Blind Hog and Acorn

Phew!  A busy and fun week for the intrepid farmers.  Blind Hog and Acorn completed a few more projects and even managed a day in KC!  The Kemper Museum! The Nelson Atkins! IKEA too! Weather was sunny and nice for the trip and the next day? Almost 3" of glorious rain. The pastures ( and livestock ) are loving it.

Blind Hog and Acorn finally FINALLY got the goat barns mucked out, clean and ready for winter/January kidding.  Phew! Only took one front tire repair on the Mahindra and removal of up-teen front end loaders of piled up "residue" raked up from the barns to get the job done.  Much better now, even though the pictures might not look that nice. Cows are enjoying their new grazing paddock sin...

Phew!  Blind Hog and Acorn have been working like dogs...  Tearing down the Murphy bed that Blind Hog built super well, i.e he glued the joints , to working in the west field in preparation for winter grazing.  All the walking back and forth along the fence lines. A bit of baking first thing this morning- bread and English muffins. Sam is enjoying his new dog bed- the memory foam mattress topper o...

Blind Hog and Acorn had a full house the past week, and seven at the table for Thanksgiving!  Visitors from Alberta, Canada and Texas, along with Badger and her beau for the holiday feasting. Trips to see a couple goat ranches as well as a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Acorn is happy with a clean house and fridge full of leftovers. Blind Hog already planning the next projects. We...

Now that the 200' underground electric project is competed and 220v is surging from the power pole to the new breaker box in the old goat barn, Blind Hog and Acorn have put their attention to domestic chores- cleaning the house in anticipation of out of state/country guests! Yes, Old Frank is returning and this time Brain and Kate from Alberta, Canada will be with him. House needs to be tidie...

A very busy week on the farm and nothing will stop the busy farmers...  Not even sinus colds or 80th birthdays... Blind Hog has the deed done; electric is in the conduit and in the nice trench, already hooked up to the main power box as well as the new breaker box in the old goat barn.  Acorn has been a snotty thing, but has also been quite busy.  Almost 40 new trees planted all around the yard- l...

All the fun trenching in yet another new underground line, but this time a 220V from the power pole to the old goat barn. Blind Hog is more than halfway there. Good weather ahead too! Four mornings of starting temps in the low to mid 20's. Will be pushing 70° by mid week they say, just ti n time for Blind Hog's birthday. Acorn found another good iron bit on walkies this morning.  Guess y...

Blind Hog and Acorn have been doing all the usuals- moving the herd, got the last pasture clipped after grazing. Even picking up 8.44" of rain for the month of October!  Crazy! Bees have been getting a bit of thick syrup to top their stores off for the winter.  Garden has been cleaned of all eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes.  Hard frost is on the way next week. Acorn skewered one of those Cor...

Hard-workin' farmers do get to go to town and have fun every now and then, right?  After mucking about with the walnuts, tending the livestock, feeding the new kitties, Blind Hog and Acorn headed to the Big City to see David Sedaris, live and in person.  3 Words?  "It was awesome!"  Acorn picked up a copy of his latest book, "A Carnival of Snackery" and had him sign it.  H...

Wood stove is prepped for the upcoming season- flue pipe cleaned, stove vacuumed out, glass windows washed.  Blind Hog rolled in a couple loads of firewood and Acorn will lay the first logs. Blind Hog could talk for a whole show about how much he loves that Hearthstone wood stove- Acorn is surprised he passed up the opportunity.  Must be because of that tooth extraction he had the other day... 39F...

Garlic is popping up after a couple weeks post-planting A couple heifers are on their way to Kentucky.   Log splitter quit but was easily repaired by neighbor mechanic Fred (float needle was fouled) and Blind Hog was able to get back into action.  A bit of rain fell as well,  2 -1/2" so far this month. Sam got skunked but at least THIS time he killed the varmint.  Good boy, Sam.  One less pol...

Has it truly just been a week since Blind Hog and Acorn went to the art museum?   Sheesh! Since then, the eight felines have arrived on the farm.  Kittens and cats in three barns.  Grow kitties grow , and take care of the rodents! Blind Hog has been clipping fields, splitting firewood.  Even hoisted Acorn up in the front-end loader to assist in harvesting the oyster mushroom bonanza that appears a...

After a busy week of YET MORE FARM CHORES, Blind Hog and Acorn picked up the Badger in Springfield fora 2 hr drive to Arkansas- destination?  the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art! The podcast was recorded prior to the excursion, but the website will have pictures. Blind Hog took down three large dead trees that were on the side of the hill along the driveway.  They are all chunked into 6&apo...

Lots of loose ends getting done around the farm- hot tub was repaired, drained and cleaned. Purple martin gourds removed and put away for the winter.  Corner fence post reset and fence wire affixed. Hay feeders are now in the yard awaiting new tarp covers which Acorn will make out of used billboard fabric. Blind Hog fired up the burn pile then later he and Acorn also mounted the 10 yr old gas gril...

 Ahh yes, the agony of the late summer swarm.  NOW Acorn knows where the bees came from when she saw them in the bee tree behind the mailbox a few weeks ago... Oh well, it happens. Blind Hog has had good luck with the tractors- Mahindra had a minor issue but neighbor Fred found the shorted out wire off the starter.  Massey Fergus in running like a champ with the new carburetor. Goats are moved bac...

Acorn is getting ready to get on a plane, again, and go visit her Mum and Rumi in Houston.  Blind Hog and Sam once again will mind the conn. The past week has been full of the usual chores- laundry, gardening, canning and mowing .  Blind Hog clipped the "south field" so the goats can see where they are- not too fond of venturing into a field with grass above their heads! Goat breeding is...

Phew!  Whatta week!  Acorn returned back from a fun weekend in Florida with Dad and Joyce- hot winds, cool pool and  much relaxation for a tired farmer.  She had to jog between terminals to catch a connecting flight but hey- she and her luggage both made it! One day to 'catch up" on chores, as in replace the carburetor on the Massey Ferguson 35 tractor, and then a whole day spent behind...

Yes- Acorn is leaving for the weekend for family visit- boarding pass in one hand and a negative 'rona test result in the other.  Blind Ho and Sam will take care of things, and stay out of trouble...  Hopefully. Past week has been spent cleaning house, tidying up, cooking-canning-baking. Garden and yard are groomed, livestock moved to new grazing.  Should be easy sailing. Why does it seem the...

Hay is in the barn!  Acorn can relax now!  was a wild time getting the hay to the barn, but nothing is as easy as it seems.  Blind Hog thrives on excitement. Last of the market goats to the salebarn. Garden continues to put forth. Tenor ukulele got new "low-g strings" which Acorn just loves.  Can you tell the difference?

Broilers all processed and shrink bagged. New Goat Plan underway. Mechanic work completed on the F350 (still needs work) and the 17 yr old riding mower.  Garden, cows, goats ; yada yada yada... Selling goats and buying hay. What comes in, must go out. Acorn finally picked a watermelon that was truly ripe.  Ratatouille, carrots and pickled beets in jars. Dairy goat milking is being throttled back s...

Yes, Acorn made a list of most of the things accomplished to talk about for the podcast. She did leave off filling 350 lbs of mineral mix into all the livestock feeders.  They had the mill put the mix in 25 lb bags instead of the 50 lb. bags Blind Hog was carrying when the tore his calf muscle.  Blind Hog said Acorn was handling those 25 lb bags quite nicely, while he sat in the truck with this fo...

Starting to sort through and "work" goats at 10 am was about 3 hrs too late...  Blind Hog and Acorn both had to have a sit down before the task was completed.  It was the high, high humidity that was the culprit.  Nonetheless, the intrepid farmers soldiered on and goats got worked.  Ten adult goats went on the trailer the next day and the herd production average is thus improved. Twenty-...

Blind Hog and Acorn got the wall sculpture delivered and installed.  A bit of unusual farm work to say the least! Good news is that Glen and Becky are happy and the piece looks great in its new home. Now Acorn just needs to figure out the next chapter in the Great Farm Plan ... Rains continue to surprise, and the garden and fields are taking full advantage.  I know there are at least 3 watermelons...

Blind Hog saw an ortho dude and it is all good news- torn calf muscle and he is already doing "all the right rehab things."  Tincture of Time , as my old MD boss would say.  In the meantime, he does what he can, puts his leg up, wears one of my stylish hiking compression socks and is his usual happy-go-lucky self. Grass is taking off after the rain last week, fields looking good.  Garden...

Blind Hog seems intent on injuring himself, this week it was a torn calf muscle. Oh well, "we see this..."  Good news is that he is able to move about the cabin freely, albeit a bit slower than his usual.  Swelling has gone down and he can bear weight on the injured leg.  Tincture of Time now for it to heal on up. Acorn has sold goats and has two heifers under contract- a very productive...