Foiled Again...

Doug and my mom were supposed to be meeting with the guy today to talk about getting our back property line cleared for a fence and having the other 16 acres he cleared disked and raked so we could get some grass seed out there for the cattle. Unfortunately, due to this cold front, he had some work he had to get done for another guy before the cold front came in. So we have to postpone the work a little while longer. GGGRRRRHHHH!

Zen And The Art of Farm Maintenance

We got a lot of work done one the property this weekend. In fact, aside from the stock tank, I think we got more done on the property this weekend than all of last year.

Doug and my mom put t-posts along the fence line where there were just twisted spacers. Then we went in and wire clipped the barbed wire to the t-posts. Wire clipping the barbed wire to the t-posts is actually really meditative. But, after awhile, you forget to meditate because your hands can't even grip the plyers anymore.

This was Thursday and Friday. Saturday we continued down the fenceline, removing prickly pear and pencil cactus, along with some mesquite trees, as we went. I HATE CACTUS! (insert footstomp here) I know it serves a purpose...but when you have to dig out entire neighborhoods of it that are older than you are, it gets tedious. Plus I think I have stickers in places that have never even seen the light of day and I was stuck using The World's Heaviest Shovel. On a side note, yesterday Doug and I saw a shovel with teeth marks in the blade...I was ready to give up our first born for it, to not have to use the other one again, but Doug said he'd rather take a saw to the other shovel and do it himself. Foiled again...

Our tractor was in a low spot where it was moved 30 feet by rainwater overflow the last time it rained 3 inches. Our friend James was wonderful enough to come out with his Jeep and help Doug move it up the hill, where we don't have to worry about it floating down to our neighbors property and can get it fixed.

Getting that done actually felt like the biggest accomplishment of the weekend, though, clearing 165 feet of cactus and mesquite and fixing fenceline is nothing to sneeze at either.

Farm To Do List

1. Clear back property line and install fence

2. Clear roadways around property

3. Buy and spread road base on all cleared roads

4. Rake and disk the 16 acres cleared 6 months ago

5. Continue perimeter and interior fencing

6. Plant native grasses on disked 16 acres

7. Repair tractor

8. Build water troughs and install in paddocks

9. Buy cattle and release on property

10. Build cattle shelter on South corner of property

11. Buy and install solar fence charger

12. Build garden shed that will sub for temp. shelter

13. Install culvert at water feature on easement

14. Improve water quality in tank and stock with fish

15. Dig second tank

16. Cut channel from 1st tank to 2nd tank

17. Improve channel between tanks for improved drainage

18. Improve dams on both tanks

19. Dig water well

20. Improve paddock fencing

21. Buy and release goats on paddocks

22. Establish rotation and implement

23. Disk the garden and plant

24. Install irrigation

2010 Resolutions

Piano –Complete Music Theory Book (Complete 1 Chapter per week), then move on to other music theory books
Practice 30 minutes 4x/week

Healthy Eating & Weight Loss –
Pick 1 ingredient each month and make at least 3-4 recipes using that ingredient
January – Quinoa
February – Broccoli
March – Barley
April – Garlic
May – Carrots
June – Zuccini
July – Basil
August – Summer Squash
September – Tuna
October – Black-eyed Peas
November – Bulgar
December – Duck

Workouts – Strength Training MWF (work through circuit on home gym)/Cardio TuTh (30-45 minutes on stationary bike)

Property –
Create to do list with Doug and post on blog

Coven -
Meet every 2^nd & 4^th Friday

Garden –
Grow enough food to make one meal (this is apparently a stretch for me)
Follow planting schedule on Angel Song Acres Farm

Homework – Weekly, review where I am at with my goals and if I am still on track. This will probably happen at Sunday breakfast.