The water in the swimming pool is freezing. I know this has nothing to do with anything but I like the image!
Yesterday was a little warmer so it was a good day to get back to basics, go on the walkabout and bring you all up to date on the complete lack of events on the farmy. The fields are empty. This is John on our little tractor reclaiming another three acres from the high fructose corn syrup corn field, this will go into good grass, clover and alfalfa. Some we will make into hay with the old/new haybaler. The world is taking on that early winter sepia look, which will slowly morph into the late winter sepia look. 
Most of you know that we are all about the simple life. Growing our own food. Raising our own animals for meat, milk and manure. Living a simple frugal farming life out here on the prairies. It is a lot easier than you think. Using then reusing everything that comes onto the property. Very little is wasted or thrown away. In the long run we should be able to feed all the animals, and ourselves, with what we grow. Daisy’s milk is a very important part of all this. So shopping off the property will be brought down to the absolute minimum.
This is called sustainable. We are also aiming for self sufficient. But as you all know I prefer the words ‘old fashioned’. I really do not like labels at all! There are too many rules when you accept a label and I hate stupid rules.
We heat the house with a wood-stove that we also use for cooking. If it is really cold we just wear an extra item of clothing or three.
Here is Daisy the naughtiest cow on the prairies. She is an Ayrshire and very tall even for that breed. She is pregnant and her calf is due in late May. A cows gestation period is nine months and one week. Then (all going well) she will be the milk cow. She is getting fatter so she has not jumped any fences lately. John and I are buying each other a milking machine for Christmas.
All the manure and dirty straw from the barn is hauled out and spread on the fields and gardens to fertilise them and build them up. Yesterday being a warm day, I mucked out earlier, and laid fresh straw in Daisy’s quarters. So naturally she came outside and had a sleep in the filthy corner of the field on all the manure. Such a cow. Sigh. 
Behind Daisy is Queenie, my little Hereford Heifer. She will be the mother of my beef herd one day. She is about eight months old but I think she is a midget. Herefords are low to the ground but sweet good Queenie is frankly the shortest cow I have ever seen. I have sheep bigger than her. She is so tiny and so good natured. 
You will remember that Houdini hatched sixteen chickens not long ago at the wrong end of the season, well there are not many left now. We had hawks out here for a bit. I know there is a hawk if the guineas make a big row. They literally stand below the hawk, who will be perched on a fence post, or in a tree and they scream at it. But they were too late to save the chickens. That and an early week of terrible cold and we only have a few left. You will remember that Houdini will not stay in the coop so she and the rest of her flock are free range and sleep in the rafters of the barn. But the farm life has life and death, it is part of the cycle.
The laying chickens are in their own coop quietly moulting. I shall not show you, as they look quite quite dreadful with their feathers dropping out. In anticipation of the Big Freeze their big door is closed now, and their little coop doors have been opened to the run and they come out into the fields in the afternoons to mooch about.
Here is Mama the policeman. She is the boss sheep. She is probably pregnant (hard to tell with a sheep until she is closer to her date). She has been hanging out with Hairy McLairy the ram for a few months now. Sheep are pregnant for five months so I think we can look for lambs sometime from February on. Last time she had four lambs (quads) which was a bit of a surprise. I am rather hoping she will not do this again. But whatever she does I will make sure you hear all about it, when it happens.
There. Today I shall muck out the calves quarters. I only do this on days that are above freezing. You see (ahem) the manure freezes solid when it is really cold. Then it is not an easy procedure. Plus I get terribly cold when I work out there for too long and it hurts when you get that cold. So today is poopy scooping day! The chickens get more straw today as well, they need a good deep litter in the winter.
You all have a great day. Bring your gumboots if you are dropping in, it is murky!
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
110 responses to “Let’s Walkabout on the Farmy today!!”
Those cows are just adorable!
They are very sweet these cows, Dianda, spoilt too! But ah well!! c ,
I so look forward to hearing about life on your farm, although I live in the middle of two small farms like yours. Maybe it’s the incredible space around your farm that is different. France is big, but the mid West is ..well .. a lot bigger. As usual a lovely post, and I love the chicken pictures.
It certainly is spacious! I long for stone fences and hedgerows but my eye can see SO FAR here, it is strangely restful. thank you Roger.. c
The words ‘old-fashioned’ are exactly what we use ! Nothing we do today is new or original, organic,permaculture,etc are just words. Our Grandparents were living this way quite happily without ‘tags’. Love your farmy, everywhere looks so flat. Lj & E
Exactly and we cannot easily fit in these labels, I use organic methods but if Daisy were to get an infection i would use antibiotics without hesitation. Stupid rule! Old fashioned suits us very well, and also we can make it up as we go along!! c
Even my hubby is hooked on your posts now. He’ll want to know if that’s the car that runs on veg oil. Is it? :). Happy mucking out! xx
The car that runs on vege oil is a little VW! and yes (sigh) I must get out there, in fact i have my coat on already!! c
What a wonderful post – I enjoyed our little walkabout! Life is always busy for you, but I guess you wouldn´t have it any other way. Your hens and chickens are so different from ours (and what a handsome cock you have if you don´t mind em saying!). They look dfferent, and ours moulted at the end of summer – they looked like victims of an atomic bomb. Now they´re all plump and feathery again and are looking good. And as for little Queenie – maybe she just needs some high heeled hooves?!
LIKE PAN! That is what she needs! I shall mention it to her. If ever there was a cow you could have in the kitchen it would be Queenie. She would be very careful. She is such a treasure. Unlike some other loutish cows we know!! c
Mucking is part of a perfect (above freezing) day in my world. Oh, how I miss it! Grateful my neighbors let me hop the fence and help with their farm.
Lovely photos and a fun post, once again.
pity you are not closer, you would be most welcome to jump the fence here. and you are right, it is quite a satisfying job.. if you do it often! c
Maybe Queenie is just a late bloomer. Some girls are that way you know.
She and i seriously hope so. Though being so small makes her a pleasure to work, I just lean on her and she moves sideways for me. I lean on Daisy and she just looks at me! c
That’s a beautiful first photo! Chilly out there today, yeah? Mama looks like she is in charge:)
Mama really is in charge,when the calves are little i give them to her and she shows them the ropes.. c
I so love your farm family! I guess I won’t be complaining about scooping doggy poo with all you have to do!!
Doggie poo is more foul by far, i cannot bear that job. I would do three barns before taking on doggie poo patrol! c
I love these walkabouts, Celi. You could take that pic of John out in the fields and place it near Zia’s home and no one would know the difference. Heck, you could place it anywhere from Texas to Saskatchewan and no one would know. Not so your farm, though. Your house, hearth, and animal family make it a home — and a warm one, at that.
amazing isn’t it, this huge expanse of flat land. When it was covered in grass it must have had the most tremendous effect on the air quality of this hemisphere. like an enormous cleansing air filter.. c
I love the first shot, they’re all great really. I’m sure someone will like that rooster!
Ok, tell Katherine she is off the hook, I am going to send him to tanya in spain! c
I enjoyed the visit! Off to do my own rendition of the Poop Scooping Boogey!
J
yup we all do what we gotta do! c
Oooo I love walkabout days 🙂 Mama the policeman’s ears and expression are a treat to behold
i hope you are having a great time on your hols!! and yes Mama has that look about her doesn’t she… c
Now I want an ewe too 😦
You want a ewe too? c
You certainly do paint the most wonderful vision of your life and you do say it’s easy…but I believe you work very hard for what you are passionate about. I admire your lifestyle and always enjoy coming here to “visit” with you. Have a beautiful day!!
It is fun spice, i get up early and walk to work singing out to the animals and laughing. It is true. it is easy! c