Getting ready ....

I came across this picture from last summer today. We are right now in the midst of planning the spring and summer garden - itching to get some seeds and plants in the ground. This picture inspires....

Oremus pro invicem!

 Dear friend, Peter, may you rest in peace!

Obituary | Dr. Peter J. Nyikos of Lexington, South Carolina | Temples-Halloran Funeral Home (templeshalloranfuneralhome.com)

Oremus pro invicem!

Walking and Running

I admit it, many years ago I was a runner and pretty good at it too, despite bad knees. Once I got married, I put on weight; running and bad knees are not compatible - so I did nothing much. About 23 years ago, I tried to take up running again in the peace of the early morning hours in our neighborhood. It lasted 6 months or so, then never again.

I was never a competitive runner, but ran to keep in shape, alleviate stress, and to think.

It turns out walking can do the same. Charlie is often talking about the benefits of walking, and I have to concur. 

I have been walking off and on for some 20 years now (more on than off). I can't stand a treadmill (which I was subjected to three times a week during my heart rehab), but I love walking through the woods or in neighborhoods. I can think, pray the rosary, meditate, or just enjoy the sights.

Over the years I have done a lot of backpacking with my sons, but my last trip was 3 or 4 years ago. Walking is good training for backpacking (although there are no hills to train on around here.)

I never really liked running, it was just a means to exercise. Walking is that, plus enjoyable.

Oremus pro invicem!

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!

2nd chance day anniversary

It was one year ago today that I went in for a precautionary heart cath and didn't come out for 10 days.

It has been a strange year. It started with me being an invalid, but thankful for life and my family who rallied around me and Mrs. Curley who took special care of me.

Since coming home from the hospital after 10 days in, I progressed from recliner, to sofa, to bedroom. From needing help just to get up, to PT, to OT, to feeling jut about fine. I know I am lucky to both be alive with virtually no long-term bad effects.

I hope I learned something. I am thankful. It could have been much worse. Looking back, it is hard to believe what January through March were like. 

My oldest son sent me a message today wishing me a happy 2nd chance day. I hope I take good advantage of it!

Oremus pro invicem!

Ebenezer

Typically on Thanksgiving we and any visitors we have name a few things from the past year we are thankful for just before digging into the desserts.

This year my brother's family was down from NH to celebrate the holiday with us. As we went around the table, there were a number of mentions of being thankful for Ebenezer. This refers to the Wednesday night supper which featured the last steaks from our steer Ebenezer.

Oremus pro invicem!

We bought a couple turkeys from a local farmer a couple months ago. Both were probably in the 12 pound range at the time. 

We processed the Thanksgiving turkey on Saturday - it dress out at 35 pounds!  

My brother and family are here for the feast. My nephew, I am told, can pack away some food - he will have plenty of opportunity!

Oremus pro invicem!

Any Day was

 Saturday night! I was returning from NC when I got the call that Red was in labor. Here are the pics.

Praise be to God!

Oremus pro invicem!

Any day now

 

Big Red is even more bottled up today than in this picture from Sunday. I figure in we will have new piglets within the week.

Thirst

If one of your parents or grandparents was suffering from thirst, would you offer them some water? How about your siblings? How about your neighbor or co-worker? What if you saw a stranger suffering from thirst, would you offer them a drink?

For all these, yes!

Now, these same people are suffering in purgatory. Do you offer them a drink through your prayers and mortifications so they can get refreshment in Heaven!

O gentle Heart of Jesus,
ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,
ever consumed with burning love
for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,
have mercy on them.

Be not severe in Your judgments,
but let some drops of Your Precious Blood
fall upon the devouring flames.

And, Merciful Saviour,
send Your angels to conduct them
to a place of refreshment,
light and peace.
Amen.

Oremus pro invicem!

Things lost; things saved

Last weekend I was in NC roasting a large 1/2 hog on a grill. We put it on at 10 PM and I was sleeping on the ground outside, waking up every hour to put coals on. There were some teenage boys also sleeping outside. One in particular asked me every time I put coals on "When is the pig going to start to cook?"

I kept explaining the hot coals I was putting under the grill was cooking the hog. 

At 3:00 AM this boy woke me and said, "Mr. Curley, the pig is really cooking now!" I looked up to see the grill engulfed in flames and billowing black smoke. Apparently enough fat from the pig has fell on the hot coals to make some flames leap, and thus set the pig aflame.

We did get the fire out, and after an inspection determined that only the outside was burnt. The inside still needed cooking. We cooked it and feasted Saturday night. A thing saved.

During the battle (with the blaze) somehow my wedding ring slipped off my finger and has not been found. This is the first time I have lost it. I dug through dirt and ashes, but no ring. I was reminded of the play The Jeweler's Shop when one spouse tries to sell her ring back to the jeweler - who won't accept it as her spouse is still alive. A thing lost.

Oremus pro invicem!

Not a car guy

I have been struggling all week with a bad wheel bearing assembly on the truck. I got a new one, but could not get the old one out. Finally, I went down the hardware store and bought a 2-foot pipe wrench; combine that with the back end of a splitting maul, and after 20 swings or so, it came out. After getting it out, I was in the garage putting a tool away and noticed my own old 2-foot pipe wrench hanging on the wall. 

I don't even know what tools I already own!

Later I removed with much less, (but a little) trouble a second wheel bearing assembly. Am I to be hailed? Ur, no. I had to remove the new assembly I put in because I realized have spending an hour unsuccessfully trying to put the calipers back on the rotor, that I put the dust shield on backwards - so it all had to come off.

Am I finished? No. I damaged the outer tie rod boot during the whole process, so have to replace the outer tie rod. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get the old one off after about an hour of heat, cheater bars, pry bars, etc. 

Done for the day!

But I leave you with this more pleasant picture - a late pumpkin. I am hoping it will turn before the first frost.

Oremus pro invicem!

Fall

 Well, it is not here yet, but we got much of the fall garden in today. Broccoli, lettuces, Brussell sprouts, cauliflower, etc. We still have some planting to do, but a good start.

We moved our 2 gilts in in with Eddy the boar this week. Red is already bred. One of the gilts was in heat the day before we moved her. I don't know if she got into the pen in time, but not a problem, we aren't in a hurry.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!