Summer Haze

With the heat wave going strong here in the valley, I have left the weeds grow high in my chicken yard.  The hens are staying cooler and the weeds are producing (or drawing in) lots of bugs so feed has been minimal this summer.  Biggest issue is that some of the girls have become lazy and have started laying in the tall grass instead of the nesting boxes!  Not a huge problem, still giving me plenty of eggs.

Monday's Bounty!

My heirloom tomatoes are just so full of flavor!  The cantelopes are coming one and two at a time - which is perfect for eating!  My first Neck squash was ready to be picked so I plan to make fresh pumpkin pie this week for a special treat!   I have so many "just about" ready that I think I'll be doing up pumpkin for the freezer later this week!  

Piglets have arrived!

Our 2012 Piglets have arrived!

This year we are raising Berkshire piglets.  we like to try different heritage breeds and happened on a farmer about 90 miles north of us with eight nice healthy little Berks!

And the rains came down....

We were blessed on Friday with a gentle yet steady rain in our part of the
country. The rains were at times just a bit more than mist but steady and long,
refreshing the earth and reviving dried foliage. The balance of sun and rain
this time of year is so very important.

While we rely on grass for our livestock, our neighbors grow corn to provide for
their dairies. Of course the vegetable gardens, fruit trees and lawns all
profitted as well. Everything is green again and here in Pennsylvania that
means everything is good! We all breathe easy for a few weeks.

On Tuesday Scott and I headed out to Middleburg for the monthly feeder cattle
auction. We had hoped to find some small calves but not much buying or selling
was going to happen in that heat I guess. We did not come home with a
completely empty trailer though. I purchased 7 Guinnia keets for $3 each which
is a great bargain (they sell locally for about $15 a piece).

On Thursday I helped Scott get our pig pasture ready for the new piglets coming
soon. I mostly picked and hauled rocks and pulled weeds while Scott tightened the
fence wires and shored up the kennel we use for the tiny piggies when they
first arrive. Our farm is completely off grid so we set up the solar fence
charger too. Not much left to do with that...just filling water tanks and we
have a floor to build in the kennel yet.

The rains came Thursday night and cooled us all down, so I spent Friday baking
and cooking for freezer and a family reunion Saturday.

Wishing you all a great Sunday!

Only me, Lily

Ok one more!

Our little girl grandbaby at 3 weeks!  We NEED to get back to farming around here!  It is very difficult when we have such a nice little bundle to fuss with.  Hmmmm.....

Big brother, little sister

Welcome to the world Dahlia!

We are so Blessed to now be the proud grandparents of two!  On June 13, 2012 we welcomed Dahlia Mae into the world!  Mommy and baby are doing fine.   I was so lucky to have been asked by my daughter to share the birth experience with her and her husband.  I am amazed at the strength and calmness that she held during such a hard labor.  I love my life!  God is Good!

Waiting.........

We are waiting on our second grandchild.  She is due today and we hope she comes to us soon!  Please add our daughter Angela to your prayers as she prepares dfor this final stage of pregnancy. 

Morning Sky

Waking up to this was simply AWESOME!   A morning sky so amazing promises everything and forces me to my knees in gratitude!

This little piggie went to market...

Eight pigs went to the butcher this week and we cannot wait for some fresh pork chops and smokey bacon!  Life has been quite busy around the farm, with all the manure mucking and animal hauling and such.  I can't wait to get back into a regular update schedule around here!  Today we are headed to a livestock auction in Middleburg, Pennsylvania.  Hoping to find a couple calves to add to our herd.   Also selling one pig.   

Hotdog Bake Sale!

Spent all day Friday shopping and preparing for The Little League Challenger Baseball hotdog fundraiser at Sears Auto Center in Muncy, PA! Spent all day Saturday (up at 2:30am) selling hotdogs and baked goods and meeting some of the greatest kids I have ever met! Pictured here are just a few of the players that showed up to help raise money for their teams! So proud of my husband and SEARS for making this happen!

Proverbs 31:27

Proverbs 31:27 She watches over the ways of her household. And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Lovely weather here and by the date it's time to plant the peas! I am not even close to having my garden ready for that! Better get to work!

Thinking Spring!

I think at least one of my hens is thinking about it too. Pretty sure she is brooding which would be awesome! Lots of work on the farm in the morning!

We have two more beef cows to go to butcher this month and then that's it until September (unless we run out of meat). We have nine piggies that will go in April and how much fun is that?! For those of you that don't know -it is never fun for me to load animals. Not forthe normal reason either. The first time we ever loaded cows we had bought at a sale we lost one. She jumped at me right thru the gate and ran away. I am forever more stressed at loading time.

LILY LOVES SCOTT

Wow what a wonderful Valentine's Day! Arriving home from hauling hay all morning a dozen long stemmed roses in a long white box with a red ribbon were delivered to my door! Card signed: Love, Scott. After a few more hours of work, grandson was picked up by his parents. In-laws had stopped by for an hour but I excused myself and headed upstairs for a shower. After an hour of primping and dressing we were ready and on the road to the most elegant restaurants in Williamsport "The Peter Herdic House". Scott and I have not been able to dine out fancy since his Crohn's started acting up 2 years ago so this was special for us. Although Scott had made reservations weeks ago, we had to wait about 10 minutes. The place was very busy and when we were finally shown to our table I found out why the wait! On the little table next to a fireplace was a dozen long stemmed pink roses! I was the envy of every woman in the place! The card read: Because you deserve it!, Love Scott!! I smiled, I hugged, I kissed, I cried! How truly romantic my husband lately turned farmer is!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spending the day with my wonderful husband and my adorable graandson! We will be hauling hay again.

Scott has made reservations for the Peter Herdic House in Williamsport for 7pm. Cannot wait to get dressed up! Hope I can still walk in heels!

Pigs in snow

We finally had some snow! We received about 8 inches and it lasted all of 3 days! The weather here is still too warm and too wet for a healthy Spring. We really need a good freeze to make things grow come summer.

The resident pigs enjoyed the fluffy white stuff as much as we did though!

Every week or two Scott and I make the 3 hour round trip to McClure, Pennsylvania for a load of hay. The loading and unloading, while physical does not take near as long as the drive. We like to leave around 10 am and I always take a snack box along for the trip home. This week we tried some beef sticks made by our new butcher - YUM! I cannot wait to have some of our own beef made up into sticks for our trips!

Winter on the farm..

Just because we have not had any snow does not mean there is not enogh work to do! There is plent to go around and thankfully we have good farm hands!

Sometimes you just have to admire these beauties for who they are! This is Zorro, he will be with us for at least six more months! He has such a gentle nature about him. He never hollers at me and always waits politely until his sister Zelda comes around. Today was a glorious 54 degrees in Pennsylvaina and as much as I loved the Springlike weather, I have to think we are in for some real cold days soon!

2012 arrived at Green Acres Farm!

Sauerkraut and pork roasting is making this house smell like I imagine many New Year Days past. My Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors would not have enjoyed any other meal the first day of the new year.

I'm serving ours with hotdogs (cooked in the sauerkraut) and mashed potatoes with butter. Yes that's double meat and starch and very little in the way of vegetables!