Schoonover Farm Blog

Today we received a new cow. She is a 1 year old open heifer who is half black Angus and half red Angus.  She was transported to us by our nephew.  I was at work, but apparently initially she went a little crazy, jumping fences and running around.  Finally she settled in the far corner of our pastures and stayed there until the evening.  And then Jameson wandered into her field, and they seemed to make friends.  They touched noses and proceeded to graze on the grass.  The photo is from earlier when she was upset and seeing Summer for the first time.  It was Tom’s idea to name her Louella.  It is because she is so feisty that she reminded him of his grandmother Louella.  He checked with his parents to make sure it was OK, and they thought it was funny.  So that is her name.  We may nickname her Lou or Sweet Lou, but I do like Louella.

When I got home from work, Wally was enjoying the dog house again.  She is so funny.

We had leftover ham to eat for dinner.  Neither of us were excited about plain ham with side dishes.  So I got the idea to make ham pot pies.  Not as healthy but tastier.  Here they are coming out of the oven.

As I was making the pies, our neighbor started in with fireworks.  There were some last night but farther away.  But this evening they were really close and freaked out our dog and cats.  We finally were able to collect all of them and into the house. They are still upset but not quite as bad.  Then after dinner I went out to the barn to lock up the animals and bottle feed the calf (and check out our new cow).  But the fireworks were bad, and the sheep were completely freaking out.  So I let them into the barn.  Just as they ran frantically into the barn, these fireworks went off.

I was able to get the peacock and peahen into the barn too.  So as long as the house nor barn catch fire, we should make it through the night.  Tomorrow is a whole other story though.

I made Reflecting Pool cocktails the other day.  I had to purchase the blue fruit rolls first.  Then there was pineapple juice, Blue Curacao, and rum.  It wasn’t green enough so I added yellow Chartreuse.  It still wasn’t green enough so I added some yellow food coloring. There’s lime zest on top.  I thought it turned out well in its appearance and taste.  The pineapple juice really helped.  We didn’t eat the fruit roll though.  The chickens got that.  Hopefully they liked it.

Since I picked the pie cherries the other day, I made my annual ham and cherry dish.  It is just a ham boiled in apple juice with some flavorings and a cherry sauce.  I had some carrots with it this year.  It is always so good!

I was looking at my turkey this morning, as I changed their bedding. They were not happy about it.  I am thinking about what breeds they might be.  I may try to keep one or two for breeding.  I am wondering if this is a Narragansett.

I suspect there are bronze.  They look more brown in person.

I think this is a Black Spanish.

And I am wondering if there are Bourbon Reds.  Let me know what you think.  

I weeded the vegetable garden most of this afternoon.  The weather was nice for that.  I know it doesn’t look like much, but it is a lot better than it was!

We have been enjoying the World Cup.  Currently Mexico is beating Ecuador.