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[Jan. 2nd, 2010|11:34 am] |
99% of this journal is friends only.
Really. It really is. You're missing a lot.
Just add me and I'll add you back. |
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| Ugh..rain rain rain.. |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|09:29 am] |
On checking the rain gauge this morning, I dumped out almost 1" from yesterday! It rained almost an inch from like 6-9 this morning! Yikes!
I fell asleep with the window open it was so warm last night. I woke up about 3 from the wind in the tree tops thinking it was raining and ran out to cover my hay ( barefooted ). It wasn't raining (yet) but I could hear the wind just howling on the ridgetops.
I just ran out (catching the break) and put hay out for the pens here by the house. Now it's raining again.
I was pleasantly ( but guardedly) surprised at what I saw at the goat dairy yesterday. First of all, they were already out and sorting the pens when I got there ( on time). No Mexicans, just us girls, also a big change. SO'C was there as well, I had heard that she was working over there; I think that's great, good for both sides.
We went into the dry doe pens and I was so happy to see that they have the does bedded on straw! That is the very first thing I would have done to try to improve things there, and here it was. All the pens were bedded deeply with clean dry straw.
The goats looked pretty good, and everyone had trimmed feet! It was wonderful! I said something, and they said it was S that had been doing that. Good job!
Most of the does looked really good; fat and slick and ready to go to work. Of course there are the exceptions, and they were going to be culled ( so they said..) but for the 125-150 dry does we went through they looked pretty darned good. Even the percentage of horned goats seems to have gone down!
It's the first time I have come back from there in a while feeling hopeful and not disgusted and depressed. Keep up the good work guys!
I nosed around in the other barn a bit and found my bucks, they all look good too! There are a lot of my bucks over there! Genetic manipulation..he he he..
At about 10 last night the memory of the day caught up with me. A lot of the does we preg checked were going to be first fresheners and so had to be shoved up into the milk barn, and that was a real wrestling match ( I did mention that some were fat..?) so I absolutely crashed by 11:30 with a heating pad and some ibu. I feel pretty good this morning, though.
Now it's raining again so I don't think I'll get much done outside today. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 19th, 2009|09:58 am] |
Not much happened yesterday. I went out to work on the foundation and then I ended up chatting with KP for a long time, so all I got done was come cleaning and organizing and clearing out for the last few footings. Now I am freaking out that I haven't set them in there quite perfectly and am worried about it all being perfectly square. of course, I have had this problem in the past and it isn't a huge disaster, but when I woke up in the night last night it was the worry at the front of my brain.
I need to get my nephew's birthday presents sent out; every year I run into the problem of Thanksgiving holiday right before his birthday and trying to get stuff to him on time. This year I am making a fun stuff box along with some small gifts; I haven't seen him since he was an infant (he's 11 this year), but once a year I spend some serious time thinking about him. I guess this is for me as much as it is for him..
I am off to the goat dairy this afternoon for a couple of hours. It's a lovely sunny day again but I think there's a storm coming. Maybe it will miss us again.
The neighbors cows are bellowing; it's the time of the year when they usually start starving and hollering. I wonder if his huge hay pile (100 bales???!!) is already gone. And no I won't share my hay source with him.
Thanks for starting a fire this morning ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) ejbythesea! It's so warm and toasty in here I sure don't want to go outside and do my chores quite yet. |
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| The sun is out! |
[Nov. 18th, 2009|09:53 am] |
El nino is supposed to mean drier winters, and so far we are following the prescription. We are already only at 58% of average for our rainfall, and I don't know anyone that is sad about this.
I sure don't mind the rain as long as it isn't incessant and for days; but some rain then some dry? Yeah, I can totally live with this.
From my inbox:
(from the big goat dairy)
"We have been trying to do a preg check, vaccinate and worm for 3 weeks now. First week everyone sick with flu, next week no daycare for human kids, this week we are short help. I really do not want to push this another week. It is scheduled for 1pm on Thursday. Interested in joining the fun??"
Of course, mostly because of my nosiness, I will go over there tomorrow just to see how things are going. I definitely want to check up on some of the Alpine bucks that are over there. One is mine, and one was mine once, but I don't know which one, just rumours that one of mine is there that got picked up from the defunct failed dairy.
I woke up at 5:30 this morning and lay awake for hours. Why didn't I just get up?
Only 3 more footings to go and I am pretty sure I'll get one done today. While working on the last ones the marble column skit from SNL kept running through my mind.. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 17th, 2009|10:21 am] |
Well this is more like it. I mean, more like what to expect in November. The rain has returned after a lovely break where things actually started to dry out. But it's warm, and light, and not too bad. Certainly to be expected anyway.
I did all sorts of running around after milking yesterday; gas, bank, post office, feed, hay, hardware. NO Larry at the hay barn; I think it was the son of the ranch owner who helped me who I had never seen before ( and I have been buying hay from them for 3 years). No mention of Larry.
I did get a snippet on the transfer of power at FCT; J is running it now, JL is out. Nothing new, just more confirmation I guess.
I managed another footing and then T came home early with more redi mix all ready to do another one.
We set out and were into the cement portion when the real estate agent came back down from showing the piece next to ours and wondered about the whereabouts of the "road" on that property. I abandoned T to mix the cement while I showed them where the "road" was. I mean , it's barely a road, more of a cat path from 20 years ago, but it does lead to what I would consider the only nice house site on that piece of property. I chatted with J and the prospective buyer for a bit. He said " I like your goats", so so far he has passed the suitable neighbor test. I can do my own screening for neighbors here in our dark damp hollow. He told me he'd probably be back today to hike up there, letting me know that he'd be parking his car by the buck barn. I appreciate that. He had really nice boots on; too nice, in fact..
The rain is letting up a bit so I'm going to try to catch the break.. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 16th, 2009|10:57 am] |
Well since I was out of redi mix yesterday, I couldn't put in another footing on the hay shed.
It was a beautiful sunny warm day.
Instead, I worked on cleaning up the area a bit more, which it sorely needs as it definitely looks like a messy construction site at this point.
In the evening I made a ridiculously gooey sweet apple pie from the Granny Smiths the Shingletown people brought over for me. I thawed out some goat cream and whipped up some ridiculously sweet topping for it too. Ridiculously delicious.
Looks like we've got rain coming in tomorrow and for the rest of the week, but today is warm and clear and lovely.
I am putting off a trip to town for redi mix and pellets as I am not in a very social mood. Maybe I'll be all Jackie O and put on dark glasses and a scarf.
There's a bit of drama at the hay farm. The hired guy, Larry, has quit, and is now spending his days drunk in his trailer. This makes me quite sad, as he really was just barely hanging on to begin with. I don't know much about him, but he was once married and has a daughter somewhere; he's 59. He has family and has lived here his whole life, but he is a real wreck. I am doing a lot of thinking about how I feel about this, what should I do if anything, or do I even want to get involved. In a strange thought train I came to realize that if he was a woman that I would have no sympathy for her at all; why is that? I am not the sort who is charitable,but I like Larry and wish things were better for him, but in the end he is an adult and makes his own choices. I imagine he will die soon if this goes on.
Larry
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| breeding season |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|10:20 am] |
Well not one but 2 goat people came by yesterday to breed their does; Shane was bred to the Alpine doe from Bridgeville and Zander was bred to Vera, a replacement doe that I bred and sold into the project 4 years ago.
It seems Zander is finally settling does it's been 24 days since he bred 2 of the '09 doelings and neither has come back in ( I say before I go outside this morning...who knows..)
I got another footing done ( yay! 7 down, 5 to go!) in record time. It's the stirring of the redi-mix that's so darned exhausting. I am mentally preparing for the next phase which will be erecting the 4X4's, and thinking about the order in which to do that. This is similar construction to the barn I built at the ranch, but the roof truss system will be different ( center support this time). I'm ready.
Since seeing Michael Pollan on the PBS show "The Botany of Desire" I have been curious as to his whole deal. I mean it seems ( as many prophets) he is often referenced, but rarely read. His message seems so different than the vibe I get from those that quote him ( again, not unusual, re: Bob Dylan, Jesus, ..) that I though I'd do a little research. I thought I'd start at the beginning with his first book, and yesterday it arrived from eBay. "Second Nature" is his first published book about his adventure into gardening, and his childhood on Long Island ( like me!)
He is a good writer, easy to read and to relate to. I appreciate his honesty and humility, and am not getting any of the "nature good, man bad" attitude his followers seem to spew. |
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| My entertainment |
[Nov. 13th, 2009|09:45 am] |
The crushed neighbors fence is pretty much fixed; I have to find a short piece of barbed wire somewhere to patch a piece that completely snapped off, but otherwise that mess is in good shape. Thanks to all of my wonderful neighbors ( and Ted) with chainsaws who helped with this project.
In a fun and entertaining new development, the "new" neighbor at the end of our road has opened up a little farmstand; apples, gourds, etc.. She is also selling coffee (++!!) and little snacks and has a table and chairs set up on the road ( the road to the beach, 45 mph) where she thinks people will gather. I guess we'll see, but for now it is another source of amusement for me. KP stopped by yesterday to tell me about it so I just had to go and check it out ( my nose problem, you know).
This woman I pretty much CAN'T STAND, she irritates me like nails on a chalkboard. She's from NY and thinks she's my buddy and is always "out of control ridiculously" glad to see me. C'mon, F, you're my neighbor, not my long lost relative.
Well, at least it's something different, and there will be coffee. |
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| It's not a tumah |
[Nov. 12th, 2009|09:24 am] |
Srsly, another headache. I was up again in the night. 2 doses of ibu and a cup of joe and I am almost 50%.
The string of people showing up on time and being where they say they will has come to an end. When I went to get hay yesterday, not only was no one around ( I had left a note telling them when I'd be back, standard operating procedure) but my note hadn't even been moved and the money was still in it. Obviously they had been there, the heifers had been fed recently. I grabbed a few bales, left another note and some $ and I'll try again today. At least it's very close (< 2 miles) and easy for me. I do like having a huge barn of hay to tap into whenever I want, so I really don't mind some problems occasionally.
Today the next milkstand gets picked up, and I will reinvest in more steel for the next 2 on order. I think I'll build them at the same time.
The neighbors have done a fantastic job cleaning up the fallen tree mess. The dad ( Josh's girlfriend's uncle..) was piling up brush while the kid cut. There's still a lot of wood there but most is cut up and I can almost see the area again. The rounds from the trees are SUPER heavy; wet loving trees in a wet spot are filled with water, and we all know that water is HEAVY!
POLL:
I am supposed to be somewhere at 12:00.
What is appropriate? How late are you before you call to say you'll be late?
11:45?
11:55?
12:01?
12:10?
12:15?
12:30? |
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| Good people, you get a biscuit. |
[Nov. 11th, 2009|09:47 am] |
And then there are days when everyone behaves.
My goat people came over from Redding ( actually, Shingletown) to see about a doe.
They let me know when they were leaving. Gave me 2 cell #'s, and called me when they were in Eureka. Showed up almost exactly when they said they would.
Restores my faith ( temporarily, I am sure)
The neighbor kid came and started working on the down Alder trees. Called and let me know he was coming. Worked all afternoon and just called me to let me know he'd be back again today. He's a goo boy..
(EDIT) I just went to milk and not only was that kid down there working away, but his dad was there as well. They are not just cutting up the wood but taking also taking all the brush and branches and making a nice pile! Awesome! It's already starting to look better in there with little or no work by ME. Excellent...
I am glad to know that some people show up when they say they will.
I was up again last night with cramps and a headache. Cmon, menopause, either quit my periods or quit the hot sweats, but having both? Hmm, such fun.
It didn't rain yesterday, it was actually a lovely day. Today it's grey again and threatening.
I have to go get hay, and the neighbor girl is bringing a doe over to get bred here in a bit.
I made broth out of the leftover chicken carcass and even managed to strain it, zip loc bag it and shove it in the freezer.
I need to finish fixing the neighbors fence. In a strange slight development, the idiot fat town dude came out on Monday for the first time in weeks, and drove right past that alder tree mess, yet never said anything to me.
I'm glad AT had a hand in it, as I know they wouldn't dare yell at him ( not that anyone has bothered us either)
More ibuprofen.... |
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| Gene Maddalena |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|05:09 pm] |
My senior prom date has passed away
Gene was the long time boyfriend of my good friend from High School and next door neighbor, Melinda. After they graduated, they broke up, but they continued to be friends.
I was also good friends with his sister, Anna Marie, so I saw a lot of Gene.
When prom time came around ( I was a year behind him), Gene wanted to go back and visit high school friends, so he put the transmission in the 1965 Mustang I had just bought in exchange for me taking him to the prom.
I did know that he had been sick for a long time. |
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| Gooseneck wrangling |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|12:19 pm] |
Our little valley is narrow and our road is even narrower. Turning around with a big truck is tricky, a truck and trailer is almost impossible.
The gal who was coming from the valley to see about some does told me last night that they were coming with a gooseneck..I was a bit concerned, but they seemed to think they could get turned around ( there's a spot about a mile past our house where they could have turned around anyway..)
She took one of my April kids, who, fortunately got bred yesterday. It was a bit of overkill to put that 80 lb kid in a 16' stock trailer, but, hey whatever ( note to self; there's a market for truck carriers..)
After a lot of wiggling and waggling they finally got turned around and were on their way to a dairy to get a calf (D Renner).
They also brought me a nice big sack of Granny Smiths..PIE!!!
Thanks!
Today the sun is out and the neighbor kid is supposed to come by to start working on the tree mess, but he's not here yet.
I was up from about 3:30 til almost 6 this morning.
Time to get back to work |
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| Drier-than-average conditions can be expected in the Pacific Northwest |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|09:55 am] |
Oh I like finding that prediction in the winter forecast. True or not, I can dream can't I?
So far we have had mostly just intermittant days of drizzle with lovely sunny days in between.
The aftermath of the tree falling is slowly getting taken care of. In another lovely neighbor helpful trade another neighbor kid TG,( we are almost related to this one, as he is Josh's girlfriend's cousin) stopped and asked about the alder logs. Ted had actually mentioned asking him if he might want to deal with that, as he seems to be into bucking up firewood, and I think he also mentioned it to Art.
TG stopped yesterday to ask about the wood and I told him he could have it if he wanted, we really just want it out of there. He seemed thrilled about that and said he'd probably get started on it in a few days.
I got the first damaged section of the neighbors fence fixed, all but the top barbed wire strands which I will have to replace, as they shattered into numerous pieces.
At first I thought "oh dang that was a brand new fence" until I thought about it and realized that fence is probably over 10 years old..man,time just WHIPS by.
My new milk customer is driving me absolutely batty, and I would have fired her, until I thought about it. She is a new neighbor, and we share a property line. Our gravel pit is basically on her road and I'd like to keep civil with her if just for that, so I will suck it up.
I finally gave up and turned the little bucks loose with their respective breed doelings. I am hopeful that Zander is now finally settling does, but I am not holding my breath. I think his first "real" breeding was on Oct 22, so soon I will know for sure ( 17-21 days). A breeder is coming over from Redding to see about a few Alpine does I put on Craigslist; fortunately one of them came into heat yesterday and was bred. In a funny coincidence, her travel partner was wanting to come over for a Brown Swiss calf..."Ferndale? You are going to Ferndale?"
No big plans for the week. Hopeful to get a few more footings in. I really need some sort of hay cover.. |
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| the day after |
[Nov. 8th, 2009|09:44 am] |
And now, the clean up. And can I fix the fence before the crazy neighbor goes beserk? Fortunately, they never ever come down this way and I doubt the other neighbors will tattle on us.
(of course when I went to get a red e tite to re stretch that fence, another neighbor waited onme at the feed store. Maybe he'll keep mum..)
The sun is out for now. I am running around this morning getting pellets and hay. Then hauling the logs from the alder to one spot and piling the branches in another. I don't do the chainsaw so any sawing will have to wait for the chainsawer (Ted).
My new John Irving book so far is all about logging in New Hampshire. I am the lathe of heaven.
I also managed to make a superior mozzarella last night. |
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| Woomph!! |
[Nov. 7th, 2009|06:40 pm] |
(and my annoying voice)
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| That rotten sob |
[Nov. 7th, 2009|06:32 pm] |
That rotten sob
Originally uploaded by sarah northern california.
This was the big tree we were all worried about. It was big and leaning and now Art sees that there's a rotten spot in it. There's a cable set up in it and he will try to winch it as it falls so it doesn't fall in the road nor does it kill him as he cuts.
(it fell in the road anyway, but it was o k) |
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| Setting the block |
[Nov. 7th, 2009|06:30 pm] |
Setting the block
Originally uploaded by sarah northern california.
Art came by this afternoon to cut down those Alder trees.
Ted is way up under that spruce tree setting a block to run the cable through to try to pull the tree so it doesn't fall on the road ( and the neighbor's fence). Art is taking up the slack of the cable with the winch on his Jeep. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 7th, 2009|09:35 am] |
Well it's raining today; I wasn't really expecting this. I thought someone was pounding in a fencepost but when I got up and opened the window I found it was a drip drip of rain off the roof.
My new John Irving book arrived yesterday; good timing for a new book. I want to gobble it all up but then I will be sad when I am done with it.
We did a Costco trip yesterday and got some scrumdillyishous cheese "Delice de Borgougne" (interesting that Murray's pairs it with Fog, as we were saying it has a similar type flavor)
( I imagine gordonzola will turn up his nose) but man it's like ice cream butter. YUM!! Paired with snappy sweet grapes..OMG.
We got back to the neighbor about cutting down those alder trees and he seems to think that he can put a block and tackle on most of them and yard them so they don't fall in the road. That would be so awesome to not have to deal with the road and the fences..
I got my paperwork back from my most recent milktest and my doe, Xpress, is on track to be in the national Top 5 Grade Lamanchas for milk and butterfat and protein! Well, at least according to last years top 5 does, so who knows...
And my rolling herd average is up there among the top goat herds as well ( of course, right now I am only milking 2 does..) |
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| Warm rainy day |
[Nov. 6th, 2009|09:32 am] |
The rain hung around all day but never really came down. Just sort of drizzled on and off all day. It's warm so it was actually not bad and almost pleasant, but of course not as pleasant as if it hadn't been raining. Today it's sunny again.
Had a great lunch with good friends and we plotted our path. Caught up on news and gossip and just chatted for a long time. I hope we can do that again.
And then, got nothing else done all day.
Did you know that stinging nettle extract can be used to curdle cheese in place of rennet? I sure have plenty of that pest and it would be great to find a positive use for it, as it is the bane of my existence. |
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| Cow holiday, onwards to cheesetown |
[Nov. 4th, 2009|09:38 am] |
Ah hoppers reminded me that I will still have to do cows before next month. Thanks for raining on my parade!
But for the day off I pretty much spent it attempting to build a cheddar. This would be my 2nd, the first one I made about 18 years ago and it turned out too sharp for me. My Portuguese neighbor loved sharp cheese so I gave it to him, and he's still alive so..
OK I understand the process much better ( I'm a hands on learner) and I already see my mistakes.
For one, I think I might have to restart the culture. The word "sterile" does not mean "pasteurized" and I sure as heck wasn't sterile with that process.
There are hairs on my cheese.
My cheese press(s): OK one is on loan so not technically mine:
One is a lovely wooden press with dowels in which weights are placed on the top board. However balancing 50 lbs on top of my lil 2 lb cheese was not working.
My other press, acquired at the awesome hippie hillbilly yard sale is much more stabile, but there's no way to tell how much pressure I am applying, as it is done with screws.
I did like the process, which surprised me. I have never been that interested in making cheese, although I certainly enjoy eating it. And I sure as heck have plenty of raw materials to work with.
But I have learned what the culture does ( really, I wasn't quite sure. I mean, doesn't rennet make cheese?) and now having made my own, I've got it (sort of).
The cheese is really pretty. It will now sit for 3 days air drying, then it gets a coat of wax in which it will age for a while ( 3 months?) while the culture does it's thing.
Maybe I'll get back into the micro dairy research. There's already a bit of a loophole in the pasteurizing vs raw milk rules in that cheese aged over 90 60 days (Learning...learning..) can be made from raw milk. Hmmm....
Here's something I just found, the Raw Milk Cheesemakers Association. That might be helpful!!! |
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| and then |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|10:41 am] |
Finally pictures from Burning man from nesting
!!!
Once upon a time I found a bike on the road at my dairy by one of my gates. It sat there for a long time and no one seemed to know who it belonged to.
At the time nesting needed a bike so I grabbed it, and her dad came and got it and he fixed it up for her.
So a little piece of me ness went to Burning Man this year.
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| There's no way |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|08:55 am] |
I can't explain what kind of a day I had yesterday. I don't even understand it. I will have to split it into chapters.
1. Went to the feed store to and was helped by the 7 foot drummer from Josh's band ( he works at the feed store. Isn't that awesome? He's a crazy rock n roller, and a redneck!).
"Were you all having as much fun as we were "? referring to the Halloween Night show. ( he was a 7 foot tall redneck rocker in drag)" That was the most fun I have had playing in a long time!
2. Came back to the house after milking and there's a van in the driveway. Alpaca lady.
She was being proper and was staying in her car writing me a note. She wants some milk. I got her out of here relatively painlessly and she'll be coming back today for some milk. I've decided to just give it to her. It's illegal for me to sell milk and I don't even want to get into something like that with her, so I'll just do her a favor when I have extra because I dump it out anyway.
2. There's a little storefront/ warehouse/ office space on Main Street I have had my eye on for over a year as it has sat empty with a "For Rent" sign on it. It's in a funky spot (good!) and would be a good space to set my loom up for the winter just to get something to do on long rainy days. Our house is just too small to set up the huge thing here.
I have taken the ph# in the past, but never called, but winter coming again I had renewed interest. Then, I saw my moment.
A good friend and local celeb ( the King Of Camp Weott!!) was there talking to the owner who operates a body shop next door, so I though I could make points by going in right then.
I pulled in and looked in and got a pen and paper just as FP was pulling out, I yelled hello and chatted for a moment before he left. Then the owner saw me and came over and we talked about the space. All good...we shall see. "What do you want to do with it" he asked. I told him. I asked " How much is the rent"..
"Oh, well, I don't know.."
Hmmm.....stay tuned.
3. I went back to town with the old truck ( the one people recognize me in...) and got some more hog panels to finish ( for now) the hill fence. On my way back through town I hear someone screeching at me "HEY LADY!!!" OMG it is my very very old friend, ex con and outlaw and all around scary and crazy friend Kiki. She's been in prison and I haven't seen her in years, since long before her current troubles. Last time we talked she was really mad for no reason and completely dumped me . She's a rough old time cowboy type, taught me lots about cowboying and dogs and horses and saddlemaking and everything that goes with being a real mountain cowboy. We even used to cowboy ( for money!) together out in the hills.
We talked on the sidewalk for a long time. Of course she is in town for another court date. It was actually great to see her, she looked really good like she hadn't changed in all these years.
4. I wasn't home 10 minutes before Gerry,the AI guy is in the driveway to fill my semen tank. I knew he would be coming but it had slipped my mind ( he comes at the beginning of the month, 3x a year). So we chatted and bs'd while he filled the tank. My tank is at the milk barn this time so we went up there He saw my little milk house (we built 2 years ago) and said "Did someone used to milk here? This looks like an old milk house!" What a funny thing to say! I mean, it's just a square little barn, it's funny he thought that. He's an old dairyman from a family of dairymen and has been ai'ing cows in this valley forever.
He saw my "Redwood Empire Dairy" tin sign in the barn and we talked about John Giacomini, who had just passed away, and from who's dairy ( and rummage sale) I had gotten the sign. Gerry told me all about the dairy ( his dad had been the first producer for Redwood Empire Dairy!)
4. To wrap up the day..not really a personal experience, but last night on David Letterman, Guy Fieri, the chef, was a guest. ("You know, Jim and Penny's kid..")
He's a Ferndale kid, and sure enough he got to talking about being a kid and he mentions Ferndale. HILARIOUS!!! "It's an awesome little Northern California town, just like Mayberry".
He even mentions our Fair.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
On top of all of that I was trying to make some sourdough ( that didn't work out well as I kept getting sidetracked and a the rising timings were way off..), made cream of spinach soup from my spinach and goats milk, and I was trying to set cheese cultures, which I have never done before.
The soup was good!!!!
Today I was all set to do the all day milk test even though I hadn't heard from my boss ( ahem..) but when I just called, I get a reprieve!!! Her kid is going to do it! YAY!!! NO COWS THIS MONTH!!!
Go Yankees!! |
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| Gettin' all foodie. |
[Nov. 2nd, 2009|11:30 am] |
So the refrigerator pickle recipe is a HUGE success!
I got brave and tried one this morning and I actually gasped, they were that delicious. New pickles just as I was hoping for! Fresh and crisp and oh SO YUMMY!! Why haven't I done this recipe before?
In other foodie news I have a sourdough dough on it's first rising and I am pasteurizing some milk to grow some cheese culture . I have culture for cheddar and for parmesan, so I'll start them today. I didn't know that these cultures can be grown and perpetuated like yogurt ( or sourdough!) The lack of knowledge I have about cheese is immense.
And I think I'll make a cream of something soup for lunch. Hmm, spinach? Chard? Potatoes? All sounds good. And I have a little piece of the last sourdough loaf to go with it. |
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| Sunshine!!!!! |
[Nov. 2nd, 2009|09:12 am] |
I just can't believe how beautiful the weather has been, and it looks like we have more to come. The sun actually has warmth to it. This makes me so happy!
I spent the afternoon tearing out the rest of the fence by the hay shed and clearing that all out. I am really happy with the way this space is taking shape.
The site is to the left of the little milk house.
Ted is back to work but is gone to Portland until tonight.
Watched "The Botany of Desire" on Saturday ; that was really good; farmy! You just don't get a lot of farmy programming on TV. I'll try to catch it again as there was a lot of information. I guess it's based on a book I might like to read. The things I did not know about apples!
Michael Pollan is like a lot of prophets; he is a reasonable person but his disciples are not. He is a pretty sensible and open minded person, those that follow him ( kinda like Jesus, Dylan, etc) take his words and twist them to fit their own agendas. I guess reading his books would be a good idea just to arm myself against the food fanatics .
And one more shot of a day in the sun.The neighbor's sheep
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| halloween |
[Nov. 1st, 2009|09:29 am] |
I went in costume. I came up with a good one. I took a sheet and cut 2 eye holes in it. I was a SCARY GHOST!!
Except I used a fitted sheet. A plaid flannel one. OOOHHH SPOOKY!!!! I crack myself up.
I must say that was super awesome to wear and I can see some advantages of the burka. It was like being invisible!
Next year I think I'll go as Scout as the ham.
The Palace was rocking when we got there and I was amazed at the elaborate costumes. I mean people really went all out.
There was an entire group on a video game theme complete with 2 girls with laptops and desks hanging from them ( a la the tiparillo girls). Also Raggedy Ann and Andy, an Anaheim Angel, and some really out there costumes. Srsly.
2/3 of the band was in drag, including their 7 ft tall drummer (where did he find clothes to fit?) and the lead guitar was in a skimpy sundress in which he looked a little too good.
They couldn't get Josh to do it, so he had his typical NY tough guy w/ vampire blood outfit.
Anyway now we are on to November and Ted is back to work.
On the hay shed project; I realized that there are 3-4 alder trees precariously close to where I am working and it makes a lot of sense to cut them down before they fall down (one is already leaning and will fall directly on the barn when it goes), so that will be a big project before too much more gets done. This will involve undoing the neighbors fence ( because the trees will fall on their fence), and dealing with getting the trees out of the road quickly, so as not to hold anyone up. One is a pretty big tree but Ted seems to think he can do it. Pretty scary.
It will certainly make it sunnier in there and open that whole area up, which will be a huge improvement.
I did my breeding book updating and everyone is bred but 2 '09 kids I will breed in the next few weeks. I can't believe I'm done already; man that went fast.
I got my cheese cultures from the New England Cheesemaking Company yesterday and I'm going to try to make some cheddars and some more parmesans. Why not. I think 1 gallon makes a too small of a cheese so ( as was suggested) they will be 2 gallon cheeses which will make app. 2 lb cheeses. |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 31st, 2009|11:41 am] |
The last day of dust season 2009
A little bird flew in the window and wouldn't leave
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| So nice out |
[Oct. 31st, 2009|09:52 am] |
The weather has been so lovely, I've even been leaving some windows open at night and it's not even close to cold. The sun has been out, no wind, just lovely warm weather.
I checked my entries for a year ago and the weather was similar, but then the rain started on October 31st. I don't see ANY rain in the near forecast. YAY!!!!
I went to get hay yesterday and that was about all I got done. I had no energy or interest in anything all day. I took a nap and pretty much did nothing else but chores. I hardly even ate anything. I do feel more motivated today. I still am not sleeping well, but I think I got more sleep last night than I have in days.
I went over my breedings and it looks like almost everyone is bred! That's pretty awesome, and it's early! I had a lot more open does this time last year. And if my book is right ( I'm pretty good at writing stuff down) I think my new Lamancha buck, Zander, is finally settling does. All it took was the trip to the vet, as happens so often. No, the vet did absolutely NOTHING, but usually when it gets to the point I involve the vet, the thing either gets fixed or dies. I also ran into his breeder at the dollar store and mentioned it to him, so maybe the universe needed that little push. Anyway, according to my book, Zero ( Visa's '09 daughter) has settled bred to him on Oct 4th, and unless I missed a heat ( possible) she is the first.
My first does will kid at the end of January, starting with my very very old doe, Symmetra (she'll be either 13 or 14 next year). She has always bred early, and was one of the first does to go through my new milk barn when I had my dairy.
Ooh, I just found a cool breeding/ kidding spreadsheet; I might have to look into this..
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeding-kidding_sheet.html
Here's a pic of Symmetra (Josh named her when he was in his Greek Myth phase when he was...8?!)
after I rescued her back from the Arcata dairy. She's in much better shape now.
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| Dark Hollow Report |
[Oct. 29th, 2009|09:27 am] |
It's not just the digging the hole, mixing the gravel and filling the forms, it's the hour of cleaning I have to do before I set each footing. I know, I could have been doing this all summer, Shut up!
At least it is getting cleaned out. 3 years worth of hay, and those fckng errant strings...they SUCK.
So I got another footing done, after also spending forever to make sure I had a square corner. I checked it so many times that if it's off I will lose my mind. I am starting the middle footings, and with the next one I'll be halfway done with them all. Stirring that cement is insanely hard...I think I'll start asking around for a cement mixer.
I am pretty happy with how the footprint is situated; I thought a long time about just how to put that shed in the spot, as I had put the milk house on a funny angle, (parallel to the fenceline). I have made the hay shed parallel to the road instead, and I think it has worked out well. I am working with a long narrow piece of ground, as our hill practically rises straight up from the road. The hay shed is also long and narrow ( 12 X 20) and fits in there really nicely. I will also have room to extend it if I ever decide to.
Ted has done a fantastic job and the entire stairwell is almost all sheet rocked. What a difference that has made, in brightness, and cleanliness! There's only a few more places that need sheet rock and that portion of the house is done! Of course, the drywall mudding comes next...
I took those last cukes and put them in a glass gallon jar with pickling spices and vinegar and put the whole mess in the refrig. I mean, what could go wrong? I haven't tried this method before.
I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights; not sure what is going on. I just wake up.
Today I need to get hay, do some repair on the buck shed where they decided to remodel, and continue cleaning out for the next footing. I'd also like to finish the shelf brackets I started for my steel shelf and maybe start working on the next 2 milkstands. I think I'll build 2 at once this time. |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 28th, 2009|11:48 am] |
My sourdough project has progressed nicely and I produced 2 very nice loaves yesterday. They have almost exactly the right texture I am trying for; spongy but light and chewy, the sourness almost squishes out when you chew it. Some things I changed were moving the rack higher in the oven ( better bottom crust), and being more patient with the risings.
I read some good tips on basic breadmaking and found a good site specifically on sourdough in order to know for sure when each rising is done which helped immensely ( poke!)
I resist learning the nuts and bolts of processes (too hard...whine..) but of course the information almost always clarifies them for me.
I might be so bold as to say that I have 2 does bred AI this year. They are far enough past when they might come back in so I can start being optimistic. Of course one of the breedings now I am not too sure about, as in breeding big Keight ("that saanen typed doe")to a saanen, but oh well. She'll probably have bucks anyway.
But good news is Vague bred to ++*B GCH Sodium Oaks Yreka, and that was the last straw I had of him. I'm pretty happy about that.
I think everyone else is bred, except for a few of the '09 kids; I might breed a few next month when they are a little bigger.
The sun is out, it's windy ( good for drying things out!!) and no rain in the forecast. I hope to get at least 1 footing for the hay shed done today, and I have to go get hay sometime soon.
Ted is putting up some of the last sheet rock the house needs, which is in the stairwell. We had our first fire in the stove yesterday, which certainly helped with the bread rising.
That fcking Bejeweled Blitz is absolutely kicking my ass. |
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| Missed semi family reunion |
[Oct. 26th, 2009|02:06 pm] |
A bunch of my cousins got together in New York this past weekend, and I am really sorry I missed it.
Morgan, Leon, Nilza and Jackie and I think that is Stevie in the background.
This is like 1/4 of all Shevetts alive today.
I'll definitely be there next time... |
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| Go Yankees! |
[Oct. 24th, 2009|09:31 am] |
Welding:
I am done with the next milkstand and am now painting it; this one will get picked up, as it is going to Arcata. I still have 2 1/2 more on order.
I did some research on line trying to improve my welds and I have had some great results. I feel much more "in the zone" now, mostly due to checking my angle and cleaning my helmet (d'oh) so I can actually SEE. I am well over 50% really good welds now, closer to 60% or more. Little tips on welding different thicknesses and comparing (and understanding) push vs pull have really helped. Still using the fluxcore but I am getting much much better results.
I have also had a meeting of the minds with my bench grinder. After a few unsatisfactory tries at using it, it has sat unused for years. So after thinking, shopping, and researching I had another go at using it, mostly to clean up the burrs off my cuts. Well that is working out quite well and better than the "clamp, grind, unclamp, clamp, grind" method I was using before.
And lastly, I got a set of headphones for the noise, after having frustration with my earplugs ( why do I have such trouble getting them to set right???) and they are really working out great. Not sure how I feel about a hobby that needs heavy gloves and headphones..( I tend to be very loud sound sensitive, although I do turn the stereo up to 11..).
Social:
Alpaca lady returns. In my driveway. With a van full of alpacas. Of which I only have a "car wreck" curiosity, as camelids interest me not at all. "Did I have any milk" as she had a baby who she didn't think was sucking. She tells us that she is moving ( or has moved, I wasn't listening much) her 5th wheel on to her property and living in it for the winter. OK then.
I was very short with her, and Ted noticed and actually came out, worried that I would be so mean to her as to give her a heart attack. Yes, I can kill. (BTW I wasn't mean, just short. I REALLY don't like people just showing up, uninvited and unannounced, in my driveway, especially if they are wanting something, and most especially if they are CRAZY)
She says she wants to buy milk on a regular basis. Not sure if this is a good thing.
Oh and when I asked if she had, you know, a container (for the milk)? She hands me a filthy jar, which I had to clean out. Yeah, you can bet I was short with her. I don't need no stinking new friends.
Friend coming over today to take the lil pygmy doe away. As much as I really like her (the goat, that is), she just doesn't fit into the program here, and has taken to sneaking in behind me anytime I open a gate and I'm tired of chasing after her to throw her out.
Construction:
Mostly more cleaning of my site as I am into the hay zone mess for the next footings. I have the cement for the next one so hopefully I'll get one done today. Without a ball game last night I had a lovely evening puttering around the goat yard. Those ball games are taking up a lot of my time, but not complaining, as there will be no baseball at all very soon and we will be plunged into winter.
T is home for vacation this week, maybe I can talk him into helping me with the hay shed some.
I don't mind doing it all myself, but I am so slow. I would like to get the next 4 ( center) footings done, so if (when) the rain returns I can put up half of the roof at least.
The weather has been really nice and the rain has let off. It's been warm enough to have the windows open all night for days now. Things are damp and it's drippy at night, but it's actually drying up a lot since the drenching we got a few weeks ago, surprisingly enough. |
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