November is almost done and all is quieting down around here. The does and ewes are all bred, and the bucks and rams are merely intent on eating at this point. The fall leaves were beautiful ... wish I could share photos... but a worst-case scenario computer meltdown destroyed ALL my files and photos. I now have a new CPU, but am having to start from scratch. Hence this much delayed and combined issue of Seasons Bleatings! To add insult to injury, my webhost lost my Seasons Bleatings! mailing list ... so if you would like to be placed back on the mailing list, we are starting over with that too. Just request to subscribe to the newsletter by writing to me at hmffarm@fidnet.com My apologies for the inconvenience.

The Witchy Winetour '07 was alot of fun. Here we are at Heinrichaus near St James, Mo. The witches were happy to be back at the St James wineries and everywhere we went , we were greeted with "the witches are back!". Its nice to be missed. Thats me in the green stripey socks. It's nice to take a day off from farm chores to just have a day of just plain fun. I am also researching the possibility of putting in a small vineyard here at the farm. I really enjoy winemaking (and wine drinking).... it goes so well with goat cheese!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the potential which continually reveals itself here at the farm. I am thankful for the beautiful cycles and interlocking systems that make farm life self sustaining and fulfilling. I am thankful for my amazing grandchildren who make every day a challenge... I mean, more interesting. I am thankful for my family and friends who help on the farm and keep me connected with life OFF the farm. I am thankful for all of YOU who appreciate my efforts to produce a quality product and help me make my bills each month. I would not be here without you. For all these things, I give thanks. I am truly blessed and all things are possible.

Holiday Gift Idea: a gift certificate for livestock or fleeces from HMFF in 2008!

Its hard to gift wrap a sheep, keep a bunny in a box, or choose a fleece for a picky spinner. A gift certificate , in any amount and redeemable at the farm for livestock or spinning lessons.... or at my ebay store towards any fleece (or other item), will help solve that dilemma. A holiday email with an attached certificate can be sent OR I can send a hardcopy of the certificate via the snail mail. Just contact me at hmffarm@fidnet.com to make arrangements.

I have also posted HMFF socks, mittens, hats and other handmades at my ebay store. I am always happy to giftwrap and send to the destination of your choice.

My "little" puppy has doubled her size in the last 6 weeks! I shudder to think how big she will be at maturity...here she is chewing on a stick... a great big puppy with tiny needle teeth. She weighs about 60 pounds now and is solid as a bear. I can't tell you what a comfort she is. I am still looking for a Komondor to partner with her.

From the "Never-a-Dull-Moment" department: HMFF Henriette , my oldest dairy goat, was found mired up to her neck in the mud at the bottom of the newly dug out pond. She was cold and stiff and quite appreciated her rescue. My son Andy found her and dug her out... I hosed her off, put her in a cozy shelter with some warm molasses water, grain and hay. All this in the midst of turkey cooking, of course. Never a dull moment...

Everybody around here is in the same boat. A late spring freeze and a mid summer drought... a bad combination for grass production... and a very poor hay crop for the second year in a row. I have seen people baling grass in October, baling corn stalks and bean stubble... anything that might provide roughage for ruminants. No one is selling hay. Everyone is looking for hay. If the winter is mild, we may make it through ok. If it is hard, we are going to have to get very creative.

Besides putting in the new pasture this past summer, I have started work on repair of some old fences that will give me access to a small upper pasture by the road. I am also looking to put the goats on a small section of overgrown scrub brush, if I can figure out how to keep them confined to it and out of the woods. If worse comes to worse, I can always do the thinning and pruning by hand to provide some roughage for the goats, but I would sure rather have the goats do the work for me.

Products like Chaffhaye HayToGo are options... but expensive if you have alot of animals. Protein tubs to supplement low quality forage are options. Rotating pastures through the winter will allow access to the cool season grasses when the weather is above freezing, we have to remember that drought weakens the root systems of those same cool season grasses (fescue, orchardgrass, brome) and overgrazing will not do the pastures much good. Drought Cubes, Alfalfa cubes can be used as supplemental roughage when grass hays are in short supply and offer good nutrition as well. Beet pulp offers fiber, but not much nutrition... you will need alot of supplemental feeds to offset this. Ruminants undergoing the stress of a hard winter will use minerals faster than those with little stress... so be sure to have free choice mineral feeders kept full. Have free choice bicarb as well if you have to get real creative with or changing feeds alot.

I came home from town today with 4 big round bales secured from a local farmer... with delivery later in January. This source is a godsend and I feel as though I found a hundred dollar bill on the sidewalk! I normally don't buy round bales... but this year I am happy to find it in any shape or form. Clean delivered hay is the same as cash this year. I will take it!