I AM MAKING MY OWN HAY

A personal story

by Deborah `Moon` Moen

Deborah Moon Moen August 8, 2012

Providing food for my livestock is rewarding.

While I cut the hay, I become like a true pioneer woman.

 

Hacking and cutting, soaking up the sun, wiping my brow, and finding coolness in the shade and a frosty glass of iced tea, is a labor of love for me.

• We plant it
• Water it
• Let it grow till about 1 ½ feet tall
• Cut it
• Let it dry in the sun
• Rake it in long rows
• Pitch it in the wagon
• Cover it

Startin' it up is a hoot.

I use a heavy duty weed whacker.

1. I pump it
2. prime it
3. pull on the cord
4. the motor whirls and grinds
5. I heft it off the ground
6. swing it gracefully from side to side, low to the ground.

“Better move!” I say to the mice and moles, “Here I come!”

The hay falls down.

In time I am through. I ask the sun to bake the hay. By noon I am back with a long metal rake with a wide toothy comb. I pull the hay into long rows to help it weave together as it dries.

Raking rows LUF 2012

Afternoon I pitch the hay


 I hold the big black tongue of the wagon and pull her into the rows. As I pitched the wagon is filled with heaping mounds of sweet smelling hay. Husband loved my nice straight rows and I could tell he wanted to load the hay too. I decided to share the hay. I got a big grin from him and he went right to work. A labor of love.

Paul pitches hay as the storm clouds approach Little Utah Farm.

And then to dwell in sovereign barns,
And dream the days away,---
The grass so little has to do,
I wish I were the hay! ~ Emily Dickinson 1890 " The Grass"

My favorite part of home grown hay

Here is a very short video (30 seconds) I made of our llamas eating the home grown hay.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for coming by to visit Little Utah Farm. The rains came shortly after the last stalks of hay were tarped and tucked away that day. But that is a story for next time...

Until then believe in your dreams,

Deborah `Moon`

 

http://www.hayinart.com/001405.html#greenwell

Emily Dickinson(1830-1886).
“The Grass”
from Poems (1890)

The grass so little has to do,---
A sphere of simple green,
With only butterflies to brood,
And bees to entertain,

And stir all day to pretty tunes
The breezes fetch along,
And hold the sunshine in its lap
And bow to everything;

And thread the dews all night, like pearls,
And make itself so fine,---
A duchess were too common
For such a noticing.

And even when it dies, to pass
In odors so divine,
As lowly spices gone to sleep,
Or amulets of pine.

And then to dwell in sovereign barns,
And dream the days away,---
The grass so little has to do,
I wish I were the hay!

Garden- Summer of 2012

Little Utah Farm Garden 2012

We had a very mild winter and felt it was safe to begin early in March to till the soil. We laid out all the compost from the bin onto the garden patch. Paul used his Kabota tractor and then attached a rototiller that he had rented. The tiller made the hard soil and clay like cake flour. It was wonderful!

New Garden rows  April 2012

It was so easy to make the rows. I made it in three sections. In one whole section I planted 92 seeds of Peaches and Cream Corn.

July 17-2012

A garden can teach many things and this year I learned that even though the winter is mild there can still be hard freezes in the spring. We had about 4 of them. It was the second week of May when the corn began to sprout and only 40 seeds out of 92 sprouted. I planted more corn. But all in good time, around July, things began to grow in our garden.




In July the moist air came up from the south and Utah got more rain than we ever experienced in our 4 summers here. With the rain came early and late evening lightening and thunder storms. Everyday the white fluffy thunderhead clouds would rise up over the mountains in all directions and meet somewhere in the middle late afternoon. We are still experiencing these storms well into August..

August 8, 2012



My scoop for Llama Bean Manure Tea.

These elements really nourished our soil and fed the plants. There is such a difference in watering my garden with a hose or the sprinklers with city water and having rain to water your garden naturally. The rain seems to energized the plants and along with my llama bean manure tea, my garden grew by leaps and bound what seemed to be overnight. For llama bean manure tea just put one shovel full of llama beans into a 5 gallon bucket and fill to 3/4 full with water. Let steep for 24 hours up to 2 days and scoop out with a gallon milk just cut like in the picture above.

Pumpkins growing fast August 8 planted in July.

The pumpkins planted in July burst forth towards the garden fence. My Morning Glories bloomed and the watermelon is basketball size and still growing. The Early Wonder beets did really well as usual and the spinach, oh the spinach, was so delicious and grew all season.I even had enough to share with my neighbor. My heirloom tomatoes are just now turning red and yellow. I have yellow pear, Italian and red cherry tomatoes. I just picked my first bowl full. Carrots are still forming and will be ready by fall.

My Queen for the day. My first Morning Glory bloomed. August 12,2012

This is on of my favorite parts of summer when everything is lush and green. I would love to have a camera to watch if the garden grows at night. I did notice that it was the new moon last night and in the wee hours of the morning I went outside to look up at the stars. I noticed Venus and Jupiter bright in the sky along with other sparkling stars. I heard the roosters were crowing and imagined the deer were crossing the road to get a nice breakfast in the alfalfa fields. Me and my friend saw tracks going in that direction on our walks.

Well, that is all for now.
Thank you for stopping by to visit Little Utah Farm.

If you have time, stop by to say hello and `like` our new page on Facebook called Little Utah Farm.

Until we meet again,

Deborah `MOON`

The Magical Orange Balloon

"There's a Bright Golden Haze on The Meadow"

Magic can come into our life through sincere appreciation of precious moments, daily necessities we enjoy, natural bonuses like  sunrises and gravity, sounds that take us deeper into the woods, smells that lift our noses over a knowing smile and walks that stir our heart and limbs...

Today I hit the jackpot !

A manifestation of desire actualized! I am so excited and happy to share this with you. How many of you have ever seen a hot air balloon outside your kitchen door? Well, I have. Here where I live they had hot air balloon festivals in September when I first came to live in Utah. I just about wore myself out jumping up and down like a happy kid and taking pictures and riding bikes to catch up with it to see which alfalfa field it would land in. Sadly they quit having the balloons here 2 years ago last September but the memories and photos always brought it back to life. I held a desire in my heart to see those balloons again. I could clearly feel that. It was not yearning or wanting. It was genuine love and appreciation of their beauty ans uniquness that stirred my heart.

Day before yesterday

 I was walking with my new lady friend next door who is by the way just as we dreamed she would be, kind and fun and generous to be with. We came to a part in the road that brought the memory of the hot air balloons to my mind and I began to tell her about it.

MORE appreciation and general happiness

This morning, I saw that the fields at the end of the road were a golden haze against the rising sun and I began to sing that song from Oklahoma. “Oh what a beautiful morning Oh what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling, Everything's going my way.”

Yep,  sure enough it was definitely going my way because I looked up into the sky and saw a candy corn colored, orange hot air balloon coming over the trees in front of my property. This is ah-mazing ! I quick called my neighbor, Renee to come look. "Waaaa !" we shrieked at the magic orange balloon and then we both slapped a high five in the air.

Goodnes had sent that balloon my way again like “Here you go honey, enjoy”

Me and my GT BMX bike

I asked my husband if he would ride with me to see where the balloon was landing like we did 2 years ago.  Ah.. it was so exhilarating ! We rode like the wind in the fresh morning air like bumble bees chasing the next flower.

We saw the balloon land here in front of The Three Peaks, Iron county Utah






The balloon stood out like a jewel in the rising sun. And I was so inspired to video the moment. Here is the video you can here how excited I am and report the recipe for discovering your heart's desire.

Well, that is all for now. I got another story cookin' on my garden.

Thank you for coming by and visiting Little Utah Farm.

Until next time,

Believe in your dreams!

Deborah

Two Horses in Our Dreams

TWO HORSES IN OUR DREAMS: A GLIMPSE INTO OUR IDEAL FUTURE

This morning while gazing out the window, I see these two beautiful horses grazing on the front lawn. Ha ha ha I even rubbed my eyes as I have been so euphoric lately. I thought I was seeing things

Like a kid on Christmas morning I let out a hard to hold in yelp of joy and got my husband and the halter Paul keeps ready just... in case... We got to keep them for a few hours in our pasture. They were so friendly and easy to halter and guide.



Two horses on our front lawn

They went right though the gate and into the pasture. There were only a few hot breaths and trots in response to the llamas ( horses usually spook at llamas). We were delighted they got used to each other. Paul filled a the bucket with cool water and we hung on the fence watching the whole dreamy scene.





Chico comes to see me.

Back to the horses

I raised my head at the sound of an ATV and sure enough there was a guy with that rancher looking for his horses look. Paul got on his ATV and went after him. Paul found him and they came back down the road together.

Turns out Chico and Trouble live right behind us at the sheep Ranch. Don the owner gave us the privilege of visiting rights from now on. How nice that is. I wanted a few pictures with my handsome horse Chico so I asked Paul to indulge me in my bliss.

Me and Chico = love.

We haltered them back up and walked in a procession down to the ranch with Don on his Honda Rancher. Oh what a wonderful ending to this story. I feel so uplifted and happy to have this unexpected pleasure this morning.

Thank you for visiting, Little Utah Farm
Remember believe in your dreams
Until next time,
Deborah `Moon`

Me and Chico in silhouette sublime and
Paul and Trouble up ahead just about to
 the gate of the sheep  ranch.

In My Dreams Come Flowers

Dreams do come true in many ways.  I had been walking with, Donnetta, my neighbor, down by the Coal Creek, near the Paiute Indian Center. We noticed along the creek's bank, the delightful faces of  Daisy like flowers with a burnt orange centers and bright yellow tips. I had an immediate desire to know their names so I opened my wildflower guide. I felt it was a kind of Gaillardia. While looking it up, I  found a flower that is very adorable to me and makes me smile.  It was Mexican Hat named for the tall center and yellow brim like a sombrero. So cute ! The name of the flower we saw on the bank was  Indian Blanket , a member of the Gaillardia Family.


A few days ago, I was watering my garden and trees and stopped to take a look at some flowers emerging from behind the rabbit bush. My mouth drops open ......there...right in my garden... side by side... are the Indian Blanket and Mexican Hat growing in hard dry clay next to each other.




Indian ~ left and Mexican hat ~ right

I could feel all this excitement well up in that magical moment. This week mother nature sent me flowers exactly as I pictured them.  What else is possible? Check in next week to see what happens next....

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm We hope you enjoyed our post. 

Until next time,
 Believe in your dreams,
Deborah `MOON`

Garden ~ Soil As Soft As Cake Flour

Our garden soil looks wonderful!

This year Paul rented a rototiller for the day at Ahearns Rental on 800 W. It costs about $55. A new one cost $1500. We need it done only once a year. So it was wonderful to have a rental place in town that offered this amazing attachment for our Kabota tractor. The mix of grass clippings, chicken manure and llama beans we added all year long  got mixed into the clay and the blades cut the hard clods of dirt deep and when it was done it looked like course flour.


I made my rows  April 25, 2012. This year we had such a mild winter we were able to start earlier. the earth was so easy to work with. I enjoyed making the 3 sections of rows. The one in the foreground is for Peaces and Cream Corn. I planted 95 seeds.





I made my rows the next day.

The little green tips of corn came up one Mothers Day May 13. I was so excited !

Peaches and Cream Corn Sprout

I discovered a volunteer Wallflower and last years Catnip in one of my garden boxes. How nice to see it there.

I am planting celery, beets, parsnip, radishes, spinach, carrots, squash, pumpkin and more to mark what was in the rows I cut stakes out of a milk jug and painted them with acrylics. It was so much fun adding color to the garden.




Homemade plant stakes

Thanks for visiting Little Utah Farm. Say..How does your garden grow?
Until next time, Happy Spring !
Deborah

Panguitch, Utah

Paul Moen with rainbows of inspiration

It was that time of year when Panguitch, Utah holds their historical Quilt Walk. Seven very brave and dedicated settlers walked over freezing deep snow to get supplies in the town over the mountains. Their families had little or no food.  They made their way through the deep snow by laying down one of the hand made quilts they took along on their journey. They would walk across one quilt then lay another down. Panquitch ( an Paiute Indian word for `big fish`)  Social hall was draped with beautiful handmade quilts for the occasion. The first settlers were run out of the area by the Paiute Indians.

Social Hall in Panguitch, Utah

Panguitch Social Hall full of quilts and will be
 showing the story of the quilts in a play later on in the day.

At 10 AM there was a parade of tractors and vintage cars. Panguitch, Utah is a beautiful town with old buildings and historical brick homes. Their shops are filled with  true western antiques, cowboy chaps and old bear, buffalo and horsehair coats and saddles that look like they are from Don Quixote. Their is one place called Smokin' Hot Antiques who had their business in the Old Fire Station. Very nice atmosphere and lot of good energy in that place which accounted for all the customers coming in to get their choice of vintage wares from leading edge cookware of the 18oo's and early 1900's to  the `got to have it ` kitchen gadgets and more. I saw a brightly colored metal butterfly with a filigree sign that read "Be gentle to yourself" Paul bought it for me as an Anniversary gift. We were married 11 years ago June, 9, 2001.

There was the deep metal green `Thunder Horse Mercantile` building from 1906. The windows were layered with paper antiqued with browned crinkly corners. There was an opening where the paper sagged. I leaned inward... squinted and saw these awesome chandeliers layers with antlers and a wood floor and shelves that must have held various sundries and wares long ago. So much potential here and really it is good the way it is for now.  Here is a short video of the parade Paul was yesterday. You may like what you see and travel here someday.

Paul went on to win 1st Place at the tractor pull. The stadium bleachers are old and weathered but provides a breezeway and welcome shade or shelter from the weather. It looks like it was built in the 1930's. It would be a great project for some Eagle Scouts to sand and paint it again. Actually it is the finest seating this side of Cedar.

Most folks filed in early, after the parade, and watched as the arena set up for the tractor pull. Some kids were playing on the top levels of the stadium seats on an overlook with a nice roof and benches. This cute little boy below was standing up their against the peeling white paint and I snapped his picture along with the others.

The old stadium at Panguitch Fairgrounds

Stadium lookout over the arena.

There was a lovely woman who sat down on the bleachers. I think her name was Alexa. She had on a long black print dress with chunky, very beautiful southwestern jewelry and a very lady like blonde straw hat with a nice smooth rounded top and a slender brim. She also had on a khaki jacket which draped along her body every which way she positioned herself. Very savy with the camera and technology of texting on her cell. She was in her 60's or 70's and just inspired me so much because I am sort of stuck in my stall cleaning couture. I have been lookin' for some feminine attire to wander about the garden in. Anyone have any ideas for me?  Anyway, she asked when the pull began and I did not know. She mentioned forgetting her book so I offered her one of my recent Mary Jane's Farm Magazines and my pink lined paper pad to make notes on such as recipes or organic info. I love Mary Jane's Farm Magazine and she did too. I saw her write up a whole page and smile sweetly at the ideas in that book. She was wanting to make jelly, I think, or that wonderful jam. A really good issue Vol. 11 # 4 I just got it a few weeks ago. Well, she loved it and wrote down the subscription info. Now that I think about it, I should of gave her the card inside to order a subscription. I shared it with my new friends I met there named Samantha and her husband Randy. They were new to the area and moved from Nevada. Everyone seems to know Whittier, CA when they ask me where I am from. Most just say with a smile and nod of their head" Oh yes" They go on to mention they are from Pasadena or San Diego, which are all in Southern California

The tractor pull began and Paul was up real fast.  he was in the 4,000 - 4,500 lbs Class. He really pulled his best on his shiny 1955 Allis Chalmer WD 45. He won 1st place! It was all over pretty quick. We got our lunch of cheese, salami and crackers out of the cooler. The ride home was divine with lots of white headed Yarrow reaching up to the sun and long green valleys and mountains high.  I love this place. Everywhere we go we are in the country! The weather was breezy and easy in the high 60's with blue sky and a few white clouds over the mountains. How does it get any better than this? This was a wonderful wedding anniversary and he took me out to dinner too.

. We are going on a ATV ride with our club at the end of the month back  through the mountains. We will gather for lunch  right in front of the Cowboy Smokehouse on Main St. in Panguitch. I heard that food there is real good so I am looking forward to another fun day.

Thank you for coming by to visit  Little Utah Farm. I love sharing with you. Watcha all been doin'?

Untill next time,

This is Deborah `MOON` Moen signing off.

Over and out here.... in Cedar City, Utah

COUNT YOUR HENS

Women, you are awesome! When you have to excuse yourself from tending to the home and garden and pets there is a big hole left in the fabric of daily events. If someone is caring for the hens for example, make sure they count them before they close the door to the coop. I do that everyday don't you? Making sure every one of my girls have gotten back inside safe and sound is one of my rituals. Well one evening I did not. I began to count, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9... and then I got called to duty elsewhere and snapped the latch on the door as I left.

The next day my dentist appointment went well I had a wisdom tooth pulled. When the Novocaine wore off I was surprised how the side of my jaw began to ache. I know how to care for my own pain with no drugs, using some mind body techniques.  I felt relief in a few minutes and continued to rest. There was a storm coming for the big finale of winter. I felt very confident my grandson had all the hens and llamas fed and watered. Well, he did except for one hen, I call Venus.


It was 2 1/2 days after the icy storm. The temps were freezing at night and the day's bright sun melted the ice off the rooftops. I made my way to the coop to feed breakfast and let the hens out to free range. "Oh hello Henrietta, Betty, and all through the flock I greeted and cooed to them until I noticed, "Where is Venus?" She was no where to be found! I Searched high and low, under and over and even asked husband to search with me outside the fence and around the neighbor's yards.

Terrible flashes of Venus' dead body came to mind as we had just witnessed a stray dog killing chickens across the road. I know better than to not allow my imagination to create such a scene so I began to breathe deeply and gather myself back up. "Whoa Deborah" I said to myself. I looked everywhere out there, no sign, no feathers, no Venus. We went back into the yard and I saw my husband look behind a small area behind the dog house. I mean small, no more than 8" wide, if that, between the back wall and fence. Paul said, " "Deborah, come get your chicken." I saw a white mound of frozen tail feathers. Venus was wedged tight in there apparently frightened by the dogs and could not get back out. Paul said he had to check to see if she was alive before he told me. Up above her dripped icy snow and melted ice water and froze her tail feathers solid. Poor dear Venus. How could I? Well what is done is done and we wrapped her in a towel and took her in. Venus thawed out quite nicely. She is really a healthy strong bird. We fed her warm oatmeal which she gobbled in a hurry. I swooned to think she had not eaten for days. We blow dried her feathers snapped some pictures and took a pair of pliers and cracked the ice off her tail. She was looking really good and bright eyed so we took her back to the coop with her flock. In about an hour you would never know what had happened. She was OK! Yeah ! Man do I ever count everyone of my hens, even the dogs when they come in through the back door at 3 in the morning. I remember once it was so dark when I accidently left Decker out and he... Well that is a story for another time. Here are some pictures of the star of this story, Venus....

Paul feeding Venus

Harley McFarley, our cat,  looks over the scene as Paul feeds Venus her oatmeal and spinach. Windy our dog is in the background. Here is a short clip of Venus in my lap. You can see how good she looks after she thawed out.

Thank you for stopping by Little Utah Farm. Remember, count your hens! (smile*)
Until next time,
this is Deborah signing off here from Cedar City, Utah

New Hens Are Home



Me, MOON,  holding White Eagle and Sister

Our new Hens came after our Rhode Island Red `Lucy` passed in early May. They were a joy to hold. We loved them so much we went and got another at the farm up Mid Valley Rd. Her name is Isis named because of her beautiful eyes.

Egyptian Symbol of the Eye of  Isis



Isis gold and brown and black Aracauna

 Out two white girls are Brahmas. Brahmas are originally from India and considered gentle giants and the King of Poultry.



27 days later,  my little cuties are becoming ladies. Spring has sprung and my young ladies are wearing the latest fashion in Brahma couture. White Eagle, forefront, is dripping in diaphanous white, wisping in the wind, as Sister admires the fluff and fancy out Little Utah Farm.

Brahma Hens White Eagle, front, and Sister, background

Even our Border Collie, Golly Miss Kollie, has immediately taken to herding the three hens, Isis (brown and 2 Brahma Angels white are her duty now on Little Utah Farm. She watches them makes sure they stay in line and when they separate Kollie gets worried and tries to figure out out to ...reunite them. The hens, 3 of them, wander behind the shed and Kollie herds them back into the yard. Border Collie's look forward to  having something to herd and watch over. I have heard they will even herd bugs. Kollie feels very proud and purposeful now that she has her new flock to herd.

Kollie is now herding the chicks

I look forward to watching Kollie look after her hens.

Thank you for coming to visit.

Until next time,

Deborah `MOON` Moen
Little Utah Farm,