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Sugar & Rainbows

  Specifically – Sugar water – from This Old House’s ancient maples.

   Our good friend, Tim, has been on a quest in recent years – He learned and honed the art of Maple Syruping here in New England and put forth a community campaign to raise funds and build a Sugar House at Parmelee Farm, a town owned community gathering place rebuild after abandonment by local volunteers and businesses.   This is also were myself and my market partner hold our annual Artisan Market. 
 Drilling a hole for the tap 
     The Sugar House has just been completed and Tim plans to teach the art of maple syruping along with a handful of other volunteers of the farm.  Residents will eventually  join in the fun by collecting sap from their own maples to  add to the many many gallons of sap used to make that beautiful golden syrup.  
   Funny thing – my husband loves the idea of the wholesome manufacture of the stuff – but Aunt Jemima forever holds a place in his heart, and on his pancakes.   I’m a purist – I love the real deal. Below is a label we created with the new Sugar House on it, and the real deal in the bottle. 
    We’ve got a few trees tapped here at the farm.  One of my morning chores is to check the bags to see if they need emptying into the white buckets, which Tim will pick up to contribute to the stash at Parmelee Farm.  When the sap is running, and there are specific weather conditions that make this happen – it’s a steady drip drip drip. a bag can fill in a day. 
   If you look real close in the picture below, you’ll see my chickens in the background.  The Polar Vortex lasted only a few days, thankfully – and we’ve seen temps in the 40’s since.  So, when we’re out working around the property, I let the girls roam. 
    The free range is healthy for them – bugs, grasses, all contribute to a balanced diet for the hens, mentally and physically.  The downside is we have plenty of predators such as coyotes, fox and hawks, so I have to be careful. 
     The accumulation of maple sap water  looks like this  at about 1/2 day.  and each tree can have several taps – it’s amazing how much sap runs through a tree.  Also – and what’s important to me – is tapping those trees does not harm them. 
    
    Yesterday morning at this time, the frost made a beautiful blanket across every outdoor surface – 
     This morning, currently  outside my office door and looking out to the road,  the warmer air has created fog, which  is beginning to lift as the sun struggles to break through.   
      It’s time for me to get out there and check the  sugar water bags and feed the horses and chickens and do coop and stall clean up.  I was told putting some of that maple water in coffee is a delicious treat – I’ll give it a go and let you know.

****  Update – I just returned from morning chores and wanted to share a few things…

The overnight collection of sap, poured from the bags into this bucket. It’s clear, with a texture of water, taste like water with a hint of maple sugar.

The girls don’t lay as often in winter, so we’re lucky if we receive a few gifts each morning.  This is today’s gift.. 

    And no sooner had I turned from the chicken coop to head up to the barn to feed, when I saw this…

   A rainbow… that begins on the left, right at the point mid-barn where Opie’s stall is located… and he’s buried directly underneath the arc of the rainbow.  I choose to believe he’s sent me a sign this morning, that all is well and he is at peace.   I don’t know what becomes of a soul once we depart this life, and I’m surely not religious in the traditional sense of the word.  That being said, we are clearly more than the sum of our parts, because we think and feel and reason.  So I’ll continue to hope that when my time comes, I will reunite with those who passed before me – my relatives, my friends, and especially the animals I have loved – my dogs, my horses, even Henrietta the chicken.

     Till soon, friends – 

The Polar Vortex has descended

   Holy cow – we went from sunny-ish and in the 30’s to dark, dreary with swirling snow flurries within minutes.  I went up to the barn to feed horses with sun at my back and came back into the house after taking the pictures below – just 20 minutes later.   Downright eerie.  The temps are dropping quickly, too – During storms like this and long periods of cold, it’s a wonder the wild things survive it at all, I feel so bad for their suffering.   I think of the homeless folks out there too, hoping they find a warming station in their town- but the sad truth is some don’t, either because they are mentally ill and won’t seek shelter or there isn’t room at the “inn”.   How lucky we are to be snug in our homes. 
    The horses are closed in for the night, they’ve been fed and watered with plenty of hay – and the chickens are in with their heated water and the cozy coop panel – that invention is a God send, I’m telling ya.  I put some extra hay on the floor of their coop to help with insulation. Hens are prone to frostbite if you don’t give them a little help when the temps drop so low. 
        The Mr.  and I will sit in front of the fire tonight and catch up on a few of our netflix addictions – Ray Donavan – I’ve come to love the characters – so raw, so vulnerable, so obnoxious, and yet you come to love them…  (oh man, is he delicious or what, and I don’t use that word for men much.) …
 and Grace and Frankie – I love that show, truly love it.  Of course I still watch the Golden Girls at 1 in the morning if I can’t sleep, so Grace and Frankie are the new Golden Girls for me. That these women are 81 and 79 is inspiring- and still so funny and full of energy.   
        I found a Superbowl recipe I haven’t tried yet but will probably make for the big game.  Do you watch football?  I’ve been a fan on and off ever since I learned the game because I had a high school boyfriend Linebacker – what you’ll  do for young love, right??    I’m a Patriots fan, so I’ve got some skin in the game. 
 Stay warm if you’re in this frigid front – here’s the recipe… 
Garlic Bread Hot Dogs
Ingredients:
1 baguette (personally I think you need two, or one very long one
4 hot dogs 
1/4 c melted butter
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp. parsley, finely chopped
salt
black pepper
Preheat oven to 350.  Trim ends of baguette, then cut remaining into four even pieces.  Using the back of a wooden spoon, hollow out baguette.  There are videos online if you want to see someone do it first.  slide hot dogs into baguette and place on a parchment lined baking tray.  Mix melted butter with parm, garlic and parsley, salt and pepper. brush mixture onto baguette. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until hot dogs are cooked and bread is golden.  Enjoy! 

This and That, because clever post titles are hard to come by

    For those who left comments on the Dear 2020 post, thank you for joining the conversation on a difficult topic. For me it’s therapeutic to talk it out amongst like minded people, and even to hear a different view when it’s not laced with hate.  I’m not religious, but I’m praying for the mental health and humanity of our society as a whole as history unfolds.     What a world it could be if  not for our own vices, greed and destruction. If only we could just respect each other’s differences and work together for the common good of all.  So simple,  so attainable, and yet so far from our reality. 
    Onward!  The frigid conditions here on the farm have lifted – in the  upper 20’s as I type, and it feels downright balmy.   I tried something that worked during our deep freeze – If you water critters outside during winter months – keeping that hydrant from freezing is sticky business.  Stuffing a water bucket with hay, and then flipping that over the hydrant when not in use.. works!

    The paddocks where a skating rink after the deep freeze.  Thankful my husband owns a sanding truck (for work purposes) and I was able to let the horses out into the paddocks after they made a sweep through with the sand/salt.    After losing my beloved Opie, I don’t need another equine loss due to a broken leg. Speaking of which – the mini’s and our boarder’s horse, the very old (32 years!) Max are getting along really well – right now I’ve brought them up to the big barn from their smaller shed.  Their paddock is still a skating rink, so they’re sharing Max’s for the moment and with Opie’s passing we have a vacant stall. They really like the new arrangement –  it’s like they’ve moved up to the big boys dorm.

    In my never ending quest to lose this miserable menopausal weight and make healthier eating choices, I came across this chickpea salad recipe – so easy to throw together, very refreshing, too.   Recipe and this photo credit to the Striped Spatula… link below photo. 
 Recipe HERE
    Along with this dieting gig which I have yet to really really stick with for the long haul, I do keep up with at least a minimal exercise routine.  Daily I tend to the horse and chicken chores, which is usually about an hour of work, but I also get in some aerobic exercise with the dogs – we walk at least four days a week, most often on the farm, where there are fields, hills and woods and long dirt roadways that make it easy, and hard to find excuses since it’s right outside the door.  Occasionally I get on the treadmill, but it bores the hell out of me.  Being outside and moving along is more motivation for a person like me, anyway. 

    Bailey, Frasier and Sally love these walks – I leave our cardiac patient, my Dane, Ben – inside on these cold days.   There’s another shot of the big window from afar.

     Sometimes we get in the car and visit the cottage  (Stella) – where I walk the island – also a two miler IF I use all the roadways there.  There is also a state park just five minutes from here with a beautiful roadway that circles a pond and stream and even a waterwheel and covered bridge.   It’s so beautiful, I scold myself for not using it more often – free if you walk in! 
     I throw light weight training in for good measure,  just three sets of twelve reps, four different muscle groups, doesn’t take long but reaps benefits of keeping me feeling strong, even when I hurt.  I’m no expert, but one of my friends who is an expert agrees –   I highly recommend a combo of  simple stretching, walking and light weight training for anyone, and especially  those who are middle to older aged.  You don’t need to beat yourself into the ground or use a fancy gym – just a few light handweights you can buy at your local Target or Walmart and a good pair of walking sneakers, etc. will do the trick. Get bored easily like me? Switch it up now and then with   a bike ride or kayak or yoga. 
     Sometimes the very simplest advice turns out to be the best, right?   

                                        Use it or lose it… 


       Arriving home from the woods walk yesterday, I surveyed the current garden plot situation… 
   What a difference six months makes, huh?  Some shots from last summer below…  (My weeding skills could be honed some, tis true.) 
Tonight I’ll pull out the seed catalogs and 
place an online order.
I’m not paid to say anything on this blog…
If I endorse it, I’ve had success with it. 
My favorite seed source is Baker Creek Heirloom seeds..
Link HERE.  
I find their seeds to be healthy, meaning they actually perform
if you follow the directions properly, and the plants hearty.

That gorgeous zinnia row to the left is courtesy dear friend Hilary
of Crazy As a Loom.  She sent seeds from her garden
last year and they flourished.  

     I have placed the reply option with comments again –  last time I did that, many reeaders had trouble leaving a comment at all.  So often I want to thank you or answer questions to comments left,  remaining silent seems rude, but had no option when I removed that feature.  My comments no longer are delivered to my e-mail, where I used to be able to answer.  If you visit frequently, leave a comment to let me know you were able to.  Let’s see if I got it right this time.

    As always – thank you for stopping by. 

Dear 2020

     First … let me complain about the absolutely Godless bone chilling cold that has temporarily descended upon us here in New England.  It’s not like we have never experienced it.. but this came on REAL quick.. I mean a drop of 40 degrees in hours, and the wind.. the WIND.  I say it’s temporary because in two days, if they’re correct in the forecasting, it will be up in the 40’s again, as opposed to the 2 degrees we have today – with a wind chill of -15.  
 Below:  6 a.m., looking up to the horse barn, where you can see a tiny patch of light in the feed room.  The full moon was radiant! Phone pics don’t do this justice.  When I stepped outside to feed horses and chickens, my breath froze on my face mask immediately.  Ugh. 
Frost on the window panes… 
        Speaking of freezing – This government shut down is something, huh? My friend’s son is a Coastie, and the outpouring of support for these guys and girls who are protecting us on the waters and not being paid for it is reaffirming.  There are so many good folks out there! We need to see more of them.

 **If you’re a Trump fan and you still believe in and support him, feel free to exit now.  I used to care that I might offend people with my opinions… in this case, and in this space which is my own, given what he’s done to us as a people, and the ignorance of ignoring the harm, the real damage, I don’t.

        I look forward to and hope for and pray for the day ( and I hope we all live to see it) when the old regime is cast from our government and new, brave, honest faces in the Republican and Democratic parties come forward and heal this thoroughly tainted and corrupt, hate fueled divide.  We need a governing body that will repair our integrity, our humanity, our leadership status in this one world we all share.  A Government that can work together for the common good once and for all, to fix our broken realities.  It’s absolutely possible!  But the current cast of characters  have become so bought and embittered of each other and bold with the multitude of deceits.. they are failing us all miserably. 
       Some of my Tr*mp supporting friends are now saying if they knew then what they know now, they’d never have voted for him – One said to me today – “I had no idea he would be so totally unhinged, and so reckless with his speech and tweets.  So callous with truth. I’m mortified. I wanted change, but I didn’t  want us to collectively sell our souls in the process.  Right now it feels like that to me.”  
      That… was a breath of fresh air for me.

  

    
     Dear 2020….    Send us a leader who can heal the divide, reach across party lines and bring us back together as a people, as a government.   Send us a leader who gives hope, inspires, encourages, lifts us. ..all. 

     Is it too late?  Are we past the point of redemption?  All this tribalism, this Us Against Them, the continued racism and prejudice… has been brewing for a very long time –  it’s not new, but it’s emboldened, when we, or at least I,  thought we were actually becoming more    civil, more tolerant, more enlightened, more gentile as a nation.  These past two years have been a real eye opener, I was indeed naive.     Tr*mp has  given these malignancies in our society permission,  free reign,  but he didn’t create them.  They were right there under the surface all along, waiting for the spark to ignite them, breathe new life into old prejudices. 

  Dearest 2020 – send us those miracle workers, please. 
     

Spot

   Some people hate ’em – RODENTS! They say.  The Mr. finds them annoying and has even contemplated taking a BB gun to them because they’ve been eating our peaches, plums, apples, cherries up in the orchard.   Some people don’t pay much attention to them, and yet others find them endearing.  That would be me, ever since Spot showed up at This Old House. 
     Spot is a squirrel and he’s been here for a few years now… showing up at the feeder regularly.  Sometimes I see him up by the horses or over by the coop, but most often I find his chubby little butt parked on the bird feeder, having his fill.  It is because of Spot that we will not take a BB to the squirrels here – they could be family!  They could be SPOT,  Heaven forbid. 

 
  A few things you might not have known about Squirrels… 
 Squirrels pick a territory – that can range up to about 7 acres, and they prefer to keep the same nest.  That explains why we’ve seen him here for so long now.  This is his “home”! 
  Squirrels can smell food buried a foot under snow.  Also.. they bury their food all over the place, and sometimes it’s stolen by other squirrels and even birds.  Sometimes they’ve been observed faking a bury, meaning they dig a whole and then cover it up without depositing anything in it.  It’s believed they do it to throw off others who potentially steal their cache. 
  That zigzag you see them do when running away from something is their defense mechanism for escaping predators like hawks, coyotes, snakes etc.  It works well in the wild, but not so great with cars – so slow down when you see them doing that crazy zigzag.. they’re trying to get out of harm’s way. 
  The story of why US parks are full of squirrels can be found here, worth reading! I had no idea…. 
   Most squirrels don’t live past their first year. The ones that do… tend to live to be around 6 at most. Their actual span ability various among the species, but some have the potential to live to the ripe old age of 24!.  
    We had a sprinkling of snow overnight before the coming storms this weekend.  I’ve been prepping the coop and barn for cold temps and will fill the bird feeder again this afternoon.  Spot has already made his appearance this morning, getting his fill of the cracked corn I put out there a few days ago.  This feeder is right outside my kitchen sink window, so I get to see the visitors to the feeder quite easily. 
        Spot says Good Morning! Now go get your milk, bread and toilet paper and perhaps some peanuts for me, please! 
 

About that Window

   It’s been 9 years since we put This Old House back together – and the most admired item  by blog readers and visitors in this whole project has been the big window at the back of the house in the family room.  There isn’t a day I walk into that room that I don’t admire that window myself – even though the cold does seep in  on those chilling New England nights and we have had to board it up with plywood during hurricane and tropical storm events, hoping it wouldn’t come crashing in.
 If you look real close you’ll see Sally’s nose smudges on the bottom panes…  and the sun setting over the hill. 

   The big window often reflects glorious sunsets as the fireball itself melts over and behind the hill….

Our sunsets lately, when the rain clouds lifted on the rare occasion…
have been glorious.  
This one below was taken last week by a professional photographer
in our cove where Stella resides… 
with the Thimble islands off in the distance. 
He captures some remarkable scenes and wildlife.
      We finally have seasonal temps, sometimes in the teens at night.  Oddly, no real snow falls, and while I love the beauty of it, I don’t like the work it makes for my guys and even myself as I make paths up to the barn and coop and make a bathroom path for the dogs out in their yard.  
       The whole family came for dinner the other night, the moms and the kids and their significant others.  Mom was wearing a  necklace that caught my eye immediately… take a look…
   I asked her what it was, exactly….  it’s a pendant that represents the Glass Ceiling – sold at Uncommon Goods..  in support of women’s achievements everywhere – I just love it. 
   Meanwhile. up at the barn, I’m missing my Opie, he’s left a hole. The other horses still look for him… and just a few days ago at feed time a sound on the wind made Max think it was Opie calling… (may have been a neighbor horse, but I can’t hear so don’t ask me) ….  he looked up and started pacing his paddock fence, and began calling all over again for his missing buddy.  Broke my heart, tears were flowing aplenty.  Ugh. 
    Some happy news at the BIG barn one town over – K and Miss Leah are getting along fabulously – gearing up for another show season this Spring.   Leah is from Texas, and she’s let us know this cold is for the birds!   She’s double blanketed when not being ridden.   
     We often have the ring to ourselves in the early evening. K works during the day, so this is the time we can set aside for practice.  I go with her when no one will be around – smart horsemanship – never ride alone.   It’s chilly and quiet but time spent in the company of a good horse is never a waste and good for the soul.

      I hope all is well in your neck o’the woods –  I peek at the news now and again,  wondering how many shoes have to drop before 45 is held accountable.  This piece below?   I’ll share it again and again and again.

  

  

Christmas has left the building

       For those who celebrate… when does Christmas arrive in your home ?  As for we of This Old House, the day after Thanksgiving and all through that weekend, the tree and all the stuff settles in.  I absolutely love this holiday – for the joy those little lights and the old fashioned bulbs and the Christmas baking bring to the atmosphere, the  fond memories rekindled  of those big Italian Christmas gatherings at my Aunt’s house with all the cousins and aunts and uncles,  and memories of  the beautiful decor in my grandmother’s warm home (there were even red bows on the picture frames!)  I have a few ornaments from my mom’s tree,  a cherished addition on our tree year after year.    I  also love gifting people.  That held true  back in the day when I didn’t have a pot to you-know-what in… and today as I find ways to be creative in the gift giving. The beauty of that is, creative gift giving doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg – and sometimes it’s even free, the gift of your efforts and time.  It is truly the thought that counts. 
     So about that timing thing.  My neighbor across the road doesn’t put her tree and decorations up till Christmas Eve.  Heck, we’re almost done by then.  Her tree twinkles in the living room window until far into February, while ours is cleared out at the first of the year.   For me, once Christmas is over, it’s over.  As the new year comes in, I want a fresh clean approach, including inside the house. 
  
      This year I noticed the decor after operation Christmas clean-up  felt a little stale, so I decided to take down some window treatments,  move some wall hangings, clear some of the  decor clutter, change up the mantels on the fireplaces,  and try real hard, and believe me the struggle is real, to not drag out  and display MORE decor clutter in the process.   It just feels good to simplify. 
  

    With the first of the year came the never ending and never quite accomplished resolution to eat healthier, lose the extra weight and add more exercise.  So, I’ve kick started that goal yet again,  broken-record message or not.  It’s never too late to get going, keep going… Onward.   After some research I decided to stick with what will probably work in the long haul, using the WW points system via phone app to monitor carb intake.     Diets like KETO just aren’t sustainable for a person like me, anyway.   That one in particular involves too much meat consumption, and while I know it gets results,  I doubt it’s great long-term for anyone’s arteries.

     Wishing you all good things in the new year – thank you for stopping by.

The Christmas House

      If you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know about Stella – our little cottage on the cove.  We learned about that vintage coastal community through a dear friend who lives just down the road from us here at This Old House.  She and her husband raised their kids during summer months in their cottage near Stella –  It maintains the same rustic 1930’s seasonal cottage charm as ours, partly because of her loving touches just about everywhere, and her husband’s beautiful artwork to compliment it. So, we are neighbors both here and down at the shore.

      I need to tell you just a little about “Mrs. F” without giving away her personal information. She is a real dynamo! Having already lived most of her 90th decade, she continues to maintain two households with a little help from her children and grands,  still volunteers for several organizations, still creates, gardens and bakes for family, friends, and the causes she supports.  I have several perennial plants in my cottage gardens now that come from her garden, they will always remind me of her, and my gratitude to her for having helped us find a cottage of our own.

    I stopped in a few days ago to see the bird carvings her son had created, and was just blown away by the Christmas decor she had absolutely everywhere in her charming home.   An observation I’ve made regarding “Mrs. F” and a few other people I’ve been lucky to know who have lived well into their 90’s…  despite heartbreaking events like illness or  the passing of a spouse,  they all share something vital – and that is to live fully with purpose, intention, keeping up with family and friends, nurturing their creativity and being active in causes they believe in throughout all of their days. 

    Browsing all the decorations and artwork and treasures around her home, the warmth of the place and the person  and the people she holds dear surrounds you.  I told “Mrs. F” her home reminded me of a Christmas House… and she said that is exactly what her grandchildren call it.

     The ornaments on her tree are vintage, some she made out of copper,  some given to her by students during her teaching career.

The sitting room above has beautiful furniture pieces 
made by members of her family. 
This bathroom has so much spunk… “Mr. and Mrs. F.” papered it with old

New Yorker Magazine Covers… I absolutely love it.

Below is the only work in acrylics her husband 
ever produced –  He preferred to work in oils.
Of his many beautiful works, this is one of my favorites, and hers. 
A blacksmith’s shop.. with the forge’s glow spilling out into the evening snow

   A collection of Steiff toys from her husband’s childhood live in her office/study… 
The story of how steiff toys came to be is a worthy read – 
you’ll find it HERE. 

    So many treasures of the heart in this old farm house down the lane… Thank you, my dear friend “Mrs. F” , for sharing it with us here on my blog.

   There’s one more thing I’d like to share –  Mrs. F’s recipe for Swedish cookies. I was gifted with a lovely box full of cookies she made for the holidays, and these  particular cookies are absolutely divine buttery sugary perfection. 

Grandma Mabel’s Swedish Cookies
1 lb. Butter
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
1 egg yolk
dash of salt
1 shot of Brandy
Combine ingredients – Work with hands until a paste dough is formed. Chill for 20 minutes, Roll  out dough on floured surface, nice and thin. Cut shapes, brush with egg wash so that decorations like colored sugar, etc. stick to the cookie.  Bake at 350 Degrees, 12 min or until just golden.    

Coop Revival

   Thank you for all the kind words regarding the loss of my dear horse, Opie.  His absence is keenly felt by both myself and the four other horses that live with us up on the hill.   Even the farrier had tears in his eyes when we told him Opie was no longer on the roster for  shoes.  They truly become family, and I know many of you understand the pain of the loss through your own experiences. 
   When we moved into This Old House after the renovation, (my name for her has always been Saving Grace, or just Grace) I decided I wanted Chickens.  Our previous three homes had the same theme, small horse farms, but it stopped at horses, dogs and cats.  I wanted to add to the menagerie and the husband liked the idea of actually producing something on our “farm”. There’s something very satisfying about growing some of your own food.   We’ve lived here for eight years now and we  hay our fields and have a decent two plot vegetable garden, and bringing in fresh eggs  from chickens that are fed wholesome quality feeds is just a good feeling.  Plus I love animals of all kinds, more for me to love, right?  
   My current flock of 14 chickens consists of a few very old ones – two from the original batch, and a handful of middle aged hens from  newer batches I brought in throughout those eight years.  Chickens only lay eggs for about three years, their first two being the most productive – and some a little longer, but they can live to be ten or so.  Many farmers either eat their laying chickens after their prime (which will not result in a plump oven roaster, as laying hens are built and fed differently than meat birds)  or send them to auction so they can bring in a fresh batch of laying chickens, where some other sucker might buy them thinking they have laying hens. About half my hens no longer lay eggs, but I just can’t dump them. 
Oatmeal with cream and blueberries in a graham pie crust  for breakfast

     They’ll stay here  and live comfortably till they pass on. My current coop only holds the 14 chickens I have, so… to bring in more chickens means I need a bigger coop.  The Mr. rolls his eyes at this, but my truth is my truth – I can’t dump or kill and eat something that has lived here on the farm. This is why we don’t have cows.  He’d love a few, but only if in two years they can be sent to the “beauty parlor”.   I can’t serve up Henry from the freezer after I’ve fed and cared for him for two years. We have a friend who actually labels his beef in the freezer –  Betsy,  Ivy,  Franny… and so on.  I want to save two veal calves and raise them, but we are at an impasse on the terms and conditions, so we remain… cowless. 
   I did convince him we need a bigger coop.  One would think since I’m married to a home builder, building a new coop would be no problem at all.  Ah, but taking time out of the work crew’s schedule to build a frivolous coop just isn’t prudent.  So we looked online at pre-mades, like the one we ordered from the Amish nine years ago.  They’ve gone up in price, of course!  There are so many options out there too, from the simple to the ornate… 

 Can you imagine?  
 My current coop below…  The EggPlant.  We added on a little here and there, so it now looks like a bunch of afterthoughts.. which it is.  I’d like to streamline it – and I have some ideas on how we can move the whole operation up to where the horses live, instead of down by the garage and house.  In bad weather or deep snow it can be a chore to get over to the chicken coop to do those chores and then trek up to the barn – with  some of the same supplies kept in two different places.   After much discussion and a little bitching (!) , I think we’re going to go with my idea… stay tuned! 
   Below are the new chick breeds (three of each)  I’ve ordered from Cackle Hatchery , one of the big operations you can mail order your chicks from.  Sometimes I have bought from local grain stores, but those are always the standard breeds and this time I want to fortify a rainbow of egg colors. The big hatcheries have a better breed selection.  They’ll arrive at the beginning of March, so we need to get cracking on the new coop build!  (fingers crossed)
   
Lavender Ameraucana (blue egg) 
   

French Black Copper Maran (dark brown egg) 

Olive egger ( green egg) 

 Faverolle (sp?  light brown egg) 
Speckled Sussex (light brown egg) 
     Austra White (white/ivory egg) 
 The chicks will arrive as days old babies – and will need to be raised until full size in what will be the new coop, away from the mature hens in the current coop.  This is for their protection, otherwise they would most likely be bullied and killed. Chickens can be horrible to each other.  Think of the sayings – hen pecked, pecking order – and you’ll understand the origin.   Once they are full size, I’ll introduce them all together in the new coop.  They should be able to live together in the new larger coop and coop yard happily. 
  More on the Coop revival to come!  
  

Opie

      A few days before Christmas I lost my dear horse, Opie. He’s been my equine buddy for many years, been my therapy horse when times were scary or difficult or sad – we’ve seen enough of that over the years. He was in his early twenties and I always believed I’d keep him healthy and enjoying life on the farm until we were both old as dirt. Sadly, in the blink of an eye, it all went sideways and the most humane decision was to get him comfortable and let him go peacefully. (for my horse friends, some how he twisted his gut overnight and by the time I found him at feed time in the early morning, he was in too much pain and poor vital stats to force him through the trailer and surgery to try to correct it. How we didn’t hear him struggling up on the hill in his stall overnight just kills me). I am heartbroken, he was family.
     Here’s another thing I want to say – because I gotta be me. His barn mates miss him, they’re still looking for him. Our Max, also an older boy who is generally more attached to Kristen than I, saw me crying yesterday as I looked over to where Opie is buried, and walked over and put his head in my chest and just stood there as I wept. Animals may not have our vocabulary or our understanding of all things, but they know pain, they know loss, they care about each other and for us. If you have animals in your care, they are not a machine, they are not a toy or a trophy or a tool to be ignored when we aren’t feeling like dealing with them or aren’t thrilled with their performance. If you’ve decided to have a pet – dog, horse, cat, farm animals, whatever…. Treat them as you would a family member, with kindness and compassion and the respect they deserve and especially those we ask so much of. When you think of what we ask of the horse, it’s astounding they obey.
     Good Bye, dear Opie – you were my once in a life time horse. I will miss you for the rest of my life.