The Merry Muddy Month of March

March is National Optimist Month. Pray tell how that happened? It happened because it is the month we need optimism.
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  ~Bill Vaughan. As far as the month of March, what is your side of the story?

March is the month you finally realize the playground set you bought on sale in September, is still in the yard. 

Not to mention every sort of excrement; like a Whitman's sampler, has been flash frozen since November, and is ready decompose.

And the missing mailbox, is found down the road, with last months bills still sealed in their envelopes, along with water logged catalogs that have lost their sales appeal. 

And March is the month that you have a robin siting, it is a glorious site, you call your friends, but day after day, you witness the robins fighting for bare ground, over and over again amid the ongoing snow falls. It is just too much heartache to watch, so you put in a good movie instead..

 Freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw, mud, mud, and more mud, no matter how hard you try to clean, It is dirty again. So let it happen until it stops happening.

Our complexion is pale, and our spirits are weak; we actually welcome the Jehovah witnesses to our door. Anyone with a few inspiring words is welcomed.

Those seeds that were so awe inspiring in January, now look burdensome, as if to go from shoveling snow to digging in the dirt; with no rest in between, where is the humanity? 

And they say we earned an extra hour of daylight. We're just witnessing extra hours of dreaded spring trying to seek its way into our hearts. The torture of it all?

Yea, I'll wrap this up quick....

If you are an optimist, you are staying UP to see spring happen, and if you are a pessimist, like me, you are staying UP to make sure it is over!

Maple Syrup Time

The American Indians used maple syrup for sweeteners, by observing animals licking the sap from broken branches (among other things) in the spring time. 

Many farms supplement their incomes by incorporating maple syrup into their business, such as 'The Stone House' in Sharon Springs. for info...They open up their production house just during the sugar season. The dinning room is right next to the large stainless steel cookers in which they are evaporating the sap; the scent of maple syrup filters the air...it is wonderful.

Parked outside the maple house, we have waited for the summonsing waitress; which is a friendly wave of a hand, while her hair is parted by the fierce blowing wind, letting us know that our table is ready. The family hires local people to serve delicious sausage and pancakes with REAL maple syrup. The homey setting is communal and your breakfast is brought to your table family style. While seated, you get to meet your neighbors, all sharing the same special deal.  
You can also try the Farmers Museum, Sugaring off Sundays...http://www.farmersmuseum.org/programs/winter/sugaring_off_sundays

If you want to experience this wonderful intimate gathering, just click on one of the links above for times-which are limited for a short time only.

I have a recipe that I would like to share with you...my favorite Waffles.

WAFFLES

In a large bowl sift 1 3/4 cup of flour, 1 Tablespoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

In two small bowls separate 2 eggs-yokes in one and whites in another.

Whip up egg whites with a whisk or beater until stiff peaks form.

To the flour mixture, add 1 3/4 cups of milk (room temperature) egg yokes, 
1/2 cup of vegetable oil,

stir with a fork to mix-do not whip, just stir until blended.

Now gently fold in egg whites, kind of loop it a few times and that's it.

Get your waffle griddle hot, spray some Pam right before you dollop the batter in the center-close and wait 3 minutes or until the light comes on-however done, should be a golden waffle.

Serve with butter and Maple syrup and add bacon or sausage.

Spinning Wool (a very helpful instruction))

Miss Natty Bumppo

 After I got my sheep, I wanted to learn how to spin wool. So I just went ahead and bought the spinning wheel, the kind that you see the most in cartoons, old postcards, and in the back of covered wagons; an Ashford single treadle, which I bought for about $250 on eBay.

Wool goes through a lengthy process before it even sets in your hands ready to spin. A sheep, hopefully has a name like Fluffy, is given a good diet, fresh air and has a cover from the elements to produce good wool. Then once a year, Fluffy is sheared (only traumatic for a few minutes) the fleece is then gently washed a few times. The fleece is dried and combed and carded into roving. Roving is the fleece connected into a long manageable piece of fluffy stuff. So this long piece of wool has many sections gently put together, and your job is to take those sections and spin it into a single twisted line of yarn.

A good example of homespun 2 ply yarn.

You are only fooling yourself if you want to 'self teach' yourself how to spin wool. Observing others spinning magic yarn from fleece is also a mistake; those little biddies make it look so darn easy. I tried for about 3 weeks on my own and after blaming the spinning wheel, I got my husband to problem solve my wheel.  He went through the manual, until he looked at me cross eyed, and said, "I think you need some lessons!" After throwing myself on the bed and crying real tears, I decided to ask a professional how to show me the spinning secrets. One of the first ways you can master spinning is with the use of the ancient 'drop spindle' you can get the knack of drafting and spinning first using this technique.

I will quickly give you the mission...but have already told you how difficult this can be without someone right there to guild you.  
WARNING Don't do this without a box of tissues and a drill Sargent for your therapist.

These are things you can do while you wait for that epiphany.

1. Practice putting your wheel into action without any wool. Get some rhythm.

2. Understand your spinning wheel, because it certainly has a function; it is a wool twisting machine that YOU regulate and have complete control.

3. Go Slow.

4. To thread your bobbin use real wool yarn. I make a double loop to secure the yarn so it won't spin on the bobbin.

Loop and pull yarn through and do this one more time-tighten.

 5. Pull a 1' section of wool from your roving, now take a section and divide that off from the main piece about 1 inch.

6. Pull the yarn from the bobbin through the hole that is facing you. At this time adjust your tension. To do this, start the wheel spinning with your foot while holding the yarn, if it pulls it right out of your hands it is too tight...loosen your strings on the bobbin, and the main wheel. Try again. If it turns with a gentle pull you are set.

7. Attach your roving to the yarn, and start your wheel, until it is attached. Keep spinning a few times.

8. Keep a pinch where you don't want it to spin, and with your other hand, a thumb and fore finger hold, where you draw out your wool. The thought behind this *PINCH (with one hand) and *PULL (on the other hand) and the result is a *TWIST and of course this is going to want to feed onto the bobbin all at the same time.

9. Keep your sessions for about 10 minutes each and go back when your mind has seemed to put it together.

10. This is fun, and it is a skill. Once you have accomplish this, you can amaze you friends and family.

http://www.youtube.com/user/popgzwezl#p/a/u/2/VOIlSRncKnQ

Practice.

PINCH-have a pinch in the fibers that is hard enough not to twist the fibers but light enough to feed. 

PULL-Drafting is pulling the fibers so they release and then tangle into a ...

TWIST-Adjusted tension and speed of the wheel causes the fibers to twist. Once you have accomplished several nice skeins of yarns you can then be creative with spinning.

I spun this for a special project-to make a basket.

Going to demonstrations is fun.

And I have a good DVD and book to recommend.

Chickens (enough to get you started)

I have had chickens most of my life. My laying hens live to be about 7 years old...and since they punched a clock for years, they deserve a retirement. So they die of old age. Amazingly enough, they lay eggs for quite a while.

Hens The best laying hens are cross breed hens. If you Google 'sex link chicks' you might get yourself in trouble on the internet, but these are the chickens you want for non-stop eggs rolling your way. I had red cross links and they were the best chickens-the eggs were so big I had to tie the extra large egg box with string to keep them from opening. I now have Black Star chickens; another cross breed, and they are no less disappointing. I got these chickens because their eggs are smaller and will fit in a extra large egg carton without the string. They are very friendly and can be like pets. 

For just your family, three chickens might be enough, but if you want to sell eggs, start out with 12 that's a dozen eggs a day. You can always get more.

Roosters I usually have a rooster until he dies of some valiant brave act...such as fighting off a dog, or raccoon. Roosters do a good job of putting their lives on the line. They do protect the hens. I had ordered a straight run of chickens, and got 12 roosters. I kept the rooster that still had all his feathers, (the one no one wanted to peck back) and sold the rest to someone who wanted fresh chicken. His name was Mr. T The biggest baddest rooster; unfortunately, he fought off a stray dog and lost, but he saved the hens, all of them. 

You don't need a rooster to have a harem of laying hens...in fact it is better for the hens to live like nuns. Hens will lay eggs with or without a rooster. One nice thing about having a rooster, is to hear him salute to the sunrise. He will also crow at the full moon, or upon an early morning arrival from the headlights from your car.

A Silver Spangled Hamburg Rooster

Care Chickens can live anywhere, but they do need a coop; a roosting place out of the weather and beyond the reach of predators. And as far as the great outdoors, they like to have a place they can scratch for bugs-like your flower gardens-he,he. Free range chickens are happy. Happy chickens are laying chickens. 

There is nothing better than gathering eggs in a clean coop. If you have had chickens for a while you can comprehend a happy noise or a complaint. http://www.eggindustry.com/cfi/ci/
I use wood shavings for a nice bedding 2 inches deep on the floor of my coop, and I make sure that I clean out the coop every month. Chicken manure is great compost, but it is hot, you might want to keep a pile for a couple of years before applying to a garden. 

As far as their nests, straw is best in laying boxes. A laying box can be anything resembling a crate, at least 20" X 20" Many people have been creative about nesting boxes; toilets, bed pans, even the kitchen sink. 

Secure crates 3 to 4' high on the wall, and if it can be in a private spot the better. Chickens like to roost so make wooden poles crossing in an area that is not over food or water. The size of your coop goes by footage...2 square foot per chicken.

Food  I buy egg producer pellets and a chicken scratch at my grain mill-which is cracked corn, millet, oats and some mash (?) On occasion I will buy a large bag of day old bread at the bakery outlet store. It is also important to have grit-always have calcium granite pellets just for chickens in a separate bowl right near their food dish. And of course clean water all the time. 
If your chickens free range, they will eat bugs, grubs, greens and whatever their hearts desires, again make sure they have access to water. During the depression, my grandfather supplemented his chickens with road kill-I wouldn't do that, but times were tough back then, and yes, chickens are meat eaters.

There are so many chicken breeds that I will leave that up to you....This is a hatchery that I have dealt with many times with a lot of luck, and they will further help you on your way.http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

One of my favorite documentaries about chickens is the PBS DVD "The Natural History of the Chicken" This movie will have you laughing and crying, It is a gem. 
Good luck at raising chickens it is rewarding.
You can have chickens in the city, but check you local ordinances first..

Spring Fever

The signs of spring are on the branches of the Lilac bush; little buds patiently waiting. The horse is too warm with his winter coat, lays down and rolls in the crusty snow, then gets up kicking with a burst of energy. The chickens are laying eggs, and acting broody. The ducks are running over to the still frozen pond and flapping their wings; playing and mating with unyielding vigor..

As for myself, my memory as a teenager, that first spring day was subject to some mischief! If it was on a weekday, my brother and I would throw our lunch bags into the woods, and skip school. At the time we lived in the suburbs of Maryland; and we were hitch hiking distance to malls, museums, and the very hot spot-Great Falls Gorge. http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm
With our thumbs out beyond the median, we got picked up by one of those striped down muscle cars; someone with the same idea of stretching the limits of exhilaration. The car and our hearts, revving engines , squealing wheels, and fishtailing down the road. Little by little, we would zig zag our way to where-ever.

Like in the movie Pinocchio, on this particular day, we ended up at Great Falls Gorge. All the other donkeys were climbing rocks, walking the trails, and seeing the beautiful falls. It was rushing water, life, freedom and the pursuit of sunburning. And by the way, you cannot get a sunburn of that magnitude while sitting in Algebra class; not unless you got the wrong answer in front of the class.

When our time of lustrous intention was over, we scrambled home about the same time as the school bus was dropping off those dull, boring, studious, kids, that did everything right in life-the ones who are now doctors and lawyers. They marveled at our red exterior and said, "Man, are you guys in trouble!" laughing as they went dutifully home. My brother and I did get caught and were grounded for a week, but oh, it was worth every minute, because the next day it would be cold again with freezing rain.
Disclaimer-Hitch hiking-I would never, never, recommend doing this unless you want to take life into your own hands. However, in the 70's a lot of us free spirits relied on this mode of transportation.

Garden Savvy-Raised Beds

Regardless of what mother nature is handing me today, I went ahead and ordered corner brackets to build 3 more raised beds. Last year was the first time I tried raised bed gardening and now expanding the franchise, because I love it!.

These movable brackets attach to Hemlock boards. My beds are 4' wide and 8' long and are workable at every side. Weeding is a breeze, and mulching and watering is conservative at best. It only takes about 20 minutes to assemble the frame, but a lifetime to fill with dirt-he,he. 
Filling your beds is challenging. If you have a tractor with a bucket and have access to old compost or dirt, man are you lucky. If you don't have a tractor with a bucket, it takes longer to fill with bags of soil. It is like sandbagging along the Mississippi only the other way around. Be prepared to dole out some cash if you plan on buying dirt. You will be surprised how much yardage of dirt you need to fill these beds.  

Another method is to get the kids to do it with a plastic shovel.

No really, get someone with a tractor and bucket to help fill your raised bed. Or buy a dump truck load of good top soil. Soil is the foundation to every garden, and vegetables require specific nutrients. It might be a good idea to be as basic as you can from the start, make a soil test, and add later.

After building the raised bed, the fun begins. It is so easy to hoe, weed, water, fertilize, and watch your plants grow. Haven't done a study on this yet, but noticed a reduction with bugs. And I did stick a small wire looped fence around the inside of the bed to keep the rabbits and chickens out; I could take it out and replace it easily.

If you plan on having more than one raised bed, build them one at a time, and space them about 3-4' apart so that you can get the lawn mower in between the beds, or if you are industrious, place patio blocks or heavy mulch to cut the weeds down. You can make this into a garden paradise. So now is the time to assemble that Adirondack chair.

If you want to make a green house out of your raised bed it is so easy- Drill holes at a slant to fit 3/4 inch PVC pipes to cross over like a chuck wagon, and then put heavy duty plastic over to cover and hold with 2x4s nailed on the front and back. Leave room to be able to get in and out. This works out great to harden off your seedlings, and be right there to transplant...just remove the plastic when ready for summer.

Good luck.
The book that inspired me, and I still use as a reference is  "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. The other raised bed Bible is "The Victory Garden" It is a large book full of great ideas for container gardening.

Bag Balm not just for Cows

I don't need to list all the battles we have with Old man winter, just how we can win arguments.Winter is tough on our skin; inside the house our exposed skin is dried to a potato chip and outside we are flash frozen. I would leave frost bite to the professionals in case you over do it. But for those of us that work hard without folly, there is a cure for those painful sore spots, and cracks from winter stressed hands, lips and toes....Bag Balm.

Bag Balm was invented by J L. Norris, a genius that hasn't received the Nobel Peace prize for his invention to udder relief. 

Bag Balm is found in farm stores, but also sold in the drug stores. It is in the famous green can with a red clovers. The packaging is a welcome site; a reminder of spring, Vermont pastures, and something clean and nice. Just rub or pile it on your sore spots and in about a day or two you should get relief. I might add that nothing else will act on the pain and cure as well as Bag Balm! http://www.bagbalm.com/
Admiral Byrd brought Bag Balm for his cows on his frosty North Pole expedition in 1937 (would make a great Super Bowl ad by today's standards) as well as treating his cows, he found that by rubbing those tits with Bag Balm he cured those rough dry hands.

Last year my ewe, Sumo, had delivered three lambs, innocently they were sucking and tugging on her tender skin, and wrecking her udders. Those poor udders took a beating.  I had to separate her from the lambs. Babbette, my other Ewe, who had  harden off a bit and could handle four lambs, was happy as heck to have her own flock.

Anyway, Sumo had Bag Balm massages for a week, and while I was treating her, we bonded. That week-she ran over to me and positioned herself to be treated and lavished in that attention; she loves me. Once she recovered, and reunited with her babies, it was such a blessing. Bag Balm save her life.

There are millions of testimonials about Bag Balm, much better than mine. So, jot over to the store and get some Bag Balm-it will save your life too!