Alaskan's Journal

[Ridgetop]

Normally we can't get the real high protein alfalfa because most of the first cutting is contracted by the dairies. What you get from feed stores is usually 3rd cutting. We were able to contract the second cutting from a hay guy. He would bring it when we needed it. At that time, we were going through about 1500 lbs. every 4 weeks just for the dairy goats, along with cattle grain lb. for lb. grain to milk for the milkers.

 

[WyoLiving]

When we bought our place, it had 40 acres, but the seller was willing to split the property. We put in an offer for the buildings and 25 acres, with an option to buy the remaining land when our place in Wyoming sold. Another buyer offered to buy the buildings and 5 acres. Seller chose our offer. Then, before our Wyoming place sold, A neighbor offered to buy the remaining 15 acres to use as pasture for his horses. We said OK.
There was 12 acres of our 25 acres of land that was hayfield. It was explained to us that it was an abandoned field that said neighbor had worked back into hayfield and hayed it every year to feed his horses. We allowed him to continue haying it, for free, with the one condition that he call us and let us know when he was going to be in the field. We figured it would be win-win situation: he gets to make hay for his horses and we would get free maintenance on the field and it wouldn't go back to weeds. He never bothered to do any maintenance on the field and only cut it once a year, so it was getting really poor quality. I asked him about overseeding something nutritious, but he felt the grassy, weedy stuff was good enough because his horses had been eating it for years and were used to it.

 

[Ridgetop]

Just my opinion, but if you are allowing someone to hay your fields and take the hay for free, they should at least be fertilizing and spraying for noxious weeds. Cutting only once is probably all the hay it will produce since the tenant is not keeping up the soil.

My Texas cattle tenant is responsible for fence repairs, and while I will pay for the chicken manure when it is time to do it, he will arrange for it to be spread. He also removes locust trees that sprout and does not over graze.

Check Farmerjan's posts as to what she and her son have to do with their leased fields. Keeping pasture in good condition is important. Reclaiming pasture that has been overgrazed, or not keeping the soil in good heart will bite you in the end.

 

[Alaskan]

Wahahaha

I have NOT died!

So... eldest is now gone to Kodiak for school. Kid #2 is happily in Anchorage for school....

Kid 3, 4 and 5 all went with spouse for the weekend.


Leaving



Me




Alone!




The youngest 3 kids had so much fun teasing me. "So, how will you eat?" "What will you do without coffee?" "Do you remember how to do chores?" "How will you do so much church reading alone?"



Anyway... so far so good!

It has been FUN getting to eat in bed.

Getting out a ladder, at night, trudging through brush with that ladder... then having to grab a dip net and climb back up the ladder.... well, that wasn't great fun, but I did it! It was pretty funny too actually. Because I finally got the escaped chicken perching on the fence..... but then her feet got tangled on a combo of net and chicken wire, and I didn't bring my reading glasses! So there I am giggling in the almost full dark trying to feel how to release her toes! Poor girl... all worked out though!

When I put her back in the coop... I just stood there counting.... recounting... counting again... HOW many chickens do I own? What number? Think, think.... turns out the only other one that had escaped was "Old Lady Hen". Sheesh.

So there in the middle of the night... with my phone flashlight I am crawling under spruce trees.... no hen...

I gave up.

Next morning... I called the chickens and she came, I saw her! But, when I tried to catch her... well... I failed, and then the dog noticed me failing, and started chasing after my poor Old Lady Hen!!!! Off they went through the brush! That stupid dog would NOT listen....

I gave up.....

So, hours later, dog FINALLY returns to the house, which is NICE. The dog belongs to Spouse... so, I can't let it run off and die while I am in charge.

I locked up the dog, called chickens... Old Lady Hen doesn't show up.

I put my feet up for a bit.. then went to evening church services, and THERE are a group of kids at church, dressed in pants, work shoes and junky clothes!!!! hurrah! I asked the one barefoot kid to put shoes on... asked their dad for permission... then took those kids home with me!!!

I pointed to a clump of spruce, wild thorny raspberries, thick elderberries, and weeds.... I told the kids that she was probably in there some place!

So... I stood over by the chicken yard and called chickens, and Old Lady Hen WAS in that thicket!!! The kids happily crawled through all of that brush and YES, gently caught Old Lady Hen!!!

So hurrah! All safe and sound!


As to how they got out... turns out my kids, on their last chore check before running off to galavant, had NOT securely closed the coop door!!!

Anyway, all safe and sound again!

I am so happy. I like my Old Lady Hen.

 

[Mini Horses]

Home alone???

Seems chickens are ok. Dog has returned -- good thing since it's spouses

What have you been eating? Are you making your coffee? Didn't they leave "heat &eat" meals for ya?

 

[Alaskan]

My mom is still here...

In the morning we went and met with my chat and drink coffee group... at a coffee place, so, COFFEE! Check!

Then mom took me to lunch, I saved half of my lunch for my supper. I filled up on dry cereal at home, in bed, while watching movies.

Sunday means church followed by a big lunch... I warned everyone that Spouse was not home, AND no boys were home to cook.... so the other people brought plenty! Also, they have GREAT coffee, and oodles of it!

So now.... I just have to wait for the 3 youngest and spouse to return... some time today...

Which is good....

Because, seriously... I don't think the dog is eating!!!! -sigh-

 

[Baymule]

You have had a nice vacation, but I bet you sure are glad that they have come back home!

 

[Alaskan]

Random photos:

Pond from today:

From last week, bird on drive

Fanciest bell at church, and the propane tank bell

 

[Alaskan]

Ah... bird = spruce grouse

 

[farmerjan]

Very

Ah... bird = spruce

Pretty . Is that a floating A frame for ducks?