LAURA + TED = LOVEBUG!

Laura and Ted are two fabulous people, so i am sure little lovebug will be too!  I was wired on coffee and didn't stop talking that afternoon, but I am sure it just wasn't the coffee: it was the fact that i was having fun, doing what i love, and giving to others.  One of the secrets to happiness.

MY DARK ROOM HAS BECOME A GREEN HOUSE

Yes, last year i finally gave in to the fact that using a dark room anymore is not a viable option.  It's too much money and who really wants to be a dark room for hours at a time?  I do miss that beautiful smell though.....

we dragged all my equipment including a 5' x 12' developing sink, two enlargers, a color developer and numerous other darkroom items with us all the way from Illinois 8 years ago, thinking  I would have this fabulous darkroom, which i did, but then well..... life happens, things change and technology advances.  So about 4 years ago now I gave into the fact that digital is here to stay.  I am truly sorry to say that darkrooms have become an "alternative process."

So I decided last year that i needed a semi heated place in which to start my seeds in the spring.  The darkroom got the gig.  I built a 4 x 8' bed, complete with 4" x 4" sides and through in some good dirt.  I set this up in the dry area of the darkroom and got some lights for the little seedlings. When the seeds arrived i got busy.

I bought a heat tape to place in the bottom of the box and put in some really nice dirt.

So I planted the tomatoes in this one, names like Green Sausage and Black from Tula. But still had the eggplant and peppers to start.

Notice that the ziploc has written on it "tomato seeds," not what KIND of tomato seeds, just - tomato seeds.  Really?  this is my record keeping?

Then that wasn't enough room so I went into the wet area, the developing area of the darkroom and made use of the big, beautiful sink in there.

Noon was there to help, as always!

So now i have two areas in which to work and grow seedlings.  Plus i have water readily available to sprinkle on them.

Then i got really excited thinking that i would go check out the garden area and see what it looks like right now.

BLAH!

Last year at this time we were planting peas out there!

Noon was there to help.

Then i got even more excited when i realized that i had bought these little floating row covers!  Well, its time to check them out.

I threw some beets and lettuce and carrots under there!

And Noon was there to help.

So was Oaky.

I check daily and water as well, and there wasn't much growth yet.

 But it has been oh, let's see - i planted them on the 17th and now it's the 30th so it's been 13 days and no sprouts yet. Until yesterday....

See? right there, a little bit o' green!  Oh!  Spring planting can't get here fast enough!

 But nothing here. : (

GOAT MILKING 101

Always have a cat present at milking.

My goats - are awesome!  and funny at the same time.  Ezzy has been a consistent milker ever since we got her.  I milked her through and she gave me copious amounts of milk for 4 years straight!  This is her second breeding and i am hoping she will last another four years.

So I thought i was really clever for this one:  since i clean the teats by wiping them off with a baby wipe, I have to keep these particular items handy.  Well, in -20 degree weather of the beautiful winter of Minny-sota, when cannot possible keep them from freezing without a little creativity.  That's where that old heated doggie bowl comes in handy, ya know the one i had to have because i thought the dogs might need it someday.  But honestly, NEVER, NEVER throw anything out when you have a farm, because at some point you will find a use for it.  So here it is, and it keeps the wipes at the perfect temperature not to freeze and warm enough so the goats don't kick you in the head when you rub an ice cold cloth over their personal area.

Another handy thing to have is tape, medical tape.  I wrap it on the teat when it is time to wean the babies off their mama.  They then, of course, cannot drink from the teat, and they subsequently will stop nursing.  This normally would be an effective way and has in the past, however, this year Ezzy gave birth to two very intelligent, resourceful kids that have figured out that if you pull with just the right amount of force and in the right direction, the tape will be removed and you can drink heartily.  So these little buggers have been doing this lately, which is ticking me off since i am down to one milking doe right now after letting Demeter off the hook a few weeks ago, not even to mention the fact that they are 9 months old now and shouldn't be wanting to drink any milk or the fact that their mother shouldn't be even wanting them near her to do so!  Does will usually kick their offspring away at some point when they try to nurse.  I guess Ezzy is still feeling very motherly.

They are also stealing about a quart of milk a day from me, thieves!

So Ezzy is and probably always be my best milker. I share this image of Ezzy being milked so you can compare it to Demeter:

Now look at Demeter, oh Demi as we call her sometimes. This made me crack up even every time I milked her.  She squats down over the bucket!  I've never had a goat do this!  Its hilarious!  Why?  Who knows but i had to take a picture of it.

No directions on how to milk a goat, that has to be done in person.  many people have come here and experienced such a thing. As i think all people should.  Like I think all people should have pets and goats, and horses.  It would be a better world if they did.

SO this is milking from my barn.

AMERICANA SERIES 2011

We have a fabulous series of music that is done at the local Rochester Civic Theatre called the Americana Showcase, and we always attend.  Being friends with the main headliner Brandon Sampson, and the fact that he is so kind to introduce us to these musicians for possible gigs in our barn, we would never miss it!  And we have a really great time  of course.  So i bring my camera every where I go and take images of these shows.  They are incredibly challenging, light is poor and I don't like to step on others shoes while trying to get images, or walk in front of people when they are trying to watch the show, but I have fun none the less.

Looks like i fell short in Jan and Feb, didn't have many from those nights. Oh well!  Its all about fun anyway.

B/W or......

color?

B/W or...

color?