Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Building a Small Grain Bin From Septic Tank Riser Sections

OK, before anybody make a scatalogical joke, I'm already reminded of this billboard: But, seriously.  Grain bins. What I need (and all I need) is a bin in which I can securely (that is racoon and mouse-proof-ly) store a few hundred pounds of sheep feed at a time.  Many years ago, I built a nice… Continue reading Building a Small Grain Bin From Septic Tank Riser Sections

Animals, Farming, Nature, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Guilty Pleasures

They’re so funny.  And, in many ways, so very human. This is Oleg.  He’s tiny for his age (about six weeks), and his “sister” (Tatiana) who’s only a couple of days older, is almost twice his size.  I only named them this morning, upon the increasing certainty that the little fermentation vats that comprise their… Continue reading Guilty Pleasures

Animals, Family, Family Matters, Literature, Plain Speaking, Rural Living

A Pre-Valentine’s Day Poem To Those Who Matter: Love Song: I and Thou

Nothing is plumb, level, or square: the studs are bowed, the joists are shaky by nature, no piece fits any other piece without a gap or pinch, and bent nails dance all over the surfacing like maggots. By Christ I am no carpenter. I built the roof for myself, the walls for myself, the floors… Continue reading A Pre-Valentine’s Day Poem To Those Who Matter: Love Song: I and Thou

Animals, Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Midwinter’s Update on my Premier Panel Hay Feeders

One of my more popular posts has proven to be this one, written in October 2020, about my hacking efforts with my two eight-foot hay feeders made using Premier Panels, in which I described the process of turning them into four four-foot long feeders.  I regularly get notifications that it's been viewed by others, and… Continue reading Midwinter’s Update on my Premier Panel Hay Feeders

Animals, Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Entertaining Angels: Life Comes Full Circle Edition

I had a peripatetic childhood, and by the time I finished high school I’d attended well over a dozen schools on three different continents, with time off for good behavior during a glorious year (in about third grade) where there wasn’t a school anywhere in sight. My mother, who was largely disinterested in her parenting… Continue reading Entertaining Angels: Life Comes Full Circle Edition

Animals, Farming, Healthcare, Rural Living

Reflections On a Childhood Hymn

Two things got me thinking of this "oldie but goodie" post, first published on Ricochet in 2014: First, I inspected the nether regions of a few of my ewes the other day, in order to adjudge the imminence of any blessed events.  (Another couple of weeks, I think; things generally start popping around here in… Continue reading Reflections On a Childhood Hymn

Family, Family Matters, Friendship, Plain Speaking, Rural Living

Of This Old House. Of Mine.

This post was originally published on ricochet.com on May 26, 2018.  There's an update for 2020, just below it. This old house once knew his children This old house once knew his wife This old house was home and comfort As they fought the storms of life Truth be told, it’s not so very old.… Continue reading Of This Old House. Of Mine.