Nap-time for kids = nap-time for animals.

After a few days with our niece and two nephews, the animals have been officially exhausted!

The boys.

Here's a promised photo of the boys.  

Little Ringo is so small he keeps slipping out of his jacket. Even with the straps tightened as far as they can go it's still too big for him!  They are both doing well and we hope to get Flash drinking his milk from a bucket this weekend.

So it begins...

The "Critter Hauler" was called in to action for the second time yesterday and two new friends came bumping home over muddy, rutted roads.  We welcome Flash and Ringo, this year's Jersey bull calves, to Silver Hill Farm.  Two and one week old, respectively, they already seem to be fitting right in to our barn.  Being our second go around with these critters certainly seems to make things a bit easier and we are back in action carrying full four pint calf bottles back and forth to the barn.  Even naming the boys took far less consideration.  In case you are wondering, Flash was named for his white spots and uncanny ability to evade capture during loading in the truck.  The name given by the farm kids, Wind Rider, fit well but is a bit unwieldy and hard to remember.  Though a week younger and much smaller than Flash, Ringo has already shown his exuberant personality.  He just is a Ringo.  Pictures in their designer calf blankets to follow.

 

Happy first day of Spring.

 



Grow Lights

So far our onion experiment seems to be working well, with the help of a grow light.  We also recently started some lettuce and spinach in the basement.  If all goes well, we may build a greenhouse next year.  This would allow us to start seeds inside earlier, moving the transplants to a greenhouse in the spring, before planting the final garden at the end of May.  The slow pace of winter tends to bring up such projects!

And speaking of slow pace...winter is definitely ENDING.  This means that Silver Hill Farm will awaken once again and the chaos of springtime will soon be upon us.  So, get out the baby bottles because starting this weekend, two more baby bull calves arrive!  

Here we go...

E-mails from a husband.

Some people see Jesus's image on their burnt toast, but Eric simply sees happiness in his morning glass of orange juice.  He then proceeds to e-mail the following:

Subject: "My OJ..."

Message:  "...smiles at you."

Garden 2016

Let the planting commence.  Onions are "in the ground" so to speak.  We now have a flat planted and on a heat mat.  Hopefully we will have better luck with the alliums than we have before.  Otherwise, we'll just bring in starts once the weather warms.  All of the other seeds have been purchased and are patiently waiting for their turn on the kitchen table.

My favorite birthday presents!

 People give packages.

Harvey brings a dead shrew.

Maybe dinner and a movie for later?  More shrews, perhaps?