Sunday, September 22, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Three Amigos
Turkey Lurkey (in the middle) and her two cohorts, Martha Stewart (right) and of course, the big star (he thinks and they let him...) Mr. Gregory Peck, the rooster have a problem....
at least I think it is a problem....
is being afraid of your house a problem? Is there a self help book for that?
At dusk, Gregory Peck heads for the deck rail to roost. Even in the driving rain and wind he hunkers down, miserable but determined.
night after night this goes on...
"Get outta my bedroom!"
"Turn off the lights and QUIT taking pictures" he seems to say with one bleary eye aimed my way...
I hate to be the one to point it out but sleeping on a deck rail is making yourself a sitting duck (so to speak) sorry for mixing the poultry metaphors but it seems to bear pointing out.
The chicken coop sits abandoned and the mystery is why?
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Remembering the Fundamentals
Some things never change.
They are basic and intrinsic to our well being.
What we need to thrive, to be our most content...
rest when you need to, no matter what everyone else is doing...
eat plenty of good food....
take a nice walk in the sun with a good friend...
if a loving friend gives you a gentle nudge, pay attention...
stay curious...
and always keep in mind the big picture...
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Blossom Update
Blossom is still tending her nest......see the egg peeking out under her breast?
We have one more week to go....
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Blossom
You really need to meet Blossom.
In a flock of chickens she stands alone.
While all the other hens just run around doing lunch and discussing the pecking order, Blossom has taken it upon herself to enter in to that most holy state of all,
motherhood.
Blossom has gone "broody" which is the old timey word for crazy.
If one defines crazy as sitting in one spot day and night denying oneself of water, food and even cable.
So without further ado, here's Blossom
One would expect a hen who is hatching out her babies to pick a secluded safe spot. A place where no one would normally go and thereby endanger her precious offspring - to - be. Somewhere safe from dogs and cats and U.P.S. men.....
Blossom picked the spot just beside our front door.
The blue wood you see in the bottom right corner is the front door.
Blossom nearly fell over from hunger and lack of water and on day 3 she staggered off her nest in search of food and I got to take a quick picture.
There are seven eggs. There were eight but Blossom stepped on one thus ruining her chances to be this years "octomom" of the chicken world but oh well...seven babies will have to do.
That is assuming there will be any babies at all.
We dont know if Blossom has had any romances with our resident rooster, Gregory Peck.
Mr. Peck really gets around the neighborhood
Here he is showing the horse some of his lady friends.
So who knows if Blossom is sitting on eggs that are not fertilized and therefore just wasting her time OR if she really has something going on there.
It takes 21 days to hatch an egg. Blossom began her sit in 3 days ago.
So we are going to have adorable baby chickies in 18 days or we are going to need to send Blossom for therapy.
Time will tell.
In a flock of chickens she stands alone.
While all the other hens just run around doing lunch and discussing the pecking order, Blossom has taken it upon herself to enter in to that most holy state of all,
motherhood.
Blossom has gone "broody" which is the old timey word for crazy.
If one defines crazy as sitting in one spot day and night denying oneself of water, food and even cable.
So without further ado, here's Blossom
One would expect a hen who is hatching out her babies to pick a secluded safe spot. A place where no one would normally go and thereby endanger her precious offspring - to - be. Somewhere safe from dogs and cats and U.P.S. men.....
Blossom picked the spot just beside our front door.
The blue wood you see in the bottom right corner is the front door.
Blossom nearly fell over from hunger and lack of water and on day 3 she staggered off her nest in search of food and I got to take a quick picture.
There are seven eggs. There were eight but Blossom stepped on one thus ruining her chances to be this years "octomom" of the chicken world but oh well...seven babies will have to do.
That is assuming there will be any babies at all.
We dont know if Blossom has had any romances with our resident rooster, Gregory Peck.
Mr. Peck really gets around the neighborhood
Here he is showing the horse some of his lady friends.
So who knows if Blossom is sitting on eggs that are not fertilized and therefore just wasting her time OR if she really has something going on there.
It takes 21 days to hatch an egg. Blossom began her sit in 3 days ago.
So we are going to have adorable baby chickies in 18 days or we are going to need to send Blossom for therapy.
Time will tell.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Wednesday Whimsy
Diamonds and roses
PJs and TV at Nanas
You wear it well...
Eating a lincoln log is SO tiring...
PJs and TV at Nanas
You wear it well...
Eating a lincoln log is SO tiring...
Monday, May 20, 2013
Breaking the Rules
I saw something just a little irregular today on my way to work today...
whats this?
I am driving down a lane between two pastures
straight ahead there are two cows...
notice that they are OUTSIDE
the fence?
This is breaking ALL the country club rules and I must hasten over in my golf cart and remind/reinforce them!
That is Cody on the left and Sarah on the right (and a cowbird in the middle)
Sarah, you are so beautiful...I remember feeding you your first bottle...I knew you were going to be big and go far....and look!
You are big and you have gone far...
outside the fence that is.
And Cody?
We do not keep bulls on a dairy farm.
The only exception to that rule is if a "Rock Star" cow has a bull calf that is from an "Amazing" bull - then and only then will we keep you...
and you are that one in a million Cody,
The problem is we shouldn't have named you Cody
We should have named you wanderlust
or if that isn't a name then maybe Daniel Boone or something
because you are a wanderer
I find you in every field but the one you actually belong in
For the entire last month he put himself in the close up pen - cows that will be birthing within days. So there were all these big waddling soon to be Mamas and.....Cody!
They get fed a little more, maybe that was the appeal?
So Mr Codes.....you are a sweetheart considering one day you will weigh over a 1000 pounds and be the size of a minivan.
Now you just want to get a scratch behind the ears don't you?
whats this?
I am driving down a lane between two pastures
straight ahead there are two cows...
notice that they are OUTSIDE
the fence?
This is breaking ALL the country club rules and I must hasten over in my golf cart and remind/reinforce them!
That is Cody on the left and Sarah on the right (and a cowbird in the middle)
Sarah, you are so beautiful...I remember feeding you your first bottle...I knew you were going to be big and go far....and look!
You are big and you have gone far...
outside the fence that is.
And Cody?
We do not keep bulls on a dairy farm.
The only exception to that rule is if a "Rock Star" cow has a bull calf that is from an "Amazing" bull - then and only then will we keep you...
and you are that one in a million Cody,
The problem is we shouldn't have named you Cody
We should have named you wanderlust
or if that isn't a name then maybe Daniel Boone or something
because you are a wanderer
I find you in every field but the one you actually belong in
For the entire last month he put himself in the close up pen - cows that will be birthing within days. So there were all these big waddling soon to be Mamas and.....Cody!
They get fed a little more, maybe that was the appeal?
So Mr Codes.....you are a sweetheart considering one day you will weigh over a 1000 pounds and be the size of a minivan.
Now you just want to get a scratch behind the ears don't you?
Monday, May 6, 2013
A TALE OF THREE TRACTORS
Another irrefutable sign that spring is in full swing is the constant chug and thrum of tractors in the distance.
Here is the John Deere. Breaking ground to plant silage for the late summer and fall.
Here is the John Deere. Breaking ground to plant silage for the late summer and fall.
This picture shows how much has to be plowed but maybe I can get a little closer...
thats a little bit better!
So thats the action on the eastern front, turning west we find the Duetz, the prize of the farm. This tractor is over 70 years old, German made and can outwork anything on the place. It is also the only tractor that will start without a jump off when the temperature drops in to the 20s or below.
This field has already been plowed and what is happening now is it is being tamped down with a big heavy roller. Packing the loose soil helps it retain moisture for the seeds that will be planted.
The cowbirds are the "foremans" of the job on a day like today. They are everywhere at once supervising. They feast on the grasshoppers and other bugs that are sent scurrying by the noise and activity of the equipment.
They are nervy little rascals and will stay on the ground pecking and eating until the very last second before the tractor makes a pass and just barely misses them as the reluctantly take wing only to land again the second the tractor passes by.
The last tractor is smack dab in the middle of the other two and is cutting down the last of the winter oats to be made in to hay. This is cut with a special cutting arm (that white thing near the ground on the right of the tractor) that lays it out like palm fronds so that it will dry faster.
It is night now as I post this.
The tractors are all silent and idle. In place of all the activity and noise, is a quiet stillness. The only proof of their busy day is the warm rich smell of newly turned earth coupled with the tangy scent of cut grass. There is a slight breeze wafting the scent across the fields in a way that begs for windows to be left open.
Spring has not traditionally been my favorite time of year....but I have to say, it definitely has its own charm, I think it is growing on me...
Monday, April 8, 2013
BREAKING GROUND
More signs of spring when I hear the rumble of a tractor
the sound of grass ripping and giving way,
the smell of fresh rich dirt ready for seeds
We are most fortunate to have family that is living here now who are experts in gardening. So the expectation of beans, corn, cucumbers and tomatoes is filling my head.
wonderful....
the sound of grass ripping and giving way,
the smell of fresh rich dirt ready for seeds
We are most fortunate to have family that is living here now who are experts in gardening. So the expectation of beans, corn, cucumbers and tomatoes is filling my head.
wonderful....
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
TENT CITY
After a fairly mild, dry winter we are riding out the roughest late winter/early spring in years.
Many nights it plummets down into the high 20s or very low 30s.
The calves that are with their moms do fine. The calves in group pens do fine also. Early morning finds them all cuddled together around the big hay bales fast asleep.
Its the little ones individual pens that I worry about. They cant seek out a warm spot, they depend on me. The best solution I have found is to group them all together each still in their own pen, fill their pen deep with hay and then cover them over with huge tarps.
A tent city if you will....
The tarps are weighted down every few feet with blocks and once they get their evening milk they get "tucked in" for the night.
I do a final check just before midnight to see what the temperature is in their house. Amazingly enough, the warmth of the hay and their combined body heat rising and being blocked by the tarp keeps them 20 - 30 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.
Toasty!
The next morning they are fed and covered back over if it is a very cold day. If not the tent is folded back so they can enjoy the sunshine of late morning
Whats so funny is how much they like the tent. They seem to really enjoy their cozy blue tinged world.
Many nights it plummets down into the high 20s or very low 30s.
The calves that are with their moms do fine. The calves in group pens do fine also. Early morning finds them all cuddled together around the big hay bales fast asleep.
Its the little ones individual pens that I worry about. They cant seek out a warm spot, they depend on me. The best solution I have found is to group them all together each still in their own pen, fill their pen deep with hay and then cover them over with huge tarps.
A tent city if you will....
The tarps are weighted down every few feet with blocks and once they get their evening milk they get "tucked in" for the night.
I do a final check just before midnight to see what the temperature is in their house. Amazingly enough, the warmth of the hay and their combined body heat rising and being blocked by the tarp keeps them 20 - 30 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.
Toasty!
The next morning they are fed and covered back over if it is a very cold day. If not the tent is folded back so they can enjoy the sunshine of late morning
Whats so funny is how much they like the tent. They seem to really enjoy their cozy blue tinged world.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
A Princess Party
Here are some of the highlights of the day...
It began most appropriately with a Mani-Pedi minus the Mani...
The color is Perfectly Princess Pink just in case you want to race right out and make this well hoofed look your own.
Take note of the two tone pink french color!
Princess's always know exactly what they want...
and special guests!
The Princess continues to lived happily ever after!
To read more of the fairy tale of Princess Aurora:
Friday, March 22, 2013
Meet Melly
Its moving day for lil Mz Melly!
Today is the day she gets to leave her individual pen and go live in a group where she will have more freedom and independence.
Melly meets the criteria for the big move into "big girl world". She can drink from a bucket and is eating grain every day and is past the newborn stage.
Over the years we tried many ways of moving calves but like most things, the simplest is also the easiest. Melly, although she drinks from a bucket, still knows what a bottle is and like all calves LOVES it. So just a bottle of milk and slowly leading to the new home....
Lazzie is thrilled to see Melly coming...they were next door neighbors until Lazzie moved 2 weeks ago, now they can be best buds again.
There is always the same routine when introducing a calf to a new spot...
first they sniff the ground (their nose is a much surer guide to them than their eyes)
Then they realize the freedom....
then finally, the awareness of the other calves...
and finally....
settling in with your BFF to enjoy your new digs.
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