Monday, August 18, 2008
And it is TWINS!!!
We had a very eventful and busy weekend! The most exciting news, at least for the children, was the official paperwork to secure our new puppies. Anton and Isabella had been very understanding with us not getting another dog until after we moved to the farm. Every month or so, I would be reminded of how they missed their beloved Kela who passed in May 2007. So, while Karl was away in San Diego, I was able to secure a Golden Retriever puppy from a litter. After much discussion and deal making, we actually secured two! Blossom and Katie will have to remain with their momma for another 2 weeks, but it is now official! The breeder even put a flowered collar on Blossom and a red one on Katie to signal they were no longer available. Anton just came to life, laughing and giggling while the puppies chased him around the yard. It was very difficult to pick the puppies out from the litter, but when one let Isabella carry her around like a baby, we knew she would be one of our picks.
After about an hour, Karl and I managed to drag the children away from the puppies because we had other things to do on our "relaxing Sunday". We then proceeded to a berry farm near us. It was a long drive, about an hour. See small town life is really settling into our souls. And we picked about 12 pounds of beautiful blackberries. Anton and Isabella discovered they really like blackberries. It was fun searching for the large ones, about an inch to an inch and a half in length found inside the the branches behind leaves. Since these were the thorn-less type, it was not too difficult to dig into the brambles. It was exhilarating and hot! Karl and I knew why they also sell ice cream at the check out stand. We promised the children ice cream at home and off we went.
Now, I failed to mention what happened on Saturday, mostly because of the huge excitement of the twins. On Saturday, Karl reminded me why I love him so! When we moved into the house, I was upset to find the simple wire shelving installed in the pantry was not able to support the weight of my canning jars, or cans of soup for that matter. While most men would have said to make do, Karl did not. He spent all Saturday constructing wooden shelves inside my 5 1/2 foot wide pantry. He did not complain about the cost or time involved, he just did it. Now Karl loves the smell of fresh cut wood and playing with his power tools, so it was not a total waste of the day for him. The finished product is beautiful! He even put wooden plugs on the front to cover the screw holes making it look so professional. Then to prove how strong the shelves were, he did a few pull-ups for good measure. Now I just need to put everything back into the pantry.
While Karl was being the wood worker, I finished the front beds, and claimed more of the over growth outside. It does not sound as exciting as the pantry project, but it helps us to move closer to the end goal.
Our other excitement on Saturday was out first tick incident. Isabella was the unwitting recipient of the parasite. He was locked in good in her scalp. Karl did the pulling while I held Isabella still and kept the hair pulled away. I just checked the bite, and the redness is going down. I do not see a target right now, but it could appear anytime in the next three weeks. So, I guess this is as good a time as any to contact her new doctor for a quick visit. She needs a refill on her allergy meds anyway.
From ticks to puppies to blackberries, we had a fulfilling weekend. I have a couple of gallon sized bags of frozen blackberries in the freezer, a huge bucket for fresh eating and a cobbler left over from Sunday dinner. Yes, life is good!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Groundhogs and Eagles and Deer! OH MY!
A couple of days after being in the house, Anton made a bold proclamation, "We live in a world of bugs!" I do not really think he understood how true his statement is on the whole world and not just our new home.
With the 100 acres of crop land being used to grow soy beans this year, the deer have been everywhere. Our furniture guys commented on their desires for a shot gun because the deer did not seem to care we were only a few acres away. Later, while talking with our new farmer friends it was revealed that Deer season starts September 15 with bows and arrows. As it gets closer to the middle of September, the deer become more scarce. They know when they have a free meal!
While I was sitting at my table one morning, formulating the days agenda, I saw something large fall next to the window. It startled me from my seat and I went to investigate. Sitting on the ground, apparently clutching some breakfast in it's talons was a juvenile golden eagle. It looked me in the eyes and spread it's 4 foot wings to take his meal to the trees. I had never been that close to a non-captive wild bird of this size. I discovered it was a juvenile because the white spots had not all disappeared. Since that time we have observed these magnificent birds roughly every three days. Right now I find them beautiful and invigorating, when we get poultry, I will change my views. In case you were wondering, it is a felony to kill any eagle, not just the Bald Eagle.
And this leads me to Mr. Groundhog. The day we arrived, Mr. Groundhog was very interested in the new activity in his space. He observed us from across the drive until the children went outside to get a better look. He observed us from the over growth line behind the house, and took a little stroll to the neighbor's yard. (And you wonder why we have Eagles!) He amused us for the first week in the morning hours, then he disappeared. We saw nothing of him until this past Sunday after the overgrowth was cut down. I thought for sure the eagles had gotten him and while I was a little sad over his misfortune, I was trilled to not have to evict him from the area before the Spring plantings. With the over growth gone, he seemed very concerned about his lack of protection. Karl and I went out to get a better look. Once he saw us he ran, faster than a jack rabbit, to the tree line. I think it took him a total of 30 seconds to cross an acre. I later found the hole, about 12-18 inches in diameter. The farmers have an interesting way to get rid of them, a pistol. They estimate approximately 5-8 are running under their crops. They know where they are due to the yellowing of sections. As I am writing this, I noticed Mr. Groundhog gaily run in his trotting way from our neighbor's yard to his hole across the drive in front of our house. Yes, he is still here!
When Tim cut the overgrowth he confided to Karl what other wild life is lurking in our fields. There is good news, better news, and unnerving news. First, we have field mice and black snakes. Second, their presence means no rats or copper heads. Third, they are nature's way to balance things for a lively ecosystem. When you have mice, you tend to not have rats; it's a case of either/or. Apparently, the copper heads (poisonous) do not get along with the black snakes (non-poisonous) and will move to a new location say near the river a couple miles away. If we have to have one, I would rather deal with the mice than rats and nonpoisonous than poisonous. Granted, I would prefer neither, but nature is nature. I think we need a cat!
Now to fences and their necessity. I already pointed out the deer, who would love to make a meal or two of our fruit trees, but we have others to contend with also. Again, our farmer friends have been a wealth of knowledge! Come fall when everyone has their windows open, we should hear the ominous call of the coyotes. Tim and his son, Doug, have seen them in very early hours when fox hunting. Red and gray fox will let us know they are around if our poultry is not locked up tight, along with the night bandits, also called raccoons. This information is taking Karl and I back to the planning table. I was trying to avoid electric fences for the safety of children, but having at least one strand above the mesh would deter some predators and pests. Tim thinks the electric strand is a good idea and "children along with animals figure out the fence real quick!" We also are putting more thought into animal protectors. Geese will protect ducks, and male turkeys will protect chickens. I often wondered about this from my reading and research before we came here. There was great warnings about co-mingling of poultry types for fear of diseases. Then I began to notice several farms around the area doing just that! They use the larger birds to protect the smaller ones and do not seem to have a problem with the diseases warned about in the books. What have I learned, books are good for a basis, but there is no denying hands on knowledge!
Oh, so much to do and so little time to get it all straight!
With the 100 acres of crop land being used to grow soy beans this year, the deer have been everywhere. Our furniture guys commented on their desires for a shot gun because the deer did not seem to care we were only a few acres away. Later, while talking with our new farmer friends it was revealed that Deer season starts September 15 with bows and arrows. As it gets closer to the middle of September, the deer become more scarce. They know when they have a free meal!
While I was sitting at my table one morning, formulating the days agenda, I saw something large fall next to the window. It startled me from my seat and I went to investigate. Sitting on the ground, apparently clutching some breakfast in it's talons was a juvenile golden eagle. It looked me in the eyes and spread it's 4 foot wings to take his meal to the trees. I had never been that close to a non-captive wild bird of this size. I discovered it was a juvenile because the white spots had not all disappeared. Since that time we have observed these magnificent birds roughly every three days. Right now I find them beautiful and invigorating, when we get poultry, I will change my views. In case you were wondering, it is a felony to kill any eagle, not just the Bald Eagle.
And this leads me to Mr. Groundhog. The day we arrived, Mr. Groundhog was very interested in the new activity in his space. He observed us from across the drive until the children went outside to get a better look. He observed us from the over growth line behind the house, and took a little stroll to the neighbor's yard. (And you wonder why we have Eagles!) He amused us for the first week in the morning hours, then he disappeared. We saw nothing of him until this past Sunday after the overgrowth was cut down. I thought for sure the eagles had gotten him and while I was a little sad over his misfortune, I was trilled to not have to evict him from the area before the Spring plantings. With the over growth gone, he seemed very concerned about his lack of protection. Karl and I went out to get a better look. Once he saw us he ran, faster than a jack rabbit, to the tree line. I think it took him a total of 30 seconds to cross an acre. I later found the hole, about 12-18 inches in diameter. The farmers have an interesting way to get rid of them, a pistol. They estimate approximately 5-8 are running under their crops. They know where they are due to the yellowing of sections. As I am writing this, I noticed Mr. Groundhog gaily run in his trotting way from our neighbor's yard to his hole across the drive in front of our house. Yes, he is still here!
When Tim cut the overgrowth he confided to Karl what other wild life is lurking in our fields. There is good news, better news, and unnerving news. First, we have field mice and black snakes. Second, their presence means no rats or copper heads. Third, they are nature's way to balance things for a lively ecosystem. When you have mice, you tend to not have rats; it's a case of either/or. Apparently, the copper heads (poisonous) do not get along with the black snakes (non-poisonous) and will move to a new location say near the river a couple miles away. If we have to have one, I would rather deal with the mice than rats and nonpoisonous than poisonous. Granted, I would prefer neither, but nature is nature. I think we need a cat!
Now to fences and their necessity. I already pointed out the deer, who would love to make a meal or two of our fruit trees, but we have others to contend with also. Again, our farmer friends have been a wealth of knowledge! Come fall when everyone has their windows open, we should hear the ominous call of the coyotes. Tim and his son, Doug, have seen them in very early hours when fox hunting. Red and gray fox will let us know they are around if our poultry is not locked up tight, along with the night bandits, also called raccoons. This information is taking Karl and I back to the planning table. I was trying to avoid electric fences for the safety of children, but having at least one strand above the mesh would deter some predators and pests. Tim thinks the electric strand is a good idea and "children along with animals figure out the fence real quick!" We also are putting more thought into animal protectors. Geese will protect ducks, and male turkeys will protect chickens. I often wondered about this from my reading and research before we came here. There was great warnings about co-mingling of poultry types for fear of diseases. Then I began to notice several farms around the area doing just that! They use the larger birds to protect the smaller ones and do not seem to have a problem with the diseases warned about in the books. What have I learned, books are good for a basis, but there is no denying hands on knowledge!
Oh, so much to do and so little time to get it all straight!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
And our new life begins.....
We closed on July 7 and our household goods arrived a few days later. As Karl and I looked out the back windows, we wondered "What have we gotten into?"
The back 4 1/2 acres were a wild over grown mess. Karl had finally gotten over a severe case of poison ivy from when he opened up a small archway, about 8 feet wide, in the tree line. A tree line run north/south across our property splitting the back 2 1/2 acres from the front section. The poison ivy, kudzu, wild grape, and other vines had been left undisturbed for at least 2 1/2 years making the archway look like a path to a secret world. This is especially true in the early morning hours when the low lying fog gives it a dream like feel. I find myself just imagining what the future holds, but the reality is a war being planned on the invaders who have laid claim to someone else's land. But wars and advances do not happen quickly, and my tools where somewhere amid the 200 boxes left to be unpacked.
I began opening boxes like a mad woman. I knew I had a time line to compete against. I would be starting school in September, therefore the house needed to get settled so we could all focus on our tasks. Thankfully I had gotten all the kitchen unpacked while the packers where still there, so at least I had one place that had some semblance of order. I could sit at the kitchen table and formulate the plan of the day. The children and I began moving things from room to room with glee's of excitement when seemingly lost objects or books were discovered. Walls began to be covered in paint and pictures, books found homes on shelves, and toys were delegated to the basement. All the board games and puzzles where left on the main floor for easy access to the dinning room table. During this time Karl had been sent to San Diego and was relieved to find most of the main floor completed and the bedrooms livable. As it stands now, we have a map to hang in Anton's room, bathrooms to be painted and the spare room is in shambles. But the spare room door can be shut until a later time and bathroom paint still needs to be picked. The closets could use some help, but that is being picky at this stage.
Now back to the outside jungle! The day following the arrival of our house hold goods, Karl tackled the front section of "builder grass mix". I use the term loosely. Once it was cut, I filled the children's pool, it was 90 degrees outside. They played for awhile, but complained of the uncomfortable grass. It is all weeds, crab grass, and very stiff. Karl and I tackled tilling up the ground near the foundation to create some beds for perennials and evergreens. I have planted two miniature spruce trees, a few globe shaped dwarf pine, some lavender and pink echinacea. This project is nearly complete, I ran out of mulch, but the next trip to Lowes will allow me to cross it off my list.
The first advancement on the war was pursued over the weekend. We were able to connect with one of the three farmers who tend the 100 acres around our land. For a small fee, he cut down all the over growth in the 4 1/2 acres. What we have now it access to the vines and trees. Karl purchased some bush killer chemicals. Yes, I know, chemicals! Karl and I are trying to run our farm as natural as possible, but we have to take back the land from the invaders first. Also, there seems no other way to be able to get in there to save the trees. We lost one tree already during a high wind storm. It was covered to the top in vines causing the tree to be weakened from weight of vines and lack of sunlight for it's leaves. It snapped in half. Also, the goat is not in the near future. I know they like to eat kudzu, poison ivy, etc. but the thorns from the wild grapes and brambles are something being debated between goat people. SO, I began chemical warfare yesterday. I sprayed two large sections before I needed to take a break. This is when I noticed some of the vines where brambles, yes this means wild blackberries, but there is some sort of rust already taking it over. So, it will have to go. I can start more vines, in a controlled environment, later and I do not want the rust to bleed over to my raspberry plants that will go in during the next few years. I see it as good news, grapes and brambles can and do grow well in this area. Another discovery was a patch of black eyed susans growing wild. I did leave them alone, and sprayed away from them. I hope to collect some seeds and plant them around the orchard fence going in this fall.
Fences are something of a necessity around here! I will go into a whole new post on wildlife in the next post. Until then...
The back 4 1/2 acres were a wild over grown mess. Karl had finally gotten over a severe case of poison ivy from when he opened up a small archway, about 8 feet wide, in the tree line. A tree line run north/south across our property splitting the back 2 1/2 acres from the front section. The poison ivy, kudzu, wild grape, and other vines had been left undisturbed for at least 2 1/2 years making the archway look like a path to a secret world. This is especially true in the early morning hours when the low lying fog gives it a dream like feel. I find myself just imagining what the future holds, but the reality is a war being planned on the invaders who have laid claim to someone else's land. But wars and advances do not happen quickly, and my tools where somewhere amid the 200 boxes left to be unpacked.
I began opening boxes like a mad woman. I knew I had a time line to compete against. I would be starting school in September, therefore the house needed to get settled so we could all focus on our tasks. Thankfully I had gotten all the kitchen unpacked while the packers where still there, so at least I had one place that had some semblance of order. I could sit at the kitchen table and formulate the plan of the day. The children and I began moving things from room to room with glee's of excitement when seemingly lost objects or books were discovered. Walls began to be covered in paint and pictures, books found homes on shelves, and toys were delegated to the basement. All the board games and puzzles where left on the main floor for easy access to the dinning room table. During this time Karl had been sent to San Diego and was relieved to find most of the main floor completed and the bedrooms livable. As it stands now, we have a map to hang in Anton's room, bathrooms to be painted and the spare room is in shambles. But the spare room door can be shut until a later time and bathroom paint still needs to be picked. The closets could use some help, but that is being picky at this stage.
Now back to the outside jungle! The day following the arrival of our house hold goods, Karl tackled the front section of "builder grass mix". I use the term loosely. Once it was cut, I filled the children's pool, it was 90 degrees outside. They played for awhile, but complained of the uncomfortable grass. It is all weeds, crab grass, and very stiff. Karl and I tackled tilling up the ground near the foundation to create some beds for perennials and evergreens. I have planted two miniature spruce trees, a few globe shaped dwarf pine, some lavender and pink echinacea. This project is nearly complete, I ran out of mulch, but the next trip to Lowes will allow me to cross it off my list.
The first advancement on the war was pursued over the weekend. We were able to connect with one of the three farmers who tend the 100 acres around our land. For a small fee, he cut down all the over growth in the 4 1/2 acres. What we have now it access to the vines and trees. Karl purchased some bush killer chemicals. Yes, I know, chemicals! Karl and I are trying to run our farm as natural as possible, but we have to take back the land from the invaders first. Also, there seems no other way to be able to get in there to save the trees. We lost one tree already during a high wind storm. It was covered to the top in vines causing the tree to be weakened from weight of vines and lack of sunlight for it's leaves. It snapped in half. Also, the goat is not in the near future. I know they like to eat kudzu, poison ivy, etc. but the thorns from the wild grapes and brambles are something being debated between goat people. SO, I began chemical warfare yesterday. I sprayed two large sections before I needed to take a break. This is when I noticed some of the vines where brambles, yes this means wild blackberries, but there is some sort of rust already taking it over. So, it will have to go. I can start more vines, in a controlled environment, later and I do not want the rust to bleed over to my raspberry plants that will go in during the next few years. I see it as good news, grapes and brambles can and do grow well in this area. Another discovery was a patch of black eyed susans growing wild. I did leave them alone, and sprayed away from them. I hope to collect some seeds and plant them around the orchard fence going in this fall.
Fences are something of a necessity around here! I will go into a whole new post on wildlife in the next post. Until then...
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