tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54713541266163246062024-03-05T16:51:53.080-05:00Bluefield AcresAdventures Homestead Farming
in Bladen County, NCMrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-21927716364824090902012-12-10T20:22:00.005-05:002012-12-10T20:33:27.754-05:00Bluefield Acres Porcine Bounty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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According to the <a href="http://albc-usa.org/">American Livestock Breeders Conservancy</a>, in 2005 there were only 15 verifiable American Guinea Hogs left in the world. Well, there are quite a few more now, and we have several at Bluefield Acres that could use good homes. Ruby started the trend on October 21st with a litter of seven, followed by Ophelia on November 3rd with three, and Little Bit on November 10th with six.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GgLuYaqEIHA" width="560"></iframe>
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Here's a little video Scott and I put together to show how our little ones spend their first six weeks of life. We keep them in a small enclosure with mom so they have plenty of access to food and water and no chance of getting lost in the woods. Ruby's are old enough to be set free now, so they'll soon be running with the big boys and girls, and Little Bit's already know how to escape and roam at will. Check 'em out. They are super curious, very gentle, and fun to raise. If you need a breeder or a feeder, let us know. We have a gracious plenty. <br />
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bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-79485617172299562282012-04-15T12:18:00.005-04:002012-04-15T12:20:54.851-04:00Painful Pig Math: A Tale of Two Sisters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On Easter Sunday (April 8th), Ophelia had her first litter of pigs - seven big beautiful girls and a stout male to boot. Unfortunately booting became a serious issue over the next three days, as Ophelia either crushed or neglected her babies to the point that several died. We're not sure if she simply didn't know what to do with them as a new mother or whether she was overwhelmed by the sheer number of little ones in her care. Either way, by Wednesday the 11th, she settled into motherhood with her remaining three girls and has done a good job of caring for them ever since. <br />
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Maybe it was the competition that inspired her.<br />
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On Tuesday, April 10th, only a couple of days behind Ophelia, Little Bit had her first litter as well - three little boys and two small females, and she has doted on them since day one. Little Bit is a small pig, so she produced a small brood, but she's clearly got a huge heart. Every morning before she eats breakfast, Little Bit covers her babies in straw, and she is ever careful with them whether feeding, wallowing, nursing, or sleeping. A fine mother indeed!<br />
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If you need a Guinea Hog, give us a shout. Three are spoken for, but there are still plenty to go around!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">www.bluefieldacres.com</a></div>
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<a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div>
<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-80310643854877239202011-11-05T09:44:00.000-04:002011-11-05T09:44:26.110-04:00Wild Edible Foods!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We recently bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Garden-Identifying-Harvesting-Preparing/dp/0976626616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320499409&sr=1-1">Nature's Garden</a>, Samuel Thayers book on foraging for wild edible plants, and I can't say enough about how awesome it is. Not only does the book go into great detail about 40 or so American wild edibles, but 98% can be found in North Carolina where we live. Samuel provides enough information to make you feel confident about exploring wild food in a safe manner. As Sam explains, you should never eat anything you're not absolutely confident about, but learning to tell the difference between wild varieties can often be as easy as telling the difference between a head of cabbage and a head of iceberg lettuce. We can all do it, it just takes basic observation skills, committment, and time.<br />
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Our first foray into wild food was not in Thayer's book, but since I'd observed and researched the above mushroom over an extended period, we felt very safe digging in. This is a cauliflower mushroom and is typically found at the base of conifers in our region during the late summer and early fall. Even though we were super confident on our identification, we took Samuel's advice and only ate a few bites the first night as never know how you'll react to any new food - wild or otherwise. Fortunately, we found this mushroom simply delectable!<br />
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Day two we went all out - spicy Guinea Hog burgers topped with Guinea Hog bacon, cheese, and sauteed wild mushroom . . . yummmmmmmmm!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MK380puBuY6FXxy8z1c5qXwxTLMugcZw635qSdk7MblOXDnpSyHQA4KTG-EqfGiGZwsTDx9ibVO8wIf8gAypkSqZhtbK3X1Lj_L6qgPgmWpoKFVfpiBLlrmi7WCfBlMMYg18TLhyphenhyphenu4Lj/s1600/m_calliflower+mushroom_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MK380puBuY6FXxy8z1c5qXwxTLMugcZw635qSdk7MblOXDnpSyHQA4KTG-EqfGiGZwsTDx9ibVO8wIf8gAypkSqZhtbK3X1Lj_L6qgPgmWpoKFVfpiBLlrmi7WCfBlMMYg18TLhyphenhyphenu4Lj/s640/m_calliflower+mushroom_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We will definitely try this one again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">BLUEFIELD ACRES</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-44562093798238599792011-10-08T14:27:00.000-04:002011-10-08T14:27:52.907-04:00Best Sweet Potato Pie . . . Ever!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Scott finally made that sweet potato pie he promised - our sweet potatoes, home-rendered lard, and farm fresh eggs plus a few non-homegrown ingredients.</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Here's our recipe for a 9" pie.</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">If you have time, make crust and chill overnight. </div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><div closure_uid_uiyqep="91">Preheat oven to 350 degrees before baking.</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="91"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><u>Pie Crust </u></div>1 1/3 cup all purpose flour<br />
1/2 heaping teaspoon kosher salt<br />
1/2 cup well-chilled lard<br />
3-4 tablespoons bourbon (water can be used, but bourbon or vodka will produce a more tender crust)<br />
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<div closure_uid_c16a7g="127"><u>Directions</u></div>Sift flour into large bowl<br />
Add salt and mix thoroughly<br />
Add chilled lard and cut in with two knives until lard is the size of peas<br />
Add just enough bourbon to form a dry dough ball<br />
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (overnight is better)<br />
Place ball on well floured surface<br />
Mash out with hands until approximately 6 inches in diameter<br />
Flour top of crust and flip<br />
Flour top again and roll to desired thickness<br />
Gently fold in half and place in pie plate<br />
<div closure_uid_uiyqep="205">Gently form to plate and trim or crimp edge</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="205"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="205" style="text-align: center;">Here's what a 1/2 cup of our homemade lard looks like. </div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="205" style="text-align: center;">Crisco can be substituted.</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="205"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEUgRpqj6sdkasjXnyXfuu0Pu1WWnSsrUsm-kMrQgh6Q7zio5fmaHwQmyFtkgSDoEHS4bGuZaC_l0LGLOMbrpmSBZA0JCVitk21PcPjAeNwlgYPxN7dULLEUyGcv6nhyphenhyphenpIW5cbxWX4-ci/s1600/m_sweet_potato_pie0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEUgRpqj6sdkasjXnyXfuu0Pu1WWnSsrUsm-kMrQgh6Q7zio5fmaHwQmyFtkgSDoEHS4bGuZaC_l0LGLOMbrpmSBZA0JCVitk21PcPjAeNwlgYPxN7dULLEUyGcv6nhyphenhyphenpIW5cbxWX4-ci/s640/m_sweet_potato_pie0001.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="236"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="236" style="text-align: center;">Cutting in the lard.</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="236"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEotT6-f4ZGHlUzBIWJh03DJ0RPx5dtyTwG-fAGSHWSF_9kp-wzVFdF_YC5_FIgNik9sS4NSLG0rCq_7z97LWR3Zw1zAVQKNvJeghT8deZxd_YbaNQhxxlOgNCwV-2Y8poP8e4UyvL3W_n/s1600/m_sweet_potato_pie0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEotT6-f4ZGHlUzBIWJh03DJ0RPx5dtyTwG-fAGSHWSF_9kp-wzVFdF_YC5_FIgNik9sS4NSLG0rCq_7z97LWR3Zw1zAVQKNvJeghT8deZxd_YbaNQhxxlOgNCwV-2Y8poP8e4UyvL3W_n/s640/m_sweet_potato_pie0002.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="287"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="287" style="text-align: center;">The bourbon and lard are Scott's secret to a tender crust.</div><div closure_uid_uiyqep="287"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs6rO0hLs8jpf0cZwo-U8O3yErdrwmxK9ekTBN8E6yOWK0XMBz9zkqDC5614NFG8WYbrClvGs4LDb-zP_3AX6riH412TEBb-w43_gH9hg0katToV30yuj2AdEqeZibWFsTfh7YKJruHqI/s1600/m_sweet_potato_pie0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs6rO0hLs8jpf0cZwo-U8O3yErdrwmxK9ekTBN8E6yOWK0XMBz9zkqDC5614NFG8WYbrClvGs4LDb-zP_3AX6riH412TEBb-w43_gH9hg0katToV30yuj2AdEqeZibWFsTfh7YKJruHqI/s640/m_sweet_potato_pie0004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<u>Pie Filling</u><br />
<div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><div closure_uid_uiyqep="97">1 pound of baked sweet potatoes</div></div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1/2 cup butter, softened</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1 cup dark brown sugar (firmly packed)</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1/2 cup milk</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">3 medium-sized farm fresh eggs (or 2 large eggs)</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1/2 teasponn ground cinnamon</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">1/2 teaspoon dried ginger</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><u>Directions</u></div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Bake sweet potatoes until tender, then remove skin.</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Mash sweet potatoes in bowl. </div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><div closure_uid_uiyqep="98">Add butter and mix thoroughly (we us a Kitchenaid mixer). </div></div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Stir in sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. </div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103">Beat on medium speed until smooth, then add vanilla and mix. </div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103"><div closure_uid_uiyqep="99">Lastly, run through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_ricer">ricer</a> to guarantee smooth consistency, and pour filling into unbaked pie crust.</div></div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" closure_uid_uiyqep="146"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5zoWfuqHMmvPdXM3iTA04HIxw8hXLQct-muwFxukL_zDjc7-SMvhd2iKenhh58nt1gJHgkjhdFrnabr4d4vjjsQvjX6E40sLM4t48LpskwC8ymk5723cCJxx9_6DqRB-UKHwMn7QoiAF/s1600/m_sweet_potato_pie0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5zoWfuqHMmvPdXM3iTA04HIxw8hXLQct-muwFxukL_zDjc7-SMvhd2iKenhh58nt1gJHgkjhdFrnabr4d4vjjsQvjX6E40sLM4t48LpskwC8ymk5723cCJxx9_6DqRB-UKHwMn7QoiAF/s640/m_sweet_potato_pie0008.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" style="text-align: left;"><u>Cooking Directions</u></div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" closure_uid_uiyqep="403" style="text-align: left;">Cook pie for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees (until knife inserted in the center comes out clean)</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" closure_uid_uiyqep="159" style="text-align: left;">Cool pie to room temperture, add homemade whipped cream, and serve.</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" closure_uid_uiyqep="159" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div closure_uid_c16a7g="103" closure_uid_uiyqep="159" style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-90947227433959341502011-07-31T14:15:00.000-04:002011-07-31T14:15:06.372-04:00Spanish Goats and Sweet Potatoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_5sx0z="113">Well, it's been a busy summer. Between two graduate classes, traveling to Atlanta and Spokane, and working full time for Scott, I haven't had much time to blog, so I'll do my best to sum up what's been going on at the farm in this post.</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="113"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmsXcTBd496fmtkXTw-YvrIGEGx5ifD7mazC_7KrWdYAUi95dumrmCRQM2pZZuu7MAEB8onKgC1PKTuq5Yc8GQpWK07dGpvuqXrGKA3uU9PtBn_Q4fanyeAoOfe3Hpxots63mMx0dtXH9/s1600/m_corn_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmsXcTBd496fmtkXTw-YvrIGEGx5ifD7mazC_7KrWdYAUi95dumrmCRQM2pZZuu7MAEB8onKgC1PKTuq5Yc8GQpWK07dGpvuqXrGKA3uU9PtBn_Q4fanyeAoOfe3Hpxots63mMx0dtXH9/s640/m_corn_0005.jpg" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="112"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="114">The garden did horribly this year. It's just been too hot! We harvested a few ears of sweet corn last month, but our field corn (which was shoulder high and beautiful at the beginning of June) didn't produce at all. Our tomatoes grew like crazy, but most got blossom end rot and had to be thrown out, and any that were edible were consumed by the rabbits. Thank goodness our sweet potatoes did well! We harvested them today and look forward to devouring some very soon - think SWEET POTATO PIE!</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="114"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdK8YyfM5wvEwcxHhbGuXJ_-oPrQK6yo2lDrGwGVmnwdDtUCzQwno0hFMC3WNTxDx_chxryMbXks8HvQUIsEw6HZySsBny4sjmetz8eMkUo-n9fNh8gHXmDm33P4Q_26D633PkhkL1Zns/s1600/m_sweet_potatoes0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdK8YyfM5wvEwcxHhbGuXJ_-oPrQK6yo2lDrGwGVmnwdDtUCzQwno0hFMC3WNTxDx_chxryMbXks8HvQUIsEw6HZySsBny4sjmetz8eMkUo-n9fNh8gHXmDm33P4Q_26D633PkhkL1Zns/s640/m_sweet_potatoes0024.jpg" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="115"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="116">Yesterday we delivered four gilts to customers and picked up two 4-month old Spanish goats for ourselves. Godiva, the brown one, is extremely curious and outgoing, while the black one (Snickers) is a bit shy. The girls are currently in a holding pen so they can adjust to their new home, but we hope to introduce them to more of the property (and the pigs) very soon.</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="116"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="116" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDbHa4mxMh7d8OkEj0dQxriykCOgBWR1MmIrD5FsaVdjOBrrcTjD0nvYRmzOfZKMjnMbdsisEwyS-JrjTqEth-PsnqmcE5CH7qMnFhn9r7jJYyPP4kJPcMwXdmN_FtLYwIIqdtTKwPzTu/s1600/m_goats_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDbHa4mxMh7d8OkEj0dQxriykCOgBWR1MmIrD5FsaVdjOBrrcTjD0nvYRmzOfZKMjnMbdsisEwyS-JrjTqEth-PsnqmcE5CH7qMnFhn9r7jJYyPP4kJPcMwXdmN_FtLYwIIqdtTKwPzTu/s640/m_goats_0020.jpg" t$="true" width="426" /></a></div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="116"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="116">These little ladies will be the foundation of our breeding stock and will be in charge of landscaping all fenced areas of the property . . . let's just hope we can keep them out of the orchard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="410"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_5sx0z="411" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0v7U5Rm6w3oSLtRdXJ5QAAEF62ZbK7BxNd-t-6sCbbpQ6KMHx7HsN5oxG2XKk2JraXrzxi3YWQ6gWExw_BISPdi6xg2cBdKxYGc_yr8klOsyUvWMM4ZtPOifSVfFrXm5VrYbSYE_e7Dc/s1600/m_goats_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0v7U5Rm6w3oSLtRdXJ5QAAEF62ZbK7BxNd-t-6sCbbpQ6KMHx7HsN5oxG2XKk2JraXrzxi3YWQ6gWExw_BISPdi6xg2cBdKxYGc_yr8klOsyUvWMM4ZtPOifSVfFrXm5VrYbSYE_e7Dc/s640/m_goats_0019.jpg" t$="true" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_5sx0z="411" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_5sx0z="411" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing quite like sweet feed for making friends!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxzOjg3Z1629diyO7cwzv3skQJeXmqkG6aEhhJ1KISKoksiOu8rjR9Jtr3_ACUenJn_SV96xeAC6bS-iPvmfCIq_TF0xpPm2WJfwH8DSRIc8fi9AEw_zkj8nYn0cqbSEFp20-eRBrPpse/s1600/m_goats_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxzOjg3Z1629diyO7cwzv3skQJeXmqkG6aEhhJ1KISKoksiOu8rjR9Jtr3_ACUenJn_SV96xeAC6bS-iPvmfCIq_TF0xpPm2WJfwH8DSRIc8fi9AEw_zkj8nYn0cqbSEFp20-eRBrPpse/s640/m_goats_0015.jpg" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="406" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="406" style="text-align: center;">Looking forward to FALL!</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="406" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_5sx0z="405" style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-79788610011162511252011-06-25T17:43:00.000-04:002011-06-25T17:43:01.717-04:00Hot Weather; Cool Pigs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The weather has been miserable hot in Southeastern NC since about mid-May. . . </div><div style="text-align: center;">but we've got some really cool little pigs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca3BHy3dhiIXf0hKA0Bwjra66PBaa63t_akTsUm6IW0ogrXkIMgTouaGlNQ8nrhLHdPLd-wiKBS2illK396ITnv2FNorWJiveLjuKqqRIzR-dbNGXuVnIE02uN3zRsGOLZQxZMDGTRxPF/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca3BHy3dhiIXf0hKA0Bwjra66PBaa63t_akTsUm6IW0ogrXkIMgTouaGlNQ8nrhLHdPLd-wiKBS2illK396ITnv2FNorWJiveLjuKqqRIzR-dbNGXuVnIE02uN3zRsGOLZQxZMDGTRxPF/s640/m_piggies+2011_0001.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Magnolia had a litter of three boys and five girls on June 7th. Unfortunately within two days of their birth, two baby pigs were dead. We think Magnolia smothered them but can't say for sure. We assured her that our freezer had room for extra sausage, and she's been a doting mother ever since. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX1m1WGB0RO5oR3SzLDOw4AitxANuqgbnV0sGDkD8SJlseDpmRbcY6DrDtE3EVhF7IoBLqQEu95dQV9PWLx6bIjJwp2YP104X9IyCirocx8e-jTnqm7Vl6ecGdmOUaToFdlgll-RUcW1z/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX1m1WGB0RO5oR3SzLDOw4AitxANuqgbnV0sGDkD8SJlseDpmRbcY6DrDtE3EVhF7IoBLqQEu95dQV9PWLx6bIjJwp2YP104X9IyCirocx8e-jTnqm7Vl6ecGdmOUaToFdlgll-RUcW1z/s640/m_piggies+2011_0006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">All six remaining babies are spoken for at the moment, but we're hoping Scarlet is pregant and will have a litter herself within a couple of months. Here are some pictures of the happy and healthy little guys and gals. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLexHLqs7TVn0X07857xbpscOVcXS7ePE1v1ipsC9kC6jeyfNNGjYfHTBUtjKBPL3R-ws7aIOD4Vth4lwn6RLT1x2Wcd4JUNV8sJ-LERrVTQ1KrVbHELi6zgzTz9l175tALyFvO3-yJMCJ/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLexHLqs7TVn0X07857xbpscOVcXS7ePE1v1ipsC9kC6jeyfNNGjYfHTBUtjKBPL3R-ws7aIOD4Vth4lwn6RLT1x2Wcd4JUNV8sJ-LERrVTQ1KrVbHELi6zgzTz9l175tALyFvO3-yJMCJ/s640/m_piggies+2011_0009.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxDzw-rudvDJbbezo7ZXPB_1zzbd7oZKW1U6K-9Xdyb5E0JUVt8uPR-CF1AqEeiQ1_VBNHPvmqZ8SaeCQLFQgcY98F_tvugyLTDavWfLtbe2Q03BeH5DzU10TtuNu9A_NXbMYtiNTNecd/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxDzw-rudvDJbbezo7ZXPB_1zzbd7oZKW1U6K-9Xdyb5E0JUVt8uPR-CF1AqEeiQ1_VBNHPvmqZ8SaeCQLFQgcY98F_tvugyLTDavWfLtbe2Q03BeH5DzU10TtuNu9A_NXbMYtiNTNecd/s640/m_piggies+2011_0005.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DUxo3DxSXRjtx2d2NW5NJPCG2duockHlZYuiFpSj9ja-6PBFPrk-WMCsthJFTKp4qOobDzupqbdDWmpNi40lktA-wPMX2UleKdsi_semH_1uSwEuzCR56_ymkLiDwlm5ji5kp8Gt2Up3/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DUxo3DxSXRjtx2d2NW5NJPCG2duockHlZYuiFpSj9ja-6PBFPrk-WMCsthJFTKp4qOobDzupqbdDWmpNi40lktA-wPMX2UleKdsi_semH_1uSwEuzCR56_ymkLiDwlm5ji5kp8Gt2Up3/s640/m_piggies+2011_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflVflemeaH5DxlVLN1kJi7ZI9WfqwXnTzFJfmht2O_EwSF0_maPT7nd4mXNMcyNssfMNx_CmL3CJtxDnVssg9EiU6LnaZJOR_MyqNOzIQK4nuMYZ6SS6PnUNZCXKk2U9kq6y4Xb25JdQP/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflVflemeaH5DxlVLN1kJi7ZI9WfqwXnTzFJfmht2O_EwSF0_maPT7nd4mXNMcyNssfMNx_CmL3CJtxDnVssg9EiU6LnaZJOR_MyqNOzIQK4nuMYZ6SS6PnUNZCXKk2U9kq6y4Xb25JdQP/s640/m_piggies+2011_0007.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReQS0HjsuDhEoVJGthprxPEGxFqGDt_AwbzfthR8viPbnVxZyZDtahZv2R7iaq4iL-fUCkBwVehBHpJV3HHIfYdTrIu6fDUfmMvtirwekSoQa2IRG4mWB3hI6DtjuH1W7jur0vKpkb4lW/s1600/m_piggies+2011_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReQS0HjsuDhEoVJGthprxPEGxFqGDt_AwbzfthR8viPbnVxZyZDtahZv2R7iaq4iL-fUCkBwVehBHpJV3HHIfYdTrIu6fDUfmMvtirwekSoQa2IRG4mWB3hI6DtjuH1W7jur0vKpkb4lW/s640/m_piggies+2011_0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
If interested in getting a pig from Scarlet's litter, email <a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a>. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-70307974377749563442011-05-10T15:16:00.000-04:002011-05-10T15:16:02.701-04:00Decorative Hand Hoe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Scott got an order for another hand hoe, so he banged one out while heat treating knives for the Blade Show in June. See what you think.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBERYs35b7YtHKrr1TtPFWWGg_e5surDcB1qCW5abfixTNnuhnH2ZsiaZIqzqjYtCgkIaU_RQ-4AfiNEHcK5XhugmrLr9r2XAJxVF4SloNCTdaneWUQ04i4-1uvvXP5D2MnsQH7-tjEy_/s1600/m_Paynter+Hand+Hoe_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBERYs35b7YtHKrr1TtPFWWGg_e5surDcB1qCW5abfixTNnuhnH2ZsiaZIqzqjYtCgkIaU_RQ-4AfiNEHcK5XhugmrLr9r2XAJxVF4SloNCTdaneWUQ04i4-1uvvXP5D2MnsQH7-tjEy_/s640/m_Paynter+Hand+Hoe_0001.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrosWRIokW57YoEeHvgjbvTTlhmWInrWtyfwb3DwAYoRT7B9_HDSP4KlPj_ca-JKnn8kQ7RP2kHXGUAKvT6_RA9UmXp2kec8O7hkUYuXuiObStWT9o8Ibm3EOxX12QLMGFlkjVC3S0fVW/s1600/m_Paynter+Hand+Hoe_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrosWRIokW57YoEeHvgjbvTTlhmWInrWtyfwb3DwAYoRT7B9_HDSP4KlPj_ca-JKnn8kQ7RP2kHXGUAKvT6_RA9UmXp2kec8O7hkUYuXuiObStWT9o8Ibm3EOxX12QLMGFlkjVC3S0fVW/s640/m_Paynter+Hand+Hoe_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which reminds me . . . I need to hoe the garden! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">If you want to see more of Scott's metal work, go to <a href="http://www.guineahogforge.com/">http://www.guineahogforge.com/</a>, and I'll post more on the garden soon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">http://www.bluefieldacres.com/</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div><br />
<div align="center"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-37388888805687886542011-05-03T17:05:00.000-04:002011-05-03T17:05:19.969-04:00Making Traditional Bark Baskets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Over Easter Scott mom decided that we needed to try making baskets out of tree bark. She has a traditional style bark basket from the North Carolina mountains, so using it as a template and a handout as a guide, we trudged into the forest to find the right trees for our project. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnb8gFsizFR8G54o7y9Lb6DKwzFmUUYcsAyH6QvvBuX9-mQ7DwNsgsTFUseYlxl-XEpYbQSdXpJTTTTINZKtGh3J_j8TEUoDl7yMUS21D7WJuos4Ipzk4keFSHCbipHepOer1i3M9OHki/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnb8gFsizFR8G54o7y9Lb6DKwzFmUUYcsAyH6QvvBuX9-mQ7DwNsgsTFUseYlxl-XEpYbQSdXpJTTTTINZKtGh3J_j8TEUoDl7yMUS21D7WJuos4Ipzk4keFSHCbipHepOer1i3M9OHki/s640/m_bark+baskets_0010.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Scott's parents live just north of Raleigh, NC on a heavily wooded tract of land. The handout on making traditional NC mountain baskets stated that poplar tree bark should be used for the basket and hickory bark for the thread, and specified that the deed should be done in mid-July around the time of the full moon. Well, being in an area quite a bit warmer than the mountains, and given that we might not be at her house in July, Peggy decided that Easter week was the right time for making baskets in central NC and declared that full moon or not, we had a mission to fulfill. <br />
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Scott found a poplar and tested the bark to see if it would come off after being cut with a hatchet and pounded upon with a hammer. The pounding separates the outer bark from the inner tree but will only work at certain times of the year. Voila'! It worked like a charm, so he broke out the chain saw and dropped the tree on the ground. <br />
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Well you didn't really expect us to make the baskets in the forest did you? It's tick season.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoZ7oqGNSWmtDwamfRZ-vCBmwjCQnOv1IDhW4sze4qOTvc_-y09FrX9giE91VUEmO_Vvbt26UiGWJTeNuCHYRHQA7lXrSLkmoSkAJrc33Quenu1ik-s2jQx9A5cBUJj6zyaI7XehOgu9-/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoZ7oqGNSWmtDwamfRZ-vCBmwjCQnOv1IDhW4sze4qOTvc_-y09FrX9giE91VUEmO_Vvbt26UiGWJTeNuCHYRHQA7lXrSLkmoSkAJrc33Quenu1ik-s2jQx9A5cBUJj6zyaI7XehOgu9-/s640/m_bark+baskets_0001.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>After cutting the poplar into manageable sections and finding a few small hickories for thread, we headed back to the shade of a tent beside the house and set the entire family to work. Check it out - these folks are all expert bark basket makers now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lwLTPG8670Y4l2RlOD3JuH6JDfrmc-6EL93n_tMTpIPEqH9IjAHug3Cj0jSpdpv4DRrFgMqMbnrgmZgHSCSWk9YcaCpg-XWGx-6mH7b9yVsjd97iSm2sejKY0Tdw8BIF0sHW2yqiBv0q/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lwLTPG8670Y4l2RlOD3JuH6JDfrmc-6EL93n_tMTpIPEqH9IjAHug3Cj0jSpdpv4DRrFgMqMbnrgmZgHSCSWk9YcaCpg-XWGx-6mH7b9yVsjd97iSm2sejKY0Tdw8BIF0sHW2yqiBv0q/s640/m_bark+baskets_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Scott found an old dogwood cudgel that he made as a teenager and put it to work separating the bark from the inner tree. It was the perfect tool. Once beaten to submission, the bark will pull away relatively easily in large sections.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2phjXyvXv2hseidXr4BFBfq-W4u_OqItqifvI3J4tNb-AbLn8gT5_xZ9TzFPqT0eZ0egOMnTbMffqfoHqwIv5vxZ4g8-L8W7e3TpQ-cCqeItkbpSc1fbCY3CDYw1MTGmjjv8htBGnV-7/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2phjXyvXv2hseidXr4BFBfq-W4u_OqItqifvI3J4tNb-AbLn8gT5_xZ9TzFPqT0eZ0egOMnTbMffqfoHqwIv5vxZ4g8-L8W7e3TpQ-cCqeItkbpSc1fbCY3CDYw1MTGmjjv8htBGnV-7/s640/m_bark+baskets_0007.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next, you have to scribe a football shaped line in the outer bark near the center of the basket to make the bottom. This has to be done carefully to prevent cutting through the inner bark, and allows the basket to fold into shape. Here's Bonnie doing a fine job with one of Scott's custom knives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW56_j3MWTSFIyRAX3KL77yTgZ2v9MKjwcuCbBgd6x9_Ek8dtSK8EYeJSLix3tRE67JczRcl3AEui1fh2kZ6j9wqOQyuXccUM6tNVlGdmuwm_POdh86vt5Us3IrNlQ88JbqCVb7E_J1AL/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW56_j3MWTSFIyRAX3KL77yTgZ2v9MKjwcuCbBgd6x9_Ek8dtSK8EYeJSLix3tRE67JczRcl3AEui1fh2kZ6j9wqOQyuXccUM6tNVlGdmuwm_POdh86vt5Us3IrNlQ88JbqCVb7E_J1AL/s640/m_bark+baskets_0005.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently it is very important to have lots of supervisors when scribing! Good work Grandpa and Dylan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0RFBjONZuGqLE3cA5BsfouEKuwYtuvGfkkth3ezYVSW-Z0Utsj11bo_I3DhpB2SwB1ghruVrH9HksuS0p3nMz3e1oxuohO1ZRTb8gsl6LcwldzlhDYLCo6rJoLrlWwEKTFKj9jt86KYA/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0RFBjONZuGqLE3cA5BsfouEKuwYtuvGfkkth3ezYVSW-Z0Utsj11bo_I3DhpB2SwB1ghruVrH9HksuS0p3nMz3e1oxuohO1ZRTb8gsl6LcwldzlhDYLCo6rJoLrlWwEKTFKj9jt86KYA/s640/m_bark+baskets_0009.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next you have to make holes for the thread. Yes, we cheated again - power drills definitely make the job easier. Hard to tell in the picture, but Conner is pounding hickory bark to get the inner strands off for thread while Jacob drills holes in the basket. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNEwMd_DubmCzQYUuWrYGUX8nm7iulyLFViylE6VTFgTnnUcnJ0XkDCLA1D3ttG_PuOA9DJNdC5vzU_P5CUevV-twBlveg8v2P-RU7f9JhCV4MIs4H3ko-XWuK7awEK_Phq0eM298Gn1d/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNEwMd_DubmCzQYUuWrYGUX8nm7iulyLFViylE6VTFgTnnUcnJ0XkDCLA1D3ttG_PuOA9DJNdC5vzU_P5CUevV-twBlveg8v2P-RU7f9JhCV4MIs4H3ko-XWuK7awEK_Phq0eM298Gn1d/s640/m_bark+baskets_0008.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Soak the bark to make it thread easily, thread away, tie it off, and . . . viola' . . . you have a basket!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjrhdP0J0vlyboqKf3LoSEVtMFPBU40CWBQcYnfUcwJJwwMbNXTl4hIdaW19tKDAOq3MP0DYgyythMvugRwexGphZfWulY7Hqpnwt0UcuqBOuf6NU3mzdyf0dlmswuRUlNNSAyAhVok-f/s1600/m_bark+baskets_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjrhdP0J0vlyboqKf3LoSEVtMFPBU40CWBQcYnfUcwJJwwMbNXTl4hIdaW19tKDAOq3MP0DYgyythMvugRwexGphZfWulY7Hqpnwt0UcuqBOuf6NU3mzdyf0dlmswuRUlNNSAyAhVok-f/s640/m_bark+baskets_0004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Hmmmm . . . since we're supposed to be in the mountains this July . . . </div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">http://www.bluefieldacres.com/</a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-56549279784704713412011-04-18T12:38:00.001-04:002013-02-14T18:16:00.301-05:00Vintage Gravely Walk Behind Tractor - SOLD!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcH2Cz1Lj2PSYKBOo1WnrKy_QA-wvL2nuqFvcqyurqc1fU4SDd-aKyTshG8nZRD5tEuInrGgf1tSDpA5P3RdZY2mEGSUKhN95zBSu48ljtFvTWJGV4G1UTK4dKfzIqQrnqzwan8Aqsl8z/s1600/m_gravely+with+mower_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcH2Cz1Lj2PSYKBOo1WnrKy_QA-wvL2nuqFvcqyurqc1fU4SDd-aKyTshG8nZRD5tEuInrGgf1tSDpA5P3RdZY2mEGSUKhN95zBSu48ljtFvTWJGV4G1UTK4dKfzIqQrnqzwan8Aqsl8z/s640/m_gravely+with+mower_0015.jpg" width="408" /></a></div>
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Scott, the kids, and I spent the weekend cleaning up this 1961 Gravely walk-behind tractor with mower, sickle, and chipper attachments. It's a great machine that we thought we'd use around the farm a lot after Scott aquired it, but the purchase of a shiny new BCS walk-behind tractor/tiller for the garden quickly relegated this antique to the shed. We considered restoring the Gravely to take along when demonstrating blacksmithing at the local farm shows, but we simply don't have the time between graduate school, work, the farm, and Scott's knifemaking . . . and we could really use the space:)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI1PNRe2Fj4OaYqgJh99Jh55g-dFIDov_B-KzF1U1rp3f5VoiNPvi0cpVPY1YhjQW2-nZSGTd-9g_DdRdFDKvHuo6wKuJuL2tPgykGuRX49DJaYIV0bMKvtnCObelKz8qi5ez2Zt1CRQ9/s1600/m_gravely+vs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI1PNRe2Fj4OaYqgJh99Jh55g-dFIDov_B-KzF1U1rp3f5VoiNPvi0cpVPY1YhjQW2-nZSGTd-9g_DdRdFDKvHuo6wKuJuL2tPgykGuRX49DJaYIV0bMKvtnCObelKz8qi5ez2Zt1CRQ9/s640/m_gravely+vs.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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So, we've decided to sell. If you're interested, let us know. If you know someone who might be, pass the info along. This is a highly restorable, mostly original, very functional Gravely tractor. The engine is the original Gravely and, although a few things could be tweaked, everything works. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcH2Cz1Lj2PSYKBOo1WnrKy_QA-wvL2nuqFvcqyurqc1fU4SDd-aKyTshG8nZRD5tEuInrGgf1tSDpA5P3RdZY2mEGSUKhN95zBSu48ljtFvTWJGV4G1UTK4dKfzIqQrnqzwan8Aqsl8z/s1600/m_gravely+with+mower_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcH2Cz1Lj2PSYKBOo1WnrKy_QA-wvL2nuqFvcqyurqc1fU4SDd-aKyTshG8nZRD5tEuInrGgf1tSDpA5P3RdZY2mEGSUKhN95zBSu48ljtFvTWJGV4G1UTK4dKfzIqQrnqzwan8Aqsl8z/s640/m_gravely+with+mower_0015.jpg" width="408" /></a></div>
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The chipper was originally green, as indicated by a few spots where the tan paint didn't adher. </div>
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The sickle has a few broken teeth, but all the parts move freely, and the attachment link is immaculate.</div>
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We even have the original manual, some maintance records and other Gravely artifacts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ7_yYn1IEHtUIgrs4FtnUQtpJ6KfkJLFwWFJXeVzaO4pLlZCr0qqIEtjQB8ljEHeoZfPILKhQwO5uCnRLGMo9_7z4F7QQ34XMNE0NNakK2k18L2SwZUdEh3xds3IR0As6DWx33Rfmnq1/s1600/m_gravely+artifacts_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ7_yYn1IEHtUIgrs4FtnUQtpJ6KfkJLFwWFJXeVzaO4pLlZCr0qqIEtjQB8ljEHeoZfPILKhQwO5uCnRLGMo9_7z4F7QQ34XMNE0NNakK2k18L2SwZUdEh3xds3IR0As6DWx33Rfmnq1/s640/m_gravely+artifacts_0027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We're asking $1000 for everything and are located in Clarkton, NC. Email if you have additional questions. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">http://www.bluefieldacres.com/</a></div>
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<a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-27418057146480206482011-04-13T14:35:00.000-04:002011-04-13T14:35:27.552-04:00Lake Waccamaw Southern Farm Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In March the entire family demonstrated at the Lake Waccamaw Southern Farm Days Festival. Scott, the bladesmith and blacksmith, forged over green coal and was assisted by his two sons - Jacob and Conner.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Scott's mom Peggy, daughter Bonnie, and nephew Cullen cooked traditional style. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxB9Ps1kAQ34oy34fS4PmUxtRXDSc1E4Qw1YjyF4EvVskTKj22GUaJUVcp9Gjh0_y0-eatQTCqhZfSU9oGgU1uOr39eEP2jTwqeJnRzGWzggQWVRNHL6rBz96SalVbLZ6ujREZ3g-hTIK/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+2011_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxB9Ps1kAQ34oy34fS4PmUxtRXDSc1E4Qw1YjyF4EvVskTKj22GUaJUVcp9Gjh0_y0-eatQTCqhZfSU9oGgU1uOr39eEP2jTwqeJnRzGWzggQWVRNHL6rBz96SalVbLZ6ujREZ3g-hTIK/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+2011_0027.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Apple dumplings - Conner helped by eating the peelings. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoroLCv1QhsG2NQthbF0v2FUdKgULv_YRYQ-ioSgAGYVcl7nBMQvzY6l08i1KMIZsYNm7_T29ZGPH9QYb9sMsoqu5Fy28Vy7gpUypX6m85SBND9i-WhjqkHcpIWp3TWjF3cGp37qoLWsvD/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoroLCv1QhsG2NQthbF0v2FUdKgULv_YRYQ-ioSgAGYVcl7nBMQvzY6l08i1KMIZsYNm7_T29ZGPH9QYb9sMsoqu5Fy28Vy7gpUypX6m85SBND9i-WhjqkHcpIWp3TWjF3cGp37qoLWsvD/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110001.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fire roasted apples</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chicken roasted in a traditional reflector oven</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj84NEKA_IuMyecZPqXUTI14jo-o8IHNw6T6tAKKTSk71wGcv53vdxe-F5i1hSmMEMn3PGaM29RK-OVUExrR-hvSXsaUBPgacBmTxjkG3FdsObdRXnfXyQZ8vUdtute0BK0vn5HXgL6quV/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj84NEKA_IuMyecZPqXUTI14jo-o8IHNw6T6tAKKTSk71wGcv53vdxe-F5i1hSmMEMn3PGaM29RK-OVUExrR-hvSXsaUBPgacBmTxjkG3FdsObdRXnfXyQZ8vUdtute0BK0vn5HXgL6quV/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWF4Dm40y6fBx3HRdkXdSu_7Nrr6v6zrbdIdiDl7ISlOHUro0nyLmj49pP9kglirsmNsfT7zmwxat2WVyr0_tXceGZVcSb3MOHBWYqCCfeXkXiL4OzoseFtr3DQRm-RKxhtPG5o0YeA7a/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWF4Dm40y6fBx3HRdkXdSu_7Nrr6v6zrbdIdiDl7ISlOHUro0nyLmj49pP9kglirsmNsfT7zmwxat2WVyr0_tXceGZVcSb3MOHBWYqCCfeXkXiL4OzoseFtr3DQRm-RKxhtPG5o0YeA7a/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110015.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Corned beef . . . </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovPvbIHAMlCkJNSJkoEV77tJ4Mz6ZPJDy4yIZ_4gBwNUlaX6sODkzC_KWmkyGwNTUnKUE2PUICbfvBklCnadEZc7PPNopra82_mQhn8L7BkzBjeq_Faz63ehwKda0-Tn1ln5Se9cI9uJC/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovPvbIHAMlCkJNSJkoEV77tJ4Mz6ZPJDy4yIZ_4gBwNUlaX6sODkzC_KWmkyGwNTUnKUE2PUICbfvBklCnadEZc7PPNopra82_mQhn8L7BkzBjeq_Faz63ehwKda0-Tn1ln5Se9cI9uJC/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110019.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">. . . browned to perfection by Cullen . . . </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwNq7tLMO5AhbOnvSw1j_fvfVNc2JHH2If3sGY7Crs4EN8UNIPfu3ex1IU56th4-ZBO73fmyHsgIdfYc7sPDY_jKf3kftmJENcabgxCHZUGwOhLgCmYMgh2gYMzP621FWH_L-tGyhPcD4/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+2011_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwNq7tLMO5AhbOnvSw1j_fvfVNc2JHH2If3sGY7Crs4EN8UNIPfu3ex1IU56th4-ZBO73fmyHsgIdfYc7sPDY_jKf3kftmJENcabgxCHZUGwOhLgCmYMgh2gYMzP621FWH_L-tGyhPcD4/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+2011_0031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . under a salamader blacksmithed by <a href="http://www.guineahogforge.com/">E. Scott McGhee</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SuNuj1HjCuDwrYNASBQxA-6AMtrxaIPjVyQNdQW7D6Lrz0OsM0EQl8M_kR1hLWB1Sr9vjHk5rukncw1HwZIpQ6JJT2oESqvk7raCN8pvlbuuBat9BP0qt3LJAsgEHDpnDyybxDy0u12r/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SuNuj1HjCuDwrYNASBQxA-6AMtrxaIPjVyQNdQW7D6Lrz0OsM0EQl8M_kR1hLWB1Sr9vjHk5rukncw1HwZIpQ6JJT2oESqvk7raCN8pvlbuuBat9BP0qt3LJAsgEHDpnDyybxDy0u12r/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Cowboys, wranglers, saloon gals, and all kinds of interesting folk attended the event. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSL9WalT7X_6lpADs4Qk6sBFgYyKSBF6iQVxhvVLu4QGvyZC_6UjFZekl0BfemUhdwcKsYon8Fbx1XQhe0pn_au-ngvMRyecCdwC4BXdyLkTX5AOwbDdFguDKuThgv3aujr5q09mgTJA_/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSL9WalT7X_6lpADs4Qk6sBFgYyKSBF6iQVxhvVLu4QGvyZC_6UjFZekl0BfemUhdwcKsYon8Fbx1XQhe0pn_au-ngvMRyecCdwC4BXdyLkTX5AOwbDdFguDKuThgv3aujr5q09mgTJA_/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoMqKX2nCoUFQaAsDlE08SsX_AfCMLnyrT-mygOEMOAdoCLperQySho5YzNdNFkHaafmZJdDGRWKUBEk47oZiZHR827qSH33hiXOJzyi7bClk4RGuIeNfeKloBAkEbfFmhjUumIMIPAUb/s1600/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoMqKX2nCoUFQaAsDlE08SsX_AfCMLnyrT-mygOEMOAdoCLperQySho5YzNdNFkHaafmZJdDGRWKUBEk47oZiZHR827qSH33hiXOJzyi7bClk4RGuIeNfeKloBAkEbfFmhjUumIMIPAUb/s640/m_Lake+Waccamaw+20110007.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">See you next year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">http://www.bluefieldacres.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-9947355744649732192011-03-10T17:26:00.000-05:002011-03-10T17:26:16.814-05:00Scott's Spicy Sausage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3OwO60DbKb3HUoOy-yYuMGPGkZIVfBa9FpFvjnsGEief3RmL79pDffw7xW5RdN6jelLtBiVCdIiHFZIMTCEgU04JuvCa02UBI8yzABYJrYiyQziABzcfKGll0FFLOJ19igWyT9RJ0hyW/s1600/m_hogday_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3OwO60DbKb3HUoOy-yYuMGPGkZIVfBa9FpFvjnsGEief3RmL79pDffw7xW5RdN6jelLtBiVCdIiHFZIMTCEgU04JuvCa02UBI8yzABYJrYiyQziABzcfKGll0FFLOJ19igWyT9RJ0hyW/s640/m_hogday_0055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
At Bluefield Acres, we grind and blend our own sausage using fresh meat from naturally raised American Guinea Hogs. You can use the following recipe to blend your own sausage, but it may need adjustment depending on the pork you use. Our Guinea Hogs graze for much of their food, which may account for a higher salt content in the meat. We're not sure why the meat is saltier, but we use less salt in our GH sausage than we would if using commercial pork (about 2 grams less). If you are raising your own hogs on pasture or forage, please keep this in mind, as you may find it necessary to play with the recipe to make it work with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terroir">terroir</a> of your farm (soil, climate, topography) and the eating habits of your animals. <br />
<br />
If starting from scratch, cut separated meat and fat from your animal into cubes, then blend at 80% meat to 20% fat. Cool in refrigerator before grinding, then course grind this mixture once without spices and refrigerate again until cool. We use an <a href="http://www.lemproducts.com/product/lem_8_electric_grinder/electric_grinders">LEM grinder</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXuu5JupVp3fb6Tsu4red0YNb9sEslDDZ74sG0-8QMWz4-dFFHs7hcAvMk3qwg-0eepm6v3ad6Cs2UWVy-8yBeEMXVrxosQbi-koIwupjo5r_-Ge4f1zQs2Hpk5pN0ZkLxqPwJ9RvCvPJ/s1600/m_hogday_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXuu5JupVp3fb6Tsu4red0YNb9sEslDDZ74sG0-8QMWz4-dFFHs7hcAvMk3qwg-0eepm6v3ad6Cs2UWVy-8yBeEMXVrxosQbi-koIwupjo5r_-Ge4f1zQs2Hpk5pN0ZkLxqPwJ9RvCvPJ/s640/m_hogday_0054.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Next blend in the spices at the following measurements and grind the blend twice on course to medium (depending on your preference). We prefer our sausage course ground and mix it to have a low fat content. <br />
<br />
1 lb meat/fat<br />
6 grams of salt<br />
2 grams black pepper<br />
1.1 grams red pepper flakes<br />
0.6 grams chipolte<br />
2.4 grams brown sugar<br />
* sage - see below<br />
50 ml water<br />
<br />
*2 teaspoons sage per 5 pounds meat/fat<br />
<br />
Remember to cool the sausage in the refrigerator between grinds to keep the meat from getting too hot, and always wash or freeze grinder attachments between grinds to prevent contamination. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-86509822523918105182011-02-14T12:29:00.000-05:002011-02-14T12:29:56.015-05:00Mak'in Bacon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Scott finished curing our bacon last week. This requires fresh pork bellies with the skin left on. Once you have the bellies, here's how it's done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13znmKtU1t6aij7YFrPQSO9HDEJ_rWJfjj-fMdR2O0gD-hilOwHGSWZA4VUBcyG29vkIsdod1QKd68KDoCY69Bw_D4IvsGBY2fUzk3a2Kxl0dnYuazuR7uBifDbrDpmEb0gWr7mftn4dH/s1600/m_bacon_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13znmKtU1t6aij7YFrPQSO9HDEJ_rWJfjj-fMdR2O0gD-hilOwHGSWZA4VUBcyG29vkIsdod1QKd68KDoCY69Bw_D4IvsGBY2fUzk3a2Kxl0dnYuazuR7uBifDbrDpmEb0gWr7mftn4dH/s640/m_bacon_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Lay out bellies and rub with sugar cure (see <a href="http://www.lemproducts.com/category/s?keyword=cure">LEM</a> for pink salt; read instructions carefully to make the rub); seal in 2 gallon bags and refrigerate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K77pDPvgxTYdBVw9yzWOEyVeJvpeSZUzvku2-nTF9zv2xSU1fx4vW_OCG1tVRosqr_Hl7AepycWebiX_Bo4UuAOYfv2E846acHDhPGRg0stWg8QA2-of0bUweEtcCybiHtfuG8SbyeuV/s1600/m_bacon_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K77pDPvgxTYdBVw9yzWOEyVeJvpeSZUzvku2-nTF9zv2xSU1fx4vW_OCG1tVRosqr_Hl7AepycWebiX_Bo4UuAOYfv2E846acHDhPGRg0stWg8QA2-of0bUweEtcCybiHtfuG8SbyeuV/s640/m_bacon_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Flip over once daily checking consistancy; when stiff at the thickest part, the bellies are ready for the next step (note: for safety reasons bellies <strong><u>must</u></strong> be removed from the cure in 7-10 days).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3t7i7HE4zZsEDC70NV1i8UCkerCA85ZG9NahNiBsXW2SJdCy20zEQE3ldjP-Th1DuKT8ib2Z9GLOKke0Q-Bsq8c98ro3h-7py_C5J67pOqb8Dcb4aaXhqA4PoDN4et8MP_aXJ_6GuyrS/s1600/m_bacon_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3t7i7HE4zZsEDC70NV1i8UCkerCA85ZG9NahNiBsXW2SJdCy20zEQE3ldjP-Th1DuKT8ib2Z9GLOKke0Q-Bsq8c98ro3h-7py_C5J67pOqb8Dcb4aaXhqA4PoDN4et8MP_aXJ_6GuyrS/s640/m_bacon_0002.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Take bellies out of bags, rinse throughly, and pat dry; then smoke with indirect heat or bake in oven at 200 degrees until internal temperature is 150 degrees; take off the grill or out of oven and remove skin while bacon is still warm. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj3Dad63oeDmvuR6oV8qEMrXGkE0qi_7FVdXU6uYJZDkg8uD1PP-P4ONG31CPDNEnbe7Xa0yfgSWPQFRowIYBwjrj3pZFiE0dqcVvdR90j4unYDfi6tGflSSeZi6RRAMtgVkXk-r8LA7R/s1600/m_bacon_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj3Dad63oeDmvuR6oV8qEMrXGkE0qi_7FVdXU6uYJZDkg8uD1PP-P4ONG31CPDNEnbe7Xa0yfgSWPQFRowIYBwjrj3pZFiE0dqcVvdR90j4unYDfi6tGflSSeZi6RRAMtgVkXk-r8LA7R/s640/m_bacon_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Walla, your bacon is ready to slice and fry, and, as the old lady at the local butcher shop says, "You can slice 'em thick, thin or just right." Personally, I always opt for "just right"!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYXUByHMLxpqKzKNdvHsmHCrAHBel5pCU7rWIRmhs49qCdnj8FSWJLH_ocDpZanrpuY3qyidwXMRrAG3YT-8f869iNNIWL1tMP6Q7szTmfRS-5zS4QbNkwFH4b-wT1EzhtefsXaETuDI8/s1600/m_bacon_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYXUByHMLxpqKzKNdvHsmHCrAHBel5pCU7rWIRmhs49qCdnj8FSWJLH_ocDpZanrpuY3qyidwXMRrAG3YT-8f869iNNIWL1tMP6Q7szTmfRS-5zS4QbNkwFH4b-wT1EzhtefsXaETuDI8/s640/m_bacon_0008.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
We usually bake some in the oven and smoke the rest with apple wood on our homemade grill. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIY63uJa1sGcee4iJ6MpooYW54iXde8xbTsN47sFYjqaxiwU6SvPa00GPYWur8bdcqdS2StOCnOIOdSi5LIaBfK4w4tUXiob3ae6kDzVukBAjjWKegzB4X-4usJ7zDvaBXl2MwCZx8Yij/s1600/m_bacon_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIY63uJa1sGcee4iJ6MpooYW54iXde8xbTsN47sFYjqaxiwU6SvPa00GPYWur8bdcqdS2StOCnOIOdSi5LIaBfK4w4tUXiob3ae6kDzVukBAjjWKegzB4X-4usJ7zDvaBXl2MwCZx8Yij/s640/m_bacon_0006.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
For definitive information on curing, refer to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charcuterie-Craft-Salting-Smoking-Curing/dp/0393058298">Charcuterie</a> by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn. Scott learned most of his curing techniques from this book, and we highly recommend it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRstH6tsBd53S9LGDZjXFoJpL7QDm6-G-uJhBqEnkbS9FLAeMVFU_BYtwBnlFmD-fHj-AmwZ4MDnp-1uPDKOzGsGW_m_BEowZGQ8nhsfptjamTARm149_eY9IeshMfgWxVP3gvEmOnNiXI/s1600/m_bacon_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRstH6tsBd53S9LGDZjXFoJpL7QDm6-G-uJhBqEnkbS9FLAeMVFU_BYtwBnlFmD-fHj-AmwZ4MDnp-1uPDKOzGsGW_m_BEowZGQ8nhsfptjamTARm149_eY9IeshMfgWxVP3gvEmOnNiXI/s640/m_bacon_0009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluefieldacres.com/">http://www.bluefieldacres.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-53722669620356700952011-02-10T12:35:00.001-05:002011-02-10T12:41:03.866-05:00Look'in for Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQzc9tMeh4atVFHWx5FZILUm7MS0gckG4RNFIYEwxLzP3cqzYDMC5HtGq0Yf4fBiApgCySBCpIceMLgDXaXFu3RrMfMXlhvzxz8nd7FwELTsSgKreze8YaWFsU2bQ56OwbYWFrk21h2Mo/s1600/m_Tyrone_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQzc9tMeh4atVFHWx5FZILUm7MS0gckG4RNFIYEwxLzP3cqzYDMC5HtGq0Yf4fBiApgCySBCpIceMLgDXaXFu3RrMfMXlhvzxz8nd7FwELTsSgKreze8YaWFsU2bQ56OwbYWFrk21h2Mo/s640/m_Tyrone_0001.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Sex: Male <br />
Age: 9 1/2 months old<br />
Born: May 1, 2010<br />
Sign: Taurus ("The Bull")<br />
Element: Earth<br />
Enjoy: Rooting, grazing, laying in the sun, belly rubs, and wallowing<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhECvHn1sdZcYGFeNwoVh00RafrqE0O2sJmhLEffluX5tuDFmHNB_IUzfLL4awmhd5FjYszh-6k10gbSd8-AYB1ws89JlfEqBIVH6ZIljIZb7KZfxp9bFMcIRhKGMUtwBylLAj1mF0GWO/s1600/m_Tyrone_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhECvHn1sdZcYGFeNwoVh00RafrqE0O2sJmhLEffluX5tuDFmHNB_IUzfLL4awmhd5FjYszh-6k10gbSd8-AYB1ws89JlfEqBIVH6ZIljIZb7KZfxp9bFMcIRhKGMUtwBylLAj1mF0GWO/s640/m_Tyrone_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Hi, they call me Tyrone (although I don't have an official name), and I'm a young registered American Guinea Hog male look'in for love. I am quite handsome (straight black hair with just a hint of curl), very laid back and rather gentle. I'm not real big yet, but I expect I'll be a big boy when I grown up. I currently stand approximately 21 inches tall at the shoulder, and I'm about 3 feet long. I've never weighed myself, but I'd say I'm around 100 -110 lbs (give or take a few). I live in eastern North Carolina, but am happy to relocate as I'm very interested in finding a lady friend and having piglets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b6FxzQONQPyhKVCfs-aakZz0l9JpXvRUSn58B_yMr5owCf8jKpNgEa69G3M9JfX111VK3gHzPCFbpYZ9er1WWQbOp1g6pBdjaPCEQCrK3-Yv0a0Xqu5dtUjW18nlJXu6vMBnSGlvyX81/s1600/m_Tyrone_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b6FxzQONQPyhKVCfs-aakZz0l9JpXvRUSn58B_yMr5owCf8jKpNgEa69G3M9JfX111VK3gHzPCFbpYZ9er1WWQbOp1g6pBdjaPCEQCrK3-Yv0a0Xqu5dtUjW18nlJXu6vMBnSGlvyX81/s640/m_Tyrone_0003.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
If interested, please contact my personal handler at the following address <a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a> or call 910-540-4475. Ask for Lydia.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZnlbZdZgBTIXCnSa1a2EV73vOKFUvLLqcimHiz5CqTQqOoldzXLmS9NpncGrlMdiPIVcSUwxnL1zp5bn5uXQzTOXIYoUsBWkCPzhpThEuPTjfxo7GyPFspCcuH4h3KOrIgpqsuVY6IHJ/s1600/m_Tyrone_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZnlbZdZgBTIXCnSa1a2EV73vOKFUvLLqcimHiz5CqTQqOoldzXLmS9NpncGrlMdiPIVcSUwxnL1zp5bn5uXQzTOXIYoUsBWkCPzhpThEuPTjfxo7GyPFspCcuH4h3KOrIgpqsuVY6IHJ/s640/m_Tyrone_0004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Hope to hear from you soon. <br />
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Love,<br />
Tyrone</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-83404311332359657962011-02-04T13:20:00.002-05:002011-02-04T14:00:30.790-05:00Hog Harvest: A Comedy of Errors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We harvested two America Guinea Hogs on Saturday. We planned to take four, but, given the comedy of errors that ensued, two was all we could handle. The following post is about processing hogs and is not for the squeamish, so proceed cautiously. Below I've listed our basic method and have included a slide show of Saturday's activities.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcRMte86xsiJKvrRqR2eSMpTpjBCDw0dOOnf10vmarm13DFy-xC5Ep6k7LsEeRXyVVc9s83ej_IhKXberNHOqub86SnsL7DqNCmkawoO2xVoVbSW5un8Nsy4Zoy_rZfdL7U-Un5B8wHLm/s1600/m_hogday_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcRMte86xsiJKvrRqR2eSMpTpjBCDw0dOOnf10vmarm13DFy-xC5Ep6k7LsEeRXyVVc9s83ej_IhKXberNHOqub86SnsL7DqNCmkawoO2xVoVbSW5un8Nsy4Zoy_rZfdL7U-Un5B8wHLm/s640/m_hogday_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<strong><u><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lydiamccormick/HogSlaughter2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCL-Y0c_HwsLm2gE#">Our Method for Processing Hogs - Click for SLIDE SHOW</a></u></strong><br />
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Do not feed hog for 24 hours<br />
Shoot hog between the eyes with .22 LR<br />
Cut and bleed the jugular<br />
Scald hog in water at 150 degrees until hair pulls out easily<br />
Scrape hair until skin is clean<br />
Wash carcass<br />
Gut hog<br />
Remove head and feet<br />
Butcher into desired pieces of meat and fat<br />
Blend and grind sausage<br />
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We started the day a bit later than planned. At 7am, Scott went out to fill the scalding tank that had been set up the day before, but the hose still had water in it and was frozen stiff; we should have filled the tank the evening before. An hour later the tank was finally full, but one of the propane burners wasn't working properly, and it took forever to get the water to the necessary 150 degrees for scalding. Luckily a neighbor loaned us an extra burner, but it was still 10am before the first hog hit the water. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2KjLyuqWaqHOoZL2iR0zLPNS83OcK3ERzo9P2EnlsZGns3RIQVl2IGAFG5gasLRXwo2pji_VOrzwKmcEdoTrG28E6V0aMdju7cczRZTeSMU5-9VKOdcDtvQDIsNdsvFQ7PjoKkxHSLYS/s1600/m_hogday_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2KjLyuqWaqHOoZL2iR0zLPNS83OcK3ERzo9P2EnlsZGns3RIQVl2IGAFG5gasLRXwo2pji_VOrzwKmcEdoTrG28E6V0aMdju7cczRZTeSMU5-9VKOdcDtvQDIsNdsvFQ7PjoKkxHSLYS/s640/m_hogday_0009.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
The comedy did not stop there, however. Both pigs made it from the killing field to the tank without incident, but getting them out of the tank and to the scraping station was another matter. We've always used a strap around the ankle to haul the hogs via tractor from station to station, and have never had any issue with this method. In the past, however, we've left the strap on during scalding. This time we removed the strap to more evenly scald the pig, and this was a mistake. Scalding is utilized to remove hair and the first layer of skin, and the reapplied strap would not stay on the foot as the skin and hair instantly sloughed off. The first pig fell back into the scalding pot several times, and the strap slipped off the second pig while in transit to the scraping station allowing the hog to unceremoniously the ground. Next time we'll use a hook through the mouth. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiwW0ta7eZ9c0fz9Xh_7SMvADYXUhSk_O9xK1wiYBrUH3uMJBU8HdxTArJIsxnKAt_k1BfpZyGGE0-a9fj-7v8wmBHjI7fDskW-yka9auYZMCC29aO3lqE_4TJdNwjj1M4kCAUOIQMfiE/s1600/m_hogday_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiwW0ta7eZ9c0fz9Xh_7SMvADYXUhSk_O9xK1wiYBrUH3uMJBU8HdxTArJIsxnKAt_k1BfpZyGGE0-a9fj-7v8wmBHjI7fDskW-yka9auYZMCC29aO3lqE_4TJdNwjj1M4kCAUOIQMfiE/s640/m_hogday_0018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The scraping and butchering thankfully proceeded without incident, but I noticed that Scott appeared to be in pain while working on the first hog. Afterwards, he admitted that he had indeed thrown out his back but felt he could continue, and (at about that same time) we realized that our struggling propane burner was now dead. Our scald temperature was now far too low, and it would be another hour before we could process the second hog. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfFm5pHMqw1zHkpKNEP8nOTfnGguw1ktcBNSnXXEkuMcAFEMY8tEVzbUXFGUf9om6Ytipl8VMe6GoPQqmK_Hk_bktLQaqe3UOmkGMWAixlkpHbK-XMQRB98jM0mGW2L6Ynbf7zK0dOZ2c/s1600/m_hogday_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfFm5pHMqw1zHkpKNEP8nOTfnGguw1ktcBNSnXXEkuMcAFEMY8tEVzbUXFGUf9om6Ytipl8VMe6GoPQqmK_Hk_bktLQaqe3UOmkGMWAixlkpHbK-XMQRB98jM0mGW2L6Ynbf7zK0dOZ2c/s640/m_hogday_0040.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
The second pig entered the water around 1pm and by 3pm we decided to call the harvest to a halt. We still had meat from two hogs to process/freeze and sausage to make, so two hogs got a stay of execution. It was a beautiful day however, and, thanks to friends and family, we have some wonderful Guinea Hog pork to eat. Thank you all. You are always welcome at our table.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBueUmAv-xpBfH1mCr1LYiYOxphgdUYuq4uwVCCjdl5oLjuTtF5_4k6hTnC_mzUvZIe138OHfdZvVTsAgrlAfwUEqhyRR23FxFBKQmS4XNxAdhAh7BomqCqX_EKhTt2VnbD9SjEAklIjw/s1600/m_hogday_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBueUmAv-xpBfH1mCr1LYiYOxphgdUYuq4uwVCCjdl5oLjuTtF5_4k6hTnC_mzUvZIe138OHfdZvVTsAgrlAfwUEqhyRR23FxFBKQmS4XNxAdhAh7BomqCqX_EKhTt2VnbD9SjEAklIjw/s640/m_hogday_0054.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
There was a capping moment to the day's comedy of errors. While sampling some fresh Guinea Hog sausage later that evening, Scott's two-day-old crown dislodged from his tooth. This is no commentary on the sausage, however, as it turns out that experimental glue used by the dentist was to blame for the failure. Certainly a day to remember! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com"><strong>bluefieldacres@gmail.com</strong></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-61090509257499396972011-01-26T20:21:00.000-05:002011-01-26T20:21:33.612-05:00Scott Passes ABS Journeyman Bladesmith Performance Test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPQZW4ymLZ1avDyAadh_n7FKQ0XNwl4wX8KSOcE9RmY_aUHas0cYufPaEFzRhmOp6RmhXR0h2T1zNbk0XEYFWqwdKWELfvooeEiGi7l65zEzO0THX6Gh6uJ-lUnuIM3x8QLgNLZ4ZWAoI/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPQZW4ymLZ1avDyAadh_n7FKQ0XNwl4wX8KSOcE9RmY_aUHas0cYufPaEFzRhmOp6RmhXR0h2T1zNbk0XEYFWqwdKWELfvooeEiGi7l65zEzO0THX6Gh6uJ-lUnuIM3x8QLgNLZ4ZWAoI/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Okay, so what is the ABS Journeyman Bladesmith Performance Test, and why am I talking about it on a blog about homestead farming?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJMCChq4de-0qSqF2-k2l16d00goeW01XGvgrNA5_BW8ouY8KQrbsiQcu40KnJyevPmkk9GXSeJDCII6Ld-OjGzN5XLfjLae5kzdrMQMNE94sCFf_eH5QbyQHmTiKwXxOioJiklem1xzX/s1600/m_forging+knives_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJMCChq4de-0qSqF2-k2l16d00goeW01XGvgrNA5_BW8ouY8KQrbsiQcu40KnJyevPmkk9GXSeJDCII6Ld-OjGzN5XLfjLae5kzdrMQMNE94sCFf_eH5QbyQHmTiKwXxOioJiklem1xzX/s640/m_forging+knives_0003.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Well . . . Scott (my husband and Bluefield Acres partner) is an aspiring bladesmith. He forges beautiful, high-performance knives out of carbon steel. He is a certified arborist by trade, but wants to bladesmith full-time. He desires this to satisfy his inner artisan, but also so he can work at home and tend to the farm. Scott currently works in an urban area about an hour from home, and the garden suffers in his absence. While I do well with animals, I do not speak plant. With Scott at home bladesmithing, our garden and orchard will flourish, but there's a hitch - the knives must sell, and for that we turn to the ABS.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347680533999851458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v-veIJlaGFb0kRabaZCHGytHtVSRcXBfLvhs0oKw2yDofLRAInk9dfW26oVGzmVvwAZh3HNypeqpe7TK5ccWWgQHDC0JRi4SpqniJ9KwXHZwmTTb34fUi6P_JxSDcEomiwmzFvnm2Ypt/s640/Carrots.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" width="427" /><br />
The <a href="http://www.americanbladesmith.com/"><strong>American Bladesmith Society</strong></a> (ABS) is a non-profit organization that promotes the art of bladesmithing and certifies journeyman and master bladesmiths. The certification process is very rigorous; candidates must apprentice for three years and pass two tests - a performance test (prove you understand steel well enough to create a performance blade) and a beauty contest (prove you can craft a functional work of art). Last weekend Scott demonstrated his knowledge of metallurgy by acing the performance test. In 2012 he will show his work to a panel of mastersmiths, and, if they give him the journeyman stamp, Scott's marketability as a bladesmith will rise substantially. Two years later, if he passes the master bladesmith exams, his marketability will rise once again. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31KJaajPQ4zXiZdTvWYA6snezKYsDDCccF9RhwE9UipWrzbBMA_syemwEzOXOFmcyd98a6McZ2FazD-wWqAygNZ0MXHMPq1zNOqE_s1MdT4w-U9HQIrXthH2CrtuaFLfzVEBXi6cqSnXb/s1600/m_Dress+Knife_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31KJaajPQ4zXiZdTvWYA6snezKYsDDCccF9RhwE9UipWrzbBMA_syemwEzOXOFmcyd98a6McZ2FazD-wWqAygNZ0MXHMPq1zNOqE_s1MdT4w-U9HQIrXthH2CrtuaFLfzVEBXi6cqSnXb/s640/m_Dress+Knife_0002.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br />
So, the following is a post about Scott's journey to become a fulltime bladesmith and, as a result, a more committed gardener. If you enjoy traditional arts, we hope you will enjoy what you see here. More info is available at <a href="http://www.guineahogforge.com/"><strong>Guinea Hog Forge</strong></a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjnktO1F0rOeYaUoOP6voUOaapBWE3yv4YL9eDXnemMVkXccAsyoD3XS1AK1IrzQpWMfMCJm7Z9lS0nDQeOyznDSlzX1G_pKA6UJte_p3xJASevNXAKmHnjfno1-7nQ7AmErdaXuQSm-f/s1600/m_knife+straightening_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjnktO1F0rOeYaUoOP6voUOaapBWE3yv4YL9eDXnemMVkXccAsyoD3XS1AK1IrzQpWMfMCJm7Z9lS0nDQeOyznDSlzX1G_pKA6UJte_p3xJASevNXAKmHnjfno1-7nQ7AmErdaXuQSm-f/s640/m_knife+straightening_0001.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
When it comes to making knives, bladesmith E. Scott McGhee suffers from a rather severe case of obsessive compulsive disorder. In preparation for his official ABS Journeyman Performance Test, Scott forged and destroyed four practice knives - one in July, one in October, and two last week. Scott recently forged three knives - two practice blades and <em>the candidate</em>. All three blades were forged at the same time, and then heat treated separately. Scott set aside the nicest one, then ground out the other two and put them through the paces. The following photos are from the test he did in July (I didn't photo the most recent tests), and you can view videos of these early tests by following this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=guinea+hog+forge&aq=f"><strong>YouTube</strong></a> link.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tlLphNM31yClmnvUhCiZR41a8T9Gtx-IrKI2gtdIg2GExGKdO0c6BvHww4fkezTxbtcOnotP10aTDbJhF41ZCCuutRjIZIjVSPIas_uOTqFNngvcdlU4882NneuXizrzgIYonBx674Ig/s640/m_journeyman+test_0006.jpg" width="425" /></div><br />
<a href="http://www.americanbladesmith.com/index.php?section=pages&id=172"><strong>The ABS Journeyman Smith Performance Test </strong></a><br />
1. Cut a 1-inch diameter free-hanging manilla rope 6-inches from the end in one pass<br />
2. Chop two 2x4's in half <br />
3. Without sharpening, demonstrate that the knife still shaves after after completing tests 1 and 2.<br />
4. Bend the knife to 90 degrees without cracking it more than 1/3 of the way from the edge to the back<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfGZXa16ZnQ"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1RUeVWzJdklHGJw_5laHf_ajXOkPVx7dDa0BYMkcIDSp1rpiA540nzNgoJ45xKHqpkCRUKWt_2g2sUfW7KEmlvNwpItfRKmBD3sft5_1gE1vFv-QDGiuj6lpZzYgjo8q4L6Tl-28GWe1/s640/m_journeyman+test_0007.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03FHnqbd4gsxL4Klp7fedu0znEKjJTzk73uyYVBxZSBtdqwjjjrm7UGTQk4HlvmINv7k8NeU12IET0ppGJdWbg6bl8Q_qQrL5-zfyyRJ3T5AfykBqVgKV7elDHmYE8WX9ni6Msh523vC1/s1600/m_journeyman+test_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03FHnqbd4gsxL4Klp7fedu0znEKjJTzk73uyYVBxZSBtdqwjjjrm7UGTQk4HlvmINv7k8NeU12IET0ppGJdWbg6bl8Q_qQrL5-zfyyRJ3T5AfykBqVgKV7elDHmYE8WX9ni6Msh523vC1/s640/m_journeyman+test_0011.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
All of Scott's practice knives have passed with flying colors, and the most recent ones were brutalized. One suffered the 90 degree bend test four times before breaking, while the other blade went to 90 degrees twice, then broke after being pushed to 135 degrees. That, however, was simply not enough torture. Scott gathered up the remains of the knives, wacked them on steel angle iron for a while, then on each other, and finally snapped them in half to examine the grain structure. Proceed cautiously, the following pictures are somewhat disturbing.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLHh5mrmFsooJDwjQPUqPRSEhukCf_cXneh3k3UOrF_J0pT0bVdLME2WYCghrpOJS67jdjmpxDpe6b8Yt87D85kkYK9cIeqG_sviISSxHq2pQ-0jb6MUxe3mAlJbW3cOhvO2AJihP_sdQ/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLHh5mrmFsooJDwjQPUqPRSEhukCf_cXneh3k3UOrF_J0pT0bVdLME2WYCghrpOJS67jdjmpxDpe6b8Yt87D85kkYK9cIeqG_sviISSxHq2pQ-0jb6MUxe3mAlJbW3cOhvO2AJihP_sdQ/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Yes, he meant to do this and for good reason. The performance test proves that a bladesmith understands edge geometry and how to produce tough, flexible blades. Breaking the blades into pieces demonstrates why these knives are so spectacular. What is evidenced in the following picture is extremely fine grain structure produced by the bladesmith during the heat treating process. Making these knives is difficult; the real trick, however, is successfully passing the performance test in the presence of an ABS Master. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAhxZcwteV6IWD9hpAkozzVSGnlZ0B5KesrQ_e8TFmMD_Zdt75tQG5nJMGBrz5gkXC28Vt8ZubzFcZM4MDxfW_FjLkFX3Uu8ICWlQJX2V5bj_OdcZF052xRPVPZzo9wW4AZlZwAbeZgzf/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAhxZcwteV6IWD9hpAkozzVSGnlZ0B5KesrQ_e8TFmMD_Zdt75tQG5nJMGBrz5gkXC28Vt8ZubzFcZM4MDxfW_FjLkFX3Uu8ICWlQJX2V5bj_OdcZF052xRPVPZzo9wW4AZlZwAbeZgzf/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Feeling cautiously confident that the remaining knife would survive the official test, Scott finish ground the knife, crafted a micarta handle, let me snap some photos, and then drove down to South Carolina for a date with <a href="http://jasonknightknives.com/"><strong>ABS Mastersmith Jason Knight</strong></a>. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF6Ta4YYKR4IekR25HO3ROh7nb5R4PjfeC1sIgH8XjisedKQ3YSzO8jSaDDvOhzpR4SNr7rXBrmeCaCAohkrR14Gwn__ih-arPL7_SYDKu9SdSSyfmS6O9ZFr7DwJrh0vbryGO6P7seSi/s1600/m_journeymanknife_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF6Ta4YYKR4IekR25HO3ROh7nb5R4PjfeC1sIgH8XjisedKQ3YSzO8jSaDDvOhzpR4SNr7rXBrmeCaCAohkrR14Gwn__ih-arPL7_SYDKu9SdSSyfmS6O9ZFr7DwJrh0vbryGO6P7seSi/s640/m_journeymanknife_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Almost too pretty to destroy.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXSk9jjJL-WNSC_iB5bYH00pf3pqxqhR9a6V2Lrjh2xLW_72I1nLk-nWYlmIODW37_DcWWCSn-ERUP80KnDlBlL5vQhASG76ZSKmozEg4V-d_gTUEAwmii0vOvqXnb0K0guTcHY__MzqC/s1600/m_journeymanknife_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXSk9jjJL-WNSC_iB5bYH00pf3pqxqhR9a6V2Lrjh2xLW_72I1nLk-nWYlmIODW37_DcWWCSn-ERUP80KnDlBlL5vQhASG76ZSKmozEg4V-d_gTUEAwmii0vOvqXnb0K0guTcHY__MzqC/s640/m_journeymanknife_0005.jpg" width="561" /></a></div><br />
Upon arrival, Jason informed Scott that the test rules had recently changed. While the manilla rope test was essentially the same, candidates would now be required to chop through a railroad tie twice and bend the blade into a circle to pass . . . Jason has a wicked sense of humor. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrNrRoDxRdPNhGujRS-TLe04NVb5-NNEPgNx8Wjx9vIe_oyAC34q-PSabSME43eSo80i3GIPkeS05wUi7Yfzj7u6glL0tQtV5r7LdE30cwWd6GBfqS5TYLtc7axE8AXkDWJ7r_gM_V_W_/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrNrRoDxRdPNhGujRS-TLe04NVb5-NNEPgNx8Wjx9vIe_oyAC34q-PSabSME43eSo80i3GIPkeS05wUi7Yfzj7u6glL0tQtV5r7LdE30cwWd6GBfqS5TYLtc7axE8AXkDWJ7r_gM_V_W_/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The candidate passed with no issues - notice that the knife didn't even crack during the bend test. Scott is now one step closer to his ABS Journeyman Blademith goal. Unfortunately he has another year as an apprentice, so it will be June 2012 before a panel of mastersmiths at <a href="http://www.blademag.com/bladeshow/"><strong>Blade</strong></a> in Atlanta will determine whether he receives the journeyman stamp.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYvF0zGolMm9I16q2ks25NlaDmvPc3NYA-tBqlerd5zy7qS_Y67YclYyRo9xJCO7L3Jy8mQCXvBAJSPmU4SJSk9m9l_Fp4tX3itVAdAoLmF297rNCTSz152rTGGDhrecenjxxrYhl9KaU/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYvF0zGolMm9I16q2ks25NlaDmvPc3NYA-tBqlerd5zy7qS_Y67YclYyRo9xJCO7L3Jy8mQCXvBAJSPmU4SJSk9m9l_Fp4tX3itVAdAoLmF297rNCTSz152rTGGDhrecenjxxrYhl9KaU/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmYEVG8KopTMg4HPw_7jzylJMEItR_81UiCS7Mv_3Zhzrwc4y_0I2r3IPkcPprFPOUlE2Manx4lX0kUV7EP_4kOkaNt_Pd71t_LJt29KJmY3pLqAASmF0OJLu_uXiOy0CdwlWO9ax_stL/s1600/m_journeymanknifepassed_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmYEVG8KopTMg4HPw_7jzylJMEItR_81UiCS7Mv_3Zhzrwc4y_0I2r3IPkcPprFPOUlE2Manx4lX0kUV7EP_4kOkaNt_Pd71t_LJt29KJmY3pLqAASmF0OJLu_uXiOy0CdwlWO9ax_stL/s640/m_journeymanknifepassed_0009.jpg" width="291" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!</strong></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-33290016213228914292011-01-05T13:10:00.008-05:002011-01-25T08:07:22.280-05:00Santa Brought Piggies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Magnolia waited for the snow to melt before having her second litter. I can't blame her, it's been really cold lately. Six new Guinea Hogs were born on December 29 in 20-degree weather, and the poor dears had to burrow in the hay all day just to stay warm. Thankfully, the weather warmed up considerably over the next week, and the new arrivals have been exploring their pen and enjoying the sunshine as much as possible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4f6MHFLqAyU-ibFIUJgkywSubKJo3Rj8snAukvT5aNygP-LMVODmMnIOT3XiVriEUJ9nr2TBiL5silQmIR4LjDH-LJEUpeRGkX9uUZf4ji9IvF5Jgm6riIQHTbmWFXTPgsOoq-tWCoeQ/s1600/m_magnolias+2nd_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4f6MHFLqAyU-ibFIUJgkywSubKJo3Rj8snAukvT5aNygP-LMVODmMnIOT3XiVriEUJ9nr2TBiL5silQmIR4LjDH-LJEUpeRGkX9uUZf4ji9IvF5Jgm6riIQHTbmWFXTPgsOoq-tWCoeQ/s640/m_magnolias+2nd_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Magnolia is a girl makin' machine. She had 4 girls and 2 boys this time. We have Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Donner . . .</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinq1PZbNKVaEhgPlMln2XTFd2o2Kq-4NrFA63GP1t64v8ki9hmtbKVfFd6by2PE1mChWbcm0FQ8THTFXHnEB-nYGmjJi4UCJD0NeYdYQE7vEAssJ-IfHxWEYePeT02W5LvDLZr8jHpwy9/s1600/m_magnolias+2nd_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinq1PZbNKVaEhgPlMln2XTFd2o2Kq-4NrFA63GP1t64v8ki9hmtbKVfFd6by2PE1mChWbcm0FQ8THTFXHnEB-nYGmjJi4UCJD0NeYdYQE7vEAssJ-IfHxWEYePeT02W5LvDLZr8jHpwy9/s640/m_magnolias+2nd_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . and Rudolph!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpunnFq9QTRxiXRaZ8FRj34AOsZiVrS1YON3nZC1MLPg7ZYR2JfYC4hyphenhyphenxU5BluV-E2BCXHLnrsaEwYDqWfrmwQPfuc5n8h7ao8I5z3Ch8VKaR-j9u7rT76cUBdaAUqFLu-7c9jHvPRluR/s1600/m_magnolias+2nd_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpunnFq9QTRxiXRaZ8FRj34AOsZiVrS1YON3nZC1MLPg7ZYR2JfYC4hyphenhyphenxU5BluV-E2BCXHLnrsaEwYDqWfrmwQPfuc5n8h7ao8I5z3Ch8VKaR-j9u7rT76cUBdaAUqFLu-7c9jHvPRluR/s640/m_magnolias+2nd_0009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Actually, you can name yours anything you want!</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are 2 girls and 1 boy still available, and they can leave the farm as early as February 9th.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-48800725808716232542010-12-27T14:20:00.000-05:002010-12-27T14:20:04.606-05:00White Christmas in Bluefield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp91t7hRJn2SxwrxjoAPgfI8NisBf0MnYqkj7mLy1q1gp0u5msb9qB7kiA84UNdSds0j2nidxnYXFIqEXrmOP0pLhbWvck_44HeCFKMa1GKusEh17NLmZz6OBwXY62Dqbvf9nXae9-pSP6/s1600/m_snow_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp91t7hRJn2SxwrxjoAPgfI8NisBf0MnYqkj7mLy1q1gp0u5msb9qB7kiA84UNdSds0j2nidxnYXFIqEXrmOP0pLhbWvck_44HeCFKMa1GKusEh17NLmZz6OBwXY62Dqbvf9nXae9-pSP6/s400/m_snow_0033.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />
It doesn't snow much in eastern North Carolina, and when it does it's quite the event. Prior to last year, we hadn't seen snow in over 8 seasons. We got a good snow the day after Christmas though: 6 inches in one day. The pigs didn't think much of it, and the chickens refused to leave the coop (even after the sun came out). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo4FDSXSQdq-sW-330lY_O7j1YvRhltEuLGxdPutnhdg1uJV34rpDthWdJBk2Y9EfoRi9b1TjTHNF1NXSEDkE4D221TYiBvsOZVUP3oeT9BSIfGukek2Rboi7wNkax_C3zMPZGJdFlBR_/s1600/m_snow_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo4FDSXSQdq-sW-330lY_O7j1YvRhltEuLGxdPutnhdg1uJV34rpDthWdJBk2Y9EfoRi9b1TjTHNF1NXSEDkE4D221TYiBvsOZVUP3oeT9BSIfGukek2Rboi7wNkax_C3zMPZGJdFlBR_/s400/m_snow_0002.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X3Ykok2YaoKOBciIn1Na-S_i7wxTpN88NNhTX9-gmbkEKe1gb68Uxag_P7X_l4yo41qVal6fQXmcYXdGniI23oIo0q6L9gdG_tP69UxEX7KfRQ1Mxzdi7u-7HO6PKHDp1RAMzKGJ9n22/s1600/m_snow_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X3Ykok2YaoKOBciIn1Na-S_i7wxTpN88NNhTX9-gmbkEKe1gb68Uxag_P7X_l4yo41qVal6fQXmcYXdGniI23oIo0q6L9gdG_tP69UxEX7KfRQ1Mxzdi7u-7HO6PKHDp1RAMzKGJ9n22/s400/m_snow_0005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOQmOt7OeOKX683betbESFtz_k2mSVqyB7MZhQ91PHcDIExYIuSSoS0z-eU22seACuGEp63oI3bHCQI7o49Ee8p6aFx33NAqdoJZWmTBC-_nClLm728KyZBOJXD1f5w3csLElM-W7TmBx/s1600/m_snow_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOQmOt7OeOKX683betbESFtz_k2mSVqyB7MZhQ91PHcDIExYIuSSoS0z-eU22seACuGEp63oI3bHCQI7o49Ee8p6aFx33NAqdoJZWmTBC-_nClLm728KyZBOJXD1f5w3csLElM-W7TmBx/s400/m_snow_0029.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVFBadFqtHFnlyzNTHWCwNQFD2z-4SBQf3tDCVAs9IktD7PDcvqutwJdFjk6qHWZRVh3QsORGGwrLQaNxkyKI1cPsVCIMnBftJ-AObZJqtjJxslnkLsjohmGmn1p6dYyPC4jNADZ86901/s1600/m_snow_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVFBadFqtHFnlyzNTHWCwNQFD2z-4SBQf3tDCVAs9IktD7PDcvqutwJdFjk6qHWZRVh3QsORGGwrLQaNxkyKI1cPsVCIMnBftJ-AObZJqtjJxslnkLsjohmGmn1p6dYyPC4jNADZ86901/s400/m_snow_0043.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0fBaEiKYfX45uEgiAkxYN4ebNzJAfjh27AbXIR6n1pjQy5GfqB7VmEt12ZG5PynxBXNoyJ3_d3fxL2F1qdu0Ip15vu-ghXGOxR95-tMNlbOOYjPYdR07c9nMPM3P0NF_KXMee1XteW5t/s1600/m_snow_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0fBaEiKYfX45uEgiAkxYN4ebNzJAfjh27AbXIR6n1pjQy5GfqB7VmEt12ZG5PynxBXNoyJ3_d3fxL2F1qdu0Ip15vu-ghXGOxR95-tMNlbOOYjPYdR07c9nMPM3P0NF_KXMee1XteW5t/s400/m_snow_0030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox7y6HUZhh26n53OROKIXB5JkverI2HFU46ObKNungH3Xdja5Ez9jOYV6bXOEywZNesTz6i6-2Ysegp-r2rhDe2G2QiocQ4tRBDdpHWdIgDAJsJs9NM-zD9Dbhj18_NvE09VZxO6x2XR-/s1600/m_snow_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox7y6HUZhh26n53OROKIXB5JkverI2HFU46ObKNungH3Xdja5Ez9jOYV6bXOEywZNesTz6i6-2Ysegp-r2rhDe2G2QiocQ4tRBDdpHWdIgDAJsJs9NM-zD9Dbhj18_NvE09VZxO6x2XR-/s400/m_snow_0031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXRuIUqgux5BqU0Y6MFv-HMzggIf96tzybtDGyWpRzNq3p6W4S6eHAaQMNSJDN7M8RBSYhl6YN9DjTYDtwNJaIEuGZrp5YRPr5YNBUlDfmXdrV1kUJNTTde9q86-pxWJgzKBCtzwCEQJx/s1600/m_snow_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXRuIUqgux5BqU0Y6MFv-HMzggIf96tzybtDGyWpRzNq3p6W4S6eHAaQMNSJDN7M8RBSYhl6YN9DjTYDtwNJaIEuGZrp5YRPr5YNBUlDfmXdrV1kUJNTTde9q86-pxWJgzKBCtzwCEQJx/s400/m_snow_0032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Scott, the dogs and I enjoyed the snow thoroughly. I do not, however, look forward to dealing with all the downed trees, especially the ones on the electric fence. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrEdeo3hrYPo_SycNYTeZ-hZ_2GBGwsd0ovlJZTbZZ3fEw0d60zTAlmXz9R0f9wBPj91omCS4HYfLfAzT7TYmOeTgX6k-59HjAEzP8NfEfKB9lMzQwl6Gjqu0KgaZjEhUghokM-djzkQQ/s1600/m_snow_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrEdeo3hrYPo_SycNYTeZ-hZ_2GBGwsd0ovlJZTbZZ3fEw0d60zTAlmXz9R0f9wBPj91omCS4HYfLfAzT7TYmOeTgX6k-59HjAEzP8NfEfKB9lMzQwl6Gjqu0KgaZjEhUghokM-djzkQQ/s400/m_snow_0023.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGqHFviezJoO0rlyQwzSXMakPzly9HdyIK9W9AGieFjYwesk8IXMiZRq1wB28RUq_97XHy9IyKVdsUpR8SYTtrP3sEanahbhweBLE6ZoiOmi-vbRP-gh0a27N42qyFRk-USLHkWmAH00X/s1600/m_snow_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGqHFviezJoO0rlyQwzSXMakPzly9HdyIK9W9AGieFjYwesk8IXMiZRq1wB28RUq_97XHy9IyKVdsUpR8SYTtrP3sEanahbhweBLE6ZoiOmi-vbRP-gh0a27N42qyFRk-USLHkWmAH00X/s400/m_snow_0025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWUQ4x6-Ib410oCDb0NZQPuatjZcJgC6riExwFdCBWXrGF3lvXv5o6ZlAtfLCFViieQ36GNudejZTRlWox__lsefAeMBRvQDEiljCrKmIPtJ7Xd4G-lvd3dP6xfIM9EOkeWLgip0bmiM3/s1600/m_snow_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWUQ4x6-Ib410oCDb0NZQPuatjZcJgC6riExwFdCBWXrGF3lvXv5o6ZlAtfLCFViieQ36GNudejZTRlWox__lsefAeMBRvQDEiljCrKmIPtJ7Xd4G-lvd3dP6xfIM9EOkeWLgip0bmiM3/s400/m_snow_0027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSng3qNsFzREdyl3NVEn7z0696z3AHLqeRNHlXI9fCCGejqp2x6fC8NNswSwt8PztuAeGMU3uHPhyphenhyphenBKjAvQj49uuIk8O9mYJPzpIEElZ4tRPLH8vyy6oyFJlSamlpss7JJvM2JTd8oXgu/s1600/m_snow_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSng3qNsFzREdyl3NVEn7z0696z3AHLqeRNHlXI9fCCGejqp2x6fC8NNswSwt8PztuAeGMU3uHPhyphenhyphenBKjAvQj49uuIk8O9mYJPzpIEElZ4tRPLH8vyy6oyFJlSamlpss7JJvM2JTd8oXgu/s400/m_snow_0034.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclEudPM5BRV0rvbTjr_bAEzEUIfo8THaTLupNikYtCN6LjdGtz0rss6xNnmGml4z9xClotx76zazT5Xa0V7ut38B7g6qaJNwk9cOWuX3kE5IHHHRv8RN5ghSoEfjck3949i7SNVvVUdr1/s1600/m_snow_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclEudPM5BRV0rvbTjr_bAEzEUIfo8THaTLupNikYtCN6LjdGtz0rss6xNnmGml4z9xClotx76zazT5Xa0V7ut38B7g6qaJNwk9cOWuX3kE5IHHHRv8RN5ghSoEfjck3949i7SNVvVUdr1/s640/m_snow_0035.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xFXbqR_k7Np8yJhEHMmEbPyoMj91sAPuVoLMwc883Gif_VX0rb66apZf1ALvjV4e_sYFglM7whV7Pp752c1wqh__u8qizmKnYUTDxymyc_bLMaCQw6e_NagAR4Pu965nwriDXxBF0rTN/s1600/m_snow_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xFXbqR_k7Np8yJhEHMmEbPyoMj91sAPuVoLMwc883Gif_VX0rb66apZf1ALvjV4e_sYFglM7whV7Pp752c1wqh__u8qizmKnYUTDxymyc_bLMaCQw6e_NagAR4Pu965nwriDXxBF0rTN/s400/m_snow_0045.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-32589229940758225952010-12-24T11:54:00.001-05:002010-12-24T11:57:35.732-05:00Christmas with the McGhee's<div style="text-align: center;">Scott's family loves to cook, especially with fire. His parents built a replica of a historic kitchen in 2000, and the hearth always gets a workout over the holidays. This year we roasted a goose in an antique reflector oven and browned a homemade sweet potato pie with an iron salamander forged by Scott.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0wq__VN6pvivjSYWP1sdDnqvc-nY0XY0CQird8zu_NcaUjAHD0YbE5-inQJGFD0_JBICdqMffdmyvOlFyfWWkruIknXQ4JxAdwG35lHsXGBDIvPg62nyXIgaPmcLNKn9hWaGdmdd_ZbE/s1600/m_reflector+oven_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0wq__VN6pvivjSYWP1sdDnqvc-nY0XY0CQird8zu_NcaUjAHD0YbE5-inQJGFD0_JBICdqMffdmyvOlFyfWWkruIknXQ4JxAdwG35lHsXGBDIvPg62nyXIgaPmcLNKn9hWaGdmdd_ZbE/s400/m_reflector+oven_0005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0L4XhuMBMYvzh_02LLRIFWWpcEgHqdfeiZZVcPaN93MGfKAjQG6BhaWsuikzWrA-gNWfi2vsaUapleK7qnqw8amK1thxTkYP1w2dGHXAZ5B5JUPc4jr-O5b6O4Z8r5V8vwssfAU8jLwI/s1600/m_reflector+oven_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0L4XhuMBMYvzh_02LLRIFWWpcEgHqdfeiZZVcPaN93MGfKAjQG6BhaWsuikzWrA-gNWfi2vsaUapleK7qnqw8amK1thxTkYP1w2dGHXAZ5B5JUPc4jr-O5b6O4Z8r5V8vwssfAU8jLwI/s400/m_reflector+oven_0007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrduQ_r4zvMhHHsTzD4TRrnYpOSxkGlu7fut6Gjee465A-isCvm-xb-Vk8mO2dKjlZRhOgruiy1qiBBOhwrK0lPRFGh1jVX_N6DzknOga-2DGlkv16XdFf8XgejyW77xUuowt2bJ_uR9l/s1600/m_christmas2010_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrduQ_r4zvMhHHsTzD4TRrnYpOSxkGlu7fut6Gjee465A-isCvm-xb-Vk8mO2dKjlZRhOgruiy1qiBBOhwrK0lPRFGh1jVX_N6DzknOga-2DGlkv16XdFf8XgejyW77xUuowt2bJ_uR9l/s640/m_christmas2010_0024.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Scott's mom and Bonnie (his oldest) made the sweet potato pie, and Scott forged the iron salamander as a gift for his mom Peggy. The head of the salamander is placed in the fire until glowing hot, then set over the pie for a few minutes to brown the meringue. Scott repeated the process 4 or 5 times to brown the pie to perfection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy488aeIB4PqvWU3PHerBKUHvzt4jQo8EC1yrGpKW9Pq2ApIDOj8tekGdAinOS3Gnde1YQU-Es3cF-f9hPJSrCl7OWv8dvHMZhYA8XQVhh4rTPEiGyb3sOUAPOxyO3pXeXTVXP05gDiU8/s1600/m_salamander_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy488aeIB4PqvWU3PHerBKUHvzt4jQo8EC1yrGpKW9Pq2ApIDOj8tekGdAinOS3Gnde1YQU-Es3cF-f9hPJSrCl7OWv8dvHMZhYA8XQVhh4rTPEiGyb3sOUAPOxyO3pXeXTVXP05gDiU8/s400/m_salamander_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpyaIDxwc8x2itystvgjUUSrG6R_boICADtQoBiaeX076kW9KYafGIyQJq3yDAhudBjnDenSnPyJ0HzQOuaC966G6aOVXgPHv7Z2qdx8iU2VJDwQVpSrkFCUjWn9FKVoydrmzmqMYQJF/s1600/m_salamander0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpyaIDxwc8x2itystvgjUUSrG6R_boICADtQoBiaeX076kW9KYafGIyQJq3yDAhudBjnDenSnPyJ0HzQOuaC966G6aOVXgPHv7Z2qdx8iU2VJDwQVpSrkFCUjWn9FKVoydrmzmqMYQJF/s400/m_salamander0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfK3woCX0CrifnX2IL3aXqlCH_0l2pAvA3CamU4s2LFkA2DvcsfDRK1c3WlharLVqPvzhghMMHOv4hDjJgn8XfMdZlgeY5It7CCNyXkuBEpOLabXxB9zRQYtYq2YDX-6Zl3zmjRpp4cT/s1600/m_salamander0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfK3woCX0CrifnX2IL3aXqlCH_0l2pAvA3CamU4s2LFkA2DvcsfDRK1c3WlharLVqPvzhghMMHOv4hDjJgn8XfMdZlgeY5It7CCNyXkuBEpOLabXxB9zRQYtYq2YDX-6Zl3zmjRpp4cT/s400/m_salamander0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As always, the fire was a family attraction and fun was had by all. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRLCLyYQ4CwnjLSOPmNHA3SCzW3eRcyTR3FGTQUY7Vjembojfy4RAVB306ECU_J4iQVIFBRsD6LGo73QfsQ-sa9k-cpe31b3CGys3sHwmVPo-S1xwnDNwMv98XzvcP4vMHm2M-_t2rsLA/s1600/m_kitchen_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRLCLyYQ4CwnjLSOPmNHA3SCzW3eRcyTR3FGTQUY7Vjembojfy4RAVB306ECU_J4iQVIFBRsD6LGo73QfsQ-sa9k-cpe31b3CGys3sHwmVPo-S1xwnDNwMv98XzvcP4vMHm2M-_t2rsLA/s400/m_kitchen_0013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZO7S62YiQSYmGgQZVHZKJpFnEEkU4UeSLsnc8oYx8ILBnfGiCWMXUZU1S-mITTlO9JRvOUvtKbwhWE13gstLTUJaurPQfKqYgQbJzUz6xc_e9eUzGjOnMCNIoMt_5Knwv9fjRliyAP9m/s1600/m_kitchen_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZO7S62YiQSYmGgQZVHZKJpFnEEkU4UeSLsnc8oYx8ILBnfGiCWMXUZU1S-mITTlO9JRvOUvtKbwhWE13gstLTUJaurPQfKqYgQbJzUz6xc_e9eUzGjOnMCNIoMt_5Knwv9fjRliyAP9m/s400/m_kitchen_0012.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas everyone!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-87957144692216838292010-11-17T17:12:00.001-05:002010-11-17T17:13:22.318-05:00The Grass is Always Greener<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA4g9hG_ngE8q_xlj7W-HfRICoPN8WFYLl9pknQvprgzOtUy2EX4oPQ5UIyvk95AdwmVEnUhXEqlN4DNZAsvRjYMnhWpGwoSvU2WgIAZauoP1tHefVBTC5jxRbbzAydQTd8xQEqNn4Mxo/s1600/m_pigs+new+pasture_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA4g9hG_ngE8q_xlj7W-HfRICoPN8WFYLl9pknQvprgzOtUy2EX4oPQ5UIyvk95AdwmVEnUhXEqlN4DNZAsvRjYMnhWpGwoSvU2WgIAZauoP1tHefVBTC5jxRbbzAydQTd8xQEqNn4Mxo/s320/m_pigs+new+pasture_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Guinea hogs are firm believers that "the grass is always greener over there". If you put down two piles of food, they will constantly go back and forth between the two worried that they are missing out on something special. Maybe hogs believe this because if you leave them in a pasture too long they will root up all the grass and "the grass over there" really will be greener!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbDuz16vab5hj42tMEYi3sFFgd0usWcQ1u8m1vEisqusZFdFMb2N06p31s9QvasnPdwnMoub1BtDtN5IhGmtYzfGEt1hixmKk_RIBhTvu_efCmUvwtpuxszhOAL3z3GI5JzDbCxTijULp/s1600/m_pigs+new+pasture_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbDuz16vab5hj42tMEYi3sFFgd0usWcQ1u8m1vEisqusZFdFMb2N06p31s9QvasnPdwnMoub1BtDtN5IhGmtYzfGEt1hixmKk_RIBhTvu_efCmUvwtpuxszhOAL3z3GI5JzDbCxTijULp/s320/m_pigs+new+pasture_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This weekend we finally fenced in a third pasture and transferred our 9 teenage hogs to this new paradise. They couldn't be happier - acorns, pecans, fresh grass - ahhhh pig heaven.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSazSU78ZUQpMRRcLMhrj3548_ydF72Vg2iWWtUBSyDdR3lSExehHZEHXPMcHH4GD1oIwo1ryCGs5UWOpmqwWYnyo24pBMvStGQ4SVuIlgEzlqbIpXEHgE-KqbztB1i3DA3v2HjcmmUfAN/s1600/m_pigs+new+pasture_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSazSU78ZUQpMRRcLMhrj3548_ydF72Vg2iWWtUBSyDdR3lSExehHZEHXPMcHH4GD1oIwo1ryCGs5UWOpmqwWYnyo24pBMvStGQ4SVuIlgEzlqbIpXEHgE-KqbztB1i3DA3v2HjcmmUfAN/s320/m_pigs+new+pasture_0004.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I6QdI3IibEolW7hxxtcfdvSgWIGK6r6KOduZt0guNi_nMl0QIn0gNQ5JgXVZHoj7dQdRE13wss_N_QOiYGTbFyfNVGCUc3CjmaQ2atasIh32Cu294wMgNbfnjPRxkbHAnbkRaY2GvgNW/s1600/m_pigs+new+pasture_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I6QdI3IibEolW7hxxtcfdvSgWIGK6r6KOduZt0guNi_nMl0QIn0gNQ5JgXVZHoj7dQdRE13wss_N_QOiYGTbFyfNVGCUc3CjmaQ2atasIh32Cu294wMgNbfnjPRxkbHAnbkRaY2GvgNW/s320/m_pigs+new+pasture_0006.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The plan is to eventually have multiple pastures that we can rotate the stock through. We have seeded their old pasture in winter rye. Hopefully it will come up quickly and they will find it tasty. We'll let you know how it goes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm9_l9NsuTgCPOiJnRGJNLjlbKWT61tNA7KOHz9qlcRPEighS4_INAgauHM9C3j-2sqMLF3vM-2SI48Q5_Y9Q18NGdGfwZ9cMVBBjFAdRaKs36DWabK42hJgnqckkhtZnyKGDQOzCGOuD/s1600/m_pigs+new+pasture_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm9_l9NsuTgCPOiJnRGJNLjlbKWT61tNA7KOHz9qlcRPEighS4_INAgauHM9C3j-2sqMLF3vM-2SI48Q5_Y9Q18NGdGfwZ9cMVBBjFAdRaKs36DWabK42hJgnqckkhtZnyKGDQOzCGOuD/s320/m_pigs+new+pasture_0005.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-47862930821494644532010-11-17T16:58:00.000-05:002010-11-17T16:58:08.467-05:00Expensive, but tasty educationScott and I decided to add bees to the farm this year. We added our first hive in April and a second in May, but now we only have one - because I made a huge error. Throughout the spring, we checked the hive every few weeks to get acquainted with our bees and learn our beekeeping tasks. Once summer arrived, however, we stopped going in the hive because it takes about 3 days for bees to adjust after a hive inspection, and we didn't want to stress them out too much. The heat this summer was stress enough for anyone, and daily exterior inspections indicated that the bees were doing well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv8qTefaRoJueg6Q4uOWXgSN67fD6WmnwIJcbdEKdceiZkRvoZ5MQbTmqAdQ-Ispnb20JhgNIxCOoCLQ0Zn82yi2qfcKMSrtbOrn20w6NmP7d0-U8EteTEX-XSs1twRXISXpOUfkEJeR9/s1600/m_honey_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv8qTefaRoJueg6Q4uOWXgSN67fD6WmnwIJcbdEKdceiZkRvoZ5MQbTmqAdQ-Ispnb20JhgNIxCOoCLQ0Zn82yi2qfcKMSrtbOrn20w6NmP7d0-U8EteTEX-XSs1twRXISXpOUfkEJeR9/s320/m_honey_0003.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br />
Fall is the time to resume hive inspections, but I failed to keep an eye on my calendar, and before we knew it November had arrived. That was simply too late. A week ago, the bees were busily buzzing about the hive. Now they are gone, and we have no definitive answers as to why. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU12oXwKjen27rEOj8Q_icYncaZtgI5W9K0K5gg0DkYJuFyW4y96HJ8rx4YwToxvz4JawR9fQGqicf88CiBb3JtwUhfT4JgBEVw3H6kNcNqFQp2pGgOWJZ42owK-ghuy-rajwNkgean66/s1600/m_honey_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU12oXwKjen27rEOj8Q_icYncaZtgI5W9K0K5gg0DkYJuFyW4y96HJ8rx4YwToxvz4JawR9fQGqicf88CiBb3JtwUhfT4JgBEVw3H6kNcNqFQp2pGgOWJZ42owK-ghuy-rajwNkgean66/s320/m_honey_0002.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
Did the queen die? Was she superseded? Were the bees starving or did they sense that starvation was imminent given the amount of honey they had accumulated? These are questions we can't answer. What we do know is that the bees had stored away about 4 frames of honey (which wouldn't have been enough to feed them through winter) and quite a bit of pollen (that had begun to mildew) in the upper hive body, and that there were a fair amount of developing bees abandoned in the lower hive body. We saw no evidence of disease or infestation, just a fair amount of honey and a disturbing lack of presence. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5kIAtqNnuJ09fJaPFJNre5-LGPTmNiMaAPfuj5dCmPrl_-VAW9aba1cbW2vdPtZf4qCQTEXTbMdlz4s9NEsUMkortX0FQGel5qcndzIBpyS2RuCHOdNSV3SnllZrczaGS-2VJ1cAgQTH/s1600/m_honey_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5kIAtqNnuJ09fJaPFJNre5-LGPTmNiMaAPfuj5dCmPrl_-VAW9aba1cbW2vdPtZf4qCQTEXTbMdlz4s9NEsUMkortX0FQGel5qcndzIBpyS2RuCHOdNSV3SnllZrczaGS-2VJ1cAgQTH/s320/m_honey_0001.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
We cut out the combs, melted the wax, and then separated the wax from the honey by straining the liquid through a cheesecloth. It's a messy business, but was well worth it (thank you Peggy!). We got 3 quarts of delicious honey and about three quarters of a pound of wax. If you count the cost of the bees and beekeeping equipment, (and don't factor in the wax) each quart of honey is worth about $60. Now that's an expensive education! Luckily the equipment can still be used, and we aren't done with this beekeeping business yet. <br />
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The bees we got in May are still alive and with us. We are feeding them sugar water now to help increase their winter stores and hopefully they'll stick around for the long haul. We plan to buy more bees in the spring, and this time I promise to pay better attention to the calendar (well, with a little help from Scott). For now, I'll just enjoy my honey and hope for better times ahead.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-5280749373150962642010-10-12T11:59:00.000-04:002010-10-12T11:59:25.072-04:00Scarlet's Second SevenScarlet had her second litter yesterday - 5 boys and 2 girls. Seven is apparently her lucky number. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zYnviYYP2GfNxnC6E_VcJSKvNCAziAZ_LQZ398IVUKLOon6wonnhD8_xn7RxMuTt0bgDJpmZjUn2KKDWkMgXtPp_msmbyyJrOSlNQUzhsxfxU63ZFRQ2V0BwJaFkbjh7AebMvpJn95WB/s1600/m_scarlets+2nd_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zYnviYYP2GfNxnC6E_VcJSKvNCAziAZ_LQZ398IVUKLOon6wonnhD8_xn7RxMuTt0bgDJpmZjUn2KKDWkMgXtPp_msmbyyJrOSlNQUzhsxfxU63ZFRQ2V0BwJaFkbjh7AebMvpJn95WB/s400/m_scarlets+2nd_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>She once again looked like she was going to pop for 2 weeks before she went into labor, then had her babies without any fuss at all. I fed Scarlet and the 9 teenage guinea hogs that she shares space with at 7am yesterday morning and didn't notice her litter in the barn until around 1pm. My guess is that she had them in the night and I just missed the big event. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtvDfHq5uQTGddzX-JIXsIRgztJgirebxaB2SCZ3gPzgiRfazij7DD9VAyYNkCq0qhCEvLYw7IxmbvPbqZdQpiXWWMEKyHvXUGGT7KdYAwOT-Lrl0eUFUxCI6dQ8tljUBPdHX_am1GGu9/s1600/m_scarlets+2nd_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtvDfHq5uQTGddzX-JIXsIRgztJgirebxaB2SCZ3gPzgiRfazij7DD9VAyYNkCq0qhCEvLYw7IxmbvPbqZdQpiXWWMEKyHvXUGGT7KdYAwOT-Lrl0eUFUxCI6dQ8tljUBPdHX_am1GGu9/s400/m_scarlets+2nd_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Scarlet and her shoats are now confined to a smaller area of the hog pen so that the babies can have access to mama anytime and to keep the teenagers from annoying the new family. We'll expand Scarlet's area a bit in about 2 weeks, but for now Scarlet seems content to lounge and is happy to see that we've increased her feed ration since she won't be able to forage freely. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_eko1uH8i2F021I3M6-DmH09lw6n2wMFltJ3HBGnjMHqGN1XJYxTOSWvOf-W-NllN_dXU08XoCUAAtl9oywd9HzGifUtBFXuay0p2XAJyp1VZd4sx206nAo48fcmarE1rNo66l6jQZaK/s1600/m_scarlets+2nd_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_eko1uH8i2F021I3M6-DmH09lw6n2wMFltJ3HBGnjMHqGN1XJYxTOSWvOf-W-NllN_dXU08XoCUAAtl9oywd9HzGifUtBFXuay0p2XAJyp1VZd4sx206nAo48fcmarE1rNo66l6jQZaK/s320/m_scarlets+2nd_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">Girls $250 per</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">Boys $150 per</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: yellow;"><a href="mailto:bluefieldacres@gmail.com">bluefieldacres@gmail.com</a> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1tcntSWnqqmKbWR5SRynXq2hECcBoie7esSs3Wfj5nlLHfzhqjPFYJEzQBAZnCU9_i6ezVLDnTmLHRhjT9oROir2HPmdcWx-0TUzuBuEVW8sC7s0hdmLWYMctt6BvN8298b2vBu0mrCU/s1600/m_scarlets+2nd_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1tcntSWnqqmKbWR5SRynXq2hECcBoie7esSs3Wfj5nlLHfzhqjPFYJEzQBAZnCU9_i6ezVLDnTmLHRhjT9oROir2HPmdcWx-0TUzuBuEVW8sC7s0hdmLWYMctt6BvN8298b2vBu0mrCU/s320/m_scarlets+2nd_0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-30783727116106370592010-09-28T17:04:00.001-04:002010-09-28T17:08:04.115-04:00Chicken Surprise!When we acquired Jock-a-doodle do (our lead rooster in residence), we acquired two gamecock hens as well. We had an issue with our Wyandottes refusing to go broody (which results in baby chickens that we want) and were told that gamecock hens were great mothers who could fix our problem. The plan was to wait for a game hen to go broody, replace her eggs with Wyandotte eggs while she was sleeping and presto...we'd have chicks in about 22 days. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKk89wL1xMKcQE9Nhok-4U3wqOyN2zDcdJiaV2pvBcM_jbwygq1nsnR0dNT4Rn7mve31e1MXMj59cpIgL05BX-wO8Sg4je-ZZWZ6MHP2ZWpxqZaNpwlUBQiT3Fb-HCSQ2lzdNiSukP7w6/s1600/chicks_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKk89wL1xMKcQE9Nhok-4U3wqOyN2zDcdJiaV2pvBcM_jbwygq1nsnR0dNT4Rn7mve31e1MXMj59cpIgL05BX-wO8Sg4je-ZZWZ6MHP2ZWpxqZaNpwlUBQiT3Fb-HCSQ2lzdNiSukP7w6/s400/chicks_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well about 3 weeks ago our light colored gamecock hen went missing. We assumed that she'd been taken by some animal and let it go. She'd generally kept to herself and didn't lay eggs in the coop anyway, so we didn't see it as a great loss. To our surprise, a few days ago the hen showed up again and wasn't alone. She had gone broody! She had hidden herself and her eggs just under a wood pile near the chicken coop and had stayed out of sight until the eggs hatched.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ysOpkSA9IULpGOWsQIcq9mFKU49BkpxlzB5Q0w9VJZqpeLcHCKNWLR2DfgIt7LZSwZ_biMNrH3NvldmB-7dINE8mxV3IRwLESXXABuWBCp1KgEWeMyVlbQkxWKZszjS7DNBgoZcijNON/s1600/m_chicks_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ysOpkSA9IULpGOWsQIcq9mFKU49BkpxlzB5Q0w9VJZqpeLcHCKNWLR2DfgIt7LZSwZ_biMNrH3NvldmB-7dINE8mxV3IRwLESXXABuWBCp1KgEWeMyVlbQkxWKZszjS7DNBgoZcijNON/s400/m_chicks_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yesterday I watched her march around the yard with nine gamecock/Dominique chicks in tow. She is raising them with minimal human assistance (we throw her food when we see her) and is teaching the chicks to forage for food around the yard. So far they are doing great. They all sleep outside the coop at night though, so we are hoping for the best.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTSVhDMK-A_B11eGrDTvvJ6HgBmQJFJnHNQ3LT7AjpEoHcyZx8hbPmnW4nEUorS-9_rT-p1l0E2vDC6sjrmaFVCsxTPXjeq-E2fFEG-tfnLydiS4JQ5-4nylI5TRBAHKGz-y8Ujr0Dl49/s1600/m_Chickens_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTSVhDMK-A_B11eGrDTvvJ6HgBmQJFJnHNQ3LT7AjpEoHcyZx8hbPmnW4nEUorS-9_rT-p1l0E2vDC6sjrmaFVCsxTPXjeq-E2fFEG-tfnLydiS4JQ5-4nylI5TRBAHKGz-y8Ujr0Dl49/s320/m_Chickens_0001.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
As for our Partridge Rocks (the chickens we got to replace the Wyandottes), they are growing up fast and seem to be doing well. They are extremely friendly which is nice, but we didn't exactly get what we bargained for. We got a straight run of 25 and figured on at least half being hens. Instead we got 6 hens and a mess a roosters. Hopefully these hens will be good layers because our Wyandottes have given up laying altogether after only a year and a half. Scott sadly bought a dozen eggs at the grocery store last week. The first store bought eggs in over a year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9Mj-9_kGjy3g5-fof4SGNLGx-gw0XF-fQchPgFHggh-pG0R5sqpGYe4hb-nFnxNZYU15MWizC2pa12HSSdh7ZFo1qQx-wCI4ZLBl_VdToTLqmkHw4qctxr69f0Mhf9nNbHl0GvVUYYCk/s1600/m_Rooster_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9Mj-9_kGjy3g5-fof4SGNLGx-gw0XF-fQchPgFHggh-pG0R5sqpGYe4hb-nFnxNZYU15MWizC2pa12HSSdh7ZFo1qQx-wCI4ZLBl_VdToTLqmkHw4qctxr69f0Mhf9nNbHl0GvVUYYCk/s320/m_Rooster_0011.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So, we've got 6 potential Partridge Rock laying hens, 9 mystery chicks, several expired Wyandotte hens and way too many roosters. If anyone wants a old chicken or a Partridge Rock rooster, speak now! They're disappearing fast.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-68078988789847328482010-09-16T10:56:00.000-04:002010-09-16T10:56:13.232-04:00Sausage CreoleWhen you live on a farm that raises free range pork, you gotta get creative about what you do with all of it. Scott's mama gave him the following recipe and it works great with our home grown and blended Guinea Hog sausage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIakbFiTy7gMfBFY4rVf1OCvxzNdfZM404X8gf53exLoREL8-ZbrEv_rIArYHrVnvJw9Y9X8xfEhJ6k2sXl9Qlf4I8KOF8YcvweiNSydsilrBBiMl1Ud_71Ax-N_Rnj5VHdTNKZ4fUCx39/s1600/sausage+creole_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIakbFiTy7gMfBFY4rVf1OCvxzNdfZM404X8gf53exLoREL8-ZbrEv_rIArYHrVnvJw9Y9X8xfEhJ6k2sXl9Qlf4I8KOF8YcvweiNSydsilrBBiMl1Ud_71Ax-N_Rnj5VHdTNKZ4fUCx39/s400/sausage+creole_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
1 lb sausage<br />
1 medium onion<br />
1 can green beans<br />
1 can lima beans<br />
1 can corn<br />
1 large can tomatoes (28 oz)<br />
1 shot of vinegar (to taste)<br />
3/4 of a teaspoon of Tony Chacere's seasoning (or spice mix of your choice)<br />
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Now the idea is to use all your own stuff. Tomatoes you've canned yourself, onions, beans and corn right from the garden or (at the very least) preserved right at home. Tonight that wasn't possible. The sausage and corn was our own, but everything else came from the store. We've had a brutally hot and dry summer here in southeastern NC and had to abandon our garden in June. The baby pigs have enjoyed rummaging through the remains however, so maybe we'll get something back from the garden after all:)<br />
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Back to the recipe... fry the sausage in a pan, chop the onion and saute it in olive oil (our GH sausage isn't greasy enough to saute in!), mix all the ingredients in a sauce pan, then simmer for about an hour. You can serve it as a stew or over rice like we do. Our secret weapon...Guinea Hog sausage of course, but also fish sauce on the rice. Substitute fish sauce for salt anywhere you want a rich, deep flavor and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Just don't sniff the bottle before using. Asian fish sauce reeks, but tastes wonderful if you use it sparingly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsXWBU-hGi58vqMVv5AtI5B99mZ1Q27CV48ZgdyhS9kv4pcpLwhUGRvjD0h3ufH1PGo85NNrIamXnVktvaBYLGnbfNKf4MBXl0h5rnUXxVlxn5X6YgfDryG7fFcoXRFf4Z8IJajR_-SE3/s1600/sausage+creole_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsXWBU-hGi58vqMVv5AtI5B99mZ1Q27CV48ZgdyhS9kv4pcpLwhUGRvjD0h3ufH1PGo85NNrIamXnVktvaBYLGnbfNKf4MBXl0h5rnUXxVlxn5X6YgfDryG7fFcoXRFf4Z8IJajR_-SE3/s400/sausage+creole_0002.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
Belly up! Cold weather is coming. I know it is, I know it is (I keep telling myself that anyway) and this is a great cool weather meal. Enjoy.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-57141903273227647372010-08-01T10:31:00.006-04:002010-08-01T10:47:31.794-04:00Bees and Power Tools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRE0-t0j7e3lNs2JFA03FMd8SunzCCSw8GdY_07wVjZDcvnCxsmg2Y1z4G3G_bhhoo-M6mAgmlprSukYh_8lR1SrCayBg0op00M-zK-NJ0Yfm3NS_GzikLHQ3g-DJnK399waOysInmmb9/s1600/bee+sting.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500450153308262418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRE0-t0j7e3lNs2JFA03FMd8SunzCCSw8GdY_07wVjZDcvnCxsmg2Y1z4G3G_bhhoo-M6mAgmlprSukYh_8lR1SrCayBg0op00M-zK-NJ0Yfm3NS_GzikLHQ3g-DJnK399waOysInmmb9/s400/bee+sting.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Note to self: Do not use power tools on the bee hive without wearing proper attire. </div><br /><div>So, I needed to remove one of the handles from the hive body and had seen the old timer I bought the hive from use a power drill to do just that without wearing anything... so, I decided I could do the same. The bees disagreed. Within approximately 2 seconds I'd been stung in the eyelid and the knee. Oh well, live and learn.The eye stayed swollen for about 4 days and I'm happy to say I had a normal reaction, not an allergic one. </div><br /><div></div><div>Other notes on our bees - they don't seem to be producing as much honey as we'd like to see but the fall honey flow hasn't yet begun and it's been a brutally hot summer this year. I think the bees have been working really hard just to stay hydrated. </div><br /><div></div><div>We have some hive beetles and a few varola mites, but overall the bees appear healthy and have been very gentle save my one stupid manever with the power drill. Whenever we go in the hive we wear full attire and always use smoke to calm the bees down, but we often sit a few feet from the bees and watch them without any issue at all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa2ykOFoj5sJPwwXijt7fV-VZ0G2HbZ5Xh7kpSDefR3tOLVzAbxWytH3zUlqHJYaRuUM6MaJNEsyouCE8g8fnf3Mm-NsmnXVC-GemZW4JW6BkjNTnFPCqNk19aT8K7UMsZZuZJQ4b0_rG/s1600/our+bees.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500451339120368146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa2ykOFoj5sJPwwXijt7fV-VZ0G2HbZ5Xh7kpSDefR3tOLVzAbxWytH3zUlqHJYaRuUM6MaJNEsyouCE8g8fnf3Mm-NsmnXVC-GemZW4JW6BkjNTnFPCqNk19aT8K7UMsZZuZJQ4b0_rG/s400/our+bees.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5471354126616324606.post-6249998115999453882010-06-08T20:38:00.008-04:002010-06-11T08:14:10.909-04:00Jock-a-doodle-do, the Chickies, and the Art of CastrationSo we haven't made the chicken tractor yet because we found a better solution for the wild hen issue. Meet Jock-a-doodle-do.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZG5CMnGSHwSTRwIXFjzvoV-7TXYFHjoolmxl8x4lCO21o2-EdY-5J31Ds8GcvdymVGpF3RueHdMXQIKUEIBflhwfzW0XrFt7VNoHnyE1-cHUqbcFtAbjC5XtSmpc0SHfrv5YcneznqlCz/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481477006525146690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZG5CMnGSHwSTRwIXFjzvoV-7TXYFHjoolmxl8x4lCO21o2-EdY-5J31Ds8GcvdymVGpF3RueHdMXQIKUEIBflhwfzW0XrFt7VNoHnyE1-cHUqbcFtAbjC5XtSmpc0SHfrv5YcneznqlCz/s400/IMG_0271.JPG" /></a><br />Jock is a young Dominique rooster that was residing at a friends farm. Jock had been dropped off by someone who didn't want a rooster, and he'd been accepted until he decided to attack one of the owners prize gamecocks. Luckily we stopped by the day after the fight and suddenly were offered a free rooster to handle our wayward hens.<br /><br />We weren't sure if adding a new rooster to the flock would work, but Jock has done an amazing job of keeping the hens in line and so far has roosted them in the hen house every night for the past two weeks. I think we'll keep him:)<br /><br />In addition to this success, our <a href="http://homesteadhatchery.com/images/Partridge%20Rock.jpg">Partridge Rock</a> chicks arrived about a week ago. We are raising them in the shop and so far they are doing quite well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ3x19SPw6B_AGWZZvYCGejbOt8BQjfVitnCDrxhk0-w5BLkKnE06eb7Ncs2hkfn2j8YLjaLPB7CdTcGAB9Tn-NHk05kwYOyRlAUCc-1XGdEI1Gt97eF9hpm8P03K25lu0Sgoeu5nxwsM/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481477015549189538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ3x19SPw6B_AGWZZvYCGejbOt8BQjfVitnCDrxhk0-w5BLkKnE06eb7Ncs2hkfn2j8YLjaLPB7CdTcGAB9Tn-NHk05kwYOyRlAUCc-1XGdEI1Gt97eF9hpm8P03K25lu0Sgoeu5nxwsM/s400/IMG_0275.JPG" /></a><br />We still plan to build the chicken tractor, as this will be the new chicks first outdoor home. If we put them in the coop with the big chickens, they'd get picked on, and, if we let them run loose before full grown, the local hawks would pick them off. We'll post pictures of the chicken tractor once it is up and running.<br /><br />Lastly, we castrated our baby pigs last weekend. I've always said, "Our hogs only have one bad day in their lives." I must now recant that statement and note that some males have two bad days. Scott did a show-cut on the boys which doesn't leave visible scarring, but we think in the future we'll go with a scrotum cut which should be easier on the boys.<br /><br />It was a bad day for me too as I was very worried for my little boars (they seemed to be in quite a bit of pain afterwards), but by the next day they were up, running and begging for food just like normal so I hope they will forgive me soon. We waited a bit too late (7 weeks) to make the cuts and in the future we will castrate them earlier (at 2-4 weeks).<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.bluefieldacres.com
bluefieldacres@gmail.com</div>Mrs. McGheehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02659494320611023634noreply@blogger.com0