Saturday, October 31, 2015

Halloween hay.......

I have to say that we have had some beautiful fall weather this year... temps have been warm and I feel like we have had extra time to get ready for the winter days ahead. So it seems that Halloween this year is going to be "warm".. which means for this little "fire fighter".. we'll be able to see his costume. In our little town "trick or treat" is done on the night before Halloween.... we called it 'beggar's night".... and Reagan was well on his way collecting goods in the afternoon....
We don't make a "big deal" over Halloween in our family... and personally I don't like all the creepy things it brings out. I'm actually happy when this "holiday" is over.... but we do try to enjoy the light and happy side of it. As a child, I had many happy Halloweens trick or treating with friends, while the grown ups walked with us, carring the flash lights and cups of coffee to stay warm. I also remember the "fits" we used to pitch when our heavy winter coats covered over our costumes... we would pick freezing just so we could show off.. but our folks would always say no....... we ran from house to house in the local area.. and then come home and dump our goods all over the floor and sort threw them....
Halloween doesn't feel that way to me anymore, and not just because I'm grown up... it seems to have taken on a very creepy feel... so we work "hard" to keep it fun for the little ones and steer clear of the bad....

After showing off his outfit and collecting a few treats from "meme".... Reagan pulled out the marble game.. (narble game in his words) and we sat on the floor and let the marbles run in the little track. This game has been a huge favorite of many kids.. my parents bought it years ago in the Amish country and brought it home. Reagan loves to make the marbles "run"... and it's so much fun to see how entertaining a simple toy can be.... 
We all visited and played together, and then it was time to suit up and head out again for trick or treat......
someone is anxious to get started.....
Happy Halloween!!!!
So.. back to farm chores... it was a bad year for hay... the field that we usually buy from produced just a little` more than half  of it's usual yield. I bought all that I could back in July, but with seven horses on the farm now, I was getting nervous about making it threw the winter. I feel like I always get like this and come spring we have extra... but I like to be sure. I like to feed heavy when it's cold and the last thing I want to do is look for hay in March....
"Father" told me that he had some hay in his barn that he would sell me, and we "just" needed to go and collect it.... so.. with a beautiful fall day and no signs of rain.. we took the day and went for the hay. He wasn't exactly sure how much there way, but it took us two loads to bring it home and now I feel happy that the loft is nice and full....
After we were loaded, I took some time to look around Father's barn. It's a beauty.. built in the 1800's and has been taken care of it's whole life. There is just something so grand in old barns... I often wish they could talk and tell their stories...
But I have found that if you just look closely, and listen carefully... you can "hear" the stories they have to share. Big New England barns... with huge walk threw doors are just my favorite and when we built our barn, I tried to keep with that tradition. Maybe one day, our barn with fit in with this class... but right now.. it works well for me and gives our horses a safe and happy home.....
Father said he's happy to have this hay out of the barn.... he has some work to do with it this year and with the hay moved, he can easily get to the places that need attention... I of course, am happy to have that hay out of this barn and in mine!!!!
Because we all know.. these blue skies and warm temps aren't going to hang around long...


and as they say... "make hay while the sun shines".....

Sunday, October 25, 2015

grand's weekend...

One draw back with warm fall temps... the colors on the trees has been very late in coming this year... usually by now the edge of the fields are full of color... but this year, it's only beginning to change. It's going to take a good old frost to get things moving....
Not to say that there isn't any color, but we are still waiting. Still though, it's a pretty view on my trek down to the barn in the mornings...

The first true and heavy frost arrived on the 23rd.... 
and it almost had a "snow" look about it. As pretty as it is, now I feel that nesting thing beginning to take hold and I see all the fall things that still need to "get done" before long.... we need more hay in the barn... wood stacked.. bees buttoned up, and the list goes on and on....
Time to hussle......
Chances are however, we won't get much of that done with weekend.... because the "grands" are coming to stay!!!! Abi of course stays over often, and lived here for a few years... so sleep overs are nothing new to her...
But it is Reagan's first sleep over ..... and we have been more than excited about having him come!!!! I picked them up this afternoon and we headed to the farm with the jeep full of "supplies"....
We have been doing work on the round pen... taking out the hard ground, and bringing in sand and better footing for the horses. Since it's not high on the list, it's a project that has been sitting for a while....
But when the grands saw those big piles of sand... what is better than a giant sandbox to play in. So while I got the evening chores done.. they two of them were more than happy to drive trucks (and tractors) threw the piles... this entertained them for hours....

Reagan told me that "Kevin" (his tractor) was very happy with the piles and that they could get it all smoothed in out in no time.. (I so wished)....
When Papa got home from work... we were still all there.... and only darkness and the promise of supper pulled those two off the piles.....
So so so much fun to have kiddos at the table tonite!!!!!

And the living room soon filled with toys and games......they play so well together now.. Reagan tells Abi all about the tractors and she tells him all about the horses... and it doesn't take long for the two to come together....
They did great, but I had some reservations about how things would go after it got dark. I just decided that bed time would be when bed time was... and that idea worked well. They stayed up fairly late, but once the sleeps set in... everyone settled in for the night and we had a peaceful rest......

Kassy came by the next day to get Reagan and we all went out to breakfast and then headed over to the shop. Dave is putting a big addition on the building.... and this past week the foundation was poured.... he bought a steel building to be the addition and this weekend, the men folk have been working on getting up.....
We were excited to see how the progress was going, and of course watch the equipment working.... so over we went to watch...
Dave, Ed, Nate and Sean worked all weekend... they work well together so the whole project went very well. I know I keep bragging on the weather, but it's been a real plus when things like this need to be done.... and today was no exception...
Reagan was happy to help Daddy drive the man lift....
Sean seems comfortable working in the high spots....
Ed had the job of the line up on the ground and Dave putting the pieces in place.... and that's how they worked all weekend. By Sunday afternoon... the structure was all up and looking good. It's hopes that the roof and walls will be up before bad weather.... but times slips by fast......
My little group of veterans and dogs are growing and doing well. These folks all passed the Canine Good Citizen test this past week......
They're such a nice group of folks and the word is getting out there and new students are waiting to  join in...

one thing for sure, my life is never dull or not busy... but I really don't want it any other way....

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

a busy month....

I feel like "the season" has begun. I have always liked fall the best, but I think there is more to do in the fall than almost there is at Christmas time. Today was the start of the Harvestfest  and since it's run for three days, we like to go on the Friday when it's not so busy. Diana and Alana joined us this year, and we put the babies in the buggies and walked up to see what was going on. The day was a bit dreary.. but with such a fun thing to do.. what does that really matter.


The sun began to peak out, it was fun to poke threw the vendors and see their wares... and actually I was looking for a wedding present for a wedding on this same weekend. We had a nice lunch under the tents and saw a lot of the local people and friends. 

Last year, Reagan had a "real" thing for pumpkins... I can't even remember how many they actually bought... he almost began a pumpkin collection, so I had wondered if he would feel the same about them this year....


He was  beyond thrilled when he saw the pumpkin patch... Kass had to be very strict and tell him just two... because I have a feeling that these are just the first two that will be coming home with them...

Yes.... certainly one of the best times of the year
so.. I did find a wedding gift at Harvest fest .. a nice pottery plate that I was really pleased about. And it was off to the wedding of our friends Jackie and Gardner. 

Gardner is a lobsterman, so the wedding theme was based on that.. as well as the beautiful fall . It was held outside under a big tent and so many of our friends were there.

Here's the groom... we have been friends for many many years. And, in fact, people have often thought that Ed and Gardner were brothers. Looking at this photo, you could see why....

The ceremony was held outside... it was filled with wisdom, humor and joy. Perfect for Jackie and Gardner... they're quiet, easy going people and their wedding vows reflected that.

They had a big turnout, I think almost everyone they invited came..... and afterwards.. it was a big celebration.


I liked the way the tables were decorated.....

And the wedding cake was almost too pretty to eat. Actually we were each given a sunflower cupcake... I really liked that idea... instead of one big cake that needed to be cut... the little cupcakes were passed out and the cake was saved for the bride and groom


So many fun things... after Harvestfest weekend and the wedding... fall becomes busy. I had hoped this would show better in the photo.. but it's a Halloween decoration along route 1.  All summer the road has been under construction.. traffic a nightmare... so... these folks set up this decoration showing what a "nightmare" it has been. It was very clever... had moving parts, and I had to think of not only how did they come up with the plan of it all... but just the effort to bring it all to life...


Trying to get a jump on some of the things to be done before winter... it was time to spread the manure. I am so happy we are able to do this... not only is it good for the pasture, but it gets rid of the pile. And with seven horses on the farm... the pile gets big... quick!!!



The pile is "hot".. which is good because it's beginning to break down and will be good fertilizer for the fields...

I thought for sure we would have more than enough.. but it's surprising how either big the field is, or how small the pile is. We didn't have quite enough manure to spread over the whole field.. but at least we got a good part of it done... and the pile is all gone and ready to begin again.

A little rain shower came in while we were working... but all the better....


The turkeys are doing well... I'm a bit disappointed that they haven't grown as big as the traditional white meat turkeys grow. I'sure they will be good, but I think they're going to be small.... we have pretty much decided we won't be raising this type of bird again. When we do turkeys the next time, we'll go back to the white meat birds. 


The trees along the pasture edge are in full color, and each day I enjoy this beautiful scene