Deer season, family and bah humbug! Oh and YEAHHHH EBAY!!

Wow, time has been flying by with all the things going on here on the farm. Deer gun season is over and our neighbors son got a button buck in our front field! How great for this kid as it's his first year hunting and he worked really hard for this, taking gun safety courses, laying scent, learning to track and most important learning patience!

The other neighbors got a big ol buck also, and of course had to take it to the butcher on a trailer for all the world to see, couldn't put it in the bed of the truck, then no one would see it!

As for the family and bah humbug well I'm NOT impressed, all the kids on hubbys side of the family are in a position where there is not a lot of spare cash floating around, one family has 4 young daughters and a new big house to pay for, the baby brother and his wife have a new son and house to pay for, we have the farm we're working on paying down. You'd think that all would agree that the time as family and sharing together would be the important thing for the holidays but nope, we get phone calls asking us what we want this year. Wish I'd been the one to answer the phone as I'd have been much more direct and discussed NOT exchanging tons of gifts. I'm also NOT happy that we're expected to give gifts to all the nieces/nephews, now this is something that my family never did! Besides, we don't have kids, so should I ask for gifts for our "kids", the dogs and cats in the house? (oh yeah, that would go over REAL WELL!)

Ahh, I've never been a big fan of the holidays, always just tried to plow my way through and it looks like it's going to be just another year of the same. Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

And the ebay, woooooooooohoooooooooooooo! MAN OH MAN!! Hubby has graciously allowed me to start selling part of his railroad collection and man those collectors are heavy hitters and bidders, gotta LOVE EM! They've been great to deal with and pay lightening fast, and they REALLY want the things we have for sale! Anyone want a locomotive headlamp control switch? Got one on there now :)

If I can continue this way with the ebay we'll be in GREAT shape come spring!

Ta for now!
KJ

First cold then warm, deer season and duck season

Only in Ohio could we set a record for a cold temp of 13 degrees on a Friday and then a few days later be 70 degrees! The changes have really been wild! Now it's in the 50's but the cold front is moving in fast with it raining like CRAZY right now. It looks like this winter is going to be a wild ride.

Over the last few days we've sold a few of the hubbies railroad pieces on ebay, yipee! Paid of the new digital camera already, now to pay off that CC debt!

I love finding a niche on ebay that sells well and railroad collectors are a neat group, when they want something there's no stopping them, and the things they collect are amazing!

Deer season opened here yesterday and we did have two of our regulars here but they didn't get anything. Although deer are neat animals they are vermin to the farmers. Deer destroy crops and carry disease and parasites which can be devastating to farmers. It doesn't help that the CITIOTS next year feed the deer! We have a deer trail across both the front of the property and the back, the deer cut across the lower land to eat at the neighbors and then cut across the front, driving our dogs crazy. I've seen as many as 14 deer together at a time within 10 yards of our house.

Our regular duck hunters have had a better year so far, they have a duck blind set in our wetland and usually show up 2-3 days a week during the season. We have a lot of Canadian geese come through on their migratory path and it's actually kind of funny to hear the hunters trying to call them in with all their various calls. They also have all kinds of decoys from huge 4 foot decoys to animated ones that have wings that flap, makes for quite a scene.

Not much else going on, we did make it through the holiday weekend with a minimum of fuss and hubby is now back to work after almost two weeks off. He did get most of the fencing work for his lower cow pasture during this time.

kj

Do you know whats in your food?

I've had this discussion several times recently with friends and we all really wonder what is going on with packaged/processed and grocery foods. Have you noticed how quickly children are maturing these days? Do you wonder if it has anything to do with additives/preservatives/hormones? We really wonder about this as we know that these days so many hormones/additives and antibiotics are being fed to animals on a daily basis that it's scary.

Chickens in egg houses are raised on feeds with antibiotics, beef are given hormones to mature more quickly, veggies are treated with so many pesticides, dairy cows are being treated with hormones to produce more milk, what in the world is this doing to humans?

I've been on an anti-antibiotic/antibacterial kick for a long time, I personally believe that unless REALLY needed antibiotics can be very dangerous. Bacteria are wicked and strong little buggers and can quickly change and become resistant to current drugs. The use of antibacterials prevent us from exposure and the ability to build up antibodys and build a strong immune system.

If antibiotics are not used correctly and for the fully prescribed time they can really push the bacteria to become stronger, something we DON'T need, there are already enough super bugs out there.

It's funny, we have an Amish friend that has 9 kids now, all the ones old enough to walk are out from last frost to first frost barefoot and doing chores, in with the cows, chickens, horses, goats, in the garden, you name it they're there and exposed to it, and they're all healthy little buggers, lol!

My husband and I have also noticed we're much healthier since we moved to the farm, I almost never end up with a cold or flu anymore and his allergies are almost nonexistant. Hubbies allergies were horrible even when we met, he was allergic to just about everything, cats, dogs, mold, hay, ragweed, etc. Now the only time they bother him at all is the height of haying when he's totally immersed in it.

As for our animals and garden, we're fortunate to be able to raise our own food and treat our animals with respect and allow the animals to live as close to naturally as possible. Our cattle are vaccinated and regularly dewormed but only treated medically under vets orders if needed, we've never had to use antibiotics on them and never use any hormones. Our chickens are free range, this means they get to wander and eat as they please, they are also a great fly/bug control as their favorite food is bugs. Our garden is pesticide free and we only use manure (LOTS OF IT) for fertilizer, makes for the BEST veggies.

KJ

Gelding, banding, Castrating and what ya call em!

That title got attention didn't it? I just thought I'd give a basic lesson on what farm animals are called and why. When hubby and I moved out here we had a good bit to learn, and you never know when you'll need the information in conversation!

Cow babies (calves) are called bull calves (male) and heifer calves(female). If the male calf is banded (castrated by rubber bands used to cut off circulation to the testicles) they are called steers. A female is actually called a Heifer until she has her first baby, then she's considered a cow.

Goats
A female is a nanny, a male a buck/billy, unless he's banded, then he's called a wether. All goat babies are called kids.

Sheep, females are ewes, males are bucks/rams, again unless banded/castrated, then they are also wethers just like goats.

Horses babies (foals) are female a filly, male a colt, if the colt is castrated it is a gelding, btw, we DON'T band horses. As they grow the colt not castrated is a stallion. A female when she's over 3 years is known as a mare.

Pigs (I'm still learning these, I haven't raised any yet) but I do know that a female brood pig is a sow, a male breeding pig a boar.

Chickens, we call babies peeps/chicks, when grown they are hens (female) and roosters (males).

K, enough for now?

Now, as for life around here, it's busier than it ever was in the city and we're VERY discouraged right now, it was our turn to call the sheriff! The idiot neighbor on the other side who has 80 acres of their own decided that he had to turf our 10 acre hayfield with his quad runner! I'm am NOT amused! This neighbor kid is nothing but trouble, we've heard him out shooting at 2-3am on many occasions, we're sure he's out shining deer (startling them with a bright light and shooting them). We've been trying to lie low and not have to hassle directly with this kid but he's pushed it to far, this was the 3rd time we've run him off our fields, he's destroying our crops!

On the savings front we've been doing really well but did blow the grocery budget, I had to hit Aldis today to the tune of about 20 dollars for extras for Turkey day. I'm also selling a few things on ebay to put a bit extra in savings and pay down the CC's.

Oh, and Turkey day! Only going to be four of us but we're having our first home grown turkey! I shipped them to the butcher today. I can raise em, cook em and eat em but I just can't butcher em!

Hope I didn't gross anyone out to much :)

KJ

Wow, got cold fast!

The weather has been wild here the last few days, two days ago it was 70 with high winds and rain, then the cold front hit and the temp dropped 40 degrees in a 12 hour period. Luckily we didn't get any tornados locally but we did get snow today! There was ice in the water troughs at chore time this morning, luckily we already got the hoses drained and put away for the year, now we get to haul water by the bucket until spring.

The last few days have been spent finishing up getting ready for winter, checking gates and chains, checking storm windows, bringing in the last of the plants for the year.

On tuesday morning our brood cow Blizzard decided to bust out and go for a run, forgetting that she had a baby in the barn. Took me a half an hour in the rain to get that girl back in and fed, her calf Lois was sure glad to see her and get a drink!

More work halter breaking this years foals, they and doing well but don't appreciate the loss of freedom, lil Malcolm even threw himself on the ground in a tantrum (just like a kid!) Not to many bruises for me this round.

For dinner this week we've had home made soup and garlic bread, then spagetti and garlic bread, then last night steak, home grown beans and taters. Good stuff and really keeping the grocery bill down.

Also actually went shopping! With hubby home on vacation we took him for a haircut, used a $10 dollar elder beerman card to buy undies (I never turn down free!) and picked up fish food. Even splurged and went out to eat, this is the third time for the year so don't feel guilty :) Will be eating at home the rest of his vacation tho.

Transferred 7 dollars from paypal to savings (payouts from PTR programs). Added 2.16 to the anniversary savings today in loose change, our other 3 savings accts are automatically funded weekly, new truck fund, regular savings and emergency fund. Also spoke to our banker and he started the paperwork to refi the mortgage at a locked in rate, this will help me sleep better at night.

KJ

What a weekend on the farm!

It's been a busy few days around here and never a dull moment! Saturday morning was errand time, first to moms to feed the dog (she was in Mississippi for the day, mom is a pilot and we never know where she's going to be next, not bad for a 73 year old!) Then to the feed store and the grocery, I made it out with $32.00 worth of groceries and that should hold us thru the end of the month, thank goodness for two full freezers, we eat like kings here!

On returning home I found I'd forgotten the cat food, barn kitties were NOT impressed with me on that one! Put away groceries and grain and then went to put some of the horses out, note to self, CHECK WHAT HUBBY IS DOING before moving young spooky horses! MAN did Funky (young stallion) ever take me for a run when hubby dropped that load of old rusty iron, we got a tour of the front yard! Kept him in control though and he actually enjoyed the spook!

Caught up on laundry and started getting things together to get back to ebaying, need to get those bills paid down!

Then dinner was steak, garlic bread and baked potatoes (don't hate me! Steak was from a home raised steer!)

Sunday was the real kicker though, you'd think that living back a lane in small town Ohio would be quiet, NOT! We have more traffic and noise back here than we did living right up on the road. This time it was the sheriff, seems one of the neighbors teens threw another fit, don't know if it was the daughter or son (this time) they both have severe emotional issues and we are NOT comfortable having them so close, ugh! And these kids are only 14, we're in for a long haul! This was the 3rd visit that I know of from the sheriff in 2 months!

Monday was a run to the bank to pay $45 extra on the mortgage principal and set up a meeting to refinance and lock in a rate. Then off to Staples for a new digital camera since the old one died.

Oh, on the savings front I started a new account,hey it's only $6.18 but better than nothing! This is our Anniversary fund, we've been married for 12 years now and plan on a spectacular vacation on our 20th anniversary so putting all our change in this account from now on. It's an ING account with %3.5 interest, hope to watch it grow quickly!

Dinner was crock pot soup made with round steak, corn and beans with a few basil leaves, all home grown, yum!!

After chores today I'll start taking pictures of some of the rail road pieces hubby and I will be selling on ebay, anyone need a locomotive cab signal or air gauge?

stay tuned for more!
KJ

Life on the farm

It's been a busy few days, never a dull moment around here! With working on halter breaking a few young stallions and trimming hooves I'm reminded I'm not a kid any more, man they can do a number on your shoulders and back.

On the savings front I've been able to put off the trip to the grocery for another week, having two full freezers helps keep that bill to the minimum. My biggest concern for the winter though is heating the house, this old farm house is drafty and with the natural gas prices the way they are we're going to be putting the long johns to good use this year. Also going to have to cover some of the windows with plastic which I hate but every penny does count.

For excitement the last few days I've been watching the Jones next door, hey what can I say, I'm easily amused :)

Hubby and I pride ourselves on keeping it frugal and making do with what we have, reusing until there's nothing left, the Jones are just the opposite and it's become a running joke about what they've purchased each week. Our farm is 82 acres and we have 3 barns and a shop, house built in 1910, two older pick up trucks (paid off), 3 tractors (older and paid off) and various equipt to run the farm (again, all paid off)

The Jones? Ahh, they have 14 acres, a brand new super fancy huge barn brand new huge house, 3 quad runners, 3 trucks/suburbans, 2 tractors, a brand new steiner mower with all attachments, an ez-go cart (think golf cart on steroids) etc, etc, etc. And their place is lit up like a Christmas tree at night! All the porch lights, lights on the barns, lights in the house, lights in the sheds, 24/7 like a little city! In the last few weeks I've watched a big gazebo be delivered for the pond area, the ez-go cart and the last thing (I about DIED laughing!) a pontoon boat! Now this boat was probably 16" feet and their pond is so small that boat is going to meet itself going in circles! I'm not coveting their things, I'm just laughing at the way people have to have things, just amazes me, lol.

We share a lane with this family so everything they buy goes right by my house, I can't miss it :)

I know we drive the Jones nuts because we really "farm" so yeppers, we have noise dust and smells, and HORRERS OF HORRERS yes, we raise beef to EAT! So yeppers, we DO have to run that tractor and spread that manure, oh so sorry for the stink but hey "thats farmin" lol.

BTW, the Jones think that I'm crazy and I LIKE to keep it that way, then they leave me alone! We do wave in passing but conversation has been kept to a minimum, hmmm, could that be because I've threatened to call the sheriff on their friends crossing our land to hunt? I don't care that they walked down the side, it's still OURS and they didn't ask, got it? And she's more than a little scared since I told her that yep, farmers can and DO shoot dogs that harass livestock, it's called the 3s rule, if it's chasing livestock ya shoot, shovel and shut up. Dog, what dog? I didn't see no dog! And no, I haven't shot anyones dog but I'm not telling her that, lol!

KJ