<![CDATA[Big Green Acres - A Project of Organic Gardening and Cooking

<![CDATA[Big Green Acres - A Project of Organic Gardening and Cooking - News]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 14:21:03 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[My Mother's Day]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 08:52:07 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/05/my-mothers-day.htmlHope all the Mothers in my life had as good a day as me! It was wonderful!

My car and rototiller were fixed. Farmer J, The Lad, and the Hon Yaks helped with the yard. The front yard got weed-eaten and raked. All manor of debris put in a pile by the trash. The back yard got steer manure thrown around and turned under.

It is now ready to plant.

I could NOT be happier! It begins...finally!

I have been waiting to get this years garden going. I feel better armed against the elements this year. I have a really good space to plant the "first years" (tomatoes, peppers, squash). The Lad's Dad told me to put my garden in this spot. He was the green thumb. The other plants will go into last years garden.

I hope to be preparing a new space for planting shortly after planting the dirt I have ready now. I also want to start a new compost heap. I raked up a bunch leaves yesterday in the front yard that would work nicely in a heap. A few other stops to get egg shells and coffee grounds and it will be off to a nice start.

I want to say thank you to all my loved ones that helped yesterday. It means so much to me to have you all support me in my endeavors. Your love gives my dreams power.

So, today, as everyday, I feel gratitude for all the love that surrounds and protects me.

From now on, I will be posting more regular because I will have garden news.

Blessings to all!

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]]><![CDATA[Happy May Day]]>Tue, 01 May 2012 14:53:12 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/05/happy-may-day.htmlAs a child, the first of May was a big deal. We spent days making little baskets that held candy. On the first, we would run around town, ringing doorbells, leaving the baskets on their doorsteps and then run away. It was fun.

In later years, the town (or school) would hold a May day ceremony where girls in long dresses danced around the May pole, winding the ribbons of cloth around it. That all seems a little Pagan to me, but I think it is nice to give a little treat to the people we care about. Let them know someone is thinking of them.

Now...on to other topics. I have been digging up my garden space with a shovel. I can't wait for a tiller anymore. I have too many plants that needed to go in the ground last week.

I have been watering the soil so it is easier to use the shovel. I stick the shovel in the dirt and just stand on it. I let my weight do the work. I am waiting on a few things and then I can put my plants in the dirt! I can hardly wait.

Another thing I am doing is a five day, full body fast and cleanse.

I have recently been on antibiotics several times for my teeth which really is hard on my digestive system. So I am fasting to flush and restore my intestinal tract to a properly functioning system. I hope. This is day 2 of the fast. Yesterday was tough, I have to say. It is easier today. I am also doing a candida cleanse at the same time. If I do this right, I will be feeling better and losing weight.

Yeah! Let's hope it works.

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]]><![CDATA[The Bird's Baths]]>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:48:37 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/04/the-birds-baths.html

Saturday we cleaned out the "Bird Bath". As we begin to fill it up, Nosy Geese 1 & 2 show up.

"What's goin' on?"
"Isn't it obvious? They FINALLY come out to clean up our bath. Hope they did a good job this time!"
"Let's go eat. It will be a while before it is ready".

(Watch the geese in the background)
DUCKS...
"Watcha doin'?"
"Takin' a Jet-plane bath. Come on in! It's great!"
"What's a Jet-plane bath?"
"That's where I swim in circles as fast as I can and splash real big!"

"ZOOM. ZOOM."

"That looks like fun!"

"Make room...here I come!"

"Boy, this IS fun!"

"Hey! What are you ducks doing? Stop wasting all that clean water! You Guys mess everything up."

"Whoa! He sounds real mad!"

"GET OUT OF MY POOL!!"

"OK!!!! Sheeze...what a grouch!"

"Butts up!"

"That's MY pool and don't you forget it!"

THE END

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]]><![CDATA[All The Babies]]>Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:58:25 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/04/all-the-babies.html

Babies...

More babies...only younger. Somewhere around 40...or so. Altogether. As you can see, they showed up in batches. Some are bigger. Those wily Momma ducks hid their nests well.

Farmer J was worried that some of the Momma ducks were too young to be effective at keeping them safe. So, we have been tending them in the house. Until a few days ago.

In the right hand corner is a wire fence with plywood on top for shelter. It used to have wood around the bottom to help keep the babies inside. They stayed in there for a few days before we set them free. We thought it might make it an easier transition for the babies to be with the other birds.

Farmer J is filling a few 'ponds' for their swimming pleasure.

Some of the babies took off as a group. I guess they were a little scared and lost.

Then...the bossy geese come to the rescue.

Here are some more geese bossing around the other babies. They are working together to get all the babies in one spot.

I find this all amazing.

The ducks could care less about the babies anymore. I guess that is the main reason Farmer J took them inside in the first place.

While the babies were in the cage, the geese hung around their playpen...the whole time. The geese have been sitting on their own eggs. So far, no goslings. In fact, last year the geese were here first. I wonder, if they are missing having their own young and are fostering the ducklings to fill the need.

Geese are way better parents, they all share in the responsibilities. They 'work' in at least pairs, and take shifts, and are always on-call.

Watching all the animals do their thing is amazing to me. We even heard Quagmire the rooster singing to his girls. Not the cock-a-doodle thing, it was more of a whisper. A one note whisper. I think he was trying to hypnotize them. Maybe it worked on me.

Anyway...it was a most relaxing day.

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]]><![CDATA[Busy Gal]]>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:56:43 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/04/busy-gal1.html

Just to let you know...I have been busy with many projects lately. I made NEW covers for the couch, using scraps from the last time I made covers. There was JUST enough material to do it. By the time these covers fall apart, it will be time for a new couch. I hope.

Here is a bad picture of this Scrub Jay that is living in my yard. He has a mate, too. All day long he is looking in our windows, looking for Bad Dog. First it is the front window. Then the back slider door. Every once in a while, Bad Dog will run at the windows growling very fiercely. It took me a while to realize she was cussing out the Jay.

Yesterday we were outside taking pictures and HE followed us around, squawking at Bad Dog. My conclusion is they have a nest somewhere out there that they are protecting.

Another thing that happened yesterday is Bad Dog chased a squirrel up a tree. AND...it just froze. I threw a few sticks at it (a real bad shot) and it still didn't move. So...Bad Dog and I came back in the house and watched this squirrel for about an hour.

When he finally started moving, I waited till he was coming down the tree and then I let Bad Dog out to scare it out of the yard. I want them afraid to come in the yard.

The Bad thing is that their memories are short.

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]]><![CDATA[What Makes Me Laugh]]>Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:34:46 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/04/what-makes-me-laugh.html

What you are about to see is a battle for the empty bottle.

I simply CANNOT look at these pictures without laughing. I hear their cries and all the struggles. The pushing and shoving. I also know that the one with the nipple has a death grip on it.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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]]><![CDATA[Climbing!]]>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:28:30 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/04/climbing.html

Here is Dottie. She has figured out how to get on top of the goat barn.

Dottie is a perfect name for her.

How cute! I just love these babies!

Every single one of them...

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]]><![CDATA[All The Love]]>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:29:38 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/03/all-the-love.html

Today I was looking through pictures I took at Farmer J's. This picture was taken the other day. Farmer J was making the bottles and we went in the pen to play with the babies and I took pictures. The Lad would run and the babies would follow. They all had GREAT fun. Especially The Lad. He has offered to help feed the baby goats several times. I like this. By the look on his face...so does he.

Actually, The babies love it too.

Like I said...lap goats.

The Lad is trying to pet them all at once. The thing about these pictures is...they do not show how fast their little tails are wagging.

Even the dog wants in on it. But...I am not sure if he wants to protect them or eat them. He licks his lips a lot!

This is Dottie getting a kiss from Bittie.

Long after the babies had gotten full, The Lad was making sure they didn't want anymore. I am glad he is enjoying these babies.

They can use all the love they can get. But, then again, can't we all?

]]><![CDATA[All Is Well]]>Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:23:06 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/03/all-is-well.html

This is what showed up at Farmer J's this morning. Only three. There are 23 adult ducks...and three babies. So far. Hopefully we will end up with a few more than last year.

Here is The Lad...running with the kids. Or lap-goats, as I call them. Look at their ears flopping around. Too cute!!!

I think they are just too cute! The Lad does too. We are getting ready to feed.

It pretty much takes two people to feed. Three bottles needs three hands.

This is what happens when a bottle empties. It ends up being a fight till the finish. The one in the foreground is the male. He usually wins any fight.

Farmer J loves them too. Look at his happy face. Three more months of this may change that.

But for now...all is well.

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]]><![CDATA[What I Like To Hear]]>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:19:32 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/03/what-i-like-to-hear.htmlYesterday, I spent all day at the local hospital with a friend who was having cancer surgery. It was an all day thing...from 8:30 a.m., to 8:00 p.m. I felt so bad for my friend. They had her running around all over the place. Me, too!

At one point, they had transported us to a site several blocks away. Once there, they informed me I would not be allowed to ride back. I would have to walk back to the hospital. They took me somewhere, dropped me off, and refused to take me back. That was first thing in the morning. How do you think the rest of the day went?

One of the things about helping this woman, is she has the same Dr. my husband had. The one Dr. I do not like at all. In taking her around for all her appointments, I have had to re-visit places that I first went for The Lad's dad. I have had to talk to someone I was expecting to never ever see again in my life. I can tell you now...I like him even less now.

It makes me wonder why? Why am I being confronted with the same Dr.? I know he is not the only cancer Dr. there is in the Antelope Valley.

I felt like I needed to be fierce and defensive. Which made me feel angry and irritated all day. I even had words with a woman in the waiting room. I am still a little cranky. Way off-center.

Good news...the surgery went well and it hasn't traveled to her lymph nodes. Some radiation treatments and she should be fine. At least that is what they tell us.

I called her today and she is taking it easy, and feeling pretty good.

That is what I like to hear.

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