Rain Gardens

The contractors installed the drainspouts on our four seasons room,or solarium, yesterday. My mom suggested putting in a rain garden where the water collects, and it sounds like a great idea to me! The UW Madison Extension has a very informative site, with a pdf manual on how to install your own little rain garden, as well as some great photos of the installation stages, and pages listing WI plants ideal for sunny or shady rain gardens.


http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/rg/

The plant above is Prairie Smoke, a native to Wisconsin, ideal for rain gardens. Image found on the "Links to Other Rain Garden Sites" from the DNR web-page. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/rg/links.htm

Spring on the Farm

Some greatly anticipated changes have occurred out here on the farm. The Vernal Equinox has arrived! Grasses are greening, and there are hardy perennials peeking out everywhere. It's too early to plant (almost) anything, we are still in danger of hard frosts up here in zone 4 Wisconsin; but we have trays of seedlings growing and waiting. So far we have started bushel and dipper gourds, white coneflowers, morning glories, blue corn, and some other items that didn't make it due to our cat Maude living (and having kittens) in the seed starting area. Maude and her babies have been relocated to the pump house, and we are ready to try again.

A few pea and lettuce seeds have been sown, as well as some fragrant oriental lily bulbs. We've split and transplanted some hostas, and they seem to be doing well. It looks like every variety of garlic planted last fall made it through the winter, and the strawberry beds are also coming to life.

The "Four Seasons" room has been installed on the front of the house, and we have really been enjoying it. Enough siding has gone up to really allow us to see how close we are getting to our dream. Walls are being torn down and put back up. The electrical lines outside are going into the ground. Shermen has moved some major earth, redirecting water routes so we never, ever have to deal with a wet cellar again. He has also fortified our driveway, raising it, putting in culverts and drainage fields. The days of parking and walking through knee deep mud in the spring will soon be behind us.

We have decided to have the lambs "processed." After successfully castrating them this winter, it has been easier to move on to this next step. Sadly, we lost our sweet cat McLovin on March 28, 2009. He was a good cat and will be missed.

Things Looking Brighter, Inside & Out

Last nite my very ambitious husband worked literally all thru the nite hanging drywall; finally passing out about 7 this morning. What a wonderful change to wake up to- walls! It's actually sunny out this morning, so our big new windows filled the room with light and I was able to truly visualize what a pleasant room this will soon be. We are almost to the point of "cosmetic" work in this

room...(tape, trim, and paint) the point where we can glimpse

some light at end of this renovation tunnel.

I expect he will now sleep the rest of the day, so it's my day to putter about (quietly) and maybe prepare the other half of room for drywall. We debated the financial / quality of life pro's and con's of hiring out the drywall / trim vs Sherm buying tools necessary to do the job himself. We went with #2, and I am now very excited to learn how to use all these exciting tools so I can work on some creations of my own.

I have big dreams for the old chicken coop under the huge maple tree becoming a greenhouse, a cool new trellis & support for the grape vine, picture frames, on and on.

We actually started some seeds early this year, and now it's looking like maybe too early. We have decorative blue corn thats almost a foot high after only a couple weeks. The grow light definitely needs to be put on a timer rather than 24/7.

I'm interested in trying a style of planting called "Three Sisters" which involves corn, beans and squash.

http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/teach/2003045238014436.html

I have also been researching white / scented plants, flowers and shrubs for the patio area. I want to create a glowy and fragrant "night" garden area where we can sit and enjoy the sound of the waterfall.

The Emasculator

Poor poor Martin and Tuesday....operation Rubber Band = mission accomplished. Tetanus shot = check. It's now been 1 week and the "boys" seem fine, healthy and active.

Tail Docking

It is a balmy 40 degrees out on this sunny Saturday morn....we are ready to open all the windows and let this dusty old home air out a bit. Our lovely pink abode is an island in a sea of mud, gray ice and post-construction piles; but that warm air hinting at Spring wont let the mess(es) get me down.

One of our "to-do's" for today is tail docking on Marti our lamb. Note I am sitting here rather than getting right to it. Farm and Fleet sells the supplies, (little rubber bands & tool,) as well as a tetanus shot to give the poor beast to prevent infection. I guess you (are supposed) to do this when they are very young so that if they have the scours, it doesnt fester up under their rear and cause maggots! Gah! Marti didnt seem to have the wicked scours, and I just havent been able bring myself to be the cause of fear and pain for her. We are trying to make friends, not enemies. I think I'll have Shermen do it.

New Baby Lamb

While feeding the sheep and chickens today after work, I noticed Daisy our Lab creating a commotion in the sheep pen…closer inspection revealed a little lamb! The most adorable thing I've ever seen….brand spanking new and TOTALLY unexpected. We thought these "things" happened in the spring, not mid-January Wisconsin. Thank goodness Matilda (the ewe) chose today- this most auspicious of days, Martin Luther King Jr. day, rather than a couple days ago when the temperatures we dangerously below zero.

Now I am in a bit of a panic, researching the web, trying to figure out what exactly we need to do to give our new baby Martin the best chances of survival. Hypothermia is an obvious issue, however, tempting as it is to bring the baby into our nice warm home to snuggle and keep toasty, the research says warming beds should only be last resort. Best situation is to keep the lamb with the ewe. Check that the mouth is warm and the lamb is feeding, not lethargic or apathetic about feeding. There seems to be a yellow tint to the amniotic residue, (these are totally non-vet terms,) but the research indicates this yellow tint is result of birth stress, and one of the causes of birth stress is "inexperienced shepherding." I was all prepared back in summer/fall for something like this, bought the extra vitamins, or "drench" and syringe and kept checking the ewes to look for evidence they were carrying twins. But nothing happened, so I just figured we would have to wait for next year. We don't even have iodine to spray on the cord.

I've been up to the barn checking on them a few times now, and plan to go up once more before calling it a night. Martin seems healthy, he/she is walking around and not shivering or anything like that. He's feeding vigorously and baahing in a way that sounds healthy not scary. He has a little diarrhea on his backside, but not much, and it's dark. Scary sounding "scours" which lead to dehydration and death are yellow or pale. I will check again in the morning, if they are worse I guess I'll have to call in to work in the morning to get hydration and electrolytes etc for him. Hopefully fate will smile on us with this first one. Pictures coming soon!

Salmonella

Poor poor Shermen......evil wife undercooks chicken, husband suffers.