What could be sweeter than new piglets and spring?

While I was in PA Mickey had seven adorable piglets - four girls and 3 boys.

 At the end of the video she's snapping at Baxter for getting too close to her face.  I was amazed most of the time she didn't mind him licking and sniffing the babies.

Baxter thought this was the greatest thing ever. I was afraid we weren't going to be able to get him out of there.

These are some sturdy piglets.  Mickey is a great mom.  This is her second litter.

It's beginning to look and feel like spring finally. The daffodils are in bloom and the grass is greening up.

Remember those tiny chicks that arrived a month ago?  They're no longer tiny.  They have enough feathers to keep them warm so I let them outside to hunt for bugs, eat grass and explore the great outdoors.  They were pretty excited about it.

The green house is still pretty empty but James seems to be excited about what has sprouted so far.  It won't be long before all the shelves and planters are overflowing.

 I uncovered the roots of the pomegranates so they could bask in the sunshine and warmth and to see if they survived the bitter temperatures.  It appears they did.  Hopefully one day they'll produce.

The bright green grass you see in the background is wheat.  It's growing really well.  There must be 4 or 5 large beds planted in wheat as a cover crop.  It's way too much for us to harvest so some will just be pulled.  I wish everything grew as well as wheat.

I'm guessing I'll be able to post pictures of baby goats by the weekend.  Udders are developing and ligaments are loosening.  Yay spring!!!

A portrait of Dad

I love this picture of my dad.  He rarely smiled for photos so I'm glad we were able to capture this one.
This next shot is also a great portrait of the dad I knew and loved.

More often than not though, this is the face he'd show when  a camera appeared on the scene.  He didn't like to show his teeth or be the center of attention.  This is a recent photo of my parents.  A handsome couple, I think, though I may be a bit prejudice.

Here's the younger version with me and my 2 sisters.  I'm the cute one....ok, I'm the one with the extremely short bangs.  My sisters are kind of cute too.  It's nice to see my dad smiling in this picture also.

Dad passed away at 3:00 this morning.  It happened way too fast.  When I saw him at Christmastime he seemed just fine, then 3 months later my family was crying at his hospital bedside.  I imagine that's how it is with most deaths - there's not enough time to comprehend the loss before having to say goodbye.  Dad's heart and kidney had had more than they could take and he needed to rest.

While we shed many tears in that sterile, disturbing and uncomfortable environment, I have to admit our 24 hours spent together in the hospital as a family (parents, children, grandchildren and friends), was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

We may have done a lot of crying but I'd like to think we shared stories and laughed even more.  Dad rallied for a while about 12 hours before his final rest.  He became chatty (for Dad) and that comforted us, knowing he wasn't in pain.  I hope he enjoyed the bantering, chiding and silliness going on around him as much as we loved reminiscing and being in each others' presence - in other words,  celebrating family.

His passing was very fitting for a quiet man of few words.  His breaths became more and more shallow, his face peaceful and he left this world just as quietly as he moved about in it.   Quiet, modest and a loved man.

Killer Karen

That's the nickname my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Hunter, gave me.  I don't know where it came from but 5 or 6 of us in his class had nicknames and I felt honored to be one of them.  Bear with me and I'll come back to this.

Today I'm having mixed feelings about my "growth" as a farmer.  It's been 6 years since we got our first chickens and goats - the gateway animals to our homesteading/farming experience.  James began with the first garden beds in 2004 but I feel like we began working toward a more self-sustainable lifestyle in 2009 when we introduced animals to Elk Cliff Farm.  Back then my excuse to raise animals was to provide eggs and milk.  In all honesty,  I just wanted to own goats for pets, but felt I needed to justify them somehow.  That first year I had a mean rooster and I took his life because I couldn't have him attacking people.  I felt a little bad about that but because he was so mean it wasn't as hard as I would have thought.  I've gone back over my blog posts and read one where I said I'd never be able to eat one of my goats.  I think it was only a year or 2 later I wrote that we ate our first goat meat.  Yes, I cried my eyes out as I arrived home after James took them to the butcher (I wanted no part of delivering them to their death) and then again when we picked up their meat.  The next year I helped take them to the butcher.  The woman who handled the order waited very patiently as I sobbed and told her what cuts I wanted.  I still cry when we take goats to the butcher but it has definitely gotten easier because I recognize there's no way to keep all the male goats or find them good homes.  Also, we love goat meat and knowing our meat is raised humanely makes it taste even better.

Turkeys came next, then pigs.  I had no other excuse for raising them than for meat.   I can't remember if I cried over the turkeys but I know I've shed tears over pigs.  Our steer, Windsor, is going to be another emotional trip to the butcher.  I couldn't have asked for a better experience raising our first calf. He's a gentle, adorable boy.

This brings me back to my thoughts on my growth as a farmer and my 5th grade nickname.  Yesterday I did something I wouldn't have thought possible 6 years ago - maybe even 3 years.  Adam and I butchered a pig by ourselves.  I've prepared for this in my mind many times and am pleased to say the whole process went just as well, or maybe even better, than I expected.  Adam did the shooting and I did the cutting for the bleed-out.   The taking of life was quick and I felt good about him never knowing fear or stress.  It couldn't have gone more smoothly.  It's how all meat should come to our table.  After the kill we skinned and gutted him.  I'm hesitant and maybe embarrassed to type this for fear it sounds unfeeling, but we were a bit giddy and excited with how well it all went.  It was also an amazing experience and anatomy lesson.  Today I'm smoking pork we'll put in our freezer for many meals.   I'm even looking forward to butchering another hog for a pig roast this summer.

On a very sad note, this morning I found our cat, Willy, dead in the road.  When I went out to feed the chickens this morning Willy didn't greet me in the driveway.  I just knew she was dead.  We had talked yesterday about cats and dogs being hit by cars so it was already on my mind.  It didn't take long to feel guilt about taking a life and losing a life.  The word karma came to mind.  I know one thing probably had nothing to do with the other but still I can't help but feel I enjoyed the butchering yesterday too much and that was the reason Willy was taken away.

So that's how I'm feeling today.  I wonder what nickname one might give me in 6 more years.

Remembering Pop Pop

Four days ago I lost the last of my grandparents.  I've found it sadder than I expected.  As some of you may remember I blogged about Pop Pop's 100th birthday we celebrated last year.  What an awesome occasion that was.  Lots of smiles and laughter that day.  So how can I be sad when he lived such a full life and died a peaceful death?  I can't explain it.  My grandparents played a big part in my childhood because they lived just a mile from us.  Pop Pop built the house I grew up in - the house my parents still live in.  Perhaps his death makes me feel like part of my childhood is gone.  I'm no longer anyone's grandchild.  I know that sounds silly.  I mean, how many people in their 50s have grandparents?

Mom Mom and Pop Pop raised 10 children.  They had 25 grandchildren.  Pretty incredible, isn't it?  Many of these cousins also grew up spending just as much time at my grandparents' house as my sisters and I.  I keep in touch with some of them on Facebook.  I've enjoyed reading the stories everyone's been sharing about Pop Pop these past 4 days.  What I find most interesting is the stories we all have to share are funny ones.  There's no denying, we had a really funny grandfather.   I have other pictures of him but I think the one above shows the true character that we all knew and loved.

This is the man who would send someone to the hardware store to get him a wood stretcher or a left handed screw driver.  The clerk always knew who sent them.  My aunt reminded me of how he could keep me staring at a painting of a stream in the woods, convinced a deer would come get a drink if I waited long enough.

Every Christmas Eve. family would file in and out of Mom Mom and Pop Pop's house and visit.  No where was Santa more real than there.  I was so sure he'd come down their chimney.  We had no fireplace or chimney at our house but I was certain we heard Santa and the reindeer on their roof. Pop Pop also tortured us by giving us reasons Santa couldn't make it down the chimney.

He was a sweet man who loved his sweets.  Even in his last week of life he was eating marshmallow peeps.  Circus peanuts?  He was a fan.  One of my cousins shared how he ate 2 blueberry ice cream cones and then was up all night vomiting.  If he ate butter pecan ice cream he'd suck the ice cream off the pecans then spit them out.  His children had to hide their Halloween candy because he'd get into it and pick out his favorites.  When he had a box of chocolates you'd know he'd been into them because each one would be smooshed so he could see what was inside.   If you think eating sugar is going to kill you just remember my grandfather and how he lived to 100. 

His daughters should have been as curious as he to look inside things.  It wasn't an odd occurrence for one of them to arrive at school with a rotten apple he'd put in her purse.  Why would he do that?  Because he was a prankster.  We all knew that but still fell for his shenanigans.  Don't all grandfathers put cardboard in his children or grandchildrens' sandwiches?  Or fruit in the hoods of their jackets?

More cousins shared stories I'd never heard.  One was told a small tree would grow faster if she pumped it up.  She stood outside pumping her foot on the ground next to the tree to no avail.  The other was told she should squat down to walk up the steep hills, thus making them twice as hard to get up.  He also pretended his car was stuck in ruts on the side of the road.  Truly, he wanted to entertain his grandchildren.

Sometimes his escapades weren't intended to get a rise out of someone.  He was trying to help, much to someone's dismay.  Mom Mom had a pattern pinned to some fabric.  He "helped" by cutting it out - not on the solid cutting line but on the dotted stitching line.  I can almost hear Mom Mom screaming at him.  He didn't make things easy on her.

My mom told me how she had put her babysitting money in the drawer of her dresser.  When she came home one day he'd stapled the money to the ceiling of her room.  One has to wonder what made him do that.  She also shared how she got a new dress (new to her. Remember she was one of 10.  They didn't get new things often).  It was brown and silky and she must have loved it.  Pop Pop decided to paint her closet.  Apparently he didn't take her dress out and got paint on it.  Ok, so he wasn't always loved every minute of every day :)  Page back up to the top and look again at his face.  Can you see the prankster now?

There must be hundreds more stories to tell.  Like Pop Pop's life, I hate for them to end.

I told one of my cousins, if I'm lucky enough to one day become a grandparent I want my grandchildren to think I'm funny.  I'd be proud to have my grandkids remember me like I remember Pop Pop.

Snow white

Yesterday's snow seemed so much whiter and brighter than the last snow.  I might even call it beautiful if I wasn't so ready for spring.  With the sun shining today sunglasses might be a good idea.  Temperatures will be up in the 50s and 60s over the next 10 days.  I might actually want to sit at the picnic table and watch the river go by.

The James is up this morning with all the rain and snow melt

My white dogs are looking anything but white in contrast to the snow.

Our field is cross fenced with pigs and Windsor on one side and goats, cows, donkeys and dogs on the other.  Rex has decided he needs to patrol both sides and has discovered how to get to the pigs' side.  I don't know how much longer he'll be able to do this. Keri doesn't even try.

When goat kids are due I may block this space so he has to stay on the pig side.  He's a little young to trust with newborn goats when I can't be nearby.  We'll see how it goes.  Keri was a little rough her first year.  Maybe she'll teach him how to behave.

In 3 weeks we should have some of these.  Can't wait.

This weather is for the birds

Actually my birds don't particularly like this weather much either.  My dogs, on the other hand, love it.  They bury their faces and roll in it.  They can't seem to get enough.  Rarely do I see them lying in dry spots.

 Rex is a smiley pup.  Baxter loves the snow too but I don't have any pictures of him in it.  You can see him a bit in this picture.  He likes to go down with me in the morning at milking time.  He and Rex are finally buddies.

 Keri's coat is so dense you can hardly get your fingers to her skin.

 The pigs aren't real fond of the snow and cold temperatures.  I've seen them shivering some days when they're soaked to the skin.  That makes me feel bad.  Their noses are extra pink in this cold.  Well, not Black Olive's.

Windsor doesn't seem to mind it.

I've seen the donkeys lying in it so they must not mind the white stuff but I can tell they're not as sure-footed when it's frozen and crunchy.

Like me, the goats hate snow and cold.  I have no pictures of them out in the snow because they mostly stay close to the barn waiting for me to bring them more hay.

The only good thing I can say about snow is it makes for good pictures.  Our house looks pretty with frosting on top.

So do the mountains.

Even our overgrown boxwoods look pretty weighted down by the snow.

Because the chickens can't find much to eat when the ground is covered they've been going to bed early.  This picture was taken at 5:30 when they were already tucked in for the night.  Check out the naked neck chicken (turken).  She's supposed to look like this.  It's not a disease.  I've never owned one but I kind of like the looks of her.

Did you already figure out this weather brings me down?  I haven't been outside much lately except to tend to the animals or shovel.  Thank goodness I have critters to get me outdoors.  The past few days I've been doing really exciting things like spackling and sanding drywall, which I find strangely therapeutic.

The 10 day forecast is looking up.  I think I blog more when the sun is shining and it's warm.  I don't know if it's because more is happening here or if I'm just in a better mood.  Yesterday was my 52nd birthday.  I was grumpy.  Today I'm 52 and one day and I'm so much happier.  Why is that?  Hmm, well, yesterday we woke up to new snow.  Today we woke up to sunshine.  I guess that pretty much explains it.

Left the farm for 5 days

James was in charge of holding down the fort while I went to PA for 5 days.  I think I mentioned in the previous post my dad had a heart attack and was in the hospital so I went to be with my family this week.  Dad is recovering and hopefully as I type this is settling in to his new room at a rehab center.

Of all weeks to go away I chose the coldest time in the history of our living in VA, along with 8 to 10 inches of snow.  I imagine record lows were set for our area.  That meant lots of ice breaking and a sluggish milking machine.   It also meant I was stressing out, worrying about the animals' health and James falling down and freezing to death or being eaten by the pigs with me not there to save him.  Yes, I'm a worrier and can create terrible scenarios in my mind.  Fortunately he had Adam and Melissa to help him which eased my mind a little.

The first day he was alone and the truck got stuck on a hill against the fence.  That meant lots of walking and carrying buckets for the following days in single digit temps.

32 chicks were due to arrive sometime between Monday and Thursday.  Every day I talked to James I'd ask if they'd come.   He called our post office to let them know we were expecting them.  One day there was no mail delivery because of the snow.  Finally on Thursday I got a call from the Roanoke post office (about 50 minutes away)  telling me the chicks were there but about half of them were dead and he didn't think they'd make it till the next day when they'd be delivered to our post office.  Adam drove to Roanoke and picked up the survivors.  By the time I got home today there were 13 lively chicks out of 32 we ordered.  Only the meat birds survived.  All the layers died.

All the other livestock and guardians fared much better, thanks to James, Adam and Melissa.  The goats looked wider and I'm sure Rex grew 5 inches since I left.  It's hard to tell the difference between him and Keri from a distance. You can tell I missed my dogs because I can't decide which picture is the cutest so I have to post them all.

Here's my hero standing on the snowy boat deck observing the icy James River.

In spite of my worries about my dad, James and the farm, it was actually a good week.  It was great being with my sisters and mom and doing what little I could do to cheer my dad up.  I also had a chance to see my 100+ year old grandfather.  The icing on the cake was coming home to my healthy and happy farmily (that should be a word, shouldn't it?).  I'm feeling very grateful for my family tonight.

More snow tomorrow but I'm ok with that.  Spring is just around the corner, right?

28 Valentine's Days WARNING: this may make you gag.

So much has changed in the 28 years James and I have been together but at the same time so much stays the same.  I have no idea how many heart shaped brownies or cakes I've made for Valentine's Day.  I'm going to guess at least 20.  Does James get tired of these?  From the looks of it, I don't think so.

How many poems has he written me for Valentine's Day?  Many more than 28.  Today I got 3.
Do I get tired of them?  NEVER!

How can a carved heart not make a wife feel loved?

This afternoon Adam texted us happy valentine's day and told us what he made for Melissa for an early dinner.  James and I separately texted Adam back.
Me:  "Sounds yummy. Happy Valentine's Day to you too.  Dad and I moved the safes today.......Pop Pop is back in the hospital........"
James: "Sounds yummy.  We just moved the safes around.  That was a challenge.......Pop Pop is back in the hospital......"
I guess that's what happens when you're together 28 years.  Married minds think alike.

We had planned to go to the piano bar tonight for a special treat but, being the boring old married couple, decided we'd rather stay home for a home-cooked dinner and an evening of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix.

I'd be happy with 28 more Valentine's Days just like this one except for my dad being in the hospital.  He recently had a heart attack and today was feeling crummy and had to go back to the hospital.  Any prayers for healing my dad's heart are appreciated.

Not a bad way to spend the day

In 24 hours time James and I collected approximately 20 gallons of maple sap.  Instead of waiting till we were done collecting all the sap and cooking it down at once, we decided to do some a little at a time since we didn't have a giant evaporating pan.  Yesterday was a beautiful day to sit by a fire and watch pots steam.

We didn't begin till Noon so we cooked into the evening hours.  We had dinner by the fire and watched Netflix.  That's how they did it in the olden days right?

We never did finish cooking the 20 + gallons but we have some to put on our waffles tonight.  In the meantime we have lots more sap awaiting our attention.

A homesteading kind of day

I wish all days felt like this one.  We had beautiful weather and I was productive.  I've had a ham curing in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks and it was time to rinse the salt off and hang it to dry for 6 months.  I covered it with lard which I had rendered from Roxie's leaf lard a few weeks ago, then I sprinkled it with cracked pepper which is supposed to keep bugs away.  It's wrapped in cotton cloths and is hanging in the basement.  I hope it's edible when the time comes.  It was a ham from either Calvin or Hobbes that I had frozen a long time ago so it may not have even been good to start with after being frozen for so long.  I figured I didn't have much to lose (except maybe our lives if we die from e coli or something).  

I said I was productive but I didn't say I was successful at everything I did.  I tried making a cheese I'd never made before.  For some reason my cow's milk hasn't been setting up like it used to. What I made will be safe to eat but it won't be the cheese I was hoping for.  Who knows, maybe it will be a great new discovery (that I'll never be able to reproduce).

Temps have been in the 50s and should be in the 60s tomorrow.  Our maple trees are raining on us so we decided it was time to tap them.  It's always exciting to put the spile in the drilled hole and see the sap begin to run.  Hopefully we'll be able to cook up a few gallons of maple syrup soon.

And just for fun, if you have 3 + minutes to kill, here's a video of Yogi and Willy playing. In case anyone is worried about me leaving my parrot alone with a cat, it's ok, I supervise them.  Willy spends most nights in the chicken barn and has never hurt a bird, not even the small chickens.  She and Yogi have spent lots of time together and seem to be fond of each other.