Inside and Outside

Finally, we have snow. After all, it's Maine. I know the snowmobilers (is that a word) are happy. The trails are smooth and in use. We have trails on our farm. Animal trails. Outside the sheep and Fuzzy the llama are completely content to remain outside in falling snow.
Our hens prefer to remain inside. "Nope Stella, I'm not going out till spring".
Inside the guineas are everywhere. On their roost....

singing in the doorway.....

Contemplation? What is on this girls mind? Anything? Sometimes I wonder if they think.

Our remaining rooster keeps close to his girls. Samson died this past fall leaving all his hens to this unnamed roo.

Some hens will even pose for a closeup.

They enjoy snacks in the afternoon. Peeled over ripe bananas, tops from strawberries and stems from last night's asparagus.

Oh, I've been spotted by the sheep. Here they come being led out by Truffles.

Looking for treats. We've moved the hay feeder back temporarily into the shed through the snow storm.

Our new sheep have settled into farm life. Cierra has such beautiful eyes.
Emily is right at home.

They fit in nicely with the flock.

Oh, Echo has been under the hay evidently. Doesn't he know that hay isn't good for his fleece?

What a bunch of moochers? Nope, just attention seekers. We love them and they love us. Especially when we come with a new bale of hay. We know our place here on the farm.

No one in out on the playground today.

Here come the goats. Shirley and Curly first. They remind me so much of the sheep. They don't mind the snow at all. The other goats?

Here they come.

Snow goats. They love me.

So much for that adoration I felt. Isabella says, "no treats? We're out of here."

Back inside, warm and toasty.

Are you sure there are no treats?

Even the pups like to be outside in the snow.

Emma has a difficult time focusing....

too much energy.

Oops...getting something under here, be right back.

I know I left it here before it snowed.

Hmmm....

Just a little animal winter update. Not a whole lot going on. Quiet, we love quiet. Much love and prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly

Well, it has been awhile and there is lots to tell. I went down to NH on the 14th for my grandaughter Mia's 6th birthday. At the time my Aunt in NJ was very ill and coming home on Hospice and I was trying desparately to get my 85 year old mother down to see her one last time. It was a terrible situation and we couldn't get there in time. She passed away Sun morning. We could't get there and Mom was just devastated. I did, however get to spend some great time with the kids. I was the babysitter so their parents could go out for valentines night as I had previously promised. Returned home late Sun evening and when I got to about Augusta I called to see if anyone wanted anything from the store on my way. Teddy was home from college and said "noone is here, Kelly fell and is at the Hospital." After a very brief rain, on top of a ton of snow, the driveway was a skating rink. Kelly only got to the "Watch.." part of watch out for the ice. She now is the invalid of the week with a broken arm. It is very painful and a week and a half later she can barely move her fingers. So I am at work and she is off for 4-6 more weeks, if all heals well. Actually we have 3 nurses out with ice and snow related injuries. Welcome to Maine. She has Jasmine and Ted up from NH for this week of school vacation and is enjoying the time with them. We got 26 inches of new snow on Sun and Mon. Still digging out, trying to make paths to the barn, woodpile and propane tanks so they can be filled. Yesterday we went to our first beekeeping class in Ellsworth, about an hour away and she was miserable by the time we got home. The class however, was great. Understand we have had bees for a year but this is the first class available. Thank God for the internet. This weekend is the basketball finals for Teddy and Thomas College is currently #1 in the division, so we will try to get to this. Keep you all posted as I am able. Thanks all your support - Alex

Winter Wednesday

We hope that all of our blogger friends are staying warm and toasty this winter. We have had a really hard winter so far and are making it. I joke and say that we are learning to be Mainers. It is said with amazement and respect. These are hardy people with skills up the wazoo for surviving.

After suffering through -31 degrees we finally had a warm up and got about a foot of snow. It was too cold to snow. I went out this afternoon and took some pictures of the pasture and the front of the house. It is beautiful and I never get tired of the snow. We did find out that our thermometer goes to -28 and croaks. Our neighbor has the old fashioned kind and was able to tell us what the actual low was. Ok, I'm not the most graceful person and I'm glad that no one was taking a picture of me today because I fell in the snow and had the darnedest time trying to keep the camera up and get up too.

We called around and found someone, probably the only person who still has seasoned wood, and ordered 2 cords. Why do we need wood? We were in Home Depot last week and they had a wood stove on sale for half price. I guess this was an impulse buy but one that paid off with the low temps we had.

We traded out this lovely old antique, but not really functional ,for this not quite state of the art wood stove. Anyone want to purchase this turn of the last century Imperial Clarion? It is made by Wood and Bishop Company out of Bangor, Maine. If so just let me know and we can arrange something. It has it's own water tank. It needs refurbishing but is beautiful. We can make a deal!
The chickens are surviving well. We added another brooder lamp, which makes 3, when the temps are really low. So far they are doing well. We get about 2 dozen eggs a day. Notice the new feeder? We bought it at Perco Feeds so that they will keep the shavings out of their corn.

A great way to end the day is with a big pot of homemade soup. It warms the kitchen and warms the soul. May everyone be well and blessed. Keep warm and happy. With Love from Mainely Ewes Farm.

White Christmas in Maine

We worked 3 nights in a row, went grocery shopping just after work, went to sleep and woke up to this. Per the Weather Man we had 17" with three foot drifts. The wind is still howling up to 35mph. The sun is just now starting to shine, just in time to set at 3:30. The snow covered wreath on the front door was made with our very own hands. Alex was wearing gloves (allergy to pine/balsam). The wreath is Balsam, Pine and Cedar. We took a class at Mapleshade Farm in Garland Maine from Rachel and Linda Clewley. They do a really great job and ship all over the place.

The front pasture is knee deep, this is our outside Christmas Tree. I'm sure the snow plow folks appreciated the cheery lights as they plowed up and down Rt 221.

This is the wonderful job those heroes worked on. North 221 looking toward the beginning of the Appalachian Trail, Mount Katahdin in the far distance.
This is Metropolitan Bradford ,Maine. If you have a furrowed brow, it's a joke! Note our one and only blinking light. We don't even have a real traffic light. I love this place.

This is looking across the street to Kevin's, Cheata's and Nikia's house. Those people are the heroes I mentioned above. She was out plowing all night for DOT and Kevin is a Mechanic with DOT. Nikia came over to hang out with us this morning while mom and dad were working. She is a great kid. Notice, he is prepared with hay on a trailer. Cows will be happy.

Notice how pitiful the barn looks in the snow? Well it don't look so great without snow either. This is our summer project. If you notice the house trailer door on the side it gives you a great idea about some of the other "repairs" that were done in the past. The snow is way too deep for the girls to be outside. They have been on coop arrest. The snow slid off the barn roof on top of the coop and collapsed it in. Another summer job.

This is the beautiful pasture with an extra 50 fence posts. No fence, just posts. Winter surprised us this year. Use your imagination and think of a peaceful scene with wire, and sheep. While you're at it imagine green grass and summer too.

This is my winter look. I did not throw that shovel! Alex has a wicked sense of humor. I personally think I look good in Carhart.

(What is this Momma?)

I was reading a blog while at work the other night, (ok, so I like to play on their computer, it's much faster than ours) and read about giving the girls something to occupy their time. They tend to peck at each other when they get bored. We bought cabbage and hung it from the rafter on jute.

Hmmm....... what are we suppose to do with this?

Oh! Chicken Tether Ball

We wanted to leave you with a cute pic of Timba the fierce mouser in the rafters. Don't feel sorry for him he sleeps in a four poster bed complete with HDTV. We have another storm due Christmas Eve and on the following weekend. Winter has arrived. Take care and have a safe and Merry Christmas. best wishes from Mainely Ewes Farm. Love, Kelly and Alex.

No, it can't be December 1st!

How can it be December 1st alreay? It seems like Fall only arrived. We have been so busy and time does seem to fly by. I know that everyone feels this way. There have been a few milestones to mention. This is one of the very special ones.



Brianna is my youngest granddaughter. She turned one on November 11. What a cutie. She now has 4 teeth in and screams at the top of her lungs, just for fun. We were blessed with family up from New Hampshire for Thanksgiving. Alex's son Jake came up as did his brother Cliff and his new wife Sara. They have 2 beautiful children, Mia and Peirce. Alex is so happy to have a grandson now. Welcome to the family. My daughter Sue and her girlfriend Tonya came up, and brought my other granddaughter Jasmine with them. Leah and Victor came and brought Brianna. Teddy came home from Thomas College and brought Tarra. We had a table full. It was truly a blessing. We all fit! i hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays.


We finally got the wall up in the mud room. We had to insulate and install new wall board.

Then we had to paint and put up shelves. This is where I store alot of my soap and lotion making supplies. If you don't know what this color is, it is called "Cow Belly". I know this because I found a sticker of a cow, took it to Home Depot and had them match the color on the cow belly. I then proceeded to name it. "COW BELLY"

We bought a pellet stove from Lowe's. Ted unloaded it from the truck and put it into the basement. Then Alex and I proceeded to "install" it. I'm very proud of us. It took a few frantic calles to the stove maker to get things right. At first not enough heat and too many pellets. Then we got the air intake right and now have a wonderful heat. Can't live in Maine without heat. The basement is downright warm. We have vents in the floor of the kitchen, office and mud room alowing for the heat to rise.

This is the other source of heat we use. The propane logs in the living room heat the whole second floor, my room, living room and dining room. Not bad and more reasonable than oil. We will be finishing the floors in the next few months.

We did get to have some fun. The Christmas tree is up and we are getting into the Holiday Spirit. I think it makes the house even warmer.

And, not to be forgotten. When I opened the door last night this was waiting for me. I love Maine. I love the snow.

May everyone stay warm, be surrounded by loved ones, and find peace. Good night all.

Kelly