Sunday, January 6, 2013

A Quiet Weekend

It's not particularly cold right now. The thermometer is registering 34 degrees. Compared to the freezing temperatures we've been dealing with, it feels down-right balmy. We woke to a snow flurries which tapered off by lunch time and only accumulated about an inch of new snow. Normally, that would not register on our notable list, but the blowing winds of yesterday and through the night moved 6 inches of snow from their carefully constructed piles along the edge of our driveway directly into our path. Sean carefully maneuvered the car through it in order for us to attend our morning meeting for worship, but had to spend some time clearing our driveway again upon our return. It is our custom to do the household and farming chores together, but I have been banished to "light duty" consisting of dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and dusting. Kristen is helping me with these inside chores and then, we'll need to prepare lunch for everyone. Meaghan is working on mucking Jasmine's stall.

Yesterday was a good day for selling some of our farming products. I was able to barter a dozen eggs for some lemon grass and a few other herbs not currently available on my own window sill, with a friend. I sold 3 dozen eggs to two other friends and family members. And, I filled orders for 3 bars of soap, including the last cinnamon bar I had in stock and two bars of the lavender scented. This is a good beginning to our farm's first official fiscal year.

Sean and I spent some time discussing what we want to have available to bring with us to the first Bangor Chicken Swap we'll begin attending in April. I am hoping that the excess of roosters currently taking up residence will be resolved before then, but if not, they will be going certainly. It is unlikely that we'll have any chicks with us for the first event, but I think we'll have them available at each of the following meetings. We should have eggs to sell. The Lally Broch Farm Soap we're making will come with us. I should have some feathered hair accessories ready to sell. And, if I time the sowing properly, I am hopeful to have some herb and vegetable seedlings to offer. It is not a wide variety of products, but I think it will be a good beginning for us.

Today began with less cheer for us. In addition to the dusting of new snow, and required snow removal, Sean discovered one of our 3 year old Cochin hens dead in the duck house. She is not particularly old, there were no marks on her body and she did not appear sickly yesterday when I was with them. She was not thin and there were no signs of being egg bound. The weather was not overly cold through the night. I think that she might have been on the bottom of a chicken pile in the night. The ducks and geese refuse to sleep in their house, preferring to take their chances at falling droppings from above in the night. However, a group of about 10 chickens have taken to using the duck house instead of roosting in the rafters of the main coop. The mild-mannered cochins and several of the youngest pullets we hatched in August are among these. I think the group huddled up for warmth and she accidentally got stuck on the bottom of the heap. This is our first loss of the new year and is a sad one for us.
 
It's turning into a quiet Sunday around here. I hope this day finds you all well and happy wherever you are. Thanks for stopping in for a visit today.
 
Sean and Sonja ♥

4 comments:

  1. Woohoo, you already have sales this year, that is awesome! I am sorry to hear about your chicken

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    1. Thanks, Miss Kimmy. I will be in touch with you shortly. I have some IDEAS! ♥

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  2. I'm so sorry about the loss of your hen! I know how hard it is to lose one of your chickens :(

    Sounds like you are off to a great start for your farm in 2013! It's so exciting and I'm so happy for you guys that your hard work is paying off!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy!

      Today has been a little surreal on the blog front. I was hoping to kick up some of my stats, but this generous outpouring of lot of comments, new friends, and visttors has my heart thumping and my head spinning. I really enjoyed your post about non-dairy mousse and can't wait to try it out myself! :)

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