We still have wonderful weather here in Kentucky. It's getting warmer and warmer. The leaves of the trees are all out now, it looks so green, you just have to stare at them. As you drive around, the leaves are so new and clean and bright. Every day the scene changes outside, new colors comming on, and my violet has one full bloom. It's just awesome watching everything wake up!

We havn't heard anything on the farm yet. When we went over to the other farm Sunday, we got chiggers and ticks, just a few, and I'm not to thrilled about them buggers. We don't have any here, after years of chickens and guineas, they are gone. I quess we all, including the animals, better start eating more garlic! Oh my. There were a few wasps but not too bad. The woods in the back goes down and up 1/2 mile, as yes, we hiked all the way back.

My truck is loaded up ready to go to the flea market this morning. We need to sell a bunch of extra rabbits, and just stuff we don't need. I'd much rather go looking for stuff than selling! I hope we don't have to haul too much of it back home. The garage/rabbit barn is still too full! Think I can get 10 dollars apiece for those huge spools? What are you all up to this beginning of MAY!

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), April 29, 2001

Answers

The mud has finally dried up. There is still a pile of snow about four feet deep where it was piled with the loader. The maple tress are in bud, but nothing from the oaks, etc. yet. The tomatoes are in the greenhouse, about two inches tall. They'll be in the ground for Memorial Day weekend. The day old chicks and ducks arrived this week and everyone is in the cellar doing well. We are still having some mornings in the 20's, but it has been warming up very nice during the days. Good days to be out working. Our local Massey Ferguson dealer will be picking up our tractor Tuesday for it's spring checkup, before I start tilling the garden. Corn and potatoes will go into the ground in about 3 weeks.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), April 29, 2001.

Good morning to all, It has been really warm here in the 80's the last few days. The grass is green, trees are in full leaf and the garden is doing pretty good. We have planted onions, peppers, carrots and tomatoes this week. This afternoon I am setting out some flowers and seeding some more in the cold frame. Everything is so green and although we are not having much rain, what we do get is the slow, soft kind that makes sleeping so much better. Pastures are being mowed and bare spots reseeded this week. Bought my sweetie a new toy yesterday, a garden cart so he is busy moving rocks for the garden beds. Looking forward to a great garden this year as we sure are putting a lot of work into it. Finally got the electric fence working properly and most of the deer stay clear of it. The turkeys are still sitting although something killed one hen last week. Hope to get some babies in about two weeks if all goes well. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), April 29, 2001.

HURRAY!!! My husband went to a neighbor's yard sale yesterday and found my mother's day present. A wood cook stove! It needs a few parts and is a bit rusted but it was only 100.00! YAHOO!! annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), April 29, 2001.

Hi all well here in se.ks. we could use a little rain maybe tues. finally got the garden in but some of it dont look to good tomatoes and peppers have a white around the edge of the leaves also the cucumbers. eny ideas? but at least its warm i was so tired of cold life is slowley getting back to normal. you all have a good week. Bob se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), April 29, 2001.

Well, we did pretty good at the flea market! Sold all the rabbits, the babies went fast at 4 dollars, and the young adults for 8. I traded 4 for a new wood rocking chair! Didn't sell the spools, but that's ok. I got allot more people waiting for Border pups too! I just had a sign out for the pups, I would never take them to the flea market.

We brought home 4 cases of free tomatoes for the critters and some lettuce too. The veggie guy just gives it away on Sunday afternoon. One of the does I was planning on taking had pulled all her hair last night, so she lucked out and stayed home. She had 5 babies when we got home. We could have sold allot more baby bunnies than we had! I bought 30lbs potatoes, 13lbs bananas, 5lbs apples and some grapes for 9 dollars. I think Steve and I allready ate 20 bananas! I had fun today.

I am getting one and a half gallons of milk a day from the goats and Steve and I can drink ALL we want! The dogs get allot too. We love milk, I don't ever want to dry up all the does at the same time again.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), April 29, 2001.

Good to see you sold some bunnies. I never tried the flea market idea, it sounds like a good one. Right now, we have been advertizing our bunnies in newpaper (free ads for stuff under 100 bucks) with fairly good responses. We have like 8 litters that will be due to sell here in the upcoming couple weeks. Wife has been working on eliminating (through selling) spares and not that good breeders. Lady came to buy a mini lop the other day and picked one, said she really wanted it. She picked the grumpiest old male we have, really good show qualities, though. I told her I would give her a mini rex before I would sell her that one bc she has kids and I want to make sure she is happy with the rabbit she gets. Missed a 25 dollar sale, but hey, oh well. Sold a dryer we decided no longer fit into our lifestyle- we have been hanging clothes since November. Worked fine and all. I bought it 3 yrs ago for 100 bucks. I sold it for 100 bucks. Garden is in, peas are flowering (I dont know whats supposed to happen next, Ill wait and see), corn is up, etc. Over run with radishes and thanking the folks who posted recipees for the buggers. Finally finished working on my trailer. I started with a trailer that was 12 foot long, 5 high. Now its 15 foot long, 6 high. I used all scrap (4' length, except for 10 stud length 2x4 and 4 4x4s) wood. Its painted and nice looking- got tire rack, air foil thing (sloped nose to move air over trailer easier to get better gas mileage), lift up tail gate. Im proud! Business is about to get under way. Waiting for a check to clear before I can get hauling again (homebased business). New plan of attack, larger capacity trailer.. things are looking good this year. Wife has cleared schedule, put in for 2 week notice from feed store. We need to generate some good cash this summer to put away for later. Might build a small barn this week- I have a ton of pressure treated (it was free, arsenic or not) wood to use up. Roofing always seems to get me stuck, though.... I always have to buy something in that department and I m sick of it. I might try thatch=) Any thoughts on roofing, anyone... like free roofing methods? Heck, i will probabally just buy some galvanized next month or something. I got a chance to talk with my folks.... over buying our homestead via our own loan.. they said, if we could come up with loan a-ok. But they said they wouldnt count past payments as anything (over 12k!) because they had to pay settlement costs. We are researching loans and stuff now. Gotta call RHS loan office now, so later.

-- -Kevin in NC (vantravlrs@aol.com), April 30, 2001.

It has been really nice here lately in W. Mt. Sunny days all week. but it has turned a little cool now and a cold front is moving in so says the weather man. That is how it is here in Montana. Sometimes Summer moves thru so quick we didn't even see it. "Here it comes, there it goes!!!" :-).. Hope that don't happen this year.

I am getting ready to have yard sales and/or bake sales. Lots of folks here are doing bake sales. Jobs are so scarce folks have to do something to get creative to earn money. I am in the process of starting a new business and looking for work each week as well. Can't do much about my garden yet..but sure getting "itchy" to start planting. Cleaned out my flower gardens twice,,just to play in the dirt,,:-)..Reading all the garden activities makes me want to get started too. I envy all you folks in the warmer climates,,,keep them gardens full...

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), May 01, 2001.

Yeah Kevin, I know what you mean. Everyone wanted to buy this beautiful huge doe, black and white, for a pet. I had many young adults for sale that were very lovie and tame, but NO, they wanted her. I wouldn't sell her as a pet cuz she BIT me a couple weeks ago, she's gotten herself in a bad mood it seems. All day long I had to say "Please don't stick your finger in there, pet the other ones." Anyway she went to a breeder, and they knew she had an attitude. I'll bet Bambie the bunny is real mad at me now!

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), May 01, 2001.

Here in northwest MO the weather has been beautiful. In fact, I think we skipped over spring and went straight from winter to summer. It has been in the mid-80's all week. Our potatoes, onions, radishes, lettuce, and swiss chard are all up. I got to use my hoe for the first time of the season a couple of days ago. Really enjoyed it, but my kids just rolled their eyes when I said so. I planted my sweet corn and green beans Saturday. We had a shower yesterday. so as soon as it dries enough (later today), I'll get a place ready for the tomatoes and peppers. Also just finished reroofing the brooder house. I have ducks and geese due to hatch out in less than two weeks. Just started another incubator full of duck and goose eggs this morning. Still fighting with our gander, Rex. Are ganders always so mean? He is an Embden and never been teased. Most of the kids hate him. He tries to attack if we just walk past. Told hubby, if we have any ganders hatch out, Rex is history. Getting ready to plant a small herb garden and flower garden. Grass is about ready for the first mowing. Always plenty to do around here. Everyone take care and have a good week. I love the forum. Winona

-- Winona in MO (thompsonwin45@hotmail.com), May 01, 2001.

aah... I do believe Spring has finally arrived here in Ohio (near MI). Sunny and pleasantly warm this week. The new chicks are doing very well as are all the new rabbits. Am just about ready to put plants in (can still have a freeze up into middle of May but plan on using litte greenhouses on a few plants)the vegetable and herb gardens. The tulips just bloomed, the Maple trees have leafed out and the lilac bush is about bloom. The barn smells like fresh straw - I just love this time of year!!

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), May 01, 2001.

I've been soooo busy this week, I hardly have time to read all the threads. Are you all having a good DERBY DAY?! I havn't picked my horse yet, but I will before the race.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), May 05, 2001.

Hi everyone, spring has arrived in west central Manitoba Canada as well. I never gave up hope!! LOL there was sooooo much snow this past winter. Just got my garden space dug up last night. It looks so small and now I am actually thinking about expanding it - this will be the third year I do that. I am considering putting some grass eating critters out on the sparse hayfield that never got hayed last fall. Don't have any fencing so any ideas will be greatly appreciated. I have checked into rebar for posts and adjustable insulators are quite cheap. I do have the tensile wire!! As I only have a 1250 gal water tank and old bathtub, that will mean having that centrally located. Now what will I get for critters. I don't know. Cattle prices are high right now, I have no shelter apart from treerows. Hmmm, could throw up some straw bales I guess. Need inexpensive (under $50) critters. Guess I will have to check out the Western Producer for liquidation stock!! Oh, I am now an organic inspector too so hopefully I will be on the road soon seeing first hand how inventive and thoughtful others are of our wonderful planet. Take care, enjoy spring and celebrate the life force evident in each seed that sprouts and each new soul born onto your place. Take care, Deborah

-- Deborah (djdangel@mb.sympatico.ca), May 09, 2001.