All Purls. No Swine.
In which I expose my DIY efforts to the hilarity and ridicule of the men following me (there are more of you than I have a right to expect at my age, trust me), “weak and feeble woman” that I am. Next time you’re tempted to go down that path, ask yourselves how things turned… Continue reading A Good Piece of Gear: Building a Pair of Driveway Gates
Several years ago, during my quest for the perfect hay feeder for my sheep and goats, I built two 8' long, 4' high, and 35" wide hay and grain feeders using Premier's wire panel feeder inserts. I loved them. They won the hay-feeder lottery! Not only did they do double-duty as grain feeders, they were… Continue reading Building a Small Hay Feeder Using Premier’s Wire Panels
So there I was this morning, laughing uproariously at a YouTube video of a sheep having joyful fun on a trampoline: And while I was noodling around looking for other amusing animal videos because I didn't want to go out and put on any more house siding today, …. I ran across the Australian news… Continue reading Words Fail Me. Well, Hardly.
One of my favorite childhood stories was that of The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse. There's never been any doubt in my mind which side of the marker fence I fall on; as one of the little friends says to the other at the end of the Aesop's lesson: "You may have luxuries and… Continue reading The Gift
RWKJ's note: Please forgive me for republishing this oldie but goodie. The sentiments expressed, as they relate to the obligations, permanency, and sacredness of the marital compact between a man and a woman, are close to my heart, especially at the moment. I was lucky enough to be married to a man who was secure… Continue reading In Praise of Proverbs 31
My husband, Frank Zbozny (see--I always told you I could win a game of Scrabble in one go, if only proper names were allowed), has died. Many of you know of his decades-long struggle with dementia, and of the cardiac and other physical problems that began to sap his strength in 2012 or thereabouts. But… Continue reading Ave Atque Vale: Frank Zbozny, Rest in Peace
It seems that it's about time for the regular pre-election "Let's Fix the High Cost of Healthcare Once And For All!" national political posturing extravaganza, so I thought I'd throw in my two cents, and present what I'm pretty sure is a unique and extraordinarily effective solution. I’ve alluded to this subject in a few… Continue reading How To Bring Down The High Cost of Healthcare: RWKJ’s Medical Plan!
I love it down here on the farm. Some days, not so much, it’s true. Mostly, those are the days when I start out with a handful of prophylactic Advil or Aleve, and then hie myself down to the barn for a day of shoveling, or perhaps sheep-shearing, or down the field with my little… Continue reading The Nesting Instinct
Bee Swarm Soirees: Check. Done for the year I think. Net gain of two hives, neither of which came quietly. The first congregated around a fence post (actually on a "dropper" between two fence posts). After my neighbor Randy helped scoop them into a five-frame "nuc" hive, I left them for 48 hours to settle,… Continue reading The “Rights” of Spring
The Covid-19 epidemic has put paid to a great many rites of spring in agricultural communities worldwide. The “farm show” has been put on hold or canceled altogether until next year, frustrating and disappointing many young livestock handlers with dreams of becoming the next Farmer Hoggett, and sometimes disastrously incommoding their elders who rely on… Continue reading Grace Under Pressure–And Barley For The Win!