No LZ Bees Here!

Where to start?

This is what's been going on at LZB...

Lots of canning and putting by for winter... Tomatoes, potatoes, beets, cukes, beef, chicken, broccoli, and cabbage, to list a few... I tried dehydrating tomatoes, mangoes,kiwi, cranberries, cherries, and bananas this year. To be honest, it is brain dead easy putting by and takes such a small amount of space. I caught bananas on sale at Aldi's for 22-cents a pound and couldn't resist putting up enough for banana bread through the winter!

Finished all the interior house renovation projects -- all the closets needed painting as well as a complete remodeling. When I first built the closets with my brother 22 years ago, the only shelving available was wire. I have fallen head over hills in love with Ikea's Algot closet shelving system and have redone each closet, including the pantry, with it. The cleanliness and ease of getting things in and out makes keeping house just That Much Easier for me and THAT makes me quite happy! Believe it or not, I was able to match the paint on the right using just this photo! Now, the trim matches in the bathroom! Yay!

 Keeping the farm stock has continued to be a lot of fun and not nearly as challenging now that all the fencing is complete!! This summer I had the last eight acres fenced along the creek bottom to protect the stream bank remediation project we had done over the last two years. Now, we are waiting for the watering systems to be installed since the well is in! Next spring the does will move to the bottom pasture and give their paddocks on the hillside a little rest. Piglets didn't fare well this spring due to the extreme weather conditions. Our supplier lost 14 of 17 piglets overnight due to the extreme cold. We ended up with three of the porkers and one contracted Tetanus from the castration process done before we picked him up. We assumed he had his anti-toxin prior to the castration, but he hadn't. Fortunately, the anti-toxin was administered quickly enough that he not only survived, but is the largest porker in the lot! They go to the processor in November.

And, of course, there has been needlework. Lots of it! This is a friendship quilt from blocks I received in an exchange. I thought I would love this pink fabric, but when I got it nearly set, I wasn't in love with it... so out it goes and I am working on replacing it with a fantastic lavender, which you know makes me more than happy!

Of course, we done much more, but for now, we'll just say we have been very busy bees... and I have missed writing terribly. The break has done my spirit good and helped my perspective of how I want to continue this blog.

Welcome back!

Let me sum it up....

Yeah. It's kind of been like that...

The Airman is home and settled at his new duty station with Mrs. Airman.

Worked the blueberries all summer for my parents. Sold more than 500 gallons and still had berries in the field.

Been doing this:

Teaching English to students who want to write papers in text message. *Insert sigh and prayer here.*

Adopted Duchess and Annie. Duchess is a 10-year-old white deaf cat who was surrendered by her owner. She is a hoot.

Annie was born at Clover Cat Rescue and has been a joy to me. I believe Wookie picked her out for me. She spends most of her time doing this:

Yeah. Sugar Plum Eeyore and Annie are good buds. She carries him from the food bowl to the water dish to the litter box and to bed. She never had babies, so this is even more funny. When it is bedtime, she brings him and drops him at my feet and "mew!" in the most insistent tone.

In the fall, Lazy Bee Farm started getting a face lift -- bathrooms redone, painting, and furniture recovered:

Purple. That says it all.

Went to Seattle for the Airman family wedding vow renewals. Got to meet Clarice from Storybooks Woods and had a most marvelous time with Melinda and Freeman who drove up for the week. Love. Seattle. (And, no pics! Ack!)

Now, we have this going on...

Babies... babies... babies. This is Lotus with first-time Mum Lilac. Lotus and her brother, who is solid white and named Lyle, are about the size of cats... and so cute! They like having their faces and noses kissed.

I have missed blogging and sharing our farm! Let's not be strangers, eh?

Feeding Time

Grab your boots! It is muddy, really, nasty, gooey muddy outside today, but we have chores to do and need to get on the ball! Ready??

First we feed the dogs and cats, and then we'll head to Mr. Hardy to feed him.
This is Gladys. She is one talking hen. She follows us all over the
yard because she knows that I carry cracked corn in my coverall pockets
to toss to the hens.  

This is Ollie. He is one rough rooster. The other roosters don't like him. At All.
They beat and peck on him and have even torn out his
beautiful tail feathers. His left leg was broken in the goat yard when he
was running from Petie, who was going to flog him. He is Gladys'
roaming buddy -- at least at feeding time.

It is a good thing we came out at 4 instead of 5 today! Mr. Hardy is
really hungry! We need shovel some of the ashes, stir the fire, and then
add some wood. There is a little paper trash to toss in first.
Do you want to do it? Watch your hair! I burned my bangs
off last week when the fire flared!

Look out! I hear the ducks running down the hill! They
have heard us out and know that the chickens have a little
cracked corn snack. They will fuss until we give them some, too.
Don't you love how they waddle? I do!



Ooops... Someone, or two, or three, is really annoyed.
They think we are late to turn them out to graze.
They are right. We still have to toss out the
cracked corn for the ducks and feed
the chickens before turning them out.
Otherwise, we will find goats in the henhouse! Again!



Here they come again! These guys never give up!

Be careful when you reach for Missie's eggs. She will peck
the tar out of you. I usually scoop her from behind and toss her out.
You might want to wear two pairs of gloves before you
grab her eggs.. Just sayin.....

Why don't you toss the gals the left over whole wheat couscous
left from supper last night? They will sure enjoy the
treat! How would you like to eat traditional laying pellets
day in and day out?? They don't either....

After we have turned the girls out, it's time to feed Hollie. She
won't quit hollaring until she eats. Besides, it makes it easier
to clean the loafing yard and stalls if she is eating... and
the goats are grazing the mountain.

Well.. this is the best part of farming. Poop. Tons and tons of poop.
I'll scoop. I hate to ask you to do it on your first visit
to the farm. Watch your step!

Well! Look what we found while we were cleaning the stalls!
It looks like some gals didn't like sharing the nesting boxes
with Missie! Take a peek around the stable. You might find more!

Don't suppose you have more feed in yoru pocket?

Thanks for dropping by today to help feed. We have a lot more to do, but you are looking tired and, well, I am starving! Remember your boots! It's nasty out there!