warmth

After unloading a load of wood from the back of Goliath (yes I named my truck), I am warm.  Even out in the 30 degree weather the body is wonderfully crafted to get warm with work.  Even my round type.

Tom, the maintenance guy at Rob's work had some split wood he let us have.  In fact he has at least another truck load worth that we will probably get later.  Very pleased that we can warm our little house with the wood furnace downstairs.

I still have the propane heater set to go at 55 so we don't freeze any pipes if we are gone during the day or the night happens to get really cold.  But hopefully the amount of propane we have left should keep us good for the winter with that plan.

All the critters seem to be handling the cold.  I had a minor scare with my heated water font for my chickens.  I went in to feed and saw it had frozen and was upset that the brand new font was already broken.  Upon further investigation it was user error: plug in the extension cord.

The goats are fluffy and eating the last of the shrubs that are alive in the woods.  I move their pen almost every day that they are out (weather permitting).

Wednesday I put in the nest box for Bog Mama.  I hope she kindles.  I would really hate to think I spent 25 dollars on a dud of a rabbit.

Mom and Dad will be coming up Wednesday and staying for Thanksgiving.  Dad is bringing a new blade for the chain saw.

Yep, I failed at cutting down a tree.  Well, let me correct that.  The tree came down, but it scared me cause it didn't fall in the direction I had cut the wedge and it trapped the blade of the saw as it started to fall.  I didn't try real hard to pull it free, I was more concerned with ducking behind the big cedar near by.  So the tree came down and gave a slight curve to the blade of the saw.  I was able to get it running again but I don't think it would be a good idea to use it.

So one tree down and one chainsaw busted.  Hopefully Dad can fix it.  And the battle to clear some land will continue.

Old Dog

Well I suppose I can put up with cold weather for the sake of my old dog, Khain. In a complete affront to the common theory that cold weather makes you hurt more he seems to enjoy it. Maybe he is a masochist, wouldn't surprise me.  He runs around like a fool, can run up and down the deck steps and enjoys his frozen rabbit .... pellets.

 Me and Squire prefer the warm life.

 And Bone just wants to be with people.

Thank you Vets!

So Rob and my friends don't like the sound of Gumption Farm.  I am still thinking on the name.  I may stay with it and force it to grow on them like some awful grafting, but for now the name is on hold.

The goats helped clear the garden.

I did a walk about and now know exactly where I want my boundary fence.  I could have used another can of purple spray paint.  (Not because I have anything against hunting - I just don't want my critters shot)

Tomorrow the temperatures are supposed to dip real cold and there is a possibility for flurries.

Winter, how I loathe thee.

So I need to get to work on getting Rob's car a new oil pan drain plug since his was rounded off sometime in the past.  (maybe before we got it but I thought he had changed the oil since we did - maybe not).

We have the table set up downstairs so now we can host game nights (hurray!)

Also thank you to my dad and every other vet out there.  Have a good Veterans Day!

Learn by doing

Some people don't like that little motto.  I stole it off a friend that used to be in the Navy.  Not sure where he got it, but this is the only credit I am giving him. :)
We all start somewhere in learning to do things.  Be it walking, talking, or hula hoop.  Most things you have to learn by doing them.  I have yet to hear of someone reading about riding a bike and then getting on one for the first time and riding successfully.
It requires gumption - a favorite word of mine.
In fact I am thinking of naming the farm : Gumption Farm.
It has a lot of try in it, it is a funny sounding word, and yet it means so much in what I am trying to do (with Rob's help - and a lot of other people).
I know everything won't be rosy all the time, but nothing ever is; not even roses.

And what made me think that I could possible do anything like this?  Oddly a blog.  Coldantler farm.  (Beyond other people believing me in my hair-brained ideas)  This is what made me say "F it, you only live once!"

I would rather die trying than live never having tried.

So here she is, Jenna, and her scrappy little farm in New York.
http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/11/perspective.html#links

Oh hey there November!

Seems like October went by way too fast.  Halloween didn't have the party like I had thought about having but we did get all the critters and Rob moved in, got them all housed, and have feed. (Yes for Rob too).  The chickens are growing like weeds.

 Developing their combs.  I am still not sure how many are cockrels but I know my favorite grey one is, so he will get to live on and be the rooster of the brood.  I hope the hens produce more grey birds like him.  I need to find a good picture of him (or take one).

 Since the chickens were growing so well we needed to build them a bigger brooder. So we moved them into what looked like a work room in the garage (now more barn).  It let them spread out more and I could put in a bigger feeder and waterer.  They were going through their quart size ones every twelve hours.

 You see that little gap all pallets have?  Did you know that if you put the gate on the outside of it the chickens can get through that?  I need to learn to think more like a chicken.  Only two escaped (that I know of).  They weren't too keen on going far.  The red one was sitting on one of the iron girders the room is built on and I caught it and put it back in.  The black one walked out will I was feeding and all I could do was stand there and stare as it wandered under the floor.  If I reached for it I knew it would just run further, it was in the two foot gap between the hay and the brooder..  I hollered for Rob but he and Kevin (thank you for the help again) were in the midst of working on stuff.  I talked, asked, begged, cajoled, and eventually the chicken listed (it was chirping for its buddies) and it walked back in on its own.  And I learned a valuable lesson about chickens and pallets.

Everyone is getting comfy and snug for the winter and we are doing well heating the house with just wood so far.  We will need to get some more wood soon though.  We have a little left up in St. Louis that is seasoned we can bring down but it won't last through the colder weather coming.  I am trying to decide what would be cheaper, a few cords of wood or some propane.  I will be cutting down some trees to start clearing the land and so we can have the dry for next year.