RicelandMeadows

                                                                 May 16, 2011

     Another inch and a half of rain fell on Sunday and through last night. There will be no field work for quite awhile now. I am working on a sugarhouse addition for wood storage. It is coming along. The water is standing and the mud is all about, but the work progresses.

     I built the sugarhouse in a little valley so gravity would be my friend. The water likes the valley too, so now gravel will become my friend 😮   It seemed like such a good idea, but then we put electricity in anyway and will pump the sap so gravity won’t be needed as much.

     The little valley is shaping up nicely as I improve it over time. We have added some drainage with more planned. We have removed nasty brush and brambles. We plan to do some more dirt work this summer when it dries out along with a small amount of cement in the sugarhouse.

     My slow down with the livestock will easily be replaced with other planned jobs. I will be able to work on a list that has grown since us coming to this farm. If I live to be 160 I might complete my list. I don’t mind, I want to be busy and not bored, so far that has not been a problem.

     The twins are doing very well. They are old pros with the bottle now. Our sow, Mouse, had 10 piglets yesterday, mom and babies doing well. The lambs continue to hit the pasture and seem to be enjoying the rainy days. They play and jump in puddles just like children… much to the dismay of their mothers.

     Grass in the lawn, pastures and hay fields contiunues to grow like mad. There is no chance for spring plowing or field work, but with the babies coming and the never ending list.. at least I am making progress!