Filed under: August 2019 | Tags: beneficial insects, cycle of life, end of summer, fenceline weaning, lambing, pasture
August 31, 2019
Today is the last day of August. Summer is coming to a close. It feels like summer just started, but alas, she’s gone. The praying mantis in the photo, was sitting on the roof of the meat chicken’s pen. This healthy, beneficial insect and good neighbor, was looking for a meal. I think in preparation for the coming fall and winter days.
Our ewe flock grazing in the sunrise. They were recently separated from their lambs. Weaning time is a bit stressful for all involved. We wean in a way where moms and babies can see each other and often even rub noses. The lambs just can’t nurse. Once they realize they don’t need milk anymore, things start to quiet down. Mom’s udder shrinks and dries up too. She can rest up and fatten up some before the upcoming breeding season.
The lambs also graze on the lush morning pasture. They are very content now. In a couple weeks, the two groups will be put back together. The weather lambs will be separated from the ewes. The weathers will be fattened for freezer camp. The ewes will all be put together and put on our best fall pastures. They will enjoy full bellies and comfort. The ram will come to visit in early December, starting the whole cycle over again.
The days grow shorter. I am trying to cram a few extra jobs into my schedule, for I know soon we will be wrapping things up for winter, But I will cling to these days on the edge of summer. I will enjoy a few cool mornings and sit on the patio after chores in the evening, as autumn closes in, enjoying the cycle of life on the farm.
Filed under: August 2019 | Tags: anniversary, Cumberland Maryland, home, vacation, Western Maryland
August 27, 2019
My wife and I celebrate 27 years of marriage today. We snuck off last weekend to Cumberland Maryland. We rode an old-fashioned train, visited a few museums, learned some history and enjoyed each other’s company.
We unknowingly wound up there during their “River and Rails” festival. We got to watch two live outdoor concerts, enjoyed a few nice meals and even watched fireworks! The Western Maryland train took us to Frostburg where we saw a very neat buggy and carriage museum. We met some new friends there and enjoyed the pretty sights out the train windows.
The area is also known for the “Cumberland & Ohio” canal system. The bronze mule and boy in the picture above were replicas from that era. The trip was fun. The company was awesome. A needed escape to get away from our hectic life was a nice change….but as much fun as it was to go…There’s no place like home!
Filed under: August 2019 | Tags: blacksmith, forging, home blacksmithing, moonrise, Small Farming
August 22, 2019
Summer is fading fast. The month of June was fleeting due to all the rainfall. The work of June got pushed into July. We worked steady in July and did a pretty good job of catching things back up. We even worked into the dark on occasion. The rising August full moon a few days ago, was beautiful. It made for a good time for reflecting on work that had been done, fun that we squeezed in and pointed towards the work to come.
The first parts of August were muggy and hot, even steamy. The rains started their pattern of coming about every two days. When it fell, it came hard with winds and fury. The grasses are growing, so more hay will hopefully get made. The field corn looks good and most things are staying green. I have been staying busy in the forge shop and around the farm.
Shelf brackets and twisted steel bracing, that I made for our daughter’s house. Fun project so far.
I put a new seat in the skid steer after sitting on a cat food bag for over a year! My wife and her little fingers helped with this project. Evidently, the workers at the “Daewoo” factory have much smaller hands than these old mitts of mine! In any case, we got it done. It makes me wonder why I waited so long. The cracked and worn seat gave me a wet butt for a year before it became so tattered that cat food bag was necessary, which got me another year. I can say that I used the old seat up! This one is much better.
The weather will break. Our early autumn and late summer days will be filled with plenty to do. I am mostly ready. The last piece of equipment needing attention is the corn picker. I will get it ready for the harvest soon. First I need to finish the job of haying. Then clean and store the hay equipment. Following that job, I will move on to plowing and preparing the soil for our fall planted speltz crop. Then the corn harvest will commence. If the weather won’t allow for machine harvest, I will pick the 3 acres by hand…more on this job later.
Like the ant in the old fable, we are busy preparing for the coming winter. I suggest in the world of grasshoppers and ants…be the ant!
Filed under: August 2019 | Tags: back porch sitting, County Fair, peace, summer, waning summer days
August 11, 2019
What a summer it has been so far. The crazy wet June, the hot July with it’s flash floods and now the passing of August. Our county fair ends today. It is another one of the benchmarks of summer. Next is the buying of school clothes and the starting of school after the summer break. Geese are starting to gather in the fields and autumn is knocking on the door.
We had some wonderful weather in these last two weeks. Our first cutting hay was all made and stored for winter. I completed cleaning up a log landing area and even managed to attend a farm machinery consignment auction. We still have some summer left and I hope to use up those days with fun, family and farm stuff!
The horses and I will begin spreading the summer compost next week. We will spread on ground that will be plowed and readied for our fall planted speltz crop. Rain is in the forecast for next week, so as always we will work around the weather. Nothing new for farmers, especially this year!
Last evening, I sat and watched the farm from the back porch. The animals were all grazing. The evening was cool, with a slight breeze. The flies and bugs were not biting. The barn swallows flitted about, diving after unseen insects and zipping at the surface of the pond drinking water. There was stillness in the air and a hush on the farm. It was as if everything had paused to enjoy the summer evening. I was glad to have been part of that scene, as the fleeting days of summer passed.
RicelandMeadows 