Miller Farm Friday Archives - Page 2 of 45

25 08, 2023

Extracting Honey

By judythemorgan|2023-08-24T08:19:19-05:00August 25th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Beekeeper Brian’s bees have been pretty productive this year so we were able to get honey for the first time in several years. I had forgotten what an interesting process it is.

We decided to move the extractor into the kitchen instead of using it out on the driveway. The Texas heat has been oppressive.

First Brian removed the frames of honey and comb from the hive. He used a special spray designed to drive the bees away. This was especially important since we were bringing them into the kitchen.

Then the very edge of the comb is cut to remove the wax caps.

The frames are then placed into the extractor.

Then it is a matter of physics – specifically centrifugal force.

The metal tub containing the frames is spun forcing the honey to vacate the comb.

The liquid gold is then put through a sieve to remove large pieces of comb and collected into a five-gallon bucket.

The last step is to put it in bottles to be used in tea, on yogurt, or just licked off a spoon. At the end of the process, there was sticky honey everywhere in the kitchen including on the heads of two dogs.

But having honey from our own front yard makes it all worth the effort.

18 08, 2023

New Music Room

By judythemorgan|2023-08-16T09:14:15-05:00August 18th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

For the past 5 years, I have taught music for a small charter school. Most of the classes meet in portable buildings while the rest of the campus occupies what used to be a church.

Music class has been held in the sanctuary which is also used for morning and afternoon assembly. All the musical instruments and materials are stored in what used to be the “cry room” at the back of the sanctuary.

It was cozy, to say the least.

The classes met in an area partitioned off at the back of the sanctuary. I made it work.

This year I have my own music room!

I am ridiculously excited! This will be the best year ever!

11 08, 2023

Odd Duck

By judythemorgan|2023-08-10T08:19:38-05:00August 11th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Over the summer we hatched some duck eggs from our next-door neighbors. They have some breeds that we do not, so it added to the gene pool.

Among their ducks, they have some crested Khaki Campbells. One of these eggs hatched so now we have a very interesting duck.

It reminds me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book which makes me smile!Dr

28 07, 2023

Community Effort

By judythemorgan|2023-07-26T16:31:29-05:00July 28th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I received two different texts yesterday offering things for my chickens.

A former colleague wrote to say there were two bags of leaves at her house. She knows our chickens like to dig through leaves. It keeps them entertained. We were on the way home from Lake Jackson, but I told her I would get them later in the day.

I’ll unload them when it “cools off” to below 100 degrees.

Later in the day, I got a text from another friend who had watermelon rinds for our chickens. She dropped them off on the front porch while I was teaching lessons.

The chickens were thrilled

I never really thought of owning chickens as a community event. I’m glad I was wrong.

21 07, 2023

Duck Report

By judythemorgan|2023-07-19T18:36:52-05:00July 21st, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

It has been a while since I’ve talked about the ducks and they are feeling neglected. In fact, someone asked me this weekend how many ducks we have and I couldn’t give an exact count.

I have since counted and there are fifteen ducks.

Part of the challenge to knowing how many ducks we have is that we have hatched two different sets of eggs and sold four ducks to a friend so the number is in constant flux. But yesterday I moved the final ducklings out with the big ducks and so they are all together – for now.

I used the travel cage to move them, put them in the duck yard, and opened the door to the cage.

As expected, they huddled in the corner, terrified.

The bigger ducks were also terrified and ran to the opposite side of the yard.

Eventually, they realized that they were all ducks and had nothing to fear from each other.

Minimus Dachsamus, on the other hand, has to be watched diligently.

14 07, 2023

Old Ladies

By judythemorgan|2023-07-12T09:14:37-05:00July 14th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

One of my favorite things about my job is getting to read to children. I have a vast collection of children’s books, most of which are songs. In almost every class I will read (sing) one to the students.

A friend of mine owns a children’s book and toy store in our town called Whimsy & Wild Emporium

I asked her if I could come read for Storytime during the summer and she said yes!

The first week I took my old lady puppet and sang “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.”

The puppet includes all the animals that she swallowed so it is great fun. It has all the animals except the spider which “wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.”

I took it out to use it while singing “Spider on the Floor” and it must have crawled off. I explain to the children that we will have to pretend to make a spider with our hands. It is still great fun.

What was even more fun was introducing our grandson, Alex, to the old lady. He loved taking the animals out and then having her swallow them over and over.

It is like reading to my classes multiplied 1000 times. He particularly liked the “tickle spider” part.

Sometimes when I look at pictures of myself, I see an old lady.

Then I also see a grandchild – the greatest perk of getting old!

7 07, 2023

Ah, Summer!

By judythemorgan|2023-07-06T07:45:45-05:00July 7th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Some people believe that teachers chose their profession so they would have summers off. That may be true for some but I really enjoy my job all year long. During the school year, I can play, sing, and dance five days a week. During the summer, I spend the time differently.

I bake. (The pound cake was great. The angel food cake needs a little more practice.)

I work jigsaw puzzles:

But most importantly – I take naps.

I went by my school recently to drop off some keyboards I have acquired. I’m hoping to teach class piano at some point.

Anyway, I talked to the secretary who told me they are moving some people around. I will actually get my own room which is very exciting! I won’t have to set up every morning and move everything back into my office when classes are over.

The only problem is I have to move all the things out of my office into my new room.I’m thinking I will need to take more naps before that happens!

16 06, 2023

Rebuilding

By judythemorgan|2023-06-13T15:50:43-05:00June 16th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Over the last 18 months, the number of dogs on Miller Farm has dwindled to two. Bella, Tucker, and Sadie passed away after leading long, happy lives. Cooper and Penelope moved out with Rachel. That left only Max and Coco who is of the same era as Tucker, Bella, and Sadie so we are watching her carefully.

This has been difficult for all – humans and dogs.

Max has been exceptionally stressed whenever we leave. Beekeeper Brian decided it was time for action. He began searching Dachshund Rescue sites and we began the process of adopting a rescue dachshund.

When I say process, I do mean PROCESS. We filled out an application including references. One friend told us he had never been called for a dog adoption reference.

Then there was the “home visit” where we had a video phone call that allowed us to show the house including the perimeter of the backyard. Even though we had successfully owned up to 8 dachshunds at one time the process was just as extensive as for a new dog owner.

We considered several dogs but were not matched to any of them. Finally, Brian saw a 4-year-old female named “Fire.” We set up a meeting and it was a perfect match! She went right to Brian and never looked back.

She fits in great with Max and Coco.

We renamed her “Mini” short for Miniums Dachsamus. She is a perfect match for Maximus Dachsamus!

The best news for me is that she fusses at the turkey.

This distraction allows me to take care of the ducks and chickens without being stalked. Overall we are thrilled to have added to our pack.

We are on the list for a puppy which will be ready in July. We are trying to avoid having dogs who are all the same age. We can’t face losing them so close together. This way there will be a dachshund on Miller Farm for many years to come.

9 06, 2023

Back in the Flock

By judythemorgan|2023-06-02T07:42:59-05:00June 9th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Brian sent me the following text last week.

He had extracted the “Templeton” eggs that the wayward chicken had laid under the shed. She had indeed been sitting on the eggs but none of them were fertile. They were just stinky.

He was also able to extract the chicken as well and put her back in with the rest of the flock. He told her resistance was futile. She would be assimilated.

For those who are not Star Trek fans, that is a reference to the Borg – the biggest enemy of the Enterprise crew.

She seems perfectly content to be back with the flock. I kind of miss having her follow me around the yard. But it is nice not to have hazardous eggs under the shed.

2 06, 2023

Hazard Pay

By judythemorgan|2023-05-26T12:09:54-05:00June 2nd, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The turkey has decided he does not like me. In fact, he puts his head down and charges me every time I am in the chicken yard. He has even flown at me a couple of times.

I now carry a stick to shoo him away. He has never followed me into the chicken coop – yet.

Last week I was cleaning out the nest boxes in the chicken coop. Of course, the grumpy chicken was sitting in one and kept pecking at me as I shoveled the mess out.

The turkey was standing just outside the door watching as I threw the dirty shavings out of the coop. He took that as a personal attack and flew at the door.

It was most disconcerting.

I threw some clean shavings at him and he backed away.

With my heart still racing, I picked up the grumpy chicken and threw her out of the coop.

I was ready for her to charge back in and attack my legs but she went around the corner. The turkey followed her.

I am afraid they are conspiring against me.

I think I need hazard pay.