Sunday, February 9, 2025

Outdoors With Allie And Kit

Allie was sick last weekend and got upset she wasn't able to come to my birthday dinner.  So I told Virginia I could keep her some Saturday since Sadie wasn't feeling the best.  The weather wasn't too bad so we had some outdoor play time.  
Sadie and Allie both love playing with the ribbon toy Matt got them. 


Then we played ball.  

She wanted Kit Kat to play but he was not interested.  
But Allie did get PopPop to play. 


I think we made up for missing the dinner.  She said she had fun playing at Mimi's house. 
 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Birdfy Bluebird House

When I was at Walmart and found the $18 Birdfy camera on clearance, I also found a Birdfy Bluebird house (on clearance of course).  I considered saving it and giving it away at Christmas.  But then I decided I was worth it and it was my birthday, so I kept it. 
I moved one of the decrepit houses to a post further away, and put the new one up closest to the kitchen window.  
Then I had to spin the solar panel around 180 degrees.  There are 2 cameras, one at the entrance. 
It catches the birds coming and going.                                                                                                                     
And the other one inside looking down into the box.  I can't wait for a bluebird to find it and start checking things out.  
It also has a side door that flips down and a clear plastic guard so you can check the nest manually.  I hope it isn't too high tech for the birds.  I don't want to scare them off.  
 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Trying To Not Overdo

What a beautiful day.  After a month of sub zero temperatures, at day in the 60’s was heaven.  I tried to spend as much time as possible outside.
I came up with another idea for my yard ornament. This time it is a light globe and it is sitting on another metal lamp part.  I am not sure I like the white on white though.  Maybe I will try a little art project on the white globe part.
I also took the opportunity to clean out the blue bird houses. 
One had 3 old eggs.  At least I hope they were old.  I haven’t seen much blue bird activity and it is too early for them to be nesting. 
One box had a beautiful nest complete with an assortment of pretty feathers.
It was also time to cut out the dead blackberry canes.
And prune the grape vine. 
Now I have a big pile of grapevines to deal with.  
And let’s not forget Hugo.  He has been pretty neglected since my injury.  He let me catch him after only about 5 minutes and out in the open.  
After some grooming, but no hoof cleaning, I had him do some free lunging.  I am sure he would have been fine to ride, but as I said, I didn’t want to overdo.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Back Home

It was time to move the cattle back to the house from the rented land across the road before calving starts. 
Fortunately, Mike was there to help which meant I did next to nothing.  A little line of non-electrified electric fence was set up to keep the cows out of the yard as we headed them out to the road. 
There was a little sorting because Joe wanted some at the house and some up the road at the other farm.  

I drove ahead to turn them into the field at our farm while Mike brought up the rear. 
Then Joe was there to turn them again up to a different field. That all worked fine. 

And the next group worked just as well.  After the cows calve this Spring we will move another group back to the rented land. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Birdfy

The Bird Buddy birdfeeder and camera we had gotten our mother for Christmas didn't work out.  The only thing we ever saw were cardinals and squirrels.  Then, when I was in Walmart the other day, I saw a Birdfy camera on clearance.  Since it was a tenth of the cost of the Bird Buddy I decided to give it a try. 
I ended up having to dig out an old router for the computer for the wifi to work with the camera. Once I got that all sorted out I set the camera under the bird feeder to see how it would work.   
After 3 days I had 176 videos to look through.  I was really hoping to find a new bird to add to my list.  There is also a live feed I can check on my phone if I am out somewhere and bored.  However, I was disappointed to not be able to identify any new birds.  But I have plenty of old ones, 
Mourning dove    
house finch
blue jay 
chickadee, 
dark-eyed junco,
gold finch, 
white crowned sparrow, 
fox sparrow,  
 and house sparrow.  I am sure Keiran or Emily can correct any errors.  

Since the Birdfy is working out well on the ground, my next step is to use the mounting hardware and direct it toward the feeder.  Maybe I will catch something new up there. 

Monday, January 27, 2025

Seeing Everything

Sadie and Allie came for a visit Saturday.  We had lots of fun.  When I was Allie's nap time, Sadie asked to go outside to walk around so she could, "See everything." 
We started with petting the horses.  
But then Molly and Maggie needed some attention.  
Draper got a gentle pat, 

as did Pep.                                                                                                                                           
Jessica got some attention also.                                                                                                                     
After all of that, Sadie wanted to walk up the hill in front of the house.  It is steep and according to Emily's fitness app, 13 stories high.  But she went the whole way without any help. 
Once we had made it to the top, Sadie looked around and said she could see everything. 
Next, she wanted to walk to the tiny house.  
It is a hunting cabin Joe let a neighbor build.  In return, he shoots all the coyotes he sees.  I am going to have to get a key because Sadie would really like to see the inside and so would I.  
And a trip to see everything isn't complete without seeing the goats. 
Then Sadie wanted to take some pictures herself.  I even consented to pose. 
I thought she took a very nice landscape photo.  
Then she ended with a selfie.  
 

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