the added benefit of knowing that the animal had a good life, with shelter, good food and lot's of time to run around and be happy!  We had several people who asked if they could get a turkey from us next year too, so all in all not a bad response.  We did decide to purchase 4 turkey's in the spring 2 for us and 2 to sell.  It should prove interesting, turkey's were lot's of fun to raise.  I learned a lot from those two birds.

It's Christmas Eve, at the farm we are all ready for Santa to come tonight!!  We've been watching his progress on the Norad Santa tracker.  I am currently at work, a little bummed as I won't be able to join my husband and son at the in-laws house for good food, laughs and grandkids.

Hello!

Well, Once again it has been a while since I shared any news or farm going ons.... for some reason I have had a serious case of writter's block as well as a lack of stories or funny inccidents to share.  One of my many descisions/resolutions ect..for the upcoming new year, is to be more vigilant in posting, either news, recipies, farm stuff or just stopping by to say hello. 

So... Hello

October is here and we are gearing up for our first Halloween party on the farm.  It's called the Spooky Barn party.  We hope to have one every year and grow it into a Haunted forest type of haunted attraction once our apple tree's are big enough.  The hubs and my son spent last Sunday building a coffin and lamp posts they are pretty spectacular in my opinion.   For the last couple weeks we have been getting ready for the party buying decorations and supplies and cleaning the house and the barn.  It's gonna be a blast!

Other than party preperation, it's pretty routine at the farm still getting eggs from at least one of the chickens and the turkey.  Pretty soon the turkey's will be off to the processor for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

Incredible Edible Eggs

so far between Turkey's and Chickens we have had a total of 17 eggs.  Just thought I'd share some photo's of the bounty.

September recap

October is here, my Favorite month crisp cool weather, color everywhere!!!  Hot tea, hot chocolate and cider, sweatpants and sweaters, all of my favorite things!!! Whooo-Hooo.

This past month, we sent in 4 of our 5 male chickens in to the processor.  They weren't that big yet, just over 3lbs each, but they were causing quite the ruckus in the chicken yard.  We roasted 2 of them for dinner that same night.  It was wonderful eating something we have raised ourselves.  It was a little weird at first mainly because I am not use to cooking a whole chicken, usually it's just parts.  But, it was very good, and we still have one male left to keep the ladies in line.  About a week after the four of them left one or more of our chickens started laying eggs just little pullet eggs but it was so exciting, my hubs found them first in the coop and since I was at work I made him send me a picture.  Then about a week after we started getting chicken eggs one of the turkeys started laying two.  Both chicken and turkey seem too average an egg every day and a half.  Our big saturday morning breakfast's now consist of our very own farm fresh egg's.  I get a big grin on my face whenever I think about this.

Life is currently fantastic, I live on a small little farm with my wonderful husband and son, with two dogs, a cat and a fish.  Outside we have turkey's, chickens, apple and pear tree's.  What could be better!