Showing posts with label chickens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chickens. Show all posts

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Sheepy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all! I trust everyone had a great holiday and are already busy planning the many projects that will be completed this year!  We were fortunate to spend most of our time at home with family and friends this past week leading up to the the new year. 
I spent some time fluffing up the sheep living quarters as they have been spending many more hours in there than usual.  Though we had much snow still covering the ground I moved some straw to the rams barn that they aren't using right now to store it.  For as soon as the snow begins to melt (like today) the mud pit will be enormous.  Its all I can do to keep the mud to a dull roar so the fleeces don't get packed with it. 
The Chickens are still laying between 5 and 6 eggs a day with their little heat lamp keeping them toasty. I went in and fluffed up their coop as well.   We are looking to get Icelandic chickens this spring if I can find a breeder.
All in all the chores were minimal and it was nice spending some quiet time with the Icelandic crew.  The lights on the sheep shed were a nice touch I thought!! LOL.
Oh, and did mention I was on a yet another felting frenzy?? Yes indeed! Let me know what you think of my latest cobweb felted table scarves!



 Above is from our black lamb Ania with a little Eliza and some dyed red wool.
 Above is a mulberry silk/merino blend with a cobweb texture you can't really see in the picture. Its so light and smooth with a great sheen to it.

This is my fave!!! I wish the picture was better so you can see the cobwebbing through out the felting.  I am not tooting my own horn, I am just amazed at what this Icelandic fleece can accomplish when played with just so.  This is just way too much fun!!

Many wishes for a happy healthy and a sheepy new year!!! (I know corny)  :)

Sandy
Shepherdess

Monday, November 1, 2010

Side of Beef!!! Mooooo!

Nothing feels as good as knowing you have enough food to feed your family...and then some! Thanks to some very good friends we all shared a beef cow between four families.  Now all we need is some chicken and some home baked bread, some fresh garden veggies that have been put up (not that we got that many) and we are good for the winter!! Oh and lets not forget some warm woolen socks knit from our very own sheep's wool! Gosh, maybe I am Laura Ingalls.  "Pa!! Please play the fiddle for us!!!" LOL Love it!

Sandy
Shepherdess and wanna be livin off the land girl!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Images of the farm

Its been a long year of hard work but it has really paid off.  Most things are in working order and ready to be used and lived in.  First we added four hens and Buddy the rooster! Wow what great egg layers!! Then with the addition of our Icelandic sheep grazing freely to be seen from any window of the farm house has really made this dream come to life.  Here are some of the images of what it all looks like now.  Soon  I will post pictures of the before and during some of the work.  It really is night and day from those first days. 
George and I walk the line every morning when we are able to be up at the farm, to check the fences (which are all new and have no damages areas) every day just to feel close to it all.  There is no greater feeling than knowing it was all worth it and the fun is just beginning.


The original 1850 Barn

The old smokehouse turned playhouse years ago.

The newer house we live in.



The dirt road leading down to the farm.

Our Farm


Georgie on the tractor! Just lovin life!!!

These are the out buildings.  The barn in the distance is the original Barn from 1850 that we had restored. My husband's great grandfather farmed this land so long ago, we wanted to save this beautiful barn.  The smaller building was the smokehouse later turned children's play house.  Our two little girls love playing Laura Ingalls in there! The farm was out of the family for many years until after much perseverance and hard work my hubby bought part of it back, the original farm house with a newer house on the property, the barn the little house and a total of 22 acres. 
We have fenced  the ten acres that have the two houses and barn on it with horse fencing and sheep wire fencing behind it and electric running the perimiter on the bottom to keep predetors out and the sheepies in.  
And lets not forget the ladies, Titi and Rosa Linda (emma named them) :)