What a wonderful morning it is here on High Mountain Farm. The animals are out early and it's 43F.

Feeding Time

Feeding time on High Mountain Farm is at exactly 4:00pm ET. No, our animals don't have a battery operated watch but their internal timing circuits work without any external aid. They gather at the fence about 20 minutes early and patiently wait for someone to bring FOOD.

Remember to give your animals extra food during cold weather. I pour any left over grease into their food to add fat and scrape all leftovers into their bucket.

As you can see, it's snowing again and the temperature has fallen to 27F but the ol' wood heater is cranked up and the house is a toasty 75F.

After I let the chickens out this morning, I took the time to snap a photo of the rooster guarding his hens while they were eating.

Christmas morning sunrise on High Mountain Farm.

 The old wood heater has the house nice and warm.

Merry Christmas From High Mountain Farm

High Mountain Farm At Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE GANG ON HIGH MOUNTAIN FARM

Weather Update From High Mountain Farm

For those of you who are wondering about the weather up here today, all I can say is Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. The high is 23F and it is about 1:30pm The wind and snow have been ferocious. Mr. B went out and gave the goats some hay in their feeder. They hate it when it rains or snows because they don't like to get their feet wet. I know that sounds strange but it's true and they're all the same way. You can barely get them out of the goat house when the weather is bad. They just stand at the door and cry.

If you look closely at the picture to the left, you can see The Dawg standing about the middle looking toward the house. The Great Pyrenees don't seem to mind the cold and they have lots of fur to help keep them warm and dry.

Another Beautiful Morning

I am always in awe of the morning's first light as seen from my porch on High Mountain Farm.

Super Egg Update

Recently, we had a huge egg which had been lain by one of our Rhode Island Red Chickens and yesterday I decided to crack it open and see what was inside.

I was really careful tapping it on the side of the counter because the shell looked fragile but no problems and it opened right up to reveal High Mountain Farm's First Double Yoker!

Double Yoke from Rhode Island Red

Feeding During Cold Weather

     Many years ago (and I mean many), I worked for a woman who had show dogs and horses. The first thing that she taught me was that her dogs, who spent the entire day outside, needed more food during the cold winter months than during the spring, summer, and fall. I have always continued with this practice by feeding more in the winter.

Night Approaches On High Mountain Farm

Blowing Snow

It is a cold, blustery morning on High Mountain Farm. Pictured are the stacks of poplar wood that Mr.B split by hand yesterday using an axe and go-devil . The blowing snow has blurred the picture!

Hand Crafted Apron

Hand Crafted Apron by Melissa Dodd

I have a couple of Aprons for sale this year. The one pictured is currently on eBay. If you are interested, you can locate it under Home and Garden/Hand Crafted Apron/. The number ID is 261137195304 and the buy now price is $27.50 with $5.75 in shipping fees. Sorry, it is only available in the US.

Sunday Morning December 2, 2012

 

 God is too good to me. He gives me much more than I need or deserve. I pray for mercy every day of my life knowing that I am a sinner and begging he who is perfect to forgive me for my shortcomings.

James 1:17 tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Animals of High Mountain Farm

The dogs and goats coexist in our four acre pasture on High Mountain Farm and seem to truly care about each other. The dogs protect the goats while Frances, the goat in the picture with horns, scratches Jake's ears and neck for him.

Great Pyrenees History From AKC

Mr. B and The Dawg

I love our Great Pyrenees. Jake, is more animal oriented but will allow us to pet him on occasion. Our female, The Dawg, loves everyone and the animals. She was instrumental in turning Jake into a great herding dog.

Time to Cut Wood

Mr. B and I used today for a well deserved rest although we still had to finish cleaning up and return some borrowed scales we used to weigh the sausage. The packages of  'Old Plantation' mix we used seasons 25 lbs of sausage and we had 125 lbs of sausage so we used 5 packs of seasoning.

Hog Killing Day

Today is the day and we have been up since before dawn getting everything prepared.

Friday Morning

We start early on High Mountain Farm. At daylight, the rooster has been crowing for over an hour and the dogs want a treat so no matter the temperature or weather you have to go out. A self-sustainable life style means hard work and devotion to make it all come together.

BISCUIT MAKING TECHNIQUE

Making Biscuits is an art and it's one of those things that will improve the more you do it. I learned the basics from my Mom years ago and then have improved upon the technique which works best for me. I have made this particular pan with self-rising flour. You can find the ingredients required for making them with plain flour on line. I like the self-rising flour and as long as I can get it, I will use it. The video which you can view by clicking here or on the permanent link to the left is designed to walk you through the technique. Remember, this is simply the way that I do it and as long as you achieve great biscuits, do it however works best for you.

Twitter Account/The Dawg

I have a link to my Melissa Dodd Twitter Account on the right. If you would like to join me as I go about my activities on High Mountain Farm, be sure to go there and choose the follow button. I try to post pictures of our goings on every day.

Pictured here is 'The Dawg', our female Great Pyrenees and one of our past babies with her mother keeping close watch. Great Pyrenees are such gentle giants. They are really rambunctious as young dogs but usually start settling down at about one year.

It is best to start them out with a trained dog to learn the ropes of their job. Once trained, they are the best.