The Elk are back

The other day I decided to take the Kabota and feed the cows. These beautiful animals were grazing up on the hill so I turned off the Kabota and just watched them for a while. The day was warm and the meadowlarks were singing. Total heaven. When they finally noticed me, they jumped the fence and ran off. If you will notice, the elk on the left only has one antler. They lose their antlers each fall/winter and grow new ones.

From Wikipedia:
The elk is a large animal of the artiodactyle ungulate order, possessing an even number of toes on each foot, similar to those of camels, goats and cattle. It is a ruminant species, with a four-chambered stomach, and feeds on grasses, plants, leaves and bark. During the summer, elk eat almost constantly, consuming between 8.8 and 15 lb daily. In North America, males are called bulls, and females are called cows. In Asia, stag and hind, respectively, are sometimes used instead.

Elk are more than twice as heavy as mule deer and have a more reddish hue to their hair coloring, as well as large, buff colored rump patches and smaller tails. Elk gather in herds. Elk cows average 500 lb, stand 4.3 ft at the shoulder, and are 6.6 ft from nose to tail. Bulls are some 40% larger than cows at maturity, weighing an average of 710 lb, standing 4.9 ft at the shoulder and averaging 8.2 ft in length. The largest of the subspecies is the Roosevelt elk, found west of the Cascade Range in the U.S. states of California, Oregon and Washington, and in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Only the males have antlers, which start growing in the spring and are shed each winter. The largest antlers may be 3.9 ft long and weigh 40 lb. Antlers are made of bone which can grow at a rate of almost an inch per day. While actively growing, the antlers are covered with and protected by a soft layer of highly vascularised skin known as velvet. The velvet is shed in the summer when the antlers have fully developed. Bull elk may have eight or more tines on each antler; however, the number of tines has little to do with the age or maturity of a particular animal. The formation and retention of antlers is testosterone-driven. After the breeding season in late fall, the level of pheromones released during estrus declines in the environment and the testosterone levels of males drop as a consequence. This drop in testosterone leads to the shedding of antlers, usually in the early winter.

During the fall, elk grow a thicker coat of hair, which helps to insulate them during the winter. Males, females and calves all grow thin neck manes. By early summer, the heavy winter coat has been shed, and elk are known to rub against trees and other objects to help remove hair from their bodies. All elk have small and clearly defined rump patches with short tails. They have different coloration based on the seasons and types of habitats, with gray or lighter coloration prevalent in the winter and a more reddish, darker coat in the summer. Subspecies living in arid climates tend to have lighter colored coats than do those living in forests. Most have lighter yellow-brown to orange-brown coats in contrast to dark brown hair on the head, neck, and legs during the summer.


"Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, and the society of thyself."
Thomas Browne

Update on our new goat family

I wanted to update you on our goat triplets. As you can see, they are doing just great. The dark brown goat is "daddy". His name is Jethro and boy does he smell! The three little ones are so cute when they run around- now I really know what "frolicking" means.

I was wondering why the male goats are so stinky so I looked it up at my favorite site - Wikipedia:

Bucks (intact males) of Swiss and northern breeds come into rut in the fall as with the doe's heat cycles. Bucks of equatorial breeds may show seasonal reduced fertility but, as with the does, are capable of breeding at all times. Rut is characterized by a decrease in appetite and obsessive interest in the does. A buck in rut will display flehmen lip curling and will urinate on his forelegs and face. Sebaceous scent glands at the base of the horns add to the male goat's odor, which is important to make him attractive to the female. Some does will not mate with a buck which has been de-scented.

Still waiting for rain - we sure need it for the crops!

If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water.
- Loren Eisley

Some people are making such thorough plans
for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine.
- William Feather

Who Who

This beautiful barn owl is living in our palm tree right out the back door. I took pictures of him sleeping yesterday and wanted to share them with you. I was curious so I Googled "Barn Owls" and found out this interesting information on Wikipedia:

The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a short squarish tail. Depending on subspecies, it measures about 9.8–18 inches in overall length, with a wingspan of some 30–43 inches. Tail shape is a way of distinguishing the Barn Owl from true owls when seen in flight, as are the wavering motions and the open dangling feathered legs. The light face with its heart shape and the black eyes give the flying bird an odd and startling appearance, like a flat mask with oversized oblique black eyeslits, the ridge of feathers above the bill somewhat resembling a nose.

Its head and upper body typically vary between a light brown and a light colored and dark grey (especially on the forehead and back) feathers in most subspecies. Some are purer, richer brown instead, and all have fine black-and-white speckles except on the remiges and rectrices, which are light brown with darker bands. The heart-shaped face is usually bright white, but in some subspecies it is browner. The underparts (including the tarsometatarsus feathers) vary from white to reddish buff among the subspecies, and are either mostly unpatterned or bear a varying amount of tiny blackish-brown speckles. It was found that at least in the continental European populations, females with more spotting are healthier on average. This does not hold true for European males by contrast, where the spotting varies according to subspecies. The bill varies from pale horn to dark buff, corresponding to the general plumage hue. The iris is blackish brown. The toes, as the bill, vary in color; their color ranges from pinkish to dark pinkish-grey. The talons are black.

On average, within any one population males tend to be less spotted on the underside than females. The latter are also larger, as is common for owls. A strong female T. alba of a large subspecies may weigh over 19.4 oz, while males are typically about 10% lighter. Nestlings are covered in white down all over, but the heart-shaped facial disk is visible soon after hatching.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not hoot (such calls are made by typical owls, like the Tawny Owl or other Strix). It instead produces the characteristic shree scream, ear-shattering at close range. Males in courtship give a shrill twitter. It can hiss like a snake to scare away intruders, and when captured or cornered, it throws itself on its back and flails with sharp-taloned feet, making for an effective defense. Also given in such situations is a rasp and a clicking snap, produced by the bill or possibly the tongue. It is most recognizable by its "mask-like" face.


“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?”

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It has been so cold here the past few mornings! No water until noon and the small pond is frozen completely over.

I took this picture this morning at the reservoir and wanted to share it with you. Let me know if you know what type of bird it is: hzharvest12@yahoo.com.

I would also like to share this special day and hope that you have time to spend with friends and family to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I couldn't decide on one quote today, so you get a bonus - 2 for 1

Bless us Lord,
this Christmas,
with quietness of mind;
Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.
~ Helen Steiner Rice


Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
~Author Unknown

Farm Visitors

We have had a very busy week. The other morning, this cute zebra stopped in for a vist. We are really not sure where he came from. I know that there are some near Hearst Castle, but that is about 20 miles as the crow flies. I suppose he could have wandered over here, but who knows.

Here is what I found out about zebras:
Zebras are several species of African equids horse family) united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems or large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated.

It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes, since some zebras have white underbellies. Embryological evidence, however, shows that the animal's background color is black and the white stripes and bellies are additions.[
Like horses, zebras walk, trot, canter and gallop. They are generally slower than horses, but their great stamina helps them outpace predators. When chased, a zebra will zig-zag from side to side, making it more difficult for the predator. When cornered, the zebra will rear up and kick or bite its attacker.
Zebras have excellent eyesight. It is believed that they can see in color. Like most ungulates, the zebra has its eyes on the sides of its head, giving it a wide field of view. Zebras also have night vision, although not as advanced as that of most of their predators.
Zebras have excellent hearing, and tend to have larger, rounder ears than horses. Like horses and other ungulates, zebra can turn their ears in almost any direction. In addition to eyesight and hearing, zebras have an acute sense of smell and taste

That same day, we were up on the hill and saw this beautiful falcon. It is really a treat to see one. I found this information about them:

A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.

Adult falcons have thin tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and to change direction rapidly. Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers which makes their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such as a broadwing. This makes it easier to fly while learning the exceptional skills required to be effective hunters as adults.

Peregrine Falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth.[1] Other falcons include the Gyrfalcon, Lanner Falcon, and the Merlin. Some small falcons with long narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which hover while hunting are called kestrels. The falcons are part of the family Falconidae, which also includes the caracaras, Laughing Falcon, forest falcons, and falconets.

The traditional term for a male falcon is tercel (British spelling) or tiercel (American spelling), from Latin tertius = third because of the belief that only one in three eggs hatched a male bird.[2][3] Some sources give the etymology as deriving from the fact that a male falcon is approximately one third smaller than the female[4] (Old French tiercelet).

A falcon chick, especially one reared for falconry, that is still in its downy stage is known as an eyas [5][6] (sometimes spelt eyass). The word arose by mistaken division of Old French un niais, from Latin presumed nidiscus ("nestling", from nidus = nest). The technique of hunting with trained captive birds of prey is known as falconry.

As is the case with many birds of prey, falcons have exceptional powers of vision; the visual acuity of one species has been measured at 2.6 times that of a normal human.[7]

In February 2005, the Canadian ornithologist Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian intelligence in terms of a bird's innovation in feeding habits. The falcon and corvids scored highest on this scale.

Zebra Question

I asked the zebra,
Are you black with white strips?
Or white with black strips?
And the zebra asked me,
Are you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with sad days?
Or are you sad with happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I'll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.

Shel Silverstein A Light in the Attic

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lilly is here!

Only on the farm do we get excited about machinery. We ordered a machine called a Lilliston Rolling Cultivator. It is used to get rid of the weeds in the crop beds. Right now, we are running it down the rows to turn the young weeds. When they begin to grow again in a couple of weeks, we will till them again. The idea is that they will eventually stop growing the huge amount of weeds and we can plant seeds on those rows without "losing" them in the weeds. Later in the year, we can run it down the rows between the crops to clear weeds and break up the soil to give the roots more oxygen and water.

It's still really cold in the mornings - 18 degrees this morning along with fog. Brrrrrr. This cold is really important for the fruit trees as they have to have so many "frost hours" to produce. The days have been nice - up to the 60's. If we can't have rain, at least we have nice afternoons.

I have some great pictures to show you in the next couple of days. We had a "suprise visitor" to the neighborhood. Keep in touch and don't shop till you drop.

If men liked shopping, they'd call it research. ~Cynthia Nelms

Triplets!

We went to town today to buy supplies and noticed that one of our goats was all by herself. As this is not normal, I was concerned but she was eating well so we left her there. When we came back, she was in the same place but she now had 3 cute little kids under the tree!

We took her a little extra sweet feed and I took these pictures (being careful not to get to close). They are just the cutest thing you have ever seen. They were just getting up and trying out their "sea legs". We will have to keep a close eye on them to make sure she is able to feed all three. If not, we may have to bottle feed one (not really what we want to do).

It has been really cold at night - 24 degrees this morning, but I think she will curl up with them and all should be well.

I'll let you know how things go. Have a great Christmas week!

The domestic goat (Capra hircus) was the first animal to train humans into protecting them full-time. The species is believed to have been first domesticated around 10,000-12,000 years ago in both the Zagros Mountains of modern-day Iran and in Anatolia along the Euphrates River.

From the Farm

The ram with the really cool horns is name Lucius. He was given to us by a local rancher, Kathy Kroker, from whom we also bought some ewes. I think one of the best things about being a "small farmer" is the other people we meet that also make their living in agriculture. I could fill a notebook with their names.

We have had really cold nights this month. It was 28 this morning and is going to be colder the next few nights. Unfortunately, this had delayed planting for us but better safe than sorry. The days aren't too bad and I've heard that we will have 70 degree weather during the day this weekend. Sounds heavenly.

My darling son James is coming home from South Carolina (army training) tomorrow. Yipee!

A wealthy landowner cannot cultivate and improve his farm without spreading comfort and well-being around him. Rich and abundant crops, a numerous population and a prosperous countryside are the rewards for his efforts.
Antoine Lavoisier

Mangalitsa Ham at Costco & Coyotes

We had an interesting night Sunday. I woke up around 1:30 am and heard Angel barking her "I've got it cornered" bark. We got out of bed and threw on some sweats to go find out what was going on. Flashlight in hand, we jumped in the Kabota (boy was it cold!) and headed toward her sound. Marvin had to run up a really steep hill to get to her. She had a coyote down and was circling it. She had injured it mortally and was not going to leave it willingly. It's good to know we have our livestock protectors hard at work. We have enough trouble with the bald eagles having chicken for lunch - we don't need coyotes having them for midnight snack.

I found this ad online from Costco. These are the little fellows we are raising:

Online price $389.99
Less -$120.00
YOUR COST $269.99

If you are a connoisseur of Italian Prosciutto or Spanish Serrano ham, hold onto your seat because this ham is going to blow your taste buds away! This very limited produced ham is usually only offered in exclusive 4-star restaurants for upwards of $20 or more for a 2oz portion, but for a limited time is available to Costco members while supplies last.

A D’Artagnan exclusive in America, this Mangalica breed, Spanish Dry-Cured Ham is super premium, truly unique, and incredibly rich and delicious. The distinctively rich flavor and succulent ham naturally has abundant marbling which ensures a tender, flavorful ham that you will be proud to serve, that is if you can convince yourself to share….

Often referred to in the USA as “wooly pigs”, Mangalica pigs are an old-world breed native to the mountains of Hungary. The pigs are slow growing and they require large tracts of pasture as they are natural foragers. The cold climate of the Hungarian Steppe, is perfectly suited for the free-ranging Mangalica pigs, who are covered with a thick coat of curly hair to help protect them from the frigid elements. As with many indigenous breeds whose husbandry is less efficient, raising Mangalica fell out of favor. This breed was brought back from the brink of extinction by some renegade farmers who created a program to save it.

D’Artagnan is extremely proud of our Mangalica ham which is handcrafted in Spain by fourth-generation master charcutiers using traditional dry-curing methods that bring out its unique flavor. Our ingenious, Spanish ham producer procured these Mangalica in order to create a totally distinct ham. The average Mangalica ham is dry-cured for almost 3 years, compared to 9-12 months for similar-style hams. Because the Mangalica pigs have a high fat content, the Mangalica hams can cure longer than traditional hams, allowing a deep, rich flavor to develop while retaining proper moisture content.

D’Artagnan’s Mangalica ham is very versatile and requires no preparation except to slice thin and enjoy. Each ham weighs a minimum of 8 lbs, is nicely trimmed and ready to serve. Treat yourself and loved ones to this rare and decadent treat this holiday season!

Super premium, truly unique, and incredibly delicious
Distinctively rich flavor and succulent ham
Mangalica pigs are an old-world breed
Handcrafted in Spain by fourth-generation master charcutiers
Very versatile and requires no preparation except to slice thin and enjoy
Minimum 8 lbs
Price per pound with shipping included: $48.75



I guess those little guys of ours had better get busy and grow fast!

We have been having fun at the farm. Last year, winter slowed down a bit for us - not this year! We have been prepping the ground and planting our hay crop. Marvin is in the middle of getting the beds ready for vegetable planting. We have purchased a couple of new pieces of equipment to help make them perfect (according to my husband).

This time of year is so wonderful. As I've gotten older, I realize that the gifts are not the important part of the holidays. I focus more on spending time with those whom I have lost touch.

I've already decided on my New Year's resolution. This last year has flown by. Although I absolutely love my life on the farm, I also have 2 other part time jobs. I realize that I am missing out on "fun" things and true down time. I am resolving to plan one special day each month. I will plan an entire day without thinking about anything but enjoying the day. I will do one "mini trip" - visit Monterey or Santa Barbara or San Francisco or ??????

Hope you have a blessed week.

Christmas is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart. ~Freya Stark

Our new toy!

This beautiful blue tractor is the newest addition to our farm. We needed to upgrade to a larger tractor in order to prep and work the planting beds for the veggies. This machine is much more than that. My favorite past time is to disk. I can be out of on the tractor and no one can disturb me. The patterns in the soil are highlighted by the sun. It is such a satisfying pleasure to see the dirt clods become smaller and smaller each time the ring roller passes over them. Now we have a new and better toy. Power steering makes it possible to go around a corner using 2 fingers. There are many more gears than I know how to use with automatic transmission. It has an airtight cab with air conditioning, heater and stereo. Life doesn't get much better than this. One of the main reasons we got the enclosed cab was the recent increase in cases of Valley Fever. Just tonight, this article was on the KSBY website:

Cases of valley fever have been on the rise on the Central Coast the past couple of years.

Valley fever is caused by a fungus that grows in the ground.

When its spores get into the air, they can be inhaled and can attack the lungs.

People are more susceptible to valley fever in dry, windy conditions, like the weather we are experiencing now.

"Valley fever is a scary situation, very scary," Paso Robles Resident John Osman got valley fever three years ago. He still does not know how or where he contracted it..

"It attacked my right lung and my shoulders I have a friend who got it and it attacked his spine and he's paralyzed now from the waist down," said Osman.

Doctors said severe cases like meningitis are rare and that most people with valley fever never have symptoms. Others will feel like a cold or flu is coming on and sometimes people do get a rash.

People are most susceptible to it in the summer and the fall.

"When people breathe in the dirt that's circulating in the air during the dry periods of summer and fall they develop the fungal infection in their lungs," said Michelle Shoresman, the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program Manager.

She added that there are ways to protect yourself:

-if you can, stay away from dust clouds
-if you have dirt around your home, plant ground cover
-or water dirt down during windy conditions
-and people in agricultural areas should take the most precautions.

"We've had a steady increase over the last two years, but we actually have fewer cases right now than we did last year. It's just generally a little higher than what you would consider normal," said Shoresman.

In most cases valley fever goes away without treatment. Otherwise, it can be treated with anti-fungal medication and in the most severe cases, surgery is needed.


The pretty green carpet in the back of our truck is really brocolli and cauliflower seedlings that will be planted this week along with a multitude of seeds and garlic.

I like this quote by Jeff Foxworthy:
"That's the great thing about a tractor. You can't really hear the phone ring."