tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post5284285419655181731..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Around The HomesteadLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-19981256320842864482010-12-19T06:56:10.791-05:002010-12-19T06:56:10.791-05:00Robin, so sorry to hear that about Jack!
We actua...Robin, so sorry to hear that about Jack!<br /><br />We actually haven't tried the squirrel yet. They're pretty small in the meat department, so we thought we'd wait until we have two. Dan just shot it right between the eyes. <br /><br />I'm thinking about a few new chicken breeds next spring too! What breeds are you interesting in?Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-78108883418590646062010-12-19T00:45:20.098-05:002010-12-19T00:45:20.098-05:00Thats good that your cats are starting to hunt. Ja...Thats good that your cats are starting to hunt. Jack hasn't really been hunting since she hurt her back leg. <br /><br />So what does a squirrel taste like and how did you catch it?<br /><br />Our egg production is very low at the moment too. I'm actually looking into getting some new breeds next year.Robinhttp://farmfolly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40242517513564730102010-12-04T20:51:26.796-05:002010-12-04T20:51:26.796-05:00Black Rose, hello and welcome! You know, I actuall...Black Rose, hello and welcome! You know, I actually took Greek in college. I don't remember any of it though. :)<br /><br />Benita, we've just been going over last year's goals. You're right, it's amazing how different things looked around here back then. Hopefully, we'll continue to have the health, strength, energy, and funds(!) to make as many changes next year. <br /><br />Apple Pie Gal, thanks! And thanks for becoming a follower and taking the time to comment. I'm going to go right on over to your blog to return the visit. :)<br /><br />Aw shucks, Carrie. Thanks!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44217526937793864182010-12-04T20:25:46.879-05:002010-12-04T20:25:46.879-05:00Leigh, you are my hero! Thanks for the updates! -...Leigh, you are my hero! Thanks for the updates! -CarrieWhat Pigs Don't Knowhttp://www.pigsdontknow.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20550631187588662182010-12-04T20:22:04.651-05:002010-12-04T20:22:04.651-05:00Wow! I am very impressed! Those pantry shelves a...Wow! I am very impressed! Those pantry shelves are to die for!The Apple Pie Galhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10340020795649093810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-2420308523639484852010-12-04T18:04:18.958-05:002010-12-04T18:04:18.958-05:00My goodness you have accomplished a lot this past ...My goodness you have accomplished a lot this past year. Seriously, have you gone back and read where you were at this time last year?<br /><br />That pantry is one of the prettiest things I have seen in a while. It makes me feel satisfied and safe and I don't even get to eat it. You have done very well!Benitahttp://www.basicallybenita.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-58096782697921771212010-12-04T17:53:04.656-05:002010-12-04T17:53:04.656-05:00Καλησπεραααα....Helloooo from Greece and ΣτάΛες στ...Καλησπεραααα....Helloooo from Greece and <a href="http://loneeagle110.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">ΣτάΛες στο ΓαΛάΖιο</a> blog team...Very nice post...come with me in <a href="http://loneeagle110.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">ΣτάΛες στο ΓαΛάΖιο</a><br /><br />LoVe and LiGhT with you....BlackRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018758818522762364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66745646639118013922010-12-03T17:22:28.659-05:002010-12-03T17:22:28.659-05:00Theresa, we certainly have enough squirrels around...Theresa, we certainly have enough squirrels around here to feed quite a few hawks. Still, some seem to have a taste for chicken!<br /><br />I'm really happy with the amount of food stored in our pantry. I admit in some ways it still looks kind of slim for a year's fruit and vegetable needs. On the other hand, there just the two of us and Dan is often on the road, so it's just me. I'm curious as to how long everything will last.<br /><br />Tami, thanks! Yes, those jars of beautiful colors are a blessing indeed. <br /><br />You will love canning! It's fun and it's rewarding. And I don't think there isn't much you can't can. <br /><br />Nina, now that you mention it, when we didn't see hawks, we heard crows. So the crows have moved on and the hawks have moved back in. I need to learn how to attract crows.<br /><br />I eye Charlie's fleece sometimes, but it's so full of leaves, and twigs, and goat poop, that I wonder how much will actually be spinnable. I will manage to salvage at least some of it!<br /><br />Mama Pea, you're right, it is a great feeling. We just missed a huge snow storm. We got 3 and a half inches of rain and the next day the temp dropped below freezing. If the two had met up, we would have had a bunch of snow!<br /><br />Mr. H, thanks for that on the Stanley plum! Mmm, stewed plum sauce and plum baked goods sound sooo good. <br /><br />Goats are great. They are friendly, personable, great at clearing unwanted brush, and a good source of milk and meat. Just be sure to put up a very sturdy fence!<br /><br />Alla thanks! Glad you're making the blog rounds again. :)<br /><br />Renee, good question. Yes, we definitely want to increase our flock, particularly meat birds. We have yet to discuss details on this, but will probably do that this month. December is a good time for goal evaluation and goal setting. Hopefully will have a plan for chickens soon.<br /><br />Michelle, oh my! Well, if you can dig them out of the ground, they should be okay!<br /><br />Laura, thank you for that on the chickens! Assuming we do get more chickens next year, I'd love to get some winter layers besides meaties. Actually, Dan is even finally open to the possibility of raising a turkey or two, assuming I can find a breed that isn't "ugly." LOL Chicken safety discussions are ongoing, but we havn't yet decide if and how to keep them in a covered run. That's something for the future. <br /><br />Yeah, your knee surgery really rearranged your priorities, didn't it? Still, I wish I had some canned chicken and broth!<br /><br />Jane, he is so huggable looking. Unfortunately he doesn't have a "hug me" personality. :)<br /><br />Evelyn, it is. But I love the lifestyle and would rather do that then go out and get a job to pay for anything. Hadn't thought about trading for eggs. None of my neighbors raises chickens, but still, it's something to think about.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-19229814121562508252010-12-03T14:37:36.036-05:002010-12-03T14:37:36.036-05:00Self-sufficiency is alot of work! Don't know ...Self-sufficiency is alot of work! Don't know if I could do without eggs though - anyone you can trade with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62293380014459905182010-12-03T13:48:44.164-05:002010-12-03T13:48:44.164-05:00I love Charlie's big fuzzy face. He sure looks...I love Charlie's big fuzzy face. He sure looks warm.Jane @ Hard Work Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02905658082120445313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66978435438243799802010-12-03T11:07:09.804-05:002010-12-03T11:07:09.804-05:00I love your pantry - All I have is jars of canned ...I love your pantry - All I have is jars of canned chicken, chicken broth and turkey broth. The knees put a wet blanket on any plans for gardening this year! I'm planning to have raised beds next year, though.<br /><br />You might have to consider a cover for your chicken yard. As Theresa pointed out, the hawks are very beneficial. Having lost a number of chickens to hawks, I now have them closer to the house, with access to a covered run. Changing breeds from light brahmas (white, "I'm here, come eat me") to dark brahmas (dark gray, "you can't see me") has also helped. The light brahmas are known for laying through the winter with no additional light - mine did, before I changed to the darks. The darks do not!! I actually had to buy eggs (and they are NOT as good...).<br /><br />Interestingly, I have a resident "murder" of crows. I do have a couple of red tails that hang out, and possibly a red-shouldered hawk. However, I am overrun with squirrels - they get into the turkey feeder, the chicken feeder (even suspended), and generally wreak havoc. While I hate to do it, I'm looking at using poison to knock them back a bit. Maybe then Lyra can catch some!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08421589409738817614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59255469066518259902010-12-03T10:30:24.983-05:002010-12-03T10:30:24.983-05:00Oh my goodness, you just made me realize I never h...Oh my goodness, you just made me realize I never harvested my carrots! There were very few anyway, but STILL. Now it's cold and wet and muddy, and we did have several days of below freezing weather, so they may be a total loss....Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-73141032457640608762010-12-03T10:01:35.842-05:002010-12-03T10:01:35.842-05:00I was thinking that you had covered everything in ...I was thinking that you had covered everything in your update, but then I remembered something...<br /><br />what are the plans for increasing your chicken flock? I think at one time you were going to breed the chickens yourself - but I assume that changed when you decreased the roosters.<br /><br />I'm so glad that Katy got a mousie!Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-13441148758338042802010-12-03T09:34:29.319-05:002010-12-03T09:34:29.319-05:00Love your update! Love Charlie, he is so handsome....Love your update! Love Charlie, he is so handsome. Your pantry looks beautiful. I can't believe your garden is still going!Allahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232546653792863966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-46972479404461919182010-12-03T08:47:57.672-05:002010-12-03T08:47:57.672-05:00I enjoyed hearing all about the happenings on your...I enjoyed hearing all about the happenings on your homestead and envy you your goats...I think.:) We have talked about getting goats before but have yet to get serious about it. <br /><br />It sounds as though you still have an abundance in the garden and your pantry looks amazing. Like I said before I just love the way you have it set up.<br /><br />Oh, and you will love that stanley plum tree. They truly are a wonderful plum for drying. My wife loves to use the dried plums in her baked goods and they make an excellent stewed plum sauce.Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-42659771230702379402010-12-03T07:56:07.898-05:002010-12-03T07:56:07.898-05:00Great update! Gosh, you've still got a lot go...Great update! Gosh, you've still got a lot going on in the garden. Or at least it seems so to us up here near the tundra under ice and snow! <br /><br />Our only stored food that shows much of a dent so far is our applesauce. Fortunately, I do have more apples so I'll be making another batch or two of sauce one of these days soon. Otherwise, in the veggie department we have more than enough for a long winter. Isn't it a great feeling?<br /><br />Love hearing about the goats.Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-28762276490564105592010-12-03T07:35:25.927-05:002010-12-03T07:35:25.927-05:00When the crows are hanging out here, the hawks mov...When the crows are hanging out here, the hawks move on. Last winter they would even land in our front yard and sit on the wires across the road. This year with more crows in the area, although not right on our property, the hawks have moved on up the road a good ways and we rarely see them.<br />The pantry looks fine and so do the beasties. Charlie is a very handsome beast and nice and fuzzy. I shall be quite envious of your shearing day. You'll have to report on how his fibre spins up as I've never come across a wooly llama before and am extremely curious!Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049476969325691637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21936193951192594402010-12-03T06:54:39.160-05:002010-12-03T06:54:39.160-05:00Love your updates and the pantry pictures give me ...Love your updates and the pantry pictures give me something to look forward to. I'm hoping to actually start canning next year(instead of freezing)...NEWBIE ALERT!<br /><br />I'd also like to update our pantry with more shelves. In the drab days of winter, I bet it makes you happy to see all those pretty, colorful jars.<br /><br />BTW Theresa... You made me laugh with the "intact male of almost any species is a problem" comment.<br /><br />Yeah, I got me one of those too. (Hubby)Tamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597093453934852571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-43867138783386453192010-12-03T05:50:25.419-05:002010-12-03T05:50:25.419-05:00Pity on the hawk/chickens thing as they are very g...Pity on the hawk/chickens thing as they are very good at keeping squirrel and other rodents down. Gene and I concur, any intact male of almost any species is a problem. If I found the appropriate sign,( that circle with a strike through and, well, you can fill in the correct anatomy), I'd put it up! <br />The pantry looks amazing. Good gosh that's a lot of fine looking jars and such of food.<br />Charlie is looking quite handsome. Glad you two have made friends.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574936988046982209noreply@blogger.com