This was last week. I don't remember what day, but with the remodel getting ready to get underway and CiderFest coming up in a month, we need to widen out the driveway and free up some driving/parking space. We got that big load of logs this summer, which still hadn't split and stacked itself. Now… Continue reading Widening the Driveway
Author: Ryan Kraeger
Available Now: Dad Poems
Despite some setbacks... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HK2LYN3L After about 4 years of work, it is now available on Amazon (because I don't have the financial means to print it myself, or the temporal means to find someone to publish it for me).
Making Friendly Friendly
Evie wants to take a sheep to fair next year, so she has started working with one of this year's lambs. She chose "Friendly" (so named because she didn't run away as fast as her sister when the kids tried to pet her as a baby) because Snow is too small and doesn't have good… Continue reading Making Friendly Friendly
Falling Stars in the Basement
These are the moments I live for on the farm. Projects are fun. Projects for the kids are good. Projects with the kids, are as close to heaven on earth as I have found outside the Mass. https://videopress.com/v/zDf3z1qT?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fvideos.files.wordpress.com%2FzDf3z1qT%2Fimg_2812_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Tomatoes, Pears and Wine
First and second major canning of tomatoes, Kathleen has been canning diced and whole tomatoes, as well as tomato juice. Daddy and Seppi have been drying tomatoes. Seppi likes to add leaves from his pet basil plant to the tray when we start it. (His pet basil plant's name is "Basil.") It's amazing how five… Continue reading Tomatoes, Pears and Wine
Sauerkraut Comparison
We have gone through another batch of sauerkraut in the last few weeks. We have shared some with friends. The verdict is in. The lactofermentation in the silicone burp lids goes faster and makes a more harsh, strong flavor. We tried two different methods, one filling the jar with brine, the other with water only… Continue reading Sauerkraut Comparison
Healthy Pigs
Gertrude has recovered amazingly from her ordeal last week, and the piglets are almost double in size. In a week or two we will need to introduce creep feed and water for them. This might be a good opportunity to introduce hog drinking nipples as well. Then in about 8 weeks, try to sell six… Continue reading Healthy Pigs
Jointed Boards
Got my Antique Stanley Number 8 tuned up and running. In ten minutes I got these two boards edged and jointed. So cool!
Rolling Stones
At the farm there is a really big rock. It has been there since we bought the farm, just kind of sitting beside the barn. I rolled it a couple of times a few years ago, just to get it out of the way, so I could back the trailer up, but it has more… Continue reading Rolling Stones
Repairs
The rainy season is almost upon us. We got three days of rain this week, so on Monday we prepared for it by making some much needed repairs to some roofs. The irony of living in the PNW is that about 1/4 of the year, you don't actually need a roof at all. A medium… Continue reading Repairs