Gardening

We thought about building a small greenhouse this year to extend the growing season (both ways.) We never got around to it, but amazingly, we picked our last broccoli in the middle of January. We have never had broccoli so late in the season.

We also had some Brussell sprouts late. Amazingly, some of the lettuce and other greens survived until the cold snap a week ago.

Cabbage was a disappointment, we never really got a single good head.

Now its time to start thinking about spring planting ... only a month or so away.

From the small holding in Bethune ....

Oremus pro invicem!

Little Red

 Here is a video of Little Red and her piglets. They are now (not in the video) 2 weeks old. She has been a great sow so far.

More pictures of Little Red and her litter. She is proving to be a very good sow.

Oremus pro invicem!

Back home!

 I was in MA for a few days to help bury my brother - may his soul rest in peace. 

Coming home I thought I would be coming to warmer temperatures - but no, it was getting just as cold here overnight as in MA. I woke up this morning, and it was 49 F in the house before I got the wood stove fired up.

Everything was still here in place. We had a new litter of pigs (see below) and no burst pipes.

Thomas has returned to his final semester of college at WCC, but I leave a picture of him just after he felled a dead cedar tree over this Christmas break. The cut is so high because of metal in the tree he wanted to avoid.

Oremus pro invicem!

Another litter!

 January 19th, just days after the feast of St. Anthony of the desert (patron of swine herders), we have another litter.

Praise be to God! Oremus pro invicem!

Pat - Rest in peace!

 My brother:

Patrick R. Curley

Patrick R. Curley of Walpole, formerly of Norwood. Passed away on January 12, 2024. He was 64 years old.

Patrick grew up in Norwood and was a 1977 graduate of Norwood Senior High School. He met the love of his life, Karen Foster, at age 16, and they went on to marry and raise a family of their own. Patrick was an avid Bruins fan. He also loved John Wayne and westerns, books about westerns and western movies. Patrick was happiest surrounded by his family, especially his children and his dog, Sugar.

Patrick was the dear and devoted husband of the late Karen (Foster). Loving father of Michael P. Curley and his wife Alex of Northboro, and Kristen E. Ritzenthaler and her husband Cameron of Manchester, NH. Dear brother of Mary, James, John, Kevin, Eileen, Rita, Kathleen, Judy, Claire, Agnes and Sister Marie Paul. Son-in-law of Richard Foster and brother-in-law of David Foster. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral from the Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home 1248 Washington St. NORWOOD, Friday January 19. 2024 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church in East Walpole at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday January 18, 2024 from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Patrick will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery with his beloved Karen.

Little Red!

 She had her first litter last night. 10 live births. 

Oremus pro invicem!

Goings on

It has been very busy around here. Monday we dispatched our last Jersey steer. He was less bony and more solid than most Jersey steers we've had. Today we spent the morning butchering the front quarters (mostly for hamburger meat and brisket.) The rest we will age a bit more.

Yesterday we had a pretty strong storm (cancelling my first day of class at both colleges). Lots of limbs down in other places. Our neighbor lost a tree, taking his fence down. This afternoon we spent cutting up the tree (poplar, I think) and bringing it home to start next year's wood stash. 

We have weaned a bunch of pigs and trying to sell them, while waiting for 2 litters to drop any day now. 

We still have Thomas home for a couple more days, then he's back to Wyoming to finish his senior year.

Oremus pro invicem!

Happy Feast Day!

 Merry Christmas and Happy Feast of Our Lady!

Oremus pro invicem!