Author: Re-Farmer

Looking back: remembering

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Two years ago today, my older daughter and I started our drive out to the farm.

The movers were such a disaster, we had to leave before they were finished.

We were able to look back on it last year, with a different perspective. Mostly, just relieved that it was over, and in the hope we’ll never have to go through that again!

By this time last year, we were getting into the routine of living out here, and taking care of the critters.

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Most of the cats that were regularly with us in that first year are gone now. Only Beep Beep and Butterscotch are still here, as they have been since while my father was still around. I found pictures of them from when I was able to come out for a visit in 2015.

Which makes me happy. My dad did love the yard cats!

The Re-Farmer

Looking back; a year, and two, ago today

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Two years ago, the movers arrived.

So began what was probably the worst move we’ve had.

Okay, so there may have been one other that was worse, but that was because we all came down with the flu and got so sick, I actually collapsed from illness and exhaustion. Which has never happened to be before or since.

But we didn’t have to deal with a moving company that time. They were supposed to make things better. Not worse! Having to spend hours in the van, with the cats, trying to keep our plants and fish from freezing didn’t help, either.

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A year later saw things much improved. Rather than having to deal with all the hassles of moving, we were into our routine of keeping this place going –

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– and sometimes finding damage done by the deer that were visiting regularly!

The Re-Farmer

Crabapple Cider Vinegar, part 3 – the finished product

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Part 1
Part 2

The cider vinegar I made using our crabapples was due to be ready somewhere between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, or to taste.

I checked the flavour somewhere in between then, before moving it to the fridge. Here is what it looks like.

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Making Sauerkraut – the finished product

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I’m a bit behind on this, as the last surviving jar of sauerkraut was ready almost 2 weeks ago.

This sauerkraut is from a very basic, small batch recipe. You can check out the making of it in this step-by-step post. (link will open in a new tab)

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Photo(s) of the Day: water cats

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Before things started to stay below freezing, I was able to give the bird bath a thorough scrubbing and add a bit of water. Which froze overnight, so I added more in the morning.

The cats just can’t get enough of that. Here, the top layer has frozen, so there are bubbles moving underneath that entrance them, but even while the water is freshly added, they’ll jump into it, getting their paws all wet!

Silly kitties.

They’re going to have to stop doing that soon, or they’ll get frostbite!

Not the problem I expected to have!

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When we rigged up the shelf outside the sun room to be a cat shelter, there were a few things I identified as potential problems. The tarp is staple gunned in place, for example, and I could see those giving out easily.

What I never imagined happening, however, is what I found this morning.

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Winterizing: sun room and cat shelter

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It warmed up a little bit today, so we got to work on winterizing the sun room. When that was done, I was even able to modify the shelf we have outside the sun room into a cat shelter.

What a job it was, too!!

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