Good Fences #106

Looks like J is going far and wide to repair fences this spring.  We were on some pretty steep ground this week. 

 I told J that if any cattle were so roguish as to get out here we either weren't feeding them well enough or they were so well fed that they had too much free time.

 J insisted on putting up some reinforcements.

 The terrain did start to level out a bit after the shear cliff.

Now you've seen a fence that was only previously seen by the builders because who else would venture here.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Golden Eagle Sighting

And I had my camera!

 We were pulling the trailer through the gate to head down to the barn to load some cattle.  Wrangler had just run up to me and J started hollering something.  Since I was distracted with a horse it took a minute for me to figure out what he was wanting.

 He said he had just seen this eagle chase a squirrel up a tree.  You can just see his tail below the first branch on the right.  And the eagle definitely has his eye on him.

 I watched for a second before I remembered I had my camera in my pocket.

At first we thought it was a bald eagle, but after looking at the pictures I think it is a juvenile golden eagle.  A pretty rare sighting for around here.   (I don't think the squirrel made it)

Prehistoric Tree Park

When I was helping J with the fencing the other day I was noticing that we have some unusual trees on our farm.

 This one made me think of some sort of prehistoric seen.

 And surprisingly, the tree is still living.

 Down by the creek there were these gnarled up branches.

And on a cliff, the base of an uprooted tree.  What's in your woods?

Twins X Two

Spring calving has just started here and we already have 2 sets of twins. 

 J didn't find this one until then next day and the mom wouldn't take her so now she is in the barn being bottle fed.  I'm calling her squirt because she probably isn't over 50 pounds.  But she is doing fine so far.

Then on Easter morning there was another set of twins.  But even though the mom is taking both, J doesn't thing she will be able to raise them so I guess this afternoon we have to go kidnap one.   So then I'll be feeding two in the barn.  But this early in the calving season something is bound to go amiss and we will have two spares.  Then if a cow loses a calf these will be ready for adoption.

New TV Star

It's been a busy week for Wrangler.  Two different news vans showed up at the farm this week. 

J couldn't find the camera for the second day.  It was from WFXR 27.

 Wrangler was a superstar both days.

 He did get a little curious and wondered off once and chewed on the camera bag, but mostly he stayed on track.

 Both stations were doing similar feel good stories although according to the comments on channel 7's facebook site, there were several people to whom the story did not have the desired effect.  I really don't understand the mindset of people sometimes.  Anyway, if you are interested here are the links.
Channel 7
Channel 27

Good Fences #105

J out fixing fence this week. 

It's a lonely job, but someone's got to do it.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

In Bloom At The 4Rs

Despite the recent cold snap, there are a few things blooming around here. 

 This is the little peach tree I planted last year that had 3 very sweet peaches on it.  I hope it isn't blooming too soon this year.

 The forsythia is in full bloom.  It really adds a huge pop of yellow to the yard.

 And there are yet more daffodils.

And inside, my orchid is still blooming, 2 1/2 months and counting.

Just Kit #100

Just one good looking Kat. 

Why I Love Otoelene

No words necessary.

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #29

Up for sale is Fabio my mini stud. Very sweet gentle boy with flare. Comes to the gate. Always doing something Silly. Leads ties and loads. Stands to be groomed vet and farrier. Up to date on vaccinations but not on coggins. His person is too big to ride him and other daughters are not interested in riding.

This was the only picture. Is it showing that he come to the gate or is doing something silly or both?  He looks like he could be such a cutie.  Hope he can find a new person. 

Good Fences #104

With the weather getting better J had time to do a little more than just feed this week.  

 Tuesday, I helped him with some fence in the horse field.  As part of our developed spring, the spring head needs to stay fenced off.   This was put in about 18 years ago and some of the posts had rotted off and others were pushed over.

 It's a good thing more help showed up or we would never have finished.  (Are you seeing the disgust in J's body language?  I was suppose to be running the horses off, not taking pictures ;)

J's is a wiz at fence repair.  Now maybe with the new boards and posts it will last another 18 years.

For more Good Fences click HERE

Looks Like They Made It

No, not a take off on Barry Manilow.  I'm just talking about the bee's.  It's always a worry about them making it through the winter.  I think there is a saying about if they make it until the dandelions start blooming they will be ok.  

 Well, the dandelions are blooming and the bees look pretty vigorous.

I'm hoping to do better about putting the supers on at the right times instead of just one and leaving it until fall.  From what I've read, I need to put the first one on about 2 weeks after the fruit trees start blooming, so probably around the first of April.  Then we can add one every 2 - 3 weeks as long as they are drawing out comb and filling the last one.  I think I would be pretty tickled to have just one extra super this year.  Now that J has the bee suit maybe we can make that happen.

Just Kit Sunday #99

I think Kit Kat is getting bored with his job as head of pest control and is branching out into mechanic. 

 Kit: "I think you need to check your oil."

Kit: "Everything else looks good, your clear."

Cutting Down

When we first built our house 17 years ago, it was in the middle of open pasture.  I had no landscape plan.  I would just go to Lowe's and buy whatever was on sale and try to find a place for it.  Some things worked but others did not.

 I thought this worked for awhile but have recently decided that it was probably not a good idea to plant holly bushes right against the foundation and siding with no room for the roots.  I've worried they might start damaging the sidewalk too.  My idea was for an espalier but it has been taking too much effort.

 So now they are gone.  There is so much else going on in the yard I don't think I will miss them.  Over the Spring I will most likely be removing other trees and shrubs that have outgrown their usefulness.

On a different note, I had a fabulous ride on Otoelene Tuesday and when I got back I talked J into getting on her.  I just wanted to share my joy with him.  In the future I will try to hold my tongue and not give instruction.  I'm not sure my joy translated to J.

Good Fences #103

When I was riding the other day the sun was at an angle where you can understand how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name. 

You can also just see the 2 strand, high tensile, electric cross fence in our front field, but the posts show up nice.
For more Good Fences click HERE.

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #28

This horse was advertised on a Facebook site and just said dun 2 year old, pictures on my Facebook page.  So then I had to hunt through all her family pictures and recipes until I found these great photos. 

Seriously people, do you think this will sell your horse?

Almost

With temperatures in the 70's for the last couple of days, the daffodils are almost ready.

Another day or two and we'll have plenty of blooms.  Let Spring begin!

Just Kit Sunday #98

K: "Hey Kit, you've been spending an awful lot of time inside.  Maybe you could go out and get some exercise."

Kit: "I like inside. I like Emma's bed. It's been cold and wet outside. I really, really like my food bowl full at all times."

K:  "That's better Kit, tail up, run, run, run." 

Kit: "I'm finished, now out of my way."

Interesting Advertising

My boss went to a conference recently that had several vendors.

One of the things she brought back was this lighter.  You might ask yourself, "What veterinary company would be advertising on a lighter?"

Well, IM stands for In Memoriam, it is a pet cremation service.  So is the lighter suppose to be humorous or is it just in bad taste?  One thing is for sure, it is certainly memorable. 

Weather, Selling, Sold

What a difference a few days makes. March may have come in like a lamb but it sure didn't last long.

This is my current view from my kitchen window.  Back down in the 20's and 30's with snow.

 The nannies are due to start kidding at the end of the month so this guy has done his job and is ready to move on.  I posted him on a facebook site and got lots of interest.  Really got tired of "What's your bottom dollar?"  Just make an offer if you don't want to pay what I'm asking and I'll take it or leave it.

 Finally negotiated a sale so if all goes well he will be leaving for a new home and more work this weekend.  It will save us from having to take him to the market.

 And Wrangler is up to his 4th sale on Ebay!  These black and white ones seem to be popular.  This one is on its way to Illinois.

 So of course, we were right back out in the barn painting another one.