Goat in a Bucket

Holly found an unusual spot to take her afternoon nap.

Reaping My First Tomato Harvest

These are the first tomatoes I pulled off my vines.

Not bad I'd say.  And check out that tomato on the left.  That's a mega tomato weighing in at .503kg.  That's award winning size!

Smut

Corn smut.  Yuck.

The disease has found it's way to my corn stalks.

Want to learn more about this fungus disease?  Here's a link to wiki explanation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_smut

This post has been shared at The Prairie Homestead

One of These Days

I made it to the bottom of the lane way and back with my old girl, Chloe.  Several times.

One of these days I may actually leave the property and head out on a trail ride all by my lonesome. 

Nest

I discovered we have a huge, HUGE, hornet's nest in the large maple tree out front.

I had no idea what breed of hornet it was so asked my Facebook friend's and we all know if you ask it on Facebook, you shall be answered.  They are the Bald-Faced Hornet.  One of the most aggressive breeds of hornets.  Joy.

Was going to call in the exterminator but at a charge of $140, think we'll just leave it until winter and remove it then.  Thankfully, it's located in the front yard, not in an area we spend much time in.

First Outing With the Flock

Bad Horses

They have a serious addiction.

"What?  We aren't suppose to help ourselves?"

Gender Identified

He

She

Names still to be determined.

And Yet Another Baby!

This time it was our chinchilla who gave birth!  Sooo cute!

WE HAVE LAMBS!!

It seems I've been typing those three little words all over the place tonight!  But it's true, our ewe, Queenie, gave birth to two beautiful little black and white lambs.  Sex unknown.

Sightseeing

While we were in Owen Sound for one whole day, we actually managed to squeeze in some sightseeing.

Owen Sound Coastline

Music in the Park

Birds of Paradise

Cool Swing

Inglis Falls

Inglis Falls

Some very brave, if not foolish, boys swimming beneath the rocky falls

Climbing down to the bottom of the falls

Rocky terrain

Steep and rocky but we made it.

bottom of Inglis Falls

Children relieved to be done the hike.

Inglis Falls again.

Foolish boys swimming in the bottom of the falls.

The Bambino

Dog Show

Yesterday, I spent the day in Owen Sound, a three hour drive north to watch Oldest participate in a dog show.

It's always fun and interesting to watch all the different type of breeds groomed to the tea prancing about the rings.

Oldest and her golden retriever did very well.  They would have won the above round but for a spook her dog took when she rounded a corner and realized there was three other dogs "chasing" her.  Since the breed has to be fearless, she was docked for that and got reserve only.

Her second round she would have also won but the judge couldn't decide between her dog and the one next to her.  He asked the guy next to her if his dog was Canadian bred and when he said yes, he pointed to him and announced him the winner.  Odd really because so is Oldest's dog.  Unfortunately, there is prejudice in the show ring.

But she got reserved both times and won in her own group, so overall a good weekend.  Her dog is still young and has yet to grow her coat in fully, so pretty good all around.

In a couple more years, she will be a beauty and will be winning all the rounds I'm sure.  Till then, she should be proud to do as well as she has.

Smallest Egg Yet

Accomplishment

Today I rode all three of my rideable horses.  Yes, that would mean I rode Aussie!

Aussie is my big, lovable teddy bear of a horse.  But my few short experiences riding him last year, left me uneasy on his back.  So I didn't feel comfortable jumping up onto him particularly with Farm Girl away, so he was delegated to pet only and I enjoyed him in the field but that was it.  Until today.  I conquered my fears and pulled him in out of the pasture, tacked him up, and feeling unusually brave, mounted him. 

I tacked Chase up for hubby and we went riding together.  It was a first.  Hubby doesn't ride but was willing to try.  Of course I wasn't going to let that slide or he may change his mind and never mount a horse again.  It turned out to be a lot of fun.

Off to Slaughter

My fifty meals actually ended up being twenty-eight.  I nearly lost half the amount I started with.  Considering the hatchery probably gave me an extra two, the loss was much, much greater than I anticipated.  Obviously.  Just in the last week, the chicks were beginning to kill each other.  I found five dead bodies inside the chicken tractor and run.  I knew I had to get them slaughtered before I lost any more.  The day before you have to starve the birds.  I was terrified to find a massacre inside the greenhouse where I had locked them up the day before slaughter.  I mean these birds were out for themselves.  I had heard that about buying only male chicks but of course I hadn't heard that until after I had brought them home.  

But anyway, I am pleased to report I only loss one overnight.  Pretty good odds I think.  When I dropped them off at the slaughterhouse, I had to wait my turn before my chicks were put on the hanging hooks that carried them off upside to their death.  I watched a batch before mine go through the assembly line and noticed three things.  Those birds were super quiet and looked as if they were sleeping long before their throats were slit.  Second, they were nearly grey from filth.  And third they were fairly small.  I was worried my chicks hadn't reached full weight and was going to ask the workers at the slaughterhouse if they looked big enough but one glance at the other chickens being slaughtered and I didn't have to.  Mine were nice and big roasters.  

When it was finally my chickens turn I noticed how much of a fight they put up--even after having their throats slit.  Turning to the woman who unloaded them from their crates and transported them to the hanging hooks, I said kind of embarrassed, "They're a bit frisky aren't they.  Sorry about that.  Are most birds like this?"

She shook her head and said, "These birds are happy birds...you must have pasture raised them."

One of the differences I wanted to make in my way of farming was that I wanted these animals who would one day provide me and my family with food, a respectful and happy life when alive.  So as they went off to slaughter kicking, screeching and biting I know that's because they had not lived a comatose life, numb to sunshine, grass, worms and bugs and all the other things that make chickens happy.  They lived happy and contented little lives, while albeit short was good while it lasted.