Farmer Johns, A Cow Man

Today was my monthly Cattlewomens meeting and 

I was proud to announce that JS and I are

 officially in the cow business.

Our friend and neighbor is selling all of his cows and calve.

He's retiring for the second time.  He's in his 80s....

so we bought his calves, all four of them.

One bull  and three heifers.  Theses are the two older

heifers, the bull calf and the other heifer are not 

quite old enough to be weaned yet.

JS is just as proud as he can be.  I on the other hand,

am not to sure how profitable this first year is going to be.

We're already into one fence post 

and two new tires.  

There's more to this story, 

but I can't seem to tell it without cussing.

Walking with Ranch Dog

I took a walk around the farm today and Ranch Dog come along.

We checked out the fruit trees in the kitchen garden, they got 

pruned today and sprayed with dormant spray. 

As we walked to the Olive orchard,

 I spotted these deer in the oranges.

Need to start gathering all the bins, to be cleaned and put away.

Ranch dog had a good time running around the Olive orchard,

lots of smells to check out.

Seems a little early but Mr Robin was setting in the Eucalyptus tree,

as I walked by headed to the mailbox.

Routs in my orchard makes me sad...... :(

Picked up the mail and as I started up the driveway, 

saw Mr Jack Rabbit hanging out.

Look who's half way up the drive.

Thanks Ranch Dog for waiting for me.

Thursdays Thoughts, Grab Bag of Life

Really, I haven't been lazy about blogging.   I'm not very good

 about the everyday stuff and that's all it's been around here lately.

Last week JS and I took a ride to Dixon to the block company, to

purchase .... "block" ?   to  finish the yard project and then met 

with son Zach for dinner in Vacaville.   Zach had our flatbed truck,

delivered the last of the oranges.

The orange picking is over, not for a lack of fruit, but Mother Nature

has been a real "Mother" as if beating rains and wind were not enough

to reunion our crop, she decided we needed two weeks of freezing on top of it.

I'd like to poke her in her big icy nose......... 

It's that time of year, to early to do much outside, don't want to 

do anything inside and Mother Nature is dangling spring in front of me......  

 I have mixed emotions about her.....  ; | 

Tuesdays on the Farm

Was thinking that since I wrote in the intro

  "working the orange orchard"

I should maybe write about it from time to time,

 along  with the rest of the farm.  

Obviously.... my blogging hasn't had much long term thought!

Anyway............ I'm going to dedicate Tuesdays to the farm. 

Here's a project we started today.  This piece of ground is no-mans-land, 

it lays between the kitchen garden and the horse pasture.

One of those place that gets everything dumped on it.

  

We've been needing to finish fencing in the back yard for the dogs and

I've been wanting to build a compost bin and clean up this part of the yard,

for some time.      Finally got JS to agree!!!!!

As you can see the footing is dug and a retaining wall will go around the 

oak tree.  The dirt will be leveled out on top of the wall.

A fence will go across the top and a gate across the lower level.

This will give the dogs more room, when they have to be pinned up.

I'm pretty excited !!!!! .....  ;D

Pretty Picture Monday

Your got a bonus, two photos.

Couldn't decide which one I liked.... ;D

Testing Sugar

If you look on the internet, you'll fine many sophisticated 

devices to measure the amount of sugar in oranges.

Here at 5 Starr's Farm, I go pick one off the tree and eat it. 

 Seems to work just fine.....   ;D

Check out the new post on 5 Starr's Farm Premium Oranges.

Pfriday Photo Play...;D

I'm still here, just busy with Orange harvest, Christmas decorating

and the usual crazy life that is mine....... ;D

First Pick 2012/13

The first orders of the season came in and we picked yesterday.

They're still showing a little green and the sugar in not quiet there.

Oranges are always better after the first of the year but, 

everyone wants them for Christmas.

I'll be updating the 5 Starr's Farm Premium Oranges blog 

later in the week. You can find the page/tab

 for the sight under the header photo above.

They sure smell good......   ;D

Pretty Picture Monday

Last leaf picture this year........ "I promise"

LOL     ;D

Pretty Picture Monday

This Picture was taken last Tuesday before the storms hit.

Five days of rain and unbelievable wind.

I think Californians drought may be over?

All these beautiful leaves are now on the ground, along with

several branches and a few big limbs.  A lot of cleanup ahead,

but today the sun is shining, the sky is blue and you can see

across the valley to the Pacific Coast Range.

"It's a pretty Monday indeed"

Wordless Wednesday

"LEAVES"

We've always felt fortunate, that when we bought The 18,

these big old trees were already established.

We fit the house inbetween them and have added Redwood

and Liquid Amber over the years.

 But !!          "What is up"

"Will come down"

Grab your marshmallows, I'm going to be here awhile....  ;D

Sunday Stills, Animals in Black and White

Click on photo to enlarge

Wordless Wednesday

Pretty Picture Monday

Click on Photos to Enlarge

Thursday Thoughts, Sunday Stills

A couple of weeks ago the Sunday Stills challenge was

"What inspirers you ?"   For me it's nature.

Often what is viewed in nature, is seen only by the observer.

A fleeting moment in time that can never be duplicated.

To capture and share that moment is what inspirers me.

Sunday Stills, a weekly photo challenge, also inspirers me.

When I stated blogging, their was no grand plan.

No words of wisdom or life altering experiences to share.

I simply liked the photos on the other blogs I was reading,

and wanted to do the same. 

 A common theme of those photos was "Sunday Stills"  

So............... I started following along.

I enjoy the challenges and the others who participate.
Their from all over the world and their photography
skills are as varied as their takes on the challenges.

Anyone can join in.  It helps if you have a blog,
to be able to post your photos to share, but not necessary.
I hope you'll take time to visit Sunday Stills.

Wordless Wednesday

Pretty Picture Monday

First Rain of the Season

It's Raining, It's Pouring 

and It's Snowing in the Sierra.

Today, is the day the concrete was going to be poured 

to finish the basement, of the new cabin.

There is eight inches of snow on the ground

as of this morning. 

Being in construction and farming,

 the weather can be a little hard on the emotions.

"Thank You God"

We need the rain.

Morning Walk

I played hooky this morning.

The bed, laundry and dishes aren't going any where.

It was nice out, the sun peeking threw the trees, 

quiet and the air smelled so good.

This youngster was feeding in a patch of green grass,

enjoying the morning too.

Oranges are getting some size to them and showing a little color.

Love these big old olive trees, their about 80 to 90 years old.

I like how they line the road at the front of the property.

It's one of the things that gives this place character. 

~

I might have to play hooky more often.