SWEET PEA FARM

September 2, 2008

Here we are, the last update was July 20^th, and it feels like an eternity ago.

Summer…………. Is officially over. What happened? I thought I just sent out an email stating summer is now here – yahoo!

So, put away your grills and get back to work from your vacations- (just kidding)!!!! It has already been 48 degrees here every morning for 2 weeks – I can see my breath when I feed the sheep, and the trees are changing color.

It seems not much has been going on here at Sweet Pea Farm, but when I speak with others on my realm of “nothing going on” everyone’s eyes cross when I start to go down my list.

I last wrote about how happy I was to get 60 bales of hay for the sheepsters. Well, guess what. After waiting 5 weeks to get the delivery of hay, and then stacking the 60 bales all under a tarp, the sheep wouldn’t eat it. Neither would my clients sheep. What gives?  So, luckily, I met up with a neighborhood horse owner, and she agreed to purchase the hay.

So, once again, we had to load up the hay, deliver it 30 bales at a time in my trailor, unload it, trudge across the meadow 1 bale at a time to stack it on her property for her animals. I was just happy to be able to sell the hay, after finding out the sheep wouldn’t eat it. (see Ricardo stacking photo)

I was cleaning out the shed for Willie one day, and was sweeping the floor. I felt some sort of commotion around my head and hair. I looked out at Willie, who was standing at my feet, looking at me with a puzzled expression. “Willie- what the?..” I looked up, and saw right next to my face, a LARGE paper wasp nest – which was the commotion around my head and hair. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH” I yelled- and started running…..  

Willie was just as shocked as I was, and started running in front of me – confused as to why I was yelling, and even more confused as to why I was starting to outpace him sprinting across the field. He kept looking back at me as I was running behind him –not knowing what this crazy woman was doing flailing her arms. Rosie saw Willie running – so she starting running – Nicholas saw Rosie, me and Willie running, so he started in on the pack. Chile’, was the smartest, and just stood there looking in amusement, chewing his cud, at the idiots racing across the field. I finally didn’t feel any more hornets buzzing behind me, and stopped racing around the meadow. All the sheep stood there, looking at me, not knowing what I was going to do next. They had never seen me exhibit this strange behavior before, and seemed unsure of what to do. When I laughed, they all came running to me, wanting to be petted.

A friend of mine has a Papillion, who I think from his photo, just might be cute enough to oust the sheep as the Farm mascot – what do you think of “Furby”? (see photo)

“Out of the ashes comes life” I was standing in the very spot where the garage used to be – and lo and behold – there grew 1 flower – a beautiful sunflower – I was amazed – there were no other flowers around it anywhere…….(see photo)

Henrietta continues to be in love with her husband “Harold the singer” – she made a nest – and there she sits – nothing will budge her – I can walk in the aviary – Harold sings and SHE sits in her nest – happy as a …well…..canary! (see photo)

I have added to the Sweet Pea Farm toy collection – (actually this one is to save money) – I managed to pick up a used New Beatle Bug – boys you will appreciate this one – it is a Limited Edition TURBO S – 210 horsepower – standard shift– sunroof closes at 84 mph., tires are H or T speed rated, and there is an speed activated fin on the rear of the car that comes out at 48mph. 2 tone leather heated sport seats charcoal/black. The importance for me – I get 300 miles to the tank for $25.00. BIG difference  from the HUMMER. I got this used Bug with 47k miles for 10k - $500 down, finance the rest – the American way right? (see photo)

The ruby throated humming birds have been feeding on the Bee Balm flowers, and the goldfinches are feeding on the Echinacea flower seeds – I managed to get a quick shot out the window one dusk – the photo is a little blurry – but you can make out the male on the far right corner on a flower. His wife is right below him. (see photo)

I found a great martin house, and was given a 15 foot tall cedar tree trunk – so I decided to make them work together. You can see Ricardo putting the last touches on the tree as it was put up. I will plant flowers around it, and place the wagon wheel I was lucky to snag last week up against it to make a small flower garden, (see photo)

My next addition to the farm will be a couple chickens. I have been investigating many breeds, and have narrowed it down to a couple different varieties. I DO NOT want roosters (they never shut up), nor do I think my neighbors do either.  Originally, I thought I wanted Silkie Chickens, but they now appear too fragile. I do think I want Polish Tops, which are just as humorous looking. I have been setting up the yard and the chicken coop will be built by hand. You will see the progress in the next email. (See photos)

I managed to actually find a chicken poopy- oops –(well officially it’s supposed to be “mud” foot scraper) – but around here – let’s face it – I scrape sheep poop off my boots. I love anything that has to do with sheep, or chickens at this point. I have named “The Twins” the “Smore’s Boys” – Nicholas is “Chocolat” – he is such a deep, dark chocolaty, chestnut brown, and Chile’ is marshmallowy white! Nicholas is too big now to pick up, Chile’ remains the runt, small and adorable!

Mokie is shown lounging in his bed on a hot summer day……..he is still looking for a farm, apartment or single pet family to adopt him – spread the word……..(see photo)

I am still stockpiling wood- and made the mistake of having the local wood mill drop a load of sawn trees in my yard. The pile was HUGE – some of the trees were over 15 feet long, and either too thick or too thin to cut. UGGGHHH. It took forever to cut up, and killed the grass under the pile in a week. I will NEVER do that again. I shot a picture of the chain saw next to the pile for comparison.

Finally, I came across these red leaves over 1 month ago. It truly is starting to feel and look fall like in New England, and the sheep are growing their long winter coats.………..

With love from us all at Sweet Pea Farm!

Oxoxox

Stacy