Had another pasture bonfire last night. With good company, Jason and Cindy walked up, and Jackie and Gary came over, thanks for the s'mores fixins ! The wood wad a little damp and took lots of encouragement, but once it was crackling, we all enjoyed the warmth ! Moving closer, chasing cows out the way, moving out of the smoke. Way cool to watch the cows enjoying the warmth. The Jerseys, not the Scottish Highlands ! They stay further back. When a cow steps between you and the fire, it's like the heat is switched off, amazing. They stand in a semi-circle facing the fire, then after a while and their fronts are toasty, turn rump fireside. After about 2 hours, the warm cows wandered off to go sleep. Star tried to drink Jasons' beer, she nosed the glasses and marshmallows in the back of the buggy, nearly stuck her head in the fire - yep, she's our no 1 cow !
Received a wonderful Thank-you from Teri and the ladies in Wheaton, IL who enjoy my eggs. Each wrote a note on how they enjoyed my eggs. So special, thank-you.
Went out to the farm market on North M-66. Told DH about the wonderful cinnamon roll with maple syrup icing I'd had on a trip with Jackie and he was drooling for one. We'd taken the empty bottles back to WallyWorld (a task I hate) as he always uses some of that money for the stuff to change the oil in his car, did some shopping and were both rather hungry. Drove out and they didn't have any. They only bake them on the real week-ends ! Sodding bad luck ! Will have to go get some this week-end, but can't guarantee that DH will get any, they are soooo yummy.
All the sheep are OK. The lump under Ruths' chin has shrunk a little, and the sickly little boy is much better. Should really name Licquourices' boy twins. Got replacement de-wormer today, together with another jar of Iron seeing as the other one broke on the concrete garage floor after slipping. Will give them all another dose tomorrow. Maybe this time DH will get to see me wrestling with the sheep.
Mabel is doing well, as are Starlet and Chuck. At last Bambi knows the milking procedure - only taken her 3 weeks ! Although her bowel control still needs work.
Picked about a bushel of apples, a few from each tree so that there's a nice mix but didn't process yet. Have lots of tomatoes, pumpkin, peppers, potatoes and apples to do. Need to go pick pears, hubbard squash, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes and look at the root vegetables we planted - beetroot, daikon radishes, turnips and the 3 or so carrots.
Pondering how to harvest the soya beans, chickpeas, lentils, amaranthe, flax seed, mustard seed, quinoa, millet, camelina, field corn and the chia. Can't just cut and bale it as there is too much horse nettle in the garden. It's poisonous to all our beasties, but don't know anything about it dried. Will have to do some research.
The barley is dry in the shed and I've bought some cheap aluminum roasting trays so that I can start some fodder.
Still want to make more apple cider. Jackie wants some and I'd like to make Apple Pie Moonshine. Found the Everclear at a party store today, 151 proof, so just need additional apple juice. Will can it, it's supposed to age for a year, but don't know if DH will be able to wait that long. He was with me when I got the Everclear, and heard the shopkeepers recommendations on how to make it and how good it was, so maybe I won't get away with hiding it.
Found 20 eggs yesterday, only 9 today. Oh well, maybe if I got up earlier I'd find more, but it's nearly 3 am here and I'm still bright eyed and bushy tailed. DH had been sleeping for a few hours already. Dogs are barking like crazy outside, doing their job of keeping the vermin away.
Well, goodnight all ;)