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!!”
Wonderful to walk with you, and visit with the livestock…
Love the photo of Mama!
yes, Mama turned the look on for us today! c
I like the term old fashioned to describe what you are doing. Although in some senses i am a ‘material girl’ as I like tripping off the Paris and look at shops wherever I am, I do think that some where deep down there is a longing in most of us to return to a simpler way of life.
well when it comes to tripping off to Paris I am sure i could be persuaded!
As always great shots of the farmy and its residents. Love the one of the sheep looking in at you, it’s like she is asking you something. t
Like: What’s going on in ‘ere then!.. c
Some people would complain about all the work a farm demands.But you sound in such good cheer that you make it all sound like fun. (almost.)
Ronnie
Actually the way we farm IS not that much work really, in the summer it is just opening and shutting gates, the winter is a bit more work and then when we are lambing it is MENTAL and sleepless! Then we add the calves!! But pasture raised animals are fairly easy to manage and not nearly as smelly as their corn fed cousins!! I think when I start milking it will feel a bit busier! nice to see you ronnie! c
Does it get dark as well as cold in your winters Celi? What sort of latitude are you at? The UK is currently receiving a vigorous assortment of hail, snow and sleet and has been for the last two days. I just want to hide under the duvet, and then I read your post and see your lovely photos and feel all cheered up by your good humour and observations 🙂
Not as dark as the UK. I remember when i was working in London leaving at 8.30 in the dark and returning at 3.30 in the dark, here the sun is setting at about 4.30, or 5. but it is light by 7am.. I really should take more notice. It will get colder in Jan/Feb and then the days are longer and lighter so it is a bit crazy. But You get those long long summer days too and we don’t so it works out i guess. c
OMG! the cows! the car! the tire (american spelling)! Totally love it.
That old car. John calls it cow art! c
I can’t imagine a swimming pool freezing! Love the pics of all your animal, old fashioned is a great lifestyle but lots of world. We are just working up to getting some chicken and bees which will be very exciting.
You will love having the bees Allison, I find them endlessly fascinating and so much to learn!! My hives are all in hibernation now, hope they have enough honey for the winter!! c
Thank you so much for this post dear Cecilia, how enjoyable to read and to watch… Lovely Daisy, she is great again… and I loved this policeman! Seems that soon you will be crowded… Blessing them all… Have a nice day, with my love, nia
Yes, nia, we will to make some more room in that old barn! c
I just love your stories of the farm – I believe this is life as it should be!
Absolutely Phyllis, i have had a number of different jobs and this is my favourite lifestyle for sure! c
My daughter would love your farm animals! Beautiful pictures. The chicken are my favorite. 🙂
Those chickens are getting way to used to the camera!! c
All I can say is: I love your blog.
Oh charlotte you are a darling!! thank you for loving it, i love to have you visit! c
Thank you for a lovely peek into your day, ceciliag!
you are welcome sweetie, c
So sorry to hear about the little chickens..but as you said, that’s life
Thank you for the walkabout..my daughter was setting next to me and she was so impressed with the chickens and all the animals you have.
She says you are lucky to have such a fun life 🙂
tell your daughter thank you so much, i am lucky and lucky is knowing when you are happy!! c
Nice pics and descriptions.
Born and raised on a dairy farm here in Northern Vermont, 20 clicks south of the Quebec border.
We also heat with wood culled from the land– ash (the best) oak, hard maple, cherry, apple. The old saying about the wood heating you twice is certainly true — once when you cut and split it.. the other when you burn it.
Sure looks flat out there Around here all the cows have two legs shorter than the the others from grazing on the sides of the hills.
Our spread is pictured in the header photo at my blog:
http://vermontverse.wordpress.com
Merry Christmas
well then Queenie would like it there, she is so close to the ground that she would just roll! Though she is not a dairy cow so maybe not. i shall pop over and look at your farm Jim! c
I love your animals. Oh, it is true… there is nothing worse than trying to shovel frozen poo! Last year there was a month in winter, when the only thing I could do in the chicken palace was to add more straw over the top. 😐
Ahhh, the joys of farm life.
~ Lynda 😉
I know, I just say to them, but you LIKE a deep litter! c