Good morning. So sorry for being late – and no photos.
I have awoken with a thick head and tired brain. I worked late last night.
My girl was called home by her family yesterday as there was a family emergency so I have rejigged (is that the spelling?) all the tasks about the farm again and we are back to The Architect, Our John and Miss C. Two more girls come for a short week tomorrow but Gabrielle was going to stay a month and the poor girl had her travels cut short. And we lose a lovely long stay worker.
Short stay helpers are a quite different emphasis. But I have some very important tasks lined up for them and they sound bright and enthusiastic.
Federico my other long stay guest, has made the first of the gravity fed waterers. I will take a photo today. This is a trial one: for the goats. So today we will iron out the glitches then move to the cows water. I will buy more parts on my way to picking up 1000 pounds of feed mixed to my own recipe. (soybeans, wheat, oats and barley) – getting it in bulk is a huge saving and guarantees local feed. but driving all the way to the mill and back takes half a day.
The feed is local and everything but the soybeans are GM free. I try to be as free of GM feeds as possible without twisting myself in knots and breaking the bank. Fields beans are a very good vegetable protein. (As you know I refuse to have animal proteins in my feeds as I am suspicious of the origins of the animal matter and feeding pigs to pigs is a recipe for disaster as far as I am concerned and a bit disgusting). If ever I can find Field Peas I will replace the beans with peas as I am not fond of soybeans either. But it is better than corn. We are also adding kelp this year. This will be for the basic feed for the pigs and chickens. Though each bucket has extras thrown in on the day to match an animals requirements. Plus milk and greens. Everyone but cows have eggs and milk too in varying amounts. Everyone is on grass one way or the other.
It is a simple arrangement really. All animals and birds start with pasture (though the Layers have it hauled in to their house on a wheelbarrow – due to the bastard mink threat).
Now I had better get going. I am late to begin – it is after 6am.
Time is a’wasting!
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
28 responses to “Gone Girl”
Oh no, best laid plans and all that. Poor Gabrielle, will she be able to return later when everything is sorted? Look after yourself, hope you aren’t coming down with something. Laura
I think it is hay fever.. very boring.. no more chamomile tea for me! c
It sounds hectic – I hope everything turns out OK for Gabrielle 🙂
Poor wee girl – and it was an eleven hour drive to get home for her.. c
What a nightmare!
Oh dear – a shame for everyone 😦 Real life eh…you never know what t’s going to hit you with next.
exactly.. not bad for me though as the helpers are extras really.. I love having them around but i can (and have) managed without them.. though I cannot imagine a summer alone now.. c
Oh dear , sorry to hear that Gabrielle has had to depart so quickly…maybe she will return after the emergency is over…. Fancy still lazing around at 6am….I do not laze..I am sleeping…. I think maybe your body needed extra rest….
Those bastard minks still around…I thought that repairing everything would stop them getting in and that they would go somewhere else…what little B’s they are
Have a great day Missus
They cannot get in anymore but with the creek they will be an every present menace.. or at least threat I suppose.. c
Good luck, and hopefully your chore list will sort itself out. We used to use gravity-fed waterers for the pigs, but I am looking forward to seeing what Federico comes up with for the goats! Hope you are not coming down with something, either.
And the chickens, if he can get self filling water out there I will be so grateful..
Sorry to hear that Gabrielle had to leave so soon. I hope her family is okay.
I woke up feeling groggy this morning too (the result of a cold/headache that arrived immediately after I finished my final university exams on Monday), so I empathise with you! I hope you feel better soon and have a good day.
Try to be gentle with yourself today, Miss C. Sympathy for both Gabrielle and yourself. I hope her family crisis resolves happily, and that you can rejig your workload and schedules without too much stress and worry about how everything will get done, and by whom. Stay well.
Things will work out as they should, and if they don’t then that will work out as well. Reasons for everything, even though we ponder as to why so much of the time. Best to Gabrielle for happy endings.
Yes.. well said Deb.
oh sad news about Gabrielle-hopefully her family emergency isn’t too serious.
Good for you on how you feed your animals- GMOs and animal laced feeds are disgusting and scary quite frankly.
Where we live in upper Northern California we are lucky to be able to buy locally grown meat and veggies/fruit.
WE can trust our local famers far more than those huge corporate farms.
Have a good weekend with no more glitches!
Despite the sudden change of plan, you have gumption to “rejig” and get after it – I like that! I also chuckle at the use of verbiage, “bastard” mink. We use that word often down here in the South. I will be sending positive energy to Gabrielle… is it possible she will return at all? Also, I send Daisy deer medicine to you – “Deer medicine provides the power to deal with challenges with grace. You master the art of being both determined and gentle in your approach. Deer wisdom imparts those with a special connection with this animal with the ability to be vigilant, move quickly, and trust their instincts to get out the trickiest situations.” 🙂
Oh, what a shame and sad for Gabriella to have to turn around and return home just the minute she arrived. Is there any chance she will be able to return when things settle out? At least Frederico will be staying on a little while longer…Take it easy today C. and hopefully your head will clear out by tonight!
Can you imagine how healthy all of us would be if we ate like your animals do…although I’m sure I would have to put my grass in a blender with something sweet! 🙂
Not having to haul water will free up a huge bulk of your day! HUGE!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
I’m sorry to hear your long-stay helper had to leave so quickly. But thank god for Federico. When he finishes the water supply for the animals all, it will be such a godsend and time-saver for you. Major, I’m thinking. I sure hope you are feeling better very fast. Your day is so action-packed it leaves no time for rest and illness. Hope you treated yourself to a couple of aspirins as you did Sheila the other day for her pain.
Hi Celi, I hardly ever comment, because I read your “today” blog early “tomorrow” South African time, and then I feel it is too late to comment. But for years now I have started my day with a cup of tea and your blog, and so often I carry your wise words with me throughout the day as I go about my chores as farmer and homeschooling mom of two teen daughters. I often tell my family about what “My Blog Tannie” (“My Blog Aunt” in my native Afrikaans) blogged about at the breakfast table – although I am sure you are way too young to be my aunt! I so cherish my early morning me-time with your blog, thank you very much for the joy you bring to so many people. Love from my farmy to yours, Dinki
How sad for both of you that Gabrielle had to leave so soon! I hope all is well with her family!