It has warmed up since the weekend, still muddy on Monday as you can see from the view looking down the driveway.
I decided to let the chickens out into the garden as the days of below freezing really knocked the greens back. still getting some kale but the birds need to get out and get some bugs and grass. I have been throwing the grass over into their lot but it is easier to let them forage but I had to put some netting over the palletsade in places to keep them in.
Another day, another load of manure or something like that. On Sunday the ground was still frozen so I got in and got some of the manure out before it got nasty slick. Getting a good covering on the garden and should have it ready by planting time.
On Monday, I worked on the mobile sawbuck and other than putting some purple paint on it some day, it is completed. I took it out yesterday and tested it and only had to replace on piece of wood that wasn't strong enough. I even have a place to put my ax as it is quicker than a saw when removing limbs.
To use it, it just lays down on the side and you put the logs on the top of the Xs. I used hand saws today as I like to practice my plan B once in awhile. It did pretty good and wasn't hard to push as like a wheelbarrow, all the weight went forward.
The buck saw did good on the smaller limbs but the cross cut saw was needed on the larger tree trunks. The plan is to use the saw buck for limbs and small stuff around the house and on the trail with hand saws and the chain saw. I mess up the chain saw cutting small stuff as the blade hits the ground so easy. This will keep the wood up and away from rocks.
The weather has been spring-like and the boys have been laying around in the sun. Houdini was rubbing his horns on the saplings and waiting for me to fill the water trough after cleaning the ice and dirt out of it.
It is raining today but still warm, they say it is supposed to get windy and cold later.
Your staying busy!!! The cows are soo cute! Are you raising them for meat?
ReplyDeleteWe had 70+ temps on Monday, it was gorgeous. Today is 37 and windy! What a difference two days can make!
The idea is to raise them for meat but it would be hard to eat them at this point. Maybe I can use them as oxen. I suspect that the older they get, the less cute they will become so we will see.
DeleteI didn't even need a jacket yesterday but it is raining today and cooling down, still better than 20 degrees F all day.
I saw where you were looking for eggs, you are going to have a big flock by summer!
We usually know its time to eat them when they start to get really pushy and try to tip the food bucket with their horns, they stop being cute and start being dangerous and annoying. Its still sad to see them go though, but worth it for the freezer full of meat :)
DeleteI can tell a difference in houdini's behavior over the last few months, moodini hasn't reached that point yet, maybe it is like having a teenager?
DeleteI just love Houdini, I haven't been able to eat a hamburger since meeting him!
ReplyDeleteI can't afford to buy hamburger, not sure why it is so expensive. Every hamburger once went moo and every chicken finger clucked and every pork chop went oink! I guess our animals have a better time of it than factory meat.
Deletephew, houdini and moodini are saved! great job on that sawbuck thing. i can see that it will be very useful! yep, batten down the hatches, we're in for a ride i guess!
ReplyDeleteI was up at midnight last night siphoning water out of the basement, a real mess. I didn't have the right hatches battened down I guess.
DeleteIt is a mucky mess here. Still, the warmer temps are a welcome break from snow.
ReplyDeleteI didn't haul manure today, I got lazy and just threw it in a pile for another day when it isn't so muddy. Not long until spring!
DeleteThat manure will be building excellent soil.
ReplyDeleteMy husband made a similar sawbuck from metal (his preferred material being a boilermaker), I don't know if he saw one on the net or just though of it, I only just learnt from you that it has a name! It is so much quicker for chopping up the branches, we stack up a few at a time and use the chainsaw. Only thing is we have to be careful that the saw doesn't hit the metal, I suppose you will be the same, you don't want to chop up the sawbuck! Only thing missing on the one Pete made was wheels, but its reasonably light to carry from one tree to the next.
I used old shipping crate wood so I can replace it should I cut it up. Years ago the US 10 dollar note had a big X on it and it got the name sawbuck as it looked like one.
DeleteYou are lucky that you have someone with metal skills, I could really make use of that!
Your view down the driveway is simply beautiful!! I would want to stand there an look at it all day. I'll bet it's beautiful in the fall when the colors come alive as they die and the spring as they come back to life!!
ReplyDeleteAnd there always seems to be lots of manure to be cleaned.
I have fought several battles over that road, the farmer was determined to destroy it with his equipment after I worked on it with pick and shovel. Still it does look good in the fall as there is a nice maple along the road.
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