Summer to Fall

I went out to take pictures of the harvest moon one night last week and did not realize I was set to black and white!  

OOPS. 

It was beautiful, though. 

We have gone from 100 degrees here three weeks ago to forties at night.  Yes, my furnace is cycling on. 

It is off this afternoon, airing the house out with windows open. 

Next week, the weatherman tells us we will be in the twenties at night. 

Don't look now, but Foster Buddy is still here. 

I think they have forgotten about him, I have not heard from the rescue for over a week. 

I just had a trash hauler here and he fell in love with him... he is a lovable boy. 

The bean fields surrounding me are ripening, and many farmers have started harvesting. 

Friends, we need rain.  We got maybe a scant quarter inch two mornings ago.  Right now it has been sprinkling off and on, but more off than on. 

I have only seen Singleton on the roost once in the last week, he is pretty much sleeping in the brooder pen.  He molted very, very hard this year... he has no tail feathers left, and the feathers in his hackles are so sparse... that's his good side!  He looks battered and... old. 

The other two big roosters, his dad and brother, look much the same. 

The little roosters look better, but they are younger, too. 

Wanda slept in the big hen house a few nights ago.  The night before, she had slept in the little hen house. 

I wonder if she is scared of night predators. 

(I can handle Wanda, she just looks really feral here) 

She does not bother the chickens.  If I lock Teenie in, Teenie will chase them in the morning. 

I am getting ready to turn on the chick light in the shop next week for the cats, it is going to be down in the twenties at night all week.  I'm also going to hook up the heated water bowls. 

I ordered three new poultry base warmers, and they should be here on Saturday. 

It just makes my life so much easier and the chickens healthier, to have warm water in the henhouses.  With as few as I have, I won't have to be filling the fountains more than once a day, and what's in them will stay warm.  For the old hens, it's important. 

I took a break after I started this, and went out and did chores.  For the first time since before the birds began to molt, I got six big eggs from the young hens and one silkie egg from the only silkie hen I have left, who lays every other day now.  

I also spent the better part of an hour trying to get Doug the Killer Cotton Ball out from under the big henhouse, I literally made six trips out there, and even attempted to belly crawl under the henhouse.  Finally, I banged enough on the outside that he ran out in panic and I think, realized he was alone.  I was able to net him.  Tomorrow... he stays in the brooder pen in the hen house, the one that the other two silkies sleep in at night.  This is the third time this week, and raccoons are already out, I chased one off the porch when I made the last trip.  What truly scared me is that Zoey had been out by herself, and the raccoon must have crossed the yard right where she could see it. 

Doug, when the vegetation was going crazy.  You see how small he is. 

I am so tired tonight I almost sacrificed him.  Tomorrow is the Lineman's Rodeo at the Ag Hall.  There has not been a huge one since before Covid, and they have gone all out.... families have come in from other countries, and there will be lots to see and do besides the competition (pole climbing). I will be at the front desk, thankfully, and out of the ruckus.... but... I will be tired by the time I get home, and I do not relish another session, so tomorrow he stays in the brooder house. 

This is grandson Jax (Yes, we know he needs a haircut) who has been helping me. 

On Tuesday after school, he worked on cleaning out the hay shed, where I now keep recycling. 

He is holding up a scratch grain sack so I can tell you all something. 

Seven years ago, Keith and I bought "The Big House" and moved from Calamity Acres for a couple of years.  We decided when we moved there that we were going to recycle as much as we could, so we set up recycling in our garage.  For years, I have taken birdseed and chicken feed and sheep feed sacks to the recycling center for the county, which is in Lansing  There is a bin there where you put plastic bags and grocery plastic bags.  I have probably put several hundred of the plastic sacks Jax is holding in the wind in this bin. 

Last Friday, I saw something Leavenworth County posted on FB, and it puzzled me, so I asked a question.  Lo and behold, I was answered almost immediately and the answer was that a bin was provided for us to put plastic bags in. 

Guess what? 

They are put in the trash!  

The recycle center does not have a contract with anyone to recycle them, so they simply provide the bin, and when it is full, one of the workers wheels it to the pit, and it is dumped! 

ALL THESE YEARS! 

I could not believe it, I even called the office on Tuesday and the lady said "You asked that question online didn't you?" and I laughed and told her yes. 

They don't recycle them, friends.  Trash. 

I was stunned. 

Okay, don't read the next section if you are squeamish. 

You know I love possums. 

Young. 

On Sunday, Jax was also here working for me, and he did a super job clearing a fence line. 

When we went to get the tractor hooked up to the trailer to haul the stuff down to my brush pile, we saw a very elderly possum coming across the yard.  I looked at Jax and said it was unusual for him to be out during the day.  When I connected the wagon, he froze and "played possum".  I told Jax he was a very old one.... dark, dark gray unlike the one above.  

I had seen him the night before in the pasture at dusk. 

After I moved the tractor, he continued on between the shop and the garage, and came out to where we were working.  We kept an eye on him... it was hot, and he stopped several times, and headed for the shade of a tree in the fence line.  I told Jax he was probably going to go under Troy's shed, which is just on the other side of the fence there.  Pretty soon, he laid down again.  We kept an eye, but we were almost finished and I had to get Jax home.  

When I came back, before I went in the house, I decided to go check on the possum.

Dead. 

I felt so bad, they only live about two years. 

Here's where it gets dicey, so I'm warning you. 

I picked him up (gloved) and carried him down to the pasture and laid him down... and it was, indeed, a male. 

Next day.  (Vultures should be leaving by this weekend) 

That night. 

The next day, there was only a tiny bit of skin and bone. 

Last night, I watched a coyote roll in it. 

That poor old possum fed the two vultures and cleaned my pasture. 

Everything is here for a reason, folks. 

Tomorrow is the fifteenth, and the vultures are usually all gone by then.  I saw one today as I drove down to the Ag Hall. 

Hummingbirds are gone. 

The blackbirds (grackles and starlings) are back at the feeders, but not happy with 

the very plain feed I am feeding, which is fine with me.  

Very little feed is wasted now. 

A few of the flowers are still hanging on! 

Next time, I'll post some of the pictures I am getting on the pasture cam.  Those of you who have read this blog for years know that we always kept a feeder of sorts in the pasture for the wildings.  Now that the sheep are gone, I put two cups of dog food and whatever leftovers we have (very few) in the pasture.  I have not seen any foxes... we always had them before... but... I have seen a skunk, which I had not seen for years! 

I'll show you next time. 

 

 

Sunny Days

Lots going on here.... including rain for days, nine days in May in a row, in fact. 

Let's get caught up!

Wanda, the Ferocious Feral, was giving me hints that she was ready to go. 

She never calmed down, though I caught her playing throughout the days on the camera. 

She was still enough of a kitten that she played with the toys I had in the little red hen house with her. 

I released her on May 23rd, before dark, but she waited until after 8 to go out. 

She is coming in and out regularly, but the problem (that I knew would happen) is that 

the raccoons immediately found the food source.  

That's a nursing mother who has been going in and out. 

I have food here, in the old garage (used for storage), in the pasture feeder (the one on stilts), 

and on the porch.  One raccoon comes in daylight, and this mama above showed up on camera yesterday at 3:15 in the afternoon, she must be very hungry. 

Last night, I thought for a minute I had left a hen out, I saw movement by the big hen house... it was Wanda.  I put some food near the water bowl there, since she has found it.  

Barring any animal attacks, I think she will do okay. 

Miss Molly is now going out during the daytime.  At the feed store, she 

was an indoor-outdoor cat who stayed mostly indoors. 

I started letting her out two weeks ago, with some trepidation... the fact the 

mama raccoon came during the day worries me. 

(not from a rabies standpoint, from a Molly could be stupid and try to fight 

standpoint). 

She goes in and out, I usually let her out very early in the morning, and then she 

comes in and out.  She is never out until dark, I am not trusting enough.  And, of course, 

if I ever see her go for a chicken, she will be in all the time. 

There are a lot of baby squirrels here now.  They have to taste everything. 

Sorry for the shot through the window, but an indigo bunting has been visiting regularly. 

(and oh yes, I was down at face level) 

Same snake. 

Raccoons don't like the oranges (tho they go for the jelly)... but the squirrels love them. 

In a way, I am glad the orioles are only here for a few weeks, as it is 

a pain to refill the feeder with sugar water, I have to wash it out with the hose because of the ants. 

***************

I'm breaking here, because I literally typed that almost three weeks ago and never finished it! 

Life. 

Here is the Ferocious One on the deck cam on Saturday, and, as you can see... she is doing fine! 

The orioles are gone now until next year, they only stay about three weeks. 

I'm glad, because it is a PAIN to keep that station clean. 

I thought this was funny.... look at the temperature! 

It wasn't, though we have had 100 degree days and many with the "feels like" over 100. 

We were expecting storms last night, and they did not happen, despite a lot of thunder. 

It is cooler today, though, thank heavens. 

I do not know if you can tell, but baby tails are sticking out from under Mama. 

I have another picture, if I can find it. 

There you can see some little baby paws sticking out. 

There goes Molly.  She is having a blast, but she is usually under my scrutiny. 

And..... BABY SEASON is upon us!  

Have a good week, everyone! 

 

Weather Apocolypse

Like you all have not been through it, too... right? 

I realized this morning I have not posted for three weeks.  Friends, I was too pooped. 

Even on the worst days, I went out three or four times a day to clear the ONE unheated water bowl 

and re-fill it. 

So grateful for my many masks, they kept my face warm. 

BUT... I wore two layers of clothing, socks and gloves for the duration. 

I actually also wore a second hate over this lovely ensemble. 

On February 10, I ordered propane over the ARU at Ferrelgas... the very first time I 

could not speak to a live person.  We were just going into the deep freeze, and I was at 25%. That afternoon, I called the CSR line, and got connected to a lady in North Carolina.  I told her we were descending into the deep freeze, and asked if there was an emergency line I could call if it looked like I was going to run out of gas. (she said no)

Let me stop right here and say that I never, ever waited more than three days for a gas fill. 

I watch my tank like a hawk. 

She told me I was scheduled for the 19th.  (I ordered Wednesday, the 10th).  

On the 19th, I must have looked out the window fifteen times to my gate, which was wide 

open.  Chat online was disabled... no emails were being answered, and I had left two messages on 

the phone which were unanswered. 

I checked on a local page on Saturday and asked if anyone had seen the truck out delivering. 

I was told by one man I "Should have planned for living in the country". 

As you can see from the picture, it snowed three or four times, but we never got a huge load, it was just bone-chilling cold. 

On Sunday afternoon, I got a call from North Carolina that my gas would come on Monday, the 22nd. 

Thank God, that's all I can say.  I had gone to Menards and bought two 

electric heaters, and then used one in the kitchen to take the load off the furnace. 

I closed the doors to all the bedrooms and with the electric heater, it stayed cozy. 

I was staring running out in the face though, and did not want to pay to have to re-run the lines. 

I learned from this... I will have to call at 40% in the future... and, friends, that man, 

Rick Trieb, delivered every single day, and he is the only driver in my area now.  I do not know how he did it!

That, believe it or not, is a heated water bowl that is frozen to the ground. 

I had to sweep the dirty water out of it for a week... I could not prise it up. 

The starlings could actually drain this deep bowl in thirty minutes. 

The chickens were in for two full weeks, they hated me. 

I had three other heated basins or bowls that I had to fill multiple times a day. 

There was no chicken at the commissary on Thursday... the signs say that inclement weather is the reason. 

My poor old Ferdie suffered much damage to comb and wattles. 

I believe his comb points will fall off. 

This guy is on a diet.  Jester got treats right along with the little girls, every time they took a pill, they all got a treat.  He is woefully overweight. 

He and I are walking at a local park every day now, I drop what I am doing in the afternoon and off we go. 

He needs to get twenty pounds off... but I would be overjoyed with ten. 

There is an aging opossum living in the sheep barn right now. 

Possums only live about three years, and I suspect this one is close to its' end. 

However, I find him curled up in the hay in late afternoon, and out of the camera view 

to the left there is a bowl I keep cat food in.  I have noticed it has gone to the garden though, 

every night, to eat birdseed.  

There it is on deck with a smaller one. 

The yellow tabby has disappeared.  I have not seen it in five days now, not on 

camera, not in the pasture. 

I have heard coyotes DURING THE DAY three times in the last week, 

this is breeding season. 

I have not seen Gray Kitty, either.  

Four Long Days. 

I did not see Rusty for three, but he is here and safe.  I have fed him several  times with his 

wet cat food in the last two days. 

I have noticed that NO cat is eating on the deck right now,

and am thinking of pulling the cat food in at night because I am 

overrun with 

I swear that some are as big as Jester!

These are my two youngest grands, Jax and Paiton. 

I have to say something here.  They have not been in real 

school for over a year right now, and I feel badly for them. 

Right now, they go to school four mornings a week, 

for 3 hours.  Then they go home, and a second shift goes in. 

In the meantime, they get off the bus, go in the house, and 

log on and go to school online for three more hours. 

On Friday morning, here, they log on for one hour only, for a social studies 

type course. 

They are missing their friends (the rooms are very sparsely populated to be safe) and 

they are not thriving as they did before. 

I believe they will be back to school full time in the fall.

I believe it will be safe then. 

We will have the virus here, but more and more are being vaccinated, 

and numbers are falling. 

I am going to be vaccinated as soon as I can be, Leavenworth County 

has not gotten large amounts of the vaccine yet. 

I am signed up. 

Many of my friends are vaccinated already. 

If we can just hold on a little longer.... 

I only lost two chickens to the bitter cold, and one that I thought surely WOULD die, 

has not. (these two are alive and well) 

This old red hen is sleeping in the closet of the old hen house now, instead of roosting, and I honestly believed I would go in and find her dead.  I still have the warming light on in there for support....

I have turned off the other two hen houses. 

So far, though, she is holding on!

I also have been getting six to ten eggs a day from the old girls....

until yesterday when I did not get ANY! 

I do have an old black hen on a nest right now... 

she has two eggs under her and I am actually considering letting her go 

broody.  I will move her to a brooding cage if that is true, because she is up high in the nest box. 

This came up in my memory this week... it's little Cookie, 

two years ago this week.  He was just a DOLL! 

So much fun to watch. 

The finches!

I am actually going to mount a special flat feeder for them out in the yard about twenty feet, they 

are just tearing the deck up too much.  I will miss seeing them up close... but 

I won't miss the mess and the seed wastage. 

I  hope everyone has held on, Febaruary was a rough month for so many... 

it's almost spring!

And thank you, thank you, my friends, for still taking a look at this blog!