February 8, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Wow, so far 2010 has been a royal pain in the #@** with regards to weather in Virginia and many other places. So many of our Blog entries are filled with photos of the latest snowstorms, flooding and mud. From the inside looking out it’s just one big Holiday card waiting to be printed..to the farmer, as we pull on our Carhart’s and boots, it’s another day of adverse conditions to try and do what has to be done or not getting things done at all.
In all fairness, right now I think everyone is having a hard time with the weather though. I know around here, we are simply not use to all of this snow and neither is our livestock. Poor things..they don’t know what to do with themselves. The sheep and goats hoove at the ground, expecting to find grass and there isn’t any..there’s just more snow. My guys have taken to just lying on top of the snow and snoozing. When the grain bucket surfaces they are like mad animals running in all directions, then they look at us like “oh no, not this stuff again”. It’s kind of sad, at least we can go to the market or our local co-op and get fresh lettuces and other veggies. They can’t nor can we afford to do that for them.
So we do things like talk about spring and plod through our seed catalogs, looking forward to those warmer days. For those of us who are responsible for livestock..weather like this always keeps us at a little higher stress level whether we realize it or not. Be sure to take care of you during this time of year. Eat right and work on that attitude. In the long run you will be better off for it and so will your farm.
Posted in General, goat's, sheep | Tagged goat's, sheep, Snow | 5 Comments »
February 6, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Well who knew that the snowstorm the weather people down played this morning would turn out to look like this?
It is still coming down and doesn’t really show signs of stopping. I just walked into the kitchen to see what I might eat next and the kitchen window was full of birds (had the storm window up). The poor things don’t know what to do with themselves.
This photo is what I see when I look out that same kitchen window. The girls were looking for hubs to come feed them.
One thing for sure, if you have a camera and you’ve had a snowy winter, you definitely got your shots for next years Christmas card. According to the forecast, we’re going to have more snow Tuesday! Can’t wait.
Be safe and stay warm.
Posted in General | Tagged Christmas, sheep, Snow | 7 Comments »
February 5, 2010 by breezehillfarm
It’s the time of year when we are starting to get excited about shearing the sheep and combing the goats. Just take a look at the fleeces on these girls. 
The other day I pulled on a few of their coats and found staple lengths to average 7 inches. That actually included the 2 Icelandics that were shorn in November.
We’ve decided this year to make a few changes in what the end products will be. Last year we tried our hand at a Fiber CSA, that did really well locally but not so great through the website. So, this year we are going to dump all fleece together and have it processed; 1/4 roving and 3/4 yarns. No doubt much of it will be dyed (since I’m “Jonesing” to dye!). What I should end up with is a blend of Sheep wool, Cashmere, Mohair and Alpaca. My business partner with the Alpaca’s figures we’ve got 148 fleeces this time. In the 15 + years that I have raised fiber producing animals, I have never done anything like this, so I’ve decided to start now making up samples. If any of you think you’d like to try a sample either of roving or yarn email me at breezehillfarm@verizon.net and when they are done I’ll send them out to you.
This is my big entry for Fiber Arts Friday. Have a great weekend, until next Friday!
Posted in Fiber Arts Friday | Tagged Alpacas, Fiber Arts Friday, goat's, sheep | 7 Comments »
February 5, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Here we go for another round of winter weather. This one looks like it could be bad because of all the sleet they are calling for. All of the critters are settled in their digs, fed and watered. Now I am getting ready to make a pot of beef veggie soup, do some light cleaning and wait for the storm. Hubby is headed out to work but has his doubts he will be gone for long.
We went to the grocery last night, the first time I had been able to get out since last weekends storm. I should have taken the camera so I could take pictures of the shelves. I’m lucky that no one out here in the country likes to buy organic..that way I could get milk and bread, otherwise, we would have had to do without. The poor shelves had been stripped. Thought while I was out I would get fixins for the Super Bowl..need to do that Sunday morning if we’re dug out by then.
Took a look at the Almanac yesterday. According to it, we will have a major winter event every weekend in February in our part of the country. Oh goodie!
Well I’ve taken up enough time yammering about the weather. Have a great day and stay warm and safe.
Cheers!
Posted in General, Super Bowl | Tagged cooking, Snow, Super Bowl | Leave a Comment »
February 4, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Just found this recipe on one of the Blogs that I follow and wanted to share it with you. It sounds absolutely delicious and am planning to make it myself Sunday:
SAUSAGE ROLL UPS WITH MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE
SAUSAGES:
- 1 lb. bacon
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups herb stuffing mix
- 1/2 lb. bulk, ground, hot Italian sausage, raw
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2 eggs, beaten
Melt butter and add water, heat to boiling, remove from heat. Stir in the stuffing mix; add the raw sausage; add eggs; mix thoroughly. Chill for 1 hour for easier handling.
Cut bacon slices in half. Shape sausage mixture into small balls. Wrap each ball in half slices of bacon, securing with toothpicks.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place bacon-wrapped sausage balls on a wire rack on a cookie sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, turning halfway. Serve with Mustard Dipping Sauce.
MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 2-6 drops Tabasco sauce, depending on how hot you want it
- 1 med. clove garlic, peeled and crushed
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill and serve with Sausage Rolls.
Go Colts!!!!!
Posted in Recipes, Super Bowl | Tagged Recipes, Super Bowl | 5 Comments »
February 1, 2010 by breezehillfarm
A different perspective on the farm
Breeze & Gabe want to know when the FB is coming out!
Back to the barn
Is there hay in here?
The weather guys promised a big storm and for us this was a big storm. 15″ with drifting and more on the way tomorrow. Unfortunately, the “winter weather” tomorrow is suppose to be sleet and freezing rain. Got the generator gassed up for this past weekend, so we’re ready. Then there is the “Nor-easter” that is being promised for Friday and Saturday. I do hope that before the weekend we will be able to get to the feed store (human and livestock). One thing we know for sure before next winter, there are many things we need to do here to upgrade for inclement weather.
It is beautiful though, isn’t it?
Have a great day..either with the snow or what ever your current weather!
Posted in General | Tagged Border Collies, Farm life, sheep, Snow | 2 Comments »
January 29, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Well here we go again, time for the next winter storm. I’ve got to spend the day battening down all the hatches..looks like this storm is going to be accompanied by wind and really low temperatures. The guy we get our straw from said that he has sold more straw this year so far than hay. I know that we have not used this much bedding in the last 10 years combined. I also need to close up the barn this time too. We’re babying our goats more this time of year than usual..don’t want to deal with colds and big bellies, of course our geriatric sheep require more protection.
The really bad part about cold weather and me..all I want to do is cook. I ran by the store on the way home from Co-op deliveries last night, to pick up a few things. These few things equated to $270.00 worth of groceries. I don’t usually go overboard this bad when they call for snow, even though our only snowplow around here, is God, but this time I did for some reason. I have now dubbed Fresh Market as the $300. store..it just kicked Sam’s Club out of that standing.
I guess I should stop Blog babbling and get to work. Need to have my chores done before hubby gets home from work. He’s got to switch vehicles and get wood this evening. Don’t know how we ran out of wood, since we heat with wood, but we are very low.
Everyone have a great Friday. My next entry will probably be pictures of snow…again!
Posted in General, goat's, sheep | Tagged goat's, sheep, Snow | 4 Comments »
January 27, 2010 by breezehillfarm
Where I Grew Up!
This is the store my family owned from 1959 – 1981..Good Memories!
Participating in Wordless Wednesday…
Posted in Wordless Wednesday | Tagged Wordless Wednesday | 5 Comments »
January 26, 2010 by breezehillfarm
You all remember Beau-cocks the stray rooster? Well let me share some of his award winning antics with you this morning. He has developed quite a little personality since he moved on to the farm.
We still haven’t gotten him any girls yet, so he still thinks that he is a sheep unless a human is around..more specifically my husband. These two “men” have developed a very strong and steadfast relationship with each other. Apparently when hubby goes to the barn Beau helps him with all of the barn chores including running interference when the border collies are given a command..he thinks because noise came out of hubby that means he has to do what he says too. As hubby said, “I’m really worried that one of the border collies might eventually notice him and that could end badly”. All I see from the kitchen window is this little “rooster man” following hubby everywhere he goes and when hubby thinks no one is looking or listening, he has little talks with Beau. They make quite a team!
He has now taken to “dog aggravation” every morning along with standing under each window of the house when he sees hubby moving around and crowing. With the “dog aggravation” he simply stands in front of the pens, flaps his wings, crows and flies up on top of the runs, tapping and pecking and then flies down and does it all over again. The dogs run in circles, bark and run in their houses and peek out. Guess you have to be there.
Yesterday, I tossed a buck of water out the kitchen window (that’s another story for another day) and before I could get the screen down, Beau was standing in the window. Needless to say, my spoiled rotten cats freaked and took off running. Poor things don’t know what dinner looks like on the claw!
As soon as the weather becomes more predictable we are going to build a small coop and get 10 or so hens. That should finally give this little guy his own place in the barnyard. Until then I will continue to enjoy hubby and Beau making the trek to the barn together each morning. I have to say, there is nothing as cute as a running chicken from behind!
Posted in General, chickens, rooster, sheep | Tagged Farm life, rooster, sheep | 4 Comments »
