Around the farm...

 I might just start a new series on Mondays here. Around the farm Mondays. This is the 2nd one. It's just so pretty here, I have to share.

There are so many things bursting forth with new life, it's just beautiful to see. I know it's like this everywhere right now. Or at least I hope it is. It's been such a long winter. And this weekend, we will be back down in the 30's at night. We started a fire again last week, because it's just chilly.

I hope you can look past the kitty doing what kitties do, but here are my 2 lilac bushes I got a few years ago. They are looking pretty good so far, if I can keep Stella from digging them up. 4 years old and still acts like a puppy.

I have 10 blueberry bushes around my herb-flower garden. 1 has not made it, but the rest look good. I had let the sheep out in the yard last month and I think they got some. I had to cut some of the dead branches off. And last year, I got no blueberries because of the chickens. This year, I will have to put netting over them if I'm going to get any at all.

Same with the elderberries. Birds got every single berry. They do every year. But this year, I'll try to cover them too. I have a huge one up front. But I'm starting to get them in the yard and I would love to have my own elderberries.

Can you see way across the road? The Bradford pear trees are in full bloom. The bees head straight over there and are covered in white pollen when they come back home. You can also see how green that field is over there. I call it the Monsanto Field. They plant corn and the next day it's knee high. Then a few weeks later, it's taller than me. Pretty scary. They were over there a few weeks ago spraying something.

Last fall I planted clover for a cover crop. It's so thick and tall now. I am waiting for blooms. The bees will be all over it. I don't want to have a garden because there's so much good stuff out there for the bees. I might have to just plant the garden over  on the other side this year.

This is the little bee garden I started last year. Never saw a bee here at all. I heard bees love blue, so it's all blue flowering plants. It needs to be weeded then I need to cut all the dead stuff.

The sheep pasture is getting greener every day. They want to be over there, but I'll wait a few more weeks. I've been letting them out back and in the back yard and in the big pasture. They have a huge round bale of hay too. So they can wait a while longer. I'd like it to be at least 4" tall.

I added another box to the hive. They are already up there in it. I just do not want them to swarm. They're doing so good now. I talked to a friend last week who got 2 hives when I got mine a few years ago. Mine got the wax moths but his thrived. He kept adding on more boxes. He didn't even feed his for the last 2 winters. They got lots of honey last year. But last week, he went to check on them and they were all gone. Both hives. So sad.

The garden is also full of Henbit too! The bees are loving it. Can you see the one little bee here? And also full of dandelions too. I've been drinking dandelion tea since they's been blooming. So far so good on the allergies! I did have itchy eyes Sat. for awhile. I put local raw honey in the tea. I love it! Good spring tonic too.

And it seems I am stuck at just 13 pounds lost. Can't seem to get past 237. I didn't even look this morning. I'll just wait again til Saturday. I think I need to start exercising. I want a bike too. I live 5 miles from the end of W. Cove Rd. then it goes up Lookout Mt. My goal will be to ride there and back. 10 miles. And it's a beautiful ride too. So I should be able to work up to that. Just need a good bike now.

Hope y'all have a good week! And happy 1st week of spring to you all!

Dread pics

I have 14 dreads so far. I had to re do 2 of them this morning. Roots were really loose.

So this is how I wore my hair today. I washed it last night, and it's been raining, so my hair is a big ball of frizz right now. And so grey. But I love it.

And it's hard to take a back shot with a big Canon.

                                                      Maybe you can see the dreads here.

                                               And here's some curlies. It's just messy right now.

Look how frizzy! Good grief! Hopefully, they will get tighter. The wrapped one is the oldest. It's loose at the roots so I decided to wrap it. And I like wrapped dreads. I'd like to get some beads too.

(I almost forgot to say that I am doing the twist and rip method. But it will only go about halfway. So a few of them I have finished with a braid. That's why the little colored rubber bands are at the bottom. And I like the loose wispy ends too. And I will probably only do a partial as I really like my hair and don't know if I want to go all the way with dreads. Plus I have seen a few videos of reasons why not to get dreads. And all have mentioned if you don't like people looking at you, or attention drawn to you, then you should not get dreads. Because people will stare. or make ugly comments. or want to touch them or smell them. Ew. So probably only the bottom half will become dreads. But I am liking them so far.)

So this is as good as I can get. Maybe more later when I can get someone else to take a good picture.

And I have lost 13 pounds in 2 weeks!!!!!!!! I am so proud of me for sticking with this. I feel SO much better eating this way. so I am down to 236 now. I want to get under 200. I hate being this heavy. I WILL DO IT!

Y'all have a great weekend! First day of spring here was wet, cold, dreary and just plain ole yucky. Hope it gets better.

Goat baby day!

I haven't had goats since last year, but I still get calls from people who need help with their goats. Some questions I can help them with. Some I refer them to other more knowledgeable goat friends.

This morning, about 9, got a call from a friend up the road who's doe was about to give birth. He was a little anxious. He saw feet and didn't really know what to do. So I was there in about 5 minutes to help. This is Ada, who he had gotten from me several years ago. I had her and another of his does here last year to milk for awhile. So I was trying to figure out how old Ada is and I'm thinking about 7 or 8. I didn't think she should have had any more kids. She's not the healthiest doe. But she did.

So we got the little shed all cozy for her, with some hay and water. Blocked it off from the 2 nosy wethers and Ada's daughter from last year. We waited. And waited. Then we went back to the garage because it started raining a little. Went back up and she was laying down. Got back up. Layed down. Pushed a little. Got back up. For those of you who have goats, and have waited for kids, you know what I'm talking about. She'll push. You'll see feet. She'll get up and the feed go back in.

This went on a few hours. So I decided next time I see enough feet, I'm grabbing them and helping her get it out. And we did it! She had a little cute white buckling with black slots. Cute elf ears. And I think she's done. It took about 5 minutes to get her up. And I tried to get the kid to nurse. But we decided to leave to alone so they can figure it out. She's done this before. I have bottles, so if they need one I can run it up there in a few minutes. But he looked good.

Yeah, that was fun and exciting. But I don't miss it. And I didn't take my camera.

And, the phone guy had to hook me up in my studio. So finally, I have my computer over here. Now for a little day bed.