Hello Friends!
Happy 2025! How’s yours been thus far? Mine? A little hectic but we’re getting there.
Ro and Nellie are certainly getting ready for spring, they both are so completely over all the mud and rain, and the winds and cold weather aren’t helping either. They are loving the alfalfa, they’ve gotten a fair amount of it lately because it’s been cold enough for hotter feeds. They’ve not been loving that I keep changing where they are eating, but I can’t reach the usual feed area easily due to the ice and then mud, so after the third faceplant I decided it was fine to feed elsewhere for now. It’s still a safe and lit up area, just a little farther down the fence.
Joe has been enjoying getting out for walks occasionally when it’s been warmer. I am a chicken when it’s cold but I have been trying to get him out for a change of pace every so often. He loves to run around on the farm, but it’s fun to expand his horizons a little every so often. However, it’s been cold enough lately that he hasn’t even been keen on walking. Watson wants to go so badly, but then when I get him out walking he’s so cold and angry! So, I’ve tried letting him stay home, I usually find him a willing family member who’s up for some cuddles and maybe a nap. It’s been middling results, sometimes he’s fine with it, no interest in coming with us, sometimes I get home to find out he bawled the whole time. Of course, then I feel terrible about that, but it’s impossible to know ahead of time if he’s going to enjoy it or be upset the whole walk. To be clear, when it’s sunny and warm? He’s a trooper, loves to go and see things, he’s just so little it’s hard, even with jackets, to keep him warm.
Do you remember my last post when I said we hadn’t had a plumbing issue in a minute and I was so pleased? I jinxed it. Just yesterday (as of the time of writing this, so a few days ago for you all) we had a water pipe break and we spent several hours out in sub freezing (11 degrees for most of it) temperatures trying to patch it before I finally admitted defeat and called a plumber. Also, because of the age of the pipe that burst, apparently it was from an era that just did not consider safety, because, per the usual with this house, there were absolutely no shut off valves and, for reasons beyond my understanding, live wires running through the same hole as the pipe? Which meant this was super dangerous too? Luckily no one was hurt and now the craziness has been mitigated but, y’all, it’s always an adventure.
Luckily the plumber was able to come out the same day later in the afternoon, which was good because we had to shut the water off at the well, which meant the whole property had no water access for most of the day. It’s amazing how quickly you start missing indoor plumbing. He was awesome, confused by what on earth was happening with the wiring, but he solved it all pretty quickly and didn’t charge me an arm and a leg. I really appreciated him.
If you ever get anything from this blog, it should be the following things. Falling in love with an old farmhouse is a dangerous activity, and trying to run a farm of any size means you are going to get really good at fixing (or almost fixing, “good enough for now” fixing) darn near everything with duct tape, and what you can’t for sure needs a professional. I am convinced with a pocket knife and some duct tape I could probably build a house at this point. Anyways…
Beyond that though, it’s been pretty chill, thank goodness. We’ve kinda had a slower start to the year, and I am really grateful for that because as the year progresses it’s already filling up and looking busy. Got a couple weddings, a couple business trip things, a couple people graduating… lots to attend and lots of weekends already preplanned. I am just hoping for a year of health and happiness, however busy that looks. Really trying to make sure to look at the bright side of things and just enjoying all I can.
How’s your January going? Got plans starting to shape up for 2025? Got some fun goals? Lemme know!
Until we chat again my friends!
The Farmer's Blogger 