"Giles" it is...

Finally a name for the little ram, "Giles" it is. He has been formally named by the Mock Olde English "Babydoll" Registry. He has been in rare form lately, and if you look at the picture at the top that is our wether "Fred" and "Giles" has decided it is breeding season and "Fred" is his "woman"! He has not let him alone and is curling his lip and well trying to have his way with him! "Fred" however is not having it. The song "We got to get you a woman" comes to my mind!

As October comes to a close, I am sad because it is my favorite month of the year! It went by so fast and so many things that you were hoping to get to it seems there just was not enough time for, maybe they can make October longer next year!

Well as the "Wheel of the Year" turns once more we look to our goals and hope that the year is good to us in health and life...

Our newest chicken

Meet our newest chicken, Sherri Lynn, named after her rescuer. She was found on the streets in Waterbury, Ct and for you who know that area, it is city all the way. So someone was keeping chickens and lost this one. She is a Rhode Island Red and has no feathers on her back end, they must have had a lot of roosters, because she obviously was ravished by them. She is a little nervous around the rest of the flock but she is taking her licks and slowly adjusting...

What's in a name?

  On this beautiful Autumn day, the day in which my son was born, I took a moment to remember 31 years ago when he came into the world. It was one of the happiest days of my life and he has grown up to be a wonderful man that I am so proud of, and everyone loves this wonderful guy I call my son. 
  So I am at a place where I have to name this little ram. He needs to be registered so a name is important for his paperwork. I have pondered the fact that he needs a nice english name because his breed is after all an Olde English Babydoll Southdown. I am thinking that "Rupert" or "Giles" would be fitting for him or maybe both names after the character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of my all time favorite shows. Hhhhhmmm still pondering, anyone have any suggestions?

Dirty Looks and Shot Day!

  Today was the much over-due Ivermectin shots for the 7 Alpacas and our 1 Llama. These shots need to be done every six weeks as part of a de-worming regement with the "boys". This helps guard them against roundworms, mange mites as well as mengeal worm which can be deadly to both Alpacas and Llamas. It attacks the central nervous system and an affected animal looks like they have rubber bands for legs.

In the picture to the right the boys were very upset
after being "clotheslined" by Tim and myself and then 

subjected to the neccesary but I am sure a little
painful Ivermectin shot. Here is "Awan" showing me just what he thinks of us! What an attitude!

Putting the Bee Hives to bed for the year...

 While having a little vacation time left, I took a mini vacation this week to get somethings accomplished around the farm. I take this time off every year because it just helps to stay on track with everything. Today was spent preparing the 3 bee hives that we have for the colder weather to come. The first hive was doing so-so, it had swarmed many weeks ago so they are playing catch up, the second hive was un-believably right on track with where they should be. The frame on the right (pictured) is some of their honey reserves as well as some brood (baby bees) in the center. The third hive is the little hive that could. I have worked on setting this hive up since August with surplus bees from the observation hive at the Nature Center where I work. Just last week I took another 2000 bees out of it and brought them home and added it to the hive by placing a sheet of newspaper over the first hive body. This gives them time to be captivated by the queens pheromones so they can combine with the hive and not kill her. So overall I am mostly pleased with my bees going into the colder weather. Last year I combined my hives to one strong with bad results, so I am taking my chances this year by allowing the hives to stay independent, I think the odds are better that way. We will continue to feed them and eventually pull the outer feeders off and put the inner feeders inside the hives.

I placed large rocks at the entrances under the cinder blocks as well as using old frames to block the sides of the cinder blocks. Venting a small space between the hive bodies (about a match book amount) allows for the hive to keep from building condensation up. The temperature in the hive is about 90 degrees with their body heat. So better luck next year, we had no hiney this year due to losing our hives, so next spring we should have bees ready to go and get a head start on honey!

Welcome Autumn!

We welcome a new member to the Coon Hollow Family, our new beautiful little "Autumn"! She is a precious terrier mix, with confidence one minute and not sure-ed-ness the next. She is fitting in so well here. The other dogs just love her, except old man "Charlie" who has had to set her straight a couple of times, but that's his job. She is fascinated with the chickens and just takes everything in. I caught her looking around the living room the other night as if to say "not a bad place, I like the curtains, foods not bad, I think it'll do". She is such a breathe of fresh air and I just love her. There was just something about this dog the first time I saw her when she came in from a rescue group who had saved her with one day left to go at the pound...she's definetly a keeper!
So as I enjoy this autumn day with my new dog "Autumn" on the autumn day that my daughter was born, all I can do is sit back and smile...

Let the Harvest Begin!

The Harvest has begun in the Herb Garden as I chipped away at it today, with plenty of Basil, Lemon Verbena, Pineapple Sage, Mints, Thymes and as the list goes on I will be cutting for a bit.
Pictured above left is Basil and Pineapple Sage, on the right you always should ID what you have cut and dried, believe me I have learned over the years, and below is the bush, yes bush of Pineapple Sage which grew as large as a Rose Bush! It smells just like Pineapple with just a hint of sage...nice...