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Thursday Thoughts #203
Tag Archives: virginia farm gal
A Small Herding Dog
Do you know any of the small herding dogs? There are several breeds, and we have one of them, Pembroke Corgis. Affectionally know to many older folk as “the Queens dogs.”
As well they should be. It was because of Queen Elizabeth II that the Corgi officially became a registered dog. Someone wisely decided the Queen should have registered dogs, after all she bred them all her life, and she was the Queen of England!
I must like herding dogs too (of mostly mixed breed) as I have had several over my lifetime. They are energetic, active dogs—most certainly not lap dogs.
For the first time we now have purebred ones, the Pembroke Corgi. HoneyPie is five years old, Buster is three.
They came from breeders in south-west, Virginia. We waited a couple years before getting Buster because we still had our good, old mixed-breed herding dog, Dandy.
We purchased Buster two years later. Bill wanted a tri-colored, HoneyPie. I wanted a gold and white one, so we got Buster.
I have always admired the herding dogs ability with livestock. Sheep trials are thrilling to watch the way those well-trained dogs and owners work sheep together.
It interested me to train our dogs to herd. With only articles off internet I worked at training mostly HoneyPie. We do not have sheep. We have chickens. The articles I studied said it helps to have the flock (in my case) know where they were to go. This was very helpful because at dusk chicken head to the henhouse.
She learned as well, I suppose, as any greenhorn could teach her. We have had fun. She will do right nice with the cattle as well.
Having a second dog made for more difficulty with training two dogs. Buster is exuberant, but not as well disciplined. That is my fault.
They enjoy bringing the horses in, though they would never win any herding competition.
Really, they are far from being a good herding dog, but we have enjoyed learning and trying.
Have you ever gone to sheep dog trials?
Meet Napoleon
We have a new addition to our farm. His name is Napoleon. This name given to him by his previous owner.
We like the name. It seems to fit this little fella very well. Good thing he is not a fit travel companion, otherwise he would now be on the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) with our son, Gordon, who likes him very much. I believe if he could have figured out how to take Napoleon he would have.
I can see him right now riding on Gordon’s shoulder! Since he was not able to join Gordon, Napoleon sent him good wishes for hiking.
He earned the name Napoleon, because, well, he is tiny! He is a Bantam rooster. His previous owner did not want another rooster. Neither did we, but she gave him to us anyway. Such is the way with daughters that think we need more chickens!
In spite of ourselves we like him. He is so little. When he crows he sounds like a wind-up toy! He is also quite friendly. The hens do not seem to have any opinion of him. He is still a baby and has a bit more growing to do.
We get a kick at how his tail goes straight up. Like a sail. He is fun to watch.
He has settled nicely into life here at the farm. He will be here when Gordon returns from his hike.
Mornings on Horseback
Mornings on Horseback is the a great book written by David McCullough about our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. It is about his early life, and is a fine read.
This post is not about the book though. I am borrowing the title only, because I think about it while out riding my little mare, High Hope, on quiet, early mornings, and riding Duke, my senior Tennessee Walking horse in the early mornings on horseback.
My lovely, enthusiastic niece along with her most-capable husband came for a visit last month. She is an outstanding horsewoman. We went riding here around the farm and neighborhood.
She inspired me so much with her positive outlook and confidence in my riding at my age. Let’s just say I ain’t the horse I used to be. I decided to start riding High Hope three times a week, and Duke, our senior horse, two times a week around the farm and neighborhood.
Our mornings on horseback are early (we are back by 7:30ish), and ride about 30-35 minutes.
But boy, it is terrific! We are the only ones out that early, except busy bunnies running all around, the air is cool and delightful.
I smile the whole time. We have met our early morning neighbor on occasion on the road. He told me “You look so happy.”
I have no photos because the device is not invited to join us—just me and my horse. So I have a couple photos of my horses.
Well, it’s early this Tuesday morning. Time for my morning on horseback…
Happy Tuesday to you.
No to T-Bone, Hamburger or Sirloin
We are small-time farmers. We have heard it said ‘go big or go home.’ So what? We do not care what ‘they’ say. Our little farm is big enough for us. Sometimes it feels like a thousand acres.
It is big enough to handle three miniature beef steers, and four horses. Two of which are miniature the other two are full-size horses.
We always purchase three. One is kept for our freezer. The other two are sold to customers who are looking for well-raised, grass-fed, premium beef. Our customers tell us it is the best beef they have ever had. Five-star beef.
It is satisfying and comforting to know how well our little cows have lived before, as I say, “They have one bad day in their life.” It is hard when their time has come. We do that as gently as possible.
We have been thanked for raising these little steers in an environment that is healthy and caring to them.
What we do not do is name them those “funny”, thoughtless names such as, ‘Sirloin’, ‘T-bone’, or ‘Hamburger’. It is hard enough knowing their ultimate demise. We pick silly, fun names that help make this job of raising them a bit easier.
May I introduce you to some terrific steers we have had over the years?
We also have had Mario, Luigi and Bowzer.
I grew up on a big farm in Virginia. I have always enjoyed cattle.
Miniature Herefords are our choice of steer to grow out, but we have grown out miniature Angus as well. This year we have one White Face steer. He is a cross between a Hereford and Angus.
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis are with us now.
Thank you for ‘meeting’ some of the great steers we have raised here on our farm. We take effort and pride in them, and raise them to the best of our ability.
A horseshoe cow I had made for our porch.
A man told me once, “You call yourself a horsewoman, but you’re a cow-woman at heart.”
Sometimes I believe he may just be right.
Springtime—Beautiful?
It nearly feels traitorous to question the beauty of Spring. But before you go elsewhere, dear reader, allow me a moment to explain.
Spring is more of a love/hate season for me. The fluctuating temperatures are harder to manage. How to dress for today? Yesterday opened in the 30’s and closed on the 60’s! Sweater on, sweater off was the tempo of the day.
It has been said spring is like a teenager, one day it is grand, the next day, hold on! That seems a fair description to me. How about you?
Yet even harder for me with springtime is shedding. Yes, every animal on our farm is shedding their winter coats—oh my! In springtime our dogs, cats and horses go with me everywhere. For I am a constant ball of animal fur.
It could easily be said of a farm, spring is the ugliest time of year. Old hay needs cleaning up out of the fields, the much desired and wonderful spring rains produce a mucky mess in and around the barn and paddocks. Then it all freezes , not happy with that, it all turns to muck again. Tired old straw needs removing from stalls. Fresh wood chips needs laying all around.
Truth is I do like spring. Birds and frogs chirping, early flowers happy faces, grass changing its grey winter coat to green are delightful joys of spring.
If though, you are coming to the farm, wear your muck boots and farm coat. That way you can ‘leave the animals’ in your mud room. Or better yet, wait until the winter coats have fled. Happy Spring!
Is it Over?
It seems so during the day but nighttime is a different matter. The deep freeze that held our Northern Shenandoah Valley in its icy grip seems to be gone except at night.
Daytime temperatures have been rising steadily above freezing pushing onto two weeks now. Today is to be in the 50^’s. Night times drop into freezing.
Still, there are piles of snow in parking lots, around houses and the most interesting part to me, the ponds are still covered in ice!
Wednesday’s rain turned into Thursday morning ice sheet, while back in the mid 50’s and 60’s today.
The deep freeze hit us the last week of January. Our pond has had ice on it from then up to today. It has looked like one giant white ice cube for a month. And the astonishing part is the past two weeks have been above freezing during the day.
I cannot recall the last time we had such extended cold weather. Usually it lasts only several days, surely not weeks.
It appears all over with now. Daffodils are making their appearance, our Red-Winged Blackbird is home singing his happy song, and the horses are shedding some of their full winter coats.
Hurray for Spring!
These last two photos are from today which reached into the 60’s, and still ice! Cannot recall last time I saw this ice for so long.
Yesterday found our pond free of ice, not so with our neighbors.
BTW, snow flurries are blowing all around right now.
Are You Ready for It? When is It Coming?
These questions wafted around the grocery store yesterday as I was filling my list. Folk on phones or talking among themselves wondered out-loud.
“It’s winter. What do you expect?” Our old neighbor would say. Very little frazzled that wonderful old woman. She lived through lots of winters.
It is snow. Apparently a BIG snow. Radio stations and news headlines blasting warnings and predictions of freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall for much of the East and South.
I do not mind weather forecasts. They help keep us informed of possible inclement weather. ‘Be Prepared’ is a good motto to live by (Thank You, Boy Scouts).
However, I do object to trying to be made fearful or worse, panic. Weather forecasts for small or large farmers is important and more often than not dictate our days work. So when the sky looks threatening and storms are in the forecast we do pay attention. We prepare. We will not worry. It is wintertime.
Farm Life—What’s Your Life?
Life on the farm is unique. What compares? Share your thoughts. We grow our own food, raise a bunch of critters, have a bunch of fun, love the land. Outdoors is best. I’m bias? Yes, I am… May I ask you this—Do you love the land?
How about you? What’s your ‘jam’? Tell us, please! As my mother used to say, “It takes all kinds to make this world, Midy”.
She was right.
Winter Visit
Old Man Winter has enjoyed a good long visit with us lately. Snow has blanketed the ground for these past two weeks. Freezing temperatures, except two days, have happily kept company with the snow.
Light is a photographers dearest friend. Making all the difference in the ‘feel’ of a photo. My most favorite time for light is evening twilight when I go out to feed. Most especially when the light of day is nearly equal to lights peering from windows of buildings and snow is all around.
Cold as it was, taking these evening photos was fun, and I hope you enjoy them. When is your favorite time for taking photographs?
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your evening wherever you are.
one_local_gal 