We got our winter hay delivery yesterday but there was so much going on that we never made it out to the pasture to put it away. Now, I don't know how many of you have ever stacked hay for the winter, but whoa - it is a BIG deal. I thought we were going to pass out! LOL..and it is only 10:30AM! And we only got a little more than half stacked. DS is exhausted and I told him he could just do reading today because in addition to hay stacking he had to carry 50# grain bags down to the barn too. We will have to go back out tonight and do it after the sun goes down, wouldn't you know it this is the warmest week we've had almost the entire summer. On top of all this - our school computer crashed this morning and I spent an hour resetting it. Then I had to reinstall the graphics card and all the software we lost. Good thing it was only the school computer... I think I need a nap.
Hubby has told me a million times he is glad the farm went to the giant round bales and uses the tractors and trucks for moving them from place to place. He said doing hay several times a year was enough exercise to last a year...lol. I think he's even more glad now that he doesn't have to actually work the farm at all anymore (they have downsized a lot since his grandparents passed away), but I know he misses it at the same time. Take it easy today and try not to go through too much muscle rub tomarrow
Thanks. And on top of all that...one of my chickens got out and there was a flurry of dogs and then she hid under the barn and we couldn't get her. I just looked outside and they are having chicken for lunch as we speak. DS hates it when anything dies, I'm going to him that I got her and put her back in the barn so he won't be sad... Farm life isn't so fun sometimes.
Sorry you lost a chicken. I'm with your son on the dying farm animals. I never will forget visiting my Aunt's farm as a child. She tells me we are having chicken for dinner. I was so excited, fried chicken was my favorite. Up until then I had no idea that chicken didn't really come from the grocery store. Imagine my surprise when she asked me if I wanted to go with her to get the chicken, she picked the poor thing up and killed it right in front of me! My family still laughs at me sitting at the table that night crying and repeating over and over, no,no, I'm not eating no dead chicken. I'm not eating no dead chicken. LOL........ They should have just let me believe they really did come from grocery store. LR
That is so sad! LOL I'm with you...I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade before I realized that "chicken" the farm animal was the same "chicken" I ate. Guess that's what happens when you grow up in the city or suburbia! :lol:
Stacking hay is not easy! My inlaws use to own a feed store and I hated having to unload grain and hay when I was working by myself since I'm 5 2 and the hay bales were over half my size so they were a struggle to work with. I hope you get to rest easy later tonight.
I don't know what the big deal is. My husband's grandmother told me when I was exhausted in my last pregnancy (with a 2, 4, and 6 yo) how she was out hauling hay while she was 8 mos pregnant and she'd never seen someone as lazy as me. /sarcasm aimed at Grandma Sorry to hear you're worn out! Nice thing about homeschooling, the hands on learning and the fact that it's okay to rest when ya need to! SG
I wish I was there, I would come help you. I hated doing that as a kid but now that I don't have to do it I enjoy doing it. Haying season is always on the hottest day of the year. It's wonderful that you have children that are willing and able to help you, it makes the job go alot faster.
Oh, he's able, but not so willing. Though he didn't balk about it, this time. H's a good kid. :angel:
Oh poor chicken!! (and lucky dogs [ewwww]) We eat the cows from here on the farm, honestly they aren't the best meat, but it's ummm cheap :lol: We plan on putting in a chicken coup when we move up the hill farther.. we are buying my inlaws house. We are going to hatch eggs in the spring and hopefully raise some laying hens. I don't think I could butcher my own chickens so eggs may be it.
Well, ya know every now and then they do get one of the birds, and honestly, it doesn't bother me that much (excpet my favorite duck) because they are dogs and can't help it, plus they always eat the entire thing, bones - feathers and all. But today, they left half the bird in the yard. If they are going to kill a chicken, they should at least eat the entire thing.... :!: Don't they know there are starving dogs in China???? :|
I am so happy I pay the guys to put the hay in the barn and then we have round bales! Of course today I am butchering chickens And my dogs JOB is to protect the laying flock of hens. Our problem right now is foxes - ugh..... I can't let the T-giving turkeys outside yet until we fix the gate where the fox comes in.....
We didn't grow up on a farm...but a bit more removed than suburbia...we had banty hens for eggs...and rabbits for meat. Once a goat but it drove the poor dog crazy so dad butchered it earlier than planned. Once a steer, but it got out and dad had to chase it all over "hell and half of Georgia" and figured it lost weight with all the jogging and he wasn't well pleased with that. Friends had goats for milk. (well...and then the little males...which is where we got ours) I would argue for the life of whatever animal...and then eat up at dinner. My dd (teaching 2nd grade) just had a discussion with her students...They had decided it was wrong for animals to eat other animals or even plants because maybe plants have feelings too. So without really thinking she said ALL food comes from plants or animals. So then they started giving her specifics. "nuh uh...not hamburgers!" ha ha. She was warned not to start the little house books with The Big Woods because of the butchering scene. (my favorite...those kids playing with the bladder, I loved that!) So I will help anyone who doesn't want to kill the chicken...I don't even mind plucking it. I just hate to cut them up...it is so slimey. Rabbits are easier...just skin them. and that is useful too if you save it. (but the dogs like them just as well.) AND you don't get eggs.
AHHHHH.......... LIFE Lessons! Is there anything better?????? LOL Now, I know...we must be book learned (Charlotte Mason style comes to mind) but I say again; Life Lessons. They are a blessed thing! Sherri
Do you sell fresh turkeys at Thanksgiving? What breed do you have? I have thought about getting some turkeys but my kids are soooo city. They wouldn't want me to butcher it. It took them a week to accept the fresh eggs! Weirdos. So I called Dell today about our computer (that crashed) and I have to get a new hard drive...life lessons indeed. At least it will be here Tuesday... So for all of you who had "trying" first week of school...I'm in the club. This week was pathetic. That computer worked perfect all summer, no one even used it. And now look...and it is only a year old - 2 weeks out of warranty. figures...
wow, that is alot of work, I grew up on a farm with 500 head of beef. I remember hay alright do I miss it NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
We are trying turkeys again this year. Dumb birds if I must say so. But now we started them in the same pen we plan on finishing them in (last year we moved them and they all decided the stress was too much and died).... so I have 46 broad breasted white turkeys. I like white - easier to pluck But the taste of heritage breeds I think is a lot better (bourbon reds.... things like that)
ooo you all are making my mouth water! I Was looking at a turkey roast the other day thinking of buying it now I will have to drag myself back to the store!
