Ordered the replacement needle for the hay baler this morning, it's not usable without it. Hopefully it will ship tomorrow. The tractor clutch came quicker than I thought, so maybe the baler part will as well (Murphy, stay out of this !)
Jim and Jenny spent some time admiring our dirt today :) Thanks guys, hopefully after some rain (or watering) our seedlings will be more visible. Our other Sunday herd-share owner is not doing so well, in a Chicago hospital - prayers with you Heather. Beth popped over to pick up some eggs, her chickens aren't laying at present. She has the cutest Yorki-Poo. Sort of a rescue dog from CL who looks very much like Sargeant, except with much more black. Otherwise, the same little face, but a lap dog not a farm dog like Sarge, Tigger is beautiful, Beth. Hope he brings you lots of joy.
Sargeant is doing much better, the little shit ! He's taken to peeing on the fridge in the garage again. It's a territorial thing, which is why I don't allow him in the house anymore. Find little wet spots all over the place, or rather, dry yellow spots. In the morning, he trots a little route, peeing at designated spots, and in the evening, Rosco trots the same route, peeing at the designated spots ! When we to to Tractor Supply I put him in the trolley as I can't keep him from peeing all over the store. The joys of boy dogs. Girls are so much more civilised LOL.
Anni chased Jim and Jenny down the driveway today, so was tied to the tree in the side garden. Needed a little reminder of what she is not allowed to do. I don't fight with her anymore about it, just call her to the tie lead attached to the tree and leave her there for a while. She yips to show her dislike of it, but I think she understands that she's been punished. Wanda escaped again today, but she came to me in the garage without passing, and eating, the roses. Put an old metal mesh dome over the burning bush to protect it from the chickens today. The geese have taken to congregating in the front of the sheep pen, outside their water. Not sure why, they have their own larger pond in the chicken yard.. Actually saw one of the pekin ducks who lives in the sheep enclosure swimming and bathing in the sheep trough today.
Talking about sheep, I peeled Buttercup today. Well partially, her fleece is just peeling off, it's rather cool. Doesn't seem to hurt her, so I've taken in off her back and partially from her sides, but she is more interested in eating than standing for me to peel her ! The girl alpacas lie in the new enclosure by the cow water trough, so I was thinking that I could pen them in and then take them to the barn for shearing. Think I could use that blue restraint thing for it. Have a halter on Frogz, so should probably put one on Abby and Elli, then could get them used to being on a lead. Somehow think it will be more difficult to get Cavvie to oblige.
Have to catch Gabriel tomorrow and take him up to Morley. Wonder how that will go :)
Herbie helped me take the windows and doors off the truck today. Drove it down to the lower barn and lent them up against one of the walls. Thought that one of the storm doors would fit the damaged door in the chicken house, but no, it's 2 inches longer and a smigeon less on width. Actually the perfect size of the other chicken house door, the undamaged one ! Maybe we should re-name the farm Murphys' Acres ! The people I picked up the windows from in Lowell, Robin, her husband and their 5-year-old, Bruce, want to come and visit the farm. Isn't that great ? Slowly slowly, more people are getting to know about us. All that time spent putting us on different websites, having farm business cards, is paying off. Now if we can just get it to make more money.
Started to speak to our herd-share owners about increasing our monthly boarding fees a little. See the article under the following link : http://www.wellfedhomestead.com/the-cost-of-producing-raw-milk, will have to copy and paste into your browser, which gives a reality check on the costs of doing dairy farming. It's horrible to have to ask for a little more money, but everything is increasing, just unfortunately not everyones' salaries !
Spent the afternoon running the hosepipes into the vegetable garden. There is a 30% chance of rain tonight, and the same for the next 5 days, but if it doesn't, will need to start watering again. Please not a drought like last year ! I can see the purslane popping up over the whole vegetable garden. Tiny little pink sprouts. I asked Herbie this morning if he thought a stiff bristled broom would rub them all out, but no, he doesn't think so, suggested maybe a rake ? Watered the paw paws, elderberries, lavender and strawberries until it was too dark to see what I was watering.
Well, need to unpack the dishwasher, and re-pack it with the dishes cluttering up the kitchen, then it's off to bed for me.