Will the farm see a week of rain?  perhaps.  Round #2 of kidding is about to begin, so why not?

Trip to KC for auto work, then IKEA.  Lots of chores getting done around the farm.  Even got watercress for the honkers.

Blind Hog and Acorn have been busy...  Goose huts completed, a break in the weather and an impromptu trip off the farm to Hot Springs National Park and Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Wheeeeee!  All the funs!  Alas- but no diamonds were discovered...

Blind Hog and Acorn had a busy week- cleaning, farm chores, sausage making and also a trip to the art museums in Arkansas for some plain old fun.

Finally getting some decent rain, but will it be more than a drop in the bucket?  Time will tell!

Blind Hog was getting ready to load the cattle chute on the buyer's trailer when OH NO!  A front tire was "off the rim" flat.  Nothing could be done but to soldier on.

Chute loaded, tractor moved out of the drive, and the buyer just happened to have a cordless impact wrench...  Tried to reinflate the tire but alas, the bead would not set.

Other than that, snow has been melting, sausage has been ground, mixed and experimented with, Norwegian rose plants continue to sprout- up to 9 seedlings now, transplanted into larger pot.  Have lost a few but more may still come up...

About 7.5" +/- and it is a lovely powder.  Has already shrunk down to 3" in the past week.

Bitter cold temps, livestock managing.  Goats have even been going out to the fields, even the big boys.

A trough deicer was caught in the act of melting down, replacement procured.  Acorn went for a couple walks down the road- currently is too slick to risk a fall.  Three little Norwegian roses are sprouting, will more seeds erupt?

Blind Hog and Acorn have been good little scouts- preparations planned, implemented and the farm is ready for a 10 day hunker-down, if need be.

Plan for the worst, be surprised with anything less...

Cattle squeeze chute put on the market and snapped up in a matter of hours- just have to wait for a break in the weather so the buyer in St Louis can come and fetch.  he is most happy to have found it, as are we.

Week 9 completed now post op and Acorn feels 100% back to normal.  Not quite able to lift as before but- overall?  Better x10... 

Back to baking...

Blind Hog and Acorn are going to be refencing, and both had the idea of looking into a survey prior to doing any work.  Much has been learned about the history of the farm, the only known registered survey (circa 1925), about how witness rocks were placed not at corners exactly, but in the survey line "near" the corners.  Much fun trying to find them.  They have 2 down, 2 to go...

Field fence will be replaced with high tensile grade 3 galvanized 1348-12.  An offset hot wire will only be needed to keep the goats from rubbing their sheddy coats on the fence...  Little tufts of white down everywhere, but the birds love it.

Acorn is down with week 8 of hip surgery recovery- 99% back to normal, but still not going for long walks down the road quite yet.

Acorn has been given the green light to move about, almost like normal.  Who knew bending over would bring such joy?

Plans being made for the garden.  Watering system discussed...  Goats and geese doing just fine.  Travel this year may well be limited to 1-2 nights away- Acorn wants to christen her senior lifetime National Parks pass...  Someone's picture is NOT on the senior pass, just the annual pass...

A bit of football to entertain the farmers the next couple of days.  Gives Acorn an excuse to sit down for a while.  Speaking of sitting down, the guitars got dusted off and Acorn is back to learning to play.  D and A chords in the works.  Lol...

A brisk but sunny day- the farm is very peaceful.

Blind Hog and Acorn muddled through another year on the farm.  2026 looks to be most interesting, like the farmers need anything more interesting...  Normal and dull sounds quite lovely, actually.

New Year's Eve featured fresh ham, New Year's Day had the usual ingredients.

Acorn is thinking about the garden, Blind Hog continues being "farmer in charge" while Acorn continues recovery from hip replacement.

Feeling very fortunate, just wish the world was a kinder, gentler place.

The weather is just CRAZY!  Farmers are not really complaining about the 30-40+ temps above the usual average for this time of year, but 82F going to 30F for highs?  That is just not fair.

A very merry Christmas was held at the farm and what follows is Acorn's birthday a couple days later.  Feasting on herring and pumpkin  pie, and a wonderful Bundt cake, both made by Savi.

Goats kids are doing well, all is swell at the farm...

Happy Holidays and Blind Hog and Acorn with you the bestest of New Years ahead!