March 11, 2009

t was -21C when we woke up this morning. After Bren left to go to work for the day, I snuggled up with 'Cryus' and a blanket. All was nice, warm and comfy until he stuck a paw out quickly and gave me a black eye. He got evicted. 

Later today, we ('Cyrus' & I - after I forgave him for my shiner) get to travel to go visit someone who lives in and is building a strawbale home and studio. The husband is a rather famous guy, but he is traveling, so I was invited to get to meet his wife for tea instead. I have met him briefly and un-officially before (although I am sure he has no idea who I am), but I was talking green homes with someone who said. "Hey, did you know so-and-so lived in a strawbale at ______"? and I said "Well, no I didn't, but I always wanted to turn up that road to see the studio!".... so I looked on the internet for his website and then emailed him. After a bit of scheduling back and forth on both sides, today was the day which worked out for both of us. It is going to be a clear, but long cold drive.

Bad news... Bren who spent a little over 2 weeks on multiple jobsites to fix what other companies messed up on for installation, so he wouldn't have to go back, is actually in fact, going to have to head down again for an undetermined length of time. He is not looking forward to it again so soon. However, there is alot of 'scrap' stuff to make some nice cold frames from. I was just going to utilize anything which was available, but he is picky about all of them matching perfectly, so he told me to draw up what I wanted/envisioned and he would build it/them. Then I was going to use heavy UV resistant plastic and he said he had alot of scrap single pane glass at work which he can cut to size, so not only do I get pretty cold frames, but ones with real glass in them too.

Afternoon Update:

I had a lovely three hour visit with the folks I went to go talk to about their strawbale home and studio. It was great talking about all sorts of other stuff too and we may just meet up again to make some different kinds of soaps. I like having a 'partner-in-crime' so to speak. 

The photo is the 'truth window' in their home. They have another 'truth window' in the studio as well.  Very delightful people. I will be writing more on this home in the future.

On the way back, I finally stopped at the ranch I have been wanting to stop at for months to talk to them about their cattle herd and I actually met the man at the gate. It must have been destiny as I had decided that today was going to be the day I was going to stop by. The man told me they were his wife's cows, and just head on up to the house and park by the barn. The older woman was more than keen to talk to me about her herd of 26 cows and let me take photos of them. All of her cattle have names. She invited me in for coffee, but told her I would take a reincheck and stop by another day if that was alright with her. She was delightful and said to stop back by anytime. 

As you know, I love our heritage minority breeds and I want something which I did not necessarily have to drive to Ontario for and it would be easy to get new herdsires for in the future.  I also want a distinctive breed so if my cattle got out, they would be easy to identify without searching ear tags or brands.   I grew up near a couple herds of Belted Galloways in Oregon (Ok, one herd may have been Dutch Belted) and have always admired them. Galloways are a good breed for my area, very hardy and also a smaller breed. Galloways thrive year round in the harshest of climates and require minimal shelter from winter cold to summer heat. I needed a smaller breed of bull, as I also wanted to be able to breed "Blossom" to in order for her to freshen, but she is going to be a small cow like her mother, and not maybe go much over 600 pounds. All of this lady's cattle were very tame and in fact pretty much too nosey, as one named "Marla" started to eat my jacket after she got tired of me petting her. None of her cattle are handraised, yet all of them act like it. Usually one goes into any cattle pasture and the cows tend to scatter.. not these ones, they all but climb into your pocket. But all-in-all, I was impressed with her herd and may be buying a bull (and a heifer or two) from her in the fall.