Praise God, the sun's shining. It was so dreary yesterday and cold. Hopefully the garden will be dried out enough by Tues.(we're on a slope) to start tilling. The baby chicks are two weeks old now and doing well. We got Cornish Jumbos this time instead of Cornish X. These are more active, eat more, grow faster and are cuter than the others. My friend's cow is still giving, she didn't think it was, so I got lots of milk this week, made yogurt and finally get to make cheese, this will be our first time. I'm excited. Well, God Bless y'all. Cindy

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 18, 2001

Answers

Hi, Cindy! Well, I woke up to fresh snow, only about 2 inches, but the sun has come out, so I think it will be a nice day after all. I have 2 trays of cinnamon rolls just about ready to go in the oven (thanks for the recipe, forum friends!). I've had some very good news, something happened this week that may allow me to make the move to my land in Missouri a full year ahead of schedule. I'm so excited, spring is almost here, I finally feel like I'm over the bronchitis, Praise God!!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 18, 2001.

Howdy Folks! Mr sunshine is most welcomed at this place too. Snow flurries yesterday that most made me sick! Another week in store that I'm look'n forward to. Warm weather, good friends, good food and lots of other good things to enjoy. Thank Almighty God for the opportunity to live on this "borrowed farm"---this life He's lets me continue in! ole hoot, His thankful servant. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 18, 2001.

You're posts certainly are uplifting.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 18, 2001.

Spent the weekend at my camp back in the mountains. I'm always happy to see how well wild life is able to survive and thrive under the adverse conditions of winter. Spring is breaking out even in that rough country. Beavers are patching their dams, northern geese and robins are moving into the area. We had snow flurries, but the wildlife seemed cheery and excited about spring! My spirits are lifted!!!

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), March 18, 2001.

I would like to add my Bless Yeshua to all the others. The garden is tilled , the sun is shining even if the breeze is cool, and our baby hasn't been sick all winter all. Love to all the brothers and sisters, Norma.

-- norma russell (russells@basinonline.com), March 18, 2001.

Well things have been busy here ,3 new calves , 50 new chicks , a new puppy , and at least 3 more calves this week .Oops forgot 3 new piglets too .I have to buy at least 3 more .I have to call the butcher to take some pigs and a bull for the freezer .The weather is finally warming .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 18, 2001.

Typical Tennessee spring. Warm days, cool days, rain. Still expect some cold spells. Locals have a name for each. Ones I remember are the Dogwood and Blackberry.

Still averaging about a new calf a day. Brought one up to bottle feed. Thought at first he was from my neighbor's herd and wundered into mine, but he said none of his cows are acting like they are missing a calf, and he does look like he is out of my Angus and not his Bramvieh. But then, none of mine are either. Found him Saturday morning hunched back, drawn in flanks and no spirit, so decided to bring him up to the house (hay barn). He has already imprinted on me so probably couldn't take him back to the herd to try to find mamma anyway. Not sure yet what to do with him. May take him to the livestock market in a couple of weeks when I haul last year's calves there to sell as a trained bottle calf.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 19, 2001.

It was warm yesterday so I let Lily and her 2 new kids out in the front field with the does and another kid. Well, she kept hiding her little boys in the barn, and then grazing with the rest. We don't use that barn and I don't like them being in it, we've got it half torn down. Every time I'd get them out in the sunshine, she'd put them back in there, tell them to stay, and go off with the rest. If I started walking toward the barn, she'd run ahead of me to get there first and go right to them. She looked at me as if to say "I know right where they are so now leave me alone!".

I'm getting lots of milk and it's time to find a couple calves I quess. Spring is here, the frogs are singing now.

I took in a male Border Collie yesterday, was one of our pups, they couldn't keep him. He's about a year old and just beautiful and smart as a tack. But I already have 2 boys, and the first call I made found him a good home with a guy who does sheep trialing. He's very excited to come pick him up. That is what is going on around here.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 19, 2001.

Well, it may be spring where you are, but here, if it were any slower getting here, it'd be going backwards. It is supposed to be in the 50's all week with lows in the 30'2 and maybe the 20's a night or two. I wanted to get my potatoes out.:~{ We're on a slope so the ground dries a little faster, but it's not going to be fast enough for me this week a little rain predicted later on and next week they're predicting below normal temps-but they've been wrong before. Oh well, such is the life of a homesteader and I thank God for it. Even when it's iffy, it's still better than the alternatives.:~} I'll get out there and do some tilling and the onions can go in sometime this week. Y'all have a good week, God Bless

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 19, 2001.

Well, we've finally got some rain here in South Florida. It has rained a bit this past weekend and is raining again today. We need it so desparately. Hopefully we'll get enough to raise the levels enough to get us out of the danger zone and maybe they will be able to lift the water restrictions a bit before too long. It's always a good thing to conserve anyway - we are a far too wasteful society as I see it.

Been considering trying to put back some "good food" for this upcoming hurricane season by putting my dehydrator to better use. All the canned goods and non-perishibles we stock up on for hurricane season leave a bit to be desired if you know what I mean. I know that may sound ungrateful and I don't mean it to be. Just wanted to try my hand at the dehydrating a little more seriously and thought it would work out well in the case of a hurricane is all. Many thanks to you all for the info you gave me on my other post about dehydrating foods.

I need a push (more like a good swift kick in the seat of the pants) to get a-goin' with my garden plans. Haven't weeded the garden spot yet, nor tested the soil to know what it'll need before I can plant, nor decided what to plant or where to plant it. As we are well into Spring here, I fear I've almost waited too long already. Do you think I could just sow the seeds directly in the garden, or should I still start them in small containers first? Many thanks and God bless.

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), March 19, 2001.

Our weather here in central Montana was beautiful all weekend. The temps into the low to mid 60's. I do look forward to getting rain as we are in NEED of moisture. The kids and I spent Friday afternoon cleaning up our backyard. After a winter of one dog and 13 chickens it needed it. LOL!!! Our chickens free range in the yard, I'm going to need to make some repair to a few spots in the yard where they scratched holes, but it's worth it to have healthy happy birds, and delicious eggs. Saturday we got an early start on our wood supply for next winter. We had cut the trees down last fall but Saturday we split, loaded, stacked, unloaded and did our final stacking. < whew> I wish someone could invent a way to not have to handle the wood so much, I've handled it so much it's hard to burn( sort of attached you might say) We brought home almost 7 cords this weekend. Our neighbors behind us own a towing business and we all work together and split the wood. We have the splitter and saws and they have the rollback tow truck and other trucks with wenches and lifts. It's worked out to be a good deal for all concerned. we are truly blessed to have such good neighbors. One more weekend to get the remaining 7-8 cords plus the logs we have here at home split and we'll all be set for winter 2002. :o) Plan on trying to get some cleanup work done in the frontyard this week, my flower beds are in need of a good clean out and I'm eager to get dirt under my nails again. Have a blessed week all of you.

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), March 19, 2001.

We still have lots of snow to melt here in Ontario. Today was a gorgeous sunny day and the sap is running. My three year old son has been filling pots for me today for starting some more seeds and the two older ones are cleaning out the barn (which is empty) to prepare for getting some animals this spring. They want to surprise their dad this weekend with their efforts.

Have a great day!!

Silvia

-- Silvia Stoddart (organic_farmer@hotmail.com), March 19, 2001.

You all sound so chipper and happy. My peas are up about 4" or maybe 5." Havent measured them, but they sure look good. Lived in Ky for awhile and always planted peas on Feb. 14 come sun or snow and have followed that ever since. Learning to use the internet and this forum sure are a blessing. Glad to know you are all healthy and survived the winters so well in your respective areas. I remeber those days when I had goats. Sure do miss them. It sure is fun reading about your all's. Today an extraordinary thing happened. I find these things fun to share. Some men were tree-trimming and my co-worker who knew that I had been looking for wood decided to ask for all the wood they were cutting and then decided not to share it as she asked for it first. I didn't say anything, except a quick prayer to not get upset and to not hold it against her and so I patiently continued with my work. A small voice inside said,"Go out and talk to them?" As they were Hispanic I decided to approach them as a fellow "spanish- speaker," and that was the end of the beginning. Would you believe that even though she thought she got the choicest of pieces and I had asked for all the left-overs, I told them my need of the smaller pieces, because the woodstove is small and not only did I get two huge trailer fulls, they took it right to my house and unloaded it. The remarkable thing is that I do not have any transportation at this time and I have been walking about 4 miles each way into town. The truly remarkable part is that when they saw where I lived they asked me if I needed anything else and I told them that one of the desires of my heart was to have an outside oven to bake bread in and to cook tortillas on. They told me not to worry, they were just finishing up a job with bricks and it was as good as done. Isn't God good? I don't know how I could ever live without Him? You? Take care you all, Dee

-- Dee (drebai@yahoo.com), March 20, 2001.

Dee...What a wonderful story you shared, thanks!!! with so many sad things going on lately, so refreshing to hear good news. God is good. I like the way this forum can bring out so many interesting things going on in our lives. Best wishes getting that new oven going. Joanne

-- Joanne (ronandjo@sisna.com), March 21, 2001.

Got home last night and checked our plants under grow lights. Suprise! Eighteen new baby tomato plants. Hurray! Now if their thirty two brothers and sisters show up, we can have a garden party. I guess peppers take a little longer than tomatos, cause there's no sign of em. Cara, if you're reading this, your turkeys are on the way. (Also, good luck with your new cow!!!) Kelly, in MT, see if you can send us a few of those 'wenches' you were talking about. We need help with all these spring chores, plus we'll feed 'em and everything, alrighty? Okay. Bye for now, I gotta go trap a mole or two. Have a great wednesday, all.

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

Even though there are forecasts of snow showers this Saturday, this week has been beautiful. Yesterday the last few patches of snow melted around our place. Today I was finally able to get outside! . My youngest son and I spent several hours cleaning around the garden spot, old barn foundations and picked up most of the brances that had fallen in the yard during the winter and saw several robins while outside. We are ordering our chicks this week to be delivered at the end of April (later than usual but we're hoping we won't have to keep them in the basement so long this way). I am praying that this year goes better for us than last. Due to illness in our extended family that took our youngest and me out of state part of July, August and beginning of September,tearing a ligament in my foot after just putting the garden in during May and a lot of sickness in our immediate family (which we usually never have) we ended up butchering our sheep at a smaller size than we had planned and butchering all of our chickens and then lost all of this meat when our freezer went out. The garden was neglected (did have a bumber crop of tomatoes to can though) while I was gone as my husband and sons had their hands full with other things including constantly working on the mowers. So - a new spring and a new start, but...already have way too many plans (:.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.

What a week! I milked a cow, made cheese, and my tiller died. Now I know that a dead tiller isn't the end of the world, but my tiller died....... Thank you God for all the blessings.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 22, 2001.

Our baby chicks come tomorrow. Our jersey/holstein had a bull calf yesterday. I got to milk her today. She is such a gentle cow. Most people can't understand the joy of going to the barn on a cold day and milking a cow. My family doesn't, that's why I'm so thankful for y'all because I know there are kindred souls out there. God bless.

-- Lena(NC) (breezex4@go.com), March 22, 2001.

It is a truly beautiful day here in Western Montana...went out and did some raking, cleaned out flower beds, and took a walk just for fun with my poodle. Lots of folks out doing Spring clean-up. :-),, Made some Sassafras Tea from roots that uses to live in 'Hoot' country. :-)dee-licious! **I sure enjoy reading all the interesting events in the lives of the Countrysiders,,,gives me a warm, cozy, family feeling. "sigh" ....a good deed a day, keeps the doldrums away,,(or something like that,,LOL)

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), March 22, 2001.

Ken: If you weren't so far away I'd take him off your hands..raised a calf that way when I was a kid. Tough to eat him though, but I was only 10. ELSE: Cold, icy fog day here in Casper, WY. Unusual weather for us. Too early for a garden, but my two does are getting ready to kid. One is a pygmy/nubian cross, the other an angora/saanen cross. Both were bred with my pygmy buck. My geeses are mating, my original trio has about six eggs so far and the others are working on pairing up. My three turkeys are trying to figure things out too. Just got back from a trip to Washington, visiting family and friends, and looking for a place to move to. Found an acre but it's going to cost a bunch for the septic. So, we'll see how things turn out. Good day to all of you....I'm thinking spring, looking at the mini-daffodil and the hibiscus that I brought back with me. Bye for now.

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), March 24, 2001.

Hello everyone: Well, spring is coming a little slow to us this year (NW Minn). Am thinking about trying to grow some radishes in the basement for grins :) The garden seeds I'll need are on the way - having them delivered to a neighbor cause I'm not sure the delivery man can get down our driveway. But we did have several nice days last week and I'm sure it will turn nice again soon. That's one good thing about this low altitude - gets warm and stays warm quicker than when I lived in the mountains. God is good and look forward to going to our little country Lutheran church tomorrow. Quilted at the church twice last week, these are for the needy and it sure is fun and worthwhile. We have a very small group of ladies and I think our count is at 56 quilts this year. Our sister church in town is I think at about 150 quilts this year. Most of the credit goes to the older ladies; but that is a good feeling of accomplishment. May God bless you all with the joy of His presence as you praise Him this Lord's day. Cynthia

-- Cynthia Speer (farmsteader@gvtel.com), March 24, 2001.

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Georgia. No rain, soil just right to plant in. Yesterday (Saturday) my son and I planted Bell Peppers and onion, and okra seed in the hot boxes and in the newly tilled bed we planted English peas and sugar peas. I planted the asparagus bed this afternoon and guess what? My tiller died! My dependable, never gives up, Mantis tiller died. We think it is the magneto, but still...after all that time waiting to till up the ground. Oh well, I did it the old fashioned way, with a hoe and mattock and lots of grunts and now it is finished and the asparagus is in! Temps here are in the 60's and so will be planting again tomorrow (the old fashioned way again :>) The turkeys are mating, chickens are laying and I'll be incubating some chicken eggs next week. May each one of you have a wonderful week.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), March 25, 2001.