Good morning
Got some rain, about 3/4 inch yesterday with a lot of wind, sure needed the rain.
Rather cloudy and cooler today, low 80s so far, with chances of more rain later. Loving it!
Not much out of the usual going on. Really need to get off my duff and get out and do some yard work while the ground is fairly damp for pulling weeds and not too hot.

Jamie's place is coming along, said the basement and dirt work done, road in, well drilled, and poles placed for the electricity and think it is strung by now and they're beginning the foundation. Need to run over that way one of these days and see how it's going, but with gas prices, don't make any extra trips if I don't have to.

Need to run in to town to the post office to mail a package, then get to work at something besides sitting in front of this dang computer.
Donna

We have had rain off and on for the past 10 days with a total of four inches. The pastures have greened back up and it looks like we won't have to go into desperation mode on the hay this winter. We had already put out extra protein in the form of a molasses feeder because the pastures were in such pitiful shape. DH has spent several days spreading the composted hay and manure piles from last winter's feeding.

Next weekend we plan to separate the calves for weaning and bring them into the corrals so we know they can't get away. After a couple of weeks, they should be okay to put out to pasture by themselves. Before we do that, they will be wormed and banded.

The heifers we kept back from last fall's crop are growing nicely and before long will have to be checked by the vet for pelvic size, breeding readiness, etc. We have a bull with a very small calving epd so it shouldn't be a problem for them calving. Of course, there are always a few exciting times with first calf heifers.

Got the electricity bill today!!

Sarah

Doing some work on clearing fences, we put in a couple hours a day every couple days. DD is helping with cutting and pulling the brush out of the fence. She saves me a lot of time not having to move every stick myself.
Being only 12, she does get distracted rather easily! We found two batches of wooly bears today, each contradicted the others in winter with color predictions. These were the first 4 color wooley bears I have ever seen! Brown nose, then 3 segments of black, six or so of brown, with a black tail. Winter will be INTERESTING with those predictions! They were also very fast crawlers, I have NEVER seen wooley bears hustle across the ground, usually they just roll up in a ball. She also found a couple of Walkingsticks and various other wildlife that needed to be observed and poked, relocated.
We have filled the manure spreader (40bu)three times with the brush to haul out of the field, piling it onto the brush pile. Lots of honeysuckle, grapevine, some rosebushes that we cut out. Getting a pretty fair sized brush pile! Fence is looking VERY NICE.
Can't burn, way too dry. Whe have had some showers, they just lay the dust down, no measurable precipitation for any of them. Raining off and on all around us.
Foal is growing like a weed, almost armpit high. He is getting handled a lot, led in and out to field a couple times a day, been to the vet several times trying to get his mom bred back. He came home this time with a bald forehead. Obviously was greeting everyone at the vet clinic and they rubbed his face. Not actually hairless, just shed off the new coat color. Going from red to dark brown, very distinct, peculiar looking marking right now.
So far no luck with her. Foal is leading very well, getting a little independent from mom. She has moved up from one field friend to 3 now. We put the young gelding in the group last night. She had no problem with him in the group, just got quite angry with him as her only friend at turnout time today. She is turned out in daylight as much as possible, no night turnout. Very cool today, cloudy 70F felt good, so out all day. Foal thought gelding was COOL, wanted to visit him. It turned into quite a circus, Foal following gelding, with snarly looking mare following him! She moved forward, gelding tried keeping his distance from foal, who ran faster as gelding trotted away, then mare got cantering to catch foal. Gelding is moving MUCH faster as mare races after foal with her ears pinned, head snaked out!!! She was actually flying along behind foal who was STILL trying to catch the gelding! Gelding is zipping along now with his head turned to see behind, trying to prevent being cornered, running up the other side of field. I have NEVER seen that mare run so fast except in competition! She looked scary to us watching! I would have run away myself! Foal finally got tired, slowed and stopped after a number of circles around the whole field.
We turned out the other 2 buddies a little later, no crabby problems then. All 4 big horses spread out to eat, foal visited everyone, mare just grazed or walked nearby. No chasing, running at all as foal ran all around field alone. Funny old mare. Foal really likes having other horses to visit, they are pretty nice to him, no hurting him, just correcting inappropriate shoving or biting with a nip. Foal is getting really mouthy, tasting everything. Wants to hold his own lead rope on walks!
Husband and DD are going off on their getaway vacation. Husband needs a break from summer work pace, DD starts school next week. Heading up north to Lake Huron to campout on the beach for a couple days. Got some new swimming masks, snorkels and fins to do swimming with. DD did swim camp earlier this summer, got a bunch of new strokes, improved speed, so she gets to show Dad her stuff. Maybe some fishing too. He thinks just vegging out, sitting on the beach will be fun for a couple days. I will be getting some time off just staying home! No meals or cleanup!

It has been really hot here the last few days...in the high 90's. This morning felt quite nice when I was giving the rabbits fresh water.

We are planning our fall garden and hope to get some of the beds ready to plant this weekend. I planted some collards and sweet peas in peat pots last weekend. The collards are coming up already.

I am trying to go by the almanac as to when to plant. Root veggies are to be planted nest Monday and Tuesday..28th and 29th....I haven't been doing this but was encouraged by a good friend and my DMIL.

Do any of you use the almanac to do planting or planning out you garden or breeding, etc?

We are about to finish up with the new addition to the rabbit barn. DH has been working on cages and getting the shed up for the building. They are located on the east side of the building so they are not so exposed to the evening sun. The rabbits don't seem to suffer so much on tbe east side. It gets so hot and the way we have them set up it is hard to turn a fan on them but now it will much easier to keep them cooler.

We are needing rain again very badly. Maybe with the tropical storm heading this way we will see some rain from it. Just pray it doesn't turn into a full blown hurricane. Although, tropical storms can do a lot of damage. I know those poor people in Florida feel like they have really had a beating in the last couple of years.

Hope the rest of the week goes well for ya'll! :0)

Jan

Things here have hit the 'just get through it' phase. Morning lows 80's, daytime high's have been over 100 for over a week now. Water bills have hit an all time high along with the auto gas bills. Have had to start feeding hay already as the grass is simply burnt up, dry to the root. In our part of Texas we haven't gotten a drop of rain since early July and you can certainly tell it.
Calves are doing very well. The lady whom we lease extra 30 acres from called and said she wanted to sell. Her price per acre was too high so she is going to put it on the market. She thought we'd buy without thought to actual value because we had stated that if she ever decided to sell, she'd ask us first. Half the land is vehicle non-accepting due to a rivulet that cuts through and the other half is split the other direction with a dry and smaller rivulet, with property on one side having a past life of being used for a meth lab (with the same owner he's just . . . out of the area for a while) so that is a major down grade. I told her we would still like to lease it until she sells so that she could keep her ag rights and she asked 'what is that'!
Hummingbirds are flying around the feeders, as stated above there isn't much to feed on in the natural areas. Most of the flower beds look pitiful as well as the lawn.
Looking forward to the long weekend approaching, may get in some camping along a lake with family members.
All take care and enjoy the week,
Roxann

It's raining today. Nice steady rain. Don't have a rain gauge, but I think it's near an inch all told.

got a couple of ducklings that have stopped growning, look weak, can't keep up. Tossed them (gently) into a cage with a heat lamp and some food. See if they perk up, or if they die. We've lost a half dozen this way already this year.

May be bad genetics, I need a couple new duck daddies!

Have to work on that.

Getting ready to put in herb gardens, have plans drawn up for those and the gourd trellis, nothing looks right. I'm going to have to get back to the drawing board.

Hope you dry folks get your rain!
Kitty

Things are slow here. DH has got his little mini truck back, had to have the engine replaced, but since it gets over 50 mpg he wanted it fixed. Uses especially in the winter, making the trip to the shop and back (4 mi.) 4 times every 24 hrs to keep the wood furnace going. Uses it to go to town for feed and down to the woods to cut wood. Can't haul a heavy load of wood in it, but he can go and cut, then take his big pickup down to bring the wood home.

Got a little rain today, not sure how much as the wind blew so hard, don't think much went in the rain gauge.

Harry, DoninWis said to tell you hi and he misses the forum, but can't access it anymore for some reason. Would like your e-mail address if possible.

Donna

We still don't have any rain and things are looking very dry. Especially the raised beds. Looks like the tropical storm has turned in a dangerous hurricane. We will probably get weather from it when it hits. Sounds like Miss Katrina is hitting the gulf coast with a category 4 fury.

We are getting ready to clean out some of the raised beds to plant fall veggies. I have some in peat pots and they are up and growing.

We are still working on the rabbitry. Got all the new bunnies situated and am now working on hutches for the kits when they begin arriving. Which won't be for about four more months but it is good to be ready and waiting than not ready and rushing. We have the bucks seperated in a different area than the does. We are working on hutches for the bucks so they will be in the same barn as the does. Since does can be a little aggitated when moving them from their hutch to visit with the buck. If I have them all together, maybe I will get less scratches.

I need to check with the man that I bought my goat from to see if I can bring her back to get her bred. From what I read the fall is when they come into season. And if we plan to milk her we need to get her bred so she will kid next spring or late winter.

I guess I was thinking that I could just jump in and get my food farm going full blast in a couple of months but it takes a while to get things going doesn't it. LOL!

My silkie is being a good mommy and staying with her eggs. She should start hatching in a week. We need to make another chicken tractor to keep her in with the chicks. The chicken tractor that we have sure worked good with the other hen but we still have the chicks in it so can't use it with the silkie.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Jan

Donna. I sent you an E-mail with my address for Don.

Harry K

The weather was pretty good here this week as far as temps, but we need some rain. The ground isn't crisp or anything, it is just time for some rain. Probably will get some from Katrina, but I sure hate that anyone is going to get pounded by that monster storm.

About all I got done this weekend was get the lawn (big lawn) mowed and down the drive. Oh, I did round up some pokeweed too. Just not enough time in the day for everything. Next weekend will be more of the same because of a wedding.

Have to go. Everyone be careful in the weather.

Thanks Harry, posted on other site for Don to send me an e-mail so I can forward your address.

DH and I have to go to a small town about an hour and half drive from here tomorrow to tow home a car he bought. Will have to put in shop to get transmission rebuilt, but we got it very reasonable and it's one DH has been wanting for ages, a 1981 Mercedes diesel. Something comfortable to ride in for a change besides pickups and hopefully better gas mileage.

Not much other news other than the weeds are growing like crazy and it's been too hot to get out there and attack them. Tomatoes are about gone. I planted some birdhouse gourds (first time for gourds of any kind) and the crazy things are going everywhere and have quite a few gourds on them.
Donna