New Loop

I just mentioned to J the other day how if that cedar tree was cut, it would be easier for me to ride down this little road.  

 And with that, J was out there, chain saw in hand, clearing the way.

 While he was at it, he went ahead and cut out the down trees that were across the road.

 Doesn't that look inviting now?

Otoelene and I sure enjoyed the improvement.  With this little trail opened up, I can add about 10 minutes to my ride around the farm.

New Obsession

So this is totally off most of my topics but I have been obsessed lately with couponing at Dollar General.  There is one on my way home from work, so very convenient.  You would be surprised at how seriously people take it.  I am in a Facebook Group devoted to it and finally had to eliminate it from my news feed because they would be posting every few seconds.  

 I got this haul using digital and paper coupons along with the survey $3 off $15 that prints at the bottom of receipts.

I think my big loss was the Dawn, which was actually the thing that I needed.  Otherwise I could have worked a little harder and gotten my OOP (out of pocket)  down a little more.  Oh well, sometimes you just need stuff.  People may be needing to watch their Christmas stockings for my deals.

Catastrophe Averted

 I have been having problems with an outlet in the barn for some time now.  I keep a radio plugged into it so I can listen to it while I am riding in the barn.  It started tripping the ground fault whenever the wind blew.  And the wind blows a lot around here.  When I had some work done on the house, I asked them to fix the outlet at the barn.  They replaced the outlet which didn't fix the problem.  They said whoever wired the barn did a poor job and put the staples in too tight which cut through the insulation and was causing it to arc.  They said I needed to get the original people back to fix it.  So, I called them.  Said he would be here that week, Never showed up.  Called again.  Didn't return my call.  In comes my wonderful brother in law and son in law.

 Terry is always up for a challenge.

 There was lots of testing, some rewiring, and presto, outlet fixed.  But there were two others that were on the same circuit which didn't work either.  I said I never used those, but Terry was up for a challenge and kept searching for the problem.

And he found it.  Where the wire went between the rafters and the metal siding, the insulation had rubbed off and had arched enough to burn a hole through the metal siding.  I guess it could have started a fire.  So, when the wind blew, it pressed the siding up against the wire causing it to trip the circuit.  I wasn't crazy about the wind thing. 

After the other people had replace the outlet, half my lights quit working.  Apparently, it was a bad switch.

The two in-laws got that working too.   Terry also said that the people that did the original wiring had done a good job.

Then, while we were at it, M installed an outlet in the crawl space for me.  I told him I was watching a YouTube video on how to do it.  He said he could do it for me and had all of the supplies.  Who could turn that down.  Maybe that is all of the electrical work I will need for awhile.

Just Kit Sunday #126

He does get to come inside on occasion.   And don't get the wrong idea, he loves feet.

Happy Thanksgiving

E set up a camera trap here for a class she is taking.  In less than 3 days she had 165 deer pictures.  

 She must have done a great job finding where they like to browse.

 There were not any large bucks but 3 different smaller ones,

and several does. 

And camera trapping isn't complete without a raccoon.

Draper and the Pool Noodles

V was home and watching me work with Draper when she saw the pool noodles and asked if I had worked Draper with them.  I had not. 

 So what better time to try her out with something new.

 She wasn't the least bit scared by them.

 In fact, I had to get her attention away from trying to chew on them.

No big deal.  Walking through wiggly things that hit your sides and across a noisy piece of plastic, piece of cake.

Deep Fried Turkey Success

 In a bid to change up Thanksgiving, M and V brought a deep fryer here to do a Pre-Thanksgiving trial run on frying a turkey.

Armed with 4 gallons of peanut oil and a new propane tank, M had the cooking area secured.  

 Once the oil was hot enough, in went the turkey, only 3 1/2 minutes per pound.

 It smelled wonderful.

 And looked great.  It had a crispy skin and juicy inside.  I think it was much more moist than an oven baked turkey.  

 M also did a great job carving it up.   I think if you want to change up from a traditional turkey, try a deep fried one, delicious.

And the best part was J and M doing the dishes afterwards.

Great Pyrenees Are Amazing

Every time I watch these dogs I can't get over how amazing they are.  

 That's Bumble telling Jett something.  I think she is saying, "Stop, I'm in charge here.  I get to be closest to K."

 Then Jett and Jewel are deferring to Bumble.  Bea, by the way, is still on the job and not as distracted by me riding Otoelene though the goats.

What wonderful dogs.  All the ones I have seen at the clinic as pets have been amazing too.  All the owners love them.  If you are looking for a large, very hairy companion dog, check out your closest Great Pyrenees rescue.

Wildlife

There is always plenty of wildlife to see back here in the sticks. 

 The other day when I was riding Otoelene, I saw this beautiful fox running through the bull lot.

Then, in the barn there was a little bird up in the rafters just having a fit.  I finally saw what was bothering him, an owl.   I would rather have an owl roosting in the barn.  One big bird is preferable to lots of little ones.  I'm guessing it is an Eastern Screech Owl.  Maybe E can ID it for me since she took ornithology last semester.

Guest Vet

My horse vet friend has been promising to come check out Hanks teeth for almost a year now.  I do her small animal stuff and she is kind enough to come look at things here that I can't figure out or don't have the equipment for.  I do not have the necessary equipment for teeth floating so that is all her. 

With a little sedation Hank was the perfect patient.  He is 22+ years old and Dr. C said there wasn't much she could do with the teeth he had left.  She filed some of the points off so maybe he will be able to eat his grain a little better now.   J was an excellent assistant, keeping Hank's  head held up. 

 Then there was Draper.  I worked with her last Monday and she was wonderful.  Then Tuesday she was lame.  I put her in the barn lot hoping some rest would help.  But it didn't so yesterday I put a poultice on her hoof hoping to draw out an abscess.

Then today, I had Dr. C give her opinion.  She couldn't find an abscess yet but also couldn't find another cause for the lameness.  So, most likely, it's an abscess that hasn't matured yet.  I guess I will give her another week and see what happens.

Working the Fall Calves and Cows

Saturday was cattle working day.

 We had 58 pairs and 9 replacement heifers to vaccinate, deworm and castrate the bull calves.

 Luckily, we had V and M to help.  V said this was M's 3rd year helping us with this chore.  He sure makes my job easier.  I no longer have to help sort or hold tails for castrating.

 J had to make sure everyone knew what to do.

 And that's M in there doing my old sorting job.

 Everything was pretty smooth until we got to the heifers.  The head gate was too wide for the first one and her shoulders went though instead of catching and closing the gate.  The problem came when her hips hit instead and now she was stuck.  We couldn't get her to go forward or backwards.  M was able to pull a toggle pin on one side to give a little more slack and then with brute force pull the other side open a tad further while I helped J push her backwards.  She got out with no harm done but put us about 15 minutes behind schedule.

 The calves were last, then we were done.

The weather was perfect.  V even said with her coveralls and long underwear on, that she was the perfect temperature.  I don't think she has ever said that before, so I took her picture to commemorate the occasion.

Just Kit Sunday #125

Loneliest Number and Fall Color

J rotated the cattle a couple of days ago.  When he went back to close the gates he saw that one had stayed behind.  This field isn't accessible from the house side of the farm except by horse.  

 So Otoelene and I had a job to do this morning.

 Otoelene is all about working cattle.  She is better than a 4-wheeler in the terrain she can cover.

 We worked the lone holdout out of the field,  across the creek and up to the pasture with the other cattle.  Job accomplished.

 As for the Fall color, our burning bush hedge is spectacular.  Usually it is pretty for a couple of days, then the leaves fall off immediately.  This year we are getting a couple of weeks or more out of it.

 The crape myrtle trees have turned a pretty color for the first time ever.  They usually just freeze and turn brown.

It makes for a pretty coming and going.