Elk on Farm at Night

The Elk! The Problem! The Meeting!

Can you see them? Only a few are in the photo there are many (200) more in this area. Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife had a public meeting about Elk Management. Something has to be done to get the herd much smaller. Many people, many ideas, many concerns. Suggestions like Wolves, birth control, trapping, etc. People who don't mind the elk, but really dislike the hunters. City people who are having their landscaping, and vegetable gardens destroyed. People who don't like guns. I just want the numbers reduced. These animals destroy our fences, and our pastures..and they can do it very quickly. Privately, the officials told us that they will have some kind of antler less hunt, for the private landowners, to enable us to reduce the elk numbers. They are required to have this meeting, to meet the obligations, before they can take action. What irked me most, was one of our neighbors, who said that no one should expect to raised cattle or hay in our area! This guy is crazy, and he has now made his neighbors unhappy with him. He should have kept his mouth shut. We are not telling him that he can not have his 6-8 mules, or that it is wrong to do. Other people complained over, and over about the people who want to hunt this herd. Well, most private landowners do not want anyone on their land. They will make exceptions for a few family and friends.

It is beginning to look a little like spring, with snow!

The daffodils are blooming and it is snowing!

It is so nice to work outside, I planted new strawberry plants, and stained new wood planters. Transplanted some things, and the basil is germinating in the greenhouse. Then it snows for two days. We do need the snow, because we just do not have a snow pack this year. I saw a spear of asparagus coming up, some of the old raspberry's too. I need get some lumber to make three new raised beds in the vegetable garden and fill them up with soil and compost. I need to get some broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts planted! The new raspberries are not showing any signs of life... are they dead? The rose is actually alive, surviving the extreme cold, however, the artichoke's did not.

Apple Pie

Apple Pie for hubby, Terry.

My hubby loves apple pie. It was raining and windy today...so...time to bake. I make the homemade filling and can it. I use the extension office recipe and canning instructions, and it comes out very good. It is rustic and yummy, not at all like frozen or store made pie.

I was in a cooking mood, I also made orange/coconut scones, banana nut muffins, oat bread, cream of chantrelle soup (from my hand picked and dried mushrooms), and dutch oven mac & cheese. All this home cooked food will keep Terry in bliss for awhile.

News from the Farm

NEWS FLASH !! Baby born Sunday!

Here is the new addition to the farm. Mom, Daisy Mae (after the Dogpatch cartoon) has given birth again. This is her fifth calf, a healthy Dexter. They are soooo cute. I never get tired of the baby animals. To note, I think it is a girl. I have been keeping an eye on the mom for a few days, and I knew it was about to happen. Yay, happy, happy!