Saturday, August 31, 2013

Building project

We've been working hard this past week. We had to build a home for the 2 newest members of our farm family. 2 sweet little Berkshire pigs.  photo 106_5060_zpsb450b335.jpg We did all the work ourselves, starting with cutting down some trees  photo 106_5022_zps6511adca.jpg and carting them to the build site  photo 106_5025_zpsb25749bf.jpg We hand dug all the fence post holes and put in our posts  photo 106_5048_zps95772973.jpg and put togeter a round wood building frame  photo 106_5049_zps3ca42eaa.jpg  photo 106_5054_zps684e1abf.jpg We then covered the frame with recycled tin  photo 106_5056_zpsf391749e.jpg The smaller tree limbs became fence rails and a piece of pallet became the gate  photo 106_5057_zps3229f031.jpg  photo 106_5058_zps574c58c1.jpg Then, this evening, Paul picked up the pigs from a near by farm. The kids have named them Lucy and Brownie  photo 106_5061_zps8d4f42a8.jpg

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Talking Chickens

I have a flock of approximately 24 chickens, who freerange around our farm. They peck around for worms, dust bathe in our fire pit, eat every scrap I put in our compost bin, and give me a constant supply of eggs. I can't imagine not waking up to crowing in the morning, or watching they're funny antics for hours on end. So, in light of this, I thought I'd introduce some of my flock.  photo 106_4993_zpsdc2639ec.jpg  photo 106_4996_zps000c428f.jpg This is Brutus, part Ameraucanna rooster. most of his chicks lay eggs in shades of blue and green  photo 106_5003_zps5f302c7a.jpg  photo 106_5004_zps872b7b85.jpg The red rooster is Iron Man, he's top dog around the coop, and one of the friendlies roos I've ever had. He likes to rub up against my legs like a cat  photo 106_5009_zps1067611c.jpg My helper feeding them apples  photo 106_4991_zps48bb65f0.jpg The chicks we hatched a while back, getting used to the yard, and getting to know the other chickens from the safety of a caged area. (they are part silkie, part gamehen)  photo 106_4971_zpsced0e07e.jpg This part Brahma hen named snow just hatched 6 beautiful chicks  photo 106_4975_zps1fb889c8.jpg
and someone was extra thrilled


I Hope you enjoyed meeting my chickens

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

fair fun and horses

Its Old home week in Charlottetown. An annual event that dates back to 1888. Agricultural shows, cart races, and of course rides. We spent the day there yesterday. The kids had a blast. I was sad I missed the poultry show, but it was a fun filled day anyway.


 photo 106_4940_zpsf5f6e78f.jpg  photo 106_4946_zpsf3ce8278.jpg  photo 106_4948_zps8a7669c9.jpg  photo 106_4954_zps57f0e7d5.jpg  photo 106_4955_zps569e8cd5.jpg Today, we had planed an early morning trail ride. However, due to one little monkey not feeling well, It became a father daughter activity. They had so much fun, and I look forward to joining them next time.  photo 106_4958_zps94f46698.jpg  photo 106_4964_zps2098a1a8.jpg  photo 106_4965_zps883c1d2e.jpg

Monday, August 12, 2013

Apples, Apples everywhere

 Sorry for the radio silence these past few weeks. The kids were in Ontario visiting with their grand parents, and I took a vacation. Paul and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We spent time at the beach, went canoeing, made new trails threw our forest, went fishing, and lots more. It was wonderful to spend so much quality time just the two of us. I can't remember the last time we had that privilege. I missed the kids like crazy though and I'm so happy to have them home again and be back in the normal swing of things.

We have several very old apple trees on our property. I hope to be able to ID most of them in the next few months. Old apple varieties are so much more diverse and interesting than the new. The first of these is in full fruit right now. According to my research, and confirmed by Paul's grandmother, Its a White transparent. A dessert apple with white skin, white flesh, and a sweet, but sharp flavour. We picked buckets full yesterday and proceeded to preserve them. In syrup, as jam, as apple sauce, plus I made some pies and cobbler. All this, and we've barely scratched the surface. These apples are so soft, they all need to be preserved or eaten within a few days of harvest. I hope some of he other trees will yield good keepers, but ether way, we'll have more apples to preserve than we can possibly eat. So, if you come to visit, expect to be leaving with apples. Any one have suggestions or favourite recipes for preserving apples?


 photo 106_4918_zpsba394a6a.jpg  photo 106_4936_zps790397f4.jpg We weren’t the only ones enjoying the apples  photo 106_4938_zpse59ada5b.jpg
eating while we pick  photo 106_4939_zpsa621c962.jpg