Fence Installation Day 3

Fence Post Installation.  What else should we do on a hot summer day.  The sky is blue and thank goodness we have a breeze.  We loaded up the bucket with our handy dandy weed trimmer, clippers, gas, filled the tractor tank with diesel and we're ready to go. 

The tractor gets a real workout.  We have wild blackberries and raspberries.  The sheep will have a wonderful time in this pasture.  Ted puts the tractor bucket to good use. It is much easier to scrape a trail rather than attack these berry bushes by hand.  Those suckers attack back.

That tractor has earned its keep today.

We even got to pull a stump.  We really only had to cut one apple tree and about 5 saplings down. 

Now that the path is cleared it's time for fence post installation.  We put in a total of 60 fence post in over three days. Not too shabby. We put Teddy Jr to work too.  See what happens when kids come home from college over the summer!

They may lean a smidge but they will keep the sheep where they are suppose to be. 

Again, the meandering fence line. Keeping sheep in and trees safe.

We finished the last 3 posts by tractor light.  Whew....done.  Now we have to put the fence wire up.  That will come on another day.  We still have to cut and stack firewood and looking at haying equipment.  Had a nice visit from the John Deere salesman Ben.  I keep telling myself "baby steps".  No, I want to go in giant leaps. Patience has never been a strong point with me. 

Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Tree Pruning 101

First off find a tree in need of pruning.  I don't know what kind this is.  Let's just call it tree in the pasture.  Second, open the barn door and let your small herd out.  Watch them run like the wind. Run to the nearest tree.  Always make sure that you try to steer them to a tree you want pruned.  Otherwise it could be a disaster.  It is like a bright light from heaven has shown down upon the tree a chorus of angle's voices singing in the background.  The goats are in heaven.

If we had leaves at Christmas, we could call this goat ornaments.

Shirley is looking longingly at this beautiful, luscious green leaf.  "Oh if I were just a little bit taller like my Aunt Isabella I could reach you little leaf."

Isabella is the only goat that can stand on all 4's and reach.  I think she is a Draft Nubian.

The boys were right next door in the Bachelor Pasture.  I think Sadie was trying to talk Edward into a little love talk.  Little does she know he is celibate.

While out with the girls I found this horrible plant.  I though goats were suppose to eat Thistle. Not mine. I guess Sophie's episode with The thistle cured them of this taste.

I don't know about what goes on in your barn. However, I'm embarrassed to say we still have kids nursing at the ripe old age of 4 months.  They are so big that they have to get down on their knees to reach.  Oh, Isabella enough is enough.  Grow up Annie.

I have this mental image of a full grown Nubian/Sabal doe down on her knees getting a little snack before bedtime. How long will they keep nursing?  Don't get me wrong.  I love my girls.  These girls are sweet and loving and form a lifelong bond with their moms. Kinda like people don't ya think?

Happy Goat Saturday.  Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Fences

Summer is in full swing.  How do I know this?  We are busy outside, sweating like pigs and getting eaten by mosquitoes and flies.  Yes, it is fence season again.  I know in my deepest heart of hearts that one day we will have all the fences done.  We will have summer pastures and winter pastures.  The grass will be lush and the weeds will be choice for browsers.  Last week we put 30 fence posts in the upper field. We can actually call it that now.  The upper field. Sounds nice.

When I went to work I impressed everyone with my tan. The bug bites were quite impressive too but not so noticeable.  You too can have this tan said I.  Come out with us and stand in the baking sun and hold a post so Ted can take the tractor bucket and push it into the ground.  It isn't that bad.  I just think of the head trauma if he misses.  So far my beaner is still intact.  I can move pretty fast when needed. He is a good aim too. That helps.  Now for the really buggy part of the job.  The woods.  This is actually a very old apple orchard.  The trees are gnarled and don't produce good apples anymore.  The apples are knotty and don't taste very good.  We think this is going to make a wonderful field for the sheep to work their magic on.

Who is that strange mad with the chain saw?  Oh no it's Ted! 

Onward!  We will tackle this job.  See that little pink string.  If you're thinking we are using it to keep the fence straight, we threw that idea out a bit ago.  It sounded nice.  The only problem is, to get a straight line we would have to cut way too many trees out.  We want to keep that to a minimum.  So the fence will.....meander?  You know what I mean. A little this way, around that tree and then end up over here.  Yeah, that's it. 

The sheep and Fuzzy did enjoy some of the branches we tossed over the fence.  Actually, I am a horrible shot. All mine seem to land on the electric fence.  Not good.  I need to work on my throwing arm.

We don't go anywhere without these goofs.  They keep us company.  What would a farm be without farm dogs?  Lonely.

I'm tired and don't feel like cooking.  Where is that menu for The Bradford General Store?  Sounds like pizza tonight.  I wonder if I could sneak off, get the pizza and convince Ted that I made it myself. Hmm....

Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm

Always Mix a Little Rest in With Your Work

We have been blessed with beautiful weather.  I call beautiful weather a few days of sunshine followed by a little rain.  The rain has encouraged the fields to grow. We should be able to get two cutting of hay this summer.  We have gone with round bales instead of small bales.  Another experiment on our part.   Ted and I worked on fencing and a new home for a couple of randy bucklings.  Bucks are able to breed does when they are only 3 months old.  It was necessary to have a bachelor pad for these young men.  Edward is a wether and there for adult supervision. We  

The boys made themselves right at home. We took the turkey house and did a little relocation and renovation.  That night there was a bit of complaining.  Well, a lot of complaining.  They actually made a bit of a ruckus.  The boys had always been in the barn at night with their mothers. They now are safe and sound with electric fence to protect them. Edward has a sensitive stomach so I will give him a dose of Probios for a couple of days.  No other goats have problems on fresh pasture but Edward.  He's special.

After hot work there is always time for a little relaxation. Ted found out that the girls will not stay on the ground if there is an occupied hammock around.

Emma and Lucy don't have to wait on us to relax in the shade.

Stay cool. Remember to rest after hot work. Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.What great advice!

Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly

Changes at the Farm

My posting has been sparse over the last couple of months.  I have missed blogging. I think that blogging has to come from a positive place. A place we are comfortable sharing. I feel that I have gotten to know so many blog friends. I love to read about your lives, families, farms and you.  It is a sharing of sorts.
Over the last few months the farm has been the center of changes. Some changes are good and others, not so much. I suppose change is a way of life. Nothing ever stays the same. Our changes have been both stressful and inevitable. Alex has decided to leave the farm.  She has moved closer to her work. Her travel time each way was an hour and a half.  This made her day even longer and added an unbearable financial burden.  We wish her the best of luck and hope she finds happiness in her new life.
The farm will continue to grow.  The animals will change and grow.  We are working on new fields for the sheep.  I will be back to blogging.  I love having and sharing the visual log of our changes. There are so many things to update.  I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer and your gardens are producing.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.
Kelly