We Are Trying

With spring finally here many perennials are trying to get growing.  The asparagus is making some headway, the apples tree are making an effort, and the hops are sprouting up all over the place!

Our first asparagus spear popped up today.

The apple blossoms are trying.

The hops are growing like crazy!

Today was also Ian's second try for a wild turkey.

Seamus and I spent the morning trying to get the box gardens up and running.  I would really like to get some roots vegetables, like carrots, parsnip, beets, daikon, and salsify mammoth, going.

We needed to fill in the gaps with triple mix.

Our pile of leftover triple mix from last spring.

My trusty little helper.

All topped up. 
We just need the soil to dry out a bit more and
Ian should be able to rototill it up.

Where was Alistair during all this trying, you wonder?  We are making a concerted effort to get him to do his naps in his crib instead of in my arms.  He was especially obliging today - I am not sure why but I will take it!

Morning nap.

Afternoon nap.

Bedtime and asleep by 6:30 pm.

The day runs like clockwork when everyone tries their best at the task that they have been given.  If only every day could go so smoothly.

Maintenance Monday

There are many ongoing chores on our farm that require a spurt of our attention every once and a while.

One maintenance activity that we have to do occasionally is livestock pedicures.  Charlie's hooves are done professionally but the maintenance of the goats' and sheep's hooves is our job.  Ian and I have a system. I do the animal catching, flipping and holding. Ian trims the hooves.

Molly and I snuggling.  I can catch and flip Molly and Violet no problem. 
Abbott is more difficult.  He is a big animal under all that wool!

Sheep hooves.

Goat hooves. 
Before trimming on the right and after trimming on the left.

With turkey season still underway, Ian is responsible for maintaining his hunting equipment.

Here he is cleaning his Benelli.

We also do things like restocking our hay loft with hay and straw and watering our seedlings and gardens - both of which we did today.

In addition, we do the more mundane maintenance activities that everyone does, like cleaning out the fridge.  With this objective in mind, today's supper of BBQ turkey soup, fresh biscuits and mint chocolate chip ice cream used up old veggies, leftover roast turkey, rice and bacon, turkey stock, kombucha, home brew and almost expired whipping cream.

And we did all this on top of Ian putting in a full day of work and me a full day of child care.

I had help, of course.

Getting the Granby Treatment

Granby, the billy goat, has officially been re-homed to a lovely North Gower farm looking for a stud.  He is off to greener pastures - a whole 10 acres of them!

He was a gorgeous animal but could stand to work on his manners and his stench.  He will hopefully have lots of time to perfect becoming a gentleman at his new home.  Going, going, gone!  Whew!  I am relieved to be back to mild mannered and sweet smelling Martha and Mellie.

Our honey bees were also very busy coming and going today.  There is not much nectar around yet so we are supplementing with sugar patties and syrup.  However, they are certainly getting lots of pollen from somewhere; look at those pollen pants!

I switched the positions of my strongest and weakest hives to try to bulk up the population of the weaker hive by re-homing the foragers from the stronger hive into it.  Hopefully this gives the weaker hive the boost it needs to get going.

And, finally, Charlotte almost also got re-homed today.  Well, at least posted on Kijiji*.  There is nothing worse than thinking you are almost done your busy day and can spend the evening cuddling your baby to sleep, only to find that your dog ralphed grass vomit all over your favourite rocking chair.  Seriously, Charlotte?

* I did not actually post Charlotte on Kijiji.  Though, she better watch out; another incident like this and she might just get the "Granby treatment" and be sent off to greener pastures.

Springing Up and Digging Down

Our crocuses have finally sprung up to greet the new season.

This means it is time to dig down and plant some spring onions.

Looking forward to another lovely day tomorrow.  We have lots more planting to do and a few more gardens to clean up before the other spring flowers get too far along.

Bringing the Sunshine

It may still be raining but Alistair is certainly the sunshine that brightens our day.  In between every chore he welcomes us back with the most adorable baby smiles and coos.

We plant the currants.

Alistair smiles.

We transplant the seedlings.

Alistair smiles.

We bake bread.

Alistair smiles.

I am slightly biased but I think he might just be the cutest baby ever.

A Cluckin' Miracle

Beemster, the rooster, has been released from quarantine and has rejoined his harem of hens in the chicken coop.  He is ecstatic.  I know this because he has started crowing again.  He went voluntarily mute while separated from his ladies.  He refused to crow, not even once, the entire time he was away from them.  It is wonderful to be back to hearing that joyous "Aw...aw, aw...aw, AW!" every morning (that is what cock-a-doodle-do actually sounds like in real life).

On the down side, Beemster is holding a grudge against me for stuffing him into a dog crate for a month.  He is adamant that I will never catch him again.  He now avoids being too close to me at all costs.  Unfortunately, this make it impossible for me to monitor his foot.

I outsmarted him last night though, thanks to a quick grab I made as he rushed towards the feeder at dinner time. 

I am thrilled to report that Beemster's sore foot looks phenomenal.  Bumblefoot might be difficult to cure but I think we did it.

Before

After

  It is a cluckin' medical miracle!

Baking Up (and During) a Storm

There is nothing like a rainy day to get things done in the kitchen.  We were fresh out of school and after school snacks, so Seamus, Alistair and I were busy bakers today.  We made:

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Cinnamon Raisin Scones

Chocolate Chip Cookies

and Three Jars of Maple, Almond and Plain Yogurt.

We also roasted up a leek and thyme flavoured turkey and brown rice casserole for supper.

Since both our freezer and our bellies are full, I judge it to be a successful day in spite of the awful weather.