Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Catching up :)

Hello from sunny Maine!  It's hard for me to believe that my last post was in March and now it's August!!  I hope this finds you all well and having a wonderful summer.  We have had a couple of months with very little rain.....haying is in full swing but the hay crop isn't the greatest. Gardens are producing although struggling because of the lack of water.  Nonetheless, we are grateful for what the earth gives us :) 

Lots of changes on the farm in the last few months but we are still farming!  I am still working in the city during the day and still really like my job. I work for a fantastic company and look forward to going to work everyday.  Not having to worry about health insurance and a paycheck are blessings in themselves  :) 

I sold off my sheep herd a couple of months ago.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but it was necessary.  I'm down to three cows but that is about to change.  I have spent the last few months with a skeleton crew of animals trying to figure out what direction my life was going to go in.   I'm finding out what I can handle and work a full time job.  As much as I love the sheep and goats, raising beef seems to be less demanding of my time.  I have a new bull coming this month and hopefully will have two new calves next spring.  I am going to to have sheep again but am still deciding on which breed and what their main purpose is going to be.  Of course the chickens are still here and the guineas are doing a great job keeping the tick population down.  Danny and Otis are still moving around what animals we have and keeping the rodents/predators at bay.  We have added a new pup to the mix.  I'll have a photo or two soon :) 

As fall approaches, I feel the need to prepare for winter.  The woodshed is not full yet so that is a priority.  The oil barrel needs to be filled.  That's extremely painful on the wallet!  A few more repairs and the barn will be ready for the animals for another winter.  We have been making fence repairs the last few weekends and ran an underground water line from the barn to the garden.  No more bucketing water to the plants - such a treat! 

The harvest will be upon us soon and tomatoes are just starting to ripen!  With only one garden this year, we won't be storing as much in the pantry as usual but what we do have will taste great in the dead of winter.  We are going to plant for fall crops this weekend and that will extend the harvest a little longer :) 

I hope your gardens are thriving and that life is good where you are.  I hope to have time to check in here more often and I'll have pictures soon :)

Deb

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Its good to hear from you and know that all is well with you! I am glad to hear your life is moving forward on a positive note....now get some sheep and post more often cuz I miss hearing from you ;)

Nancy K. said...

Wow! Big changes at Tylerfarm. It sounds like you've carefully thought everything through and are doing what's right for you.

I LOVE the photo in your header!

Wishing you the very best...

Anonymous said...

I'm a fairly new follower and truly enjoy your posts. Keep them coming. Our garden is going and our chickens are laying so all here is wonderful.

Penny said...

Good to see you posting again!

threecollie said...

Thanks so much for posting. You are missed. Glad you are well and enjoying things. Take care.

Gayle said...

So glad you are back posting and I can't wait to see the photos from around the farm. Tough making changes around the the house, isn't it? Hard to let go, but there comes a point where we just run ourselves into the ground and lose the pleasure. Glad you are finding your balance.

Terry and Linda said...

It's good to hear from you again. Downsizing is hard. Terry and I are at that spot now..in our case age is creeping up. The cows will go this winter. Terry is still trying to decide if he wants to farm or rent the farm out next spring. Lots of people want to rent it so that isn't an issue. But you understand the issue. In our case it is the ending. The closing of our lives. So maybe we will keep on farming until that happens...

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Amy said...

Hi Deb,
It's good to have you back. The full-time work is something to get used to, isn't it? Looking forward to a picture of the new puppy.

Amy

lisa said...

It is so great to hear from you. Glad your job is going good! Sounds like you are doing good on the farm and job front!

Gale Bellew - Organizer said...

Hi Deb,

Was trying to reach you about coming to the Fiber Center to promote your farm and exhibit your goats this year or to demonstrate. I see from your current posting that you seem in transition and working another job away from home so it may not be in the cards but we have missed your presence at the Fiber Center! Should you be interested in joining us, please be in touch!

Hope all is well with you!

Gale

PatsyAnne said...

Deb,
Glad you have checked in and let us know what's happening... your decision to sell the goats was made by you and your family and thats all that matters - you know what you're able to handle and to juggle, we don't, so don't worry about your readers, worry about what is right and good in your life and family and farm. We'll enjoy whatever bits and pieces (and photos) you share with us. Cows are great, milk, butter, cheese, calfs running in the fields - enjoy and make the right decisions, from the size of your garden to the kind of animals you share your farm with...
I send warm hugs and enjoyment of what you have,
Patsy