Notes

Red farrowed 2 days ago. Patch followed last night. I have 3 pregnant gilts - one may be due on or around April 2. But I have no more farrowing pens ready. Get to work!!!

We also are suddenly back in eggs, gathering 2 dozen last night. But we haven't finished the new chicken coop we want to move 2 groups into together. More work!!

We 1/2 butchered a large hog on Saturday - the other half is on ice and will get done Thursday this week - I hope!

The garden is going in slowly. Corn was planted last week. I have had broccoli, kale and Brussel sprouts in for a few weeks and more started along with some spinach. I planted a few peas on Saturday. I started Roma and cherry tomatoes this weekend. I need to remember to bring all the starters in today as we are having another cold snap this week.

This all sounds like a lot of work, but it is a most satisfying kind of work, especially when done with together with family. 

There seems there is never enough time in the Spring to get everything done (still cutting wood for next winter) but God gives us just enough time if we use it wisely. I pray I do.

We are doing a novena to St. Joseph - what happens if you miss a day? God is not an accountant, but ....

Oremus pro invicem!

Why Can't I use what I have?

 Why Can't I use what I have?

Root coming due: UPDATE

Last night Root gave birth to 11 live pigs. All doing well this morning.

I don't think she is due until the 26th (just after we are due to have a catastrophic ice storm), but she is definitely coming along. We finished refurbishing (and strengthening - as she is an escape artist) her new farrowing pen and moved her into it on Saturday.

Oremus pro invicem!

of cows

My son gave me a new Buck knife for Christmas - I broke the tip off my last one doing some plumbing. But this just isn't any knife. It has a quote of sorts, referencing a comment I made during an interview which aired last year on an EWTN series on homesteading; I mentioned in this post. My part was very quick and very minor, but my memorable comment lives on at least for some .....

Oremus pro invicem!

Merry Christmas!!

The obligatory picture of our tree! 

Today on the feast of the Holy Family, Father J reiterated the constant and consistent Church teaching on the definition of marriage, the sanctity of life from the moment of conception, and the obligation of children to care for their elderly parents. 

I was surprised, but heartened, that the third was included with the first two.

Oremus pro invicem!

Work & Play

 This essay caught my eye this morning. 

Wading in a river and lumberjacking in the woods are at once work and play, play and work, ....especially that manual work is play.

I have to agree in many ways.

Lots has been happening here - but I see I have not posted since early October. All the little pigs are gone now to new homes, but waiting for more soon. 

We held a square dance/hog roast after Thanksgiving, and that was work ... and play!

Oremus pro invicem!

Little Red!!

 Yesterday Little Red looked pretty ready ....

Last night/early this morning she gave birth ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Patch has another litter!

 First of the fall litters this weekend.  

Oremus pro invicem!

Delicious!

 Crown roast the other night. Cooked beautifully! Thanks Mrs. Curley!

Oremus pro invicem!

Full House

In the past week we have acquired some chicks (bargain roosters - more on this later), turkey poults, a few feeder pigs, a couple new gilts to add to the herd, and some dairy cross beef bull calves.

Morning and evening chores just tripled in time with this past week acquisitions. 

We have been quickly running out of beef (thus the bull calves). Besides, as far as revitalizing the land, cows do go the most!

We can't keep up with demand for piglets - thus the new gilts, which will be ready to enter the breeding herd in about 3 months. 

The turkeys - well we need something for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!

The bargain rooster chicks .... First, they were a deal. Second, we have seen our land losing fertility with the dearth of livestock. This would seem to be fixed now, but we didn't know we would be getting new calves and pigs when we go the chicks. So our plan was/is to put the 39 chicks in chicken tractors and move them across future garden space to re-fertilize the land. At 5 or 6 months old, we will either sell or butcher the roosters. Still the plan.

In September we will probably get some new chicks to replace our laying flock for the spring. With all the new life around here, it almost seems like Spring instead of the doldrums of Summer.

Oremus pro invicem!