2016 a New Year full of things

Fighting against Time

First Happy New Year from all of us at Cranberry Acre!

Last year was a great learning experience, with any business and farm, there is a lot to learn. One of my hardest things to learn has been how to truly weigh out the time for family, business, farm and me. I think this is probably the struggle of most people. 

 At the end of 2015 we had decided that we needed to redesign the barn we have,( actually a 120 year old shed), into something that works better for all the animals and us. We have been using lumber from an old barn to build it, which has proven at times problematic, but has saved us money on lumber. It just takes a lot of time to clean up to use.

My husband on his days off, has been working on it. We had hoped it would go faster, but with any type of build, you run into things.

( 1st stall in our new edition)

( front of barn)

We all have gone out to try and help but we can really only do so much to help.

My son Wyatt has been learning about tools and how to square things up on a build. 

Slows down the build, but this is a great learning experience for him.

This is where the barn sits at the moment. We have one side done and a door put up.

The goats are not yet being able to use this but the birds love it!

They have a place to play when it rains.

We still have so much to do on this but with the time that we have had I think we have come a long way on this.

We are actually using the Utility shed part for the mowers. We had to get them out of the wood shed so we could start filling it, but they have a roof over their heads so we are good.

I think Winter has finally caught up with us here in Virginia. Dingo is not to happy with the idea of it being cold so spends his days in my sewing room warming his feet. 

Over Christmas and New Year's one of my little girls had become very ill. 

Short Stuff was lethargic and was just very depressed. I decided that she needed to come into the Laundry room, took her 3 weeks but she has finally pulled out of whatever she had. We ended up treating her with some Vit B in her water and gave here some de-wormer, along with some Vet Rex. Not sure which one helped but they all seemed to make her feel like her bossy self.

Lovey duck has a new friend her name is Hershey. She is a Muscovy Duck and of course is chocolate brown. I haven't been able to get a picture of her, but will soon. She doesn't quite trust us, but is learning we are the bringers of food, so we can't be to bad.

(Sunning on the barn)

Mr. Luther has been a pain in the butt the past few days. Been pushing the girls around just because, so I've been going out and correcting him on who is boss. Needless to say he hasn't been happy with me in the past few weeks but since I bring food, he forgives me.

Mrs. JoJo......I have had goats most of my life, but this one tries me every chance she gets and just plan eats everything in sight! You throw chickens some pork chops and who is eating it? Well of course JOJO! Nothing like pulling a pork chop out of a goats mouth.

Cranberry Acre's Chickens

These guys are the funniest group of birds I've had yet. Snowball, ( Picture up top), is very Bipolar, but we love her.

Her half sister Coal even gives her a dirty look time to time, but also goes off the deep end once or twice a month.

Our oldest hen, Mrs. Silver is still kicking and acts like a young bird. She tends to put all the birds in check and will break up a fight if there happens to be one started. She will be 7 this year.

Lady Hawk, looking her best as always.

Chocolate and Beauty helping Wayne with the building of the barn.

Now that the Holidays are over I have been busy in the sewing room with getting Inventory up for the upcoming shows this year. I also have been working on some custom orders for 2016. Time has already gotten away from me.

I seem to have a plan and it all blows up in my face after a cup of coffee. This year the only resolution I have made, is to try to keep to my lists and make time for loved ones. 2015 flew by so fast and I do not want to look on my year of 2016,wishing I had done it differently. 2016 for Cranberry Acre has a set of new lists and I hope to share them with you all better this year. The garden is taking on a new look this year and of course the barn build. 

Mr. Bayne says have a Happy 2016! We all here at Cranberry Acre hope that everyone's 2016 has started on a good note. Check back with us to see how everything is going here on our one acre farm. Thank you everyone for the love and support last year. Here is to an amazing start to 2016.