January 2011

January was in all fairness really good to us this year. The weather was not horrible. The snows we got were quite small and pretty easy to sweep away. December by far was the coldest so far. The last weather that really gave a problem was more freezing rain and sleet. It takes a long time for that stuff to leave here on this mountain in the shady spots. Of course every where you need to go is going to be a shady spot but such is the life. I just keep reminding myself how great the solitude and the relatively easy navigation here is the other 99.9% of the time.

Not much really went on here at the homestead. Pretty much the same. Cutting wood, repairing what the goats, hogs and wind tear up. Just basic maintenance.

I did have to call a vet for the first time in my life on one of my goats. "Bunny" got very ill. Cant swear what really happened but we treated for enterotoxiemia. All signs pointed to that. What started out to me what appeared to be bloat turned serious real fast. I drenched her with vegetable oil and baking soda like for normal bloat but I had no luck. She got to the point that she was grunting with every short rapid breath and I couldnt take her being in pain any more so I got a vet to make a farm call. We gave Banamine injection and activated charcoal to try rid her system of what ever was poisoning her system. I had her in a pet porter for exactly a week before she got well enough to let back out. It really just about killed her. It about killed me too. I worry to death about things like that.

More good news though for a change. All my goats were bred in January so I wont have to worry about freezing kids this time around. I also believe that "Wilma" the hog is bred also. Another relief as pigs are a whole new ball game to deal with in the cold. I am still holding onto my chickens. I have YET to get one single egg but I blame that on me and molting. I am going to change up their diet and hold out for spring. If nothing by then I will have some very good chicken for the freezer.

I hope January finds you well. Keep looking forward to the signs of Spring!! Wont be near as long as it has been. :) ~Terry

Here Is Some Explaination 2

As things rolled along I just had I would say a normal childhood. At the time I had three cousins that lived just below my house. All of them were boys so you can imagine that there was enough mischief to go around. Also in those days there were some neighborhood boys also to add to the mix.

One of my earliest memories was we were having a game of chicken. What you did was stand in a circle and throw a knife at each others feet and see how close you could get to anothers foot without them moving. It all went well until Cecil threw a knife and it speared Henry right straight through the top of his foot and actually nailed him to the ground. Of course we all freaked out. Cecil went over and picked Henry straight up off the ground and carried him to Aunt Annas' porch where they waited on the ambulance. The rest of us scattered to the winds. Stupid stupid games but, just a bunch of bored country boys. What can I say.

I had another Aunt that lived to the east of this place right across the road from my goatpath (driveway) and she was one mean woman. She even used to beat up Uncle Jean. I've seen him with his forehead busted open before by some kind of blunt trauma causing instrument. It ain't funny but it is now. Sorry. Can't help but chuckle. I have no idea why he stayed with her but he did. Anyway, she HATED all of us youngins and to be honest the feeling was mutual. There used to be a huge white pine on the east side of my mountain that you couldnt reach around. One of my cousins acquired a BB gun from some source because Uncle Rush refused to buy them boys one. Anyway it was decided one day that we would climb way up in that pine tree and shoot "Sissys" (the mean aunt) tin roof just to make her mad. Of course that worked. You could hear her screaming all over the hollow. It was echoing in all the little valleys. "I'm going to tell your mammys" "I'm going to whip your asses" After the shooting incident got boring the gun was hid under that big old pine and everybody went back to their respected homes. Shortly there after a sheriffs deputy showed up down at my cousins place. He of course told Uncle Rush about the incident and my uncle of course denied that his youngins even had a BB gun. Told the deputy he wouldnt allow such a thing. Well the deputy went on and questioned my cousins and when one of them denied any knowledge whatsoever of one his much younger brother replied, "What about the one under the big pine"? They all just got a real good ass chewing from the deputy and Uncle Rush got to warm up his leather belt for a good amount of time on three butts.

The Wind Died

Woke up this morning after a strange illness and the first thing I noticed was NO WIND. Not even a pine needle is stirring. It has been really rough here since our little snow event Saturday. Very cold and wind gusts in the 35-40 range. Yesterday it was about 10 degrees and the wind was still whipping. Watering was a real chore. When you have to use a homemade digging bar that was fashioned from a model T Ford axle to bust the ice its bad. I did that three times yesterday for the animals water. On one particular downward motion the bar broke through and water splashed all over the front of my jacket and of course in my face. The water froze as soon as it hit my coat. Some of the water went up the bar itself and instantly froze my jersey gloves to it so hard that some threads were pulled from the gloves as I was peeling my grip away from it. Now thats cold.

That little illness thing was stange to me. Monday night I was feeling like I may be catching a cold. No big deal.Then Tuesday morning I woke with a real bad toothache on my left side. I do have a tooth that needs yanked but then again I am procrastinating (also cant afford it right now). I am going to say about 12 noon I came inside to eat some dinner and the pain had went away a little from the tooth but it seemed like it had moved to under my jaw. I just figured that where I had been out in the cold so long that that had relieved the pain some and my jaw was just left sore. After eating went down to check on my Mom and came on back to the house and noticed I was kinda swelled on the left side of my neck. Not long after i started feeling flu like symptoms. I got weak as pond water and kinda sick to my stomach and began running a slight fever. I went ahead and finished all the evening chores and fixed supper. I thought I would never get done with the work yesterday evening I was feeling so bad. I guess I probably went to sleep about 8 or so and woke up at 1 to shake the grates and add wood in the stove. I had been sweating like a dog in my sleep. I figure the temperature I was running must have broke. When I woke this morning my hair pillows and even the sheets were soaking wet and I was cold of course from being damp but I do feel like I am going to have a good day. As I said when I did wake I felt big time relief that the wind had laid so that helped my spirit even more.

My oldest son Jesse got home from college last night for Christmas vacation so I dont know what he will do today. There is always wood to carry ;). I do know I have to do some repairs from wind damage. Get everything back in order for the next spell. It is supposed to get warmer as the week and weekend progresses and then turn out cold again next week. We will just have to see. :)

"Unofficial" Winter

The date may not reflect it but the weather sure does. December has come in with a growl. I do hope that this will not be a repeat of last year.

It began snowing this past Saturday right at high noon. The weather folks got that right. They did fairly well with the amounts also. Anywhere from 1 to 3 inches they said but here in places it was 5 inches.

Due to a bad decision on my part I was out looking for some hay on Saturday when it started. The fellow that I usually get the round bales from was out seeing his father so I called around to find some square to tie me over till he gets back. All of this SHOULD have been taken care of already.

When I got home it had already gotten the ground a little white and I needed to get the hay hauled up before the tractor couldnt get back up the hill. Hauled the groceries and hay up so at least we all could be eating when the snow set in.

I moved the goats back down to the lot closet to the house for my convenience. I also have one that is very pregnant and I am a bit concerned for her. Got to really keep an eye on her.

As playful and funny as goats are they are NO big fan of any precipitation that I am aware of. They will stand in the shed and just watch and chew their cud. Alot of the goats I have are seeing snow for the first time and it is still amusing to just try to imagine what is going through their minds. The same with the hogs I have. This is their first snow and they were a bit more active. They were running around and playing tag with each other for a little while. That was fun to see. There is alot to be said about the critters. The longer you have them the more you learn. Their likes dislikes and mannerisms. They have personalities also. No doubt in my mind about that. When I am blessed by a moment of them just being themselves its really neat. Kind of a kin to spying on something you dont fully understand. I can get as wide eyed as any youngin about some new things I learn.

Sunday, I got up and the temperature had dropped sharply. The wind was gusting to 30 plus mph. Not fun at all. First thing I did was check my animals to see how they were fairing and I could tell they were wondering what the heck happened also. You could tell by the way they were looking at me.

Anyway, I needed to get some more water hauled so I set out clearing a path from the house to the bottom of the goat path (driveway HA ) It was a very fluffy snow so it was no big thing to sweep it. I was going to use my blower but the priming bulb on it has dry rotted and busted. I dont know why they had to replace a mechanical choke with a piece of plastic bulb. Somebody must have had to pull the string more than four times. LOL Dont get me wrong...... I HATE when something is stubborn to start. It usually dont last long around me if it gives me a fit to fire up. But anyway my driveway is fairly long and VERY rough but it wasnt too bad to sweep. I stopped and just took in things around me every now and then. I was about 30 feet from the end and the cheap aluminum broom handle broke. LOL It broke about half into and I knew I didnt have another one anywhere so I pulled my Leatherman out and bent and squeezed one end until it would just fit into the other half. I was close to a big rock so I just started pounded the two pieces back together until it was somewhat sturdy again. Worked like a charm. I didnt have to walk all the way back to the house to repair it so thats always a plus. If I had got to the house it would have been twice as hard to get back to the task at hand. So I named my rock. LOL "BroomHandle Rock" Just one more mile marker in the world. If I need someone to meet me in that area now they can pretty much tell where I am. (The ones I share the location with anyway)

Well got all that mess done and then tried to see if the tractor would make it back and forth and luckily it did. Went to my Moms and swept her porch and steps off then came on back home to finish up the day.


MONDAY

WOke up to even colder temps. In the teens this morning and the wind still whipping. They say it aint likely to stop for about two more days. In the mean time just brutal cold conditions.

Fixed the hog pen so that "Crazy" the goat cant jump in and steal their feed. Got tired real quick of having to stand guard against that big old girl. SHe is slick though. Always keeps a corner of her eye on you pretending she isnt looking at you. You walk away and after a triple take she sneaks up the back side of the pen against the shed and then just stands at the bottom of the fence and jumps flat hoofed right over into the hog pen and starts eating like crazy. The hogs "squeal" on her LITERALLY. You walk back up to the hog pen and say Crazy GET OUT OF THERE. And poof.. Over she goes. Then starts her spy act all over again. That is one goat that can jump like you have never seen. I Half over raised the height so maybe now I can feed with out having to do guard duty. Its that time by the way so better get out of here and get my golf club for busting ice and get these critters took care of for another terribly cold night.

Cherokee Thanksgiving Prayer

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.

Now our minds are one.


The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy as she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forest. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds - from the smallest to the largest - we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four direction they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, The Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, The Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, The Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the Enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choices words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

Here Is Some Explaination

I have been asked a few times about what I have and how I do things. I think I will try to explain just the bare bone facts about our place.

At present what I am working with is a 7 acre parcel of history (to me) because this land has been in the name of my family since the 1700s. At one time the family name owned all of the area that I can see from the top of this mountain.

Where I am the whole hillside was worked by horse and manpower and I still to this day find broken singletrees and hand tools that were once held by either ancestors or workers of this place.

I can say that when I do find these "treasures" it takes me back to those days only in my mind. It had to be hard. It had to be sustainable. So I figured why cant I do that now.

Thus, Here I am. Been here for 41 years and hope to be here until I croak. Virginia law is lax on burial stuff so I elect to have my worthless carcass thrown in a hole here and maybe something can grow on top. The important part, soul, is gone the split second you die so hey, Why not? My perfect idea.

I was raised here. Somewhere there were pictures of me crawling through the wall studs in this house. Somewhere there is a picture of me holding a yellow cat at the base of a International Tractor. Somewhere there is a picture of my Dad pulling stumps off this place with that tractor. Somewhere there is a picture of my Mom when I had to be a toddler smiling off the front porch (which is gone since she fell down the stairs when I was maybe 8 and the scar is huge where she busted her elbow up going under the house to get some potatoes for supper.

Wonder why this place means so much to me?? I remember raising pigs as a child. I didnt my Dad did. I remember the old horse Nelly that was a worker and a rider. I remember laying down in between her front and rear legs and we lay together. Just taking in what a horse and a kid think about. I remember Daisy the milk cow. I remember Dads broken hand when he thought a punch to the face would solve her attitude. The dip in the wood is still visible where she swung her head and hit the house after Dad punched her. Attitude didnt get solved but Dads anger did. hehehe I remember the hogs we raised here. Dont remember no names but remember the first piglet litter. Cute as a button but we knew what they were for. I remember being scared to death because I was playing above the hog pen when I was a child and the steel barrell I was rolling made a bad turn down hill and squashed a piglet dead. That hurt me. Mom didnt know what to say but Dad was understanding and instructive. Never happened again. I remember selling the pigs that was raised that year. An older feller I have no idea who it was came up with a two tone chevy truck with cattle racks on and bought them. I remember loading them. I remember also Dad getting a call from the feller later and Dad repeated the conversation. "Them is the clamingist (climbing) hogs I ever saw" The pigs he bought climbed over the cattle racks somewhere.

What do you think is this worth reading? Let me know on your comment. Thanks for the followers that I have.

Yesterdays Results

It was an odd weather day for sure. It stayed damp old and windy most of the morning and then it began to sprinkle. A little later the sprinkle turned to sleet. The sun came out and then it snowed and a cool surprise was lightning. Had about everything yesterday. On the way back up with the hay for evening feeding I guess it was "kind of" neat in the snow. Soon my nostalgic feeling turned to remembrance of last winter. (not good)

I was able to get all the bedding squared away. Everybody should have felt a bit warmer this morning. I know the hogs are doing much better because I built a platform from a pallet and plywood over that for a much better sleeping arrangement. I threw what waste hay the goats had left and several bags of leaves in there and once they ate what they wanted to I topped it off with hay again. Went out early this morning and they were both curled up in there sleeping like warm pigs. In the course of the night they had taken what was left of the hay and leaves and made a perfect nest to curl up in. I am going to put some more in there as hogs love to burrow down in hay or whatever they have to conserve their heat. The warmer you can keep them the more feed goes to bringing on weight than being burnt up for staying warm.

It is 28 degrees this morning and of course a very heavy frost. Joey got up at 6:30 so he could get ready to go do some deer hunting. At least the wind aint blowing. I hope he does get one. He sure has been practicing with that bow. I for one could never get into bow hunting. It takes lots and lots of time to get all of that figured out.