November Greetings

As of today, the tomatoes have been picked clean in the garden.  We've enjoyed the tomoatoes fresh from the garden since June.  The Burpee cherry tomato plants have been prolific producers.  The size of these tomatoes have been from small cough drop size to golf ball size and the taste has been fantastic.

I have about 25-30 green tomatoes sitting on the kitchen counter to work into our meals over the next week.  I'm thinking fried green tomatoes.   We still have a lettuce mix that is producing some awesome tasting salads and the bok choy and garlic are fantastic.

Rooster Fred II has gone to a new home.  Fred I and Fred II were engaging in combat and the girls were caught between two roosters fighting for dominance over the flock.  Fred II went home with a middle school student who loves chickens.  Fred II will be free-ranging and he should love that.  My two barnevelder hens are laying beautiful brown eggs.  I have high hopes for my chickens now that we have the extra rooster removed from the flock dynamics.  Fred (no longer need to designate Fred I or Fred II) and his girls will have a much happier home.

I'm not really sure what my neighbor men think of me naming my animals after them.  Our closest neighbor is Charlie Johnson.  Our shorkie's name is Charley.  I'm outside yelling at the dog, "Here Charley, come here Charley."  Our neighbor three doors down (these are country-sized three doors down) is Fred.  I've named my rooster Fred as well.  Fred, our neighbor, passed before we had Fred the Rooster.  The next animal we bring home will be named Don.  Don Browning is the funniest neighbor ever and would get a kick out of a goat being named after him.  Just saying.

I really wanted to get into the hive yesterday to check on the small hive beetle trap, fill-up the sugar water and check on the general condition of the bees.  I was out and about town though and by the time I got back home, the temperature was already below 60 degrees F.  Opening the hive below 60 degrees is a no go for me.  So I left it alone until today.

I have ordered a new, semi-permanent electric fence for the chickens and bees.  The fence is on back-order until late November, early December.  It will increase the range for the chickens to about 1/4 an acre.

Hubby and I have discussed taking some cuttings of his Mom's chestnut tree to plant in our garden.  That chestnut tree is a prolific producer year after year.  Since his parent's home is on the market for sale, it would be one thing to help remember the place where he grew up.

We are almost ready for power outages due to weather related events in our area.  We have a gasoline generator on back order.  Once we have it, we're getting an electric chain saw to use with it.  Can't wait to get the electric chain saw as I have many large tree limbs to cut and burn.  We have our power outage/emergency supplies ready as well.  We will never be caught without extra lights, water and food like we were the week of the April tornados in 2011.

Here at 2-dog Farm, we wish you Happy Thanksgiving!

Homegrown Goodness

Homegrown goodness from the garden: lettuce mix, cherry tomatoes and turnips (I treat them like radishes in a salad).  Yum!  Don't know how long I'll get the fresh produce but it sure is appreciated and it sure is good!

Catch-up weekend

My oldest daughter spent about two weeks with us during October.  She went with me to Montgomery Alabama to attend the Alabama Beekeepers Annual Meeting.  The meeting was well done; there was plenty of information for the beginner as well as the experienced hobbyist.  Both of the State Bee Hive Inspectors were present and answered many concerns of the more commercial beekeepers.  My daughter was pumped about bees; she was ready to get back to the house and help me.  Well, that was until the bees got a bit aggressive.  She wasn't stung but I had removed one of the frames to go from 10 frames to 9 frames in the hive.  I made the mistake of moving the frame into my outside shed.  We forgot about it and started to clean out the shed, organizing, getting rid of unneeded items, cleaning.  First one bee found the frame, then five bees, and it grew until there were about 30 bees dive-bombing us trying to get to the frame that had their scent on it.  I finally broke out the Bee-Go and sprayed the shed.  That seemed to stop the frenzy from building any further.  Wow,  it was very impressive show of how quickly they mass.

We are hearing coyotes at night yipping.  I think we have a pack along the bluff, which is good.  The wild turkey flock needs thinning.   I've seen one coyote along the bluff.  I was on the deck and it was down below.  It was very large and had a very intense stare as it decided if I was food and worth a run and grab meal or if I could eat it. It finally lopped away.  I will never, ever call them dogs - they are predators through and through.  Due to hearing the coyotes' yipping at night, I went out to test my solar powered electric fence today.  I also cleared the fence line from all debris.  The fence will be replaced soon - I bought it from Premier and it has been a very good deterrent.  This is its fourth year.  Nothing will deter a predator all the time but the electric fence and consistent daily presence of human smells seems to help keep the raccoons, possums, deer, neighbor's dogs and so far (fingers-crossed) the coyotes outside.

My roosters have learned to crow!  A full, robust cockle-doodle do crow.  I am so proud.  Unlike the wild roosters in Hawaii that crow from sundown to sunup, my roosters are crowing at about 7 a.m. each day.  Hope it stays that way.  The roosters are no longer juveniles.  They are swaggering around the chicken yard now.  I hope I have raised them so they do not attack me.  Hopefully they will have some fear and caution of humans.

Have a glorious weekend!