Denim Deb Hay, hay, hay. Thank the Lord!

[Denim Deb]

Well, today was a miserable day as expected. I had hoped to be able to get Licky's door off and rehung, but it was just too wet out there. But, it is supposed to be warmer this week, so I'll get it done one day then. I had hoped to get some of the insulation done in my shed, but my saddle rack is in the way, and I need it out of there in order to be able to work. And, I just wasn't about to put it outside today. But, I did get some prep work done in there. So, one day next week, I'll be able to work on it!

I also got some of my greenhouse cleaned out. I have a ton of grass coming up-as well as raspberries. So, I was pulling everything up and giving it to the goats. I didn't see any evidence of the groundhog, but I do have to do some repair work to the "floor". I got maybe a 1/4 of it done. And, the stuff that I pulled out, I gave to the goats. They were happy. I should be able to get it done this week w/no problem! Then, I'll probably work on getting the rest of the garden cleaned up, then I can work on the rest of the yard. I feel better than I've felt in awhile, so I'm hoping to get a ton of stuff done-especially outside.

 

[Denim Deb]

Got to the farm after church to be met by Stormy wanting to be fed, so I gave him his 2nd feeding, and got started on other things. He got done eating, I let him loose, and decided I was going to try and jump the mower so I could take and dump the cart. I get the mower all hooked up to jump and CL shows up. She asks, is there some reason LF's horses are running loose? I look, and sure enough, there's her Belgian and 2 minis in the neighbor's hay field! I call her up to see if they're out for a reason, and they weren't. She's been doing a lot of work down there, and didn't have a gate on properly. They managed to knock it down. So, that meant we had to round them up. And, they didn't WANT to be rounded up! They were enjoying being in that field. The Belgian finally decided to go back where he belonged on his own, the minis wanted nothing to do w/it. So, i went and got some grain, got the one in w/no problem, but the other one was waaaaaaay out in the field. So, I had to walk over to him w/the grain. Then, I could catch him. Not having a lead rope, I used my belt to put around his neck and then lead him to his field. We got the gate back up and secured it.

Get back up to my field, and try the mower. It started right up! So, I went in the back field, and dumped it. I had to get off to put the tail gate back on. And, in getting off, I managed to knock the key and shut the mower off. Then, it wouldn't start back up! So, I had to walk all the way back to my tack shed, get my jump box, and walk all the way back to the mower. Jumped it, and it started, so I didn't have to walk back. Drove the mower back up, and cleaned the stalls, fed Cindy, rounded up the chickens and left. Tomorrow, I hope to get the field cleaned again, then see what else I can get done.

 

[Denim Deb]

It's getting warmer out! So, I've slightly changed my plans. Instead of concentrating so much on fire wood, most days I'm now only working on it for an hour, max. However, when I'm done w/the pile I have now, I'll go in the woods and see if I can't get a couple of truckloads in one day.

Got to the farm a little late this morning. I had to get feed, but in order to do that, I had to transfer money to my account. I was STILL waiting for the money the insurance company owed me. :/ (The check FINALLY came this afternoon-almost a month after they messed up, but they REFUSED to cover the bounced check fee we had due to their error. ) And, I had a call from RU, so between the 2, my schedule got thrown off a bit. It's been so cold out, that I just haven't wanted to do much out there, so I had a TON of manure to clean up. I got the cart all filled up, jumped the mower, dumped the cart, then started to fill it up again. But, I didn't finish.

On the way home, I had to stop. I had an extra roll of fence I needed to get rid of, so I listed it on CL for less than you can buy it for. And, I had someone buy it! So, that gave me a bit of extra money in my pocket.

Got home, and did wood for an hour, then I had to leave. I'm not posting any pics yet, but I now have a new project! I'm going to possibly need hubby's help though, to get it home. Once I do, I'll tell y'all more about it.

Got home, and only had about an hour B4 it got dark out. So, I went back to work on the fence line. And, while I still have a ways to go, I can actually tell that I've gotten stuff done! Worked on that for about 1/2 an hour, then went and worked in the greenhouse. It's now about 1/2 cleaned out!

By the end of the week, I'll have the greenhouse ready for starting seeds. We have an old, kerosene heater that we need to check out and make sure it still works. So, hopefully, I'll soon have veggies planted! And, once that's done, I'll be working in the garden!

By the end of March at the latest, I should have the area of the yard I'm working on cleaned up! Once that's all done, I'll start working on the rest of the yard.

Right now, I'm feeling better than I've felt in a looooong time. As long as I continue to feel like this, I should get a lot done!

 

[Denim Deb]

By the end of the week, my greenhouse will be ready for starting seeds! I have the majority of it cleaned up, but I think I'm going to have to take most everything out so I can fix the "floor". As far as I can tell, the groundhog is no longer using it. The hole has fallen in, but the dirt from it digging is in piles. So, I'll have to take stuff out so I can do that. Then, all I need is to be sure the kerosene heater is still working, and I'm in business! I've found if I start plants now, I don't need any light-all I need is for it to stay warm enough at night.

I also got more of the fence line cleared. I'm waiting for a dry, calm day. I have a ton of dead stuff from over there. I want to rake it into the garden, and set it on fire. I'm hoping that by the end of the week, or next week at the latest, I'll just need hubby's help to sort thru all the junk that's over there. I get all this done, get the green house done, and I can start on the garden! I get the garden all cleaned up, and I'll be able to get early stuff in by the middle of March. Then, I can start on cleaning the yard.

In other news, I got 6 eggs yesterday! I've NEVER gotten 6 B4. So, that means out of 8 hens, at least 6 are laying. Other than knowing I didn't get one from Roxi, I'm not sure who else isn't laying. It might be my other older hen.

 

[moolie]

Sounds like things are moving ahead in positive directions, and I'm so glad your groundhog has finally moved out--we've been talking about him for years!

And, go chickens!

 

[Denim Deb]

So am I! I got more of the greenhouse done today. I not only filled in the depression that's left on the inside, but I also took some buckets of dirt out and dumped it behind the greenhouse where he had dug to get in. And, it's a tight fit to get to it! I had a bunch of raspberries come up on one side (don't know where they came from and haven't had a chance to do anything w/them), so I can't go on that side. On the other side, I have just a few inches between the greenhouse and the fence. I JUST barely managed to fit thru there w/the dirt.

I also worked some more on the fence line, and can see a BIG difference. Only problem is, the birds liked everything that was on there. I had a whole flock of juncos come flying up. And, they almost ran into me! I think they're upset w/me since I'm getting rid of their shelter.

I didn't get much done around the yard today. I went out to dinner w/a couple of girl friends. The one, I've known almost all my life (she's a few months younger than I, so I can't say I've known her all my life.), the other, since I was around 19 or so. It was nice. We went to a diner, and I much prefer that to any other place we've tried. Not only was I full, but I also have lunch for tomorrow.

Oh, and today I got 7 eggs! I can tell the difference between my older girls and my younger girls. Both of my older girls lay bigger eggs than the younger 6. The only hen that didn't lay an egg today was the one that lays the huge eggs! In a week, I plan on putting about a dozen eggs in the incubator, and seeing if I can get any chicks.

 

[Denim Deb]

OK, it wasn't easy, but I behaved myself. Today was another wet, miserable day. I went to my Bible study this morning after feeding, then came back to the farm, gave Stormy his 2nd feeding, took care of the chickens and Cindy and left. Everything is a muddy soupy mess out at the farm, and I had no desire to try and do anything outside, and I don't really have anything left to do inside. :/ Plus I had some errands to do.

My MIL got a "new" car and gave us her old one. And, while it's older than any other vehicle we have, it has way less miles on it, and gets better gas mileage. Hubby's having problems w/his Durango, so he's going to run it. I had to run to DMV today and get tags for it. We'll save more a month on gas than we'll have to put out for insurance, plus it means if someone breaks down, I'm not left w/just the bike.

I also had to go in Wal-Mart, got some seeds while I was in there, then to TSC. The other tire on my mower popped, I have a cart load of poop, and can't dump it. I walk in the door, and I start hearing, peep, peep, peep. I followed the peeping and there were chicks and ducklings-including bantams. I was soooo tempted to buy some, but I didn't. I'm not ready yet for chicks, and resisted all the peeping. I got my tire, more seeds and left.

I went to the store, got a few things I needed-including ice cream -and left. Other than changing the sheets on the bed and getting a fire going, I've done nothing else. I'm tired. I was going to finish the greenhouse, but just didn't feel like it. I'm hoping tomorrow will be dryer. We've had rain almost every day, and I'm needing to get more wood done. :/

Oh, and I did find my favorite type of pumpkin seeds when I was in TSC! I don't know if they're a hybrid or not. They're called Triple Treat. They're not overly big-8 lbs or so-but you can use them for jack-o-lanterns, pies and the seeds are easy to eat! So, I'll have some GOOD pumpkins this year!

 

[Wannabefree]

I think ice cream is a fair trade for not buying chicks...I'll have to remember that excuse...ahem...I mean reason

 

[Denim Deb]

Sounds reasonable to me! I do plan on getting some chicks, but not yet. I want to get my incubator going next weekend. TSC will have chicks thru the end of March, so I want to get them when I (hopefully) have ones that I've hatched out.

 

[Wannabefree]

Sounds like a good plan Hope it works out!