mary jane phifer

"See that little doeling?  She's not dead, she's just mostly dead" as Miracle Max would say...

And so kidding begins...  Triplets, twins, twins, and an eight pound miracle single.

Second batch of goose eggs in the incubator, cold snap moving in tonight.

Blind Hog has been splitting firewood, Acorn playing the midwife.  All and all, a tiring week on the farm!

After the purge came the big payout...  686 lbs of scrap metal to the recycler, all for $76...  Like selling a truckload of black walnuts to the hulling station...  Actually, walnuts bring a few more pennies per pound...

Workshop cleared, hay set out, goats sorted-tagged-vaxxed, fuel filter replaced on the Tracker.  Now Acorn has to see about changing the distributor. Fun fun...  Then to the Big City for more recycling, errands, Blind Hog's annual echo test and more errands...

Cold weather plants have been repotted- all good there.  Eggs in the incubator doing well- the others were candled and one dud egg found.  10 eggs currently out with the geese- they continue to lay, except for Alpha.  Not sure what is up with her...

Acorn watched a webinar on native plant landscaping- VERY interesting...  You can start one any time of the year!

Pizza has been made- doubled the recipe and have some for now, some for later.

Ugh!  So frustrating.  Good news is that the '61 MF 35 has a new distributor cap, rotor, points, condenser, coil, and negative battery terminal wire and clamp.  It ran like a top for 45 min after Fred worked on it for 2 hrs, now it is acting up again... Either a:  governor rod/linkage or b: still something in the fuel line/carburetor...

Much back and forthing on the tractor, Easter egging parts.  Blind Hog did get the driveway graded at least after Fred did his magic, but 45 min into the job the issues of choking down and acting fuel starved came up again.  Possible burnt valve? Who knows?!

UGH!  On the bright side? Wasn't that big moon wonderful!

Weed trimming has been getting done around the house and in the garden.  Chicken coop all cleaned out. Everything else doing fine EXCEPT for that darn tractor.  New ones are like and easy 20K...

Will see next week if the problem has been resolved one way or another...

Ragweed, humidity and a return from Texas.  other than that, not much else shakin' at the farm.

Massey Ferguson still being worked on, but the list of problem-causing items is being diminished.

Old Frank was in fine shape for Acorn's visit, was good to see hi and meet the other family.

Sam got skunked, so what else is new?  Chickens were having some discussion in the  middle of the yard and would not divulge the topic of the impromptu meeting...

The final kidding of the season happened and wouldn't you know, TRIPLETS! Momma is a trained professional, and the three should do just fine.

Lil' Honkers are growing and took their first bath today- one was acting just like an adult goose in the water- head down, water up over the back and flapping of wings.

Sam caught a squirrel this morning and ate it for "first breakfast..."  Came in later and had "second breakfast" that was already poured for him...

Grass is so green.  Lilacs so lovely. Happy April...

Art museum visit- check... 
Redbuds blooming- check...
Morels popping-  check...
Martin gourds up-  check...
28°F mornings (?)-  check...

Springtime in the Ozarks!

Blind Hog and Acorn have been doing the usual chores, extra work on the Springfield house, and even took a day off to visit the art museum in Bentonville.  Acorn is more than ready to do that again soon, and not wait another 6-8 months!

All in all, SteelMeadow Farm is right on schedule.  Garden might be limited to store-bought starts for a few crops,  but Acorn will support the local growers.  This is also the 17th anniversary of their move to Missouri. Tempus fugit!

Yay!  Blind Hog got several things done this week- attic fan installed in one day, cows moved from west to east fields,  seventeen doelings sold to a single buyer, laying hen peeps purchased.  AND Acorn is most excited about the livestock ultrasound device she can use to check goats for pregnancy.   No more guessing, waiting around.

Drought continues.  Fields had a bit of reprieve but 1/2 of rain does not make up for all the excessive temperatures and dry conditions.

Next on the agenda is the "cleaning of the goat barns..."  Won't THAT be fun?

Our favorite farmers turned into roof repair techs this past week- hard to turn down an opportunity to save cash.  $1,400 repair estimate from one company, but when Blind Hog and Acorn could score the materials for $300?  Of course!  They did it themselves!  Good news is that the roof ridge has been replaced and should be (knock wood) waterproofed and leak proofed.

The bull Fintan, cow Sorcha and her bull calf went to Tennessee on Monday morning, happy that they will be well taken care of at their new home. That leaves SteelMeadow with three cow-calf pairs, the fewest head of Irish Dexters ever.

Bucklings born in March went to market today. Nice looking group of kids. Very pleased with these Savanna cross breeds- no matter the color or breed of the momma goat, all the kids look alike.

Sam nabbed a huge groundhog- this was not discussed in the podcast. What was discussed in detail was surgical castration of the two bull calves.

Can it get any hotter?  Why yes- yes it can! Drier too as well!

Livestock plans are being altered to accommodate the best interest of the livestock during the drought, not necessarily that of the farmers. Two separate breeding groups of goats are now combined into one big herd.  Get get'm, boys.

Next weekend is the local monthly sheep and goat sale, no doubt volume will be high and prices low.  Cannot help that. Blind Hog and Acorn will load up all the bucklings and drop them off.  A couple Dexter cattle are heading to Tennessee at the start of the week, will take those two off our herd-hands. So, downsizing is always helpful in trying times like these, but overall the farm is in good shape.

Acorn had a week in Florida to pack up papers and personal belongings in the house, had a couple showings and even an offer.  That first offer was exciting, but too low- is the slow season there and demand will spike come "snowbird season."  Acorn will go back down in a week and a half for "curb appeal" upgrades then should be good to stay home for a while.

Hot hot hot, dry dry dry. Wah. Wah. Wah...

Another project completed!  Blind Hog and Acorn dismantled the former "chicken tractor" and turned it into a sweet looking AND functional pellet feeder for the goat kids!  No jumping in the troughs, fouling the feeding area with goat pebbles or mud.  Is a bit crowded at feeding time, however half of the kids will be going to market at the end of the month-  the doelings will remain until they are sold when they have grown a bit more.

Acorn will once again be leaving Blind Hog to man the conn while she is gone to Florida to do estate things, namely selling the car.  He and Sam will be left with a fridge full of goodies, but NO black rice ramen noodles with crispy broccoli and ham.  Apparently Blind Hog was not impressed with that lunch...

Weather is hot and dry at the farm, garden requires watering.  Been three weeks since the last time the lawn was mowed.  pastures now getting a bit brown and crispy.  Like uncut hay out there...

Your favorite podcasting farmers will be back on the air on the 18th.

Company from Baton Rouge have come and gone but in between Blind Hog and Acorn had a grand time.  Much fun was had by all, including a day trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, as well as their sister facility, The Momentary.

Goat kids have been weaned, with the exception of Little Helper's 6 week old doeling.  Little Helper is in with the mob of kids, will act as a "trainer" for us, teaching the rest to come when we call.  The farmer s are working on dismantling the chicken tractor/mobile coop to transform it into a mobile goat feeder.

0.80" of rain for the month, and it was 100F when we left to go to the Post Office.  Ground is powdery dry.  Boots throw up "poofs" of dust when you walk.

Cotton Patch geese are very happy, about adult size already. And look WHOOOOOO was watching when Blind Hog and Acorn went to the Post Office!

Blind Hog and Acorn have a most excellent reason for cleaning up the house and grounds- COMPANY IS COMING! Good friends from Baton Rouge on a road trip with a stop at SteelMeadow.

Otherwise, the garden is all planted, irrigation lines reset and all is good out there.

Yummy things have been baked (rhubarb pie and a quiche) and a pot of chicken soup is simmering.

Acorn made an awning for a couple windows, turned out pretty good. Back top last minute chores before the guests arrive!

Yes, Acorn was called away again due to family needs and Blind Hog held the conn with Sam.

Meanwhile the livestock scale worked, then didn't, then got fixed. Plans made for geese, cows, garden, goats.

A delicious loaf of Icelandic rye bread, baked for 12 hrs is sampled. Perfect during the crazy weather when Mother Nature can't decide between low 20's with flurries and 70's and sun...

While Acorn was able to replace the tie rod ends, little did she and Blind Hog realize the ball joints all needed to be replaced as well.  That little issue was discovered at the shop when the front end alignment was started.  It is what it is... Have a farm?  You must have a working truck.

Goats are being milked and from it yogurt for the freezer. Load feet installed on the goat tilt table and the weigh unit calibrated!  Working goat scale!  No more picking up kids!

Fields are greening up, calves will be born in about another 7-8 weeks. The future of cattle here on the farm is discussed.

Hooray for the last of the barn cats to be neutered!  Boots and Ink went in together.  Of the 5 remaining barn cats we got from Judy, these two are right tame!

A productive week on the farm~ Blind Hog and Acorn repaired the F350's tie rod ends! Was the picture perfect set up of a 20 yr old truck up on jack stands in the front yard. Once the pair of farmers got started, it was "just that easy."

Road Commissioner has promised to send a road grader, but the county is so big and the tax base so small, they are not expecting much.

Blind Hog got the three paddocks of the west field clipped, broom sedge is now mowed and the field all leveled out. Grass is already much greener where the livestock are not grazing so yes- the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!

Goat kids are bouncing around, 43 "tighty whities" running here and there. Still have a few more goats to kid. Now for the cows- this may be Lulu and Calpurnia's last calving. At 16, their arthritis is really slowing them both down.

Ethel is is in "egg mode," laying an egg every other day. 4 in the nest. Acorn will wait for a few more more eggs and then will steal four for the incubator. Will see if the pair can raise any goslings. Last year none of her eggs hatched and the attrition from black snakes eating her eggs was high.

34 commercial kids born Monday through  Friday.  Sired by the same buck, they are all white- quick eartagging and notes help tell  kids apart when things get confusing in the barn!

Snow storm pretty much missed us- just had some flurries yesterday but not "inches of accumulation."  Works for Acorn.

The tie rod on the F350 broke- the connector sleeve wallowed out the threads and so the rods pulled apart.  New tie rods are already delivered, will be installed next week.  Acorn texted the road commissioner to voice her angst over the condition of the road. Barking out the door and no one to hear...

New recipe for you to try...  Lemon muffins!  https://steelmeadowfarm.com/steelmeadow-recipes/

Ethel laid her first egg, it has the "bullseye so YAY!  The geese are "doing it!"  Will try a few in the incubator once she gets more laid.

Ho boy- did Blind Hog and Acorn ever have a domestic scare this week!  The dreaded "warping of hardwood floor boards!"

Luckily, it was not "zebras" but a much simpler, less exotic cause of the issue.  A bit of cosmetic repair and all will be right with the world.

Hissy Kitty was the first cat taken to the vet- Acorn did in fact trap BOTH Nessie and Lil' Pumpkin who live in the hay barn.  Each however escaped while being transferred from the live trap to the pet carrier.  This issue has been resolved.

Sap collecting and syrup making is over, now is time to begin milking the dairy goats.  Only 8 quarts of skyr remain in the freezer!

Road is getting work done by the county, just in time for the next rains.  Fun fun!

Sleet covers the ground, but it is beginning to thaw.  Thank goodness for ice cleats!

Commercial goats have held off kidding (so far) during these single digit wind chills and icy weather.

Time to begin trapping the barn kitties and get them spayed/neutered.  Actually, Acorn had one in the trap already but it escaped when lifting the trap door to unload into the cat carrier. That was "Little Pumpkin," and "Nessie" was spotted when the "Special Kitty Tuna Pate" was reloaded in the trap...

County road is in dire need of attention, will see if communication with state reps will do any good.  The local road commissioner says there are no funds... 8 loads of gravel is all they can afford over here? 

Getting ready for more goat kids  and goose eggs! Fun on the farm!

Blind Hog and Acorn missed the worst of the last winter storm that went through, almost 3" of rain though.  They are not complaining.  Well, they are complaining about the county road and lack of maintenance...  But what else is new?

A few nice days to get chores done in preparation of yet more goat kids. Garden too could use some attention.

After the podcast, Acorn took Sam and the pregnant goats for that walk up in the east field- goats stayed up there a few hours before coming back to the barn. Dairy kids are growing like weeds, will be able to start milking the moms here in a bit.

All in all, a nice, uneventful week on the farm.  Nothing more strenuous to do that walk to the mailbox and throw a log in the woodstove!  That, and making ice cream but make SURE you know what you are grabbing out of the fridge! Ha!

Blind Hog got to do all the chores by himself for a whole week, timed perfectly with The Big Snow  while Acorn was down in Florida!  Florida??!! Not exactly a vacation but a"rescue" of sorts- getting her dad out of ICU and into hospice where he was able to have a peaceful end.

It was go go go for all concerned; crazy schedules, lack of sleep, emotional rollercoasters.  The PSA take home message is that it is never to late to write up your medical Living Will, DNR wishes, even a legal will:  https://www.freewill.com  You are welcome.

Acorn slept after lunch today, burned up a pot that was boiling down sap.  It happens.  That is one 8 ounce jar of syrup that was lost, plus the 3 gallon pot.

Onwards!