Sunday Walkabout 9-4

Can you believe it’s already September?

The first of September marks the beginning of meteorological fall. And, the start of “pumpkin spice season” which is simply a precursor to all the Christmas displays. Christmas... Seriously?  HalloweenThankgivingChristmas is apparently just one long decorating event in the retail world.

But, my personal opinion about marketing aside…and just in case you’re wondering about meteorological fall…here’s the best explanation I have seen.

“Meteorological fall is different from astronomical fall which begins Sept. 22.

What is the difference? Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun. They are most commonly used and known. The seasons are defined by two solstices and two equinoxes.

Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and the calendar.

• Winter is typically the coldest months of the year and summer the hottest. Spring and fall are transition months
• Spring- March, April, May
• Summer- June, July, August
• Fall- September, October, November
• Winter- December, January, February

Since the Meteorological seasons fall on the same date every year, it is easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.”

– Samantha Davies, NBC5 Meteorlogist, Dallas-Fort Worth

even the backyard looks like fall

There is also a change in the light about this time of year as the days get shorter and the nights get longer on our trip around the sun. And, this is evident in the gardens as warm-weather crop production slows and the fall crops begin to mature.

So, for a couple of weeks, we’re generally in a weird state of limbo picking the last of the tomatoes while we wait for the Brussels sprouts (and other fall crops) to begin to ripen. We tidy up the gardens outside and work at getting the hoophouses planted and ready for the cooler days.

It’s hard to imagine it will ever be cool or cold again, because it’s been hot. Very hot. Weeds and pests seem to thrive on hot weather. The gardens look overgrown and tired.  Combined with the slowing of the growing season, it’s tempting to just bush-hog everything and call it quits. The fact that we hadn’t seen a drop of rain in what was beginning to feel like forever and you could almost watch the grass shriveling in the blazing sun in the late afternoon didn’t help anything. The entire farm seemed to be suffering from heat fatigue.

But, oddly, before I could write a “praying for rain” post, we woke up to over an inch of rain AND cooler temperatures. And, while the moisture caused even more weeds to sprout and bugs to hatch…it was amazing to be cool and comfortable as we did chores. The change of the weather (no matter how short-lived) did wonders for my outlook.

I think the broccoli grew overnight

Which is a good thing, because for the most part, this time of year is a test of our endurance and perseverance as we soldier on through to the end of Market season. And, it is imperative that we always be thinking ahead toward the possibilities and potentials of the upcoming season.

It can be a real challenge to remain positive and upbeat...and hopeful on a near-constant routine. 

and then we got another storm

even had a rainbow

watching it rain

inside kitty meets outside kitty

This week we had the added challenge of farm-truck repair. Since it wasn’t the kind of repair the Boss could do himself, we had to take it to the repair shop. That in itself requires we both take a roadtrip, well actually two, one to drop it off and one to pick it up. And, then there’s the whole farm without a farm-truck thing. That meant more than one trip to town for supplies. This particular repair wasn’t particularly cheap, either. But, that’s to be expected with a geriatric truck (it’s nearly twenty years old). And, a repair certainly was a WHOLE lot cheaper than a new truck!

However, it needs to go back to the shop for some fine-tuning…and that will affect this week as well…but, “whatcha gonna do?”

For the most part, the farm seems to be on auto-pilot this time of year. The gardens are doing their garden-thing, albeit a little slower and not quite so pretty.

super secure brooder

The broiler chicks are growing. After the securing of the brooder and the capture of the rat, we have suffered no more losses! The big broilers in the field pen will meet their destiny in the upcoming week and the last batch of chicks for the season should arrive on Friday.

the "big broilers"
this is tomorrow's "job du jour"

The lamb flock is growing well, although it is set to diminish somewhat next week as we deliver another batch to the processor’s. At that time, the ewe lambs will join the big girls to work on the “lamb chop crop of 2017”.

Speaking of the sheep...there is no news from the ewe flock. That fact alone is worthy of celebration. If we make it through next week with no new marks, it will be safe to assume that we can go ahead and note potential dates in anticipation of lambing season.

And, just like that…it was Market time once more.

market collage
9-3

We had a little added excitement this week and it became evident to everyone just what a great bunch of folks gather downtown on Saturday mornings.

The first thing I noted on my arrival was the absence of the big yellow foodtruck for Gloria's Pupuseria. Not only does it hold an anchor position at the Market, everyone loves JK and Gloria.

But, their somewhat aged, somewhat needy truck had failed them on their trip to town. They were stranded just blocks from the Market.

In true community fashion, one of the vendors went to help. When it became evident that despite his mechanical skills, the truck couldn’t be repaired without parts, a tow truck was called.

Shortly after I arrived at the Market, a wrecker truck swung into the Market, hauling the food truck.

A cheer and a round of applause went up as a group of vendors pushed it into place.

 They were back in business!

Everyone headed back to their own stands for an amazing day of Market sales.

Then, the mechanic-husband of another vendor made a parts run. After the Market, the repair was made.

And, to the best of my knowledge, the food truck is back on the road just in time for the local “battle of the food trucks”! More about that here.

That’s community. That’s our Market. 

Want to visit? Check out the Market's website. or visit Staunton Farmers' Market on Facebook.

Here's the link to the Boss' Market photos.

…and that was the week on the hill.

Hope you’re having a Happy Sunday! 

Thanks for dropping by! Come back and “visit” again real soon.

Sunday Walkabout 5-22

misty sunrise 5-20

You know how I said we had experienced 17 consecutive days of rain?  Well, we are going to have to add a few to that…

It’s not that I’m complaining. I am simply reporting what happened in the past week. And, the wet weather is affecting EVERYTHING. (including any and all conversations)

However, somewhere along the way this week I heard mention of this old song…I mean really old…this rendition was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1944.

You've got to ac-centuate the positive
E-liminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

Listen to the whole thing here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qEjufolmAY

So…with that in mind, I will attempt to focus on the positive things that happened this week…despite the numerous weather challenges.

the green beans made it!

We got through the cold snap with only the expected damage. Neither one of us could imagine that the squash plants would hold up to 37* and wind. (we were right)  We already had more plants started and should be able to re-plant next week. This will put our harvest slightly behind our target date, but that’s okay. And, we have indeed made a note not to try to hurry the season along next year.

...the squash did not

Processing broiler batch #2 went without a hitch and the chicken freezer is stocked once more. Yay!

processing broilers 5-16

While I went to town on the feedstore run, the Boss tilled and hilled the potato garden, hoping to cut down on weed pressure and give the tubers room to grow.  The potatoes are looking great and we should be seeing blossoms soon.

potato garden 5-18

there are some BIG lambs out there!
A couple in this photo weigh well over 100# each.
Definitely NOT cute!
Did you read THIS?

It was time to work the lambs again this week. Haunted by tragic Spring lamb losses due to wet weather and parasitic overload in the past, we aren’t taking any chances with this flock. Thankfully, they are continuing to thrive. In one month, they collectively gained over 500# for the third consecutive time.

"Beebi" in her lamb tube

While “Beebi” isn’t growing quite as quickly as the others, she is indeed growing!  Her wool had finally grown back enough for her to shed her little lamb tube. She no longer looks like some strange mutant, but a regular sheep, albeit a tiny one.

"Beebi - au naturel"

For those of you who keep up with such things, I was able to get a new prescription this week and it seems to be helping. As I headed off to town to get my pills, I had to chuckle at my similarity to “Emma Brand”. If you don’t know who Emma Brand is, then you don’t know the Andy Griffith show. (and you’ve missed out on a LOT)  If you’ve got 15 minutes…watch this. 

On Thursday, the Kman came to visit for a little while. Despite the fact that he has a whole bunch of teeth coming in at once, and he took a header on the sidewalk before he left home and busted his lip, he seemed to have a good time riding on the tractor with grandpa and loving on the doggies.

he even got to steer!

Kman LOVES his doggies!

 He even “helped” me in the kitchen. He’s particularly handy with a whisk and a broom.

There were cakes to bake. Not only was it “national chocolate cake day”, it was time for the Annual Chicken BBQ for the MVFD. For eighteen years now, I have baked a cake for this event. (I'm not alone in my baking, a number of other ladies in the community make cakes for this event) This is one of the ways our community raises funds for our volunteer fire department.

I made an "extra" one for us

Things have changed a lot over the years. I remember when there used to be a carnival with rides and such and a parade of firetrucks. (that was a big event for our girls) The carnival is a thing of the past, and there was no parade this year. But, the chicken bbq (and dessert) remains a standard. However, the weather put a damper on everything this year. 

the Middlebrook General Store
sponsors Old Middlebrook Village Days

gloomy weather for the event

Because, it started raining Friday night…

the trees at the Market are beautiful,
but drippy!

another soggy Market

…making Saturday’s Market cold and soggy. Here, check out the Boss’ photos.
  https://www.facebook.com/stauntonfarmersmkt/photos/pcb.10153965815631141/10153965812481141/?type=3&theater

 But, keeping in mind my attempt to “accentuate the positive”…

We sold everything (except two bags of greens, which became supper) and even surpassed our earnings goal for the day. Can’t complain about that!

A few other positives from the week. 

The next batch of chicks arrived in good condition without incident.

Batch # 4
so sleepy!

The bigger broilers moved outside.

Batch #3 in field pen

The hoophouses are looking good.

  …and I found teeny, tiny cauliflowers in the garden!

just a few weeks until harvest!

…and we can look forward to a new and hopefully productive week.

Here’s hoping you’re having a

Happy Sunday! 

all the gloom makes us truly appreciate a sunny day (or at least a few hours)

Thanks for stopping by. Come “visit” again real soon!

Sunday Walkabout 12-27

I can honestly say I have never seen apple blossoms in December

Well, this week has certainly been one for the record books.

Really.

Everyone is talking about the weather. The high temperatures all along the East Coast are the top story in the news. There have been reports of flooding and tumultuous weather and Alabama saw a tornado on Christmas day.

Here on the hill it has just been wet. Wet. WET.

1st full day of Winter 2015

It has rained every single day. It’s also been very warm and incredibly gloomy. I am not exaggerating when I say that there is algae growing on more than a few flat surfaces. I’m pretty sure we saw the sun for just 6 ½ minutes in total this week. On second thought, it may have actually been less. Ugh!

We missed the full Christmas moon, (last observed in 1977), as it was obliterated by clouds and dense fog. Maybe we will see it in another 19 years. I truly hope we see the sun before that!

While the grass is greener than we have ever seen it in late December, the mud is incredibly deep (not to mention slippery) and the creek is still running quite high.

muddy barnlot

To say I’m tired of the gloom and muck is a sad understatement. I have to wonder how Mrs. Noah managed being stuck in the ark with all the animals during forty days and nights of rain…there is absolutely no doubt, I would have lost my mind!

Despite the wet weather…and a lot of talk about missing winter all together (I still say, just wait…) 

…there were still things to do around here.

getting ready for hens in the garden

The Boss got the hens into the lower garden to do clean-up for a while. They have all the spent brassica plants to eat and plenty of soft soil to scratch through. This will keep the egg yolks bright and nutritious and hopefully cut down on the insect pressure later in the season. And, if it is possible for hens to be happy…they certainly have every reason to be.

the clean-up crew arrives

after just a few days you can really see a difference
(even through the fog and mist)

ewes in winter paddock
12-25

The ewes are still out on grass.

This seems like great news (last year we were feeding hay before Thanksgiving), but, it occurred to me last night that with the entire barn FULL of hay…we don’t have any room for jugs. (Jugs are those little pens we build for lambing season) Guess it’s a good thing that lambing season is going to run a little late this year…maybe we can make more room by then!

building the winter feed corral

checking out the new arrangement

We did rearrange things so that the ewes are now in their winter quarters. They are confined to the paddock beside the house (where we stockpiled grass) and the barn….and they began eating some hay today. The winter paddock still has a great deal of grass growing in it, so the ewes are happily munching fresh, green grass in late December. This change will give the pasture out front a rest and keep the ewes where we can observe them easily as we get closer to the first delivery date.

winter feeder

eating hay for first time in '15

Between the weather and the holiday, it’s been a slow week here on the hill. Personally, I am looking forward to getting back into our regular routine. At this point, I have no idea what day of the week it is. And, quite honestly, I am bored….and I desperately need to do something (anything) outside!

We did get the gardens planned and plotted for 2016. I have marked my calendar with start dates and I began cleaning one of the greenhouses.  The Boss has to do some repair work in the other greenhouse before I get serious about starting transplants. So, a trip to Lowe’s is in the works for the first of the week. And, I need to inventory our seeds before placing the big seed order for the upcoming season.

It won’t be long before we’re up and running for 2016. The first lambs are due in about 10 days and I hope to start some lettuce and kale by the middle of next week. My boredom won’t last long!

Last week I was more than a little bit bummed, concerned, and maybe even distraught about recent events in our little corner of the world. The vitriolic rhetoric spewing forth from the screen every time I turned on the computer was indicative of the anger and animosity that had infected our community (and beyond) and it was more than a little disheartening.

However…this week, I want to share a story with you that while it didn’t affect me directly, nor does it have anything to do with agriculture, it does indeed tell you something about this amazing place. It also greatly restored my faith in my fellow humans.

-facebook photo

Over in Draft, where our eldest daughter and her family live, there is a sense of community the likes of which is not seen elsewhere.  When there is a need…there is always someone ready to step up and fill it. We have firsthand knowledge of the kindness of those in that community…

Stuarts Draft will always hold a special place in my heart, even though I can’t claim it as home. We owe a lot to this place, because without the amazingly committed and talented folks of SDRS, chances are that our daughter would not have survived that awful night in April ’10… a fact I think about every time I drive past the rescue squad building…and nearly every time I hold my grandson…

But, I digress.

Back in September, Meredith (a fourth grade girl from Draft), was very sick. She was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, requiring lots of costly care and a lengthy hospital stay. In true community fashion, the folks of the town have supported her and her family in countless ways. It has been truly touching.

But, she desperately wanted to be home for the holidays.

Finally, her health improved enough so that the wish could actually come true. 

And, then the Draft community stepped up to make the fulfillment of the wish even more special. Fire and rescue escorted her back over the mountain. It looked like a parade. People stood by the road and waved and held up signs of encouragement. In some cases they stood there for hours, hoping to somehow encourage this brave little girl in the fight for her life. 

-facebook photo

She and her family were given gifts and "Santa" was there to greet them. The community involvement was overwhelming. So many people gave of their time on Christmas Eve…when they could have been out shopping or making preparations for their own families, they were standing by waving, encouraging, giving of themselves…because “no one fights alone”.

-newsleader photo

I have never seen such a shining example of “love your neighbor” as I saw from those folks of Stuarts Draft. It was truly awe-inspiring.

You can read the story in detail here  http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/community-comes-out-to-welcome-furr-family-home/article_d05e56fa-aa75-11e5-a3fe-bf4f21538d68.html

 And, on that note, I will leave you for the week.

I hope you’re having a Happy Sunday! 

there's not much of a view this week

Thanks for visiting. Please come again real soon!

Since we’re closing in fast on the end of 2015…I am hoping to do a short retrospective post each day this upcoming week.  A lot happened on the hill in the past year and it would be too long for just one post.

So, check back and see if I manage to follow through…or if I should make a resolution about finishing things I start.