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

[Denim Deb]

Between work and going to a hay auction, I didn't get much done today. I did check out my tree this morning. And, while the bark is scraped in a few places, it's not cut all the way around the tree. So, as long as it can survive the rough handling I gave it, it just may survive. I didn't have time to do anything w/it today. But, w/the cooler weather, I'm hoping it will be OK. It's supposed to rain tonight into tomorrow, so if I get a chance tomorrow, I'm hoping to plant it, as well as dig up and move my burning bush.

I'm not making a fire tonight. It's not supposed to be that cold. So, I chopped up enough wood to replace what I used last night and this morning, then covered the wood pile up w/a tarp.

I hadn't taken my trailer w/me to the hay auction. Last 2 weeks, the hay has been going for way too much money for me. So, I didn't bother w/it today. And of course since I didn't have my trailer, I was actually able to buy some hay! It was a bit more than I like to spend, but it was cheaper than what they were paying for a lot of it. (Plus I saw hay on Craig's list for $100/RB! IMO, that's nuts!) I took one bale home in the bed of the pickup, put that out for the horses, got my trailer, and went and got the other 2 bales I got. When I got there, there was some lady working on a documentary on harness racing. Her team was interviewing people, and wanting just one more person. So, I let them interview me. I had thought it was just going to be filling in a paper for a survey type of thing, but nope, it was w/a camera. My hair wasn't brushed, I had on a head band cuz the wind was blowing and I can't get the wind in my ears or it hurts, I was wearing a quilted flannel shirt, and may have even had hay in my hair! And, this just might be on TV! If it is, I'll be sure to let you know. Then, you'll have an idea of what I look like.

But, the most important and exciting thing happened at the farm. I fed my chickens. When it's nice out, I leave their food outside. Right now, it's in a dish because of my crooked beak. So, I had to move the dish (w/a chicken in it cuz she was trying to get her fill) and put it inside. I also have a little animal house in there since I've noticed that RU's hens all like to lay their eggs in them. I have not had a single egg from my girls since KN tried to get her chickens broody. I still check everyday, but had pretty much come to the conclusion that I was going to have to wait until spring to get eggs again. Well I looked in the house and what to my wondering eyes did appear but a green egg!!!!!!!!! I HAVE AN EGG!!!!!!!!!!!! (Can you tell I'm excited!?) Hopefully, I'll get at least enough each week for us. I don't want to buy eggs if I don't have to.

 

[savingdogs]

Did you read the thread on BYC about a lot of people having low egg production? Apparently the sun is at a weak point in a weather cycle, and we have less sun this year than normal. My egg production has been suddenly bad after being great for a long time so that thread interested me.

 

[tamlynn]

Yay for eggs! They are like little presents.

 

[Denim Deb]

Did you read the thread on BYC about a lot of people having low egg production? Apparently the sun is at a weak point in a weather cycle, and we have less sun this year than normal. My egg production has been suddenly bad after being great for a long time so that thread interested me.

Not on there, but it was also mentioned on here.

 

[AL]

My nutty hens have either picked up production or were hiding eggs previously - I went from 10 to 11 each day!

 

[BarredBuff]

Yay Eggs!

 

[Denim Deb]

Haven't had time to update this for a few days.

Wednesday was a wet, windy, miserable day. KN was supposed to feed the horses, but decided not to. It was pouring rain, and she doesn't have rain gear. I do, but it was in my tack shed. And, by the time she told me she wasn't feeding them, I didn't have time to do it b4 work. I did have to stop at the farm because I needed my much boots, and they were in my tack shed. I got to the farm, and found the tarp that I have over some RB had come loose, and was blowing in the wind. It was raining so heavily, that by the time I got from my truck to the tack shed, I was already soaked. So, I just changed my boots, and went out and tried to get the tarp down better. I didn't have a whole lot of time. The windows in my tack shed need to be replaced. And, my hubby was going to do it this year, he just never did. If it rains, and the wind comes at the right angle, it leaks around them. I've never been able to figure out where the water is coming it. I've caulked every place I can think of, and I STILL get water in. Last winter, I covered them w/plastic, but hadn't done it this year since he told me he was going to work on it right after Thanksgiving. Well, he didn't do it. I didn't know where the plastic was that I used last year, and couldn't find it. I had an empty feed bag in there, so I just put that up over the window for temp, got even wetter, then went to work.

Because of the rain and the wind, I had extra work to do. The wind blew the rain into the stalls, so some of them were soaked. (If I ever get my own barn, there will be an overhang to it, as well as something to keep the rain out.) Rather than get rid of all the rain soaked shavings, I just put them in front of the doors. That way, I hoped it would act as a sponge, and keep the stalls drier. And, it did work. It also stopped raining, and we were just getting showers off and on.

I got done work, and went back to the farm. It wasn't raining much. The tarp had come up again, and the feed bag hadn't been big enough to cover the whole window, so I was STILL getting water in there. I grabbed some baling twine, and went to tie down the tarp better. Well of course, as soon as I did that, it started to pour! And, the wind was blowing so hard that all the horses but the one at the bottom of the pecking order went and stood in the 2 front stalls. I had a horrible time getting the tarp tied down, but I did get it done. Then, I went back in my shed, and found the plastic. I cut 2 pieces, and in the pouring rain w/the wind blowing managed to somehow or another get them over the windows. Then I went in my tack shed and waited for the rain to let up a bit. I thought about putting on my rain gear, but I was already soaked, and figured I couldn't get much wetter. I did wish I had a pair of dry jeans w/me though. I would have like to have changed.

Once I saw the horses come out of the stalls, I went ahead and fed them. While they were eating, I threw out another bale of hay. Once they were done, I let them out, then did some more work. Stormy is the only horse that gets fed 2x, and I was trying to stay long enough to give him that second feeding. The temps were dropping, and I wanted to go home! But, I was able to fill in enough so that I could feed him. Once home, I took off my wet clothes, got a fire going, hung them in front of the fire, and crashed! I was beat. I had planned on doing some stuff around the house, but just wasn't up to it.

Yesterday was much colder than it's been all fall. My boss had me bring my chainsaw and generator. (My chainsaw is electric) She had had a tree come down that she wanted to use as a jump. So, I started to cut off some of the branches. There weren't a lot of branches left on this tree. It's been dying for some time. We got about halfway done the one side when she realized that the tree was hollow inside. I could have told her that. Now she's not sure what she's going to do w/it. But, the stuff that she knows for sure she didn't want, she told me I could have. So, when I was done working, I went back to the tree and cut up as much of the rest as I could and put it in the bed of my truck. It's still there. I was freezing.

I got to the farm. KN was actually there, and was trying to put up a window in the hen house. I left her be. I heated up some soup and had lunch. But then since I was so cold and tired, I decided to take a nap. I'm not sure how long I slept, but had to get up when my cell phone rang. By then, it was 2:30! I had some stuff that I had to get done, so I worked on that.

Right b4 I left, RU came over and told me she had a Christmas present for me. She was going to carry it over, but I told her since I was getting ready to leave, I'd drive over to the house. I was extremely curious to know what it was she had. (I was kinda hoping for a puppy. ) I drove over, she opened the tailgate to her truck, and pulled out something I had told her I was going to buy, a 4 foot firewood holder! I have one in my basement for holding the firewood, and wanted another one for out at the farm to hold the wood I use for fires out there! I've looked and not been able to find one, then saw one in a circular just a few days ago. I had mentioned to her that I was going to buy one, so she got it for me, and gave it to me early so I wouldn't go and buy one! Right now, it's in my truck. I'll be taking it out later on today.

I got home to an empty house. I thought about doing some wood, but was tired, so decided I wouldn't. I fed the animals, got dinner going, then started to put away laundry. I didn't get it all done.

Today, I actually have a day off! It's not supposed to be too windy today, so I'll be working in my garden as much as possible. I need to get that done. I'm hoping I'll have a lot more done today, then I can put it away for the winter. I also need to get the maple in. Then, once the garden is done, and the maple is in, if we get more "warm" weather, I'll move my burning bush.

Oh, and I got another egg yesterday! So, maybe I won't need to buy eggs this winter after all!

 

[Farmfresh]

Take care of yourself today and get some rest. Days like you had yesterday really sap the strength out of you!

 

[TanksHill]

Wow, that seems like a ton of really hard work. Stay warm today and have some chicken soup. It will give you strength.

Glad you got an egg. I have 23 free loaders.

g

 

[savingdogs]

I hate working outside in the cold, it puts me in a bad mood! Sounds like you took it well!