tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18172853807326864212024-03-16T00:38:56.580-05:00Calamity Acres Hobby FarmMary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.comBlogger2053125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-44097873920364286172024-03-10T17:35:00.001-05:002024-03-10T17:35:26.090-05:00Update on the Birds <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Well well. I went out just now to get pictures of the chicks, and guess what? Dead batteries!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bad me!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are at 64 and sunny today, and there is more news to talk about. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday, this was delivered: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdLBRAFUyAWKiqVxsHTQyiNiKTC4bgLIotf9-KQWuMDNEVD8ZX6qyDspkPZ12-hHznQQkAl-XeP58awphh91Aa4boxOfIcbGVJ4Kg8WEdoZC8uOSFKz7oi86vdgZL-YHe13jfT3GXgs4jlrQK_LWLeR-t8O9bQ7za-tFRPDLcspb9PA7MKFWRs21FPwU/s219/Coop%20coming%20towards%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="164" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdLBRAFUyAWKiqVxsHTQyiNiKTC4bgLIotf9-KQWuMDNEVD8ZX6qyDspkPZ12-hHznQQkAl-XeP58awphh91Aa4boxOfIcbGVJ4Kg8WEdoZC8uOSFKz7oi86vdgZL-YHe13jfT3GXgs4jlrQK_LWLeR-t8O9bQ7za-tFRPDLcspb9PA7MKFWRs21FPwU/w479-h640/Coop%20coming%20towards%20me.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, friends, it's a new chicken coop! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It's pre-fab, made at D and M Mini Barns in Garnett, Kansas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was used, and I stopped at their lot when I took grandson Chris to the doctor two weeks ago, and took a look. I signed to buy a 6 x 8 building, also used, but went back the next day when I took Chris home, and got the bigger building. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is waiting for electricity to be brought to it from the barn. I hope to have it in this week, and then the chicks will move into it and grow out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has a coop space attached to the front, but there is a problem there, and I have time to fix it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1yi9_l_ISqxNU3kDW3rO5dgPKcrPzZMczLm-2i9FPTPJu5ODh28NOH0xwVtuKrnjblBFHq-EQeAK-Xkwqz9PZuva_OvwNILnVrbDFQfHvvschnaSyLK8xkhTcPAoUgGu_r-Bled4ICzDs3lpC3AD2gWsa5pLt2PEcal6z1djwpwWNs8RSZ6sbJuekAI/s953/New%20Coop%20front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1yi9_l_ISqxNU3kDW3rO5dgPKcrPzZMczLm-2i9FPTPJu5ODh28NOH0xwVtuKrnjblBFHq-EQeAK-Xkwqz9PZuva_OvwNILnVrbDFQfHvvschnaSyLK8xkhTcPAoUgGu_r-Bled4ICzDs3lpC3AD2gWsa5pLt2PEcal6z1djwpwWNs8RSZ6sbJuekAI/w360-h640/New%20Coop%20front.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because it is on skids, the front enclosed part does not reach the ground, and we know what a problem that would be with possums and raccoons and skunks. So.... I will be closing that off with hardware cloth this week, and probably put some landscape timbers around the three sides. The reason we had to place it there is that the original place I wanted to put it... over by the big henhouse and the little hen house.... the cost of trenching electric from the barn to this house was estimated at 5,000.00. My budget did not allow for that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The electrician looked at several places, and we decided on this.... he will run a pipe from the box in the barn just behind this coop, and put an overhead light with two receptacles with two plugs each. I will be able to have light, and to run a warming light in winter, a fan in summer, and a heated water, if I need to. I hope to have the Buff Orpingtons in the big henhouse when they are old enough. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will get better pictures of it this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwReK6f9hcIm1IKtwfivUUBaQOWmWm2ypMKFBY-SyU-j3E28CJrV_4bMaYJ3u4eLtSuLnZXHOSiPVgOMe6ZX3RYKO4vokcCfOF54osgLGrWLm2z6NqF6xnUCj8lmwvnu6LMn7fwx5RoEDUn2G8Ld0tPuvu166NV-hI6aIa8LSLq7gjomSLamgO4-OOy1o/s6000/IMG_6100.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwReK6f9hcIm1IKtwfivUUBaQOWmWm2ypMKFBY-SyU-j3E28CJrV_4bMaYJ3u4eLtSuLnZXHOSiPVgOMe6ZX3RYKO4vokcCfOF54osgLGrWLm2z6NqF6xnUCj8lmwvnu6LMn7fwx5RoEDUn2G8Ld0tPuvu166NV-hI6aIa8LSLq7gjomSLamgO4-OOy1o/w640-h426/IMG_6100.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This little guy about tore our hearts out on Monday. I was outside cleaning the inside of the car out, on a beautiful day. Chico was with me...until he was not. He literally disappeared. I stopped what I was doing and began calling, because he absolutely loves this yard and would run all over it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The problem is, he only weighs eight pounds and three times, squeezed through and went into the pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well... he did not come back. My son got the binoculars and walked up the road towards the highway, looking into our neighbor's pasture. I went up into the wild 26 acres across from my place... there is a comm tower there but the access drive has deteriorated and I had to stop the car and walk in. I called and called and called, thought I heard barking once... called some more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I posted him in Basehor Lost and Found and Tonganoxie Lost and Found, called my friend in rescue, she called KC Dog Trappers. My neighbors were all out checking their buildings and pastures, and I checked and then checked again the cistern in my pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After four hours, the dog trapper got here after work and set up cameras and bait, and my friend the Bonner Springs Animal Control Officer came as soon as she got off work to help. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all feared he had been picked up by a hawk or eagle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">About three, Kendra looked at her phone and said someone had reported him crossing the four lane highway that is two tenths of a mile from the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My heart was breaking. When the trapper left, at almost dark, Kendra and I decided to go up to the wild area one more time. We called and called, and Kendra, who was in front of me, turned around to say something and then said "Turn slowly" There was Chico coming towards me. He got scared of Kendra and turned and ran again... but I called him and he stopped and then slowly came to me. Remember, I have only had him since mid-January. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the stupid thing. I had vetted him, as far as bloodwork, heartworm, removed 14 teeth, etc. but had not chipped or neutered him yet because let's face it, I am not made of money. He had no colllar on because it was a little too large for him and I had taken it off Sunday because we were always outside with him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We reported him found, and at dark, we went to the Bonner Springs animal shelter where Kendra went in and got the microchip kit which belongs to Bonner Animal Rescue, from whom I have adopted two dogs in the past. He was chipped in my kitchen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow morning, at nine plus years old, he is going to Northland Animal Welfare Services to be neutered. We don't know that he smelled a female in heat, but, we are not ever taking a chance again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He now, as of Tuesday, has a 20 x 30 foot yard to be at large in, and he does not like being confined, let me tell you. The Dog Trappers gifted me a thirty foot lead, so I am taking him for walks in the pasture so he has an illusion of adventure, but he will not be able to run again. Yesterday afternoon, he tried to go through the front fenceline (across from the wild area) with the lead on, and I gently pulled him back. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few months ago, I noticed that I was no longer able to "go to my phone" on Blogger, as I had in the past, and pick photos to be uploaded from Google. Now, there is a long way it must be done, and it is very time consuming. What it has meant is that I struggle to get the pictures I am posting and it takes twice as long. The photo utility I used for years, a Sony product, has stopped being available, so that takes longer as well. On top of all this, the computer squad I used to teach me here at home once a year or so has now closed, so... there's that. I'm still trying to learn new tricks and will figure it out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9Am-hsttXbvlN8sWIBqOTOiva72jrIFVaODVgJ1ZTEy9AkXYUeGjfcJEL4ZBteCPoqvCUDSmVqpEgz8CrySu30j_zD-VlIDfJxvekxJEIzXgmcEUgsBeUjxTea3i14gPFsHsDMiKcX9mz0VqMBXW1BncfbZ44my_GYcKzK5KVrLA_F1AcwXj_eU9_cw/s6000/IMG_6253.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9Am-hsttXbvlN8sWIBqOTOiva72jrIFVaODVgJ1ZTEy9AkXYUeGjfcJEL4ZBteCPoqvCUDSmVqpEgz8CrySu30j_zD-VlIDfJxvekxJEIzXgmcEUgsBeUjxTea3i14gPFsHsDMiKcX9mz0VqMBXW1BncfbZ44my_GYcKzK5KVrLA_F1AcwXj_eU9_cw/w640-h426/IMG_6253.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planted these daffodils when we moved in in 2005. I can't believe a few are still coming up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw4VcNHLdrfn3wE-BDhNWpWdH5VzvjEDu0NLzVbjtM5l-rs1MUdhiZWw7LRl9jVyheVRtnA-NMiMB0dP-yhCe7HcBeWQ2L2Uz1RfifPd1C9MM4S1TO8bLrIP4MmK3i5Kwo3plfEryrgZ256lCxbHHBpShCokX20oR1_4jiuw5_bFMpoaucTjIaYrfBck/s6000/IMG_6258.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw4VcNHLdrfn3wE-BDhNWpWdH5VzvjEDu0NLzVbjtM5l-rs1MUdhiZWw7LRl9jVyheVRtnA-NMiMB0dP-yhCe7HcBeWQ2L2Uz1RfifPd1C9MM4S1TO8bLrIP4MmK3i5Kwo3plfEryrgZ256lCxbHHBpShCokX20oR1_4jiuw5_bFMpoaucTjIaYrfBck/w640-h426/IMG_6258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are blooming down by "Oscar's Tree" in the north end of the yard, someone long before I planted them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKel6RXa9CT0dOnmKqCsDda7gn8inN5ae9dy444K1WfUuiNmMfLmVAN7LochGTWiu-9rXkiCwdFY1V8G_hD05qKBTPU4xPcy3aPd4x7NL5N12YNvikupGtboJSM5vsHxwGuObyPaUVd9rz01WoaQfH_KVZt1ixMBqdWsiARyuRTLQf7n_-gOx-9Zz7tQ/s6000/IMG_6247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKel6RXa9CT0dOnmKqCsDda7gn8inN5ae9dy444K1WfUuiNmMfLmVAN7LochGTWiu-9rXkiCwdFY1V8G_hD05qKBTPU4xPcy3aPd4x7NL5N12YNvikupGtboJSM5vsHxwGuObyPaUVd9rz01WoaQfH_KVZt1ixMBqdWsiARyuRTLQf7n_-gOx-9Zz7tQ/w640-h426/IMG_6247.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-HbWtLOUR4h9zr5NtdIk9KcVt8jmBU2D2pU_agDr8B0t0lK3UDySDmiD9eoHTwnhpkUY01XR9U2e0xj-YSPudaAweTVPJtDsa1QqpIao-0ufthY3ubE5pZZ7fkf67vstR3C5TmdC6LQWKejDb06Aa4cuQ16wTMcCc0Mgr-W1fOSLIMb2veSVtpoaPQk/s6000/IMG_6249.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-HbWtLOUR4h9zr5NtdIk9KcVt8jmBU2D2pU_agDr8B0t0lK3UDySDmiD9eoHTwnhpkUY01XR9U2e0xj-YSPudaAweTVPJtDsa1QqpIao-0ufthY3ubE5pZZ7fkf67vstR3C5TmdC6LQWKejDb06Aa4cuQ16wTMcCc0Mgr-W1fOSLIMb2veSVtpoaPQk/w640-h426/IMG_6249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the male Harris Sparrow, outside my window (and someone correct me if I am wrong). I have not seen any here before. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIoZxBNYs2anANpL11iZEhcXYaXfCE7bgyLvBZY-HZtSaIu-lKHzKey1-KulXU9OrSMVHd1bYadknZFumVWjcGBV9YTkXk_Ed8f9WtTyiFzhNNVl2HIPIz3Lk_UDu2gGpZ0eksWVRL6_DyENmsBy8E3mAm1ICdi6NxEm4LlZW_jgkWuKGgOVLNnczF14/s953/Chico%20in%20his%20yard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIoZxBNYs2anANpL11iZEhcXYaXfCE7bgyLvBZY-HZtSaIu-lKHzKey1-KulXU9OrSMVHd1bYadknZFumVWjcGBV9YTkXk_Ed8f9WtTyiFzhNNVl2HIPIz3Lk_UDu2gGpZ0eksWVRL6_DyENmsBy8E3mAm1ICdi6NxEm4LlZW_jgkWuKGgOVLNnczF14/w360-h640/Chico%20in%20his%20yard.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can just barely see the exercise pens we made Chico's Yard with... it is attached to the fence that separates the north and south ends of the yard. We drove four tee posts into the ground to strengthen it, they are attached with zip ties. He does not like being confined but I am going to say something mean... that's tough. I can't go through that worry again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNg4LK0Pn8ELd30ZFmg7-3aOWZATs7DpCQU5zhxBg0JnmaMmPU1KPCbRhb5_Ytj-5j0JN9cwzbQpD8zjIL6_PUt2QGOuAtl3VONiPfbCeS0Bmr3oEtuFW4e6ihCCi6tPiAAKHMIs7FnFVKcGwUZvU-PK2b_n5MdyIlJ_xF96cccZb_Xxjki_9I4hjO8w/s1693/henhouse%20on%20trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1693" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNg4LK0Pn8ELd30ZFmg7-3aOWZATs7DpCQU5zhxBg0JnmaMmPU1KPCbRhb5_Ytj-5j0JN9cwzbQpD8zjIL6_PUt2QGOuAtl3VONiPfbCeS0Bmr3oEtuFW4e6ihCCi6tPiAAKHMIs7FnFVKcGwUZvU-PK2b_n5MdyIlJ_xF96cccZb_Xxjki_9I4hjO8w/w640-h360/henhouse%20on%20trailer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There is a better look at the henhouse on the trailer as he came in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The eleven chicks are now together in a brooder pen in the old henhouse, still under heat as we are having cool nights. We did get to 65 today, and the rest of the week should be in the 70's. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Tuesday, I am going back out to Rare Treasures Hatchery in Oskaloosa (Kansas) and getting some chicks that have been hatched on Thursday... they are Putih Ayam Cemani, the white sport of the all black Ayam Cemani. I am getting close to the maximum number of birds I want to keep, so this will be close to the end of my purchases. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The electrician is hoping to be here by the end of the week to run the electricity to the new pen, and as soon as he does, I'll move the older eleven chicks over there and let them grow out inside it. I have a trough set up in the old hen house for the new chicks coming on Tuesday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took a picture of the brooder, but of course, the computer is not letting me share it with you, sometimes my camera pictures save as .heic... this is something new... and doesn't want to convert to jpgs without me paying for the service. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did take a couple with Nikon but I'll be darned if I can find them now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ARGGHHH. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll post pictures (I hope) of the new chicks in a few days, and please say a prayer for Chico's surgeon tomorrow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-87313859669636306132024-02-18T16:17:00.001-06:002024-02-18T16:17:55.552-06:00And It's Thirty Days to Spring! <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where do the days go? I pledge to post more often, but it just does not happen. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">By evening, I am done. I admit it. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Changes here in the last month: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0f_FCXwYaK1DW6E1Yo9q2pkbmm_QMUycbAxmGDBStLiFVmZ8_7Q7uTdcBsK5tHBqiHcAsGexIYctS9BBSbA0blrrqgFDNHn7RdNhOyxeUOpbT9JJvetltCpjOf8NR4bfNF1T0_E3w5Sz0JqXmZdcaUP8uJ8DwWHriEVF0Nk4TN2wZAgHPcDJHsKWA9I/s6000/IMG_6186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0f_FCXwYaK1DW6E1Yo9q2pkbmm_QMUycbAxmGDBStLiFVmZ8_7Q7uTdcBsK5tHBqiHcAsGexIYctS9BBSbA0blrrqgFDNHn7RdNhOyxeUOpbT9JJvetltCpjOf8NR4bfNF1T0_E3w5Sz0JqXmZdcaUP8uJ8DwWHriEVF0Nk4TN2wZAgHPcDJHsKWA9I/w640-h426/IMG_6186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the big one! After ten months without a dog, I adopted a nine year old chihuahua, whose parents had to go into nursing care. He's a pistol, believe me! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNvoTshFgHo8Vo6SznnoHUv_tS9RHX7Zk9QXJ2-2U4lpla3Vw94xYaAsTcR8nE6rDkde-jGFesE2bN6fCscY2w_JWX9dQlVaLfiL8f99wNM_R83QB9A8ZwdbvymovOFOPAbLstrglJnYBlF4k-wP_hK7e6DMH2COBxhZlkNHmQcZNNKFwzJyLQOTYM9Y/s2815/Chico%20up%20close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2815" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNvoTshFgHo8Vo6SznnoHUv_tS9RHX7Zk9QXJ2-2U4lpla3Vw94xYaAsTcR8nE6rDkde-jGFesE2bN6fCscY2w_JWX9dQlVaLfiL8f99wNM_R83QB9A8ZwdbvymovOFOPAbLstrglJnYBlF4k-wP_hK7e6DMH2COBxhZlkNHmQcZNNKFwzJyLQOTYM9Y/w512-h640/Chico%20up%20close.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is an eight pound wonder! He spends quality time on my lap, and after two weeks, learned he could jump from the loveseat in my room onto my bed, and now is sleeping with me every night. He does NOT like for the poor cats to cuddle closely, and does not like for them to be in my lap when he is there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He only has six teeth left. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are having a hard day today, as his stomach is upset. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His name is Chico. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajz2N1ukXO6_P6JBO8S9iMCpXG8ef0FLbAoR3mBvyY9f6XEy437kSRuHtoFqqTu8RL50burV3nEDUjG5kxx25lX3nFMnQCo7-YO3kmvtfGClAJccL32E3GRrLtayngu3SuuKZw9UtJNJ_iIt-47R8yZqy-1g0CiCg3vJ8dXtjX8bOemAhincBmpmx6GM/s2252/Game%20day%20treat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajz2N1ukXO6_P6JBO8S9iMCpXG8ef0FLbAoR3mBvyY9f6XEy437kSRuHtoFqqTu8RL50burV3nEDUjG5kxx25lX3nFMnQCo7-YO3kmvtfGClAJccL32E3GRrLtayngu3SuuKZw9UtJNJ_iIt-47R8yZqy-1g0CiCg3vJ8dXtjX8bOemAhincBmpmx6GM/w640-h640/Game%20day%20treat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our big game day treat. Last week, you know, was the Super Bowl. I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and now live in Leavenworth County (Kansas). Yes, it's a big deal here and so much fun to see all the hoopla before the game. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, it ended badly on Wednesday with a terrible shooting. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's time to get the guns off the streets</span>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZaG5iYjKPa1W0yL1hJ0-vG55TtHJH9ZyN2URo8NMww1bckrXuGYTmzeZM2CnwUXJRFTyk3rLx-8JT4Vsw0FQ0YtQEsve3VuxBS-KI7kwlObWgQJfFabiyk1zvKtDRZHqo9PEQyVgZWihOlxCcHoN_8qR3F35_1_3n68qwedgNJ7RXrmp7TjDpv7v1OY/s2252/Broody%20hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZaG5iYjKPa1W0yL1hJ0-vG55TtHJH9ZyN2URo8NMww1bckrXuGYTmzeZM2CnwUXJRFTyk3rLx-8JT4Vsw0FQ0YtQEsve3VuxBS-KI7kwlObWgQJfFabiyk1zvKtDRZHqo9PEQyVgZWihOlxCcHoN_8qR3F35_1_3n68qwedgNJ7RXrmp7TjDpv7v1OY/w640-h640/Broody%20hen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammie</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Sammie, my Salmon Faverolle hen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She has gone broody. She should be hatching by Wednesday, unless I am off a few days. She is safely in a brooder pen and there she will stay for a few weeks with her babies. Then she will rejoin the flock and the babies will be under light for a few weeks. I am in the process of getting the little red hen house doors fixed so that all the chicks coming can grow out in its confines and be safe. (from predators). Sammie had six eggs under her originally, but the last time I checked (as she squawked in indignation) she had two. I think the other four were gathered up into her wings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a sick bird in the other brooder pen, but I checked on her a bit ago and she seems better, she may go back with her group tomorrow. Then I'll set that pen up, too, to brood new chicks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzte3sU1ogy0S-oSIIpWWOhjGNbUpmr_7sqfQ7If-dFfhDl7DyP8vdrVwC7rDVyZsyRpptSjEXXESGkGZw20vmoMOT0Hsr6J2HSwfDc-UvS5Ymh6QY8VmiYbqDXhSP-vpTT3LEXdT-fjHTGcgCFAUMMy3gf19tPko56pFapflQ7AT1scF-iyHWQU0ktY/s4000/Indio%20Gigantes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzte3sU1ogy0S-oSIIpWWOhjGNbUpmr_7sqfQ7If-dFfhDl7DyP8vdrVwC7rDVyZsyRpptSjEXXESGkGZw20vmoMOT0Hsr6J2HSwfDc-UvS5Ymh6QY8VmiYbqDXhSP-vpTT3LEXdT-fjHTGcgCFAUMMy3gf19tPko56pFapflQ7AT1scF-iyHWQU0ktY/w360-h640/Indio%20Gigantes.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Thursday, a good friend took me out to Oskaloosa, about 25 miles from here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had run into a man at the feed store the day before, and he had a very unusual chicken with him, on a leash, on his shoulder! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't have permission to use his picture... but the following day, I went out to his farm and saw all of his unusual chickens. I had already decided to let Sammie brood, and to buy ten replacement layers at the feed store. Now I have ordered four of these above... Indio Gigante! Those are birds in his pen, and believe me, they get TALL and long legged! I wanted to see if I had pens secure enough to enclose them until they integrated with the flock... and I do. That rooster (above left) is not as tall as they can be, but I just like the look of them, and they lay abundant eggs, too. I am not a breeder, I'll leave that to someone else... but I do like unusual chickens. He has another breed in which I am interested, but I will wait and see a few months before trying that one. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i3qRjrJ-ta-mRQ7dTS1M04ugwhtMNiDuE1Ylf1NZq9Gai_bSIIgjVwuOX93lY3Mr3nwXuHytFRdYXb-gXQ8_grlr2gxmrYV9SzTN0_Y3OHAjIi7cAjfJv_UV-9LcrtTDdSDqewzIy4xpbKIwy-FKjo_iSGqTm0_TwflIYiMmopI-I4NTWgd63YXSELs/s4608/raccoon%20drinking%20on%20porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i3qRjrJ-ta-mRQ7dTS1M04ugwhtMNiDuE1Ylf1NZq9Gai_bSIIgjVwuOX93lY3Mr3nwXuHytFRdYXb-gXQ8_grlr2gxmrYV9SzTN0_Y3OHAjIi7cAjfJv_UV-9LcrtTDdSDqewzIy4xpbKIwy-FKjo_iSGqTm0_TwflIYiMmopI-I4NTWgd63YXSELs/w640-h360/raccoon%20drinking%20on%20porch.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A friend drinking out of the warm water bowl on the porch the other night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihobGL1UnNu80Fdencw5t_RxCIdJXHou8dNgx4N29rwCOqdI4wwUHweXNdAFM0P5XWYaLJFCw_79RojRkFR4xPS8hVqyXcth1J79N_UkZIF-_6Fy2vNGd_fq7YGDjWimUBcB0wBy_N8cFZ9W0WJVkBlPdo1GTfjVtv4w87xH_tN1wtmi44yjzczsRncVA/s4608/Big%20Possum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihobGL1UnNu80Fdencw5t_RxCIdJXHou8dNgx4N29rwCOqdI4wwUHweXNdAFM0P5XWYaLJFCw_79RojRkFR4xPS8hVqyXcth1J79N_UkZIF-_6Fy2vNGd_fq7YGDjWimUBcB0wBy_N8cFZ9W0WJVkBlPdo1GTfjVtv4w87xH_tN1wtmi44yjzczsRncVA/w640-h360/Big%20Possum.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's a big possum. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys23uxwgFzf3E9CnQr4H-HpZ8I7XYH37AP6nqOrpcFq5068Rt0wbK_RJ3fs-e6n1zv1apIbSmBxb5lP_7Fy_psYuUKVzQRAYJ4FBlYthi7_VQoKHkutnKeGQakx2W3RrOwSUalwaM8Ri7mtJCmYBeLJ8TpJP7KlEwTYoYhJnFBmQTUhv2Uv7t7LaDjKQ/s4608/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20staring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys23uxwgFzf3E9CnQr4H-HpZ8I7XYH37AP6nqOrpcFq5068Rt0wbK_RJ3fs-e6n1zv1apIbSmBxb5lP_7Fy_psYuUKVzQRAYJ4FBlYthi7_VQoKHkutnKeGQakx2W3RrOwSUalwaM8Ri7mtJCmYBeLJ8TpJP7KlEwTYoYhJnFBmQTUhv2Uv7t7LaDjKQ/w640-h360/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20staring.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suspect the possum was at the back of the shop, because both Mama and Cleo were watching it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, on Valentines Day, parade day, it was 67 degrees. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following morning it was COLD. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Friday, we had snow. It snowed all morning, and it was frigid out, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but the snow stopped by noon and is almost gone now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took this picture through the window of a Harris Sparrow, eating on the deck rail. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElTjhDpXQYwE2SRMlxRv2BTI9djBXzGT3Qb_-JfaNJj6t-jRyeMfqdvVbyVRhWr4vR56iNg_wDTVapmN5khPQtZ7tLUS1spCPya93RYRtViW4XioZju-nJt9TMx9c1XAylbkuDM2rol2Lb5-QDfwU_GA-nMbfs_6vX98pGSKgNv7X7dSK0xJGiy-lgik/s6000/IMG_6146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElTjhDpXQYwE2SRMlxRv2BTI9djBXzGT3Qb_-JfaNJj6t-jRyeMfqdvVbyVRhWr4vR56iNg_wDTVapmN5khPQtZ7tLUS1spCPya93RYRtViW4XioZju-nJt9TMx9c1XAylbkuDM2rol2Lb5-QDfwU_GA-nMbfs_6vX98pGSKgNv7X7dSK0xJGiy-lgik/w640-h426/IMG_6146.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And a crow, eating on the farthest feeder: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hssverpQSaXh9rlYvs4zw72shweuTgnzYvVmlk_2umdGaxDHeUGp7ld8pkZWpCMc07ig2h_IRUlzTvm81bCNx50RjFrLW3LPU5lnxnqJEJuMiCbHbyC8WaiPEmBHEuFfG7jXoUuveG1AEt4LzbESA1x-f_QAUbMEYLlHJst17YYKsBRlRkaTfJq2cDQ/s6000/IMG_6153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hssverpQSaXh9rlYvs4zw72shweuTgnzYvVmlk_2umdGaxDHeUGp7ld8pkZWpCMc07ig2h_IRUlzTvm81bCNx50RjFrLW3LPU5lnxnqJEJuMiCbHbyC8WaiPEmBHEuFfG7jXoUuveG1AEt4LzbESA1x-f_QAUbMEYLlHJst17YYKsBRlRkaTfJq2cDQ/w640-h426/IMG_6153.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were lots of finches eating... I am pretty lavish with the mealworms and sunflower hearts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9Z3zMAGxtMiXIRd6Uad8iLlTDMFVd8p8rO9YWmlfbiX7J0yJ6rPWi4RQqWyk6Gb4kXB32zSkSFwBKybKNYknntOIzX8xBlyqw11ilIUwThh7oWEK6Gin-9sE4RUrvMUhjYcbjrlXWGuRlqIrq-97Lz4rBP_O_n3zmPiHJiE67OGZqEKQEbjf0a3ygv8/s6000/IMG_6160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9Z3zMAGxtMiXIRd6Uad8iLlTDMFVd8p8rO9YWmlfbiX7J0yJ6rPWi4RQqWyk6Gb4kXB32zSkSFwBKybKNYknntOIzX8xBlyqw11ilIUwThh7oWEK6Gin-9sE4RUrvMUhjYcbjrlXWGuRlqIrq-97Lz4rBP_O_n3zmPiHJiE67OGZqEKQEbjf0a3ygv8/w640-h426/IMG_6160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am so grateful the snow was not long-lasting! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGkeb63Vl4Hndm5OJe1_hkUAwbL7qG_Ie78BWMmrJLO5w1KzamTain69yh9P6t9RcoEd-0CkdcmqNaFIekD1TV2J0ss1hnZr5Y0U47ih1eJ07nQjDWzX21kK-w8FirPQjjPPzNido8kfyhW7Gv13MunQDen2Ct6cbMW81Iaa5NC5BZXIrX77Fr9S7Ano/s6000/IMG_5956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGkeb63Vl4Hndm5OJe1_hkUAwbL7qG_Ie78BWMmrJLO5w1KzamTain69yh9P6t9RcoEd-0CkdcmqNaFIekD1TV2J0ss1hnZr5Y0U47ih1eJ07nQjDWzX21kK-w8FirPQjjPPzNido8kfyhW7Gv13MunQDen2Ct6cbMW81Iaa5NC5BZXIrX77Fr9S7Ano/w640-h426/IMG_5956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWUBWt2qDerUQZfXLIGwVGas4qnxasKqosKvn9zh_nWalgY6srAT5sWGLe6u7m88A9-WN6dtlyVFhWOzx7R2zYwORbSb0KYPhCoSpkGVhy_K6xP8zS0T9pAZKjKSfiNGtC7R8wtRlr5YYJnBL28eZf2fU2YlkZMUiAqlfTFtCfuWyEg1vYS4KBf1sEKY/s6000/IMG_5957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWUBWt2qDerUQZfXLIGwVGas4qnxasKqosKvn9zh_nWalgY6srAT5sWGLe6u7m88A9-WN6dtlyVFhWOzx7R2zYwORbSb0KYPhCoSpkGVhy_K6xP8zS0T9pAZKjKSfiNGtC7R8wtRlr5YYJnBL28eZf2fU2YlkZMUiAqlfTFtCfuWyEg1vYS4KBf1sEKY/w640-h426/IMG_5957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coco</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5dXYWHQ72YeHj6VXWPXmcW4kY0UeYPjf4rFUUfbwhxSUINeMHSO-appqSiqQgnTnQtHW2ySH5PlFfhbZxTl1oIynn4Q4Td5DKBKcScrsvVOBpXnjsGwREZKw0jNEJny67TLjiOuzu3Ei2iGxIxGBio3OMJTqySSvRd5TXkdosjtCdDscW7Df1PmvZM/s6000/IMG_5958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5dXYWHQ72YeHj6VXWPXmcW4kY0UeYPjf4rFUUfbwhxSUINeMHSO-appqSiqQgnTnQtHW2ySH5PlFfhbZxTl1oIynn4Q4Td5DKBKcScrsvVOBpXnjsGwREZKw0jNEJny67TLjiOuzu3Ei2iGxIxGBio3OMJTqySSvRd5TXkdosjtCdDscW7Df1PmvZM/w640-h426/IMG_5958.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Molly</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y5cuUIQQRJuxMS212qCn2nwtDwPXMQMOtKREJWafARF0Vi0YFLvO5KpbHSHHYZr1LZPG-6wkSq8M48nShl2TifgLf4anAXC_nOVZzwHLpsvtCOMwLm7FfBWv71VD5d8CE_8tkkWxfnutJ4oz0EFMrvikx_4HlcSJWoDHfsO-UpqJ1deB9XTVw8cN_2w/s6000/IMG_5959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y5cuUIQQRJuxMS212qCn2nwtDwPXMQMOtKREJWafARF0Vi0YFLvO5KpbHSHHYZr1LZPG-6wkSq8M48nShl2TifgLf4anAXC_nOVZzwHLpsvtCOMwLm7FfBWv71VD5d8CE_8tkkWxfnutJ4oz0EFMrvikx_4HlcSJWoDHfsO-UpqJ1deB9XTVw8cN_2w/w640-h426/IMG_5959.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKb4k6J2BrpVF0bfZwiLZe7fVBlX5QE2khQZp9P7EabCl1I8kB3AsPR5E_wFOCDLcoj3Q5K9Bb6dWfvMxIr-ck0diuUlLgQILsDXjUTuuNqZSsM-Y-AMZ8KzfAc-3LSnWP6nKGvz5fJU-GeBhJju8ZAnHFsUfPwNRs0v2EAfjCWg5n567-vt-idYtIFU/s6000/IMG_5960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKb4k6J2BrpVF0bfZwiLZe7fVBlX5QE2khQZp9P7EabCl1I8kB3AsPR5E_wFOCDLcoj3Q5K9Bb6dWfvMxIr-ck0diuUlLgQILsDXjUTuuNqZSsM-Y-AMZ8KzfAc-3LSnWP6nKGvz5fJU-GeBhJju8ZAnHFsUfPwNRs0v2EAfjCWg5n567-vt-idYtIFU/w640-h426/IMG_5960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the cats still live here, too! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFres3rSNpfY_UDjjvyiJNuPxsfaJX_BPiLGcP4FmLD2BE11_Yo5DBu1TzjmpBo-bWyIZF_PpvwbPc9coMCb1Ut27Zp7ueTKxpRoSDUGoYtXuCWnyhJJ2HGGKnyqGlpGMW7qC5TciQEigp6eLaAdr836wH7SGO1Eb04vM-hXaaZX5kvDkUnZVJK8EBnjM/s4608/Mary%20Ann%20and%20Chico.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFres3rSNpfY_UDjjvyiJNuPxsfaJX_BPiLGcP4FmLD2BE11_Yo5DBu1TzjmpBo-bWyIZF_PpvwbPc9coMCb1Ut27Zp7ueTKxpRoSDUGoYtXuCWnyhJJ2HGGKnyqGlpGMW7qC5TciQEigp6eLaAdr836wH7SGO1Eb04vM-hXaaZX5kvDkUnZVJK8EBnjM/w640-h360/Mary%20Ann%20and%20Chico.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here we come for one of many, many walks outside! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He loves living in the country! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome, Little Chico. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-74021032468864749172024-01-15T11:03:00.003-06:002024-01-15T11:03:37.158-06:00Everyone Lived <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone Lived. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those of you out in the country know those words mean a lot. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were down to eight below the last two nights here in NE Kansas, and it is only minus 2 right now, as I start this blog post at 10:15 AM. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is miserable. My poor cats in the shop are miserable, two were under the hanging brooder lamp this morning, and the Lasko heater from last year is barely making a difference. I bought a new Lasko heater a month ago, hooked it up one night and 24 hours later, it blew the circuit and I am afraid to use it. I need to have an electrician come, but it was just before Christmas and.... money. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did buy a new heated dog water bowl when I went out and discovered the dog bowl from last year had frozen in the old hen house. The cats are using a low basin that I used to use outside for the wildings.... and yes, friends, there IS still one outside for them and I just watched scores of birds using it, so I'll have to refill it shortly. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq5THn016bWg8f-POgpK2A0s86jeOjOMQh5sKYenAgew-ZAWSiwjAfFEPC5w2X_uB8w7i-jThuHRXks8FbW6xXf1XB05FkFBFoRhUTWOgip0uYK1FVkB8_Iqe95p13z_o5nE_6eFd0YAB355FCYnjOshyhyphenhyphenQGbl1QvSVQ2cMIElGB8yGQroTOoCLc33M/s596/Snow%20Godzilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq5THn016bWg8f-POgpK2A0s86jeOjOMQh5sKYenAgew-ZAWSiwjAfFEPC5w2X_uB8w7i-jThuHRXks8FbW6xXf1XB05FkFBFoRhUTWOgip0uYK1FVkB8_Iqe95p13z_o5nE_6eFd0YAB355FCYnjOshyhyphenhyphenQGbl1QvSVQ2cMIElGB8yGQroTOoCLc33M/w564-h640/Snow%20Godzilla.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So there have been HUNDREDS of memes over our snowy weekend here, and I am the first to tell you that the four inches we got was nothing compared to what they have gotten in many other places.... but.... the cold... brrrrrr. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the middle of all that, I had two lovely little fosters, Bella and Franny. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5DnNMBHtDN4zEOwO1Z1UuhSnsHeI0uRuVWF95wk_fZEEyoe0SMCnVZ7YT3riZsdvBtmqG2SwrsswTSBk-yHiTCYiznCPgAwddUoSHoyWRUVACBCg-p8ghrAWrXPxzBBzO2LDytxipvwKu0hR8NdHXgGyHGXzie_UE4YioovWVmCKRNrp1EU1m422pzQ/s953/Franny%20and%20Bella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5DnNMBHtDN4zEOwO1Z1UuhSnsHeI0uRuVWF95wk_fZEEyoe0SMCnVZ7YT3riZsdvBtmqG2SwrsswTSBk-yHiTCYiznCPgAwddUoSHoyWRUVACBCg-p8ghrAWrXPxzBBzO2LDytxipvwKu0hR8NdHXgGyHGXzie_UE4YioovWVmCKRNrp1EU1m422pzQ/w360-h640/Franny%20and%20Bella.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Franny, the blonde on the left, and Bella, the darker girl on the right, had lost their mama, sadly. They were lovely little girls, but Bella far more infirm than Franny. Franny did NOT like the cats. The cats were terrified of two pound Franny. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They have gone on to a wonderful rescue in this area. I may get Bella back as a hospice rescue, we will see. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, they were here on the coldest days of the year.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xec0crHPk8HyE9HBvHsCU9bYTinTmBalUdZANxf-iS1vedrcl-fmQaxfvhu7CnrCxgYIsZKrC6zWuGr-Ast7n5stH1wdKRkmW0NoZBYxvKAqZbLtrhyphenhyphenBSRVwUyB5fNvitOxoUooAQWQ3L7wP0_Ltuyk2pFqIkEKoVuUIfvNPVI48ybBk95kxgj5PZmY/s4992/Mary%20Ann%20looking%20down%20in%20shop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xec0crHPk8HyE9HBvHsCU9bYTinTmBalUdZANxf-iS1vedrcl-fmQaxfvhu7CnrCxgYIsZKrC6zWuGr-Ast7n5stH1wdKRkmW0NoZBYxvKAqZbLtrhyphenhyphenBSRVwUyB5fNvitOxoUooAQWQ3L7wP0_Ltuyk2pFqIkEKoVuUIfvNPVI48ybBk95kxgj5PZmY/w640-h360/Mary%20Ann%20looking%20down%20in%20shop.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The shop camera caught me looking down one day... and I can tell it is not from the weekend, because I am wearing a white covid mask that covers my entire lower face and keeps me warm! I don't care how I look as long as I am warm! Warmth is the name of the game. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7QLxpZ4uJIcRSu8qDdnQ_0_8hqTwhWthyphenhyphenkhjVWQT8uNgv20UhqrPBvlB8SDqnTY7MZV-n8fb2Og8odpZJ0dziC_kHJYCyupA8QE-YkdDoPscGq7byD7m3-oyA_p9u4dyc_Wesa4gJGnJrLo05uJwHh1uNdzw4RnDh4TRW7iHT0tPGPCH4HiDg27Tz-0/s4992/Possum%20gravid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7QLxpZ4uJIcRSu8qDdnQ_0_8hqTwhWthyphenhyphenkhjVWQT8uNgv20UhqrPBvlB8SDqnTY7MZV-n8fb2Og8odpZJ0dziC_kHJYCyupA8QE-YkdDoPscGq7byD7m3-oyA_p9u4dyc_Wesa4gJGnJrLo05uJwHh1uNdzw4RnDh4TRW7iHT0tPGPCH4HiDg27Tz-0/w640-h360/Possum%20gravid.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This girl is gravid, and I hope she does not have her babies in this weather, they will surely die. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi6br2p5YtXk_GjjjfzP5kQjQ5GBCUh1vHfcQx-dzNHdqweIl7CyMlEft9zOFiYn3ELY8A68Dd255xthOOx57kfRDidgIXofekYbgPU5ChLprmk-jUpMfVLjAMJdetN4_VmiwZUKteWnRPNoAQjun_7_F6zVYp8c39-g8-phBDVaYsEAgYRdp4aGcSUE/s4992/Possum%20tandem%20eating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi6br2p5YtXk_GjjjfzP5kQjQ5GBCUh1vHfcQx-dzNHdqweIl7CyMlEft9zOFiYn3ELY8A68Dd255xthOOx57kfRDidgIXofekYbgPU5ChLprmk-jUpMfVLjAMJdetN4_VmiwZUKteWnRPNoAQjun_7_F6zVYp8c39-g8-phBDVaYsEAgYRdp4aGcSUE/w640-h360/Possum%20tandem%20eating.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was not alone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have only seen one raccoon all weekend, and there was food left out on purpose the last three nights, and it is still there. There is also a pile of food in the garage that has not been eaten. Possums and Raccoons tend to den up in the bitter cold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a heated dog bowl on the front porch, a heated bowl in the shop, and a heated bowl in the yard.... oh, and one under the porch of the big hen house, and I am putting food out there, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I need to put my boots on shortly and go out and replenish water and feed again in a few minutes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY-P7GlYC6yJGZelAwTVwDKkfTo9D2Hd1WHpc4DH970oE_02h7N_FOjygjwKCy-z7spJ8-J84r6rPUJtrW6lVVjNlCMEz9iTDKFvQmzjnelvwHYSQJ9-zhyswt1pKwdR-lYvf4DEy-SLIiN_KniMGdwWK4AahvoFyietWKf21C0Lo6BPI-7sVRCyDk3I/s4608/Possum%20in%20bob's%20house%20again%20two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY-P7GlYC6yJGZelAwTVwDKkfTo9D2Hd1WHpc4DH970oE_02h7N_FOjygjwKCy-z7spJ8-J84r6rPUJtrW6lVVjNlCMEz9iTDKFvQmzjnelvwHYSQJ9-zhyswt1pKwdR-lYvf4DEy-SLIiN_KniMGdwWK4AahvoFyietWKf21C0Lo6BPI-7sVRCyDk3I/w640-h360/Possum%20in%20bob's%20house%20again%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just prior to the really cold snap, I caught a picture two nights in a row of a possum in Bob's heated house on the porch. Bob is in the house, and he and Bullseye are not happy, but they are NOT going to stay out in this cold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BHOARUWOVY5pvp6fYpw1r5Dd7JH5fnRT6gdb0IU12ypPR7vVlWLY8wCN1C3arwrq-MpIPSSlEz9r59Q66KXm53n6uhqpzHoqSQENGKegnXE2fSPs1SAlW5EgJiJmPo5RX-XdGPL2tYqMf9I55Y09-A46FHxc0NHQWHojyhAA82ZXnM-Hb-HMXSVKLtY/s6000/IMG_5956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BHOARUWOVY5pvp6fYpw1r5Dd7JH5fnRT6gdb0IU12ypPR7vVlWLY8wCN1C3arwrq-MpIPSSlEz9r59Q66KXm53n6uhqpzHoqSQENGKegnXE2fSPs1SAlW5EgJiJmPo5RX-XdGPL2tYqMf9I55Y09-A46FHxc0NHQWHojyhAA82ZXnM-Hb-HMXSVKLtY/w640-h426/IMG_5956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have been doing a lot of this (Bob). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UKkkRr3nQtIZnJVY_5I99IJptH8gf4vpvfMF8WQamEqk1H9AuYHIU8I9zOtiESyy5DHo4_dRdG0RV94xt6fY-OhSlRUHUjbv_wZcHSQQribWzb1oga8UGrfWfnzIO1kjOZGqzBOIV7PBRiUjLjZkfgX0mJ26bLDKzlkszLcXKZGjNXLreVtLuyRMxbc/s6000/DSC_4717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UKkkRr3nQtIZnJVY_5I99IJptH8gf4vpvfMF8WQamEqk1H9AuYHIU8I9zOtiESyy5DHo4_dRdG0RV94xt6fY-OhSlRUHUjbv_wZcHSQQribWzb1oga8UGrfWfnzIO1kjOZGqzBOIV7PBRiUjLjZkfgX0mJ26bLDKzlkszLcXKZGjNXLreVtLuyRMxbc/w640-h426/DSC_4717.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A blue jay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcHyzH7ZNuCVGWKAJzmqS8Ce-gPXp7YP2cddhUd4DKuj1CFpny5vyQLVeiX-pD4lmxu8RPlBexyv8VxWpqBThOlG215rk2sop7SOONRFoUbaSVjfWSrDFs6E7otmu6BdPMe1xYLrNwIBb5qKq_hkFKyVNB4phVDe6yPCButJ8AwHtiC12F4yUfbBVfHQ/s6000/DSC_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcHyzH7ZNuCVGWKAJzmqS8Ce-gPXp7YP2cddhUd4DKuj1CFpny5vyQLVeiX-pD4lmxu8RPlBexyv8VxWpqBThOlG215rk2sop7SOONRFoUbaSVjfWSrDFs6E7otmu6BdPMe1xYLrNwIBb5qKq_hkFKyVNB4phVDe6yPCButJ8AwHtiC12F4yUfbBVfHQ/w640-h426/DSC_4708.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrjqHONe13s0w_va10MTO58ACw1LdikIMi3iAGBRT784XT_cNw6cKCLXjFfFuKuU_7U-X14ZyWBW8GtkNx9GuLM9aKHHht8qKlHlFR4iics4U_4lex_zpe6ycTzzqK1UOzVB3sVh_Pyk44QqNTnrx4Ol8v-y6KMnzaIwucIIzwVbca6mzcIz6TR-k0G4/s6000/DSC_4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrjqHONe13s0w_va10MTO58ACw1LdikIMi3iAGBRT784XT_cNw6cKCLXjFfFuKuU_7U-X14ZyWBW8GtkNx9GuLM9aKHHht8qKlHlFR4iics4U_4lex_zpe6ycTzzqK1UOzVB3sVh_Pyk44QqNTnrx4Ol8v-y6KMnzaIwucIIzwVbca6mzcIz6TR-k0G4/w640-h426/DSC_4707.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not one, but two Cooper's Hawks, way at the bottom of my pasture, looking down on the Spehar's ponds. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7NFx7fvzVgAnOKTyOWxNXXQaNl0-XM6X4mHAJJ0bvnoaHjSiS5xvTDVh02398rOAYWtZhrnswGcb5QkRxQRfVjiLeAPHTTGEgV1tiMHzSv_ecoueTmwqe9clX3WOuYG1-AOOLWBP0lZMv62mfZ2eFREJ3WO3jUnZUFzCnXtHLa_0ORZegPBrr-tDuwk/s6000/Frozen%20water%20bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7NFx7fvzVgAnOKTyOWxNXXQaNl0-XM6X4mHAJJ0bvnoaHjSiS5xvTDVh02398rOAYWtZhrnswGcb5QkRxQRfVjiLeAPHTTGEgV1tiMHzSv_ecoueTmwqe9clX3WOuYG1-AOOLWBP0lZMv62mfZ2eFREJ3WO3jUnZUFzCnXtHLa_0ORZegPBrr-tDuwk/w640-h426/Frozen%20water%20bowl.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was a water bowl I brought in from the barn yesterday.... Coco is modeling. The cats out there have a heated basin now, and they are doing ... okay... in the cold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wQi_gRXJcNgZPLPDfZQCVR1M5kZK7fDZRjbI2Cev3FyNxEjgRfvVmyezKldNyvvRdlizlVg0UKas0WsGbadvX6hq4gbO4m94uJcuN69dSjNa1bDz-LB1ULEVx5MEGiRsmxU6wtNHvNZhyGiIMlu9ez0X9_r2uLzd1p4mmg68O79vBEjJuVcsgt0HMvo/s6000/Crow%20looking%20for%20food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wQi_gRXJcNgZPLPDfZQCVR1M5kZK7fDZRjbI2Cev3FyNxEjgRfvVmyezKldNyvvRdlizlVg0UKas0WsGbadvX6hq4gbO4m94uJcuN69dSjNa1bDz-LB1ULEVx5MEGiRsmxU6wtNHvNZhyGiIMlu9ez0X9_r2uLzd1p4mmg68O79vBEjJuVcsgt0HMvo/w640-h426/Crow%20looking%20for%20food.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm seeing a LOT of these guys (crows). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11RRkOWD3BOCHD5GZDauPoUpBNWoFKkt-9G5cY7jFH1qyR70pwxjilB5kbQ67MsCV6CxHXtrOj9A4swlAdW1MHssICaeMouEqyj4VTFMYXX60Qb4sx46I3LihdHt8md3SujEQ7SovpP6Mos5AcX_DbAYH1WhwpvGdmlFrM4qkEgTKHRVWwqcGf-RSCwQ/s6000/Geese%20flying%20three%20better.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11RRkOWD3BOCHD5GZDauPoUpBNWoFKkt-9G5cY7jFH1qyR70pwxjilB5kbQ67MsCV6CxHXtrOj9A4swlAdW1MHssICaeMouEqyj4VTFMYXX60Qb4sx46I3LihdHt8md3SujEQ7SovpP6Mos5AcX_DbAYH1WhwpvGdmlFrM4qkEgTKHRVWwqcGf-RSCwQ/w640-h426/Geese%20flying%20three%20better.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And hundreds and hundreds of these flying overhead. The bean fields are all under snow, I am not sure where they are eating. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love them and I worry about them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right now, I estimate there are two to three hundred little birds out in my yard, eating, and I need to go replenish here shortly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcezXumZJD7q_EQMpUZP6Q9ABleKb5CzMjNguY9v_Nn8IbKx1Mlo-FuWx_veztaaMBzSrrGXcrt7U-L9VfiG_FgawFl4jQxa36gDSsF35peQvOjv6RdKQSu_gEY509tAqJHyZGTwB2Ydg6c6_Xgtce9OIys8oPI7OtlSBri3hiJpj8ggz2kEyJChN_TDQ/s6000/side%20view%20better%20of%20coopers%20on%20fence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcezXumZJD7q_EQMpUZP6Q9ABleKb5CzMjNguY9v_Nn8IbKx1Mlo-FuWx_veztaaMBzSrrGXcrt7U-L9VfiG_FgawFl4jQxa36gDSsF35peQvOjv6RdKQSu_gEY509tAqJHyZGTwB2Ydg6c6_Xgtce9OIys8oPI7OtlSBri3hiJpj8ggz2kEyJChN_TDQ/w640-h426/side%20view%20better%20of%20coopers%20on%20fence.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Coopers are beautiful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxE6nh8FBCJwsDNgzuzGidCm5OfbRcY_qC-k4g1A38SNsyFQGvVxpNE387vxdr4xeqDiqRacy3RN54BrCByiuLTXd8GRQoo1em6THTu7XGp_LYSq47yX-JFSuDLHj6MzHkJrNlUvpeQKZ4fJhJXuS2h-m29nlxLrUFIk879SvAK6BGeoUqoTcvMpkbb0/s6000/Buddy%20and%20girls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxE6nh8FBCJwsDNgzuzGidCm5OfbRcY_qC-k4g1A38SNsyFQGvVxpNE387vxdr4xeqDiqRacy3RN54BrCByiuLTXd8GRQoo1em6THTu7XGp_LYSq47yX-JFSuDLHj6MzHkJrNlUvpeQKZ4fJhJXuS2h-m29nlxLrUFIk879SvAK6BGeoUqoTcvMpkbb0/w640-h426/Buddy%20and%20girls.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was the ONE day it was not blowing or snowing last week, and I let the birds out . They have been in ever since. Buddy, the last big rooster, is suffering in this cold, his comb looks like it will fall off. I hung a second brooder lamp in his house yesterday and I found him directly under it this morning, it is closer to the ground than the first. I was so glad to see him under it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGCaRg5li_t-OrN4hsZbmLA1zJx8Q1CXViYyGMZnErcs9X1CLDpnmSuNif3DLGya_l6EhTjlSTEYQNwlAY6Kof5CuOWGKIZ2qdiQQfvgmrXZ_dRwZ2VH-GPr7pJWPS3cTEmF2sKg0qJ_gbhjJlGDUsmnbwCKBZ33w_TLjxT9d2CSB2oneaNPDRfo-fC4/s6000/sun%20in%20Troy's%20pasture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGCaRg5li_t-OrN4hsZbmLA1zJx8Q1CXViYyGMZnErcs9X1CLDpnmSuNif3DLGya_l6EhTjlSTEYQNwlAY6Kof5CuOWGKIZ2qdiQQfvgmrXZ_dRwZ2VH-GPr7pJWPS3cTEmF2sKg0qJ_gbhjJlGDUsmnbwCKBZ33w_TLjxT9d2CSB2oneaNPDRfo-fC4/w640-h426/sun%20in%20Troy's%20pasture.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is before the heavier snow... yes, it's beautiful, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but so hard on animal and human and bird. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Say a prayer that THIS human does not slip and fall and break anything, because it will mean the end of my dream here! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone be careful and be safe. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-14145950841838440292024-01-01T14:04:00.000-06:002024-01-01T14:04:54.136-06:00Beginning Another Year <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The holidays are over again, and it seems fitting that we start another year on a Monday. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is sunny with some clouds here in NE Kansas, and the wind is blowing my flag from the south at the moment, though our days of temperate temps are gone for a while. We are in a period of cold, but not like the cold and snow our friends on the east coast have seen. In fact, one year at Christmas we had nine inches of snow... that was hard on man and beast. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was stunned to see I had not blogged since October, and I hope to do better this coming year. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did I ever find time to do it daily in the past? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2023 was hard for me here, and I am going to write about why. I have not written about it... on purpose, because my heart was broken... and I was having trouble going on. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On April 4th, little Zoey begain to have trouble breathing one day. I had adopted her from Bonner Animal Rescue in November, 2021. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANlbyWXRP1iX3xCyxUUPgG-IU57ygXGKMpg18xrY4MiFAqzm2K3izXNLjU4RQSzEJ14LJjgVJYGes1C_x-QHy3mxeuK_aGHAqyCzSzaEvCaiUmuyCc1RwmA_5-54P0-ZlgIfop6zixYmdoMqbgf4BqQxHoWq2fxXb2OBIr0V2iTBAy08sLzjiC9NMkug/s953/Zoey%20on%20the%20big%20bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="953" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANlbyWXRP1iX3xCyxUUPgG-IU57ygXGKMpg18xrY4MiFAqzm2K3izXNLjU4RQSzEJ14LJjgVJYGes1C_x-QHy3mxeuK_aGHAqyCzSzaEvCaiUmuyCc1RwmA_5-54P0-ZlgIfop6zixYmdoMqbgf4BqQxHoWq2fxXb2OBIr0V2iTBAy08sLzjiC9NMkug/w640-h640/Zoey%20on%20the%20big%20bed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was two days prior. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She had had a chest infection in March, and had taken medicine for it, and had had several visits to the vet. That week, she had a follow up, and I was told her chest was fine. I asked if they should xray again, and the vet assured me her chest was clear. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two days later, she struggled to breathe. As it went on during the day, I began to get more and more alarmed, and I ended up taking her to the 24 hour ER. They took her right back and put her in the oxygen chamber, and told me to go home they would call in the morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The phone call I got at 9 AM was to tell me she had died. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They told me the doctor had reached in to get her to give her a lasix shot and she had fallen over dead. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was so stunned, I cried out, and I got myself together and drove over there and spent time in the family room holding her. I could not believe it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My sweet little girl. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJphBxYE1jG-CmwBJOL2QEu7wi_PHPYZVdP9D2L9f2flTmhbGfG-VNPELxOCrTIqBUTBuW9N5TR9NLNr6RQik_aLNr-pAeuen3R0kD_igDhNOviJ2jgaQChM-LCgVRrG4gFFj1mqOaB8eYlkgTr4MHir8oj3Je6j3dR56n7UZNkCMLoehLmLDoC_g-Ns/s960/Zoey%20at%20the%20stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJphBxYE1jG-CmwBJOL2QEu7wi_PHPYZVdP9D2L9f2flTmhbGfG-VNPELxOCrTIqBUTBuW9N5TR9NLNr6RQik_aLNr-pAeuen3R0kD_igDhNOviJ2jgaQChM-LCgVRrG4gFFj1mqOaB8eYlkgTr4MHir8oj3Je6j3dR56n7UZNkCMLoehLmLDoC_g-Ns/w640-h426/Zoey%20at%20the%20stairs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She had embraced being a farm dog to the fullest, she did chores with me everyday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6IQJrofJprZZT0VFZAhrBvOoixECYU0Qqgagj7U40nDTm-_XmYrEOP5GVSCKC-CX15cYohAK33yhJVffqoBwbBnz0oEFEpmJjdYgn6TIP7Htms7X7YInG3dKsI6zIHms2JTcEoLtoIVjTCpqsWoAJbogF0GfqLvPzy9ekJxddVVZLVCSRytvtbZ6KAo/s640/Zoey%20rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6IQJrofJprZZT0VFZAhrBvOoixECYU0Qqgagj7U40nDTm-_XmYrEOP5GVSCKC-CX15cYohAK33yhJVffqoBwbBnz0oEFEpmJjdYgn6TIP7Htms7X7YInG3dKsI6zIHms2JTcEoLtoIVjTCpqsWoAJbogF0GfqLvPzy9ekJxddVVZLVCSRytvtbZ6KAo/w512-h640/Zoey%20rainbow.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her groomer posted this for her. Yes, she cleaned up pretty good thanks to Brooke. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On May 5th, we had to make the decision for big Buddy to cross the Rainbow Bridge. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87VPsceAOORyNWem-RAe3MuLERTahpfC_f8YdYhwTYVfgYZxg7wysh131jt-At47PrwKEhfWNJBWVz-A7OrkfdhXvfNZ0GCfXdCtI-JyoBv-vBFtNc3oF8UrpBKgKNXDtazyfvafVreeOKsIdRc2EqA7Qhs1DSfMpADKRGUQCwD3EfBtzngnqjfsN0zM/s1920/Buddy%20sleeping%20in%20living%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87VPsceAOORyNWem-RAe3MuLERTahpfC_f8YdYhwTYVfgYZxg7wysh131jt-At47PrwKEhfWNJBWVz-A7OrkfdhXvfNZ0GCfXdCtI-JyoBv-vBFtNc3oF8UrpBKgKNXDtazyfvafVreeOKsIdRc2EqA7Qhs1DSfMpADKRGUQCwD3EfBtzngnqjfsN0zM/w360-h640/Buddy%20sleeping%20in%20living%20room.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was only here for nine months as a foster, but oh, my, how he stole my heart. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Db9JYdg6F7gC54N8-u1aqDfdUB5eONEg-FV71whMmipSZYFMjRgTpFidGKz-4TdkRE68TYNp0Wk6ajH-ky_geuR1V9SdqFG1A-vVsMA4tH7zJd7mcZRHf6AsHupeu_1tmxMQWVs8W5UHtkf5Yd2MWmbgq9NJtigK-gNpep6oDZC-ScUwCQzazcyMjGQ/s1280/Buddy%20in%20police%20Van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Db9JYdg6F7gC54N8-u1aqDfdUB5eONEg-FV71whMmipSZYFMjRgTpFidGKz-4TdkRE68TYNp0Wk6ajH-ky_geuR1V9SdqFG1A-vVsMA4tH7zJd7mcZRHf6AsHupeu_1tmxMQWVs8W5UHtkf5Yd2MWmbgq9NJtigK-gNpep6oDZC-ScUwCQzazcyMjGQ/w480-h640/Buddy%20in%20police%20Van.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Majestic. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Officer Kendra from Bonner Springs (Kansas), the ACO, escorted us down to the vet, and stayed with us to the end. He was having increasing trouble getting down the three steps to the yard... and we were afraid he would collapse out in the yard at some point. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He had a wonderful last nine months. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANFmyD8YXesH4GtaHwe7EuNb0YxyU3B3HVM1-R-RZrgDGbmctdRDVdhhLIMfkFZAUSmFazibqvh8fXk5UPUDUqYQ6nY2xWPgwCqfR71PbobcDRmoYkG64u_HrARF_oVHy8PIBQf81pKoLsv5Cdlssalhm6s59sqmhlOo8zQhEYubJzGkC9IMMNVgBzVM/s2048/Jes%20running%20at%20the%20camera%202015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANFmyD8YXesH4GtaHwe7EuNb0YxyU3B3HVM1-R-RZrgDGbmctdRDVdhhLIMfkFZAUSmFazibqvh8fXk5UPUDUqYQ6nY2xWPgwCqfR71PbobcDRmoYkG64u_HrARF_oVHy8PIBQf81pKoLsv5Cdlssalhm6s59sqmhlOo8zQhEYubJzGkC9IMMNVgBzVM/w640-h426/Jes%20running%20at%20the%20camera%202015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That left this guy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Jester, my heart. Remember, I had lost Snowy and Fritzi before I got Zoey, and Jester accepted them all. He was good to everyone, even big Buddy. We had had four pugs, but had never had a Boston until my son asked us if we would like to have him in 2014, they had taken in a Boston and an English Bulldog puppy, and it was too much for them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had dog sat for them and we liked Jester a lot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More importantly, Lilly Ann liked Jester. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NWwtvwH2RJgYlGTxJB1dRQ7AxDgiA1zA0e_0QtSfb0C8QxatpyHet6G0lTPXoZlUOG1T8MBB0dv9OoHcsa4d_-YzWnS2TF4SYKG5gS1Gf5OZ-VyCb5N6KgkozaGICC0Cmk4UqLC2s1YJ5aQ-d_ViGVJLGaa4G6Z6H0fPEKwL45mqef9SHVsrNilaovk/s2048/Lilly%20in%20the%20pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NWwtvwH2RJgYlGTxJB1dRQ7AxDgiA1zA0e_0QtSfb0C8QxatpyHet6G0lTPXoZlUOG1T8MBB0dv9OoHcsa4d_-YzWnS2TF4SYKG5gS1Gf5OZ-VyCb5N6KgkozaGICC0Cmk4UqLC2s1YJ5aQ-d_ViGVJLGaa4G6Z6H0fPEKwL45mqef9SHVsrNilaovk/w640-h423/Lilly%20in%20the%20pond.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite pictures of our water baby, Lilly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh519eRAaQOSRfh50OnU6htR87IcM13PrPNJaKTb58FzKr6zxKFSaoOvkH0JaScw6wgjUYfO_ZUyoaUd0RRlf0xFUPxwBf44cXLV5qAg4t520wnqk1e-JkjYKjBEjdvNRT3ryuc7DGqlfLKRE1j4RieZlVHC29uaAaAEAaTSOBh_S79XYvBAA3W7xYfEIs/s1527/Mary%20Ann,%20Lilly,%20and%20Jester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1527" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh519eRAaQOSRfh50OnU6htR87IcM13PrPNJaKTb58FzKr6zxKFSaoOvkH0JaScw6wgjUYfO_ZUyoaUd0RRlf0xFUPxwBf44cXLV5qAg4t520wnqk1e-JkjYKjBEjdvNRT3ryuc7DGqlfLKRE1j4RieZlVHC29uaAaAEAaTSOBh_S79XYvBAA3W7xYfEIs/w640-h360/Mary%20Ann,%20Lilly,%20and%20Jester.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My babies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On May 25, at 5:00 in the morning, Jester, who had never barked in the nine years I had him... he was eleven years old... began to scream and bark. The screams were almost like human screams. He frantically ran from the living room, into the shower stall behind the curtain, all the while screaming. My son ran out of his bedroom, and was afraid to touch him, and I was shaking... I hurriedly dressed and in the dark, caught Jester and carried him to the car, and set out for the ER which is thirty miles away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The unearthly screaming stopped in the car, but he was panting terribly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got him in the door and they took him right back, for once, the waiting room was empty. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stayed for a while, but they told me it might be hours, and I was pretty shaken. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I drove the thirty miles home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had phone call after phone call with increasingly bad news. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He had Cushings. He had a huge tumor wrapped around his spleen (they suspected it had started to come apart)... he had growths on kidney and liver.... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fritzi had had Cushings, their life span is very short, and it takes a terrible toll on them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was not one encouraging thing in the doctor's reports. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I made a decision to let him cross the bridge... and it was horrifying. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The young doctor had a condition which did not let her empathize, and the procedure was done in a terrible way, with no time between sedative and final shot. It broke my heart completely, my boy in my lap, literally. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ER offered a pet loss psychologist, and I saw her over the summer because I literally felt like I was coming apart. Nothing had ever affected me that way, not even Keith's death because I had been able to prepare for it and we had talked about it over and over. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester was my last link to Keith, pet-wise. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was crushing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have had dogs almost my whole life, and I have none now. I just can't go through it again, I can't. I try... I know there are so many in shelters that need homes... I am donating, because I can't trust myself not to go off the deep end with another loss. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't tell anyone for weeks. I didn't tell members of my family for months... I couldn't. A few trusted friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At Christmas, I got cards addressed to Jes, Buddy and Zoey, and I just had to grit my teeth. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway.... they are gone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The year otherwise was pretty good. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQx0eLka3uOYys6T10sh1ZrRsWqSlMy2W_MXJKEdsaxJPcI3YFxUP7qyqfhJofcFbxl7oIjB8iSM2e4o7KZUySwfOf2JKgt4_G0RQri-8XUKhcdeJp0u0QhTi5gA2YOUR3uiCaHPe2guTgCOxc-uY67nzl7ErROdCro5lgaGLVcygYPm3E-37oiguDHM/s1440/FB_IMG_1703816199686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQx0eLka3uOYys6T10sh1ZrRsWqSlMy2W_MXJKEdsaxJPcI3YFxUP7qyqfhJofcFbxl7oIjB8iSM2e4o7KZUySwfOf2JKgt4_G0RQri-8XUKhcdeJp0u0QhTi5gA2YOUR3uiCaHPe2guTgCOxc-uY67nzl7ErROdCro5lgaGLVcygYPm3E-37oiguDHM/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1703816199686.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My little great granddaughter, Maci, and great grandson, Wyatt, had a great Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had them here on Black Friday because I know they have a huge round of family at Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTZKwG-GU6jZzpoVRHJomRZuqvDMyBa7CEa5dmd7NBDqXVa6nA40oIg2VN7CP2uTtH901s2iqXptyY3-HddXghQTa7Mu4P8IHG7Dnhv0D44oDOTB86Xhb7fS3rCHOWcU9QEciozpxyU45Ta_5_v10lq-us_j565K3lq6hfXYKGiRDSPLwasOd0vMN4Tk/s4000/20231226_093952.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTZKwG-GU6jZzpoVRHJomRZuqvDMyBa7CEa5dmd7NBDqXVa6nA40oIg2VN7CP2uTtH901s2iqXptyY3-HddXghQTa7Mu4P8IHG7Dnhv0D44oDOTB86Xhb7fS3rCHOWcU9QEciozpxyU45Ta_5_v10lq-us_j565K3lq6hfXYKGiRDSPLwasOd0vMN4Tk/w360-h640/20231226_093952.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_iX9tQEF2_MSHnoawXsP_niy6XWW6WAvbLNDp07LZCQudz1Yp44gpgSFLRukYYcXU865quj_j5cp4RCWb27M4xq_DTR-y_mVp7sjEp1j1P8X_XKTHLchceIKhVj3up_Ixv42JlE5XBCJIon9e0PGMEecmWeCSAXG813lUxEYJJXcwuLys1IRitS-o0/s4000/20231226_094005.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_iX9tQEF2_MSHnoawXsP_niy6XWW6WAvbLNDp07LZCQudz1Yp44gpgSFLRukYYcXU865quj_j5cp4RCWb27M4xq_DTR-y_mVp7sjEp1j1P8X_XKTHLchceIKhVj3up_Ixv42JlE5XBCJIon9e0PGMEecmWeCSAXG813lUxEYJJXcwuLys1IRitS-o0/w360-h640/20231226_094005.heic" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJDMRs9LhFklVCvnWRpZRLIOzI5RAaURj7h6bivlW0etIQi0y8RoyBtkaqfJuxAik3USzyT6ZG_2Hsl7oxNgBFumjQyZ7YWpLax3gR8_V5N9ypCq_R4TPYbpIkPGCNE8mYkLldA6vRCh-L7x9TaEcJGqa0S3R_bK0XVNtYdCna8LYEGqlaNomDiOfmc0/s4000/20231226_093948.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJDMRs9LhFklVCvnWRpZRLIOzI5RAaURj7h6bivlW0etIQi0y8RoyBtkaqfJuxAik3USzyT6ZG_2Hsl7oxNgBFumjQyZ7YWpLax3gR8_V5N9ypCq_R4TPYbpIkPGCNE8mYkLldA6vRCh-L7x9TaEcJGqa0S3R_bK0XVNtYdCna8LYEGqlaNomDiOfmc0/w360-h640/20231226_093948.heic" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA4YSWXiBp633wYnso0IRF8YLYCI6TAvr8nbWFIBC_tV3paTSDbgNPfsWcd2q1CUCugTAollYt4el9OMs3knN1qBp2XUFAcuJ4aEa6tzO2aE5nMwyUQWCcz2Ty-C1isutDC6R_YUZ41Jn7xll7i9meI2KL4C0lwHDca8rQcezKgUAdnNwDBlrCzTaDKk/s4000/20231226_093945.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA4YSWXiBp633wYnso0IRF8YLYCI6TAvr8nbWFIBC_tV3paTSDbgNPfsWcd2q1CUCugTAollYt4el9OMs3knN1qBp2XUFAcuJ4aEa6tzO2aE5nMwyUQWCcz2Ty-C1isutDC6R_YUZ41Jn7xll7i9meI2KL4C0lwHDca8rQcezKgUAdnNwDBlrCzTaDKk/w360-h640/20231226_093945.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cats have pretty much taken over around here.... In descending order, that's Bullseye, Wanda, on my bed, Bob, Coco is in the seat of the chair, she is so black you can hardly see her on the coverlet. Molly is on the back of the big couch. Wanda was vetted for a cut on her neck, and has become an inside cat, along with Coco. The other three still go out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCm8eMbaWRlwSiB2kgpCmrIwum51lgcOAGd-GNVjfj9wKRgNNPrqcawaXeW5Rm4go0FnhU5EDw17pA34mmwRYwu0VZmfaKWgWVjyMF8UVjf7PztqYl8rhRKwttU4xF_vP3NbHWOoaxktOqs2lhuOuoSkgJ-M6ymCgNgR4R3lVUV_evhC8GErZGmDC0Jm8/s4000/20231231_164224.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCm8eMbaWRlwSiB2kgpCmrIwum51lgcOAGd-GNVjfj9wKRgNNPrqcawaXeW5Rm4go0FnhU5EDw17pA34mmwRYwu0VZmfaKWgWVjyMF8UVjf7PztqYl8rhRKwttU4xF_vP3NbHWOoaxktOqs2lhuOuoSkgJ-M6ymCgNgR4R3lVUV_evhC8GErZGmDC0Jm8/w360-h640/20231231_164224.heic" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORfI02kRH4DZ84jTj5ySzhnnWWGnh_Yld4gcvK-vCJeOjfAC4hKqLBYmUfQCm2yNw3GWikn-s9VV7rULp8UxQqljAcY4ZUSMJtiYITjwOJMy4uQgaf6gGFkK-HKOBcv4mOzUaEH_TKhE78JBOYrBloBYCvl5T6fhypvypAfgajkLtEQ_BizB09X_h26w/s4000/20231231_164213.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORfI02kRH4DZ84jTj5ySzhnnWWGnh_Yld4gcvK-vCJeOjfAC4hKqLBYmUfQCm2yNw3GWikn-s9VV7rULp8UxQqljAcY4ZUSMJtiYITjwOJMy4uQgaf6gGFkK-HKOBcv4mOzUaEH_TKhE78JBOYrBloBYCvl5T6fhypvypAfgajkLtEQ_BizB09X_h26w/w360-h640/20231231_164213.heic" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltoZA3Iom_g6GTbVuQ1QwyDQqqgdhXLJQUhTtasGesyvrAwPSru4nAHokSqT0OQ5MK8N8IFfBYJ8tPOe4Y5taX4wsTriI5b2jBLY5TWfroHmMeQZNZqI7rCbceEO8YE-l_eHbO19ZY1m3o8HVcMNZJXSQpgbwz_NhtJ3vVTtdVTaDoeNkngMiudcbg8/s4000/20231231_164203.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltoZA3Iom_g6GTbVuQ1QwyDQqqgdhXLJQUhTtasGesyvrAwPSru4nAHokSqT0OQ5MK8N8IFfBYJ8tPOe4Y5taX4wsTriI5b2jBLY5TWfroHmMeQZNZqI7rCbceEO8YE-l_eHbO19ZY1m3o8HVcMNZJXSQpgbwz_NhtJ3vVTtdVTaDoeNkngMiudcbg8/w360-h640/20231231_164203.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mama, Teeny, and Cleo are still out in the shop, and thriving. They have a heater and a warming light. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have not had frigid temps yet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teeny still sleeps in the wood burning stove, she has a deep bed of straw in it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone has their current shots except Cleo, and she is going to have to be a drop off, I think, because it will depend on when I can get her into a carrier. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuheKn25I8LLShdwh-fVXOUOO4EtNc1IjUF23BvjpO1Ge_qOzsntqL2J9BDhXfpw9m6ONREW70LAIQRZP-JKG4C6yP2Xg36YJe5gJAFQKrsVmtmHhvNmX0EmXl4PhsfoAwDWvyCFqpq56DBzqkUn1miXWNuGblRgbfMzy6zJXhG7ddkzKRA7HxqQ5I8w/s4608/Possum%20cleaning%20fingers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuheKn25I8LLShdwh-fVXOUOO4EtNc1IjUF23BvjpO1Ge_qOzsntqL2J9BDhXfpw9m6ONREW70LAIQRZP-JKG4C6yP2Xg36YJe5gJAFQKrsVmtmHhvNmX0EmXl4PhsfoAwDWvyCFqpq56DBzqkUn1miXWNuGblRgbfMzy6zJXhG7ddkzKRA7HxqQ5I8w/w640-h360/Possum%20cleaning%20fingers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgKxhm23Hi5dlDKC6lnAzgLgmZAUlJpvbTvfbg-7np6Meo3PGmTNNVMI8e4AQSoLK2MaHMAdX2y_5ouZEd17MuJcB9i-Y8DMV5wKRpJvqMEFdfuD5UAgdKeHQugX4bot3h0rHBaD13jf5bLGJpvtXf3LQin4Gf34Ux15Gn3IT38tSNL5ZgOAo2yKVs2s/s4608/raccoon%20babies%20in%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgKxhm23Hi5dlDKC6lnAzgLgmZAUlJpvbTvfbg-7np6Meo3PGmTNNVMI8e4AQSoLK2MaHMAdX2y_5ouZEd17MuJcB9i-Y8DMV5wKRpJvqMEFdfuD5UAgdKeHQugX4bot3h0rHBaD13jf5bLGJpvtXf3LQin4Gf34Ux15Gn3IT38tSNL5ZgOAo2yKVs2s/w640-h360/raccoon%20babies%20in%20barn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, yes, we still have plenty of these. Mama Raccoon taught her babies how to come in and out of the barn to check for treats. I pour out a small amount of dry cat food when I close up at night, and if it is warm, I leave the door cracked. They also still come in and out through the "cat hole" in the wall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8haIDrIhRNEVhETdmc59i7GUy3gbvvittciajTlqDrVA1eOlBeCgOBAeKS5BxvaKuUDZUXvg-bUm4TcpZx2mQGuClQrzt2-aszmrcF4X_6WyKIHk058PVMxfwAHtOAdKZfEhOnprNI8O8SDsWMwXnkJNEDUOe1bTGqHGCUE9RvL2PXP6D6D3EvZ-L1E4/s4608/Bullseye%20under%20light%20with%20possum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8haIDrIhRNEVhETdmc59i7GUy3gbvvittciajTlqDrVA1eOlBeCgOBAeKS5BxvaKuUDZUXvg-bUm4TcpZx2mQGuClQrzt2-aszmrcF4X_6WyKIHk058PVMxfwAHtOAdKZfEhOnprNI8O8SDsWMwXnkJNEDUOe1bTGqHGCUE9RvL2PXP6D6D3EvZ-L1E4/w640-h360/Bullseye%20under%20light%20with%20possum.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Bullseye out in the shop overnight on the Kuranda bed, and you see there is a big possum right behind him.... I love them, they are so helpful and eat ticks, etc.. They can carry a horse disease (if they have it) but there are no equines here now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are gentle creatures with short lifespans. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTA56Zy4gfXCidnn8EepjAs7t-rohXLWPQcyznw_o1kydLsgxg9CRYKh_AxaAqOp2UZPmAWeZ5M2d8lHsKKh7S0sMe7HXWG8ik4pdox3E2cilUCw9JGwhXNXDYHv_W77EH1kT-LbCVmEmm2n7VMQ3rGvmBn9yLf51GSm07Hb9NH9fDpjpIZs4hPQZKD0/s6000/IMG_5943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTA56Zy4gfXCidnn8EepjAs7t-rohXLWPQcyznw_o1kydLsgxg9CRYKh_AxaAqOp2UZPmAWeZ5M2d8lHsKKh7S0sMe7HXWG8ik4pdox3E2cilUCw9JGwhXNXDYHv_W77EH1kT-LbCVmEmm2n7VMQ3rGvmBn9yLf51GSm07Hb9NH9fDpjpIZs4hPQZKD0/w640-h426/IMG_5943.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojVHp-GD5jCxiuUFa_a6rd7bE-Mf9dx6uQUsWvFq1Ng31V_Hk4utm7ky1huhI5XknW6mW9OoC3odyC-mlTVAHQQcblslpHStN3Lw8BO0EBXH20HEfqwKxXqTfy6Myn4j6mUeareiyV_H3FbHDyJE16jyOaK8xUK9JbRTO9ObDAUUZA4GCwJENeAqqbU4/s6000/IMG_5951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojVHp-GD5jCxiuUFa_a6rd7bE-Mf9dx6uQUsWvFq1Ng31V_Hk4utm7ky1huhI5XknW6mW9OoC3odyC-mlTVAHQQcblslpHStN3Lw8BO0EBXH20HEfqwKxXqTfy6Myn4j6mUeareiyV_H3FbHDyJE16jyOaK8xUK9JbRTO9ObDAUUZA4GCwJENeAqqbU4/w640-h426/IMG_5951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feed the finches on the deck rail outside my window only when the cats are in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love to watch them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8kZdZb1-shaJhqBtK_6BU1-yTb_D3nni-Q2u8NAYktN7OZPQeT9oWzVh1PAqiFRrbwptUTwJZFmOpFkfE_LPfHjvCeojBKQjXNlXmpNjmuEWUUR_lGOFyCJMvPxHu_05grbqLRN0nYVkXoacCptnHgsVNjEu_1n6xLosCtYYIRRER38qe1XEKZUKo-o/s4000/20231220_152614.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8kZdZb1-shaJhqBtK_6BU1-yTb_D3nni-Q2u8NAYktN7OZPQeT9oWzVh1PAqiFRrbwptUTwJZFmOpFkfE_LPfHjvCeojBKQjXNlXmpNjmuEWUUR_lGOFyCJMvPxHu_05grbqLRN0nYVkXoacCptnHgsVNjEu_1n6xLosCtYYIRRER38qe1XEKZUKo-o/w360-h640/20231220_152614.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This Cooper's Hawk has taken up a nest in my pasture, and he often sits on the fenceposts. He is a beauty! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So far, he has not gone for a chicken. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of the chickens, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am down to sixteen now. I started last year with four roosters, I have two and I don't expect the larger of the two to be around for long, he is six and showing signs of being tuckered out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doug the Silkie rooster is still going strong. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJOjSxANxNMcqWpmsc_aPFBoteX6d_UvcjuqxZvD125jf0L2dZwwTPPI2BDhQqVf5I4HbAxMY0-ymQgUCwA6DDwHv24ULCEE0OssnCs4oVb-g7Dm-eqCEHUy8NLXBDCqXhNnNldRB2VRKtIRHqO-z5HtSJihy-ymy065nrtWkebXK98Vr0gYyQPIgBrk/s6000/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJOjSxANxNMcqWpmsc_aPFBoteX6d_UvcjuqxZvD125jf0L2dZwwTPPI2BDhQqVf5I4HbAxMY0-ymQgUCwA6DDwHv24ULCEE0OssnCs4oVb-g7Dm-eqCEHUy8NLXBDCqXhNnNldRB2VRKtIRHqO-z5HtSJihy-ymy065nrtWkebXK98Vr0gYyQPIgBrk/w640-h426/IMG_5924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The trees in the wild area across from my place turned bright red in the fall, it lasted almost ten days and was glorious. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYel8VSWvBUmbxADPYRDcBJ5XJme2L90lWWEwvyORRWkpCZ04TJp7TH6zDXq9ivsSryrlSWLsMyGRoOAlSPnkt_dntHU5znRqfUk0KjqmSIgDUIG3oxXDdvRU6qt8sSTNrlLrcBk_dyQkTVDhfHaGCSurdsvGnqee8eknlGsZoJ8NM09mvNFML8RJDnE/s6000/IMG_5623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYel8VSWvBUmbxADPYRDcBJ5XJme2L90lWWEwvyORRWkpCZ04TJp7TH6zDXq9ivsSryrlSWLsMyGRoOAlSPnkt_dntHU5znRqfUk0KjqmSIgDUIG3oxXDdvRU6qt8sSTNrlLrcBk_dyQkTVDhfHaGCSurdsvGnqee8eknlGsZoJ8NM09mvNFML8RJDnE/w640-h426/IMG_5623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4bUmN6DwvgOULbg62OrjqFGAg-G4_BVoLhOlBBMcXyPfWSU89GBSLUwz174eaY-doeDafvi4AY36XfLqlYP2TtRlb1uydvt0FIWCq1i5pexp0rGdAuqr6ekiE1pCnjHrypOIlL0cCTS7MTWqVh9e3GQ64Szlbn3nhFIM02JoZpkCcyDjBhb2yJszepI/s6000/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4bUmN6DwvgOULbg62OrjqFGAg-G4_BVoLhOlBBMcXyPfWSU89GBSLUwz174eaY-doeDafvi4AY36XfLqlYP2TtRlb1uydvt0FIWCq1i5pexp0rGdAuqr6ekiE1pCnjHrypOIlL0cCTS7MTWqVh9e3GQ64Szlbn3nhFIM02JoZpkCcyDjBhb2yJszepI/w640-h426/IMG_5649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26YzWAmjKnGm45TDW2lOnxOx-FiEewXhuqkhFaebyukG9oQ-uHbU6b4Ly8P0bLzMey2q446H8YrceQc8nosC9AffGaYY7NMoSxmuhOfg0Zx2HaU2275tEG1UpKDgWcxCaOPlJDf9lin98cvgmECjaRPqUplgHfVvVwaca50Kb0IqZttOFrxReO00ET0o/s6000/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26YzWAmjKnGm45TDW2lOnxOx-FiEewXhuqkhFaebyukG9oQ-uHbU6b4Ly8P0bLzMey2q446H8YrceQc8nosC9AffGaYY7NMoSxmuhOfg0Zx2HaU2275tEG1UpKDgWcxCaOPlJDf9lin98cvgmECjaRPqUplgHfVvVwaca50Kb0IqZttOFrxReO00ET0o/w640-h426/IMG_5694.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV2bHD3eAqIL5bwi1ORPCsKv8X8UHMSnURNYMum2ZNu5O_J0q9J7uSRHWgi673Czf45RMJmeJJLLKgo1IruxHxxzXqIKi-cD7MK17YdRFGwyRAAjV4NY2Eo8iQ-hEIH6ScFx3dxwBFTVvrgwRubd4Mv66_eJS0_2Fv-DJd8a506omi8L229ceL054apg/s6000/IMG_5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV2bHD3eAqIL5bwi1ORPCsKv8X8UHMSnURNYMum2ZNu5O_J0q9J7uSRHWgi673Czf45RMJmeJJLLKgo1IruxHxxzXqIKi-cD7MK17YdRFGwyRAAjV4NY2Eo8iQ-hEIH6ScFx3dxwBFTVvrgwRubd4Mv66_eJS0_2Fv-DJd8a506omi8L229ceL054apg/w640-h426/IMG_5698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69U5HaxSXmP24meJD44HkGT1l1AKdRwhbTidFXhHJ-bemEZdTF6ZiIs6lUnMIDessdStZf-g1OKPtZUT1kCMm31OwkUauVQR8ZUumRIeERRXFbqHLZeZJDkDAiFdKq9Ba208aNqRXlgoD9Mu4xD_MhHDHPMe9Cif9jQO3xjJI_wwRxOjwhjypGBT7Lws/s6000/IMG_5719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69U5HaxSXmP24meJD44HkGT1l1AKdRwhbTidFXhHJ-bemEZdTF6ZiIs6lUnMIDessdStZf-g1OKPtZUT1kCMm31OwkUauVQR8ZUumRIeERRXFbqHLZeZJDkDAiFdKq9Ba208aNqRXlgoD9Mu4xD_MhHDHPMe9Cif9jQO3xjJI_wwRxOjwhjypGBT7Lws/w640-h426/IMG_5719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yes, the sheep came back, and when the big flock went home... I had Snickers the Jersey Heifer, Doodles the goat, and an ancient sheep I called Grandma as boarders for the next month, and I really</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> enjoyed them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My beautiful rooster Singleton left us suddenly in October; I went out to his house and found him gone one morning. I lost his dad earlier, and his brother, Buddy, has now moved into his house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope to do better at blogging this year... 2024.... it sounds so strange to say it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do enjoy reading other's blogs, still, and I miss staying in touch this way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful year, full of all the things you are hoping for. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELpR2wzCyB6QsN9vsznTvCK66G7PEa_cO4W7G-4RPbw_SZQGNtqq_4u4RxfbrBUaw0gfiJ3SoyA2v_neenIAhqDt_XVF88Vv0EqnXNzZzLwmhjXsMMYAgI-vGILvI7r6kHyzkPqiOXxXRcqeXn3yXABrU_uZvCyTuYk4_C0kVvJnmGKVIpNRaPR6KNzU/s1080/FB_IMG_1703973002246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELpR2wzCyB6QsN9vsznTvCK66G7PEa_cO4W7G-4RPbw_SZQGNtqq_4u4RxfbrBUaw0gfiJ3SoyA2v_neenIAhqDt_XVF88Vv0EqnXNzZzLwmhjXsMMYAgI-vGILvI7r6kHyzkPqiOXxXRcqeXn3yXABrU_uZvCyTuYk4_C0kVvJnmGKVIpNRaPR6KNzU/w640-h426/FB_IMG_1703973002246.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester Boy Yoder, 2012 to May 25, 2023</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-17058151867294393762023-10-28T18:55:00.000-05:002023-10-28T18:55:11.423-05:00Back to High School <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I used to blog daily! That was actually while I was still working and taking care of a lot more animals than 24 chickens and eight cats! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It seems I am busier now than then, and I apologize for the long gap. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jklTtLkPckFyTygwwZc-Scv7SV-ylt7qbeiaUsvgUpDsdTpjwTAhj4TBpCEftoohK8M1sXcnvVAiOfZkKEXEzkKarAy9lPEQC0cxNwsI1C54nJHrIdEM9EqyqfalVhjMKjhLG4AiAuCqVQoJQXfIyeC0PcNFVhiLWlfLUXiGKXJA6r3y9ZTo9hMuFOw/s4000/20231023_183127.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jklTtLkPckFyTygwwZc-Scv7SV-ylt7qbeiaUsvgUpDsdTpjwTAhj4TBpCEftoohK8M1sXcnvVAiOfZkKEXEzkKarAy9lPEQC0cxNwsI1C54nJHrIdEM9EqyqfalVhjMKjhLG4AiAuCqVQoJQXfIyeC0PcNFVhiLWlfLUXiGKXJA6r3y9ZTo9hMuFOw/w360-h640/20231023_183127.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was my yard at the beginning of the week. Dreadfully dry. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6TdTSV5TLynoZptMRfNm4VOhZJ3xqGV-rl7DJ-egan5CUN9nzGdR_K1_rq8bq1xIKjYJlmUtobpHtZOy9tiosJOhLOwxDhCYML0ITeGx32L_ldf3Fumg2QCIryjWDsXmEY8q3g3sbQ45abHpStIcNy08EmyUhvc5TwBgTo2ul_gO-Glxf-kuiW7VeIk/s2400/Screenshot_20231023_154215_Weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6TdTSV5TLynoZptMRfNm4VOhZJ3xqGV-rl7DJ-egan5CUN9nzGdR_K1_rq8bq1xIKjYJlmUtobpHtZOy9tiosJOhLOwxDhCYML0ITeGx32L_ldf3Fumg2QCIryjWDsXmEY8q3g3sbQ45abHpStIcNy08EmyUhvc5TwBgTo2ul_gO-Glxf-kuiW7VeIk/w288-h640/Screenshot_20231023_154215_Weather.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was our temp on Monday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvds7e6I7oPZyQrePwBaGPz3y0slOMDzqwL0sAgjDS9q6LKqSVwiiEi6e8L-64bcc_e_exfkiGTMMxQJ_5nu7L2c8Xd9iHIZYkc6Qi7TdBNry71BCgS1xZJ-nc6aoPgmhwEoXtPP_2x5Yb-uieuyA3Qi1lfsAR9RyQLqE7q4FCBmuvWJ_24OGqCSOiTs/s2400/Screenshot_20231028_165515_Weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvds7e6I7oPZyQrePwBaGPz3y0slOMDzqwL0sAgjDS9q6LKqSVwiiEi6e8L-64bcc_e_exfkiGTMMxQJ_5nu7L2c8Xd9iHIZYkc6Qi7TdBNry71BCgS1xZJ-nc6aoPgmhwEoXtPP_2x5Yb-uieuyA3Qi1lfsAR9RyQLqE7q4FCBmuvWJ_24OGqCSOiTs/w288-h640/Screenshot_20231028_165515_Weather.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is today, right now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had over 3 inches of rain, and it has been raining steadily all afternoon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was, unfortunately, the day of the Jack O'Lantern Jamboree at the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">National Agricultural Center. The grounds were decorated, but a decision was made to bring it inside the barn at noon... and I am sure the train did not operate, as it cannot run in rain. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel sorry for all the kids looking forward to it. The volunteers were all there </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the businesses offering candy, and I hope a few at least got to have fun. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just got word that many families did show up and had a good time, despite the steady rain all afternoon! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21zbDUsz3nDjZ5VwJFDlaVR4qmW7XV7I4eWkynmVsLcouFkMldG0Q0SQyTsr6ibkN9zmWpuMt9uqFNPY3RMociFmzxJBANyq3ZNzh5iMaSkGWTNEzBKwaISFu4MFpEg0vC_fqov5Ml4bJEBcHfHGayJxGGMQpF6vFgz2dYtXhS1VwEzV6C7G_xhfzszE/s1280/IMG_3523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21zbDUsz3nDjZ5VwJFDlaVR4qmW7XV7I4eWkynmVsLcouFkMldG0Q0SQyTsr6ibkN9zmWpuMt9uqFNPY3RMociFmzxJBANyq3ZNzh5iMaSkGWTNEzBKwaISFu4MFpEg0vC_fqov5Ml4bJEBcHfHGayJxGGMQpF6vFgz2dYtXhS1VwEzV6C7G_xhfzszE/w300-h400/IMG_3523.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sorry for the graphic photo. This is Wanda, my little girl that lives in the big hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda was injured about 3 1/2 weeks ago, and you can see here the top of the tear. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stitches (purple string) are now out, and the hole is almost closed. We went to the vet every other day for two and a half weeks and she has been living in our office (smallest bedroom) since the start of the treatment. She is doing amazingly well! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hole was treated with a poultice of sugar, honey and silver, because there was not enough skin to pull together over it. It looks clean today and is healing fast. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll try to get a picture tomorrow of how it looks now. She is in for another few weeks, and is welcome to be an inside cat if she wants. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1HnEJUoxjjQ_sZ4gIZOgbBuAEQceOeLVOjZwsVrLcKmhfXOTPHVPajo6dfjYpsOEG0_Y-E58536aREbSXld_KdFhXaQMmGnN_1mP26I5pi9Fy0HdTRUNXROZBF9xJT3SfGEoC2qaB-BPIPdH-txYWfQqNjAQl5_KAa9n1l1HqIEOFyxAqIcxXpGmOc/s4608/raccoon%20babies%20in%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1HnEJUoxjjQ_sZ4gIZOgbBuAEQceOeLVOjZwsVrLcKmhfXOTPHVPajo6dfjYpsOEG0_Y-E58536aREbSXld_KdFhXaQMmGnN_1mP26I5pi9Fy0HdTRUNXROZBF9xJT3SfGEoC2qaB-BPIPdH-txYWfQqNjAQl5_KAa9n1l1HqIEOFyxAqIcxXpGmOc/w640-h360/raccoon%20babies%20in%20barn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are still some baby raccoons out there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHStMCL1fn12wEffdjpAl7LbpJW50XlmhQw27M-teFJYSw9eq_Ox1-7U6rMij3LjozXpDxE_SJyEsUZhyImJLxtJlyAIl4wJIjTj9re0sFL1SUwzM0jl8Nl6zgKV6U7HoB2KLRtfG5J4hzuvcUayyfTdGJw7zwXDzOGyQG4RG3DqQPzC-FCBx1jULn4/s4608/raccoon%20huge%20in%20barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHStMCL1fn12wEffdjpAl7LbpJW50XlmhQw27M-teFJYSw9eq_Ox1-7U6rMij3LjozXpDxE_SJyEsUZhyImJLxtJlyAIl4wJIjTj9re0sFL1SUwzM0jl8Nl6zgKV6U7HoB2KLRtfG5J4hzuvcUayyfTdGJw7zwXDzOGyQG4RG3DqQPzC-FCBx1jULn4/w640-h360/raccoon%20huge%20in%20barn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, some giant ones! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2lDI0448M4UB0aIYmF5hbs_-mpI9bZK2rVWd2Ay7_tQlvdruVIskYeL7erHq-oOq0m3he7Aq_LjWhj5DZhmMIq8ecMLzYATTjVmtH0t5Wyx8x_EGqRSQyiC9zGmv4odsbql88KTj4l3_rIKSR6Dl3zAU3ME5gZm4cFTFh1jFkG80JoxLYM66MWENTKY/s4608/Cleo%20standing%20on%20Kuranda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2lDI0448M4UB0aIYmF5hbs_-mpI9bZK2rVWd2Ay7_tQlvdruVIskYeL7erHq-oOq0m3he7Aq_LjWhj5DZhmMIq8ecMLzYATTjVmtH0t5Wyx8x_EGqRSQyiC9zGmv4odsbql88KTj4l3_rIKSR6Dl3zAU3ME5gZm4cFTFh1jFkG80JoxLYM66MWENTKY/w640-h360/Cleo%20standing%20on%20Kuranda.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I turned the warming light on over the Kuranda bed two weeks ago, and Cleo loves to sleep on it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCy9Cj3uVwh2CzmsqSo4Mpj63Fgk_w31LjW74DPtiY4zOMSANxJEki-rxpJwDBMPEF39KUL_1LcaDyeo08OSw9Afr-n91YPacHqlFsh1UtR35h-_EwYbBE_FK_rBQqY3bIDID2RsfLwn_wNGUKWyo7ri5IdkiBpOiK0peQTtaW2qRMMz8ghZVebAjA5g/s1032/Keith%20in%202013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="581" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCy9Cj3uVwh2CzmsqSo4Mpj63Fgk_w31LjW74DPtiY4zOMSANxJEki-rxpJwDBMPEF39KUL_1LcaDyeo08OSw9Afr-n91YPacHqlFsh1UtR35h-_EwYbBE_FK_rBQqY3bIDID2RsfLwn_wNGUKWyo7ri5IdkiBpOiK0peQTtaW2qRMMz8ghZVebAjA5g/w360-h640/Keith%20in%202013.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This month marked the seventh anniversary of Keith's death.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot believe it has been that long. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR5x9EPZizD60qnEBU7vjS3AIq43YxaG_Qwu3RIWGVPxWjbR8-OakqhqcpN95J9Y1wF4kQP8UEPUu2QD0S09VxyEX1KnWKnbtIR_yfXzRfkulEWhay2Fn3rwbFeUFip-39IbILSFKdxYjOkydSjepozAL6awuVGdl5JckxsRviW7up_QT-xOfu8UhMo8/s6000/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR5x9EPZizD60qnEBU7vjS3AIq43YxaG_Qwu3RIWGVPxWjbR8-OakqhqcpN95J9Y1wF4kQP8UEPUu2QD0S09VxyEX1KnWKnbtIR_yfXzRfkulEWhay2Fn3rwbFeUFip-39IbILSFKdxYjOkydSjepozAL6awuVGdl5JckxsRviW7up_QT-xOfu8UhMo8/w640-h426/IMG_5694.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friends Snickers and Doodles went home a week ago tomorrow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrvTirxm7bvjhiahgJFty1NeajE0zkvd84TBoliGFZZsvaFHuc_dnfgPam_uRNtL2kEBrNal3VjzvhUc_4JE5DMlKRgeGcM7RQ22AFMprqjMSniPVrAvwnWR2zxm18hQuWcMHPv7y5bOshAUj7mbGF3ksff-qgCcLK9pd_Dyt19Qtrh7C8AwTHHklf9I/s6000/IMG_5695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrvTirxm7bvjhiahgJFty1NeajE0zkvd84TBoliGFZZsvaFHuc_dnfgPam_uRNtL2kEBrNal3VjzvhUc_4JE5DMlKRgeGcM7RQ22AFMprqjMSniPVrAvwnWR2zxm18hQuWcMHPv7y5bOshAUj7mbGF3ksff-qgCcLK9pd_Dyt19Qtrh7C8AwTHHklf9I/w640-h426/IMG_5695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Along with Snowball... at fourteen, I don't know if she will be back next year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really miss them already, but am also glad not to be carrying water in buckets, since I have dropped my hoses. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bU5W85U-6GWDjWO3LdBqsHwnht7GPa1mjunWCJ4f0kqpKu5ZG6Ygkb_tKMQoK6g-jB3WRZwc3HuAR3rnZt51JRA1go6wSeoFDYJrsvTk6sjBAaAEWdmOgzIB37zyyHBynxNJ0SPLCu7MVNRj8kz5Ple3cpwCJZRCf_gFu9JFIpaaozHTjDu9eVlm9H8/s6000/IMG_5719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bU5W85U-6GWDjWO3LdBqsHwnht7GPa1mjunWCJ4f0kqpKu5ZG6Ygkb_tKMQoK6g-jB3WRZwc3HuAR3rnZt51JRA1go6wSeoFDYJrsvTk6sjBAaAEWdmOgzIB37zyyHBynxNJ0SPLCu7MVNRj8kz5Ple3cpwCJZRCf_gFu9JFIpaaozHTjDu9eVlm9H8/w640-h426/IMG_5719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Sammy, the Salmon Faverolle, and Reddy, the red production chicken, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">neither of whom lay. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a lot of pensioners here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Someone contacted me today... I don't know how he got my number two years later... he must have kept it... I rescued two chickens from him TWO years ago... he wanted to know if I could take ten roosters from his parents, they had bought chicks at a feed store and ended up with ten roosters. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I respectfully declined and told him I hoped they could find someone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am down to two roosters, and holding there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buddy has taken over his brother Singleton's flock, and spends most nights in the old hen house now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every once in a while, I find him back in his own big hen house. There are two very old hens in there, and I don't know if they will make it through the cold this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlziB5G7c5I6yOKogX0Mq2u8dwb2gb1PGzuaox3sv0g0hhPbZ4dCCVlptcTr-phl0jy74zjpht8rb3AgUyliy0AAglEBYFckpDuEp2VFuY4_dZY_-EYzetSxl11RkZFx8O4gsTiyNXS3xdnWuA9m6Bs4q4lQG_QUjrqTdFaI46Nco9t35r9Hmb6p0vnnU/s4000/20231015_151035_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlziB5G7c5I6yOKogX0Mq2u8dwb2gb1PGzuaox3sv0g0hhPbZ4dCCVlptcTr-phl0jy74zjpht8rb3AgUyliy0AAglEBYFckpDuEp2VFuY4_dZY_-EYzetSxl11RkZFx8O4gsTiyNXS3xdnWuA9m6Bs4q4lQG_QUjrqTdFaI46Nco9t35r9Hmb6p0vnnU/w640-h480/20231015_151035_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two weeks ago, I celebrated my 55th high school reunion. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, folks, my 55th! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's your blogger in the middle of the group... these are 1964 graduates of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Peter's Cathedral Grade School, now called Resurrection School. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were 8 of us there and there were two more expected, who were unable to come. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please excuse my crazy short hair, and it was a sight that day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had on my Ringo Starr tee shirt because my childhood friend Debbie, who </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">you can see in the middle of the two ladies to my right (left in the picture) is a huge Ringo fan and could not go to the concert. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">About 52 classmates showed up, and we visited and ate barbecue and generally had a great time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think we are all past trying to impress each other. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had lost seventeen classmates since the 50th... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we met in our school cafeteria. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can't tell you how good it was to see my old friends and have a good face to face visit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(each grade school had their pictures taken together... some had only one or two representatives, as time is really taking its toll on us). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We've become our grandmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere in this computer, I have some lovely photos taken on my big cameras. I can't find them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The program I have used for years is no longer active, and I have to save them willy nilly, and I am losing the darn locations. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll try to do better next time! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Halloween! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNPSmIJOi43O787qQhcZaKvIgP-gPxEVXn1DsGFGp5l7zK0Jky_jLqLJYc2msIM_10GzJe1SozYegb0XuEmXag1oPAQGYRDHXbmVq83PL-KvKlDA5N90yimwBed-lkHhA73WiG1CpmzmG4BXEH5IfpFf_dWXbFtL73Hzf6XM3mqRdCY9sLyINqILwQ4I/s4000/20231024_134530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNPSmIJOi43O787qQhcZaKvIgP-gPxEVXn1DsGFGp5l7zK0Jky_jLqLJYc2msIM_10GzJe1SozYegb0XuEmXag1oPAQGYRDHXbmVq83PL-KvKlDA5N90yimwBed-lkHhA73WiG1CpmzmG4BXEH5IfpFf_dWXbFtL73Hzf6XM3mqRdCY9sLyINqILwQ4I/w360-h640/20231024_134530.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is from a wonderful yard in Garnett, Kansas, that decorates every year for Halloween. My grandson Chris and I went to the Mennonite store on Tuesday, and came around to the side to take some pictures. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU3NSWeu_iv9LEplXCGa23Z3waPQBBedaH0jRdsudwt_fQDGwKLOYU_NJATheUN-Wu8RLHlg-7kRKyYrwWCdzGZN9GNgSoQTwOfTBSSpmqw9qM4H_gxB7PSIBQoMwbGgG4KT4uQohBph_2M4nkhzF289t_ChDB6gidzc8XhXmNXG12tuoQQi6atmXezQ/s4000/20231024_134521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU3NSWeu_iv9LEplXCGa23Z3waPQBBedaH0jRdsudwt_fQDGwKLOYU_NJATheUN-Wu8RLHlg-7kRKyYrwWCdzGZN9GNgSoQTwOfTBSSpmqw9qM4H_gxB7PSIBQoMwbGgG4KT4uQohBph_2M4nkhzF289t_ChDB6gidzc8XhXmNXG12tuoQQi6atmXezQ/w360-h640/20231024_134521.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If it had not been raining, we would have gotten out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see on the tree the yard is all lit up for the display at night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Truly remarkable! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My hair looks SO STUPID in that picture :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-43359963070974848882023-09-15T11:35:00.004-05:002023-09-15T11:35:39.874-05:00Fall is Almost Here<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The summer flowers have still been going strong... </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtxp1ntpV4fruJ3HVMn--vnXAoZq26AAOn5xSJdcr34fqhulUfTbobyV6M5GB9y4fKfpyuB02ysxrlFz-R1GpFElGEzRxK-4CO1keMqoeZETRH-mzKJYuXCXq04e_2jdoDoaXq_SyWsINV0y7hJqvd5SmlapJZlWChvTpRA35F8qzQMzcdP02N5InXwA/s6000/IMG_5641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtxp1ntpV4fruJ3HVMn--vnXAoZq26AAOn5xSJdcr34fqhulUfTbobyV6M5GB9y4fKfpyuB02ysxrlFz-R1GpFElGEzRxK-4CO1keMqoeZETRH-mzKJYuXCXq04e_2jdoDoaXq_SyWsINV0y7hJqvd5SmlapJZlWChvTpRA35F8qzQMzcdP02N5InXwA/w640-h426/IMG_5641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NfgQhnFgccvbmlaega3Wm4oTPMWwBAxDEA2qKXlVwQV2oVkUfBN4dFPlJyVqJZfAIgDgTWo9vzEWynJCVPkHTXixhaqMsEk5XtuBhwmRReWxJoQ4XevEDd9pFaEZ6LLLAgWRadnhh09JEQXs224XOMshpUa6Yi7U-ael4Wk55OLJBuuBvUaR8leFJ3Y/s6000/IMG_5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NfgQhnFgccvbmlaega3Wm4oTPMWwBAxDEA2qKXlVwQV2oVkUfBN4dFPlJyVqJZfAIgDgTWo9vzEWynJCVPkHTXixhaqMsEk5XtuBhwmRReWxJoQ4XevEDd9pFaEZ6LLLAgWRadnhh09JEQXs224XOMshpUa6Yi7U-ael4Wk55OLJBuuBvUaR8leFJ3Y/w640-h426/IMG_5647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_UOazgawcfOeCDGtrv_Kci2Z4QK_mpPo1SeSM6YhzrfI7oATe1lelWWNbVCdZUXiPHBdYXHSxBjHn_LnJa5P9_antlIsCT5rpstaGbiZ8b6ztO8bAe7kA1FnjUG4tak2e99mvNYp2-Cp5qKJgTqvrmVRaZphntG6KhmHXIoDOOVUuIzdMOmlodPE24g/s6000/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_UOazgawcfOeCDGtrv_Kci2Z4QK_mpPo1SeSM6YhzrfI7oATe1lelWWNbVCdZUXiPHBdYXHSxBjHn_LnJa5P9_antlIsCT5rpstaGbiZ8b6ztO8bAe7kA1FnjUG4tak2e99mvNYp2-Cp5qKJgTqvrmVRaZphntG6KhmHXIoDOOVUuIzdMOmlodPE24g/w640-h426/IMG_5649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiPC-OiDenPOhrshbz1f8ZBHQSC4uQq8-45KE670hki2faq3FEAvPrpsVOwXLP5QlvP3t-wEbrBI4iHq5JJKCBncUh3uxowegKNRLHIc3g9t5rZZVjeuDqPcLAxCEAIwFLGQ24YQQC22VeOelBO8epdmgGe4rrtneqYyiKsAOnXvvTU8tTlLWc2zWoQY/s6000/IMG_5639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiPC-OiDenPOhrshbz1f8ZBHQSC4uQq8-45KE670hki2faq3FEAvPrpsVOwXLP5QlvP3t-wEbrBI4iHq5JJKCBncUh3uxowegKNRLHIc3g9t5rZZVjeuDqPcLAxCEAIwFLGQ24YQQC22VeOelBO8epdmgGe4rrtneqYyiKsAOnXvvTU8tTlLWc2zWoQY/w640-h426/IMG_5639.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the fact is, things are starting to fade now. I have already pulled the <br />amaranthus out of the two planters it was in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I won't plant it again, I had planted it in the ground years ago, but I did not like how it looked in it's planters over the summer</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xMFzb7ZTZ795q5nTO8a1KvaWpTJ63FNKjgI_KUJC33pTO5iXzUIbUwOYkh96T91Xpf40Fc2DMQ30H08MWtZY2dQ9qSPk89JTCG2wZeTqt6WUvHsA9S1JjGbS6pSstinLFiIbUBpRMmG8r3XvyUv5AirAT0RVhXZ-_khwtsTia5EFAIM7CWYtR6r6dfY/s6000/IMG_5678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xMFzb7ZTZ795q5nTO8a1KvaWpTJ63FNKjgI_KUJC33pTO5iXzUIbUwOYkh96T91Xpf40Fc2DMQ30H08MWtZY2dQ9qSPk89JTCG2wZeTqt6WUvHsA9S1JjGbS6pSstinLFiIbUBpRMmG8r3XvyUv5AirAT0RVhXZ-_khwtsTia5EFAIM7CWYtR6r6dfY/w640-h426/IMG_5678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I absolutely loved the wildflower mixes I planted this year, but they were extremely water-hungry, and I could not keep up with dead heading the many zinnias. As much as I loved the unusual wildflowers in the mixes, I won't plant these next year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My well has to pump up after I use a lot of water, and I had to pace myself all summer in our hot weather. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going for something much easier to take care of next summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dBFdZ-3IpysnmQZ43Ip1QixJab42ophe7S9xa_s0AHc6OL0-5Ase-Mqjin3kTRDowfiR_wcRhjVHNGIWtu_7RrROmvXSR6_p4xHp3yFqf5EytqdsNXJ08C-lMHZFHsVs1aJyVOkFABRiPckMSgXY3kAHq-74s03s46TsQgA1LsAcHqNg4dYWnmmsppE/s6000/IMG_5686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dBFdZ-3IpysnmQZ43Ip1QixJab42ophe7S9xa_s0AHc6OL0-5Ase-Mqjin3kTRDowfiR_wcRhjVHNGIWtu_7RrROmvXSR6_p4xHp3yFqf5EytqdsNXJ08C-lMHZFHsVs1aJyVOkFABRiPckMSgXY3kAHq-74s03s46TsQgA1LsAcHqNg4dYWnmmsppE/w640-h426/IMG_5686.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hanging baskets I made still look really good on the shaded edge of the porch roof. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They smell good, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8B9Js2zSVdLe2Z-FO25xUyPU6axWiaSv49jQQMd59KPA_o5SMn789WqjwKW4eg3WIWyf0gw60fwCd9YdHTx4k4xNGGdGx_GIE3-figUjBiI5MIvD3ta12h_5UerG4BXj4qyNZvdglDMcC0WNFBObVRb_V7jPSS2syRC0jz4GrNtumNOT4jcHX198dog/s6000/IMG_5634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8B9Js2zSVdLe2Z-FO25xUyPU6axWiaSv49jQQMd59KPA_o5SMn789WqjwKW4eg3WIWyf0gw60fwCd9YdHTx4k4xNGGdGx_GIE3-figUjBiI5MIvD3ta12h_5UerG4BXj4qyNZvdglDMcC0WNFBObVRb_V7jPSS2syRC0jz4GrNtumNOT4jcHX198dog/w640-h426/IMG_5634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My one tomato plant, a cherry, is still bearing, and that blue flower is an example of the wildflowers in one of the mixes. I really enjoyed them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf0B4Ng6XaQ8KyfKiw15rMwfB73gUspKIodu61MCyZEtqLjJ5RKsPfB83Uny45xUFibTgku_jkrlDpDjnbI8G0j2Pe1viDjIeNmh8yGUgwxFHRubVLPy8tFOT6-t4nJVza7HsneGubkHtcHRBhKfkZqXRjYpR4HJlEULmeRUrBH-IKNSvF91JE-JTCP8/s6000/IMG_5676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf0B4Ng6XaQ8KyfKiw15rMwfB73gUspKIodu61MCyZEtqLjJ5RKsPfB83Uny45xUFibTgku_jkrlDpDjnbI8G0j2Pe1viDjIeNmh8yGUgwxFHRubVLPy8tFOT6-t4nJVza7HsneGubkHtcHRBhKfkZqXRjYpR4HJlEULmeRUrBH-IKNSvF91JE-JTCP8/w640-h426/IMG_5676.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The grass is dying already, and I have not had to cut often these last two weeks. I am going to get the mower out today to do along the road and a couple of other spots, but really... we have had so little rain it has not been necessary. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR91fx4uF-TSQUQ9vOl3RHWc45mgPlDjwP7J1PMrsN8HYVRxxs2SKCZQSjwmveQXfYlinOXwTPU7EUXkUb2kbCRxyPfBGEIQyTabOieMWzhaFbUskHF6uDGYvEIWihhJRZCun5ksosAkNBilUoV3ntfAwj0TbzjVXRIXisedP0scugdJtZlVgBpb1fmOI/s6000/IMG_5623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR91fx4uF-TSQUQ9vOl3RHWc45mgPlDjwP7J1PMrsN8HYVRxxs2SKCZQSjwmveQXfYlinOXwTPU7EUXkUb2kbCRxyPfBGEIQyTabOieMWzhaFbUskHF6uDGYvEIWihhJRZCun5ksosAkNBilUoV3ntfAwj0TbzjVXRIXisedP0scugdJtZlVgBpb1fmOI/w640-h426/IMG_5623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">My friends in the big sheep flock went home three weeks ago, and three </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">individuals came over to stay with me for a while... </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyVpXKFaNQl-Qf_QudIZk1a1Hp_tQ_cRSXdX50hTTDWb5Jr3FmpA2SjwO1PvCiEP-kCI8wpBG1QU-CkuHX_-EdxxqlrjQVC5Yzey5JDfzLqiDTjuaplOAX4fGTZNGDEtTiYJrIAhVXROMAjJES2aXlI19Ba9tx3kc-J80l47poZEm6OfePdWgQDf0cCs/s6000/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyVpXKFaNQl-Qf_QudIZk1a1Hp_tQ_cRSXdX50hTTDWb5Jr3FmpA2SjwO1PvCiEP-kCI8wpBG1QU-CkuHX_-EdxxqlrjQVC5Yzey5JDfzLqiDTjuaplOAX4fGTZNGDEtTiYJrIAhVXROMAjJES2aXlI19Ba9tx3kc-J80l47poZEm6OfePdWgQDf0cCs/w640-h426/IMG_5694.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snickers the Jersey heifer, Doodles the goat, whose mama Apple was here for two summers... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68PV-VyNztkRXEZg0xBRx6HcnOBOB-wMw2L5KPKHavA4Wl5VXWFvw0vAaOWIhpJ4WSZMaTGNr47gujo6p2Ugz4SQ-kXjm5PibSMdgre4gXjX_yd8cO1s18Vvq0ElzBcJuZmcGinyB-cYSWC-QvRd1F66wtea4ZVp4lRU9Q8XC-HxIbkVCHY_8rzA1hFk/s6000/IMG_5695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68PV-VyNztkRXEZg0xBRx6HcnOBOB-wMw2L5KPKHavA4Wl5VXWFvw0vAaOWIhpJ4WSZMaTGNr47gujo6p2Ugz4SQ-kXjm5PibSMdgre4gXjX_yd8cO1s18Vvq0ElzBcJuZmcGinyB-cYSWC-QvRd1F66wtea4ZVp4lRU9Q8XC-HxIbkVCHY_8rzA1hFk/w640-h426/IMG_5695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and Snowball, one of the first sheep my friends who board here owned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have so enjoyed watching these three, I told their owner I was in love with them and they had to stay forever! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7XWC5owuP2bZhqnhtdlv-tII_VvSN2baTP2d6zJ5rrxdC-1HpxD9fmXjGiBP2d1oz8RQsAUEt22twaAS8_MeKKpuPsjxs_KZTeaP0KhLVWhtgiToH8fW1OOO6g-dt_6Sttl7vb_FaFz0FLd9o1PDb7ro17Y66P5mc8_h4Bag1CncoZtebWE2IbfF1sQ/s6000/IMG_5690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7XWC5owuP2bZhqnhtdlv-tII_VvSN2baTP2d6zJ5rrxdC-1HpxD9fmXjGiBP2d1oz8RQsAUEt22twaAS8_MeKKpuPsjxs_KZTeaP0KhLVWhtgiToH8fW1OOO6g-dt_6Sttl7vb_FaFz0FLd9o1PDb7ro17Y66P5mc8_h4Bag1CncoZtebWE2IbfF1sQ/w640-h426/IMG_5690.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing their faces at the fence makes my day brighter!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had some losses here, too, including one very sad one, yesterday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTCT445CEik4uKrX0rkLLNMDkD8fAMJCk_LaUgP6l9w5Yte9qPJboG_Qfqp_EtVjtPoh0hKO4rGR46kXOc7DMBUSTBoQq6ZgxH_ydN-yK0UPsWO-62bmiBZd0E-nuE1AmMCeYKBCBuUATAqr3jQ_e6mCSFrLA4XH1WmjFYzkUwiCDxeJsiWHZQOmVSe4/s6000/IMG_5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTCT445CEik4uKrX0rkLLNMDkD8fAMJCk_LaUgP6l9w5Yte9qPJboG_Qfqp_EtVjtPoh0hKO4rGR46kXOc7DMBUSTBoQq6ZgxH_ydN-yK0UPsWO-62bmiBZd0E-nuE1AmMCeYKBCBuUATAqr3jQ_e6mCSFrLA4XH1WmjFYzkUwiCDxeJsiWHZQOmVSe4/w640-h426/IMG_5698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took this picture one day last week, when I randomly walked around with my camera one evening. I had let the chickens over on the "house side" of the yard... and I found Singleton out by the deck as I came out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Singleton was the boss rooster. He was one of two sons of brown Ferdinand, who died over the summer. Singie was the only chick in his clutch to hatch, and his mama raised him for a few weeks way back six years ago, thus his name, Singleton. He bossed his daddy around unmercifully... and his brother Buddy and the smaller rooster, Doug, the Silkie. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday, I heard him crow oddly... and turned around and teased him for it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That morning, when I let them out, I heard him give a barking cough, twice, and I turned quickly to see who had done it, because it is an indication of respiratory infection. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I told him he had better not get sick on me. He took wonderful care of his hens, and I could trust him to get them in safely every single night. Indeed, Wednesday night they were all in at seven, waiting for me to lock up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found him gone in the brooder pen yesterday morning. I was stunned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ground is like iron here, or he would have been buried. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6x3_wlmpugaK4yKKboGUw_ZJPtRhGmbNXKhHJmXZFEbhlJFGwFo3pmLu0W926oA8XzOj35U_h_DuVOI_Dl1STeunNcOqXi2FZk6BYv2gPjNbhndxmpir8aY_H-wf8MqBKlD6CS5RMH4-u5NYWWloTdilS4P-60A2hveN2ZJNrcCQ2g0CwqmEqWkjQdY/s6000/IMG_5722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6x3_wlmpugaK4yKKboGUw_ZJPtRhGmbNXKhHJmXZFEbhlJFGwFo3pmLu0W926oA8XzOj35U_h_DuVOI_Dl1STeunNcOqXi2FZk6BYv2gPjNbhndxmpir8aY_H-wf8MqBKlD6CS5RMH4-u5NYWWloTdilS4P-60A2hveN2ZJNrcCQ2g0CwqmEqWkjQdY/w640-h426/IMG_5722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I could not get a shovel into it out in the garden to dig a hole, and my oldest son was out of town this weekend. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had to put him in the pasture, where I put other offerings for the coyotes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It broke my heart; of all, he should have been buried here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The day before, I had lost my last Ameracauna hen, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">she had been fading over the course of a week... not going outside.... not able to stand for long. She was not in pain, just fading. (no coughing) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was on the floor, gone, when I walked in on Wednesday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprOGeosGkMvW16JB5Xv7dq9oA_lkwaBg-q7xzaRdjJRuGOiBITGxrNekdugXmWGFYp7ROb1DMGpUsN3nzOq0uHdxy7iQXHVYeFbf3n6UrbI_dHXmv9ehdxl-SHskDyMsG8qQ-81CYc4NuZ_QRpNVFnYz6SasxJbYh9ROxsxNZONGbZjHB1nmEFXGgdSI/s6000/Brownie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprOGeosGkMvW16JB5Xv7dq9oA_lkwaBg-q7xzaRdjJRuGOiBITGxrNekdugXmWGFYp7ROb1DMGpUsN3nzOq0uHdxy7iQXHVYeFbf3n6UrbI_dHXmv9ehdxl-SHskDyMsG8qQ-81CYc4NuZ_QRpNVFnYz6SasxJbYh9ROxsxNZONGbZjHB1nmEFXGgdSI/w640-h426/Brownie.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel like this girl will be the next. She is very old, already eight... she is the last of the Brown Leghorns, and laid a wonderful huge white egg for years. She is the first one in every evening, and is not roosting anymore, though she does fly up to the next boxes in the big hen house and make herself comfortable in a nest for the night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It saddens me to see my birds grow old. I only get a few eggs daily now... though I do have the three pullets from this year to come on in the spring. Cochins are not prolific layers, though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG2HNrcIuU4_-nq3YE4vpnxr5wspO78EV4yZhVNbLFdR1w3PBsNsm7r4FSTI-mOPQtlSniJ5vahqBG2d8v4oFOjOQssTw-JseBRpEEYzVPdzfA04B41uqdULlU6yG0YEjxnLbB7n9FyxMHq_l_8oANuZsRRyBLdF1bxD0D-X7dX80FUkzf8aW79Y7YXM/w360-h640/Cochin%20pullets%20two.jpg" width="360" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are still being carried in and out daily, though they are almost full grown... because I am afraid for them to go under the big hen house and then have to struggle to get them out. <br />It has to come sometime, I know that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am wondering if maybe it is time to move them over to the old hen house which is on level ground, and introduce them to the girls there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Singleton's old house). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHlhCbt-aLv_gYNUeTsOFKjKasNnHzhrJBu9ChVzN2jzB_kEFf5q_R1EWtv9GF_6ckyo7On9r5-JiSDFT0RhKWZhOorVmkT9tQO_DlJIRqjCkJwroy0Me4p9m_rH3KdL6EZuznUqjQtssJpW3hvs8FlGcmjNTramwJLJz4uBotMkY8IJfS87b1OR7wOE/s6000/IMG_5699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHlhCbt-aLv_gYNUeTsOFKjKasNnHzhrJBu9ChVzN2jzB_kEFf5q_R1EWtv9GF_6ckyo7On9r5-JiSDFT0RhKWZhOorVmkT9tQO_DlJIRqjCkJwroy0Me4p9m_rH3KdL6EZuznUqjQtssJpW3hvs8FlGcmjNTramwJLJz4uBotMkY8IJfS87b1OR7wOE/w640-h426/IMG_5699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's Bob... cause of my rabies shot series that I just finished. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not dead, so he must not have had it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is going to get rabies and distemper shots in the next few weeks, so I don't ever have to worry again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aedHat4AguhWBvWymcK3U2mLr6Ii6a5xKuovujbGmzufy3v8CgqX9naebjFucADpYvnVlIcsYeFCCtI8FhwBMUOGGmSJYmZoBlnIPcR57NAgTs5ZZF1p2mZgh31BDibyfipBBIySIrmy4NLrrJCHzlWzHenRHbLYLntGT4yslY8hqK3MHpN30Hr0tcs/s6000/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aedHat4AguhWBvWymcK3U2mLr6Ii6a5xKuovujbGmzufy3v8CgqX9naebjFucADpYvnVlIcsYeFCCtI8FhwBMUOGGmSJYmZoBlnIPcR57NAgTs5ZZF1p2mZgh31BDibyfipBBIySIrmy4NLrrJCHzlWzHenRHbLYLntGT4yslY8hqK3MHpN30Hr0tcs/w640-h426/IMG_5717.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The trees are already turning, and poison ivy growing in them has turned bright red. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fall is here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-75348309516988936902023-08-22T11:46:00.003-05:002023-08-22T11:46:33.729-05:00Even More Heat <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heat has become the new normal here in Kansas lately. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRC9KJlFVcMioVd9zEr7F0iDcv14U5yuOoAgVdfv4zGEiz0HD6gcw2TWfrox_oltkgcNYF6LBfN-pF7NfeQ9-2Po-5I1Nb2PBE6rEr7SMdHwayaO4e7VfXH1qzR8cX26uRBfqqvYJUUQJN-C6XgYzAgQhhNHWJqisI_II8JbTucOu6Zw8mCOIPF_VAdA/s963/Glorious%20sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRC9KJlFVcMioVd9zEr7F0iDcv14U5yuOoAgVdfv4zGEiz0HD6gcw2TWfrox_oltkgcNYF6LBfN-pF7NfeQ9-2Po-5I1Nb2PBE6rEr7SMdHwayaO4e7VfXH1qzR8cX26uRBfqqvYJUUQJN-C6XgYzAgQhhNHWJqisI_II8JbTucOu6Zw8mCOIPF_VAdA/w360-h640/Glorious%20sunrise.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sheep came back just in time for the heat. They are grazing in the early morning and the late evening, and at night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They have been doing okay in the heat of the day, and believe me, it's been hot. It got to 100 yesterday, with a "feels like" of 124. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zHRhI3xo9GW6Nuzw8mHfV83GjdxzwKo4ZtogKmAKO0JYwya8RC3EaQUTWk4b7P4lboyM2lZjxARB4WxPTxuJzsBAgoYGeKVmVJqdoloUJ8o_oGPkN-mPYFYV-DihrEOnbJy5BCU8Mu3JuoUY9WZ5TPa-2vF3o6XGL6wdiHrx19aPwLkgQoqDc4eYbvM/s220/Feels%20like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="99" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zHRhI3xo9GW6Nuzw8mHfV83GjdxzwKo4ZtogKmAKO0JYwya8RC3EaQUTWk4b7P4lboyM2lZjxARB4WxPTxuJzsBAgoYGeKVmVJqdoloUJ8o_oGPkN-mPYFYV-DihrEOnbJy5BCU8Mu3JuoUY9WZ5TPa-2vF3o6XGL6wdiHrx19aPwLkgQoqDc4eYbvM/w288-h640/Feels%20like.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I try to keep their pools filled with clean, cold water... and the swimming pool that is their drinking backup is in the shade, and the area all around it is kept wet and cool... about six of them lay there in the shade every afternoon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So far, the chickens have survived, but egg production has gone down to two or three a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did lose one bird in the hot spell three weeks ago... but so far, no more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I check them frequently during the day. About 5, I put frozen bottles in their fountains with fresh water, but frankly... today it will be six before I do that, because I am leaving them out later. I'm letting them choose when to go back in the hot hen houses. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iJqoNqTBf0yrz8dmqOx5iKZgqS6b3_TIHTHtG7ef1IKN0BIZFyXXptb4NCH_FAiJgdPsjVGFohU3AdpLpvdMvSX6AZ3lNGkoRe9AmZo5wGYYqpFIhYvLz-28JUeYRiO3YCDSnXHBvRGf3Zu0y0Hh6YV_qexkehwu6i0SDdZ4XFilcfvSTnyETzq7YAU/s4992/Mamita%20laying%20down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iJqoNqTBf0yrz8dmqOx5iKZgqS6b3_TIHTHtG7ef1IKN0BIZFyXXptb4NCH_FAiJgdPsjVGFohU3AdpLpvdMvSX6AZ3lNGkoRe9AmZo5wGYYqpFIhYvLz-28JUeYRiO3YCDSnXHBvRGf3Zu0y0Hh6YV_qexkehwu6i0SDdZ4XFilcfvSTnyETzq7YAU/w640-h360/Mamita%20laying%20down.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mamita was enjoying the fan and the cool floor in the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mama was the mother (now neutered) of the kitten litter that was born here. They are all in rescue now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She never got bigger than a teenage kitten herself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't even shut the shop door at night, they have to have some air flow, along with their fan. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VpCHsYYxfmBn0lkR7eruL_g-XqEJYwItDxxxPFEeNooq0rpq2SRueht0wfTujAsYUmzwENBw2LXxHmYKTLY9C0aBXMvsE58Ehq36fWE43BVabI6rR2FxIEbEB14oCArsg7YG6fMAWizsFQZdKdtyJZ839_KENYlw1cThlpr5CwJ5D678_nCgxJp2TNk/s4608/Not%20a%20cat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VpCHsYYxfmBn0lkR7eruL_g-XqEJYwItDxxxPFEeNooq0rpq2SRueht0wfTujAsYUmzwENBw2LXxHmYKTLY9C0aBXMvsE58Ehq36fWE43BVabI6rR2FxIEbEB14oCArsg7YG6fMAWizsFQZdKdtyJZ839_KENYlw1cThlpr5CwJ5D678_nCgxJp2TNk/w640-h360/Not%20a%20cat.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is NOT a cat on the porch of the big hen house! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC3ILFrfbNLI1O75Hq1_DoDdHUodCOKZ4nzR8XscGupM4xKSee3ieZNsHstpaqxYK0GTNP29QHSbRGB-ajo-WzUoFoEUayZ5JBSCSc4yVoxUyntar2lfuGULj9y6MiqdmMEFnzZtdDZUlhp_b28Dtq-lh-Oa0xOtsDxO3X_HhOqgUBSM6sF6H5f-SLvU/s4608/Diamond%20Lil%20front%20porch%20pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC3ILFrfbNLI1O75Hq1_DoDdHUodCOKZ4nzR8XscGupM4xKSee3ieZNsHstpaqxYK0GTNP29QHSbRGB-ajo-WzUoFoEUayZ5JBSCSc4yVoxUyntar2lfuGULj9y6MiqdmMEFnzZtdDZUlhp_b28Dtq-lh-Oa0xOtsDxO3X_HhOqgUBSM6sF6H5f-SLvU/w640-h360/Diamond%20Lil%20front%20porch%20pic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The same camera caught this picture I was so glad to see. That's Diamond Lil from Kitty Cat Connection, she is truly the most feral of any cat that was let loose here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She will not let anyone come near her, and I honestly thought she had disappeared, I had not seen her in so long. She was out of luck... I take the food up at night... so I am hoping she is eating in the garage during the day, when I don't see her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is a dilute calico. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mXVO6mnL_aPbU2-qKNJ0mcxvo-KFny4dIwnws0JNLKb42Hcy2WU_ysibYo1y-kJgsVdut1oReOPfS0xe4dzhx6bbF4zM8x1MSa2HSCp50L5r9Ur1Yxekej45U3UEVF-luVXrwzpJYVxXfrVIh6X1CAFgJfu5Bbddg3splRLvhie41QGxqcmQRdrd-dg/s963/Bob%20looking%20in%20the%20window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mXVO6mnL_aPbU2-qKNJ0mcxvo-KFny4dIwnws0JNLKb42Hcy2WU_ysibYo1y-kJgsVdut1oReOPfS0xe4dzhx6bbF4zM8x1MSa2HSCp50L5r9Ur1Yxekej45U3UEVF-luVXrwzpJYVxXfrVIh6X1CAFgJfu5Bbddg3splRLvhie41QGxqcmQRdrd-dg/w360-h640/Bob%20looking%20in%20the%20window.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Bob looking in the window at me. He wants to come in and be on my lap. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob is still half feral... he and Coco cannot be together, she hates him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What happens is one must go to my room and be locked up, while the other is in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last night, Bob was in my room and ... still playing roughly... bit me hard, breaking the skin on the back of my left hand. I'll be watching it for a few days to make sure I don't have a problem there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was ushered out with a bowl of food onto the back deck, and did not come back in until early this morning. He is our right now, under the deck where it is cool. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kh_Ce7vHsx2r9F81fw0tOqxc8SMZs05QGa_xHMr7lVtE2xWbiKql-ZyqeM8IGQSeP8fZS1kBIATgQqzixpriQ1w1rhz8myNl_p4xjAHBLdkywRLadb99jpEZ63P4TrC-2UmvwvcDKCdnT3JiNrcgoaeKyJIFKk5qcQWzlylpaI6sbJzpujMIp0Zi3YI/s6000/IMG_5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kh_Ce7vHsx2r9F81fw0tOqxc8SMZs05QGa_xHMr7lVtE2xWbiKql-ZyqeM8IGQSeP8fZS1kBIATgQqzixpriQ1w1rhz8myNl_p4xjAHBLdkywRLadb99jpEZ63P4TrC-2UmvwvcDKCdnT3JiNrcgoaeKyJIFKk5qcQWzlylpaI6sbJzpujMIp0Zi3YI/w640-h426/IMG_5642.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every year, I like to grow something a little different. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year, I grew wildflower mixes in the various planters I have. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have some opinions about them after the summer has passed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They have been WAY too water-dependent... and the zinnias, frankly, while always some of my favorite flowers... have been a pain to deadhead. Notice I took this from far away! I need to spend 30 minutes deadheading later today, that's how bad it is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All those spent flowers get carted to the compost heap. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I used to save all the seeds, I no longer do. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saved balsam seeds for years, and my porch planter balsam is half the size of the balsam in the planters that I planted this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zeBR2egJAp0KzSZ7Nw4v8Yz-EBAr0LWTJSAH6OUNQm-HImr_jmm3x3tIo_DPIgzCe-lzEBSLvSZlZeQrgudAGbMRCKstWjX6vrdEQ1NiecMPrl-2sAw9-R_CrjRToUYCtLd3Vi9rMDBbY2FwsOQZAEdCyhRynO0xKZF2uWOjXEAmT5Q_urLwtHMtC8s/s6000/IMG_5635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zeBR2egJAp0KzSZ7Nw4v8Yz-EBAr0LWTJSAH6OUNQm-HImr_jmm3x3tIo_DPIgzCe-lzEBSLvSZlZeQrgudAGbMRCKstWjX6vrdEQ1NiecMPrl-2sAw9-R_CrjRToUYCtLd3Vi9rMDBbY2FwsOQZAEdCyhRynO0xKZF2uWOjXEAmT5Q_urLwtHMtC8s/w640-h426/IMG_5635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's balsam on the patio, and the deck balsam is about half that size. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xuLzqohc69RkMNSZSvONwhBiAMXHpjL6FDE9luibuK2GOFYInYcrTD2NPyy11nkUqPeHskGm5Y8xNXC5eSByyAnUwJI_RqjcxqvPRDr0whgU6slugcW6fkZNc5cL1x6-kMJExR2XxuWIak5F5qdYa5zF5okO3FYZR_UkGWyIPZVxlvWgrYXLBKrt4YU/s6000/IMG_5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xuLzqohc69RkMNSZSvONwhBiAMXHpjL6FDE9luibuK2GOFYInYcrTD2NPyy11nkUqPeHskGm5Y8xNXC5eSByyAnUwJI_RqjcxqvPRDr0whgU6slugcW6fkZNc5cL1x6-kMJExR2XxuWIak5F5qdYa5zF5okO3FYZR_UkGWyIPZVxlvWgrYXLBKrt4YU/w640-h426/IMG_5647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do love that there are tiny wildflowers in the mixes. I love them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv5uroKA21ONE0FT1CYIs6QfQ1uP4-TemR__zNZ_oFXVsQ2dbQbOhrQMqPywqPmthbCXWcAryQ9rBCni__sxz3T-Bcajtbq36qrnoQAtq3z8J4IwKXR6J0c9O3sqjPCy6n_E1rPRQZEtDvRjtxzxP53HXxBxBxt9bcWK-zKfJAZYzcdnYfkTbse8UGeg/s6000/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv5uroKA21ONE0FT1CYIs6QfQ1uP4-TemR__zNZ_oFXVsQ2dbQbOhrQMqPywqPmthbCXWcAryQ9rBCni__sxz3T-Bcajtbq36qrnoQAtq3z8J4IwKXR6J0c9O3sqjPCy6n_E1rPRQZEtDvRjtxzxP53HXxBxBxt9bcWK-zKfJAZYzcdnYfkTbse8UGeg/w640-h426/IMG_5649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I am seeing butterflies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CmVbdeey9uW1a5JJV4SSgWif5beqZjML7Su3CDI5Vt4GGl0oyZdO1gFvIDs1gqTOtKgaM8mC1ho8Pt-0wF3WPKahQSCGh05F29AqfcMtlcxixyXG6d3pfbE4tY4iGnkd7ITp3lZMZhX1m-gSBwaikaA9Dq-xDTux_bFhcWpH6y_SX55rr1IaR0MlOQk/s6000/IMG_5658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CmVbdeey9uW1a5JJV4SSgWif5beqZjML7Su3CDI5Vt4GGl0oyZdO1gFvIDs1gqTOtKgaM8mC1ho8Pt-0wF3WPKahQSCGh05F29AqfcMtlcxixyXG6d3pfbE4tY4iGnkd7ITp3lZMZhX1m-gSBwaikaA9Dq-xDTux_bFhcWpH6y_SX55rr1IaR0MlOQk/w640-h426/IMG_5658.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bed of sunflowers I envisioned did not happen. I had about eight come up, that's it. That lovely orange one was in the middle and is just blooming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to find a different place to plant them next year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The problem with sunflowers has always been that their root balls take up so much room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWyOhGRmN2OzlpAyXIAGZzPsAcmEqEB0Yw7LHs0vKB14ASAJXVw8prYbnNLeUDPHocJ5ORF1Wk4V7OErLKLO_JV_xaBW-N4pITIZSHEbJhinJGhcrKoa78EmswNe_17RfO4uQxbCjpLjsk_oLdmIC_gmu5NQ1aQo9zCMD52nEje9h8JeYP1VMi-wAYCw/s6000/IMG_5634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWyOhGRmN2OzlpAyXIAGZzPsAcmEqEB0Yw7LHs0vKB14ASAJXVw8prYbnNLeUDPHocJ5ORF1Wk4V7OErLKLO_JV_xaBW-N4pITIZSHEbJhinJGhcrKoa78EmswNe_17RfO4uQxbCjpLjsk_oLdmIC_gmu5NQ1aQo9zCMD52nEje9h8JeYP1VMi-wAYCw/w640-h426/IMG_5634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another example of a wildflower in one of the mixes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only tomato I grew this year was this red grape, and it has been very prolific. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNphAzHJuoho_aCP6L-6IohopUz_mTYxY-Q2cGgDiNLaKyyI9uajSOhOd-BdTP4zBtPkx1sxprT-Me12doLKF1zecU9CKZuWR8ZtNes9CtZ4TTQWW32QMvbd4v7eyrPIa1eZMnz5H_9pJbwlBHsuKxONFd_-KyTJY39tIyLco9uwwCgvM_BBg9z5PSggk/s6000/IMG_5661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNphAzHJuoho_aCP6L-6IohopUz_mTYxY-Q2cGgDiNLaKyyI9uajSOhOd-BdTP4zBtPkx1sxprT-Me12doLKF1zecU9CKZuWR8ZtNes9CtZ4TTQWW32QMvbd4v7eyrPIa1eZMnz5H_9pJbwlBHsuKxONFd_-KyTJY39tIyLco9uwwCgvM_BBg9z5PSggk/w640-h426/IMG_5661.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have huge, fat milkweed pods this year! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ozwx35tMavf5RD6FrLbC8HIG2-mLPT6MZowHcfDVQkQAr-nNrImsE5w8Bc62rDItwBA-4ObEcIu9HUXqBQlu_sIwRCsZRfPVfYT1WkaAf-8pa-5yzcovZNS-FY28G1Fo3EbnHtaP-i4eR5xm3R3xZd376ThZrML3YfoaH6xavoVvQg3LDUHUvSJjIVA/s963/Sage%20bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ozwx35tMavf5RD6FrLbC8HIG2-mLPT6MZowHcfDVQkQAr-nNrImsE5w8Bc62rDItwBA-4ObEcIu9HUXqBQlu_sIwRCsZRfPVfYT1WkaAf-8pa-5yzcovZNS-FY28G1Fo3EbnHtaP-i4eR5xm3R3xZd376ThZrML3YfoaH6xavoVvQg3LDUHUvSJjIVA/w360-h640/Sage%20bed.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my sage bed, taken on one of the rainy days we had. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4ifQ1Uy28kqowJUrLeLgqH05CwPaEu9kSxIh-NFhhbmp-dnqGjnnDSgWt6tlb3QiLGzGfLcXF0reuG2C1yFMmYUqg-USdsNyvRZAiuQzgyPKN82yyUqUK-dHwRCcuO1-ckyNVzPHlUUlLq9Bw1-Fi-MubdBqrXBqEkvOHKiYTUV-OJjoCtK42NhVqV0/s4608/Pipsqueak%20on%20the%20front%20of%20the%20bhh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4ifQ1Uy28kqowJUrLeLgqH05CwPaEu9kSxIh-NFhhbmp-dnqGjnnDSgWt6tlb3QiLGzGfLcXF0reuG2C1yFMmYUqg-USdsNyvRZAiuQzgyPKN82yyUqUK-dHwRCcuO1-ckyNVzPHlUUlLq9Bw1-Fi-MubdBqrXBqEkvOHKiYTUV-OJjoCtK42NhVqV0/w640-h360/Pipsqueak%20on%20the%20front%20of%20the%20bhh.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's little Pip on the front porch of the big hen house.... Sunday morning, she squatted down when she came out, and kind of sat there for a minute. I looked when she moved and she had stopped, laid an egg, and then went on down the steps! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone try to get through the heat-rain-smoke as best you can... fall is coming! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-61320934953591572852023-08-13T17:56:00.000-05:002023-08-13T17:56:19.333-05:00Days of Rain <blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, I posted about the fact we had been sweltering through a hot summer, as so many of you are this year. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, we suffered again, but... we have had 3 inches of rain since Thursday! Two, today, from a storm early this morning and then another this afternoon. We have a storm warning for tonight, too. I am supposed to have a construction company here this week to start doing some work on the house, so I am not sure what this means, but I am so glad to have the extra rain. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i44A3_DvXqqWX-3VPdZhrl7a7wyMJj-C00LX0S5MlDqiKLhpSlmgj-XImkOSS02T3ld4A4X9E6KJivnfENFzKWAFEAoZ0KWUugMKR28Ls86lubuYofnVWLjfn-q3o0mQsVa28TPr5WHLTYm5YYuqe-d_X4O4mIKxF1yqFOMU1cQ2QhT6Ij0bbHNOQ2M/s6000/IMG_5619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i44A3_DvXqqWX-3VPdZhrl7a7wyMJj-C00LX0S5MlDqiKLhpSlmgj-XImkOSS02T3ld4A4X9E6KJivnfENFzKWAFEAoZ0KWUugMKR28Ls86lubuYofnVWLjfn-q3o0mQsVa28TPr5WHLTYm5YYuqe-d_X4O4mIKxF1yqFOMU1cQ2QhT6Ij0bbHNOQ2M/w640-h426/IMG_5619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This happened in a storm three weeks ago. Ben tried to get it down, but no tugging would do it. If you look on the left, you will see one branch is totally dead, but two are still hanging secure. One has dropped down almost to the ground now, and I am mowing around it, and yes, I am careful. I am hoping if we do get the additional storm tonight, there will be some movement while no one is under it to get hurt. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVCoLeclqXA-3FhsNVFrpDTC-HyivdnzRlH36AIBnjS7kjlmbz-O5i0eVylgU55RGweS0MAR-FrcUK-IT7UYJQsPlQE2A6n48-M-SWDs81AqX971Sc1u6enQNXjqBtIc9lcWhfVMUv1yPeeNPvMSCuIxN8aeXzuuvb72PjbmbTX6cBk7yvhqWuSCOq78/s6000/IMG_5593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVCoLeclqXA-3FhsNVFrpDTC-HyivdnzRlH36AIBnjS7kjlmbz-O5i0eVylgU55RGweS0MAR-FrcUK-IT7UYJQsPlQE2A6n48-M-SWDs81AqX971Sc1u6enQNXjqBtIc9lcWhfVMUv1yPeeNPvMSCuIxN8aeXzuuvb72PjbmbTX6cBk7yvhqWuSCOq78/w640-h426/IMG_5593.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look who came back this week! (Yes, that's the ram in the foreground... impressive!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTN6RUo4ywqabMWdESdL06l9u2Fj8VTzjRicw2aNQTTWQmJ7uarQ-cnP6E0fOpRo2XvJKGGPjdzOTk8lWEaNXDLEPvXmT_TTHrG6ytpDQebVOlM_sTsBXS_9bIiSo1HLpTUKbDpcgsXBtktftWrmkJhrFHKB0kWA3zFThOEXeAYkNvEv3oxr87dk5lzE/s6000/IMG_5591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTN6RUo4ywqabMWdESdL06l9u2Fj8VTzjRicw2aNQTTWQmJ7uarQ-cnP6E0fOpRo2XvJKGGPjdzOTk8lWEaNXDLEPvXmT_TTHrG6ytpDQebVOlM_sTsBXS_9bIiSo1HLpTUKbDpcgsXBtktftWrmkJhrFHKB0kWA3zFThOEXeAYkNvEv3oxr87dk5lzE/w640-h426/IMG_5591.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nugget, who was formerly mine, was born here and she is heavy with lamb. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is so good to look out in the morning and see them all grazing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The length of time they will be here now will depend on the grass... but this rain surely helped. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissYKQ6gp0vLyUXaRo2Z850UXCDySKScWC_LDPDg7IFcQLtrF7ZdeUWQ09juOqzV6BCJ53m_0vklkIhapwIesQ5g_Q_0FSp5eVY-5IexDTOpw-IxVhwOSkHBg8NdE-kcGRqHEzZxXWfPo1_DhakpsfP5iNGj1_XAlUGIrUma1xlmxL8_vf1JT5rsYgLcc/s6000/IMG_5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissYKQ6gp0vLyUXaRo2Z850UXCDySKScWC_LDPDg7IFcQLtrF7ZdeUWQ09juOqzV6BCJ53m_0vklkIhapwIesQ5g_Q_0FSp5eVY-5IexDTOpw-IxVhwOSkHBg8NdE-kcGRqHEzZxXWfPo1_DhakpsfP5iNGj1_XAlUGIrUma1xlmxL8_vf1JT5rsYgLcc/w640-h426/IMG_5596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They made quick work of the weeds in the pen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1v6BOiz25gO1V2Lot6I8YBEG8CXlFqMfNRzrX0voLZXwqeGCO8BJC67ZBBn92TCEOUYuvZaZaFniE-fNnc7mTyBV6q1GZWDhBGiSYT_OepB_mBeMdWlONEyStsgWtFXXP9Ym69FavFM2_h3G2kJlfsl49Hb23Si9k_fYXheoqax98LMOK329ibX5i-qM/s6000/IMG_5608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1v6BOiz25gO1V2Lot6I8YBEG8CXlFqMfNRzrX0voLZXwqeGCO8BJC67ZBBn92TCEOUYuvZaZaFniE-fNnc7mTyBV6q1GZWDhBGiSYT_OepB_mBeMdWlONEyStsgWtFXXP9Ym69FavFM2_h3G2kJlfsl49Hb23Si9k_fYXheoqax98LMOK329ibX5i-qM/w640-h426/IMG_5608.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have let the chickens over on the "house side" of the yard several times this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked out to see Singleton, the most dominant rooster, on the porch one afternoon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Singie was the lone chick that hatched under his mama. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is five this year, and more dominant than his brother, Buddy, the other big rooster. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTkdxyvGY0Hbatoaqaknx5fparhnmaigGeUxr8MouxCLy2h3WGBt2T8FlRqqSWDNoyjCawYwPHhhsabEGfoQhbeotIs9cByuz1oXRQXsrbHBcTyxg3HGrAECTi1bmhvjsDA8UZ7ZSblcvxYs3LaOX4fiIvvA6kD93SOWLeac_7Qw0B7nRZK0qadWRLx0/s6000/IMG_5604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTkdxyvGY0Hbatoaqaknx5fparhnmaigGeUxr8MouxCLy2h3WGBt2T8FlRqqSWDNoyjCawYwPHhhsabEGfoQhbeotIs9cByuz1oXRQXsrbHBcTyxg3HGrAECTi1bmhvjsDA8UZ7ZSblcvxYs3LaOX4fiIvvA6kD93SOWLeac_7Qw0B7nRZK0qadWRLx0/w640-h426/IMG_5604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked out one morning to see Bob staring up at the feeder. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was a squirrel perched up there eating, not knowing how close Bob was. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(or maybe knowing full well!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob was actually standing on his hind feet stretched out against the pole, but got down when he caught movement in the window where I was. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddYpwNz2XCXLuHl7q4drv0uN0-2JHJUI5cDBi_49oTf1eYxEYKtJcSWVQDYvhJwAElMvww-6wqqSjh4OK9IAx_ih1Me2s4jZENFL6p6bXXWBjnTcElYXSRiSS3gBLeFjaK5qA7DynNv1GQnX269fUVCuzKYVDQD_X2DGicu0MgzFRfgHnvxSosz6fVys/s6000/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddYpwNz2XCXLuHl7q4drv0uN0-2JHJUI5cDBi_49oTf1eYxEYKtJcSWVQDYvhJwAElMvww-6wqqSjh4OK9IAx_ih1Me2s4jZENFL6p6bXXWBjnTcElYXSRiSS3gBLeFjaK5qA7DynNv1GQnX269fUVCuzKYVDQD_X2DGicu0MgzFRfgHnvxSosz6fVys/w640-h426/IMG_5606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I finally went out and called Bob, and the squirrel ran off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's bad enough that I'm always running out to rescue birds from Bully. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnR1eLRPvjvGrnYi5_LS31K4ky6MiMVjEt_cewxrArDtz6pr_muiFfey0lofVNV9jloDE2UX9YLMeSDU4oWlP83ODM44FARbpOPBJDS0lAnHASmsAL1-sXb8D4akbUYGs_gfRTRzGPwRlgBGyH3N-zm1tIKqa0aAJf2yBLUYL-SS7mSl4N4XAGZsKLZY/s6000/IMG_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnR1eLRPvjvGrnYi5_LS31K4ky6MiMVjEt_cewxrArDtz6pr_muiFfey0lofVNV9jloDE2UX9YLMeSDU4oWlP83ODM44FARbpOPBJDS0lAnHASmsAL1-sXb8D4akbUYGs_gfRTRzGPwRlgBGyH3N-zm1tIKqa0aAJf2yBLUYL-SS7mSl4N4XAGZsKLZY/w640-h426/IMG_5616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here was one out here today, while the cats were all inside sleeping. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhJ1CjNho350crNvNSQnJ5TSro0A_-pjB4KINGA_unhDT5Jv55jgxkvtP9Z-pvUgsUw3qfsnOfRcMORYFobwV57PDUtKQwic9nlPzTy_aN0wPjiVBqsLgqBIbCF-UX9gzzNqCzzMmV58GaOsgAGCxuJlTwrEXe3Pbg8pM9NdMgU7gPgqiHF-eko9gMdM/s1710/Halloween%20display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1710" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhJ1CjNho350crNvNSQnJ5TSro0A_-pjB4KINGA_unhDT5Jv55jgxkvtP9Z-pvUgsUw3qfsnOfRcMORYFobwV57PDUtKQwic9nlPzTy_aN0wPjiVBqsLgqBIbCF-UX9gzzNqCzzMmV58GaOsgAGCxuJlTwrEXe3Pbg8pM9NdMgU7gPgqiHF-eko9gMdM/w640-h360/Halloween%20display.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't look now, friends, but the next holiday is upon us! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I walked into the commissary at Fort Leavenworth this week to see them setting up the Halloween displays. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I actually am going to confess that I went to Sam's for cat food today, and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">looked at all the Halloween creatures that lit up and talked, but did not buy anything. I DID, however, buy the first two Christmas toys for the little ones for this year. I am limiting the three great-grands to three each, and buying them early, as my hard rule is NO CHARGING GIFTS. I have followed this rule for years with great success. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have one for each of the first two. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Ph0yfSuQ5QRwvHSqSq0hYd-Ejz5nkO7cknBiFgbjlNai9gUIkEK7beYpGjjlwB6jemULHv8iP9yPt5Bhy1BjEbtoZGo8YUArEhUqRZkDSNqcc4zqXj3ENyRpb-EdbGN9llqq1FMF7dwKoiZFRypj3z3tbr1hQ4hRBjPvtiAd0zsxR53-tSNyFhAjDs/s963/Rocking%20chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Ph0yfSuQ5QRwvHSqSq0hYd-Ejz5nkO7cknBiFgbjlNai9gUIkEK7beYpGjjlwB6jemULHv8iP9yPt5Bhy1BjEbtoZGo8YUArEhUqRZkDSNqcc4zqXj3ENyRpb-EdbGN9llqq1FMF7dwKoiZFRypj3z3tbr1hQ4hRBjPvtiAd0zsxR53-tSNyFhAjDs/w360-h640/Rocking%20chair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had just unwrapped this rocker I got at Tractor Supply when I took this picture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have wanted a rocker on the porch for so long... and the wood ones were always expensive. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was reasonable, on sale... it is just a tad too high for me, but is comfortable and I rock Bob in it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found him asleep in it today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJUT5PEFvDC3t-U9C5LdWfG0-fCKHQ7c_3DjklRmkZKh-3FOPMzX52tiwcc91Wy2H3GxSMtnFhfVHq7Z1vV9PKuQGj5uaGBLtE2xDco8ASylcOqMn40lwsbiBD45fvkBdHDtCpBxFinP0VeFb9UrGTHoivjgmiYSQxYHmK-QrpvAi38IQi2Y2mhH4Ffs/s4608/raccoon%20four%20big%20hen%20house%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJUT5PEFvDC3t-U9C5LdWfG0-fCKHQ7c_3DjklRmkZKh-3FOPMzX52tiwcc91Wy2H3GxSMtnFhfVHq7Z1vV9PKuQGj5uaGBLtE2xDco8ASylcOqMn40lwsbiBD45fvkBdHDtCpBxFinP0VeFb9UrGTHoivjgmiYSQxYHmK-QrpvAi38IQi2Y2mhH4Ffs/w640-h360/raccoon%20four%20big%20hen%20house%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are mama and the three babies on the front porch of the big hen house the other night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ0SGwsR5v_6Bte5UnPFz_AjRWUEUtuZSsSN0HsSpu4Q9IGKgQfAuwgIid31C4n1hNim3VLeFaWYHGPXJ5QEjeCjFDrjCC7UJr6Rl7RzpO5yDT1C6NGRqmCqNe6_S1Db97SNIDozfXUwfPn5IU2Y9XiBzOucDgW_FGKSf0nto3Lq6dnrX41QH_iy4Kx4/s4992/Mama%20and%20baby%20raccoons%20three.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ0SGwsR5v_6Bte5UnPFz_AjRWUEUtuZSsSN0HsSpu4Q9IGKgQfAuwgIid31C4n1hNim3VLeFaWYHGPXJ5QEjeCjFDrjCC7UJr6Rl7RzpO5yDT1C6NGRqmCqNe6_S1Db97SNIDozfXUwfPn5IU2Y9XiBzOucDgW_FGKSf0nto3Lq6dnrX41QH_iy4Kx4/w640-h360/Mama%20and%20baby%20raccoons%20three.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here they are scavenging in the barn. When the weather is so hot, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I leave the door open for the two cats that live in there. They have a fan, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I leave a tiny pile out for the cats when I take the food up at night, you see the raccoons are eating it. Mama does not let the littles have any if she wants it, that one on the right is begging her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A friend of mine with a large farm told me her electric bill was 690.00 this week, she has fans running in all her buildings, two fans dedicated to old horses, fans in her chicken houses, etc. I am planning on mine being between 4 and 500 dollars, because the fans have run almost non-stop, plus the air in the house. I do have it cycling off and on, though, and try to keep it high enough to be comfortable but low enough to be tolerable. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg995LP7Vm9wBWMaYGwuKh-t7pCp-zBZhVPtq3eshewiQMIgdOymvZ3-7r_5_bgH6fYZAu3qPrBbtu_GMhWgv5kgU3PRXwau0J9nq6cDOfyM4PuOX15-EHgUCWp8Lul6x1AV8I67jy4y7yPv3iBu7FCbYJYKgqi46nyBy7s5u6N1ZKAXzvneC3UcCNCf_Q/s4608/Wanda%20at%20night%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg995LP7Vm9wBWMaYGwuKh-t7pCp-zBZhVPtq3eshewiQMIgdOymvZ3-7r_5_bgH6fYZAu3qPrBbtu_GMhWgv5kgU3PRXwau0J9nq6cDOfyM4PuOX15-EHgUCWp8Lul6x1AV8I67jy4y7yPv3iBu7FCbYJYKgqi46nyBy7s5u6N1ZKAXzvneC3UcCNCf_Q/w640-h360/Wanda%20at%20night%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is my little Wanda crossing the porch at night... of "her" hen house. One morning of rain this week was chilly, and I found her curled up in a nest box for the first time. The next three days were awful, though, and I think she goes under the little hen house to escape. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She will sleep inside the big hen house this winter, as she did last winter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her eyes are looking a little rheumy again, so a trip to the vets may be in her near future. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ2vP1PSRhBH2Na8AFxC0MlEuLKWUa8DO86xdr2481bM7dLEg4zGr3a3-OEANSRQVZN1asJ1aEiX4HGEI30bWQs5j6v9IfoU3QRje84v9QW01_0eqO4d6pYkIFQ4p-QggyCd8z2waeKG8WwXQup1UTLrc-UBTUMLVKPbFBoVAScsygoiZ2wknTR6OLFM/s4608/Mary%20Ann%20mowing%20grass%20aug%2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ2vP1PSRhBH2Na8AFxC0MlEuLKWUa8DO86xdr2481bM7dLEg4zGr3a3-OEANSRQVZN1asJ1aEiX4HGEI30bWQs5j6v9IfoU3QRje84v9QW01_0eqO4d6pYkIFQ4p-QggyCd8z2waeKG8WwXQup1UTLrc-UBTUMLVKPbFBoVAScsygoiZ2wknTR6OLFM/w640-h360/Mary%20Ann%20mowing%20grass%20aug%2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am, caught by the camera on the porch of the hen house, doing what I feel like I did all week long... mowing... I got almost the whole yard done before the rain today. I swear to you that I mowed last Saturday and Sunday, and by Wednesday it was like a hay field again! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz5FBzyfGNFZgPpvCpbv0XPRpD4OcfHS1fIIf5dGuVlDbFSYsX7e23IFawXrTYrCmbUJXelbUZzqV1B0S3q9XEWQuFq7KLarxv5PF1VYCMmRbPkLmMGHAnMeb8VrLPp7_TC8RNgSPjkLJfBqHS9FA2seX_rQ_YY1oew1y7JY6CCtGjOBv7By0wbD2Hr8/s963/Raccoon%20on%20porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz5FBzyfGNFZgPpvCpbv0XPRpD4OcfHS1fIIf5dGuVlDbFSYsX7e23IFawXrTYrCmbUJXelbUZzqV1B0S3q9XEWQuFq7KLarxv5PF1VYCMmRbPkLmMGHAnMeb8VrLPp7_TC8RNgSPjkLJfBqHS9FA2seX_rQ_YY1oew1y7JY6CCtGjOBv7By0wbD2Hr8/w360-h640/Raccoon%20on%20porch.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't get that cat food in quite early enough! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAZ75I6RBKoRRqUCwjQWAmeDgMAOY3DdbDuOYi_FlAdf-sxVsPUnwDZsaMSlhhjQE9wZ6fYmmxD-nEWbB86hTEZU-IYQa-wki_19jtB_Vt1DmEmwojKg9_PFgaw-S69vGHpTJPqoM25IQVspfjxL5F82u3weQcjfNW_bUcIv1hGGufb876F2-ODahARM/s963/Bob%20on%20the%20couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAZ75I6RBKoRRqUCwjQWAmeDgMAOY3DdbDuOYi_FlAdf-sxVsPUnwDZsaMSlhhjQE9wZ6fYmmxD-nEWbB86hTEZU-IYQa-wki_19jtB_Vt1DmEmwojKg9_PFgaw-S69vGHpTJPqoM25IQVspfjxL5F82u3weQcjfNW_bUcIv1hGGufb876F2-ODahARM/w360-h640/Bob%20on%20the%20couch.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Bob. This is a miracle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ67fJvL0Rx0t2bmxqxSIwuaqS7-KQXmDLXx4x1PPXdfdLXZ8GAMncnrTTiwLSrOGhn69gjeaXo7r5SeLfuC_N_VwdYxDmuWtnOxXAhYIVOZpzWvGb--qCXMmCEaz2AwRYWnVAkROTMI0w9WwqP4sZB30eKokE4aiAbE5RGrr8GiUbCckoUnJjmMjgZ9s/s963/Coco%20who%20hates%20Bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ67fJvL0Rx0t2bmxqxSIwuaqS7-KQXmDLXx4x1PPXdfdLXZ8GAMncnrTTiwLSrOGhn69gjeaXo7r5SeLfuC_N_VwdYxDmuWtnOxXAhYIVOZpzWvGb--qCXMmCEaz2AwRYWnVAkROTMI0w9WwqP4sZB30eKokE4aiAbE5RGrr8GiUbCckoUnJjmMjgZ9s/w360-h640/Coco%20who%20hates%20Bob.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Coco, also a miracle... who HATES BOB. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGFA254AwmnsUAJqdCnJYXn8iOffQALh2c6XGaBKJEQ0FTqQ8CyEyBgv5k5N2d16jUzY4fPppJgXIj7cXE1UD6d6dUGQeiFeLrR4R0Zk0JCro6C53J1KtkS0VciQVxXyeezwI9_L86c4oa5Il0aimc64zwhOb-vgwAO4scPcyHvrg1HaTcIrfZXzdug8/s963/Molly%20and%20Bully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGFA254AwmnsUAJqdCnJYXn8iOffQALh2c6XGaBKJEQ0FTqQ8CyEyBgv5k5N2d16jUzY4fPppJgXIj7cXE1UD6d6dUGQeiFeLrR4R0Zk0JCro6C53J1KtkS0VciQVxXyeezwI9_L86c4oa5Il0aimc64zwhOb-vgwAO4scPcyHvrg1HaTcIrfZXzdug8/w360-h640/Molly%20and%20Bully.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These two could not care less. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGrVUMh7nkJACaWmyTeNFw9hB-swtzTw4CEHm2tJzHxmh3H4SyQf3Kvw_bAMUDSGXUpJJU0p-FnfVxZPEgl2viARBZLf9DM5QSCVdnFF9lJoJjcmWvOxxJ7jIwiBaRLZIuSXGM5XJRKhOYHEykuKC2xKYjBz2LoosvENv6swH4D0B30_B1808C-jRsxY/s963/Bob%20on%20the%20fence%20post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGrVUMh7nkJACaWmyTeNFw9hB-swtzTw4CEHm2tJzHxmh3H4SyQf3Kvw_bAMUDSGXUpJJU0p-FnfVxZPEgl2viARBZLf9DM5QSCVdnFF9lJoJjcmWvOxxJ7jIwiBaRLZIuSXGM5XJRKhOYHEykuKC2xKYjBz2LoosvENv6swH4D0B30_B1808C-jRsxY/w360-h640/Bob%20on%20the%20fence%20post.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh yes, he is the King! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(see little Wanda behind him?) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Drama! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a good week, friends. I know so many of you are coping with fires and floods, and terrible, terrible weather. I pray for all of you, daily. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-64132760759588337932023-08-06T11:17:00.002-05:002023-08-06T11:17:52.072-05:00It's Been a Hot Summer <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I guess the title is true for most of our country, this year. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's been hot here in Kansas, too. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fans running in all the henhouses, and a fan running in the barn for Mama and Teenie. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbLvZM0HLgsTBiHrj9kN8hQvARNB3tTWv-JoP07D_3o25qCuI8rPN-9lisnU7RzxjQG5_9kvXwPL4plPETUEENwLo4GqkQCFF-kb9_2JtCUptaR__UfVm2y3uAYMX8TQXX7ibRn-tjWEvGmfjP_UYuOQZkCR2Be1KKaAiEHiIwo9wdbWOIddIQ950n6g/s6000/DSC_4646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbLvZM0HLgsTBiHrj9kN8hQvARNB3tTWv-JoP07D_3o25qCuI8rPN-9lisnU7RzxjQG5_9kvXwPL4plPETUEENwLo4GqkQCFF-kb9_2JtCUptaR__UfVm2y3uAYMX8TQXX7ibRn-tjWEvGmfjP_UYuOQZkCR2Be1KKaAiEHiIwo9wdbWOIddIQ950n6g/w640-h426/DSC_4646.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye was taking a lazy way of watching the birds one morning... and actually, he does this many mornings! I'll look out there and see all four paws in the air. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDQBCCuJT3EpL7JHPThNDLCaa309ZGSJ5yfCqnBwSuJESMwaDSV2XS4s1mwAF8IYEZoPOzKwrCzGUcsct54RS7NERSnrRq8lQzAQZvE4JnLMuAmkxjUPPEkCc80zbXlfeERoKY1T3eo4jWSfZ34YY5naq0RBo-QWN33PMgjGSM2wgOKaRvepIaM4TWvY/s6000/DSC_4640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDQBCCuJT3EpL7JHPThNDLCaa309ZGSJ5yfCqnBwSuJESMwaDSV2XS4s1mwAF8IYEZoPOzKwrCzGUcsct54RS7NERSnrRq8lQzAQZvE4JnLMuAmkxjUPPEkCc80zbXlfeERoKY1T3eo4jWSfZ34YY5naq0RBo-QWN33PMgjGSM2wgOKaRvepIaM4TWvY/w640-h426/DSC_4640.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked out the window to see Wanda here one morning, and I watched as she calmly walked all over the roof, and then jumped down and walked along the top board on the fence. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWITJgcC0Q-Z2H1ln-fJF-Kk6zTNRdNQGghn_Mr3kyeDAro5dikR8HniLVahwp3rVPngDsPAlo6xbZF80ldK50-S_KarbmKHB5E-d18Zjw2Qovs74NECtAmJpQGCMdsAfnZXkkOGYk2dwd9QCJjvC5S2vu0t7V9j3p2aVMAUe1gh_pgN6FQsDNCiYbEk/s963/Cleo%20eating%20at%20fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWITJgcC0Q-Z2H1ln-fJF-Kk6zTNRdNQGghn_Mr3kyeDAro5dikR8HniLVahwp3rVPngDsPAlo6xbZF80ldK50-S_KarbmKHB5E-d18Zjw2Qovs74NECtAmJpQGCMdsAfnZXkkOGYk2dwd9QCJjvC5S2vu0t7V9j3p2aVMAUe1gh_pgN6FQsDNCiYbEk/w360-h640/Cleo%20eating%20at%20fence.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cleo lived in the barn with Mama and Teenie for the last two years. Either Teenie, who has a notorious temper, or Bob, the (former) Porch Cat, now laying on my kitchen table as I type this... has run her out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She eats at the fence daily, and sneaks into the yard to eat dry food in the garage. She is so beautiful, and my heart is breaking for her. She sleeps under Troy's shed or under the implements. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am hoping we can get the whole situation rectified before cold sets in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, Troy and Kathy gifted me with this: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXccP0I5rnwI0oeMfL1QnZL76qaJQVo52BZIWnzS_ruxm3hAPawNBpN38NdPnybguvNb_2k9Qx_nu_JMcTQd0RP-KOM8tjIV0gBQMbeB7Ig4PuFQxVeslI1TO_9DiUd4nsjiq3nUHfLD3gc7pvNII46CcX6loVqeOSPixAkRRPnp75Mc88jqGwPWITlkI/s1710/Lotsa%20Tomatos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1710" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXccP0I5rnwI0oeMfL1QnZL76qaJQVo52BZIWnzS_ruxm3hAPawNBpN38NdPnybguvNb_2k9Qx_nu_JMcTQd0RP-KOM8tjIV0gBQMbeB7Ig4PuFQxVeslI1TO_9DiUd4nsjiq3nUHfLD3gc7pvNII46CcX6loVqeOSPixAkRRPnp75Mc88jqGwPWITlkI/w640-h360/Lotsa%20Tomatos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friends, I no longer can anything, so I passed most of this along to the Manus family, whose sheep come here. Ben, the middle brother, has been my stalwart helper doing heavy yard work for the last three years. He left yesterday for college in Arizona for his sophomore year, and it's likely he will do summer studies next year and won't come home. I am hoping his younger brother Isaiah will be able to help me. I have been so grateful to have Ben's help for these last few years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those tiny tomatoes had the best taste ever... and I saved a bunch back to make nachos today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Troy and Kathy's daughter Sarah has a one acre garden at her place... and Kathy has been working in it constantly, even in the heat. They had a wonderful yield this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7PCcITBDF4-UU9JCQOwrQDMYot3Ats4YC3KH0ZO6FpdIQVEpuHmpv4lFMT8ApZwr1kY2qoMX0prKklDkPjY5z7lpzTQ09LGz34lctUzRtaF68ebCU8Au2SXswo_eRhO_gFuXepMFbH0zLKCQGu2KWoax6GdwdNIbW5wzIvfdjgk0Sv82LKZzPWSfHsc/s963/Tank%20by%20gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7PCcITBDF4-UU9JCQOwrQDMYot3Ats4YC3KH0ZO6FpdIQVEpuHmpv4lFMT8ApZwr1kY2qoMX0prKklDkPjY5z7lpzTQ09LGz34lctUzRtaF68ebCU8Au2SXswo_eRhO_gFuXepMFbH0zLKCQGu2KWoax6GdwdNIbW5wzIvfdjgk0Sv82LKZzPWSfHsc/w360-h640/Tank%20by%20gate.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know you all want to know the upshot of the Great Tank Blowout. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It took four phone calls to get the company to get out here and put a new gauge on and check the tank for leaks. I called the provider I used at my old Calamity Acres in Kansas City, Kansas, and made arrangements to switch tanks out and go with his service. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The driver dropped the old tank out by the gate and it was picked up a week later. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My neighbor Troy did the same. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRl5M6lnfLt8SrhQUcyADVndC1RyXG6QWoy36jb35kIGRDvpJMweq_6__1ukaXpGel1YEQrDn7MnhHgd4YQUojTxJp_8Zc8qKLwcNEKbszrf8D_S_evspacnQaC_Rd2YNnRAGpKX_4Jt5rJ6UBCmMysSeogP9pvPdlvuk0E0Gf7lz_eblhieVn83Rfaw/s963/Kids%20leading%20calves%20at%20fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRl5M6lnfLt8SrhQUcyADVndC1RyXG6QWoy36jb35kIGRDvpJMweq_6__1ukaXpGel1YEQrDn7MnhHgd4YQUojTxJp_8Zc8qKLwcNEKbszrf8D_S_evspacnQaC_Rd2YNnRAGpKX_4Jt5rJ6UBCmMysSeogP9pvPdlvuk0E0Gf7lz_eblhieVn83Rfaw/w360-h640/Kids%20leading%20calves%20at%20fair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, in the dreadful heat, was the Leavenworth County Fair. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here comes a group leading their bucket calves along the walkway. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will have to say entries were down, and it was not just me who noticed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went at midday on purpose, to avoid the crowds because ... covid has reared it's head in our area again. Just being cautious. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEnGEQ_xjNFDJ1hRsNa329TcMVTubsCZWHbKtNctY1RsJeZWBC_TOL3Fo0rtToGoH9ikv4fwpqLJaY12gR7ePXPMJEomfvLMC7XpOZPB3C7c3T1UMk7QjOw-GidiFU6IBCrECs2f6nw4INRe2TyItsJqhlh01-cf4qzWnDtu81CFI62UIzBrGCZrbDPU/s963/Ewe%20at%20Fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEnGEQ_xjNFDJ1hRsNa329TcMVTubsCZWHbKtNctY1RsJeZWBC_TOL3Fo0rtToGoH9ikv4fwpqLJaY12gR7ePXPMJEomfvLMC7XpOZPB3C7c3T1UMk7QjOw-GidiFU6IBCrECs2f6nw4INRe2TyItsJqhlh01-cf4qzWnDtu81CFI62UIzBrGCZrbDPU/w360-h640/Ewe%20at%20Fair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was the champion market ewe that Isaiah showed, and will be coming here this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She's a beautiful girl. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxFzgqFo7U-lCBllKP1HAkmSkqoNEryxiQE10xs1mHkMaZz_vdbOAJTWrgA66GCbL4_z0-AVSH0tleJk9ds4KFn7LnDj34zoKTemzG3rmonDcp_rof2GjU_7lCqoB-4i0QNIkIn71guDMAihH0hg_h4_7nU23jQ4ebPUtWftTgQKuacboJgZIapgtthY/s963/Goats%20at%20Fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxFzgqFo7U-lCBllKP1HAkmSkqoNEryxiQE10xs1mHkMaZz_vdbOAJTWrgA66GCbL4_z0-AVSH0tleJk9ds4KFn7LnDj34zoKTemzG3rmonDcp_rof2GjU_7lCqoB-4i0QNIkIn71guDMAihH0hg_h4_7nU23jQ4ebPUtWftTgQKuacboJgZIapgtthY/w360-h640/Goats%20at%20Fair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were some beautiful goats. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h24rjH_4rRGtWZXjAC3PcKTme_uzvJKg9wF_BNw6_iViTxha854mNu09_IE9w7tkKdlZaxXv1y_LSCbuCNloentgZf3rIqH9JcRXfff8_nT9PzWV2GHCDW95OnHagG0RO9x4v0cqj6uAXQuulJV1-NkE3GeEmYjISNIcgWn8FLJz8OY5ersmx08D23Q/s963/Bunnies%20at%20fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="542" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h24rjH_4rRGtWZXjAC3PcKTme_uzvJKg9wF_BNw6_iViTxha854mNu09_IE9w7tkKdlZaxXv1y_LSCbuCNloentgZf3rIqH9JcRXfff8_nT9PzWV2GHCDW95OnHagG0RO9x4v0cqj6uAXQuulJV1-NkE3GeEmYjISNIcgWn8FLJz8OY5ersmx08D23Q/w360-h640/Bunnies%20at%20fair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very few bunnies... maybe thirty... were on display, and those included cages for sale. I will give the bunny parents much credit, though... because they had fans set up every three cages and the bunnie's fur was literally blowing in the wind. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BAUX1nKmR0tECOoHc_kxkJTwIS-IOP-EFYeJx1606GS2eX_4Aq2a2pn4yWTcEURnFYsqUa8u_OUR7kEq-9gJ1_-1grx44NuadGPNyeuqTHZ2zIs2MMuY8RNuRDoO2y5avFTPoPWpbKniuY-rph3XYNRWFNMM50h6og9gpTsCki82iep7q1oHLRIoejE/s374/Quilts%20at%20fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="374" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BAUX1nKmR0tECOoHc_kxkJTwIS-IOP-EFYeJx1606GS2eX_4Aq2a2pn4yWTcEURnFYsqUa8u_OUR7kEq-9gJ1_-1grx44NuadGPNyeuqTHZ2zIs2MMuY8RNuRDoO2y5avFTPoPWpbKniuY-rph3XYNRWFNMM50h6og9gpTsCki82iep7q1oHLRIoejE/w640-h362/Quilts%20at%20fair.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were some beautiful quilts on display, but overall, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">entries in all these categories appeared to be down. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When my sister was alive, she often entered quilted goods in the fair competition. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxTRrm1ZOds7FpVcKxQaQyjRdwovWivvHNZ7TtWVKYV2pgaSwUo96QPzC0E2m8t39X7P8JoPq3QKMZtbLfCrWJnD9YIkwCAkLSZflWDmrSyqCVnyUWkivHE_IIZDI1obeJzu5es9MeVCC29G0Oal7ZytcsYZGhk4dx9RubPgYhwjkT_ayHw1puplWd24/s4608/Coco%20laying%20by%20back%20door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxTRrm1ZOds7FpVcKxQaQyjRdwovWivvHNZ7TtWVKYV2pgaSwUo96QPzC0E2m8t39X7P8JoPq3QKMZtbLfCrWJnD9YIkwCAkLSZflWDmrSyqCVnyUWkivHE_IIZDI1obeJzu5es9MeVCC29G0Oal7ZytcsYZGhk4dx9RubPgYhwjkT_ayHw1puplWd24/w640-h360/Coco%20laying%20by%20back%20door.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coco has become almost an indoor-only cat. She came from a feral colony, this is a huge about-face for her. Every once in a while, she lays on the back porch for a little while. It was NOT 115 that day, unless that was the heat index! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn7354-6bW890MuJiKAHfapZI-sQrH-rlHx9Uk4ePiaIG9U4ZEhxrWKNe6JBjKyxnCCQWEX1xgBAhhH2I8pj0M1Z4GHwUHsvTzC16TYen-BxHSMAXjIyTO93pCrcdC6XQjNxy3-R0XFjO_yJAxTQAG0TJq-XfEN06uE0MwKyCGOEmRhr3lA0z0fKXy5s/s6000/purple%20hanging%20basket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn7354-6bW890MuJiKAHfapZI-sQrH-rlHx9Uk4ePiaIG9U4ZEhxrWKNe6JBjKyxnCCQWEX1xgBAhhH2I8pj0M1Z4GHwUHsvTzC16TYen-BxHSMAXjIyTO93pCrcdC6XQjNxy3-R0XFjO_yJAxTQAG0TJq-XfEN06uE0MwKyCGOEmRhr3lA0z0fKXy5s/w640-h426/purple%20hanging%20basket.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The flowers are still looking good, because I have literally watered them sometimes twice a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God my well has not had any problems since earlier in the summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaRqpvt2sYDvMR51kbcJZLEpYRdxG82VQEmnZmkpipDgG_ExvhqimXN7nRgc-cFIwetYUg4xgz5jnZ1dLHNJ8U5UzpiAJM8-VQYp67cGgbgmDB8DBlgczEKy84OUu7OWIIn5qfhZEVj4dhAyhl71UoPQI-n4jte7D8JWfpiuNhaHhJYGROShcxnYzQOg/s6000/big%20zinnias.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaRqpvt2sYDvMR51kbcJZLEpYRdxG82VQEmnZmkpipDgG_ExvhqimXN7nRgc-cFIwetYUg4xgz5jnZ1dLHNJ8U5UzpiAJM8-VQYp67cGgbgmDB8DBlgczEKy84OUu7OWIIn5qfhZEVj4dhAyhl71UoPQI-n4jte7D8JWfpiuNhaHhJYGROShcxnYzQOg/w640-h426/big%20zinnias.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planted my tubs and troughs this year with either wildflower mixes or hummingbird mixes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I honestly do not see hummers around them, but I have very few around my feeder, either. I am taking that feeder down daily and putting up a clean one, the few I am seeing are almost ready to leave. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is what I have to say about the mixes... they have been glorious but they must be watered heavily. Deadheading the zinnias can be onerous... I need to do it today again, in fact. I have decided that I am going to cut the deck containers in half next year, and plant lower-growing flowers in these troughs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They have been beautiful, I have to admit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVuYljv-1J31_82rWCAu8lwsy8Qdvsdq0BDaFbq49sFkCoN7VrIHxY4dDweDFos_C3aE9-EcMFaqhb9bu1UKIRzMoFJhAqnaamsWAHKYuCKK7cVn9RfsxUkBEUWXR5I_w0exC2tvpqqU-S5Rqi7yw_Cjp9GiBjZYqvVqIePOAy-hWUzP2mdfR6KOElM8/s6000/amaranth%20and%20moss%20rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVuYljv-1J31_82rWCAu8lwsy8Qdvsdq0BDaFbq49sFkCoN7VrIHxY4dDweDFos_C3aE9-EcMFaqhb9bu1UKIRzMoFJhAqnaamsWAHKYuCKK7cVn9RfsxUkBEUWXR5I_w0exC2tvpqqU-S5Rqi7yw_Cjp9GiBjZYqvVqIePOAy-hWUzP2mdfR6KOElM8/w640-h426/amaranth%20and%20moss%20rose.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's amaranth behind the portulaca... I had not grown in it in years. </span></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has looked good, but it has been attacked by the Japanese beetles badly.</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_MZ12lKx-nmuFBp_lrkfpT2bLw9J9Gz5eJ6NyJfHX-yI8DW0RVVpumCRnYZjBtsxjfU8FjOjrSbvD5B22P7bIDfv_qgySrvkA1lAje6YSU5Q_Ao1m2A2HG7ok1VJD8ek2x-W2q5GzXhgHx3aGfJDTn3c6S9n0Khk7fSKiX3WpoU32v5rlv-sQcKIrRE/s6000/cypress%20vine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_MZ12lKx-nmuFBp_lrkfpT2bLw9J9Gz5eJ6NyJfHX-yI8DW0RVVpumCRnYZjBtsxjfU8FjOjrSbvD5B22P7bIDfv_qgySrvkA1lAje6YSU5Q_Ao1m2A2HG7ok1VJD8ek2x-W2q5GzXhgHx3aGfJDTn3c6S9n0Khk7fSKiX3WpoU32v5rlv-sQcKIrRE/w640-h426/cypress%20vine.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My mom could not grow anything. She marveled that I could. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She loved cypress vine, and I try to plant it every year in her honor. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SHaL5Gkk30fptux1pp5yqSDoAU6zHmv8ZpOLs8fTXuUVYAVDc9H2I89SlPlwJRUw0-eutJ5bfJZI10Qu7e2qyr7sz-O1RFVZFfc_t-3xp3DdMqHEuPOz9JXT1tKfrfMzORAjKQbY6x3T_2iHKy_MFa7LkuNb1Q4wsKsvsuWtcbq7I1vo2mf0ofONySU/s6000/sunflower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SHaL5Gkk30fptux1pp5yqSDoAU6zHmv8ZpOLs8fTXuUVYAVDc9H2I89SlPlwJRUw0-eutJ5bfJZI10Qu7e2qyr7sz-O1RFVZFfc_t-3xp3DdMqHEuPOz9JXT1tKfrfMzORAjKQbY6x3T_2iHKy_MFa7LkuNb1Q4wsKsvsuWtcbq7I1vo2mf0ofONySU/w640-h426/sunflower.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><span style="font-size: large;">It ain't Kansas if there isn't a sunflower or two! </span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That's all, folks, thanks for bearing with me. I'll try to post again </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">in a week or so. </span></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p> </p></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-30030323521752515452023-07-07T19:31:00.001-05:002023-07-07T19:31:10.335-05:00Already Into July <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How could it be almost a month since I last posted? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I actually composed posts in my head, and never sat down to do them. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had some hellish temps here in Northeast Kansas, friends. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMfSiCenZ9Nu3DklQUo7CsvcCZAsEpGmZG0Nm2Gbf9SGlN-6Rnz2d8Cdg6NL_y8TLMshUEPUxSb5TrWTsQigOFvbB0GXI4tIKM5DDGB3tP6JcZvy6vIE3E2vmp29D8DC44mW-Rvgd9_0CrAH3-xpIGYrRNDQrHI4OdXB7Or0AptkyWjWC0Nsuj5Zy23s/s4000/20230613_181115.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMfSiCenZ9Nu3DklQUo7CsvcCZAsEpGmZG0Nm2Gbf9SGlN-6Rnz2d8Cdg6NL_y8TLMshUEPUxSb5TrWTsQigOFvbB0GXI4tIKM5DDGB3tP6JcZvy6vIE3E2vmp29D8DC44mW-Rvgd9_0CrAH3-xpIGYrRNDQrHI4OdXB7Or0AptkyWjWC0Nsuj5Zy23s/w360-h640/20230613_181115.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clear back on June 13, Ben and Isaiah came to get the sheep. They literally had eaten the pasture down to dirt. I went out there last night and took a good look, and with the little rain we have had... it has not come back. I seriously do not think I will see my sheep friends again this summer. Yes, I miss them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pen they are standing in grew up, I had to mow it yesterday, but when I went around the back of the barn, it was still eaten to the ground. I do miss hearing them and watching them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV_HTd8Yzp62MWjzyuRF9PIqmNXibjSKyo1gEB8IyxMLR359Xr-iLxBKwLVRtubqaCLMceKJ10hlcKX1jnMcWG3EosLuldzMrfznRcxGp7efCf3kNnolHWhoIZn5ZokXDr90C2f2bHiFcjr7RuEVvOpv18wL_xl039pc49dTkKdoJieMHe68CYCB49lM/s4000/20230630_172410.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV_HTd8Yzp62MWjzyuRF9PIqmNXibjSKyo1gEB8IyxMLR359Xr-iLxBKwLVRtubqaCLMceKJ10hlcKX1jnMcWG3EosLuldzMrfznRcxGp7efCf3kNnolHWhoIZn5ZokXDr90C2f2bHiFcjr7RuEVvOpv18wL_xl039pc49dTkKdoJieMHe68CYCB49lM/w360-h640/20230630_172410.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A week ago today, I went out at 4 PM to find my propane tank blowing off gas, the smell of sulphur filling the air, and a sound like a freight train coming at me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two trucks from Stranger Creek responded... that is Sam, the third brother of the sheep owners, who is a volunteer with them. They stayed two hours... the feels like temp was over 100. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2DdEYcLIOiZM4Jgxfwsq4WuBjXulCpzdJ7e8FwZcn1v0B49UPciNPhRQufwJTtKUtSbjscQnn5tE_7aHyOA2zezmS5gmbgURzinUBnpadPRMsYlvymAqPqS0zgx5QbOqxwneatw8C33-ER_tJRyv2aVi3JVNDCBLQBb1ix_3mYmOHbOzxhLT6R__PVE/s4000/20230630_172144.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2DdEYcLIOiZM4Jgxfwsq4WuBjXulCpzdJ7e8FwZcn1v0B49UPciNPhRQufwJTtKUtSbjscQnn5tE_7aHyOA2zezmS5gmbgURzinUBnpadPRMsYlvymAqPqS0zgx5QbOqxwneatw8C33-ER_tJRyv2aVi3JVNDCBLQBb1ix_3mYmOHbOzxhLT6R__PVE/w360-h640/20230630_172144.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Tristan behind my house, directing water... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XyAYYVOF2r4YnefwQrLWDQ54WKG-rJFMbjHSwFkgMWe_AIhtxiLvLsyrNAg9Y7ddYgnZjecrQcIo0CZGzbWLdcHnBv6tcxl-UcBuucqGyNm7bfrUOZKLRD-Uis6sAAg0jBh20FVAnTNBvUBSZNC8A5FV8rn_VTG3J_v9HdflgtsS-VRh2oFOawJg9s0/s4000/20230630_171906.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XyAYYVOF2r4YnefwQrLWDQ54WKG-rJFMbjHSwFkgMWe_AIhtxiLvLsyrNAg9Y7ddYgnZjecrQcIo0CZGzbWLdcHnBv6tcxl-UcBuucqGyNm7bfrUOZKLRD-Uis6sAAg0jBh20FVAnTNBvUBSZNC8A5FV8rn_VTG3J_v9HdflgtsS-VRh2oFOawJg9s0/w360-h640/20230630_171906.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> They put 500 gallons of water on the tank. The head of the safety valve was five feet from the tank. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first fireman to respond got my hose and began cooling it, but I turned the tank off myself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, my hand was shaking. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My propane provider was called, because the tank, which had been filled on March 22, was still reading 80% full, and we don't fill past 80%. The gauge is broken. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one came or called from Ferrelgas. The next morning I called and talked to the "emergency line" and my call from the day before had not even been logged. That was alarming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A technician returned my call and was 70 miles away. He walked me through turning everything back on, and told me he would enter an order to replace the gauge. I called yesterday to see when they were coming, and there was no order... so... I went through the whole thing again and it is now scheduled for Monday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My next door neighbor, Troy, is a captain on the volunteer fire department, and he stayed an additional hour on Friday to make sure everything was okay, and then came over Saturday and relit the water heater. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1amwHaedcYSt1RlGZlgjCSH7wN6XA-Wgp2RoPGhduAPdZo6cVKbzttmn0BJgh5zEXnWFjBGeu6ZyAJRKZluxS5iPXX-4v1YqRZrzyiq9qX7pBp_b3E_QPqRfxfM3Lw_K8X2kg0xAn-GmB49vcEbYEk1akvYkkhDGTny2pQupBkHp0oxwZnNvcRt5USM/s4000/20230705_090939.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1amwHaedcYSt1RlGZlgjCSH7wN6XA-Wgp2RoPGhduAPdZo6cVKbzttmn0BJgh5zEXnWFjBGeu6ZyAJRKZluxS5iPXX-4v1YqRZrzyiq9qX7pBp_b3E_QPqRfxfM3Lw_K8X2kg0xAn-GmB49vcEbYEk1akvYkkhDGTny2pQupBkHp0oxwZnNvcRt5USM/w360-h640/20230705_090939.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never in a million years did I expect Bob the Porch Cat and Bullseye to share a chair. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day they had a knock down drag out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr537Nd0O4YWxdbrVdWRrJg_Fc8RcOV9K9v5SJg2yBqcbKW1eKoRLG5KlU3vWFXuU1i1clDQypvIp16tSX8nF-MHY0tx9WcRq_-rZubWbpAd-dCe8eIuCV5Xtv0WkrXII3zfB1UlMc9H0aJEcPCgq1kjtUZSDuibQnqVJe7weWPf3BzA1r-UpeZxHirE/s4000/20230704_102255.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr537Nd0O4YWxdbrVdWRrJg_Fc8RcOV9K9v5SJg2yBqcbKW1eKoRLG5KlU3vWFXuU1i1clDQypvIp16tSX8nF-MHY0tx9WcRq_-rZubWbpAd-dCe8eIuCV5Xtv0WkrXII3zfB1UlMc9H0aJEcPCgq1kjtUZSDuibQnqVJe7weWPf3BzA1r-UpeZxHirE/w640-h360/20230704_102255.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one is laying here currently. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day I removed her from the little hen house where no one is laying. She keeps striking out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTqfZQVMB4-iZck5tCe23SL2imkyLGCQiRt11ZmTTP1AGydvMZ436uwlZy1WsQV8MUbFZXQzXbPy-_zW8pz_OKxYnOyFhQYS00-Q2CgSH6lzfFCkbfix6MHOql0IrvMHhY6tZodvwXYh5Uby6jMAvDGBe1jeu94wVZaJ23-FWc0ntLLpz2mhrX2lQIOc/s4000/20230701_182022.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTqfZQVMB4-iZck5tCe23SL2imkyLGCQiRt11ZmTTP1AGydvMZ436uwlZy1WsQV8MUbFZXQzXbPy-_zW8pz_OKxYnOyFhQYS00-Q2CgSH6lzfFCkbfix6MHOql0IrvMHhY6tZodvwXYh5Uby6jMAvDGBe1jeu94wVZaJ23-FWc0ntLLpz2mhrX2lQIOc/w360-h640/20230701_182022.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did lose one in the heat. She had been in front of the fan for two days, and had good, cold water right next to her. I believe there was an underlying cause. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJcRlfcuddMV3d2DhkyihK1UtmdiDH71rJRQvF2z9zJCDJNcOKLKxiAFrvQkViHCQNOTSNe3u5x0BIKXvLneeCMzYqSLPossNDQOtTI9OqrMJFGQtqizADkLJlelASc_pa0xFe9knSPMhTH9s137L6IjEpgjeiMKDM6BSb6NH01C6SFfi2Q3Dmo9Ntd8/s4000/20230626_210401.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJcRlfcuddMV3d2DhkyihK1UtmdiDH71rJRQvF2z9zJCDJNcOKLKxiAFrvQkViHCQNOTSNe3u5x0BIKXvLneeCMzYqSLPossNDQOtTI9OqrMJFGQtqizADkLJlelASc_pa0xFe9knSPMhTH9s137L6IjEpgjeiMKDM6BSb6NH01C6SFfi2Q3Dmo9Ntd8/w360-h640/20230626_210401.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have never had raccoons come in the middle of the day like Mama does. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She must just be starving. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRc00ZXqw4JNjHR35mir3hphOHxiGCd28wV2c9Jz0AzufBDFn-wfxoYg7psARwBhq1vE4HgWn5uqZ1gBIurz2bmQhYCEsgsHe1kCE0692p4zpLiuyyLemdmEUgcjQlZSdUWDvtkgE8zxmFpncXLo8di6f9DhmJeJZj9Zcue5GdG43EYEHTjEqRHUjUSc/s4608/Mama%20raccoon%20climbing%20up%20the%20porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRc00ZXqw4JNjHR35mir3hphOHxiGCd28wV2c9Jz0AzufBDFn-wfxoYg7psARwBhq1vE4HgWn5uqZ1gBIurz2bmQhYCEsgsHe1kCE0692p4zpLiuyyLemdmEUgcjQlZSdUWDvtkgE8zxmFpncXLo8di6f9DhmJeJZj9Zcue5GdG43EYEHTjEqRHUjUSc/w640-h360/Mama%20raccoon%20climbing%20up%20the%20porch.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here she comes up the back porch... eschewing the steps for some reason. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a camera out there that caught her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YQ-jpSrrQlGq3IuVidM4gwxygeif1OvCX32pDXwaMxq9oeDovHdO0ccj0tzV2-VEP7PGsp2YIS9ayUAezBIWTw3QPr4LQfYRbKsmwHog4Lhiv85L9JCGK-59LIW060fUDJOb24dyqfOoQMzExtCLszPuIpPgWO-mMYm5LWTZ6nGyN4xD9ZKqgzMSoX4/s4992/Mama%20laying%20by%20the%20fan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YQ-jpSrrQlGq3IuVidM4gwxygeif1OvCX32pDXwaMxq9oeDovHdO0ccj0tzV2-VEP7PGsp2YIS9ayUAezBIWTw3QPr4LQfYRbKsmwHog4Lhiv85L9JCGK-59LIW060fUDJOb24dyqfOoQMzExtCLszPuIpPgWO-mMYm5LWTZ6nGyN4xD9ZKqgzMSoX4/w640-h360/Mama%20laying%20by%20the%20fan.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My poor Mama cat was laying where the fan could blow on her. I keep the door open now during the day to the shop. (This was the now-neutered mother of last year's kittens). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9sOFlnXt2xpA_CqypXCqMkt-PcjvMvQ_5ko6U2QbK4BC58VXawlCiP7iQxX7yehaMnntM50zyP4eQBYVzNBa5UFOuyZvGjZvr3EcpbKHcuC8RPA0R1QyFLzni9Ysatl9MczqdQqyCRe0S7kV5I230VVJDW7pN88uuUMNwqurcNtNZFewm3QF6tU5LJ4/s4992/Raccoon%20laying%20in%20front%20of%20the%20fan%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9sOFlnXt2xpA_CqypXCqMkt-PcjvMvQ_5ko6U2QbK4BC58VXawlCiP7iQxX7yehaMnntM50zyP4eQBYVzNBa5UFOuyZvGjZvr3EcpbKHcuC8RPA0R1QyFLzni9Ysatl9MczqdQqyCRe0S7kV5I230VVJDW7pN88uuUMNwqurcNtNZFewm3QF6tU5LJ4/w640-h360/Raccoon%20laying%20in%20front%20of%20the%20fan%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the shop cam caught a raccoon laying in front of it a few days later. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNhl2AmzLVtlnE8NeAFATgWpi7xslM5KhrR7DCoSDpHvBnRumQyscBCXUiyinqC3PdBCgURi_TZ0we8lzDKfdYVHLkLyuLsc4RloJAbRkp1jJWx1cqKeKCHDTLEdeF7S7Dt9vymbZfYu2TOyvDJBBnVTjHJqGgK7UA7H4JchgxYjh4O8RRoGQQ8gpFVs/s4608/Coco%20laying%20by%20back%20door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNhl2AmzLVtlnE8NeAFATgWpi7xslM5KhrR7DCoSDpHvBnRumQyscBCXUiyinqC3PdBCgURi_TZ0we8lzDKfdYVHLkLyuLsc4RloJAbRkp1jJWx1cqKeKCHDTLEdeF7S7Dt9vymbZfYu2TOyvDJBBnVTjHJqGgK7UA7H4JchgxYjh4O8RRoGQQ8gpFVs/w640-h360/Coco%20laying%20by%20back%20door.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coco was beaten up one too many times by Bob, and started hanging on the back porch. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is now... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvy70hjA8TAs6F2MJ3MCF8OKmd-3Z5WQx8RasSale_ER61USegUInSOU_7vFDkqDUUjoK-tdWLFLzeOrcJal93cniGet89zwXavt7VHjEgA4PlkAMZV2ggkMuKDg4gxCUJJqiJ-PVerdHuKnaDndCbzv3SmhVjaGGOtR-zYHOlcGqfp9JN1f32rn1zg0/s4000/20230704_150907.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvy70hjA8TAs6F2MJ3MCF8OKmd-3Z5WQx8RasSale_ER61USegUInSOU_7vFDkqDUUjoK-tdWLFLzeOrcJal93cniGet89zwXavt7VHjEgA4PlkAMZV2ggkMuKDg4gxCUJJqiJ-PVerdHuKnaDndCbzv3SmhVjaGGOtR-zYHOlcGqfp9JN1f32rn1zg0/w360-h640/20230704_150907.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coco the House Cat. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Bob comes in to sit on my lap in the morning, Coco has to be locked up in my bedroom for safety's sake, and yes, it gets harrowing in here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is spending very little time outside now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look! There are still flowers here! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHZ_DwROs4Ib_KaWeQhPjRDXzsuMQdimvkDhJ-zSMzT--4jSBBr0TsYBDlKRrLw6_ehA_K-Vd0-Zv1DYLgn7c-IxhqT-Jle7L9FVG77nX2vxs2dxvfRsZ04ISfWiZZTKGxa7BB-p_YnP0pXTQ3BE1WwglgfntpW_3AfY9M8z7qxk-zJxXudZKui2Qa_Q/s6000/IMG_5490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHZ_DwROs4Ib_KaWeQhPjRDXzsuMQdimvkDhJ-zSMzT--4jSBBr0TsYBDlKRrLw6_ehA_K-Vd0-Zv1DYLgn7c-IxhqT-Jle7L9FVG77nX2vxs2dxvfRsZ04ISfWiZZTKGxa7BB-p_YnP0pXTQ3BE1WwglgfntpW_3AfY9M8z7qxk-zJxXudZKui2Qa_Q/w640-h426/IMG_5490.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZGBJHsTw5l7eXHk2UTqbw5vmFWFhCJah-2iBL6KqHwMdHfx3wBd2E8ztJiP6l28Ro64t-HVNcYj_g3GjDAUlGyYnJXsibX6abKM6mnYE7g-cJQsv3Pq6eUbZ0r-Mf8X_l2cmh4vB5TMgwR7TSR-ZsACteq6nsw28h2trx26sCJbzMVHycGF0nCSIoXc/s6000/IMG_5491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZGBJHsTw5l7eXHk2UTqbw5vmFWFhCJah-2iBL6KqHwMdHfx3wBd2E8ztJiP6l28Ro64t-HVNcYj_g3GjDAUlGyYnJXsibX6abKM6mnYE7g-cJQsv3Pq6eUbZ0r-Mf8X_l2cmh4vB5TMgwR7TSR-ZsACteq6nsw28h2trx26sCJbzMVHycGF0nCSIoXc/w640-h426/IMG_5491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSwg-Dmj8JF-AqX_59c7zx9dVkHHEEhzS3ZBbuQMTuTiMCEGT3mdnmYgh8mI4L5abhwMCWuweilyix7ZdqyIFCFfFIxKoZvVKkFmS-KEhg17xc7xxuBpv1TRsMO2T-uzRwUeTCieqwPeaJIqRKLmWwtwPQF6l3ceNCvY1MfxNJvhTLygDzAwsLlXPWgE/s6000/IMG_5492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSwg-Dmj8JF-AqX_59c7zx9dVkHHEEhzS3ZBbuQMTuTiMCEGT3mdnmYgh8mI4L5abhwMCWuweilyix7ZdqyIFCFfFIxKoZvVKkFmS-KEhg17xc7xxuBpv1TRsMO2T-uzRwUeTCieqwPeaJIqRKLmWwtwPQF6l3ceNCvY1MfxNJvhTLygDzAwsLlXPWgE/w640-h426/IMG_5492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPYun_l-vnYeKdWm76StKOVQ_F_15DXZcrimMBHp5S3U2gg3XR1xHlhaRlxawO2qyDVeNFDj7w_XyOvNCiEeXcdKaV71T1F3iBfCIOpLTVEPlFMIdB2sEPaIoK3_I5-dJoxuAwV_jHmQ7E1ydUKDyk3pktfQUfwCe9l6sTfXojDE2pBpTKlz2HtkItFc/s6000/IMG_5494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPYun_l-vnYeKdWm76StKOVQ_F_15DXZcrimMBHp5S3U2gg3XR1xHlhaRlxawO2qyDVeNFDj7w_XyOvNCiEeXcdKaV71T1F3iBfCIOpLTVEPlFMIdB2sEPaIoK3_I5-dJoxuAwV_jHmQ7E1ydUKDyk3pktfQUfwCe9l6sTfXojDE2pBpTKlz2HtkItFc/w640-h426/IMG_5494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzxXeSvlD9GAm4ptwx-XQaL3vZaR8Qth7OtsfJdVmBQ7kQudR41SCtHMffiaoHkkjk3ZgFBfF2_wKRNiphX6bvPOSLNess1lrTumgRPJ8_lYCHPykZZmTc9XzDb0F2dta0SZpjq183wKKppCRukyNxEwK0V3_0CKX7X57p26n28bwQKLUF2yiFZH1dV4/s6000/IMG_5499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzxXeSvlD9GAm4ptwx-XQaL3vZaR8Qth7OtsfJdVmBQ7kQudR41SCtHMffiaoHkkjk3ZgFBfF2_wKRNiphX6bvPOSLNess1lrTumgRPJ8_lYCHPykZZmTc9XzDb0F2dta0SZpjq183wKKppCRukyNxEwK0V3_0CKX7X57p26n28bwQKLUF2yiFZH1dV4/w640-h426/IMG_5499.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Yy33DN8p3TaDP-ikj1FrUgiGNp54QTp2slCMoDm8HM3Ktor9i5esPpU-0awWCL6ayUGtG3fCmvZfoEiXHEAGeuRep2EyBiSiv9Vd6EmDqbRLbUYm_A4g8R5W9aKWbJC63h1uF1gE1xsiH4P3Vw5AJg7ieFftGzRL2IxjO4JUZODGV6bJcKwCRq8Vx9k/s6000/IMG_5501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Yy33DN8p3TaDP-ikj1FrUgiGNp54QTp2slCMoDm8HM3Ktor9i5esPpU-0awWCL6ayUGtG3fCmvZfoEiXHEAGeuRep2EyBiSiv9Vd6EmDqbRLbUYm_A4g8R5W9aKWbJC63h1uF1gE1xsiH4P3Vw5AJg7ieFftGzRL2IxjO4JUZODGV6bJcKwCRq8Vx9k/w640-h426/IMG_5501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiembEtnnChlT2S3QwFXaRn4KlhUe_oU5qGv2u70is5msjrvrWkekxtM3vZoK9bwyT-3yBsKD8DhbNqAfKD8jMaCyjEvUD0gUNRa6ZSZQpd_DlZzjFz_GxFYzpD-GwPNbRVKonWdTFxOljTIKKnNEFDt4HoXyMRPvw6LMPE82ZcGl6ZIZCGRxoEeDDZsTw/s6000/IMG_5504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiembEtnnChlT2S3QwFXaRn4KlhUe_oU5qGv2u70is5msjrvrWkekxtM3vZoK9bwyT-3yBsKD8DhbNqAfKD8jMaCyjEvUD0gUNRa6ZSZQpd_DlZzjFz_GxFYzpD-GwPNbRVKonWdTFxOljTIKKnNEFDt4HoXyMRPvw6LMPE82ZcGl6ZIZCGRxoEeDDZsTw/w640-h426/IMG_5504.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planted so many wildflower mixes and butterfly mixes this year, and my gosh, except for the fact that I have to water EVERY DAY, I have loved the beautiful, beautiful flowers blooming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planted one cherry tomato plant, and I am going to go out and pick some right now, and make myself some nachos for dinner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone have a great weekend, I will be at the Ag Hall of Fame tomorrow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-62115340516986535622023-06-11T18:09:00.000-05:002023-06-11T18:09:49.763-05:00June 11, 2023 <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gosh, so many good pictures to share with you all today! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had a half inch of much-needed rain, and a scant quarter inch today... and our skies are turning blue as I type this. It has been unseasonably cool these last two days, but we are going back up into more normal temps, and back to the high 80's by next weekend. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friend Lorie and her daughter Tiffany visited the Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh this week... my gosh, what beauty... I wish I could just up and run down to Powell Gardens, 70 miles from me on the Missouri side, and walk amongst their beautiful settings. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK35wubc66kdoh3lfiaECqjpIALdrflWSVAk0vdrSWJhNnDnWtdw7GVAKPtmDwavCea2qzo8ZM6hRd0Of4BPso91mzpWHpBHFf6YiHr2nt28VNTEj362OK7UqBPMDwzbnLT8O23dDlwObup_gbWAokUfROUuwdV5j26DJ90-ODICl5RMhDh0EAZumT/s640/Billy%20Porter%20Phipps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK35wubc66kdoh3lfiaECqjpIALdrflWSVAk0vdrSWJhNnDnWtdw7GVAKPtmDwavCea2qzo8ZM6hRd0Of4BPso91mzpWHpBHFf6YiHr2nt28VNTEj362OK7UqBPMDwzbnLT8O23dDlwObup_gbWAokUfROUuwdV5j26DJ90-ODICl5RMhDh0EAZumT/w480-h640/Billy%20Porter%20Phipps.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Phipps Gardens display until June 25 is the iconic costumes of native son Billy Porter... my gosh, it was astounding. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM2sfHJw1C2EIrNEJEXCWBpO43Pz4YDad5o_m_HR33AJHeHZuT-u8mDNNj3peXuzPGsdD_KysG04palHhAlQg59CoOvpPob4ybwAWWmVouknZsx65yOX0Z-FeiS9d_geLUfFtXNf0jmBBD7mNMk3GsNDozMqSPkK8T8QbaICKZ3pVYfd0pfQ94YO-/s6000/IMG_5396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM2sfHJw1C2EIrNEJEXCWBpO43Pz4YDad5o_m_HR33AJHeHZuT-u8mDNNj3peXuzPGsdD_KysG04palHhAlQg59CoOvpPob4ybwAWWmVouknZsx65yOX0Z-FeiS9d_geLUfFtXNf0jmBBD7mNMk3GsNDozMqSPkK8T8QbaICKZ3pVYfd0pfQ94YO-/w640-h426/IMG_5396.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every time I leave, I have to open the gate and close it, in case the sheep get out of the pasture and into the yard. The red gate is the old one that was here when we moved in... Keith built a lay-by so we could get off the road to open the gate... that gate is blue. Between the red gate and the fence, Milkweed has grown up... if you could smell it as I come through... it is heavenly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have another stand of it in the yard, near the lilac bush. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAamuerLRNlX7Sy8KKlQneGR0iyXYWiLjYsZVCHMw42PdTo-4-XsYnj4WIYXjDOZOaXQwASvMELgGBBFBS2JnTdDI_Ck3Dklq9lyhZagELysDsdTntOzIdV4fVfb98XBmFmQk3QjHUDP_kECh7K_HpOqCwuDeRZJDZL-uTjhCWcl4Uup8RTjYcPZap/s6000/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAamuerLRNlX7Sy8KKlQneGR0iyXYWiLjYsZVCHMw42PdTo-4-XsYnj4WIYXjDOZOaXQwASvMELgGBBFBS2JnTdDI_Ck3Dklq9lyhZagELysDsdTntOzIdV4fVfb98XBmFmQk3QjHUDP_kECh7K_HpOqCwuDeRZJDZL-uTjhCWcl4Uup8RTjYcPZap/w640-h426/IMG_5398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the time of the "June Candles"... the yucca is blooming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a lot of it in front of my house, along the road. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt3bcweNBCZCrNfbjnu-fpkCAWiDvrDTp0JHg_r_J8VKAhMSJrECWVRIDqmWkPyVRcBVtGWcTZ5U7AyEVoGxMl5B8SOVnbF25nR8kbX1efseE_ci8QF4vkJ3eZdh0HIyMw8XAoRwTYv6vXsfnR8ldWtoQ5zKG045jcoNi40jsbUyVIYk_EENec9By/s4000/20230611_053153.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt3bcweNBCZCrNfbjnu-fpkCAWiDvrDTp0JHg_r_J8VKAhMSJrECWVRIDqmWkPyVRcBVtGWcTZ5U7AyEVoGxMl5B8SOVnbF25nR8kbX1efseE_ci8QF4vkJ3eZdh0HIyMw8XAoRwTYv6vXsfnR8ldWtoQ5zKG045jcoNi40jsbUyVIYk_EENec9By/w360-h640/20230611_053153.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This huge one is in my fenceline, and it looks like a ghost out there at night, seriously! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I tried to show how it looks... if you look out in the dark, it's creepy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlpPVov5EYWDm6XN_GKkUwLg-zAEEgmmFu-IAJvFVUW0yyuSFSeLUu1uJymMLESfWrGN7JX45uit83Exru9sXOL75rmcliQZKG1JIfonmyNkhsKNjCn9RTX_PbMhDZt7p8TVB3FlyWhYt5c6Kp9ZapSGm7xd37LhDG2_fz8EIPGq7mfiXkpilAOOJ/s6000/IMG_5399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlpPVov5EYWDm6XN_GKkUwLg-zAEEgmmFu-IAJvFVUW0yyuSFSeLUu1uJymMLESfWrGN7JX45uit83Exru9sXOL75rmcliQZKG1JIfonmyNkhsKNjCn9RTX_PbMhDZt7p8TVB3FlyWhYt5c6Kp9ZapSGm7xd37LhDG2_fz8EIPGq7mfiXkpilAOOJ/w640-h426/IMG_5399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There it is in daylight. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirKSUJLKQABcLXgKmDrQomBWDMkUB-k6Wsg21tIQAyceLxMfCe6bk8Cxl6CMMWBMIfe-CsA7-1FaT8c1nJiUj-siTIUK1vX9HVORiFfKWrpnNfcz38UMqu3kPD00wxLcHmMInB1Dzc0TNGQ-SVd-tMxT8MFk264EbOg4BYnYyQ4HveWJfK9M6uLrR/s6000/IMG_5404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirKSUJLKQABcLXgKmDrQomBWDMkUB-k6Wsg21tIQAyceLxMfCe6bk8Cxl6CMMWBMIfe-CsA7-1FaT8c1nJiUj-siTIUK1vX9HVORiFfKWrpnNfcz38UMqu3kPD00wxLcHmMInB1Dzc0TNGQ-SVd-tMxT8MFk264EbOg4BYnYyQ4HveWJfK9M6uLrR/w640-h426/IMG_5404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Looking down my road this morning, you can see how green everything is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a person walking, way down there on the left. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uROOoz4-42gjeF8YzvRN_PfrNJyeNYAygeCnZnIUiserU0PXRNdL6Yg0t4lyLghVSgClIBm0CtSAsH7iUnc4jsCFYbUMsGq7r6rieW-zs48HN49xQnIFJGEId377qdzaASIeA5_EBidMf6VTCanIVN4dD0WzQ9Yi7dqPtEz20kcDcdrdb4WuWzCz/s4000/20230609_100743.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uROOoz4-42gjeF8YzvRN_PfrNJyeNYAygeCnZnIUiserU0PXRNdL6Yg0t4lyLghVSgClIBm0CtSAsH7iUnc4jsCFYbUMsGq7r6rieW-zs48HN49xQnIFJGEId377qdzaASIeA5_EBidMf6VTCanIVN4dD0WzQ9Yi7dqPtEz20kcDcdrdb4WuWzCz/w360-h640/20230609_100743.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ben took down the honeysuckle bush that was growing through the fence of the big hen yard. Wanda always slept under it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now she is sleeping under the steps/side deck of the hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhgnL9lEL-4EeQJTIuY0Hrfda366I0X_U_gFkX2CxCQkMgHOB4M3xhYamCJCNyCkri5ZGOvAqUH1oY7xUaujWkbx2muH0BSCHygy9KFVuOHeXknkV6n97sJqD10FadHlndoG9TxnLPRxWI-KBI8XtYFjjKGA4ibvGX81JJPyy34WfzLzBSqdjszT8/s4000/20230609_100723.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhgnL9lEL-4EeQJTIuY0Hrfda366I0X_U_gFkX2CxCQkMgHOB4M3xhYamCJCNyCkri5ZGOvAqUH1oY7xUaujWkbx2muH0BSCHygy9KFVuOHeXknkV6n97sJqD10FadHlndoG9TxnLPRxWI-KBI8XtYFjjKGA4ibvGX81JJPyy34WfzLzBSqdjszT8/w360-h640/20230609_100723.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cochin chicks lost the two huge-ish trees growing through the fence of their small yard... I left these two saplings for the time being for shade for them, but I hung a big tarp, and... I moved a really big dog house in there for them. I think they are afraid to go in it. It is just meant for day shelter, they are still coming in every night to be in their pen in the hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I caught just the head of the coyote bobbing at the bottom of the pasture last night, I had not seen her in two weeks. I noticed Molly looking down there, then I realized the chickens were... then the sheep's heads came up, and that's when I saw her. She is not coming daily, OR... if she is... I have not seen her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since Zoey is gone, I have not heard them at night either... Zoey took us out at least three times a night over the year and a half that she lived here. I'm not out at night any more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQuJG834SnyP6sUjR1hdy2giKHJgl0j5L_pG2TpKq2ddaeYbGTKUaznjcDqTGNjdI72Is5t7G7iik7G8eRWx0gSI-srbR2JQD_jwyUMxoyyZ50GDGQ6AQBIe1iEcgQiUlUh3v8FarhxPOdSKgVzTkkSKfqqfhFl89PVHM9Dt3Op9w6QmNRbvkuVs7/s6000/IMG_5407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQuJG834SnyP6sUjR1hdy2giKHJgl0j5L_pG2TpKq2ddaeYbGTKUaznjcDqTGNjdI72Is5t7G7iik7G8eRWx0gSI-srbR2JQD_jwyUMxoyyZ50GDGQ6AQBIe1iEcgQiUlUh3v8FarhxPOdSKgVzTkkSKfqqfhFl89PVHM9Dt3Op9w6QmNRbvkuVs7/w640-h426/IMG_5407.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the last of the raised beds that Keith built. We used to put peas and cucumbers in them, there were cattle panels attached and they grew up the panels. Last year, I had Ben take the panels down. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This bed has sat derelict with about ten bags of dirt laying on top of it, so last Wednesday in punishing heat, Ben cultivated it, and pulled out the weeds... turned it over, and spread the old dirt from the bags on it. Then I went and got eight more bags and lugged them onto the bed and poured them out, raking it all. It has pumpkins planted in the middle, and several different kinds of sunflowers on either side. I don't know if you know how sunflower roots tear up your beds (the clumps are big), but I love them and wanted to grow some somewhere where they wouldn't bother anything else. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rain watered them in well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQRzLu6obI2pfBV-4eyKrbOsYREieOOHQWDcg2x9VLzdm4AZlpuK_vC0j0n07SL6pYDKfmiKGE9KF0EqAg3ufBTd59QkclIJjbupKyhYl86qdkxFoQOvDDCSbhVVX9bD3iojDtw3GBLMtWvbKPCRfKmuVTb0_Z73QC3OtzpwFoAnOpJhZBlqWzDxr/s6000/IMG_5406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQRzLu6obI2pfBV-4eyKrbOsYREieOOHQWDcg2x9VLzdm4AZlpuK_vC0j0n07SL6pYDKfmiKGE9KF0EqAg3ufBTd59QkclIJjbupKyhYl86qdkxFoQOvDDCSbhVVX9bD3iojDtw3GBLMtWvbKPCRfKmuVTb0_Z73QC3OtzpwFoAnOpJhZBlqWzDxr/w640-h426/IMG_5406.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hollyhocks and lillies and bonus blue jay </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft43nNbzU-OCCzONHTRfQpLedlF1yFcgJqHBhKGXZGCUgbUU9D60UJ1fQ2bNSp46Dl8Ish9BqP-JdJHQYa5_FN-FfI2rizhU5w_wmuc2WrAJPnJN1S6i1L84yv_t4HYSTteWjoIScNqbKNyHg11I_cpqeNKsJUUIs8yPY3MAStF0nlwvlFCNkJm2j/s6000/IMG_5414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft43nNbzU-OCCzONHTRfQpLedlF1yFcgJqHBhKGXZGCUgbUU9D60UJ1fQ2bNSp46Dl8Ish9BqP-JdJHQYa5_FN-FfI2rizhU5w_wmuc2WrAJPnJN1S6i1L84yv_t4HYSTteWjoIScNqbKNyHg11I_cpqeNKsJUUIs8yPY3MAStF0nlwvlFCNkJm2j/w640-h426/IMG_5414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My planters on the patio planted with the Bird and Butterfly mix are HUGE... they should be blooming any time now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc9tAHPhqXJf16Gxqj4JO3au4sgXvdtrkm7JLMhZHk21dwLNl_9YP06wUqy4i1weJ7wscV7HR2dj1yZ4iT6H8ONw7FAw3oLhlsaHDsgMX7dpcoE3pDhOeF7PnNAeTycO16thtZbuyryBEK8p7PqajkqPJhZYCT4X15vByWWvh6lVNtoDe4QKa38uo/s6000/IMG_5418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc9tAHPhqXJf16Gxqj4JO3au4sgXvdtrkm7JLMhZHk21dwLNl_9YP06wUqy4i1weJ7wscV7HR2dj1yZ4iT6H8ONw7FAw3oLhlsaHDsgMX7dpcoE3pDhOeF7PnNAeTycO16thtZbuyryBEK8p7PqajkqPJhZYCT4X15vByWWvh6lVNtoDe4QKa38uo/w640-h426/IMG_5418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob sleeps by the door. He came in this morning, looked around, rubbed against Bullseye, but as soon as I began to close the door, he scooted out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He will not leave me alone if I sit down on the porch, he has to be on my lap loving all over me and pushing his head into my chin. He is welcome to come in, he just is not ready. I hope he gets ready before winter!</span></div> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTLSmJgZN6RHqT46RW2c0bm626Q6IknKZZ4Ade4lYtMHJ8UCMmNGCPzFoefT-RF_O4sGtr73pDJw0CEJB3FIZaeol2xamM_T2Xu3mEWin0WzrL0S_-24Byxl81idY3PD64JaxIQvbqxlMRIQGKk0Ik1oV6PoRx7SOWuUZVfYo2Ypyi0NmIJIlYztN/s6000/IMG_5424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTLSmJgZN6RHqT46RW2c0bm626Q6IknKZZ4Ade4lYtMHJ8UCMmNGCPzFoefT-RF_O4sGtr73pDJw0CEJB3FIZaeol2xamM_T2Xu3mEWin0WzrL0S_-24Byxl81idY3PD64JaxIQvbqxlMRIQGKk0Ik1oV6PoRx7SOWuUZVfYo2Ypyi0NmIJIlYztN/w640-h426/IMG_5424.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you can enlargen this, you will see something is going on with this tree in my north fenceline. It is dropping all its leaves already, and you can see the clumps of dead leaves. I am not sure what it is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl6Cd8T_RBuqCnJF0OF316bUjWKEtESSPsePpgpoNnqbObjeKRVNczwwNfSba6LAtbtdtT77XTzJ9iqYMeI2TjAw_G_iOu5EE6QaOuE1j01wyslZ4hcnJ1dh7F_92kmYnOg0lWIxbqP41k5AcD5lbHph5EnHvBj4S5udYQhDOcdDYQulyhEHpoXmk/s6000/IMG_5419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl6Cd8T_RBuqCnJF0OF316bUjWKEtESSPsePpgpoNnqbObjeKRVNczwwNfSba6LAtbtdtT77XTzJ9iqYMeI2TjAw_G_iOu5EE6QaOuE1j01wyslZ4hcnJ1dh7F_92kmYnOg0lWIxbqP41k5AcD5lbHph5EnHvBj4S5udYQhDOcdDYQulyhEHpoXmk/w640-h426/IMG_5419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">THESE are walnut leaves... every year the walnuts are the last to leaf out (April), and the first to drop their leaves... usually July 1st, but they are way ahead this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had rain, not lots... but we have had it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnExGYs8Jbi5pb8ZT5u72-HendEZjeHIZgPYqwjzwptqkcMN4rRymL0EwIWeznpn9MAobJGjPIU_yUUdXOzpMNC59_SJ4K3YbqtgU6eGg8Jvw92anZX072lyHl0Y3zZIdqfg3yYwf155agRn5-mZrZYgbAIrKvipqNUBKmiIK6MGKUaQvR5qr7aOw/s6000/IMG_5429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnExGYs8Jbi5pb8ZT5u72-HendEZjeHIZgPYqwjzwptqkcMN4rRymL0EwIWeznpn9MAobJGjPIU_yUUdXOzpMNC59_SJ4K3YbqtgU6eGg8Jvw92anZX072lyHl0Y3zZIdqfg3yYwf155agRn5-mZrZYgbAIrKvipqNUBKmiIK6MGKUaQvR5qr7aOw/w640-h426/IMG_5429.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lost beautiful Buddy on May 5th, and how I miss him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am still vacuuming him up! I have wood floors, but two runners and two room rugs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have vacuumed many times since losing him... how can I STILL BE GETTING HIS HAIR???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijchPrMsFJrimflVlInEonPk_1Dz80h0MWVPK8jfhWoyWDCDrVSBQPxu-6jUNSxs0T_0OlBUe8Ymsb3U7T-fo9rbf9VltnFjqYXRYBWx8-fHWqRtid5g5X6BLFHymLNhWNrTxj3XufcmT07E1h7bVh0SdcU0HxxZZGCad4dJAde5vff_Nh_EPu9f6N/s6000/IMG_5374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijchPrMsFJrimflVlInEonPk_1Dz80h0MWVPK8jfhWoyWDCDrVSBQPxu-6jUNSxs0T_0OlBUe8Ymsb3U7T-fo9rbf9VltnFjqYXRYBWx8-fHWqRtid5g5X6BLFHymLNhWNrTxj3XufcmT07E1h7bVh0SdcU0HxxZZGCad4dJAde5vff_Nh_EPu9f6N/w640-h426/IMG_5374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is not a very good picture... I had just come home from the commissary and set these bags down on the table. My friend Pauline, a long time reader of this blog, made these wonderful bags (and another, not pictured) for me. I use them every single week, they are remarkably strong. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much, Pauline !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZHC74_SImdZ_ghhIH6lSJ2dw9RnI7G2XelerbM-dIkWp11P6jZg4vCqwN7IXcxtIEWoJTbGrFIT8EbALsRsjCvnsmZIQPhbs3lK8lZlE5MtwHjTATxIaYIaZFec187yhyK5Of1Tg1jt-j_mn0djkyFUveJwD_xvbY3HNn_J68QFf1JuFTGqQ-jfi/s6000/IMG_5372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZHC74_SImdZ_ghhIH6lSJ2dw9RnI7G2XelerbM-dIkWp11P6jZg4vCqwN7IXcxtIEWoJTbGrFIT8EbALsRsjCvnsmZIQPhbs3lK8lZlE5MtwHjTATxIaYIaZFec187yhyK5Of1Tg1jt-j_mn0djkyFUveJwD_xvbY3HNn_J68QFf1JuFTGqQ-jfi/w640-h426/IMG_5372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh yes, the sheep are still here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I got there with the cutters to free her, she gave a mighty heave and backed herself out.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS6Fo4iVJv-DsNKbiNsfwwKl_N9tcX0IFbsniOUYN41OOYRV9k5vrk-x0R1AZJb6YcX3PPtjDiXJHGaEJDPHoPKkTKX28r8yCME2AX74jdo07f6f07opv2pSV74Jt9i5JkNUJJLnq6qvcPXr5dApUUho3UEF3rZT0Z7mrQsoZIigAHrqLC0k6jzjV/s6000/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS6Fo4iVJv-DsNKbiNsfwwKl_N9tcX0IFbsniOUYN41OOYRV9k5vrk-x0R1AZJb6YcX3PPtjDiXJHGaEJDPHoPKkTKX28r8yCME2AX74jdo07f6f07opv2pSV74Jt9i5JkNUJJLnq6qvcPXr5dApUUho3UEF3rZT0Z7mrQsoZIigAHrqLC0k6jzjV/w640-h426/IMG_5350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A more bucolic view</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone be careful out there !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-6765371622202219532023-05-28T08:51:00.000-05:002023-05-28T08:51:05.615-05:00Watching<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFrfa02b3C4468m3jEduF1Fxm33-RLsu8l9_Ejse9p3fBDT-o2c1ATL_Yr7WhM3xW_nd51MNg5aftKgPq0hURQs85dHPHFRpbGWUfnHjHB6d9kaF6gOLUdFQqqHimUIgnm55OL6tbj6jbctpqjwFMBt-c-FtSQM1jhQC6MscjGy-bn3PkHjgMGbyk/s6000/Bullseye%20watching%20raccoon%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFrfa02b3C4468m3jEduF1Fxm33-RLsu8l9_Ejse9p3fBDT-o2c1ATL_Yr7WhM3xW_nd51MNg5aftKgPq0hURQs85dHPHFRpbGWUfnHjHB6d9kaF6gOLUdFQqqHimUIgnm55OL6tbj6jbctpqjwFMBt-c-FtSQM1jhQC6MscjGy-bn3PkHjgMGbyk/w640-h426/Bullseye%20watching%20raccoon%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye watching a raccoon in the yard. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0OGiGIZw4YFbvhS7WWCHcKfZPMAnh8LOHqyW__NKjVHbCDnNZpOMqJgxN4fzeD4odQd9zVN3rUi64Ik1rcXhcGw3YpL3SbQ1-UkHLFD2-mUA8DpUnKnfUSP26n8vJdoAhij3f0Rk8p8NvhXovnVz-9EUeR1Vhb0k6eSogHR8I4s150Ly3ahSzdFE/s6000/Raccoon%20watching%20Bullseye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0OGiGIZw4YFbvhS7WWCHcKfZPMAnh8LOHqyW__NKjVHbCDnNZpOMqJgxN4fzeD4odQd9zVN3rUi64Ik1rcXhcGw3YpL3SbQ1-UkHLFD2-mUA8DpUnKnfUSP26n8vJdoAhij3f0Rk8p8NvhXovnVz-9EUeR1Vhb0k6eSogHR8I4s150Ly3ahSzdFE/w640-h426/Raccoon%20watching%20Bullseye.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Raccoon watching Bullseye </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtlsB7TLVOVDYqZv0HW8R6_lOw3OIk357kSTmcEhBhr0KuZ0Q61IcUwJelwIrhLqLTyG8ukWyxhG3kOP-JIrEZBPHKeYKCSBeSW8lutcqH0KcUkAYja_yi5OMmvostElIZ98jl3B3kVvv5ja4MZktMEytFIriG2mlQWF8sPYP0IPW3pewyc1NfZG7/s6000/Bob%20watching%20Bruce%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtlsB7TLVOVDYqZv0HW8R6_lOw3OIk357kSTmcEhBhr0KuZ0Q61IcUwJelwIrhLqLTyG8ukWyxhG3kOP-JIrEZBPHKeYKCSBeSW8lutcqH0KcUkAYja_yi5OMmvostElIZ98jl3B3kVvv5ja4MZktMEytFIriG2mlQWF8sPYP0IPW3pewyc1NfZG7/w640-h426/Bob%20watching%20Bruce%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob watching Bruce Wayne </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_pCV9GYlHLCDxCVmUUFeaaO71kKa1BVd2evId468GmbeQtYHcpyP0fVSjwzo1y7bR3WLySNufWumiubQ8fApvsg7RTZq9yMSu40dpLvzQvjZOIleazYu47VNvqxh1FO4jBWYNi1FMdCD1Cy6jZ0MgIMdEyLy3Aqx3ntaC0nhUOP5Wgyn1n_sRCGo/s6000/Bruce%20watching%20me%20on%20porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_pCV9GYlHLCDxCVmUUFeaaO71kKa1BVd2evId468GmbeQtYHcpyP0fVSjwzo1y7bR3WLySNufWumiubQ8fApvsg7RTZq9yMSu40dpLvzQvjZOIleazYu47VNvqxh1FO4jBWYNi1FMdCD1Cy6jZ0MgIMdEyLy3Aqx3ntaC0nhUOP5Wgyn1n_sRCGo/w640-h426/Bruce%20watching%20me%20on%20porch.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Wayne watching me watch both of them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_4B-zLA3ezHOd8KYXsFX6TQKK0D-Nnf5AGF-cDZl9mDF1Fe9TsdyDQybDTXHBT7KWgXMBEajm8wgpy99oYNzB3K3Hsu8tZiNkxcT2CgQ6bQopivhQmsAidS0N5erxmh6dCYp6DY6bvh4wKHtJEevWcTXtG5LexRlwCpkak3wkJzVqFYjO0K_9KN6/s6000/IMG_5312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_4B-zLA3ezHOd8KYXsFX6TQKK0D-Nnf5AGF-cDZl9mDF1Fe9TsdyDQybDTXHBT7KWgXMBEajm8wgpy99oYNzB3K3Hsu8tZiNkxcT2CgQ6bQopivhQmsAidS0N5erxmh6dCYp6DY6bvh4wKHtJEevWcTXtG5LexRlwCpkak3wkJzVqFYjO0K_9KN6/w640-h426/IMG_5312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda watching me from her cool bed under the honeysuckle bush. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(She just looks mad, she loves me)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtVSln1QiGkrpF8gYaEA3qt4X8uldqalNfK52A8hYPs5AzrPW8lqX8Aoz95Go6M5ZlSo3mkuVXMqLSQabHaTqHtHjuyeXaBwdqb_Wsi_lKtidUyCVc5v7N0qBu0btLBP2CbPGiTnkwPtKsA0n6dgjoBK2_tvToq2kisrIIE5dCPoffTJrBbO9JJbV/s6000/DSC_4542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtVSln1QiGkrpF8gYaEA3qt4X8uldqalNfK52A8hYPs5AzrPW8lqX8Aoz95Go6M5ZlSo3mkuVXMqLSQabHaTqHtHjuyeXaBwdqb_Wsi_lKtidUyCVc5v7N0qBu0btLBP2CbPGiTnkwPtKsA0n6dgjoBK2_tvToq2kisrIIE5dCPoffTJrBbO9JJbV/w640-h426/DSC_4542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coyote watching the cats in the driveway two nights ago, and yes, friends, she was that close. Not sure what is happening here. She has been in and out of the pasture for three days, the sheep have been ignoring her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I say her, it may be a he. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She wants my cats. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ok3RKRrQsY-1u4giH-kq-CqhbgxBOvev3qubMo2p7bLqLi_CAAgC3ElhbxYz1h8quvwVkW-7gx9Sfb-BMo6Xt9rNq8_JdoTBSVQfNqjA0JR9GF01jPoTswcc3DKVzYbJiBzlJuPpjJsnEJH4f4H4FLcJy3J4-yJLDd6i147VVMmpjB_XhQt6VFnd/s6000/IMG_5330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ok3RKRrQsY-1u4giH-kq-CqhbgxBOvev3qubMo2p7bLqLi_CAAgC3ElhbxYz1h8quvwVkW-7gx9Sfb-BMo6Xt9rNq8_JdoTBSVQfNqjA0JR9GF01jPoTswcc3DKVzYbJiBzlJuPpjJsnEJH4f4H4FLcJy3J4-yJLDd6i147VVMmpjB_XhQt6VFnd/w640-h426/IMG_5330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob the Porch Cat watching me do chores. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48-tEhPQOZ_MzZ5-RpgOh0-KW2g9ym4jWl2Fxk2xaCqvC-iqaO1brKPoMz0m2et7DiFFeFySmSyAynDSmqhiXLbAI6bYeKFy9iXkr7jq4zsfmlNVpulVMeMSfI-elU0H1Y0kklOnLGlVHXeWsdftfaSOAq_CCuTHu4qKoYBGYod4Wlqaxt0xp_KpY/s6000/IMG_5340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48-tEhPQOZ_MzZ5-RpgOh0-KW2g9ym4jWl2Fxk2xaCqvC-iqaO1brKPoMz0m2et7DiFFeFySmSyAynDSmqhiXLbAI6bYeKFy9iXkr7jq4zsfmlNVpulVMeMSfI-elU0H1Y0kklOnLGlVHXeWsdftfaSOAq_CCuTHu4qKoYBGYod4Wlqaxt0xp_KpY/w640-h426/IMG_5340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Molly watching me from the planter on the front deck. I gave up and took the forks out so she could lay there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9PbcggtM0FO4vivaL7qrxG_DVyaQO7M69H0iJvSsOnE1tsq7M6x_dANMYCvsQDybwZxiuZKWdnLyZkbrlmMSWbCDdxTFW4ewkL2Q9DnrrThwDziAj9MnPlNLNAq4X9T3yrIiFbLvJ21XIZd5eajVlAqhc1zU4gWvRzseKIRA_dYpPvpvES2QJDEn/s6000/IMG_5344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9PbcggtM0FO4vivaL7qrxG_DVyaQO7M69H0iJvSsOnE1tsq7M6x_dANMYCvsQDybwZxiuZKWdnLyZkbrlmMSWbCDdxTFW4ewkL2Q9DnrrThwDziAj9MnPlNLNAq4X9T3yrIiFbLvJ21XIZd5eajVlAqhc1zU4gWvRzseKIRA_dYpPvpvES2QJDEn/w640-h426/IMG_5344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye watching me from HIS planter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrrVnIsV02mMQ9eLzk5J9Ouyxe_8n2wkEEbR5x5ClawBu6gJJT-N9_0B5af5sI-SvzoanAjeLlbVkpdeX4X0yaE4o8t53FFQnD7WSg1HdZ44RzV5WCGbL0QO1k78xQlgPTnWo4QdY0YiVUgUwsn-cqP4SnEfVYUgqVJl0A4GiPwavpi8TGPwK-1BP/s4000/20230517_204932.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrrVnIsV02mMQ9eLzk5J9Ouyxe_8n2wkEEbR5x5ClawBu6gJJT-N9_0B5af5sI-SvzoanAjeLlbVkpdeX4X0yaE4o8t53FFQnD7WSg1HdZ44RzV5WCGbL0QO1k78xQlgPTnWo4QdY0YiVUgUwsn-cqP4SnEfVYUgqVJl0A4GiPwavpi8TGPwK-1BP/w360-h640/20230517_204932.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me watching Jester watching me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqgwzzAmmOoQs2MQb8Bjc0tnaeKmW_gSdE8MCXgo3oZMX3T57b7uIHQbeb8pi8eWXEkPCpozZEuz6kTBsOWZCeKyWk1uwsBPNADyx2CAgeqK4mTAb2moUrRuxQlFdRkDdIw9wCasmAFW_Fg9SbfCdnOjOBe3fcEy35zg0Ijoe4w-juys08XTbxB_b/s4000/20230522_101502.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqgwzzAmmOoQs2MQb8Bjc0tnaeKmW_gSdE8MCXgo3oZMX3T57b7uIHQbeb8pi8eWXEkPCpozZEuz6kTBsOWZCeKyWk1uwsBPNADyx2CAgeqK4mTAb2moUrRuxQlFdRkDdIw9wCasmAFW_Fg9SbfCdnOjOBe3fcEy35zg0Ijoe4w-juys08XTbxB_b/w360-h640/20230522_101502.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a good Memorial Day, peeps! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-71493943299585629492023-05-20T17:02:00.000-05:002023-05-20T17:02:00.387-05:00How Can May be Almost Over? <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happier Times, for the most part. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad for that! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mxcieEW-0eZideoyVNW5pCB3gj5tCPmyBnFuEZJB8n-5081SQakrvkKtPq-OOjrGFwZFGUZBxqZRHZgeQpjGiJpZ_ytOrgNJ_umqA44YOwzQcML2A4CCk-eYWLzjAgDF1WO-NV2uGObTvKKicPSnYvDgtmQlEhn6TrJRZITuow6686HS5g_Tjsly/s4000/20230516_183032.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mxcieEW-0eZideoyVNW5pCB3gj5tCPmyBnFuEZJB8n-5081SQakrvkKtPq-OOjrGFwZFGUZBxqZRHZgeQpjGiJpZ_ytOrgNJ_umqA44YOwzQcML2A4CCk-eYWLzjAgDF1WO-NV2uGObTvKKicPSnYvDgtmQlEhn6TrJRZITuow6686HS5g_Tjsly/w640-h360/20230516_183032.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was putting new oranges on the orange feeder the other evening, and looked down through the plants... there were two eggs in the garden bed! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(see the spilled jelly?) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chickens! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know when they had been laid, but the raccoons found them that night and left shells. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1xJz5dZXKZEAtfJPo9mm3E5YQrr__liD91WzCCvV08L6Ha-FkJeswEpuw4IY9ryPStOAGDciDwRxNAk_MhHsevvnNeJYmZpn0B6ckxy9KJPYFzUw84OAqt_50kZUz_ehhfK9I7sheHFJzOx77q8xnX29ByuAFnVDxau9IEb-XJDhtxEX49UCkIeR/s4000/20230517_175813.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1xJz5dZXKZEAtfJPo9mm3E5YQrr__liD91WzCCvV08L6Ha-FkJeswEpuw4IY9ryPStOAGDciDwRxNAk_MhHsevvnNeJYmZpn0B6ckxy9KJPYFzUw84OAqt_50kZUz_ehhfK9I7sheHFJzOx77q8xnX29ByuAFnVDxau9IEb-XJDhtxEX49UCkIeR/w640-h360/20230517_175813.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was not feeling very kindly towards them the next night. You see, last Sunday I planted all these planters and lick tubs. I am trying to save some money this year, and I planted seeds I already had... plus some packets I got at the feed store. I love wildflowers so planted two tubs of them. We had rain on Monday and the seeds germinated right away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three days later, I unthinkingly let the hens in the yard, and while I was in watching the five PM news, the hens scratched out most of the tubs. I could have strangled them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have replanted, but they are now captive on their own side of the yard until the flowers are up and blooming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plants are so expensive this year, so I bought exactly one hanging basket and then bought some petunias and divided them and planted three baskets I saved from last year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX0ygPIHvqBj-F805Wp8SAcpN57veAbqHqkYA1o2EHHJOmW1bg8ds6JvuQ_yM8t8zOjABzTL6QHwfN4K3yQvWzd3TDKB8eXXiB1x2H1WoTFNwdIFLDLNPW3JrUcXMeOqx7-T2i6pmJSc11iRGbs4m20b2QqxLK_EELmOED9S9Urp5NCsm1_Et7Ogn/s4000/20230512_185650.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX0ygPIHvqBj-F805Wp8SAcpN57veAbqHqkYA1o2EHHJOmW1bg8ds6JvuQ_yM8t8zOjABzTL6QHwfN4K3yQvWzd3TDKB8eXXiB1x2H1WoTFNwdIFLDLNPW3JrUcXMeOqx7-T2i6pmJSc11iRGbs4m20b2QqxLK_EELmOED9S9Urp5NCsm1_Et7Ogn/w360-h640/20230512_185650.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89GEKgV-l6L6vvq8_kMnRhnufBs-IUtbcO32HseThid3OLqGyWwwUjaqd0oJos9yn8kiIV-Of3kQCQn6VmNeILEYB5IBlUlBU4JmefuK4--OCapwq1P1Lt4nrzOR6Ftd-w4iXio5Jj0ohoHHeZTdIXa_w95WZ7dO4c-7mnNeK43_gzEYO1xt3lazX/s4000/20230512_185641.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89GEKgV-l6L6vvq8_kMnRhnufBs-IUtbcO32HseThid3OLqGyWwwUjaqd0oJos9yn8kiIV-Of3kQCQn6VmNeILEYB5IBlUlBU4JmefuK4--OCapwq1P1Lt4nrzOR6Ftd-w4iXio5Jj0ohoHHeZTdIXa_w95WZ7dO4c-7mnNeK43_gzEYO1xt3lazX/w360-h640/20230512_185641.heic" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHauGipp5g4eKgPEQwW9shTzwD3JkhMf0bUBPOuNKoqO2pHk8ggrqd03yeNe6nHZf-Z2LLGFkRl5B17bsrOkiGoi2cFKVmbp65960oS7N00pO8py3dsOe7zNE4sSdvhhdRkWSPAF7ENbbOje6M8mf3L0nnjdzs1pkCReF0KGhCRMiAYfYYrYr02rT/s4000/20230512_185635.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHauGipp5g4eKgPEQwW9shTzwD3JkhMf0bUBPOuNKoqO2pHk8ggrqd03yeNe6nHZf-Z2LLGFkRl5B17bsrOkiGoi2cFKVmbp65960oS7N00pO8py3dsOe7zNE4sSdvhhdRkWSPAF7ENbbOje6M8mf3L0nnjdzs1pkCReF0KGhCRMiAYfYYrYr02rT/w360-h640/20230512_185635.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My iris have come and gone already, the whites are still blooming a little. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had many more in the past, and my goal is to re-do this bed and plant a bunch in the fall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem80hGT0SMQgptdmFxK6BuwkuHAv6ODD1L7wxstELW7pffxdXktPd8wO-Ilgmj1KEmyMrAtBC8vqA2PK6RrzvIJNgx3pPTMz-A33W8VKY2UnpoGTekICjR4SGsAkyzviYdYmjLWoZPpujnHlzUR5X0y0msL7qqNIGVFXS0rLTMf99xcFZTTtGW_DJ/s4000/20230515_180945.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem80hGT0SMQgptdmFxK6BuwkuHAv6ODD1L7wxstELW7pffxdXktPd8wO-Ilgmj1KEmyMrAtBC8vqA2PK6RrzvIJNgx3pPTMz-A33W8VKY2UnpoGTekICjR4SGsAkyzviYdYmjLWoZPpujnHlzUR5X0y0msL7qqNIGVFXS0rLTMf99xcFZTTtGW_DJ/w360-h640/20230515_180945.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These two took up residence in the big hen house for a week... there are two heads there, one is on the left. They are gone now, it got cool again... but I am watching for them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The four cochin babies are in a secure pen, but I was worried they would get Pip, the little silkie hen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrlSLcpRU13xZIFSJs1n0u4fwMBBa8dpmbqn9joKQr2C1EhlEQ2FZrpLV6Ej09UrfVZkJOSTle1iFZRx3IZFuLmjBzbGXXX2MJsW6afeQOuATBV0l4ZYN_sdX8TJT-S4u2XxF-wvc9WF_P7MBaViC3wpc8Ef4eGmmhHheVQFxL-ELZt0HbHz3gYe6/s4000/20230515_182543.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrlSLcpRU13xZIFSJs1n0u4fwMBBa8dpmbqn9joKQr2C1EhlEQ2FZrpLV6Ej09UrfVZkJOSTle1iFZRx3IZFuLmjBzbGXXX2MJsW6afeQOuATBV0l4ZYN_sdX8TJT-S4u2XxF-wvc9WF_P7MBaViC3wpc8Ef4eGmmhHheVQFxL-ELZt0HbHz3gYe6/w360-h640/20230515_182543.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cochin babies are looking GREAT. I changed their open bowl of water out for a conventional water fountain about an hour ago, and they fled to the other end of the pen in fright. I'm going out in a few minutes to check and make sure they understand they can drink still. That open bowl got too dirty, too fast. My gosh, they are good looking babies, there is a cockerel and three pullets. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My next goal is to get them outside in a secure pen during the day, and I'm going to be talking to Ben about that this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">About a month ago, some good friends gave me a gift certificate to a farm store I had not used recently. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stopped in there because they carry Kalmbach feed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My gosh, folks. I got a bag of Kalmbach layer feed, and I have to tell you, all joking aside... the eggs I am getting have great shells and I am getting six to nine eggs a day out of my aged hens. I am stunned at the size and quality of the eggs. I am ready to get another bag, and am going to go over tomorrow and get it. I am so happy with it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw85jnRCRgyNiKSB734gAu_KKq4w621p8p52kf1cyq9A-RGNGQyFZSkV1PkZC21PuA-eOijDH2QyJYg7kFoL4W4f94-RNIl3Pfp-CqFT05NG0L3AuJqmqfZJnJuMWdd4V_wNnrvnaZEsjn2k_kx0VXs1tQNAYfmO88zizuUWc9suXL3jKBUB-X4EP/s6848/Raccoon%20on%20the%20platform.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3852" data-original-width="6848" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw85jnRCRgyNiKSB734gAu_KKq4w621p8p52kf1cyq9A-RGNGQyFZSkV1PkZC21PuA-eOijDH2QyJYg7kFoL4W4f94-RNIl3Pfp-CqFT05NG0L3AuJqmqfZJnJuMWdd4V_wNnrvnaZEsjn2k_kx0VXs1tQNAYfmO88zizuUWc9suXL3jKBUB-X4EP/w640-h360/Raccoon%20on%20the%20platform.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will have to enlarge this and squint... there is a raccoon running on the ground... and one on the moveable platform Ben made for me last summer, cleaning up the bird seed. I will say that I am not being invaded as I was before by thirteen or fourteen a night, but they are still around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It does not help that my yard light is not working about half the nights, and it is pitch black outside once night falls. I called about it once, and am going to call again on Monday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hanging finch feeders are just in front of the camera hanging on the porch rail. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd4OPurcUaralefs0ZqPvLuE32htD-P-ZGCIANxxqxNbPul7byCxJ58AERMDQtpI1AG1zoI0YZa8EwbJohtz0LiHpLCZM0lRq5p-gZCjSBi55rgQpk-x-IVHOUgbUgISF2mPX__IukfD2x-6P6HxoKbSr4zs5QQcv2P61z0cdMCLFkHblQgbK9fgC/s6848/Mary%20Ann%20on%20tractor%20two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3852" data-original-width="6848" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd4OPurcUaralefs0ZqPvLuE32htD-P-ZGCIANxxqxNbPul7byCxJ58AERMDQtpI1AG1zoI0YZa8EwbJohtz0LiHpLCZM0lRq5p-gZCjSBi55rgQpk-x-IVHOUgbUgISF2mPX__IukfD2x-6P6HxoKbSr4zs5QQcv2P61z0cdMCLFkHblQgbK9fgC/w640-h360/Mary%20Ann%20on%20tractor%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have NO clue why the camera took rosy pictures for an entire day, but here I am doing what I will be doing all summer long... cutting the grass. I am alternating between north and south sides of the yard, tomorrow is the south again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__rt7-aGwCY_Wh7H861naEHPclFRn5lnNQbeFVXxsRV63hJ80Tzy_vE9ymH8FrTw4BpZoj5j3mBDci1nXzMcmoGV6OWDMf6BLpxzk65HcUhvcG0wpyKsx750MPFjLRWQTgfuwkmhkz2w81N7QA-Xq0t3TDbYwbNZDE2nvlmAARMzsjKYj7NI40y2X/s4992/black%20and%20white%20cat%20closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__rt7-aGwCY_Wh7H861naEHPclFRn5lnNQbeFVXxsRV63hJ80Tzy_vE9ymH8FrTw4BpZoj5j3mBDci1nXzMcmoGV6OWDMf6BLpxzk65HcUhvcG0wpyKsx750MPFjLRWQTgfuwkmhkz2w81N7QA-Xq0t3TDbYwbNZDE2nvlmAARMzsjKYj7NI40y2X/w640-h360/black%20and%20white%20cat%20closeup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This makes Cat Number Four in the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, Mama has disappeared again. She was gone about three weeks ago for five days... I have not seen her now since last weekend. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This guy, whom I call Bruce Wayne, has been in the shop several mornings, including this morning, when I went in to feed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQoXdabUsapLmS0DU-mY2oLdZXFG5eiA-lEKHkSAj7eVEMw1UKZaxy4P5krg3RtdqZVHOrrqWSmyCmv_ECVKwO-j57Bd4Sh1pmMAQ1P6IMIXWhtN275VBfBLbm8TyBHWJ7I2jokAxk50BB8q9Ry8xpGIXtHBcQ2vy1C4fbV8o_4vQ1MDP0WqwlwNS/s4000/20230515_182105.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQoXdabUsapLmS0DU-mY2oLdZXFG5eiA-lEKHkSAj7eVEMw1UKZaxy4P5krg3RtdqZVHOrrqWSmyCmv_ECVKwO-j57Bd4Sh1pmMAQ1P6IMIXWhtN275VBfBLbm8TyBHWJ7I2jokAxk50BB8q9Ry8xpGIXtHBcQ2vy1C4fbV8o_4vQ1MDP0WqwlwNS/w360-h640/20230515_182105.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">UH HUH. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sent that to a rescue friend and titled it "The Camel has come into the Tent". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcqc4AshEuwbhy2GvSasXXljcQvmRdf78vUE_srj96IbxS1vpa6Rh56WamnaKJOUYKq506V-k0TzxfcGCZ7NYO3SRHOHphDzisriA_vSM_opvT8hrEn5Dcpz9ShUKjTMq9uCeGcON6fxJxF5oyXONovcre-65QS1PNT0q__wn2QWv5JX4h6RFo38a/s4000/20230507_190040.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcqc4AshEuwbhy2GvSasXXljcQvmRdf78vUE_srj96IbxS1vpa6Rh56WamnaKJOUYKq506V-k0TzxfcGCZ7NYO3SRHOHphDzisriA_vSM_opvT8hrEn5Dcpz9ShUKjTMq9uCeGcON6fxJxF5oyXONovcre-65QS1PNT0q__wn2QWv5JX4h6RFo38a/w360-h640/20230507_190040.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My boy Bob does not like him. At night I sometimes hear cats fighting, and I know who it is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob is neutered, and I can't get near enough to Bruce to see if he is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwil9HbY3rXbo6ONfwC74P1FFQ2EeOWF68t_BGTODWvPYhl-e1sap9F2NKGBCi8ca65ltwcXJEbN9p4jwcv_Qojv2xC9VzYCP4Qnul6AQyZoLIwBeBJfHh3e2eOgzOK-ZoBBWMjzbolztY3VS5BEtZUWQIN2uwTVomvT13ceNS2IbAatczugI761qK/s4992/Teenie%20in%20the%20barn%20sitting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwil9HbY3rXbo6ONfwC74P1FFQ2EeOWF68t_BGTODWvPYhl-e1sap9F2NKGBCi8ca65ltwcXJEbN9p4jwcv_Qojv2xC9VzYCP4Qnul6AQyZoLIwBeBJfHh3e2eOgzOK-ZoBBWMjzbolztY3VS5BEtZUWQIN2uwTVomvT13ceNS2IbAatczugI761qK/w640-h360/Teenie%20in%20the%20barn%20sitting.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My little Teenie the Meanie is still in the barn... she is so small but does not like ANYONE. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She likes me, and she liked Mama okay, but Cleo lives in the barn, too, and Teenie does not like her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFzju2C3OHgySjkPYNhgISAIukWQxeQFyGs-r5Z3sTa07TpI1jrbHGTdxzU_xBSCrfetUGPcEG4LQqVoh1Nd6HDTyiKmivLRDLMgL-XnxHNERfCjDHD8rVdEvi5lTqWgpb0DkslLmfAOKkWZPu1LuOcbLEMGlSTqH2N-dnXomtSivSUKpaZ2GpFoz/s4992/Raccoon%20long%20legs%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFzju2C3OHgySjkPYNhgISAIukWQxeQFyGs-r5Z3sTa07TpI1jrbHGTdxzU_xBSCrfetUGPcEG4LQqVoh1Nd6HDTyiKmivLRDLMgL-XnxHNERfCjDHD8rVdEvi5lTqWgpb0DkslLmfAOKkWZPu1LuOcbLEMGlSTqH2N-dnXomtSivSUKpaZ2GpFoz/w640-h360/Raccoon%20long%20legs%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have not been seeing any skunks in the barn in the last three weeks... but this long-legged raccoon has been in there multiple nights, and two possums, one small, one large. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The warming light is off for the summer, though the Kuranda bed is still in there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce likes the Kuranda. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnDb9MYjGKNC8Ae2eiPTFwGoJCe0YYQ0bLhOpOu0401Xpd2kxlkLwtvXi45LytfayuqwuR07uirHwMoL31T9wGvct8b2SMy5yxSYZaM71ueLhtnAlyNZrbsW0blqhDMbflSiZTReHY2_OIZcAY2eJyGnPqp-LcqRGf2d2KukSLmYEl8TbP1eNmutz/s6000/Nugget%20and%20sheep%20staring%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnDb9MYjGKNC8Ae2eiPTFwGoJCe0YYQ0bLhOpOu0401Xpd2kxlkLwtvXi45LytfayuqwuR07uirHwMoL31T9wGvct8b2SMy5yxSYZaM71ueLhtnAlyNZrbsW0blqhDMbflSiZTReHY2_OIZcAY2eJyGnPqp-LcqRGf2d2KukSLmYEl8TbP1eNmutz/w640-h426/Nugget%20and%20sheep%20staring%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ewe on the right was born here, Nugget... though that is not what she is called now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her dam is here too, Fluffy, though that is not her next to Nugget. Neither Nugget or her mom have ear tags. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flicka, the Dorper sheep that had been mine, died during the past winter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am enjoying watching the sheep again. I am keeping their trough full and the plastic pool I keep under the walnut tree for them. The ram was brought over this week... he's BIG and I am careful around him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pasture needs to be mowed, the grass is too high for them, and I think it's beyond my mower now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to talk to Ben tomorrow about several things and I'll mention that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can tell you there is no barn at their own home, and it just tickles me that they go in and out of the barn all day long here. I love to see Nugget laying in the doorway, chewing her cud. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wsggi_BUPAijLOuInAP6XKkj85QVpOAaTzPqn3RAsVE45B5Hn2nlrK_4ragiI5DCEFMio-f3A-0vsWdP6q2sRYYTbQQLJkbyz5gphyIhzKTT4QCdVAND8gcHdOszapaT-j_RtXTkst9wvu5Bzt4KVbU-6jxtCByUcVIZb5s9VnzVQKePgw-Skev2/s6000/Hollyhocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wsggi_BUPAijLOuInAP6XKkj85QVpOAaTzPqn3RAsVE45B5Hn2nlrK_4ragiI5DCEFMio-f3A-0vsWdP6q2sRYYTbQQLJkbyz5gphyIhzKTT4QCdVAND8gcHdOszapaT-j_RtXTkst9wvu5Bzt4KVbU-6jxtCByUcVIZb5s9VnzVQKePgw-Skev2/w640-h426/Hollyhocks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to have a ton of hollyhocks, very soon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsnJNZf3hH81jGQHKgQvm91cHkHNDPUjefE8wnsm2JfcV-NhdrE10TJnYmc4iYPgw2QlGP6sdN2fM7QNyWOerU5D7QorCaTiZR7D6fpnL0R_TEesNiV3SbzIxux4HMcIkdMIx84gUDTBK7KcW3OKjtKOKy3-ie0zIFDL2exzIgCy9CrtLfr5E-cMO/s6000/Peonies%20and%20Wanda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsnJNZf3hH81jGQHKgQvm91cHkHNDPUjefE8wnsm2JfcV-NhdrE10TJnYmc4iYPgw2QlGP6sdN2fM7QNyWOerU5D7QorCaTiZR7D6fpnL0R_TEesNiV3SbzIxux4HMcIkdMIx84gUDTBK7KcW3OKjtKOKy3-ie0zIFDL2exzIgCy9CrtLfr5E-cMO/w640-h426/Peonies%20and%20Wanda.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My peonies smelled heavenly, I brought enough in for two vases, but they have all shattered in yesterday's rain. There is little Wanda in the background. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZV2bMmCizl17DBLmuPl_V_QvgYsCBQivJnaqc-j7Igv-XwGgEevviJ2Sj1fRXbwVULG0Sft4a8v_bdo4AYl-c1exX8UMUjs5FQcWpuliIcjUOY-LCLo6ILALlzU98cM_B5OcXC8wRypJ2JRZ734v5pSlPOuXnL5m5oDty5xRG9nq6BRcw78Kb9uj/s6000/Cardinal%20on%20feeder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZV2bMmCizl17DBLmuPl_V_QvgYsCBQivJnaqc-j7Igv-XwGgEevviJ2Sj1fRXbwVULG0Sft4a8v_bdo4AYl-c1exX8UMUjs5FQcWpuliIcjUOY-LCLo6ILALlzU98cM_B5OcXC8wRypJ2JRZ734v5pSlPOuXnL5m5oDty5xRG9nq6BRcw78Kb9uj/w640-h426/Cardinal%20on%20feeder.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Baltimore Orioles only stay here about a month, and I took my first pictures on April 20. These guys, though, stay all year. If they really are our loved ones visiting us, I have many. I like to think so. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you all for your wonderful comments about Buddy. The house seems so empty now, and Jester is alone. Zoey and Buddy were wonderful dogs, and I was privileged to have them for a while... but I think Jes and I are going to take a break for a while. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-26590296632523510852023-05-07T20:29:00.000-05:002023-05-07T20:29:01.429-05:00The Story of a Big Dog <blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was found on Labor Day, 2022... astray in technically Wyandotte County, but picked up closer to Bonner Springs. The Bonner ACO (Animal Control Officer), Officer Anthony, took him from a sheriff's deputy and took him to the police garage, since they had no animal impound at the time. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFcK6TgTrjjVENid8JpQumg97_BhNoBFnMr2sZcLsJKBRUA_WAOd2kPvpAeQkR3SKKu3ozzTonqi5iDwzy7eZWDdUNSCb7NlNHbz3y3XgrJRv3xFO_C31wjDv_t7ZZLgzbUeFceo7O-VZI2oDcYLmr1hvBWyHbWkl3aooEDcvZysKDYE1da-M02cK/s1440/FB_IMG_1677730385711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFcK6TgTrjjVENid8JpQumg97_BhNoBFnMr2sZcLsJKBRUA_WAOd2kPvpAeQkR3SKKu3ozzTonqi5iDwzy7eZWDdUNSCb7NlNHbz3y3XgrJRv3xFO_C31wjDv_t7ZZLgzbUeFceo7O-VZI2oDcYLmr1hvBWyHbWkl3aooEDcvZysKDYE1da-M02cK/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730385711.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudhVNjBhLkcKJGKU3eBKGRGNKOuGJolxR-_8WefHuTMMwjB8UeUT53PBAY9KNlYf_XLoMYK5clZzhVd0cMHZle41bRk1Nz2SSLeXU1W2bWNGAJClhb8EIR0p2CrTgUah5rOqa8paHgl4AqGk6myvvrGjQCIinoTXkxKGIhp4W3sryIeIm0PXXAcM-/s800/FB_IMG_1677730352266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudhVNjBhLkcKJGKU3eBKGRGNKOuGJolxR-_8WefHuTMMwjB8UeUT53PBAY9KNlYf_XLoMYK5clZzhVd0cMHZle41bRk1Nz2SSLeXU1W2bWNGAJClhb8EIR0p2CrTgUah5rOqa8paHgl4AqGk6myvvrGjQCIinoTXkxKGIhp4W3sryIeIm0PXXAcM-/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730352266.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUGcPl4eSmfL9Qt2FDpc4BQ6VWjA5sSn0i5rHGe3nI54egK4D9BmTWazGlfZcEAKsWOlTOv-VUjvxC8zrECTBjUfATkQXDkReBVof8VX0fA9qBMu5E25WiRmnHJ0R_X7xRieV8vASfWB6ze52NF4Eqma_B88UnZ_EYYvidTiraiU7YncdPgpBK0WM/s800/FB_IMG_1677730347695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUGcPl4eSmfL9Qt2FDpc4BQ6VWjA5sSn0i5rHGe3nI54egK4D9BmTWazGlfZcEAKsWOlTOv-VUjvxC8zrECTBjUfATkQXDkReBVof8VX0fA9qBMu5E25WiRmnHJ0R_X7xRieV8vASfWB6ze52NF4Eqma_B88UnZ_EYYvidTiraiU7YncdPgpBK0WM/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730347695.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiOg2G56kwtffwkz4F6g98xC6skVft6qPlvpGfU2qA_pGE8hKZjlSZPkU7h8bCKys9lGP9DMf-xe181DafDujf2usCdYvaOOtwv3mSN_Dqpcq9C1qrDd04Vuzpv1ziRsOycMitIXgKp1UI4N-T8KDLO2yukxR7VRsANbjNj_bZm4Y3yl5BD3QelV4/s1024/FB_IMG_1677730342169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiOg2G56kwtffwkz4F6g98xC6skVft6qPlvpGfU2qA_pGE8hKZjlSZPkU7h8bCKys9lGP9DMf-xe181DafDujf2usCdYvaOOtwv3mSN_Dqpcq9C1qrDd04Vuzpv1ziRsOycMitIXgKp1UI4N-T8KDLO2yukxR7VRsANbjNj_bZm4Y3yl5BD3QelV4/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730342169.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was very, very thin, and had a UTI, causing him to be incontinent. The rescue believed he had gone astray and was looking for a place to die. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite initial interest, no one ever came forward on his behalf... no owner ever claimed him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I told them I would foster him, and they believed it would be for a short time, only. They did go forward with vetting, including heartworm and a neuter. The vet who administered to him believed him to be at or over ten, old for a GSD. The vet noted his hips were bad. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see in the second and third pictures how very thin he was. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He came to me that next week... oh, the UTI... we had to go out up to eight times a day, and at least four times a night, so I got little sleep. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYqV8QeDWmr1rEe-2H64o0-4rP8HBsmaDBX12iS-mmQlvzREmOOcR6DcoPHqtTNLMpZRT8Lknw79QOKp6QapIMGFE4hrPhZm9VzhZK9lHXJ4-8X2aNA8B9c4WXfoNcAaonbITntFjV2jhmIOc6Rwkkn26nmr4jn_inivtgNk7STXKJn0wfpwpOWs-/s4000/20230501_070917.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYqV8QeDWmr1rEe-2H64o0-4rP8HBsmaDBX12iS-mmQlvzREmOOcR6DcoPHqtTNLMpZRT8Lknw79QOKp6QapIMGFE4hrPhZm9VzhZK9lHXJ4-8X2aNA8B9c4WXfoNcAaonbITntFjV2jhmIOc6Rwkkn26nmr4jn_inivtgNk7STXKJn0wfpwpOWs-/w360-h640/20230501_070917.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A huge crate was moved into the kitchen, taking up a third of the space... but everyone loved the crate. Buddy, as I began to call him, loved his crate. So did Jester, Zoey and the cats. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvWcQBcPo8I_vWMXnJ95lDtuO9QzjbZufIoxRC1rIWMoFvyMu6qcJHKs8Vp855wZEnN3Gu-QB2ChCfoz3bjnF7FAAaCFyfXINI5AHxJCWRZa9t5a_EcNtvtXuqQgtVU_TO9CKgB_2n42PymUNEwgXNKKahHRuhjA8avSeHtha3Y2DV13KHjZVnLT6/s2992/20230402_092145.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvWcQBcPo8I_vWMXnJ95lDtuO9QzjbZufIoxRC1rIWMoFvyMu6qcJHKs8Vp855wZEnN3Gu-QB2ChCfoz3bjnF7FAAaCFyfXINI5AHxJCWRZa9t5a_EcNtvtXuqQgtVU_TO9CKgB_2n42PymUNEwgXNKKahHRuhjA8avSeHtha3Y2DV13KHjZVnLT6/w640-h640/20230402_092145.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buddy was his "name", but who knows what his original owners called him... I called him Bud, Budmeister, Bud-Bud, Big Dog and BD. I can tell you he was deaf and if you called him from behind, he could not tell until you stepped out and waved. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can also tell you he loved men more than women, though he LOVED Officer Anthony. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let my son walk into the house, and Buddy was animated. He spent hours at the south fence line, watching Troy working in his driveway and hoping for a pat. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His best buddy at first was Mama, the gray tabby cat... but then... along came Bob. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nkE7g2FyNw4Tbo5CnM8RSsUKAcJGIFen8mH_uOkpV0LbxA0VWbnM1CG0Wbk3N175gqLvO04lv0XutUxj30JAbeiBH7aHd7YqInToSrDwknFCjiEoWh_SBfDT-QuGKeGLjTZLtAJXyw9ktuFubiqHbucVHY5E7NRh7-Sv510cEcoumuY2VT7RcgbE/s4000/20230416_183536.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nkE7g2FyNw4Tbo5CnM8RSsUKAcJGIFen8mH_uOkpV0LbxA0VWbnM1CG0Wbk3N175gqLvO04lv0XutUxj30JAbeiBH7aHd7YqInToSrDwknFCjiEoWh_SBfDT-QuGKeGLjTZLtAJXyw9ktuFubiqHbucVHY5E7NRh7-Sv510cEcoumuY2VT7RcgbE/w360-h640/20230416_183536.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He had to be careful walking because Bob was ALWAYS underfoot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXZ-Xc2L2mljN9k40SqYzzTH2co0znRVkrQSYg-XvMKKiHpSVGohRvnXPWNUFri6Qrfm9KcDmUCzwfHeee1kcHJY9Ns_veoldEfOl2SMPeqd4RnrKObk-2b_rpE5zYMyYRYF9YN-LOjtGEabqBVv-zgDppC7ezFudr7LdhCgj9DYc-uEPP5w-lXK8/s4000/20230423_205055.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXZ-Xc2L2mljN9k40SqYzzTH2co0znRVkrQSYg-XvMKKiHpSVGohRvnXPWNUFri6Qrfm9KcDmUCzwfHeee1kcHJY9Ns_veoldEfOl2SMPeqd4RnrKObk-2b_rpE5zYMyYRYF9YN-LOjtGEabqBVv-zgDppC7ezFudr7LdhCgj9DYc-uEPP5w-lXK8/w640-h360/20230423_205055.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He and Jester were buddies, and there was only one slight growl when </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a bone was involved... so we had a no bone rule. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQh2tssOyMgD_t0d8bFx9K1J0mJmHN-ybey4HxXnCbJvEqb8cffusdTkRwJOopDxPDWr7VvR2VLr5RFyrk4zHb76BitBvZU3cJwOON2_F0NjnWECuPASIFp6MFiq8srcoiTlZzhnPkESLpqvFKOT1tBu8SxasLx2Ug5rX44cjbLl3ddzUer3WyZMl/s2992/20230310_182319.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQh2tssOyMgD_t0d8bFx9K1J0mJmHN-ybey4HxXnCbJvEqb8cffusdTkRwJOopDxPDWr7VvR2VLr5RFyrk4zHb76BitBvZU3cJwOON2_F0NjnWECuPASIFp6MFiq8srcoiTlZzhnPkESLpqvFKOT1tBu8SxasLx2Ug5rX44cjbLl3ddzUer3WyZMl/w640-h640/20230310_182319.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoey was his friend, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe1h58XyKPuI1724nncFqOVnoMJOTa4ZhvDjzz469WuO1WBLCIMu7qLJuIZ3yXCCek2xb_FCbHfiO3tZn5ObcIUt_C05zhcON1MKDal9VvMfDcgdlDEwmIHQSm-fSyYqcrD2OKaqHH9DmNM9-anBRhBNn6ZDMCCzypOapbUM9xvmYIS9wCg6lBslg/s2992/20230203_081346.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe1h58XyKPuI1724nncFqOVnoMJOTa4ZhvDjzz469WuO1WBLCIMu7qLJuIZ3yXCCek2xb_FCbHfiO3tZn5ObcIUt_C05zhcON1MKDal9VvMfDcgdlDEwmIHQSm-fSyYqcrD2OKaqHH9DmNM9-anBRhBNn6ZDMCCzypOapbUM9xvmYIS9wCg6lBslg/w640-h640/20230203_081346.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can just see the heater to the left of the crate. Oh, the wonderful mornings we had in the winter, and I am not kidding. Me, in the window, using the computer, and watching the birds on the feeders outside, and the heater keeping us as cozy as could be. I would raise the cover of the crate and Buddy would put himself in it as soon as he saw me pull the heater out, and be cozy all morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTov7GNHIhwWmxN5gkPsDREv8tnbt-3D6EHaAV5cPv9so3r05GXRBCCSI84nP-LlVWveyzwbkKvcKbU0eihfEticvrvhWKwTEKZB3AMbwRKuzbq0BDpT0pd37ycgNbpsKaSo6O5fyXNjm9sKTldQQVlnHJjBW3D-nZD04qck7RXw7jLojUr1JwW0q/s2992/20230322_183506.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTov7GNHIhwWmxN5gkPsDREv8tnbt-3D6EHaAV5cPv9so3r05GXRBCCSI84nP-LlVWveyzwbkKvcKbU0eihfEticvrvhWKwTEKZB3AMbwRKuzbq0BDpT0pd37ycgNbpsKaSo6O5fyXNjm9sKTldQQVlnHJjBW3D-nZD04qck7RXw7jLojUr1JwW0q/w640-h640/20230322_183506.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His hips began hurting a lot, though... and in March, we made a trip to my vet for a nail trim and a checkup. When his right hip was manipulated, my gentle giant tried to bite the vet and tech. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He was put on gabapentin and carprofan, twice a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His last visit across the yard to the south fence line was at least three weeks ago, after Zoey was gone (his yard companion)... he laid there watching for Troy for a while, and then came back in short spurts, having to lay down often to rest. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdZ2u9cbO_6jAutqIAxTI7YlpDVO0-pGfcGD0pJj4t5Dmab6XCUWhrGXlh9Kxcsk_bgZ_yXkHIHbCp8hxzm69dPsHFMIZabLJaWOVDgX5TIwjQOUudq_NO4C56F4-i2g18UxVrPxkw4tM-7__iNl-aOSX2KHGxWV1pqFcBOSOc-oytJ9amHC-u3Wl/s4000/20230506_073602.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdZ2u9cbO_6jAutqIAxTI7YlpDVO0-pGfcGD0pJj4t5Dmab6XCUWhrGXlh9Kxcsk_bgZ_yXkHIHbCp8hxzm69dPsHFMIZabLJaWOVDgX5TIwjQOUudq_NO4C56F4-i2g18UxVrPxkw4tM-7__iNl-aOSX2KHGxWV1pqFcBOSOc-oytJ9amHC-u3Wl/w360-h640/20230506_073602.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began to get really concerned when I realized he was rarely leaving the porch to relieve himself... he had historically done this, and I just cleaned up... but I realized that he was also not pooping. On his infrequent forays to the yard, I looked for poop and found very little. He had often done it on the deck... and dropped it as he walked... but I could not find it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, he fell on the steps and my grandson Jax, whom he LOVED, helped him up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We knew he weighed 120 pounds at the vet about six weeks ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, he fell on the south steps, and was finally able to get himself up. I stopped at the vet's office that day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see.... if there was a crisis on the weekend... I could not have lifted him or gotten him to the expensive animal ER. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went and got my grandson when he got out of school... Buddy loved Jax. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBR6-QoAABZk7_1YtDfQhZmVx1x3JhVlGt4__pJQZf6o_6IAaIj5mzg79M37yL609uiaRPousUQtIs2y21CH6sn1VFcFfCqRC6XSBA7VSXHF0dbZn2WCvhtrUDqXntx8I7LC1vMRjilabeYpKLo5zr7tSTjacEQDZjYEgHuzIWx51kP_O97zN35uf/s4000/20230504_152920.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBR6-QoAABZk7_1YtDfQhZmVx1x3JhVlGt4__pJQZf6o_6IAaIj5mzg79M37yL609uiaRPousUQtIs2y21CH6sn1VFcFfCqRC6XSBA7VSXHF0dbZn2WCvhtrUDqXntx8I7LC1vMRjilabeYpKLo5zr7tSTjacEQDZjYEgHuzIWx51kP_O97zN35uf/w360-h640/20230504_152920.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our good Officer Anthony got permission to use her ACO van to take him to the vet on Friday... she actually had come to spend some time with him a few weeks ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZjMIhN7uXx3icfhIXuJ1faNr1F2VW-1kjVVLAZgfA40BrY2uIs9g8Xtg6T_LqcUOLyO_4ysWJCfoyC12ZfqITDsbsygbZXBOnYn2aRVhHUxYxeIzpRyOg8CIXvJ9x7q1b6CH3vMtLMpoZhozcueul0O0wfiMOjOu7-ixbBXGtQ-5J-vEisQ8NXfC/s4000/20230505_142720.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZjMIhN7uXx3icfhIXuJ1faNr1F2VW-1kjVVLAZgfA40BrY2uIs9g8Xtg6T_LqcUOLyO_4ysWJCfoyC12ZfqITDsbsygbZXBOnYn2aRVhHUxYxeIzpRyOg8CIXvJ9x7q1b6CH3vMtLMpoZhozcueul0O0wfiMOjOu7-ixbBXGtQ-5J-vEisQ8NXfC/w360-h640/20230505_142720.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She brought him a pup cup and a cheeseburger! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was so happy to see her that he almost leapt off the floor, I don't know what she thought when I had told her he could hardly get up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtfLSSvO7GMVoa8Xsx4CoZG582zLWIbSOmNODattUYuvgtdwmEhOvgTcmkVD1oFjInVfIL2s6apAHdS4jHfegBhV4AOB03N2k8809xCP4i_X_OwRiNUaFVavmiKV3mcFURSt2GcWUV4my2qxFzscnxnoqpsSRZvkvKC22EOUivWvXhoDJ-Ks5NEF3/s1280/Buddy%20in%20police%20Van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtfLSSvO7GMVoa8Xsx4CoZG582zLWIbSOmNODattUYuvgtdwmEhOvgTcmkVD1oFjInVfIL2s6apAHdS4jHfegBhV4AOB03N2k8809xCP4i_X_OwRiNUaFVavmiKV3mcFURSt2GcWUV4my2qxFzscnxnoqpsSRZvkvKC22EOUivWvXhoDJ-Ks5NEF3/w480-h640/Buddy%20in%20police%20Van.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He rode in the police van, comfortably, having a good look around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(he was lifted in). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickIxmY6T0cdO4_hzGxklYegjP3NEXtqEpMRbs9iIg5zFBF6ghsEXfP4ywYsR4HgdMt8m2XMn4rY6VroWyE8GklZm5M8icArb-4jDsiZiqyIikEyOtRYmhJ581jrvttJfjLn5TvT4EhUWBA4YzngYh0YyPyHf5eO6BVjqvHYiJgV7fnD9FAlu_ddoK/s1600/Buddy%20on%20floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickIxmY6T0cdO4_hzGxklYegjP3NEXtqEpMRbs9iIg5zFBF6ghsEXfP4ywYsR4HgdMt8m2XMn4rY6VroWyE8GklZm5M8icArb-4jDsiZiqyIikEyOtRYmhJ581jrvttJfjLn5TvT4EhUWBA4YzngYh0YyPyHf5eO6BVjqvHYiJgV7fnD9FAlu_ddoK/w640-h480/Buddy%20on%20floor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We got weighed as we went in, and he was 129 pounds. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Compare him now to the third picture above. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friends, Officer Anthony and I sat on either side of him on the floor and talked him through his crossing. Yes, we both cried. We tried not to let him know how upset we were, and we stayed with him until the doctor said he was gone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was the German Shepherd who did not bark, did not hurt dogs, cats, chickens... and was always gentle with me unless I had a treat he really wanted! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was about the most perfect foster, ever. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all miss him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdFT3JsnFT_RyCPGGGTzuRyPp790HAYNbxjbwFLm2CdkZOsAB0GXZ-kleu6mcNcJsg-llFb2soryKwLytnEHnD5MyhYtXl0F9Wvr_TpKpp8I-ip50iyhbR-D8HNgEBH6rMkKeVUKi6RRIRDxdmNsoffwtwYx0dxpr7weshM7EAnEPby9SOIKFzwkY/s4000/20230505_184201.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdFT3JsnFT_RyCPGGGTzuRyPp790HAYNbxjbwFLm2CdkZOsAB0GXZ-kleu6mcNcJsg-llFb2soryKwLytnEHnD5MyhYtXl0F9Wvr_TpKpp8I-ip50iyhbR-D8HNgEBH6rMkKeVUKi6RRIRDxdmNsoffwtwYx0dxpr7weshM7EAnEPby9SOIKFzwkY/w360-h640/20230505_184201.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob has been watching for him, nonstop. Bob finally jumped on my lap last night on the porch, and snuggled me for the first time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he watched the door all day again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-3ysrrvSH0eRequ560VgmMmA7yklr0MFZo2HYcBYAEdxjxJAiTvcW8kQQpLAUuxxsKBEjEZbVwfYI_fTp1GPhfH3AdvBtDaF9AXuAte0LXzcDT_ephzYso-QdflI_6DSUKWbhQM8JO-cqurYvmGi4LJ3Wik8i8D8o0dA01N1QtL06bKC_18Uk5Om/s4000/20230506_111709.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-3ysrrvSH0eRequ560VgmMmA7yklr0MFZo2HYcBYAEdxjxJAiTvcW8kQQpLAUuxxsKBEjEZbVwfYI_fTp1GPhfH3AdvBtDaF9AXuAte0LXzcDT_ephzYso-QdflI_6DSUKWbhQM8JO-cqurYvmGi4LJ3Wik8i8D8o0dA01N1QtL06bKC_18Uk5Om/w360-h640/20230506_111709.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester went from a pack of three to an only dog again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKiCvko-DSRAhK22DGdA6pQ__9a0IokaSi-4d4xiNLLPtMhMblQWByBY1an9poMMPY0hTNLQMsl8H3egz30oCtewUMUsA30vZ6_1Uyp2W62D9gT_TjuvWYyAvZtcxHP_BlbOXZkczgMFBpQWMBBRE23Lzn--Frp-yhZE6fB_cujO838oMAuJN2gSN/s4000/20230504_153358.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKiCvko-DSRAhK22DGdA6pQ__9a0IokaSi-4d4xiNLLPtMhMblQWByBY1an9poMMPY0hTNLQMsl8H3egz30oCtewUMUsA30vZ6_1Uyp2W62D9gT_TjuvWYyAvZtcxHP_BlbOXZkczgMFBpQWMBBRE23Lzn--Frp-yhZE6fB_cujO838oMAuJN2gSN/w360-h640/20230504_153358.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't have one good picture of the Bud and me... but this is our last. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know who his owners were or how he came to be lost, but he was home here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">RIP Buddy, 5/5/23 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-23761542635070320682023-04-16T11:13:00.003-05:002023-04-16T11:13:44.910-05:00A Long Post for Mid-April<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world is greening up here, lately....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgue1LEg1ewZ6F87yfppp_oxSL_2IRVjg7Uvg9Jbzq7vXpVSwhVvGdOQOOXYEUWRHiKfIyf5MarZZt1jrKMojjMwYcJHDsozmlkK2oneuf62RfG1veWozatTHfO5BWHTqU1ruYS6olH_TZYv-tLOiD_SlvEoz-NZgRgr_obTiPVKaW4AYRkxyrLhTvL/s6000/DSC_4467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgue1LEg1ewZ6F87yfppp_oxSL_2IRVjg7Uvg9Jbzq7vXpVSwhVvGdOQOOXYEUWRHiKfIyf5MarZZt1jrKMojjMwYcJHDsozmlkK2oneuf62RfG1veWozatTHfO5BWHTqU1ruYS6olH_TZYv-tLOiD_SlvEoz-NZgRgr_obTiPVKaW4AYRkxyrLhTvL/w640-h426/DSC_4467.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bartlett and Callery pears, though "trash trees", are beautiful in the landscape. I wish my dad (who died in 1969) could see these beautiful trees in the spring, and no... I have none, here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mHZZQ9w5O1RCiKS2eJ5umpUNHWlwXZjdPz75TXZiX1-eWT9XZZzWRulxy8uJKG7kGU9pLudbIfOSIuSXVFSUQ9-9e61tgCbe0oUcbKX-A5Iji7fH2kqt4QR0q02DPasY96gSedpgIwsPqw3Etn0i4nOTnzdui7hFIZfYRKb5G3i5ou8eSFgSA-C3/s6000/DSC_4481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mHZZQ9w5O1RCiKS2eJ5umpUNHWlwXZjdPz75TXZiX1-eWT9XZZzWRulxy8uJKG7kGU9pLudbIfOSIuSXVFSUQ9-9e61tgCbe0oUcbKX-A5Iji7fH2kqt4QR0q02DPasY96gSedpgIwsPqw3Etn0i4nOTnzdui7hFIZfYRKb5G3i5ou8eSFgSA-C3/w640-h426/DSC_4481.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This striking tree is directly across from my porch in the valley. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboV0ZWggjmn4-pBjWCoKwo0Ufy36mTl4utJHjMpTpAuTYrAYQM43ZGSWU6ao5qWvw_anWGLLcVMbG3Wx-zHfbRgwbEXYlykiLGThim1n4wPQ_Eiqg8KUeGz7GmT0lCPlLljpzjkzjo226O5m-ZWgWMMsLw5jcZ2x152HQ7ig9FlJc1Wjy0mCpMaN9/s6000/DSC_4494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboV0ZWggjmn4-pBjWCoKwo0Ufy36mTl4utJHjMpTpAuTYrAYQM43ZGSWU6ao5qWvw_anWGLLcVMbG3Wx-zHfbRgwbEXYlykiLGThim1n4wPQ_Eiqg8KUeGz7GmT0lCPlLljpzjkzjo226O5m-ZWgWMMsLw5jcZ2x152HQ7ig9FlJc1Wjy0mCpMaN9/w640-h426/DSC_4494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my view this morning, after two days of rain and blustery storms. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our winds are back... they are so annoying. It is hard to get things done in the yard with the wind blowing constantly, and don't get me started on mowing! This view of the ponds will be gone by the weekend, as the trees leaf out, I lose my view. I have talked to the tree service about clearing the fence line at the bottom of the pasture, and I am saving up for it. I love that pond view! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVTLE5VBwYDO8insvBkJH-yoLq3lOGtLU-YtizMDRwNkTJ-lXrD4vzVoYD8vzi5DXr9FBbP1nIe9pth3--ZRlA3HGcjlNyvvBZcN_IOCqzGwjErMIGDCntb6hq7USQmr9NOKHnvHWuetcsKkKHFICZ-dI__T7Q1BUcAIFiAoZsxEk7T4p-ZJ4T5yX/s6000/DSC_4444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVTLE5VBwYDO8insvBkJH-yoLq3lOGtLU-YtizMDRwNkTJ-lXrD4vzVoYD8vzi5DXr9FBbP1nIe9pth3--ZRlA3HGcjlNyvvBZcN_IOCqzGwjErMIGDCntb6hq7USQmr9NOKHnvHWuetcsKkKHFICZ-dI__T7Q1BUcAIFiAoZsxEk7T4p-ZJ4T5yX/w640-h426/DSC_4444.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have as many as thirteen pairs of cardinals eating here. If they are, indeed, souls of those who have been loved by us, then all my family and favorite pets are still with me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohMvGVLhKyhMiVB7HCf5075fpNRXRCr9ZQVU3RCtYBKesl7ypHYZ4C1yEpW6AeHYAe7iuoag2VrH8QCzBU5fHxmek3_0He_jrqexjaW4o3D6dp_rP_BXYuQFNeGMEduOVHH4iQ7F3ra_SgU04FyTsjFhb0E2NZxwsWOJFBfuOvAL8DvxrM0_SXEOt/s4000/20230410_105558.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohMvGVLhKyhMiVB7HCf5075fpNRXRCr9ZQVU3RCtYBKesl7ypHYZ4C1yEpW6AeHYAe7iuoag2VrH8QCzBU5fHxmek3_0He_jrqexjaW4o3D6dp_rP_BXYuQFNeGMEduOVHH4iQ7F3ra_SgU04FyTsjFhb0E2NZxwsWOJFBfuOvAL8DvxrM0_SXEOt/w640-h360/20230410_105558.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of family, I had breakfast on Monday with four of my first cousins, and it was so very good to see them... our regular breakfasts were interrupted by covid, and we are only now starting to meet in person again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have lost my two brothers and my sister, and these dear people are like siblings to me. They are some of the last to ever sit at my family kitchen table, the one at which I am typing now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGowH80yNJ8KbAncg5KdS-Zd2Wq07xzr77sswLWajTPrMSTWeIHxaKDre0tRHa2GygG9OBtGGbGODeIIdT0kj_3crURJjahTEVtXV-7npibXPs_hb-hbGvVRDvN0BDp8ZcA69sk3h_4nyFS8p9W2XASSFoZ6J1YQLzauLdraEXmmF3iKnE-a8AOWO/s6000/DSC_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGowH80yNJ8KbAncg5KdS-Zd2Wq07xzr77sswLWajTPrMSTWeIHxaKDre0tRHa2GygG9OBtGGbGODeIIdT0kj_3crURJjahTEVtXV-7npibXPs_hb-hbGvVRDvN0BDp8ZcA69sk3h_4nyFS8p9W2XASSFoZ6J1YQLzauLdraEXmmF3iKnE-a8AOWO/w640-h426/DSC_4466.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This last full moon coming up over Calamity Acres. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOulM9g-jLbNgQCd5gOCSpTMnSjPYJ9Fg-vWlNP7lAyHtLkKkSqBbx02iipNCqNWLUYtohEGqZbLIugTDAUtsILBbUbreGVViXbYavkXdbDVOvlDMnXt4Yzg_NZmQni9itx7OCg9tI7R_2WCgm0ov__Lnww-braDkH_k80_2njvi5t99K8GeSeOMFD/s4000/20230412_083813.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOulM9g-jLbNgQCd5gOCSpTMnSjPYJ9Fg-vWlNP7lAyHtLkKkSqBbx02iipNCqNWLUYtohEGqZbLIugTDAUtsILBbUbreGVViXbYavkXdbDVOvlDMnXt4Yzg_NZmQni9itx7OCg9tI7R_2WCgm0ov__Lnww-braDkH_k80_2njvi5t99K8GeSeOMFD/w360-h640/20230412_083813.heic" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The big boy and his bestest friend, Bob the Porch Cat. Bob was busy playing with Buddy's tail and I tried to get a picture of it... but he saw me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning, I found a patch of cat fur in front of the shop... Bob was following me... he is a troublemaker, despite his innocent look... and he stopped to smell the fur carefully... someone had a fight last night, and from the color, it could only be Teenie. I will take a close look at her later, but she was moving around freely when I got their breakfast for them a while ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN8RAwxFsU6EQRDI_ZJTOESoammN3z0e-kFp_2KAdvDF6GHD2mB9HpYMqaoSpMixeN4T-yhlyYYiqROYrxUJw_d4WEtRgf3m8l2lFKdMFpKvb8uwhnUpV8he-MwZafgVle_WUNtcALx-0mIaBYlinK7P2VmyQ1qD94EtQceSK4UQJ-TOmj9trAmRV/s4000/20230410_183633.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN8RAwxFsU6EQRDI_ZJTOESoammN3z0e-kFp_2KAdvDF6GHD2mB9HpYMqaoSpMixeN4T-yhlyYYiqROYrxUJw_d4WEtRgf3m8l2lFKdMFpKvb8uwhnUpV8he-MwZafgVle_WUNtcALx-0mIaBYlinK7P2VmyQ1qD94EtQceSK4UQJ-TOmj9trAmRV/w360-h640/20230410_183633.heic" width="360" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The girls are starting to lay again, but oddly... I'll get ten or so, and then the next day, I'll only get three. I know for a fact four hens are laying right now this morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One old hen, a VERY old cochin, is on two eggs and those eggs should be close to hatching. Her color is fading, and I am going to have to make a decision to move her into the pen I had reserved for chicks if she does hatch them. Chicks can wait for a few weeks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKr_QfS6pA2LUR_6NhBZ-lFP68bI-xEHf9zv9BLasVEB1J7QUKX2H5FD9wNlKN3RX0koPIqe38uJxxc8H39IQE_8CR7ufMXyXOUJBHlSc-Caw3UVXxBd0LB_VJ1uiqhuoKeC9k1c88x0u0k7jWj4xhbuX6wB1DjWBY7_b91SG70G3Xvwt7EbOmKof/s2992/20230409_082840.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKr_QfS6pA2LUR_6NhBZ-lFP68bI-xEHf9zv9BLasVEB1J7QUKX2H5FD9wNlKN3RX0koPIqe38uJxxc8H39IQE_8CR7ufMXyXOUJBHlSc-Caw3UVXxBd0LB_VJ1uiqhuoKeC9k1c88x0u0k7jWj4xhbuX6wB1DjWBY7_b91SG70G3Xvwt7EbOmKof/w640-h640/20230409_082840.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These flowers, from an envelope from Croatia marked "Sunny flower mix", have gone berserk under lights in the shop. I literally have the lights up as high as they will go, and the plants are still reaching. I had hoped to harden them off and get them planted this week, but after two eighty degree days, we are at 45 at this moment. It is also blowing like the dickens AGAIN and we are under a red flag warning for about the sixth day in a row. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I honestly don't know how I am going to harden them off, unless I take them out from under the lights, put them in the garage during the day where the wind can't bother them, and move them back in the shop for shelter at night. I'll think about that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEp4y-tb8dDie0Ay0C9q0-GAYbRa387kNu91N8uxV_39uxfn-mRqxCkaCv4Mr1Ik83Z0c8ZLfc1ZYCODZKbBJjxG5lazEDwL8ikl3QLvC8jT_wFoeZxuahlSx0uRgLl26pFY3-NiVG9iViXfan2O_XQUWOFkg2YEE-LV_eqX46XeeDXbAhHPp6ncW/s2992/20230409_120654.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEp4y-tb8dDie0Ay0C9q0-GAYbRa387kNu91N8uxV_39uxfn-mRqxCkaCv4Mr1Ik83Z0c8ZLfc1ZYCODZKbBJjxG5lazEDwL8ikl3QLvC8jT_wFoeZxuahlSx0uRgLl26pFY3-NiVG9iViXfan2O_XQUWOFkg2YEE-LV_eqX46XeeDXbAhHPp6ncW/w640-h640/20230409_120654.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester is enjoying the balmier of our days, but yes, I have turned on the air for the dogs because the house has heated up several times by late afternoon. Crazily enough, the heat is back on today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaupfawaxY_dcvkfmkiTj3ijjuQRP5kbLkelgvN64tjXc_GNQjtF7B0Mn68L34_FTufREkemzWZFZmqm2YVLkK45wrUnXJevj7pH23ObwIfZ9IdH4HnTzfrhsGWx4atQaSEW1Mz9WOnK1LEe5pf4Guti4k3kVWGVju175kFIJXF4nXUCaB4VvZaNRL/s2992/20230401_174428.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaupfawaxY_dcvkfmkiTj3ijjuQRP5kbLkelgvN64tjXc_GNQjtF7B0Mn68L34_FTufREkemzWZFZmqm2YVLkK45wrUnXJevj7pH23ObwIfZ9IdH4HnTzfrhsGWx4atQaSEW1Mz9WOnK1LEe5pf4Guti4k3kVWGVju175kFIJXF4nXUCaB4VvZaNRL/w640-h640/20230401_174428.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is my little doll, Zoey, two weeks ago yesterday, April 1st. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She loved that bed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, the 2nd, she ran around here like a little farm dog. She came in and took a nap with Bullseye in the big crate. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjMiHSHjjL2HYY3WFGxFLPcgQDpQdkPkvkM1twiZp9-qxTdO_7Cp6ifkdF8Ut19LrjKIQkOt_KEaionn0eXW-Ysvl7Ee15Sj1Oa4k6hnb53gSaTUkUf2-MJO2Ddetuz7q6mjZ5IHJCfhKhflDiPpQk0FuUYzZOnaXV9CjwdR4q4fYUZXuFf3eN16z/s2992/20230402_092143.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjMiHSHjjL2HYY3WFGxFLPcgQDpQdkPkvkM1twiZp9-qxTdO_7Cp6ifkdF8Ut19LrjKIQkOt_KEaionn0eXW-Ysvl7Ee15Sj1Oa4k6hnb53gSaTUkUf2-MJO2Ddetuz7q6mjZ5IHJCfhKhflDiPpQk0FuUYzZOnaXV9CjwdR4q4fYUZXuFf3eN16z/w640-h640/20230402_092143.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Monday, about mid-morning, she seemed to be having trouble breathing, and I called her vet's office. They were unable to get her in until Tuesday, so I made the appointment. I left to do another errand, but by the time I got back, I realized she had become exhausted because she could not lay down, when she did, she could not breathe. We left for the emergency pet hospital that I have used many times in the past. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One look at the front door and they rushed her back into an oxygen chamber. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After two hours, a young vet came out to speak to me, and I must have rankled with my questions, because she asked me if I was "in the medical field". I wanted to tell her no, I have had dogs for fifty years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In March, Zoey was treated for a chest infection. On the 23rd, we had a follow up, and the vet said her chest was clear and heart sounded good. I asked if she wanted to xray and she told me there was no need. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The young vet told me Zoey's lungs were full and wanted to call in a cardiologist. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friends, Zoey was eleven, I adopted her as a foster fail a year and a half ago. The estimate of care for three days was 6000.00. I am telling you all of this for a reason. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was asked if I wanted to see her in the ICU. After four hours, I asked to see her, and went back there. I wish I had not. I will spare you the picture I took, I need to delete it but cannot bring myself to. She saw me, and tried to touch the side of the chamber... but she was struggling oh, so terribly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw the young doctor again for a minute, I wish I had told her then and there that I wanted to euthanize gently, holding her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The "ICU" was bright, a huge room, with people working on a big dog frantically and my poor little girl in the chamber, suffering. It will never leave my mind. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had signed a DNR when I signed the paperwork... you see, I left that hospital with a bill over 5000.00 for Fritzi's care a few years ago, and I admit it, I have to be more circumspect now. I knew that resuscitation measures would add hundreds to a bill, with little chance of a good outcome. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, I was here at the table when my phone rang. It was the doctor who had treated Zoey... she had died very suddenly. I yelled into the phone... I did not curse, but I was so stunned that I yelled, and then apologized. I had made a decision during the night to euthanize with me holding her, as I do all of my beloved animals, if she were no better in the morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The thing that made me so mad is that she died alone, with strangers, in that horrible room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hospital has a new policy where "animal advocates" call to update you on the progress of your pet. I knew when the doctor himself called that it was bad. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was told that I could go there and see her, and I changed out of my chore clothes and drove the thirty miles to settle the bill and see my poor little girl. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tech who brought her to me in the "family room" told me that when they reached into the chamber to give her a lasik shot that morning, she had fallen over dead. The doctor believed her heart failed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I held her for a while... and then let her go. I have so many little boxes of cremains here I have had to stop doing it.... though the rep from the front desk who took my payment tried to upsell me on all kinds of mementoes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a few days, I wrote a letter to the actual doctor who treated her, asking for an informed guess about what had taken her from a playful farm dog to death so fast. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have not received an answer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her cost of care for twelve hours was 1880.00. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, my comment about all this... and remember, I have been there many times in the past. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I noticed when Bullseye was there last summer that things had changed... we were now addressed by the pet's name, not our surnames. Upselling happened as soon as we were in the room with the young vets... they are a for-profit hospital of course, though they provide a needed service for emergencies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believed the night Bully was there that he was set aside as not serious and minimum care given. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe the same happened to Zoey... that she was kept "comfortable" and left in the chamber to let nature take it's course, because I had not agreed to the 6000.00 plus care that was estimated. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the vet had told me to my face "your dog has no chance unless we expend thousands of dollars of specialized care".... I would have euthanized immediately to spare her the agony of suffering, and for that, I am furious with myself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will I go there again? I pray I do not have to, ever. Do I recognize I may have to? Yes, and they are the closest of the two emergency hospitals. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, I am angriest with myself for not insisting that we immediately euthanize after the vet talked to me after I had been there two hours. I have taken myself to task night after night, and for the first four days, could not hold down any food I was so upset. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I miss my little girl. It hurts me that she suffered so. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have not put anything about this on Facebook, though I shared it with her groomer when I cancelled her appointment, and then told the groomer it was okay to make a tribute, not realizing she meant for FB. None of my friends but one saw it. I literally have not been able to talk about it for two weeks, and have told very few friends and my family. I am still looking for her, and reaching for her in bed. I am starting to cry again while typing this. I still can't believe it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNvWKNeYaIn5cJCUMi7A3DLfXIHtdlHbPlOott1v5tOxNsp1gEl_Gwm4hb4IVwsuhlJrt73su3IpBk7Sz_ay9cyR2VfyW8kjvqn2k1iAV_ot2C89qfgCyEvmhxY6et8Zz6tnoS4WmTWkdQEvOrYajvUqLdEmELx9XDqRI_n8bXqCUnEAvVzVkU78L/s2992/20230324_192036.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNvWKNeYaIn5cJCUMi7A3DLfXIHtdlHbPlOott1v5tOxNsp1gEl_Gwm4hb4IVwsuhlJrt73su3IpBk7Sz_ay9cyR2VfyW8kjvqn2k1iAV_ot2C89qfgCyEvmhxY6et8Zz6tnoS4WmTWkdQEvOrYajvUqLdEmELx9XDqRI_n8bXqCUnEAvVzVkU78L/w640-h640/20230324_192036.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZCVYZcTB7H9PVEjf7m6azr1dHQ-6_uX8Eb8sVPmi_3MTF57dErjGxX20wq6UwjwlA7x3z7TEae48RQbdPairct9bm-HwcykDfutsx_9D6IDw1be46qqR4otLvTpbAALvAIvs73L2R5FCjkcNUOhuMhoUe6JTARCI_fus5Dv-1Lmx1aqJqJD0kYis/s1080/FB_IMG_1676410546465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZCVYZcTB7H9PVEjf7m6azr1dHQ-6_uX8Eb8sVPmi_3MTF57dErjGxX20wq6UwjwlA7x3z7TEae48RQbdPairct9bm-HwcykDfutsx_9D6IDw1be46qqR4otLvTpbAALvAIvs73L2R5FCjkcNUOhuMhoUe6JTARCI_fus5Dv-1Lmx1aqJqJD0kYis/w640-h640/FB_IMG_1676410546465.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg420syXeCay0WUmAxphe0OzEf_URga1IexiEOOF-RxNs1uQikPycb1pVWEne0EguQXjauWURFKFGxHFQ-mM2GtW8RrP2ZsV40SbL6iGWuE26955iz12s5ffft0MGJ_6PO5u1ZfLW6ghIx3cwkHxSSZR1jMAslle8xm0LQv2TS9n9YVpr2MLv-9C26o/s2992/20230131_161123.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg420syXeCay0WUmAxphe0OzEf_URga1IexiEOOF-RxNs1uQikPycb1pVWEne0EguQXjauWURFKFGxHFQ-mM2GtW8RrP2ZsV40SbL6iGWuE26955iz12s5ffft0MGJ_6PO5u1ZfLW6ghIx3cwkHxSSZR1jMAslle8xm0LQv2TS9n9YVpr2MLv-9C26o/w640-h640/20230131_161123.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-40911684989579774442023-04-02T16:09:00.000-05:002023-04-02T16:09:35.535-05:00Some Disturbing Pictures <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to start out with an innocuous picture, so that the disturbing ones won't show on Facebook when I post there. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQRqd5hythaZ5U-M0NywN9iJ0_5JaIQyp9RTDA6ZoYb7haBTeGkq-HREL5gdSQkZObWltuaj6sC47LGzsziAvLP8MNrmOhpMmfQZs-X0G6texq1IpnGHc8Gfyh1DXegvoV42anvMVMjPOC876DqN3FfcVqspad5qSx_OsCtBebSYROl4DX8IS3yQL/s6000/IMG_5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQRqd5hythaZ5U-M0NywN9iJ0_5JaIQyp9RTDA6ZoYb7haBTeGkq-HREL5gdSQkZObWltuaj6sC47LGzsziAvLP8MNrmOhpMmfQZs-X0G6texq1IpnGHc8Gfyh1DXegvoV42anvMVMjPOC876DqN3FfcVqspad5qSx_OsCtBebSYROl4DX8IS3yQL/w640-h426/IMG_5135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of my favorite views, I'm sorry it was so hazy when I took it yesterday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those are my neighbor's ponds at the foot of my pasture... there is another in the cow pasture that runs up my northern fence line. I love this view, but it will soon be hidden when the leaves come out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did get a bid on removing the red cedars, and it is affordable... they are in my fence line. I am saving up for that and will coordinate it with the neighbors. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgzBodzm-qmyVTv8IhvtSAy_3GePqyAGZZKw-oFQZmildYxaTSXfLdT8WW15r-C2Rd9djTfc6KYe7s5MIsmuwr3GND_ULVdJ3u1xD7h9hh7l0JFB6J927HXzEbo8bDJPEZRCUeI1G_ZfMkZvs_FsvYG-pBQhbRq9kyuPnfZqPijt3Lj1FtQhp4y6L/s6000/IMG_5130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgzBodzm-qmyVTv8IhvtSAy_3GePqyAGZZKw-oFQZmildYxaTSXfLdT8WW15r-C2Rd9djTfc6KYe7s5MIsmuwr3GND_ULVdJ3u1xD7h9hh7l0JFB6J927HXzEbo8bDJPEZRCUeI1G_ZfMkZvs_FsvYG-pBQhbRq9kyuPnfZqPijt3Lj1FtQhp4y6L/w640-h426/IMG_5130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Thursday and Friday, March 30th and 31st, we had huge winds that frankly, scared me and the dogs to death. Zoey, especially, was affected by the atmospheric pressure and had a miserable night on Friday night. They died down by noon on Saturday, but are back today, not as heavy as those two days. They make it so hard to get things done outside. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These, again, are the daffodils growing at the base of "Oscar's Tree", on the north end of the house. Our min pin, Oscar, is buried under this tree. You see the box around the base has burst. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have never planted any but I am going to this fall... someone planted these before we moved here 18 years ago, and I want someone in the future to enjoy flowers like I do. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here come the disturbing pictures. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you have read this blog for long, you know that when Keith was dying, we were living in a big house fifteen miles from here. I still had a flock here, and came back and forth daily while we tried to sell the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stopped in a rural area where there was a bridge over Stranger Creek, which is the biggest creek that runs through our county... I live a mile from it here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were beautiful bluffs there, and I took many pictures from the bridge over the creek and posted them here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are the beautiful bluffs in May of 2016. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnblRRJljgQS4xVaipw0nWJ9uPrrEJls1JhNbdlPBC-X0cioRu6nuQGHnuXKBdIPc6NOKtwiBoVnlZlE9S0fX1GxhsHFg6oB03zDAVADePd5mwruKuvSRzFZWg7wZ5-Ajl_iMVu3u5Hvh0bTH1qW3ygZi1IdXLROXB5LzBeiTcVQr3LfNIktBsSmT/s640/Stranger%20Creek%20Bluffs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnblRRJljgQS4xVaipw0nWJ9uPrrEJls1JhNbdlPBC-X0cioRu6nuQGHnuXKBdIPc6NOKtwiBoVnlZlE9S0fX1GxhsHFg6oB03zDAVADePd5mwruKuvSRzFZWg7wZ5-Ajl_iMVu3u5Hvh0bTH1qW3ygZi1IdXLROXB5LzBeiTcVQr3LfNIktBsSmT/w640-h428/Stranger%20Creek%20Bluffs.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Friday, I was giving my work partner at the Ag Hall, Wayne, a ride to Tonganoxie to pick up his car from the garage. He lives in Basehor, and to avoid some construction, I turned down Leavenworth Road to cut through to Tongie. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We came through the farm fields and I said "Let's stop at the bridge for a minute." I pulled onto the bridge and we got out of the car... I had taken him by there once before, but he had forgotten it. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are pictures of what we found: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBLdkrS5nE7KInZg6qixnBk32fxfQC_Si_EsUk51D6bwhu-c1AvCpFu2eFEzo_1Nz39R3vTgckncerndxe1NolQ6qeB0Oyk-8KhnAKcFDGo3D5ccQORHHEz6HZsfuP9IyarojYSQGjvCpb_udR3QvadIRVYMRCTyl7bx-5BUDvWIGxF7BpP0FR7R1/s2992/20230331_114206.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBLdkrS5nE7KInZg6qixnBk32fxfQC_Si_EsUk51D6bwhu-c1AvCpFu2eFEzo_1Nz39R3vTgckncerndxe1NolQ6qeB0Oyk-8KhnAKcFDGo3D5ccQORHHEz6HZsfuP9IyarojYSQGjvCpb_udR3QvadIRVYMRCTyl7bx-5BUDvWIGxF7BpP0FR7R1/w640-h640/20230331_114206.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmOrdBMfFb4EoXevELaF0kLb7dZI0j_55XTpJR-Wxpy5GAHRzELQ0-34whe1hCWQkrdUn8ihyL_bTWX4zHi2DRLsfZxRmX3YOhHxNOsdkY4DEDhsg41lxajxPfNwsHP4_J2LbH-XUWFPHjNmZqFY9B6Uk7nvWOx-LZCcfL4-UX38gyS_MW6oKBwEU/s2992/20230331_114219.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmOrdBMfFb4EoXevELaF0kLb7dZI0j_55XTpJR-Wxpy5GAHRzELQ0-34whe1hCWQkrdUn8ihyL_bTWX4zHi2DRLsfZxRmX3YOhHxNOsdkY4DEDhsg41lxajxPfNwsHP4_J2LbH-XUWFPHjNmZqFY9B6Uk7nvWOx-LZCcfL4-UX38gyS_MW6oKBwEU/w640-h640/20230331_114219.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZkJrRKMWbok97aZoeaiTNAVTgmWV3wtxDRJwRvcH4BkncAqLHTVjTilTBnRD1C5CBHzEkrU6xKgzezlu1z3LmqUbcxknLJHlRWVn1eORu7eCRAkanEU2mNyDRbWhNXUvPyklAMVPXETI7AY3fokV44ZzsRAl6tTIqkloXzdnGLhNv4tXoMtY-Cn9/s2992/20230331_114215.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZkJrRKMWbok97aZoeaiTNAVTgmWV3wtxDRJwRvcH4BkncAqLHTVjTilTBnRD1C5CBHzEkrU6xKgzezlu1z3LmqUbcxknLJHlRWVn1eORu7eCRAkanEU2mNyDRbWhNXUvPyklAMVPXETI7AY3fokV44ZzsRAl6tTIqkloXzdnGLhNv4tXoMtY-Cn9/w640-h640/20230331_114215.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That wasn't even half of it. On both sides of the bridge there were tractor tires, a huge number of road signs WITH their poles.... furniture... and dead coyotes, that someone has been killing and dumping in the creek. It broke my heart. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am actually going to go back over there with the Canon and take some more pictures and then I am going to go to the courthouse and show the pictures to the Road dept. I have never, ever seen this beautiful place so polluted. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It made me sick. It is still making me sick. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a wondrous place where swallows circle around you, feeding from bugs in the air in the summer. There were two ducks on the creek, they proceeded downstream from us. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That picture above did not show all the dead coyotes. Shame on them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shame. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is only one house near there, and it sits way off the road in the woods... I am sure they cannot see when someone is vandalizing at night, and would be too afraid to confront anyone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0vsxSqZhN32EVjVPCKTZAbdgSm7_cggyvcQC9VlmrU-28DqjBH3a2DM6dJfFonQJOJMN8QBwK4Nyne1WfNLJlj53V1DV0bjwoZMquvbx7_uUF_sWpgbtn8Nyni6cBVX7bmqgYcZhaBkwearUkpTEgK045x72QKEmGgrLuJjUnVsYXH2LYCoKf7_F/s2992/20230331_221218.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0vsxSqZhN32EVjVPCKTZAbdgSm7_cggyvcQC9VlmrU-28DqjBH3a2DM6dJfFonQJOJMN8QBwK4Nyne1WfNLJlj53V1DV0bjwoZMquvbx7_uUF_sWpgbtn8Nyni6cBVX7bmqgYcZhaBkwearUkpTEgK045x72QKEmGgrLuJjUnVsYXH2LYCoKf7_F/w640-h640/20230331_221218.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a happier note, some of the seeds sent to me by my friend Iva in Zagreb have germinated, and are under a grow light in my living room, thanks to my grandson Jax who helped set everything up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are doing so well! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have more out in the shop that are under lights there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today it is 75 and sunny, but our temperatures have been going up and down like a roller coaster. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I put my Carhartt away, and then had to get it out again. I am hoping that it will soon be put away for the summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj35DG1oMz5zPYmH0rZFWv-00JyWPx9rYs4RQqZBRm2iW_bP6luXn7elbVqMeBR9ldkCFj84M8V0MgAQuPLr6I31ItN8d29YvXP0jCsk6P0HvnJ3MM-i5pqMLh09PyNCLTuu_2PI7St88xLzlVH8mW5DF9nk-YATEmSAIMwY8lUPgSzWG8zM5Hczze/s640/headerheatplate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="640" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj35DG1oMz5zPYmH0rZFWv-00JyWPx9rYs4RQqZBRm2iW_bP6luXn7elbVqMeBR9ldkCFj84M8V0MgAQuPLr6I31ItN8d29YvXP0jCsk6P0HvnJ3MM-i5pqMLh09PyNCLTuu_2PI7St88xLzlVH8mW5DF9nk-YATEmSAIMwY8lUPgSzWG8zM5Hczze/w640-h326/headerheatplate2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am starting some chicks. I cannot believe I am even typing that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am only going to start about eight, though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am trying the above heating plate for the first time, instead of a chick warming bulb. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am actually going to set it up today and get it warm in anticipation of the chicks moving in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am also going to use a paper bedding, instead of pine shreds, which I have never done before. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's an adventure! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been looking to see what chicks are being carried at the local farm stores, and I have found one with the best choices... as long as I am starting a few I want to get breeds I have not kept for a while. I am overrun with red hybrid layers and am avoiding buying any of those (eggs are not the chief object, here). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I finish this post, I am going to go out and get the chick feeder and chick water and bring them in and clean them thoroughly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coco the black cat has been sleeping in the big hen house with Wanda for the last week, and she is sleeping in the brooder pen where I will be keeping the chicks, so she is going to find it off limits. They have to stay in this pen, because, my friends.... Just because I did not see a snake yet today, they are out there! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVXW4LB1LJIaLExXJBNfPNWqwgZTGe-fV8214Dsu_jvmjUp1k_Ji8tIXSVyHGYBoQTFlBny5kZ06i7l8_XO0pbdOjJxXdAw11PJ5PBNugqYPV3C-m5iRlBOqJKeIr_WZgKVTOdml4YGe1Gvs8P5ve3xonXBWJiZBA51FGAC5PiNh568HIGpdZGTW2/s2992/20230401_215124.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVXW4LB1LJIaLExXJBNfPNWqwgZTGe-fV8214Dsu_jvmjUp1k_Ji8tIXSVyHGYBoQTFlBny5kZ06i7l8_XO0pbdOjJxXdAw11PJ5PBNugqYPV3C-m5iRlBOqJKeIr_WZgKVTOdml4YGe1Gvs8P5ve3xonXBWJiZBA51FGAC5PiNh568HIGpdZGTW2/w640-h640/20230401_215124.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my beautiful hospice foster, Buddy. Buddy is entering into his final weeks, I'm afraid. He is having pain from his hips and is now on two pain meds twice a day, but, alarmingly, he is having trouble getting up and down the stairs. There are only three short steps up from the yard, but I watched him last night, it was all he could do to get those hind legs under him. I hoped we would have until June, but I don't think it is going to happen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzKaTtT7yMPy75JT99ROct3LU8VxlDjkMobK6hl_t6pCH9HpmjKqhhFs9mEv-1-xBzMysw0Z0SWjnXNQVnAkYBDGuqC2Y1L23hB3t-ONviinmdqbVPhLr59T5sHL3ziVaI8pf-KtP9nge7qSXQEGX8EFzhcqg0frW9SrbVru_Co0Vh8NrtLB3dfBz/s2992/20230401_183649.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzKaTtT7yMPy75JT99ROct3LU8VxlDjkMobK6hl_t6pCH9HpmjKqhhFs9mEv-1-xBzMysw0Z0SWjnXNQVnAkYBDGuqC2Y1L23hB3t-ONviinmdqbVPhLr59T5sHL3ziVaI8pf-KtP9nge7qSXQEGX8EFzhcqg0frW9SrbVru_Co0Vh8NrtLB3dfBz/w640-h640/20230401_183649.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here he is waiting for me while I did chores last night... if I let him through, which he loves, he has to lay down and rest before he can make it back to the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His friend Bob the Porch Cat is with him there... Bob, Mama, Bullseye... they all adore Buddy and want to be with him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I go out and check on him frequently now when I let him out... IF he even wants to go out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He sleeps, mostly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot tell you what a blessing it has been to have him. Yes, he can be a pain, blocking the kitchen or hallway with that big body... and the crate in my kitchen... well... I have to laugh, it has been there almost nine months now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He accepted everyone and they all accepted him, except maybe Molly Cat, who has had some reservations all along. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He ignored the chickens, and he loves men, when my sons and grandson are here, he is in heaven. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know he'll be waiting for me one day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw7fxeRZ4IM8A3J4wZpoHyqRIAfaKn2MxY1eFO24yzYVzRywJ22r-WrqP0rMbB1RtKgIx8mQoYc9N4YOvrAvbl_guhW43ZsPQSbIYKPr_TDRyHrOusxoO-s7v5PiF93JMSC1cCRL5nD8apY_l3Kj5B-6XzsrzVktmQLTbNEI8Gc8cI7L61v0UfpNK/s2992/20230402_092145.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw7fxeRZ4IM8A3J4wZpoHyqRIAfaKn2MxY1eFO24yzYVzRywJ22r-WrqP0rMbB1RtKgIx8mQoYc9N4YOvrAvbl_guhW43ZsPQSbIYKPr_TDRyHrOusxoO-s7v5PiF93JMSC1cCRL5nD8apY_l3Kj5B-6XzsrzVktmQLTbNEI8Gc8cI7L61v0UfpNK/w640-h640/20230402_092145.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoey and Bullseye shared the crate this morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvzvyEq_IF-3wUZWb-g_Gx1Dfn8QdK6g_Ya6hDpFHqskowvgMy0plKcl962dToSKxcWBqWsgUIyHVY1lpp-hBrlf-nwZ4cjJ5z1oKEISJdcbfZcSezj1hn4bcBPgeSs9ZQ573gE7M9YKKWgx80oHFNCwdf73_v1A1gy4qHDLWfBu9puR69k0XftGr/s6000/IMG_5138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvzvyEq_IF-3wUZWb-g_Gx1Dfn8QdK6g_Ya6hDpFHqskowvgMy0plKcl962dToSKxcWBqWsgUIyHVY1lpp-hBrlf-nwZ4cjJ5z1oKEISJdcbfZcSezj1hn4bcBPgeSs9ZQ573gE7M9YKKWgx80oHFNCwdf73_v1A1gy4qHDLWfBu9puR69k0XftGr/w640-h426/IMG_5138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbeolOOOQTuhsn9gulxeZQRj1jtUjSVfuMhPNcsr01w6CUZE1FJLvZQhgx97CaeTBTK5wDa33kH9nShXtpw5kEZFdNRB2l5KSaiwkstz3jRMQ1KlQPtQoBkjzVforEQhFG37_MjK8fakjY_WU-G5I0oXnm8cCPs11QmCjOjkCdywAqBTMkvTLImd2/s6000/IMG_5141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbeolOOOQTuhsn9gulxeZQRj1jtUjSVfuMhPNcsr01w6CUZE1FJLvZQhgx97CaeTBTK5wDa33kH9nShXtpw5kEZFdNRB2l5KSaiwkstz3jRMQ1KlQPtQoBkjzVforEQhFG37_MjK8fakjY_WU-G5I0oXnm8cCPs11QmCjOjkCdywAqBTMkvTLImd2/w640-h426/IMG_5141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took these from my back door through the window last night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my north fence line. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ten days ago, my neighbors across the road saw a bobcat cross their driveway one morning, and walk across their front pasture to the pond. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday, I was laying in bed and looked out to see what I thought was a vulture by the comm tower across the road from me... it was a bald eagle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friends, you just don't know where the heck they will strike! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I try to keep an eye on everyone, and my days of letting the chickens wander in the pasture are long gone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-qw4Pg1W-4vm_STSgazjO2YqYV5CApgylfJZHIfvKP6WfsnyZKA7C6azytuZMic7AW7IbvhCDhL2MWrC34-JMNnO_qpdJdwlI-WIfZpNNIc7rrH1wbyYwcI7QnEHYnGpSzC1J8snJ8hrFNqKWKO5fh9-yl6CNYeBXOW3mMnRW-6WCu6H3qhuusDd/s4992/Raccoons%20are%20baccckkkk%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-qw4Pg1W-4vm_STSgazjO2YqYV5CApgylfJZHIfvKP6WfsnyZKA7C6azytuZMic7AW7IbvhCDhL2MWrC34-JMNnO_qpdJdwlI-WIfZpNNIc7rrH1wbyYwcI7QnEHYnGpSzC1J8snJ8hrFNqKWKO5fh9-yl6CNYeBXOW3mMnRW-6WCu6H3qhuusDd/w640-h360/Raccoons%20are%20baccckkkk%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These guys are back, too.... but I am not seeing the huge numbers I used to see. There are these two and one that is going in and out of the shop at night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those fat coyotes have been having a good winter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I try to live and let live... that has always been my philosophy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter, and I'll keep you informed about what is going on with the creek situation. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's 4/2/23 and I can hear someone out on their mower on my road! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it's Troy or Kathy next door, I'm going to go look.... it's about time to roll mine out! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-65380756174249985872023-03-12T16:11:00.000-05:002023-03-12T16:11:10.206-05:00Spring, Glorious Almost Spring<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, that is Almost Spring, as we have had a blast of wintry weather this last week. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After three days of rain and clouds, we have sun today, thank heavens, or your blogger was about ready to give up the ghost. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bulbs are raising their heads, and buds are trying to open. We do have some rain in the forecast this coming week, and I wish it were going to be a little warmer, but Jax, my grandson, who will be on vacation, will be working getting my yard ready for spring with me. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy7ZZ2901hbwIiSol6KjbLUu1n8kysNyLx_TIG1P58nF2MqU_i2bwemU335Tn4w77jvLdtI0lLzb_74gBmeXPlUGlXHIvsUo2c1inKCEePoVxkocExAUFGIcduHsdjb4CyesCkrkcctMBOLlBAXvvLKgclbjyPof-t5rh18kDKUD1sziYo_qM5eDg/s2992/20230308_171135.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy7ZZ2901hbwIiSol6KjbLUu1n8kysNyLx_TIG1P58nF2MqU_i2bwemU335Tn4w77jvLdtI0lLzb_74gBmeXPlUGlXHIvsUo2c1inKCEePoVxkocExAUFGIcduHsdjb4CyesCkrkcctMBOLlBAXvvLKgclbjyPof-t5rh18kDKUD1sziYo_qM5eDg/w640-h640/20230308_171135.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the eighteenth year I have been here, and seen this daffodils come up. You see the tree has grown so much that the box someone built around it has burst. Oscar, my heart dog min pin, is buried under this tree. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The people here directly before me were a father and two sons... I doubt they planted them, so I am grateful to someone in the far past for this spring surprise every year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0kLR7JK3nzK8Zy5m_ThARwWWtNZ9D_tNMUxVu3jWL_0eIQuDsi-amBQltXflVJ0RiFHLCsGfPt_aLzmCfXXZ9IuwGevULlgpVUWtkNIofAhMSECYBNF4K0nPdoYFF81AbZBsg003dPoo8wCNyuTTz6Iz3ishXGgydUaGQIeAcaJ6Q7JBCpv4J6GE/s6000/IMG_5066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0kLR7JK3nzK8Zy5m_ThARwWWtNZ9D_tNMUxVu3jWL_0eIQuDsi-amBQltXflVJ0RiFHLCsGfPt_aLzmCfXXZ9IuwGevULlgpVUWtkNIofAhMSECYBNF4K0nPdoYFF81AbZBsg003dPoo8wCNyuTTz6Iz3ishXGgydUaGQIeAcaJ6Q7JBCpv4J6GE/w640-h426/IMG_5066.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the treeline of the 26 acre undeveloped piece of land directly across the road from me. Before I moved here, there was a fire on it, but as you see, it has grown back and is nearly impenetrable. I am told there is only enough water on it for one house, and we have fought as neighbors to not see it developed as a strip mall OR a fueling point for the local propane coop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At night, I often hear coyotes there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A week ago, I heard coyotes on both sides of me, haunting at 3 AM. Several of my friends asked me to record them at that time, and I would, except I invariably forget to grab the phone when I take the dogs out. This morning at 1:30, I heard a few calling to each other from "The Wild Area", as I call it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a communications tower on this land, and it brings in 800.00 a month rent, and a local realtor is the owner now. It scares me that it will be developed with something totally inappropriate for the neighborhood, but we have banded together three times to fight developments... one was a putting green! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something cool happened here this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last November, a tree man who had worked here before stopped by to give me an estimate. There had been a storm the night before, and I had a walnut with numerous hanging branches over my old hen house. Parats (his name) was kind enough to climb up and pull them all down, and his sons stacked them neatly for me. He gave me the estimate then, for the work I wanted done in the pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had decided to trim under many trees, and eliminate some saplings that were getting out of control. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Six weeks ago, he called me one day to see if they could work that afternoon, but I was away from home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, he called to see if they could come Wednesday. I said YES. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(it was only a half day's work for them, so they were fitting me in). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3lNLy1lzWWIlHWgZNKcMYYBdkIhnglvlPKa1DVYbIMBeVZ7RQzGq5-QkyW3SbPiVjVF5dS7hG9OupfSR_eu6D9kR1a-SpeD9pYOZJtQjKD9bPDaDv7nAZ8XN0Pp78gqPFn_3E7hMh0SE26_z1-IS_ZrbeDoMAsK6_WNWwuKiLmZSbj2IotgOwejT/s6000/IMG_5053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3lNLy1lzWWIlHWgZNKcMYYBdkIhnglvlPKa1DVYbIMBeVZ7RQzGq5-QkyW3SbPiVjVF5dS7hG9OupfSR_eu6D9kR1a-SpeD9pYOZJtQjKD9bPDaDv7nAZ8XN0Pp78gqPFn_3E7hMh0SE26_z1-IS_ZrbeDoMAsK6_WNWwuKiLmZSbj2IotgOwejT/w640-h426/IMG_5053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They brought in three big vehicles. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W5lUbw-Vjhy4623lEHcFe6lQzD-S9A1gi_q-hHf2ZXy3gBraWRIzDCmFfP6ztr5UBytDUZ2IrKg78VbdMcOm2-PepMeAJGPYjRoTTcEUxQt4cm8hqIejg3BIhM4xShiHHd2KDYvpdE_e51SKabhUnM9lKHu_h314HgmyTo-b7z03AcjcbKBXtFB8/s6000/IMG_5056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W5lUbw-Vjhy4623lEHcFe6lQzD-S9A1gi_q-hHf2ZXy3gBraWRIzDCmFfP6ztr5UBytDUZ2IrKg78VbdMcOm2-PepMeAJGPYjRoTTcEUxQt4cm8hqIejg3BIhM4xShiHHd2KDYvpdE_e51SKabhUnM9lKHu_h314HgmyTo-b7z03AcjcbKBXtFB8/w640-h426/IMG_5056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had two mulberry trees that had so many big branches down that I could no longer cut under them. You see one almost down on the left, and there were many more. These guys cut them up, threw them in the wood chipper, and then raked under both trees, it looks like a park down there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The white thing you see is boards from my raised beds, they are on the brush pile. I can actually SEE the brush pile from my porch now, because all the branches are gone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They also took down about ten big saplings that were going to be problems, three were in the rings of these trees. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They painted everything with Tordon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJVYbQayA80qdoR3qsq5vcqhIE0EuZpYTIv9ugnP-0PGsPaqMDJ5q0EEvRzx4fg9MU0hSyyC2C4DPK3MAsPeI5qWZmXw6a0dNJAPhV3GZyj90JsjM9a6yqyJwc6wlfOboWgUTDaV843BAEjKSDTA15uFkDqmKZPniI3vMi9ZcQXzHKk3a2Vp8QBPq/s2992/20230307_153915.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJVYbQayA80qdoR3qsq5vcqhIE0EuZpYTIv9ugnP-0PGsPaqMDJ5q0EEvRzx4fg9MU0hSyyC2C4DPK3MAsPeI5qWZmXw6a0dNJAPhV3GZyj90JsjM9a6yqyJwc6wlfOboWgUTDaV843BAEjKSDTA15uFkDqmKZPniI3vMi9ZcQXzHKk3a2Vp8QBPq/w640-h640/20230307_153915.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those trees where you see the man working had branches so low I had trouble cutting underneath them. I am so grateful to get them removed and painted over. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRp8cqkZ35yYE8bDjm-UFiDoDRJyUqYhhIAUdSk5WSvhPyhio1B1kM4QbxCjz_UA-3X92vnQ-7QwS6_vM-QPb3mYOBXp9YKrQHvERHwqDCYsgXlAXpiz8MYU2eglg_xyehfl_fmT1z8W-oNucsSJZQnRj-h2_BDt6LAkAA5AHS-L28vYfeXmbI6sO/s2992/20230307_160824.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRp8cqkZ35yYE8bDjm-UFiDoDRJyUqYhhIAUdSk5WSvhPyhio1B1kM4QbxCjz_UA-3X92vnQ-7QwS6_vM-QPb3mYOBXp9YKrQHvERHwqDCYsgXlAXpiz8MYU2eglg_xyehfl_fmT1z8W-oNucsSJZQnRj-h2_BDt6LAkAA5AHS-L28vYfeXmbI6sO/w640-h640/20230307_160824.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The whole operation was not without drama, though... as the big truck came out, he became stuck in the mud in the gateway. If you squint, you can see there is a winch on the front of the truck, and it was being slowly winched out. The crazy thing was, nothing got stuck UNTIL they got to the gate, and the pasture was soft from the rain we have been getting. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a highly and I mean HIGHLY rutted gate right now that will take months to heal. But, I am indebted to Forest Keepers Tree Service for another job well done! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgophnXaOksTT-YvsoDqI9wGVqs46VCF20O23cgvyWo4NWudgbctQAyk3yziE6ZNLpLCtAWk3L5O0zArzogTRHSEICxd_X95hTlixtYUIpRFxqLMPPUQqqY1hQXNzcNBJVmivg8qmLqcHg5ucMLykyeMuCGX2KdRubr5TsYq3gFx2yNQaixyySHD473/s2992/20230303_180636.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgophnXaOksTT-YvsoDqI9wGVqs46VCF20O23cgvyWo4NWudgbctQAyk3yziE6ZNLpLCtAWk3L5O0zArzogTRHSEICxd_X95hTlixtYUIpRFxqLMPPUQqqY1hQXNzcNBJVmivg8qmLqcHg5ucMLykyeMuCGX2KdRubr5TsYq3gFx2yNQaixyySHD473/w640-h640/20230303_180636.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The week before, Good Neighbor Troy came over with his Kubota, and carefully pulled into the sheep yard and pushed into a pile all the boulders that had become embedded in the ground and prevented me from mowing well in there. While we were in the Big House, the renter here had put two hogs in there. They had taken the piled boulders in the middle (for our goats) and spread them out, and some became buried. It was almost impossible to cut in there, and even the sheep could not keep the grass trimmed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Troy also moved a huge boulder at the back of the house that made me swerve out of my cutting line, and another on the side, and both moves will make it so much easier to cut this summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Troy picked up three huge engineered posts that had become embedded in the ground on the pad for the Barn That Was Never Built, and moved them down to the brush pile. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know what I did to deserve such good friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbqq8-qYfH-zSe3-zrCM53jrGYMgssOEg-EywiqVVwj99t4Fp6R0dYFLVH8BXBswzosPWg3I7Aqxp4bGDFi2bS9_e02GvYIBlu-xFwopdA0Yuf8-W3gDVHkYe-WqRZWUO9F-0swLQ8hQz0NE1FO7BBd7fAVQ_H20j4GPjmE0nvQp0XKlf8bYxGdbz/s2992/20230311_170716.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbqq8-qYfH-zSe3-zrCM53jrGYMgssOEg-EywiqVVwj99t4Fp6R0dYFLVH8BXBswzosPWg3I7Aqxp4bGDFi2bS9_e02GvYIBlu-xFwopdA0Yuf8-W3gDVHkYe-WqRZWUO9F-0swLQ8hQz0NE1FO7BBd7fAVQ_H20j4GPjmE0nvQp0XKlf8bYxGdbz/w640-h640/20230311_170716.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teenie is back to sleeping in the wood stove. She is the most-picked on cat here, and very tiny. She is one of my favorites. I had her neutered by a local rescue a year ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMepoJd42M0G0aKULihqqvJ3vcqu1J5LAVcp7plc4bK8b2GTpVfu04tyNjw5a1HYb8YQ99ZgyMbQOqQ9sSDSWLYA2wCHfjRalFk7ejZr7gsns-cvFzYEh4o7pfglwvfSwvmHGCGziTGjboXkBzqoUX2S646q7K88CvOhZkYhyQh8q2m4nN1O9MyIh/s2992/20230310_084928.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMepoJd42M0G0aKULihqqvJ3vcqu1J5LAVcp7plc4bK8b2GTpVfu04tyNjw5a1HYb8YQ99ZgyMbQOqQ9sSDSWLYA2wCHfjRalFk7ejZr7gsns-cvFzYEh4o7pfglwvfSwvmHGCGziTGjboXkBzqoUX2S646q7K88CvOhZkYhyQh8q2m4nN1O9MyIh/w640-h640/20230310_084928.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We went from 70's back to thirties this week, and Wanda has been sleeping in a nest box again. She and Coco hurry to get in when I lock everyone up at night, Wanda in the Big Hen House and Coco in the old hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkllbR-Q_v8SvvX0APw2L2jWQmp5e8zVmVXFjGnafk9JoyNs0jR5ZTKB3ADYyrhFv84swKgCt_RdHal72kzcuv_XRg1cZ0e7CCav-tKOAByrm39Kz7kzKhTHp6Y0MP06OHSpxHPOEUcaqWL-RuT-FtoorIXf1cSVP0an0D6kCTHypXCgsJoePAQtB/s2992/20230306_171453.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkllbR-Q_v8SvvX0APw2L2jWQmp5e8zVmVXFjGnafk9JoyNs0jR5ZTKB3ADYyrhFv84swKgCt_RdHal72kzcuv_XRg1cZ0e7CCav-tKOAByrm39Kz7kzKhTHp6Y0MP06OHSpxHPOEUcaqWL-RuT-FtoorIXf1cSVP0an0D6kCTHypXCgsJoePAQtB/w640-h640/20230306_171453.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started some flower seeds, but nothing like as many as I started vegetables and flowers last year. These are out in the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt3WDQwDl-OKox1yjgzwWXOvRl4qmgGsT7FUMMxcgfmPvw1ZaS-n7V0wHV5Dd6xmaWoMpxkGGHnoWLo59pSOYfbkiGb-_Q2vECzaZb9N2LBEcVbSoP18mtbhamL9MnV5FqdtUA5hiaxw445sh6H2jnGIu65G8U45fQ0pfuc4QlsCWZR7yglT1mgpt/s2992/20230311_112325.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrt3WDQwDl-OKox1yjgzwWXOvRl4qmgGsT7FUMMxcgfmPvw1ZaS-n7V0wHV5Dd6xmaWoMpxkGGHnoWLo59pSOYfbkiGb-_Q2vECzaZb9N2LBEcVbSoP18mtbhamL9MnV5FqdtUA5hiaxw445sh6H2jnGIu65G8U45fQ0pfuc4QlsCWZR7yglT1mgpt/w640-h640/20230311_112325.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Egg Dam is slowly breaking. Chickens lay less in the winter, with the shorter days. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday, I got six 18 month old chickens. They are production reds, meaning hybrid layers designed to lay a lot of eggs for a year or so, and then be replaced. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are in the old hen house with Singleton, the rooster and four other hens. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have not seen a huge outlay from them yet, but it is early days, and my seven original red hens have begun laying again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Sunday, and so far, I have eight... and there was a hen on a nest with at least two under her, and another hen with one. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also have not checked here yet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjJqX-PcgiGrND6nM_ER-0ezJmmsDCV6UxLGTGxND6ZIalI56lbxx0NkNZXmb8YvWT4aDSxeymRPwA2dTk2NJH_by4sYBBiHDKvbJIWz8dq584MiE0kM_hb2Z_Tesljg4iKSxeD1gsKIlmQx8G9Q20z4pWCy0bq-mWLByJea7aL92w6qJ43d5ou4F/s2992/20230310_090001.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjJqX-PcgiGrND6nM_ER-0ezJmmsDCV6UxLGTGxND6ZIalI56lbxx0NkNZXmb8YvWT4aDSxeymRPwA2dTk2NJH_by4sYBBiHDKvbJIWz8dq584MiE0kM_hb2Z_Tesljg4iKSxeD1gsKIlmQx8G9Q20z4pWCy0bq-mWLByJea7aL92w6qJ43d5ou4F/w640-h640/20230310_090001.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you see the hen? I have to get on my hands and knees to get the egg out, and so help me, if there is something in there that goes for me, that's IT! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the doghouse that the possum died in in December, no one has been using it, until this hen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rkasbf0G4Jeavt55nvkQz7hCbVs_CcXHdtj6sGfw5J_KK-mBXFN6s2HgcU_Mavd_ExQJvU8xGUoZXtI4IF5rNEDkg5kMf344rdZ42O3YzavfjIpucaL3hqy0o3C4MsRi7BMbuoeAYi2ILBIhpq6syG2jruL92MvabECM06LzomgZo78itSHB5qw9/s2992/20230305_084115.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rkasbf0G4Jeavt55nvkQz7hCbVs_CcXHdtj6sGfw5J_KK-mBXFN6s2HgcU_Mavd_ExQJvU8xGUoZXtI4IF5rNEDkg5kMf344rdZ42O3YzavfjIpucaL3hqy0o3C4MsRi7BMbuoeAYi2ILBIhpq6syG2jruL92MvabECM06LzomgZo78itSHB5qw9/w640-h640/20230305_084115.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found a lot of blood in the shop one morning, and other spots in the garage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(That's the beautiful Cleo) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This guy turned up with a swollen paw, and then a wound that was leaking blood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI-E0czGvTAIudxToMA1TiU_QFEzxQ4UNudHfETIQfo6dYIAx0kKm4pMxkPeYhWRbi7ivD7VMO4BUx4gW8CcZiYX8hSTLtAhol8BXXIkCjuvmGVZjuWtg3FHcX3Sq3AOhxmpMUl6wN9QOal44J-Mb17gdFZ45d7P8z9azYLzZsJQ3epfTALIPBuIB/s2992/20230308_133745.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI-E0czGvTAIudxToMA1TiU_QFEzxQ4UNudHfETIQfo6dYIAx0kKm4pMxkPeYhWRbi7ivD7VMO4BUx4gW8CcZiYX8hSTLtAhol8BXXIkCjuvmGVZjuWtg3FHcX3Sq3AOhxmpMUl6wN9QOal44J-Mb17gdFZ45d7P8z9azYLzZsJQ3epfTALIPBuIB/w640-h640/20230308_133745.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye was NOT happy to go to the vet, and let me know in no uncertain terms. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His wound is healing... the vet thinks he was bitten. He has all his shots, so got a two week antibiotic shot to get him over the hump. The leg looks much better. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV0gOZUxHR-Vfgm02lVN2kk2eGxXRn7cEB5_UDktSScFk1lDV0BDT_R3MQzV9Znpl7cD79C7KR-R8et5zeCHN5l0gZfPva8wN4T71JSSQqSl7WNpAkptB6MNdHhyPbILJh8uzW5YeCC1mB1vgxZLw-RiXCs3PtTZ9KoBvXos9yKFyvVdw7HcSacqQ/s2992/20230305_173016.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV0gOZUxHR-Vfgm02lVN2kk2eGxXRn7cEB5_UDktSScFk1lDV0BDT_R3MQzV9Znpl7cD79C7KR-R8et5zeCHN5l0gZfPva8wN4T71JSSQqSl7WNpAkptB6MNdHhyPbILJh8uzW5YeCC1mB1vgxZLw-RiXCs3PtTZ9KoBvXos9yKFyvVdw7HcSacqQ/w640-h640/20230305_173016.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am so grateful for blue skies today, the days of clouds were getting me down. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you see the moon between the trees? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope the weather is calming down whereever you are reading this. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-58454173973647171802023-03-06T14:10:00.000-06:002023-03-06T14:10:59.424-06:00An Unusual Post <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is going to be kind of an unusual post... I am going to use pictures (mostly) from the game cameras that I put out around the place. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWwXlBeHzXFrpaWsLzmhIG96_lyXhWmFju8qQBIBvT0hDNLl2bZygmaBZnRD4omdncDFh-0om73qwum0ayQcZfuA1FIG483-0bK8FUKA-ymHti7iwWYQttayzBToPCbyS0cO2iLpH7qrec4uvP7Ur-KvvwQboEcSCTCsppi94BYa7qgrBpOlKyn0q/s4992/Buddy%20and%20Bob%20two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWwXlBeHzXFrpaWsLzmhIG96_lyXhWmFju8qQBIBvT0hDNLl2bZygmaBZnRD4omdncDFh-0om73qwum0ayQcZfuA1FIG483-0bK8FUKA-ymHti7iwWYQttayzBToPCbyS0cO2iLpH7qrec4uvP7Ur-KvvwQboEcSCTCsppi94BYa7qgrBpOlKyn0q/w640-h360/Buddy%20and%20Bob%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fi-rHK56ImuPjXedBm2HkadrkiJTl0KfjuYu-1KeYVYgHgANy70L2sK-fhCzwkC1PaxRBSZsNxSwLXEPrKhNDHAhaak6ExAlOkgq3f2G4GE5q1C_YnU2NEsYqbEFvCka-4ir6AVJ3B2yWXByx9PBaH5J9CBU5nkPmxxPi-n_dNJf3IRvaNWJD5rN/s4992/Buddy%20and%20Bob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fi-rHK56ImuPjXedBm2HkadrkiJTl0KfjuYu-1KeYVYgHgANy70L2sK-fhCzwkC1PaxRBSZsNxSwLXEPrKhNDHAhaak6ExAlOkgq3f2G4GE5q1C_YnU2NEsYqbEFvCka-4ir6AVJ3B2yWXByx9PBaH5J9CBU5nkPmxxPi-n_dNJf3IRvaNWJD5rN/w640-h360/Buddy%20and%20Bob.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Buddy and Bob, formerly called "Alien". Bob has been around for about four months now, but... he disappears during the day sometimes for hours. He has always been in good flesh, and I believe he is neutered. I suspect he belongs to someone down the road, but he is sleeping here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kJ2jbfPCJKrt8HwUVHx8U2891FBDfNzlnDWS26CnUcOxnrV3dn8diez0Z214gY311LCfNmBXlYVWShhE5LYlpPvg8WOWuQT0OX4lS3pCG6n8-RB4Ul3BAl9-vMUY77eO3TUkv_yE3ZvojOuezT7rs8vGO8lAWILhEtVv_LCCvALB1UDoDZzjoedw/s2992/20230220_164928.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kJ2jbfPCJKrt8HwUVHx8U2891FBDfNzlnDWS26CnUcOxnrV3dn8diez0Z214gY311LCfNmBXlYVWShhE5LYlpPvg8WOWuQT0OX4lS3pCG6n8-RB4Ul3BAl9-vMUY77eO3TUkv_yE3ZvojOuezT7rs8vGO8lAWILhEtVv_LCCvALB1UDoDZzjoedw/w640-h640/20230220_164928.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob at the door. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I leave the inside door open... I can look up sometimes from the computer and see Bob on his hind legs, looking in. He has come as far as 3 feet into the kitchen three times, then freaked out and ran outside. His buddy Buddy is what drew him in. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob adores Buddy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV3DVL6P6hv04tBvAenc5n5nNF5baqAlmVlwT9P-B3_PMv43C6K6g2AUppMjmxzacecS3nehYS2gSmXvQ5k3oQINHO1sdTGvkuGbcVzufefzuEvcYu7BYQZwZihUPzG1gEIOgiROxeRjKIa6SS8MXnZwXVV1LXUYsWTBJY6ccsiIMby5SDDVgCbyS/s4992/Mama%20and%20Buddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV3DVL6P6hv04tBvAenc5n5nNF5baqAlmVlwT9P-B3_PMv43C6K6g2AUppMjmxzacecS3nehYS2gSmXvQ5k3oQINHO1sdTGvkuGbcVzufefzuEvcYu7BYQZwZihUPzG1gEIOgiROxeRjKIa6SS8MXnZwXVV1LXUYsWTBJY6ccsiIMby5SDDVgCbyS/w640-h360/Mama%20and%20Buddy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mama adores Buddy, there she is wrapping herself around him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrXmGOJdQoIQfp1DpBSVPS_gB3T4qGK30je21kGcBgMtyE32FDhBXPae2HB6CGpWJNHNLg-gqgZsAFet5OyMDYu3COBWXWA9Gh-vmUfXEW8z5XCrxvPdC0k62RI_Po_ywLbRCfD_BD2uqxANPrfqwJKBfMG1ddPaxeLPESA8f-EzyAck-ox5hqVMO/s6848/Buddy%20and%20Mama%20by%20garage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3852" data-original-width="6848" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrXmGOJdQoIQfp1DpBSVPS_gB3T4qGK30je21kGcBgMtyE32FDhBXPae2HB6CGpWJNHNLg-gqgZsAFet5OyMDYu3COBWXWA9Gh-vmUfXEW8z5XCrxvPdC0k62RI_Po_ywLbRCfD_BD2uqxANPrfqwJKBfMG1ddPaxeLPESA8f-EzyAck-ox5hqVMO/w640-h360/Buddy%20and%20Mama%20by%20garage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There they are out by the garage, she will come running across the yard if she sees him come out of the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know what he has, but it's magnetism! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr6h1O5hdI10TcKT5tCjt_RCB_B6TSBsK5qWD1CIe5Tdz7vnWwPr2ip71A0VLpZQR4waxVxVKlEY6j2HHyDirleU4l662vVxMxFOFEZqnYEBy-a64nEdLRE4wOESi8YgS8SJLoLfpnH8hj54K58Cc93EFKmEDavhsaDudiDPuTuwWSphGMw3vAc8l/s4992/Bullseye%20loving%20Buddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr6h1O5hdI10TcKT5tCjt_RCB_B6TSBsK5qWD1CIe5Tdz7vnWwPr2ip71A0VLpZQR4waxVxVKlEY6j2HHyDirleU4l662vVxMxFOFEZqnYEBy-a64nEdLRE4wOESi8YgS8SJLoLfpnH8hj54K58Cc93EFKmEDavhsaDudiDPuTuwWSphGMw3vAc8l/w640-h360/Bullseye%20loving%20Buddy.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye is part of the Buddy Club, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f6YcuKMJl2uPxCEHL3Yd4J0O0YX6XVr5TNgesfZ5GgiXGPCATXeUqU12n-rGnxOWep_y0J1KyzrOqJVfpkBqLWNLzewF68S7e_fYXHDBxfvSOHU1YqB_D1G1Xh-Y2PKl7PmyO-MPClTeyP7EiQWxF-aFKYE8C9jvA0sKLo-acvblpVulzQBkorbd/s2992/20230305_084115.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f6YcuKMJl2uPxCEHL3Yd4J0O0YX6XVr5TNgesfZ5GgiXGPCATXeUqU12n-rGnxOWep_y0J1KyzrOqJVfpkBqLWNLzewF68S7e_fYXHDBxfvSOHU1YqB_D1G1Xh-Y2PKl7PmyO-MPClTeyP7EiQWxF-aFKYE8C9jvA0sKLo-acvblpVulzQBkorbd/w640-h640/20230305_084115.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday morning, I discovered dark red blood on the floor in the shop, near the Kuranda bed. I looked everywhere for a body, and checked the cats. I was worried for a while because they are all picking on Teenie again, and I could not find her. That was really dark blood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found a few more drops at the back of the shop. (That's Cleo) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found a dark one with congealed blood in it this morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_TWmplVOL8uvDbgJ7HaZp66rIjeJ5XAVBbsLsQDzaAYwOruY8HsBo4Cg8lmkYP-Yu1w6bsHkFY5mUKVZ1pmCe14esnVjR-lBdzeQiRy_UVHoafxx4O-03l-VrTGZGQM8PzAQYxtPYQ0JMJkJtCfFmUvzP-0_8ERZf93WDYg7SzgeUcPYsreXpJXl/s2992/20230306_083543.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_TWmplVOL8uvDbgJ7HaZp66rIjeJ5XAVBbsLsQDzaAYwOruY8HsBo4Cg8lmkYP-Yu1w6bsHkFY5mUKVZ1pmCe14esnVjR-lBdzeQiRy_UVHoafxx4O-03l-VrTGZGQM8PzAQYxtPYQ0JMJkJtCfFmUvzP-0_8ERZf93WDYg7SzgeUcPYsreXpJXl/w640-h640/20230306_083543.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then, when I took the bowl I keep in the garage during the day outside, I found </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">some more in the garage... I always leave a small pile of food in there at night when I lock the food up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIDccdNQJPrE0K9RoJPLTVTGQSHDF8YlzI2dVynicB6mrqfHtvV8h8oT4h2MgbxCKGG9xFso4PCIgEWQLROPSxHjk7v__JRbcCIWVa1-sxka1ck5rGR4VsWtzVYtNZgzIWadfMg56SuWpHn0PzAdUYWfdSVvIZo47zYzT-r49B7SiWsCZyCZUAYnE/s2992/20230306_083743.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIDccdNQJPrE0K9RoJPLTVTGQSHDF8YlzI2dVynicB6mrqfHtvV8h8oT4h2MgbxCKGG9xFso4PCIgEWQLROPSxHjk7v__JRbcCIWVa1-sxka1ck5rGR4VsWtzVYtNZgzIWadfMg56SuWpHn0PzAdUYWfdSVvIZo47zYzT-r49B7SiWsCZyCZUAYnE/w640-h640/20230306_083743.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine my happiness when this ran across the yard to greet me this morning, in one piece....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-qthoVoQfUTmLbmhJcIWxqumREQoN_WlKcHw9ZdrCo8wLvSewRoP980NMt4LVvD0fcOsCEiMy_FLKrSZkaw7cg7gVgSUt_fUGG4UyGEzgJANGAePCbT9YjG49S2ZU5edNyNb2HHQV-wEWHaK3oqNkkDbYgkP3RS1QIOTCABZgCUYC8Ujr1JcLyYT/s2992/20230306_084225.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-qthoVoQfUTmLbmhJcIWxqumREQoN_WlKcHw9ZdrCo8wLvSewRoP980NMt4LVvD0fcOsCEiMy_FLKrSZkaw7cg7gVgSUt_fUGG4UyGEzgJANGAePCbT9YjG49S2ZU5edNyNb2HHQV-wEWHaK3oqNkkDbYgkP3RS1QIOTCABZgCUYC8Ujr1JcLyYT/w640-h640/20230306_084225.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was so glad. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teenie! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No wounds on her, either. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can pick everyone up but Cleo and Bob. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0A-blTnju5zTbjqJfHwDkGAIOOCtrkZbG-YQZzCP_qtuilsTNTNnttLk8LdAOu41b3DxQ2Sk8FfwNYdubX3VewrgHy6K0n5KLAFky2K9LY_YqvxR7idYqNuWMAmAH19rYXg7IH69KNse1NGkAVGSAR2pn8BqUIbACf80rotyKJ06EiIagwWhlHFN/s2992/20230305_172101.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0A-blTnju5zTbjqJfHwDkGAIOOCtrkZbG-YQZzCP_qtuilsTNTNnttLk8LdAOu41b3DxQ2Sk8FfwNYdubX3VewrgHy6K0n5KLAFky2K9LY_YqvxR7idYqNuWMAmAH19rYXg7IH69KNse1NGkAVGSAR2pn8BqUIbACf80rotyKJ06EiIagwWhlHFN/w640-h640/20230305_172101.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All three of my big roosters have pretty much quit roosting. Singleton here is the head honcho... but I notice that he is sleeping in the brooder pen in the old hen house more and more, tho he is sometimes on the roost still with his four girls. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is getting six more girls this week to watch over, they are hens coming from a large flock here that is turned over every 18 months. Since the old hen house is flat, and has only five birds in it, they are going to be put there. Singleton will take good care of them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXs1NvC70_yWxiDGwek5MN5L6qbueEFh9_q6Js2tqrXh5lW-gVl6Xu1-X6-FloirB6inAYqhbARY5LDyAgE5xfz_u5fgyywhUrRjrn0ieZIsHRHK4-GGy9I1D5uLll3JPXbH8bGL2Ak1SRWNjrClPQGDA-KCWWQMX5K7Lmc7S4kheugZUCxrCncfUT/s2992/20230223_165355.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXs1NvC70_yWxiDGwek5MN5L6qbueEFh9_q6Js2tqrXh5lW-gVl6Xu1-X6-FloirB6inAYqhbARY5LDyAgE5xfz_u5fgyywhUrRjrn0ieZIsHRHK4-GGy9I1D5uLll3JPXbH8bGL2Ak1SRWNjrClPQGDA-KCWWQMX5K7Lmc7S4kheugZUCxrCncfUT/w640-h640/20230223_165355.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is his daddy, Ferdinand, who does not go outside any more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is sleeping in this corner in the big henhouse, and stays inside every day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His toes mostly have frozen off, though he can still hop around... but I am going to have to make a decision soon. A vet at the practice in Tongie where I take my pets now has offered to euthanize him for me, and I suspect that is what will have to happen. I know some of you are laughing at my taking him to a vet.... since I lost Keith, I don't have the guts to do the dirty deed myself, I admit it. And... she will do it humanely, while I am there talking to him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buddy (not to be confused with canine Buddy), the other brown rooster... is still going out, but also has lost some toes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reason I don't hatch is fear of being stuck with more roosters! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEcGfNh4754FzZgDTNK66ZU_ztpnl4d4ve9PKgSCecFuEzsojrHmqej8XEHipb6r6uFPP6vgv5F4G9Pa72oxCae6CZGhz446rhYr3fs62-N9tboBUBwIp52lH2yPzwjxbiWeNzpyDWbR8F6l3DHhAZjeSFh1IZXaLKezfybMNaejEyBLElwKlQRqU/s2992/20230304_170218.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEcGfNh4754FzZgDTNK66ZU_ztpnl4d4ve9PKgSCecFuEzsojrHmqej8XEHipb6r6uFPP6vgv5F4G9Pa72oxCae6CZGhz446rhYr3fs62-N9tboBUBwIp52lH2yPzwjxbiWeNzpyDWbR8F6l3DHhAZjeSFh1IZXaLKezfybMNaejEyBLElwKlQRqU/w640-h640/20230304_170218.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda is still living in the big hen house. I let her stay out later than the birds, and then, about six pm, I go out and call her and she is ready to go in and go to bed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had balmy temps the last few days, but after today, we are going to be in the thirties and forties this week.... she loves to lay under the warming light I leave on for the old ones. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoMo8zbyKFgYNSwCvMzwy_Jy4eb-q1F43aKMz1SPcyORem32yeVGktQPXlVMtVbDAxh34NKiIwcEu0yDjMMqTXzLvJMbxezqhJ1f5nuTCpd4YqOGboVg9NFzb-FzwZKagdqR8HOL0gkBUx5GslrAwleo61uvc4Dog2aZfgystoIhVnJLoHEm2uXlA/s2992/20230219_164408.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoMo8zbyKFgYNSwCvMzwy_Jy4eb-q1F43aKMz1SPcyORem32yeVGktQPXlVMtVbDAxh34NKiIwcEu0yDjMMqTXzLvJMbxezqhJ1f5nuTCpd4YqOGboVg9NFzb-FzwZKagdqR8HOL0gkBUx5GslrAwleo61uvc4Dog2aZfgystoIhVnJLoHEm2uXlA/w640-h640/20230219_164408.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you blame her? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">See Pipsqueak? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was not sure what to do with him after I lost Mary, his partner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began to leave him down on the floor with the other birds... that's Ferdie there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was carrying him out to his little pen (actually a big pen) every morning, and carrying the cat carrier so he had a shelter during the day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One day, I left him in. He took himself out with the other birds. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is what we are doing now, he goes out, hangs out.... and in the evening I usually take the net, stop him, and carry him in. We have a routine now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ToeCy_SdR41LqdSsmd8d15xBb3iEKLSb5m7jgLqNsjoKis8sm9NmIkjRPOF-xLCUB-W7Oa2aX129fL75tDNmgw_uEvUdpwCFGxNRg1iehTLkkaLEDkMIUVt1CF-B_3q3hLYJk3CGmoP8mEFl9TMQZ80TAqfeGJBHZyGM3BzYWOJ7Uy-YZbEzXHPZ/s2992/20230219_140120.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ToeCy_SdR41LqdSsmd8d15xBb3iEKLSb5m7jgLqNsjoKis8sm9NmIkjRPOF-xLCUB-W7Oa2aX129fL75tDNmgw_uEvUdpwCFGxNRg1iehTLkkaLEDkMIUVt1CF-B_3q3hLYJk3CGmoP8mEFl9TMQZ80TAqfeGJBHZyGM3BzYWOJ7Uy-YZbEzXHPZ/w640-h640/20230219_140120.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friend Diane raises Mille Fleurs. I have asked her if I can buy a couple when she is ready to cull... I used to keep them, too... I had a whole pen full. They are diminutive and would make a nice partner for little Pip. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl-xKSewV343nTFea8TqiZQPZgWhnmuSlaav96djFEu23D3BVb0E5hTS7ua6wdt2KG2dmBsiuFiDGYkitoxuY8hbumypoVgbk6w3x1j7JVKu6eBBAQVvQr4ZgYkqcGm_cg1mE2iVd90HNrpQ3OVLgiFh27zMVB4NjF3DDacytP-tewD6w6qFx3RoY/s2992/20230303_080946.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl-xKSewV343nTFea8TqiZQPZgWhnmuSlaav96djFEu23D3BVb0E5hTS7ua6wdt2KG2dmBsiuFiDGYkitoxuY8hbumypoVgbk6w3x1j7JVKu6eBBAQVvQr4ZgYkqcGm_cg1mE2iVd90HNrpQ3OVLgiFh27zMVB4NjF3DDacytP-tewD6w6qFx3RoY/w640-h640/20230303_080946.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am starting to get four to eight eggs a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was able to gift five dozen eggs last week, but some of those were from the previous week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am hoping with the addition of the new birds, I will be back to giving away that many regularly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2ICGI1QvCpGoVEgAgSt8I0tAtqV3ZrrhPPjXscL8Bp0PxW9Djy0UCOf5kLVJ_3gEDc8LvvTxy0CNqRbDzrUUoCzQx-6mxkJ4uCXSXYznFdpvgnvPYCWpJnF-qbk5noQuz0kyCiqxmTcCivLf7n-0qW7tygatUz32yusjwioAltM0Wu-KzfIMbNp/s800/FB_IMG_1677730347695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2ICGI1QvCpGoVEgAgSt8I0tAtqV3ZrrhPPjXscL8Bp0PxW9Djy0UCOf5kLVJ_3gEDc8LvvTxy0CNqRbDzrUUoCzQx-6mxkJ4uCXSXYznFdpvgnvPYCWpJnF-qbk5noQuz0kyCiqxmTcCivLf7n-0qW7tygatUz32yusjwioAltM0Wu-KzfIMbNp/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730347695.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCwKcO_N79oPxjIBvTaiUrmxt6yqE6uVJvunKb8BQ38ps0QBqkxLZAXGTNhnj6loa5WsBYLlxW6kmYG7cndQCxlPilG8KK-QfKeuuboT1BOuZ4XV1zfVYqN4GEUnssuPN4ZosF7mVyRpRe0hVJx3AI0bjDYVjkViITIBC7V_MAzH3rrcNltlaBThS/s1440/FB_IMG_1677730337467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCwKcO_N79oPxjIBvTaiUrmxt6yqE6uVJvunKb8BQ38ps0QBqkxLZAXGTNhnj6loa5WsBYLlxW6kmYG7cndQCxlPilG8KK-QfKeuuboT1BOuZ4XV1zfVYqN4GEUnssuPN4ZosF7mVyRpRe0hVJx3AI0bjDYVjkViITIBC7V_MAzH3rrcNltlaBThS/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1677730337467.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are pictures of the Budmeister when he was found on September 5 last year, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">astray out in the county. Bless the people who found him, they got hold of the Bonner Springs ACO, and Officer Kendra went out and got him. She told me over the weekend that she had to hold his hind end up, he was so weak. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGDyjX1Uw5T4qygC57OsfQoueR16hIQ_FA0zrHuCS-ResRwR-z2Hjbd0CIWPOYMm-q78LbibCONt8Jh8GW7yX6GRMgqg--lBr4cE_CZJ34fpvar11ZACxDnbRjaZh6RpZn_Q2JtK9e2IaCPjvR8mC0-pzOPbj225yp3zwXt7kuVUqxC2iwk2JesuS/s2992/20230302_093546.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGDyjX1Uw5T4qygC57OsfQoueR16hIQ_FA0zrHuCS-ResRwR-z2Hjbd0CIWPOYMm-q78LbibCONt8Jh8GW7yX6GRMgqg--lBr4cE_CZJ34fpvar11ZACxDnbRjaZh6RpZn_Q2JtK9e2IaCPjvR8mC0-pzOPbj225yp3zwXt7kuVUqxC2iwk2JesuS/w640-h640/20230302_093546.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ihPF6fpY220PNJUINyPx4UXrRgJrx8wPRjiVzvUedCdPanN6CJQGRTBDomhytmsPgA7UPCE2cYSD_nBvQr2Mp1GX0kkx_V3tcnO_iki-XLOt_JgK09qv_Q29cvr0jPWbyITb9lHOdW0YSb0ZZNKtRVIX9kHkU6pxEYYgYleMTlDRFyvokQ2N3bI/s2992/20230301_120941.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ihPF6fpY220PNJUINyPx4UXrRgJrx8wPRjiVzvUedCdPanN6CJQGRTBDomhytmsPgA7UPCE2cYSD_nBvQr2Mp1GX0kkx_V3tcnO_iki-XLOt_JgK09qv_Q29cvr0jPWbyITb9lHOdW0YSb0ZZNKtRVIX9kHkU6pxEYYgYleMTlDRFyvokQ2N3bI/w640-h640/20230301_120941.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Here's The Bud today, Inspiration of all Cats at Calamity Acres. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know he is in his last year, he is moving slower and slower, and it is evident... he is eating far less and sleeping a LOT more... but gosh, he is just the best old boy. Anyone that can give a home to a senior is a gem, in my book... he has been so deserving. A friend met him over the weekend... Buddy LOVES men, and he scared this guy because he wanted to be loved on. When we went outside when my friend was leaving.... he turned around and said... no one would ever try to hurt you with that boy at your side. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe he is right. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgFc1x8vcduBquq9_sSu9HwPPxzWEmNWnBiJAC_pTw5NFp31VqbdvMGm8CCYOxCUEcN7zEyYgU9qM7qU6T5FNvYLoO1a4YGVXhWGl7Kb6owIjjzcRuf7aSg0iNH8ZGW9iySGr_B7cGpolxwjoOipwpXNlVfQvU0jqp-5jcgkD51PT4swE-DdTgHe4/s4992/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20see%20Bob%20coming%20in%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgFc1x8vcduBquq9_sSu9HwPPxzWEmNWnBiJAC_pTw5NFp31VqbdvMGm8CCYOxCUEcN7zEyYgU9qM7qU6T5FNvYLoO1a4YGVXhWGl7Kb6owIjjzcRuf7aSg0iNH8ZGW9iySGr_B7cGpolxwjoOipwpXNlVfQvU0jqp-5jcgkD51PT4swE-DdTgHe4/w640-h360/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20see%20Bob%20coming%20in%20.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Early this morning, something startled Mama and Cleo in the shop.... I leave the warming light on at night. If you look under the Kuranda bed on the left, it looks like a cat coming in through the hole...maybe Bob, but it might have been Teenie, trying to get back to the wood stove where she sleeps. Both of these girls beat up on Teenie, who is much smaller than both of them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6Ds7XBsS7rdOnnNTjAm8JYAcmAI5PM-gFPAvj3SyqyMXJ917wuOJMB9T6alXK2RqY6cFTow-uQmVnqfgX4RKVFmnn83cAP1qW4sy2SFonUAX_Drqx7elohX6ite0mjHX2oSns1GwDBycLOag9uIrsxHZzpsLfmAon_OhyiL--pG31M9UV6y4oUFy/s4992/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20asleep%20with%20the%20skunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6Ds7XBsS7rdOnnNTjAm8JYAcmAI5PM-gFPAvj3SyqyMXJ917wuOJMB9T6alXK2RqY6cFTow-uQmVnqfgX4RKVFmnn83cAP1qW4sy2SFonUAX_Drqx7elohX6ite0mjHX2oSns1GwDBycLOag9uIrsxHZzpsLfmAon_OhyiL--pG31M9UV6y4oUFy/w640-h360/Mama%20and%20Cleo%20asleep%20with%20the%20skunk.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few hours later, this girl had come back, she had been in and out all night, but I'll tell you something odd... I can never smell her, even when her tail is on high alert. If you look closely, you will see that both Cleo, in the bed on top of the chest, and Mama, who is curled up in the chair on the right, did not even wake up and look up. I have noticed that they are wary but are not bothered by the possums, the raccoons and the skunk that comes in at night, mostly to drink out of the heated water. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(If you want to know how I know it's a girl, she has backed up to the camera while drinking water many times) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbo8jtn00p7QsXEHJ2z6xe-PaRSfHCaN_6C95Rw9aoUmp8N-5si2GnRJIBQCdOcJ2Y_FQNvOZubcbGc9VZG5NTNt1uCE1Qet6zQQjEPt6E67vobQ8LVX6UxASMKk93h0AhYhzz2YZgc3OROIl8Hhf1LGXiheH04nA8CjVyI2JItM4OdGjt9C2uPGw/s2992/20230303_194730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbo8jtn00p7QsXEHJ2z6xe-PaRSfHCaN_6C95Rw9aoUmp8N-5si2GnRJIBQCdOcJ2Y_FQNvOZubcbGc9VZG5NTNt1uCE1Qet6zQQjEPt6E67vobQ8LVX6UxASMKk93h0AhYhzz2YZgc3OROIl8Hhf1LGXiheH04nA8CjVyI2JItM4OdGjt9C2uPGw/w640-h640/20230303_194730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jupiter and Venus in alignment, and it won't happen again in my lifetime. It's crazy to say that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am so lucky to live out here, I know that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thank God every day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know my time here grows short, age will get me in the end. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I can afford to pay someone to do the heavy yardwork at some point, I would do it, just so I can stay, but we will see. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not sure if the sheep will be back this year, I have not heard yet, but... I think I can do one more year with their water tank, too, and then we will see about that, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, friends, for reading about our days here at Calamity Acres. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-60992269202991787692023-02-26T18:17:00.000-06:002023-02-26T18:17:14.555-06:00Bleak February Days <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's the 26th, and the second month of the year is almost over. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have some catching up to do. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuwTxddb7hOYCa-JhwoE_BMRspMicoF05NGa--ouQlbeLOkL0MxqA2T-N1Oz_TgFxgbjGHFkDXs94H18IxFfCky9UmMKgal0Sb6R7qZTnCBmv_KkE7yWGtUovSYmSZzZ-eEb5kLztwJqygAqawjpir0TfxL7yWXg_rAYeYkeIySrvM9bDhhVRHhx-/s2992/20230220_174159.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuwTxddb7hOYCa-JhwoE_BMRspMicoF05NGa--ouQlbeLOkL0MxqA2T-N1Oz_TgFxgbjGHFkDXs94H18IxFfCky9UmMKgal0Sb6R7qZTnCBmv_KkE7yWGtUovSYmSZzZ-eEb5kLztwJqygAqawjpir0TfxL7yWXg_rAYeYkeIySrvM9bDhhVRHhx-/w640-h640/20230220_174159.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bob, formerly known as Alien. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He adores both Zoey and Buddy. I mean ADORES. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mama is the same way, I don't know what it is... Mama will run clear across the property if we are out at 3 AM in the cold to rub up against her buddy Buddy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSQTSrCDJTfd9F7vI8a2MOXUflqUF3owr-bcuOzU5m_HHwpUw_YlPLyU1SZ1hHunldEjv0jzzJgMaekE8ZIDhOac9bkIfDyZDyD9yJq8RjDthfXNoLx6uC-Tok6eIacns_UFd4TIXuS8HyEKc_bPcmvYjEIZy-WY2MRtEzpOp_dmqL0opAEkEHwBT/s2992/20230220_164928.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSQTSrCDJTfd9F7vI8a2MOXUflqUF3owr-bcuOzU5m_HHwpUw_YlPLyU1SZ1hHunldEjv0jzzJgMaekE8ZIDhOac9bkIfDyZDyD9yJq8RjDthfXNoLx6uC-Tok6eIacns_UFd4TIXuS8HyEKc_bPcmvYjEIZy-WY2MRtEzpOp_dmqL0opAEkEHwBT/w640-h640/20230220_164928.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He has let me pet him twice, once on the head and once along the back. Yesterday, he came in the kitchen for about thirty seconds, then went back out. You see the straw... he is sleeping in the dog house on the porch to the left of the door. I just put more straw in it five minutes ago, we are expecting rain tonight. I would bring him in if he would come. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jr7-k3iM2Bz3cc77Hs_kVlZtEt0QpMrFu2JaP927HbT1AwAQJiRqftFZRIWmGzfD8kcn-6UJTA6CfKt4tmyoO0JuFJJSM0tYbnoa73oLKcqMGxTzK6dqbWa_RpnM6FR9i2azpSuxh0qEmtpucZHsI7fIpvKBGsX8enbVXSVsp6kTbtSh4UzW1WT/s6000/DSC_4422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jr7-k3iM2Bz3cc77Hs_kVlZtEt0QpMrFu2JaP927HbT1AwAQJiRqftFZRIWmGzfD8kcn-6UJTA6CfKt4tmyoO0JuFJJSM0tYbnoa73oLKcqMGxTzK6dqbWa_RpnM6FR9i2azpSuxh0qEmtpucZHsI7fIpvKBGsX8enbVXSVsp6kTbtSh4UzW1WT/w640-h426/DSC_4422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look who was back one night this week. Friends, that is a healthy coyote, I mean healthy. He has not been starving this winter. I was clear up on the deck, and as I advanced with the camera, he turned around and trotted off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will tell you one thing I am no longer seeing here... rabbits. The cats have run them all off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq2fA2wce3ffZo9K67pYu4aEcz8Yonb-QBaOvuybCMM1rhu0DZeczbzFtP0YSU9GpdyEUyTJckjBZdoEmCab_SkETlP-_j0-DpgMzhqdafaXHNzL_bQCTpKCAUZRY6Nusvhf_TAExHAjsO8yC3gYETEFfQ2aUl2P2Oz5K1FB2Zu5uXF56jMZ-whgQ/s6000/DSC_4425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq2fA2wce3ffZo9K67pYu4aEcz8Yonb-QBaOvuybCMM1rhu0DZeczbzFtP0YSU9GpdyEUyTJckjBZdoEmCab_SkETlP-_j0-DpgMzhqdafaXHNzL_bQCTpKCAUZRY6Nusvhf_TAExHAjsO8yC3gYETEFfQ2aUl2P2Oz5K1FB2Zu5uXF56jMZ-whgQ/w640-h426/DSC_4425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These little guys take their lives in their hands with the cats out there, and I regret this, because I love squirrels. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBIU5FbSzriIgwP4NlS5LW4-4vZzDzONyAXrS43e1OLVMIn11i4cMclVbMSOHRuIGglvEJLEsZkny0tCfy83cu62QykuRgYzpvjJ3uyP4lOlHUQI24nPGA61IZtpY3SLK_MNRKSwu9Xj8QcZZ8Fl67VSymPT301YiexQSsKS0ePPRVhUebq4unSj5/s6000/DSC_4432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBIU5FbSzriIgwP4NlS5LW4-4vZzDzONyAXrS43e1OLVMIn11i4cMclVbMSOHRuIGglvEJLEsZkny0tCfy83cu62QykuRgYzpvjJ3uyP4lOlHUQI24nPGA61IZtpY3SLK_MNRKSwu9Xj8QcZZ8Fl67VSymPT301YiexQSsKS0ePPRVhUebq4unSj5/w640-h426/DSC_4432.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The coyote above was taken the seventeenth... this one was this week. I watched it go back and forth across the pasture about six times, I don't know what was worrying it. You see it looking into Troy and Kathy's pasture... I know Kathy pours out leftovers just like I do. Something must have been worrying it. Now that I look at it again, it could be a pregnant mother. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqTyA766YUbhhPwhfBir4y6tewvUa2wx3-nUo97im79eXjwW-3dS7tfFIwZHx4_W6R4aOWssPhQ2xkic0R41xmflETfusSoFrSjIBz06YzsjV7twhJEr1kMC6qOF9_QG6V_kzyHIgkjq31RF5nC2g9JCE8gBfAyplqHaqtU9kLEvGNcCjCPntV8JE/s4992/WGI_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqTyA766YUbhhPwhfBir4y6tewvUa2wx3-nUo97im79eXjwW-3dS7tfFIwZHx4_W6R4aOWssPhQ2xkic0R41xmflETfusSoFrSjIBz06YzsjV7twhJEr1kMC6qOF9_QG6V_kzyHIgkjq31RF5nC2g9JCE8gBfAyplqHaqtU9kLEvGNcCjCPntV8JE/w640-h360/WGI_0031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a picture taken by the porch cam of a rather large raccoon on the porch (I forgot to bring the bowl in) and Bob is sleeping in the Bob House. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What you can't see in this picture is Teenie is sleeping on a heated pad on the chair to the right of the chest... Teenie has been run out of the shop by Mama. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are expecting 50 mile and hour winds and a storm tonight so I am hoping she finds shelter in the garage, though there IS another little house on the porch... the one to the right of Bob's house. (and it is heated, Coco still uses it during the day). As a total aside, my grandson was with me working out here yesterday, and we went into the old hen house to put something away. Coco, (the black cat) who lives in there with the chickens, was sitting in a dark corner, staring straight at us. She scared Jax to death... he did not want to go in farther than the door. I told him she was watching him only because she didn't know him... but he was hesitant to go in still. She did not move at all while we were in there, and that scared him even more! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfhV6HlxwbHGI_rdPmWBaQ9jHva8nyvoBlgXvzNP1hLYisT39xNFSIh1ov2YSoRXqUaomLBgIZK4AbdcUuSO1gXB3QKW9tkzpZxfVm7c9Irl0JMqc0mTKop9j1tAX-DL1wBLwLcZGeaWFdx3BBqsswVZfhgqCa3I_GMcUdbnAtf1c1iGdlpj-tTHR/s4992/Raccoon%20bathing%20in%20water%20dish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfhV6HlxwbHGI_rdPmWBaQ9jHva8nyvoBlgXvzNP1hLYisT39xNFSIh1ov2YSoRXqUaomLBgIZK4AbdcUuSO1gXB3QKW9tkzpZxfVm7c9Irl0JMqc0mTKop9j1tAX-DL1wBLwLcZGeaWFdx3BBqsswVZfhgqCa3I_GMcUdbnAtf1c1iGdlpj-tTHR/w640-h360/Raccoon%20bathing%20in%20water%20dish.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is why we can't have nice things in the barn. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGqRRqqGe3ryy4toiLxt6YjCRKLVxI2dHuscf-EUMUb9Ielx7kU9p1j3VvAN1jjZcK7dZJNG3uLmPKQsfoFvFhhYQlvXsfjMK9PJf2vNo0aJzg4vvhrvDAiZ18SW1yb8YkaWOF_sZdg0n3FHsPVgO_0uskon4eO_EBZ8TAZUZjyhqZVh249FK7Aek/s4992/Possums%20gotta%20drink%20too.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGqRRqqGe3ryy4toiLxt6YjCRKLVxI2dHuscf-EUMUb9Ielx7kU9p1j3VvAN1jjZcK7dZJNG3uLmPKQsfoFvFhhYQlvXsfjMK9PJf2vNo0aJzg4vvhrvDAiZ18SW1yb8YkaWOF_sZdg0n3FHsPVgO_0uskon4eO_EBZ8TAZUZjyhqZVh249FK7Aek/w640-h360/Possums%20gotta%20drink%20too.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this... .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPIZBR2eHHZS4dn83FD2DQenAQvGhepjPTgecoaRV7Q2nJmz1jnoSPY66kSGkPQ8Y26oGYeruDL3_WNcvaxNypHrqmCs_w6a9AODVu7iTiX3JjgxAuAbj8YAj8sipKtgFPGzZeulQRQ5dZ_8DeHu1H0pKIiaQfbsFXjE6z7rIeokKX_7WU2doQlJ5/s4992/Skunks%20gotta%20drink%20too.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPIZBR2eHHZS4dn83FD2DQenAQvGhepjPTgecoaRV7Q2nJmz1jnoSPY66kSGkPQ8Y26oGYeruDL3_WNcvaxNypHrqmCs_w6a9AODVu7iTiX3JjgxAuAbj8YAj8sipKtgFPGzZeulQRQ5dZ_8DeHu1H0pKIiaQfbsFXjE6z7rIeokKX_7WU2doQlJ5/w640-h360/Skunks%20gotta%20drink%20too.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know, I never smell skunks in the barn in the morning! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd_KhXkOaF6tiWB6UJNALUZPxhTCi3bDuV3WsneVoqJkc9LGhLF-3MrXLb2cucC_VNONW0W_YlxuFZEH04Hogvk3VJhfDi9GtfyorE7n7NWZ7OA25eEmokjOhEFMQBtsPpRw9eKJZim1X5AKoyKh_ld0Ed0MvGIuv1zZ5_dvDorQL32rRM6K0yKKz/s2992/20230226_161833.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd_KhXkOaF6tiWB6UJNALUZPxhTCi3bDuV3WsneVoqJkc9LGhLF-3MrXLb2cucC_VNONW0W_YlxuFZEH04Hogvk3VJhfDi9GtfyorE7n7NWZ7OA25eEmokjOhEFMQBtsPpRw9eKJZim1X5AKoyKh_ld0Ed0MvGIuv1zZ5_dvDorQL32rRM6K0yKKz/w640-h640/20230226_161833.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This, however, is the bowl after I emptied it and before I wiped it out and re-filled it... see all the pawprints? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVisn2ucGVYFco1iBS3AlMe_B-qVvNQg-Whw9-045a9k2wzHxUHSgk5q9KHfh8qfcSh50Cf7Zp9JrKpfYxZVvBa39scZpW6ZzeVV_VOJZ0RPNUCj1izPpx1EsyMsZmoXyWa9y9QlBoEzJaWyFFypW0EohmKLXqym-8XnPFWxfYBjo502gAE4Ojw-/s2992/20230224_131535.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVisn2ucGVYFco1iBS3AlMe_B-qVvNQg-Whw9-045a9k2wzHxUHSgk5q9KHfh8qfcSh50Cf7Zp9JrKpfYxZVvBa39scZpW6ZzeVV_VOJZ0RPNUCj1izPpx1EsyMsZmoXyWa9y9QlBoEzJaWyFFypW0EohmKLXqym-8XnPFWxfYBjo502gAE4Ojw-/w640-h640/20230224_131535.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My grandson and I strarted buying planting media yesterday, and then got home and realized all the porch planters are still frozen solid. I don't know what I was thinking! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(We actually bought potting soil for the deck planters) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Si_WHIWqpbaH8M1yOxdreJ6Ep6ccbHPo2qN7HRwQhwFW9iISuTNCnuDYwjRo-g8JxECdgYaBT1KBVFF6mMzjLy_cl3mDO8nGeu7ebsNGJyLOsqn3KUH0mCAuJvSzQSnjJXb71wmrEzZtT5RLxYGxEszSdxpJ3sTblnYh0BxNE9EvAwP7xRKV-J_g/s2992/20230223_165355.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Si_WHIWqpbaH8M1yOxdreJ6Ep6ccbHPo2qN7HRwQhwFW9iISuTNCnuDYwjRo-g8JxECdgYaBT1KBVFF6mMzjLy_cl3mDO8nGeu7ebsNGJyLOsqn3KUH0mCAuJvSzQSnjJXb71wmrEzZtT5RLxYGxEszSdxpJ3sTblnYh0BxNE9EvAwP7xRKV-J_g/w640-h640/20230223_165355.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think poor old Ferdie is going to be next... he is no longer roosting and sleeps in this corner of the hen house every night now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoD-oCsUkuof8cVXQ-NzxIV4-D6UfpEHU5PTuYD8HEijdK4I2BfJkDwoFCVUDRchVD9CXmUWV2Lo-hF92DG4HDSDzjyXSfAJTi1R8DX4D2WI2BwZCErEHdFeJsUbddttENksCUxDBHylmWenNjcxhC9_avc6X0U8ahTJrCHy9nDnmmYL4P4onQd0U/s2992/20230219_164408.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoD-oCsUkuof8cVXQ-NzxIV4-D6UfpEHU5PTuYD8HEijdK4I2BfJkDwoFCVUDRchVD9CXmUWV2Lo-hF92DG4HDSDzjyXSfAJTi1R8DX4D2WI2BwZCErEHdFeJsUbddttENksCUxDBHylmWenNjcxhC9_avc6X0U8ahTJrCHy9nDnmmYL4P4onQd0U/w640-h640/20230219_164408.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda has it good. And that's actually Buddy, Ferdie's son... and he is no longer roosting either, they have both lost toes in the cold. He sleeps under the roosts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pipsqueak sleeps under the light with Wanda. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6hL0llCZLbo0WclPPreBZ6tV5ItFd_n3O1mii0MFXglmm5ALUMBQGgsxVoWsECVf63Q7Kn3P8GM2ISUQDlIHAMllni43NGtcDJdrNk50K67LXrgsih_5hEGC13TvWxr-Kmw0UiszfTvoeORYP_7pOw4z0_pZfepFJwV0dZGDh-s0IMIaFeHrcQ8/s2992/20230219_160501.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6hL0llCZLbo0WclPPreBZ6tV5ItFd_n3O1mii0MFXglmm5ALUMBQGgsxVoWsECVf63Q7Kn3P8GM2ISUQDlIHAMllni43NGtcDJdrNk50K67LXrgsih_5hEGC13TvWxr-Kmw0UiszfTvoeORYP_7pOw4z0_pZfepFJwV0dZGDh-s0IMIaFeHrcQ8/w640-h640/20230219_160501.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My best boy, Jester. The American Gentleman, for sure. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently had a health scare, these last two weeks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My first thought was </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who is going to take care of all of my animals? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had about ten days to really think about this... and I am unsure where it is leading me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not ready to stop, I realized that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-60839870960222511262023-02-13T15:53:00.000-06:002023-02-13T15:53:17.293-06:00What About Them Chiefs!!!!<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLPNUtEx-zMM1SGinN8pp8NwA9a8CNgYnhubWjF_BB1X9IRcPqf1Qd5wGF9mDJj16vImq4UMeAHZ9efxQpTDHbVBqXyvG_JdF4tuMHQIqU3GGC7NS6De8LTNXWDJmBjAvAp8iG2BUTn8Y59J8dHOsMdu9-BzFjJ_hUzUDrSHihjt29tBIaKvvnTxL/s4992/raccoon%20showing%20teeth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLPNUtEx-zMM1SGinN8pp8NwA9a8CNgYnhubWjF_BB1X9IRcPqf1Qd5wGF9mDJj16vImq4UMeAHZ9efxQpTDHbVBqXyvG_JdF4tuMHQIqU3GGC7NS6De8LTNXWDJmBjAvAp8iG2BUTn8Y59J8dHOsMdu9-BzFjJ_hUzUDrSHihjt29tBIaKvvnTxL/w640-h360/raccoon%20showing%20teeth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a reminder that raccoons are scary little critters if you keep chickens... or cats. I notice the cats give them a wide berth. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp03n_YlJFkjmlN0Jp7iTqKZmR-yT7CdeCs7fOUVndwxfLnZsXogaS27Ks-1mZIFyUG5ENraPQJn4HX2V9yIkku3sYnycfJ3C1smhMdNNQ5PKqJ5dYVOw-Dn0T4rREVU9B7gilM9ibFY3DJHefy3JzCpWbvA00w9aDrFmOZfjpHDe3Ia_5IQTBW2Vx/s4992/Possum%20in%20the%20flash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp03n_YlJFkjmlN0Jp7iTqKZmR-yT7CdeCs7fOUVndwxfLnZsXogaS27Ks-1mZIFyUG5ENraPQJn4HX2V9yIkku3sYnycfJ3C1smhMdNNQ5PKqJ5dYVOw-Dn0T4rREVU9B7gilM9ibFY3DJHefy3JzCpWbvA00w9aDrFmOZfjpHDe3Ia_5IQTBW2Vx/w640-h360/Possum%20in%20the%20flash.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's another Disney creature that will kill your chickens in a flash if it has a chance. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That being said, I try to live in harmony with all of the creatures here, including the skunks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpjKkNLXmYzH4naPbK3DJvsuqAFqSvfqYb9abqzjbydt1NjFaXRsidvRkWizUbdLhU65Jcawkbukbt4F_3ab80QSuvbhGnqhMFRG-deRV3dW2YgWLXVb3RjD0HgjkOM3igVyzGZag7EQ4QBHfKuqO-l8BikMnp9sbJOj5f1jjF9JZIEOiN8tIUsFl/s2992/20230212_082031.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpjKkNLXmYzH4naPbK3DJvsuqAFqSvfqYb9abqzjbydt1NjFaXRsidvRkWizUbdLhU65Jcawkbukbt4F_3ab80QSuvbhGnqhMFRG-deRV3dW2YgWLXVb3RjD0HgjkOM3igVyzGZag7EQ4QBHfKuqO-l8BikMnp9sbJOj5f1jjF9JZIEOiN8tIUsFl/w640-h640/20230212_082031.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It finally happened. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went out on Sunday morning, the 12th, and found Susie gone. My gosh, she was a beautiful hen, a Speckled Sussex. She was very old though, and I had a suspicion that even though she kept going through the bitter cold nights we had had, it was weakening the older birds. My oldest rooster, Ferdie, father of Singleton and Buddy, is not going to make it much longer, I fear, and has quit trying to go out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, on Friday, a good day, I went out to the hen house about 2 PM, and could not find Susie inside and really got scared, because my fear is that she would weaken and hide outside. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lo and behold, she was out with the other girls in the sunlight, pecking around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4R9IgTWeQGFCIVRObsWuhvQ6ivjLmhjuJE2TjSbumFTBnwdScpoZi9XfuHidzFqZcioYIdqMwPSWogLqM_dQejh0JOuykWtaIGv8qV0iD54wkn8wbdxNZsmalY1Zy2IXJEGxlz84GVx3P8wY2tyslh3Rf7FYm7ZYWeGolIJabSfBixIvM-VeZil/s2992/20230212_082958.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4R9IgTWeQGFCIVRObsWuhvQ6ivjLmhjuJE2TjSbumFTBnwdScpoZi9XfuHidzFqZcioYIdqMwPSWogLqM_dQejh0JOuykWtaIGv8qV0iD54wkn8wbdxNZsmalY1Zy2IXJEGxlz84GVx3P8wY2tyslh3Rf7FYm7ZYWeGolIJabSfBixIvM-VeZil/w640-h640/20230212_082958.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She had the most beautiful coloring and musical trill, and I miss her "talking" to me whenever I was around her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoz8fx7laQod24n7CULmQrhbHyB2mN4HrU8B4FikEE2sHF8RawE4xbv-2IMDlmc__FxFInb0BJ8kcSXqz4YyJcrLixyfI7-aaVeTQsbdjR_0J2mzc2XcA0SLtzUDQCQb6aaj6zNZyMK-OpwVKKc0HZyi_nUudN-1YlchVXT7mATjHLHEJjUX8Tu2k/s2992/20230211_093133.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoz8fx7laQod24n7CULmQrhbHyB2mN4HrU8B4FikEE2sHF8RawE4xbv-2IMDlmc__FxFInb0BJ8kcSXqz4YyJcrLixyfI7-aaVeTQsbdjR_0J2mzc2XcA0SLtzUDQCQb6aaj6zNZyMK-OpwVKKc0HZyi_nUudN-1YlchVXT7mATjHLHEJjUX8Tu2k/w640-h640/20230211_093133.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was still some icy snow in between the hen houses yesterday, and you can clearly see the footprints of the possums and raccoons that passed through. There is a heated bowl of water there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMiGAtLdtTMrt05m8CVZ1ZApwV2VIeF69i7ViQPHPwJ76YqFP4hwjr5IV97_UWyC0Vj7ffmsMUx3mSRLCDQv4JUZEAWHmF47-0Kirfj6erItdTonU-CwsneT8JLiZaL3UxuyLqOPFNh02vavxcelvmRG1Gimy8un4IZE64I3HPk8d3lA36vfyy1EZ/s2048/Goats%20at%20the%20door%20four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMiGAtLdtTMrt05m8CVZ1ZApwV2VIeF69i7ViQPHPwJ76YqFP4hwjr5IV97_UWyC0Vj7ffmsMUx3mSRLCDQv4JUZEAWHmF47-0Kirfj6erItdTonU-CwsneT8JLiZaL3UxuyLqOPFNh02vavxcelvmRG1Gimy8un4IZE64I3HPk8d3lA36vfyy1EZ/w640-h480/Goats%20at%20the%20door%20four.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This came up in my memories today, nine years ago. Let me just say that this was among the best memories Keith and I could have had here. These four little goats brought us so much pleasure. That's Delilah by the door, Winny and Windy in the middle, and Kelly at the back. It broke my heart to give them up when we moved into the big house, when Keith got sick. Delilah bonked the front door until I came to it to see what they wanted. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wish... I wish I were stronger and younger, and I would have goats again! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJS9a4F10kBz0nwui0jNQMUFneeBLLYwL3rNXyx-rC2wRH8eqWYBFm0k24X_tzH6EKud4otzG4Tc8BEsJtMTS02yAfqjxd86IvE5Y2MnZh8fHu6UWykdl_cAaN0yMB_-f2ycjWZkCCRT9L2-avqw7MdAC65fMbnci2P3dRIECma1jnc7bCvn1uojG/s2992/20230209_161025.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJS9a4F10kBz0nwui0jNQMUFneeBLLYwL3rNXyx-rC2wRH8eqWYBFm0k24X_tzH6EKud4otzG4Tc8BEsJtMTS02yAfqjxd86IvE5Y2MnZh8fHu6UWykdl_cAaN0yMB_-f2ycjWZkCCRT9L2-avqw7MdAC65fMbnci2P3dRIECma1jnc7bCvn1uojG/w640-h640/20230209_161025.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had three inches of miserable wet snow on Thursday. It had already started to melt by the time I got Bullseye, who had jumped up on the big walnut stump. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is 58 right now, and we are supposed to get rain and wind tomorrow. I can take the rain, it's the doggone wind that gets me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCKTEZZ-lOv3Oxy4wvl1U5limVCXT-Ow-0zW1vhosx_MxHXNWBlUrGtoA7Q7XHQZF8TSqDgb5BVnyPUESb_I41hkINTLNt8xBuCs4UZeLkEWY7E5voLnvJH7ueFllx6jOi0nXbA2IxcynkzhLjnPIWytpi4rm_2pfdQnZpWsD1EpmU4_ccFCzyozE/s6000/DSC_4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCKTEZZ-lOv3Oxy4wvl1U5limVCXT-Ow-0zW1vhosx_MxHXNWBlUrGtoA7Q7XHQZF8TSqDgb5BVnyPUESb_I41hkINTLNt8xBuCs4UZeLkEWY7E5voLnvJH7ueFllx6jOi0nXbA2IxcynkzhLjnPIWytpi4rm_2pfdQnZpWsD1EpmU4_ccFCzyozE/w640-h426/DSC_4403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Alien. He is the newest.... he has been lurking around the corners for the last three months. I honestly think he belongs to someone because he disappeared during the bitterest of the cold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He hangs around in the late afternoons and evenings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKdI9IXwykAMq01RTWJxybrUI1mwI6LsE40YfFzb-RVy91bb-aU4voZzwUowXlU8yPt0hjTb8n8A9qeVNFQbeebrB1MAHYAT6dsQR94G4nWSYb-u0ZN2IbbuNiVxivrjsM6FhYaswDv-PEC2v81Aofg3vd23Sh7joPevAo1gb9yW_krT5PJBj7CAO/s6000/DSC_4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKdI9IXwykAMq01RTWJxybrUI1mwI6LsE40YfFzb-RVy91bb-aU4voZzwUowXlU8yPt0hjTb8n8A9qeVNFQbeebrB1MAHYAT6dsQR94G4nWSYb-u0ZN2IbbuNiVxivrjsM6FhYaswDv-PEC2v81Aofg3vd23Sh7joPevAo1gb9yW_krT5PJBj7CAO/w640-h426/DSC_4409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my girl Teenie. Imagine trying to tell them apart across the yard. Luckily, Teenie sleeps mostly on the porch now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teenie and all the other cats here are neutered. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57_yMGFgqoMu0Vf5B1NKnxoefNBSbkTu8xbOvHkI7l53wFQL2tqtn7I8Rd7d-M9XYdAjLOirz0QtU_-MXXcCqD74LlCaJWFz27AakfAvr-57OAb_CMyThvtayBI95oToUZ2H8jVn8P8jSS3iYBSp-_8r5dJDvO_RCIeg19rBgM7nRhK8LHD3m8Ukn/s6000/DSC_4415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57_yMGFgqoMu0Vf5B1NKnxoefNBSbkTu8xbOvHkI7l53wFQL2tqtn7I8Rd7d-M9XYdAjLOirz0QtU_-MXXcCqD74LlCaJWFz27AakfAvr-57OAb_CMyThvtayBI95oToUZ2H8jVn8P8jSS3iYBSp-_8r5dJDvO_RCIeg19rBgM7nRhK8LHD3m8Ukn/w640-h426/DSC_4415.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I walked out the front door to see this weird scene last night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Mama, and Bullseye, on one corner, and Alien across the door opening facing them. They are at the big hen house. I have no clue what was going on, I think they were all trying to intimidate each other. Mama and Bully are allies, though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKL4xPOIMmoPfvhkpN2ESGTkaN3lvuk7L-1sB960zhN4DSkxQL1KzQTcLmnSmsUKZXG8uN9yAqKiNwDtcfDNCFHO2n8W7DNVqmRISdKObrY-9kU1EdJGQrItfM8e_Q9aqbu9RWWCiNqNob4yXW2bT1lQlQQ1vNK8lm7gOdkFQS34hoXUbeNQifMUT/s6000/DSC_4417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKL4xPOIMmoPfvhkpN2ESGTkaN3lvuk7L-1sB960zhN4DSkxQL1KzQTcLmnSmsUKZXG8uN9yAqKiNwDtcfDNCFHO2n8W7DNVqmRISdKObrY-9kU1EdJGQrItfM8e_Q9aqbu9RWWCiNqNob4yXW2bT1lQlQQ1vNK8lm7gOdkFQS34hoXUbeNQifMUT/w640-h426/DSC_4417.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For six weeks, there have been no coyotes in my pasture, though I have heard a great pack of them twice, and last night there was another chorus. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I literally have not seen one on my property. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine my surprise when I went outside at dusk last night to do something, and caught movement. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I grabbed the big camera. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNLf4UXxObRTuQrnW8cKB4Agu3w6gOxAhGLF645kSZwmoiNl6xPpOeHq-q64wyZmqUx5NYx5T31AvGuISgUo72myTdaM0Bp1IZu7xRQxz_DzO-E1OP8bhhKeQ_nTldpwP7PyeLJYpUUkI6H-5bouoS6dz9N4H81oQVEjxld7HCbYw6SzKGFaJWLwg/s6000/DSC_4418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNLf4UXxObRTuQrnW8cKB4Agu3w6gOxAhGLF645kSZwmoiNl6xPpOeHq-q64wyZmqUx5NYx5T31AvGuISgUo72myTdaM0Bp1IZu7xRQxz_DzO-E1OP8bhhKeQ_nTldpwP7PyeLJYpUUkI6H-5bouoS6dz9N4H81oQVEjxld7HCbYw6SzKGFaJWLwg/w640-h426/DSC_4418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It quickly turned and trotted away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rotisserie carcasses and any dead birds (and there have been several lately) are being put elsewhere for the scavengers to get. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLnaz7aQdPdIiQ1zpbVJAaJbTRERDvXiNDgGPuJ1FDAX6zZdGuZNKWhw19WbSqA6rV8NaAv351_Q0pM-6-ggOcfb36GRng3tUfCcIhsdVRhbxkMb_uITINe68w7Rz_Vryh8euZKrHJ1MxKSIX_0n49nUUgSH9eYzMVgmY2bsPzwHVRigCgMlDsLq9/s2992/20230213_115605.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLnaz7aQdPdIiQ1zpbVJAaJbTRERDvXiNDgGPuJ1FDAX6zZdGuZNKWhw19WbSqA6rV8NaAv351_Q0pM-6-ggOcfb36GRng3tUfCcIhsdVRhbxkMb_uITINe68w7Rz_Vryh8euZKrHJ1MxKSIX_0n49nUUgSH9eYzMVgmY2bsPzwHVRigCgMlDsLq9/w640-h640/20230213_115605.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My big foster boy, Buddy, laps over so I got another bed for him. He has really stopped eating as much as he was, and is sleeping a LOT. I think age is catching up with him and it will be months. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He has just been the best old boy ever. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ-kKVeuLBukSKmO5U62bNSZMniASh2K1JOSzuuCRBElTbkUNDRSyD7vfdaypdEivHBVpU8i01ebmX17KPDxkD3eaNr1IDPwoe0L0DmUT72SiuDi3WoKpiqKC_a06poCjLY04D9SPnmne9v4SB6T60HO3MSVqvqgq7sg3bV1hiGJmD-l8qqKUU69U/s2992/20230212_134954.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ-kKVeuLBukSKmO5U62bNSZMniASh2K1JOSzuuCRBElTbkUNDRSyD7vfdaypdEivHBVpU8i01ebmX17KPDxkD3eaNr1IDPwoe0L0DmUT72SiuDi3WoKpiqKC_a06poCjLY04D9SPnmne9v4SB6T60HO3MSVqvqgq7sg3bV1hiGJmD-l8qqKUU69U/w640-h640/20230212_134954.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my other foster fail, adopted... Zoey. She has appointed herself guardian of the farm, and she does a good job. She does chores with me almost every night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL128Mij21r8wm9N2TC54H08O5XgmHH6bM9CWOq9g53ZJBY1sAZxdcGWNNYYhtL8Y6K-IuXxFQ7aXKfkWQt7kBSa2-43FxFShlRuRiLWJPPJtx7dp9z3uhSrH6991PuYy4ebVuu8dyQXXal25BmO2SNo6Z94-WoXYjJ9o0XfZmDX_I2yRDDu4chdSm/s2992/20230211_162408.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL128Mij21r8wm9N2TC54H08O5XgmHH6bM9CWOq9g53ZJBY1sAZxdcGWNNYYhtL8Y6K-IuXxFQ7aXKfkWQt7kBSa2-43FxFShlRuRiLWJPPJtx7dp9z3uhSrH6991PuYy4ebVuu8dyQXXal25BmO2SNo6Z94-WoXYjJ9o0XfZmDX_I2yRDDu4chdSm/w640-h640/20230211_162408.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My road, February 12th, 2023. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my henhouse on the left, the big one and the little, and my shop/barn left of them. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Won't be long before we start greening up. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB7vR-CG-3q2F4PQOz2kfMlOaSiGqmxpgWCrhEXxKopYXg5FTum0suxdf8cQkNe803dS7AUrn5BSbErXAOwLoD3WXCOG7ta5YAD9RIeDpwOaFKDwgW8a8nQREMhzcYQqb46M35J0P8IG1opzQ8sdvEXPJGlUCeugUDT9kmqvHKeb2oFiO0zjGAxmu/s1440/FB_IMG_1675993626176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB7vR-CG-3q2F4PQOz2kfMlOaSiGqmxpgWCrhEXxKopYXg5FTum0suxdf8cQkNe803dS7AUrn5BSbErXAOwLoD3WXCOG7ta5YAD9RIeDpwOaFKDwgW8a8nQREMhzcYQqb46M35J0P8IG1opzQ8sdvEXPJGlUCeugUDT9kmqvHKeb2oFiO0zjGAxmu/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1675993626176.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chiefs gear modeled by my great grandson, Wyatt. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He's a big fan! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a good game, and a nail biter to the end. This city has gone crazy! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Thursday</div><p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-15765252411629960322023-02-06T15:28:00.000-06:002023-02-06T15:28:39.367-06:00Cats and More <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at this glorious sight I took yesterday, Sunday the 5th! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswdYBW6WfrdvfBdWYTKeJS2xPluji90yJP8NJKlSnhRW0Q9IkzCCvKaqpQSlmwXSWeKQgz43sqbRt_C8a3fxOnH2yQy-o-55l0BjiYbPIFL7jKZjV_PbwVflFrcCseCjIenNTrPLoDH-n6_DhfRfvQ9kHZRJMk4vFkM3jamnxKPsjj9_NDcKrwRfM/s5310/Trumpeter%20swans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3541" data-original-width="5310" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswdYBW6WfrdvfBdWYTKeJS2xPluji90yJP8NJKlSnhRW0Q9IkzCCvKaqpQSlmwXSWeKQgz43sqbRt_C8a3fxOnH2yQy-o-55l0BjiYbPIFL7jKZjV_PbwVflFrcCseCjIenNTrPLoDH-n6_DhfRfvQ9kHZRJMk4vFkM3jamnxKPsjj9_NDcKrwRfM/w640-h426/Trumpeter%20swans.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I only had the smaller Canon in my hand, not the big guy (Nikon) with the long lens... and I was taking pictures of the many geese flying over. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I realized when I came in that that was a line of Trumpeter Swans! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had seen a picture posted earlier last week in the county and asked where they had been seen, but did not get an answer. Well.. now I know... over my own house! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdMdOhvgJs6pzj5JrjaybOp8bTwZv0zLqgvvY82e25-yi7bKIsqVm6Ww17XT_lpOFoOQTvbGsLrBaWALekkiVXRGCaky0ey0oxL4PkeuOcGZpCVl2EgPlAGvw6AOQcOtpTjkw90WKt4EiuX4qNPm4SfmXTrvbPRExvOUPYwPQ_b0hFbrVU5iaFCEc/s6000/IMG_5039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdMdOhvgJs6pzj5JrjaybOp8bTwZv0zLqgvvY82e25-yi7bKIsqVm6Ww17XT_lpOFoOQTvbGsLrBaWALekkiVXRGCaky0ey0oxL4PkeuOcGZpCVl2EgPlAGvw6AOQcOtpTjkw90WKt4EiuX4qNPm4SfmXTrvbPRExvOUPYwPQ_b0hFbrVU5iaFCEc/w640-h426/IMG_5039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, there were plenty of geese, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad I got the pictures last night because even though it is 65 degrees right now, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the wind is blowing steadily at 25 mph, with gusts up to fifty. I can hardly walk in it, and the chickens are hiding under the big hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the dogs who would normally have stayed out for an hour or two are here in the house with me, it was so hard for them to walk. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUrlQj2-HfmhlaRqPNu4b_KKcqPfM4NkZAX0TavSUALTuFdcE0v-eJIXmwn17ZqvEA-6usbIE-VojZ2GUdhLj-Kypn3EbMZO6v7bpjpF9QKLRmevPFRZ-dlDhZ1XI1CfM48pJsT67Fm4jze2ivVpHeOzben9HimYV4CN8BFa5536BcSU7oUJtyKOd/s6000/IMG_4978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUrlQj2-HfmhlaRqPNu4b_KKcqPfM4NkZAX0TavSUALTuFdcE0v-eJIXmwn17ZqvEA-6usbIE-VojZ2GUdhLj-Kypn3EbMZO6v7bpjpF9QKLRmevPFRZ-dlDhZ1XI1CfM48pJsT67Fm4jze2ivVpHeOzben9HimYV4CN8BFa5536BcSU7oUJtyKOd/w640-h426/IMG_4978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This little critter is Teenie the Meanie, only the only one she is mean to now is Mama. She and Mama have never gotten along. Teenie has shifted from the shop (my barn) to the house porch. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coco, the black cat, sleeps in the old hen house and Wanda in the big hen house. Teenie is sleeping on the porch now in a dog house. Or... sometimes in the dog house. I have found her curled up in a porch chair numerous nights. I know she goes in the shop sometimes at night, because I see her on camera in there, but... Mama is in there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is not afraid of the dogs, but Zoey does still bark at her. Zoey has a vendetta against Coco, I don't know why. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi9sE5Ox72h3vd8mUtaVy4Mpxkn45l7YMF0vAYXFrFsIKB3-nL6vuvW5KLY8FxKPPmleK9UVd-5oZbWftOqcRSRuHfA0uHawW3q0dNClQL70esAY2i-yGHTVTUWsvBwxVdoLBkfzChY_EArn4te5ZEes5RV6xdD1s9F0C-42gjGLXb80lDiQmAimJ/s4992/Raccoon%20bathing%20in%20water%20dish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi9sE5Ox72h3vd8mUtaVy4Mpxkn45l7YMF0vAYXFrFsIKB3-nL6vuvW5KLY8FxKPPmleK9UVd-5oZbWftOqcRSRuHfA0uHawW3q0dNClQL70esAY2i-yGHTVTUWsvBwxVdoLBkfzChY_EArn4te5ZEes5RV6xdD1s9F0C-42gjGLXb80lDiQmAimJ/w640-h360/Raccoon%20bathing%20in%20water%20dish.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This, my friends, is why I have to change out the water in the bowl in the shop almost daily. The doggone raccoon gets in almost every night, and takes a bath in the heated water. I almost don't blame him. I lock up all the cat food but there are always scraps and he and a couple of possums go in and out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLfThXtb-8awoUF_BzjD0sxcaGrQMi4NhtE2olsZ-DAVEXz_zvvleEvClvoDOFZ1yauSCA4uzCU2QkpbMawDFroDI6DfGDuXywhNerfYFpIIkBJ4iFSJIMW3kuMMind3YQYHHVGO2dXHSbxIPkzgz0NoCptbVmCti_uUky2RqwvAYhU-4EunEsiBE/s4992/Possum%20laying%20in%20the%20straw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLfThXtb-8awoUF_BzjD0sxcaGrQMi4NhtE2olsZ-DAVEXz_zvvleEvClvoDOFZ1yauSCA4uzCU2QkpbMawDFroDI6DfGDuXywhNerfYFpIIkBJ4iFSJIMW3kuMMind3YQYHHVGO2dXHSbxIPkzgz0NoCptbVmCti_uUky2RqwvAYhU-4EunEsiBE/w640-h360/Possum%20laying%20in%20the%20straw.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a very badly lit picture, but here is another view of the shop at night... Mama cat is on the left getting a drink from the bowl... and a possum is looking at you from the deep straw in the big dog house in there. I had noticed a deep depression, and I knew Cleo and Mama were sleeping up high... the possum must curl up frequently and rest at night. We had frigid nights as recently as last week... now we have a string of more temperate weather with nights in the twenties. I actually disconnected the two heaters in there to give my bill a little rest . I unhooked the heat lamp in the first picture but then turned it back on when I realized Cleo used the bed off and on. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefgHrSPbqxA3fXLaHO_W5YUwW88R5FdhsmzZ7A8jsQRB2KRM0JS9ShBZb_XkQb5Ul_0rYbkbuTOB_obsmyjIBiKIRPcYQzfBeNHMipwpa6qxs1K_kBttHl3LIOCf53Ox6UdhgUt7-YXdSP6ooz2EMC9AQRueWGds4MEqhe6R0TriBXgtIoI4HWCzg/s2992/20230203_081348.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefgHrSPbqxA3fXLaHO_W5YUwW88R5FdhsmzZ7A8jsQRB2KRM0JS9ShBZb_XkQb5Ul_0rYbkbuTOB_obsmyjIBiKIRPcYQzfBeNHMipwpa6qxs1K_kBttHl3LIOCf53Ox6UdhgUt7-YXdSP6ooz2EMC9AQRueWGds4MEqhe6R0TriBXgtIoI4HWCzg/w640-h640/20230203_081348.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am getting a little worried about my beautiful Buddy. He went to the rescue's doctor three weeks ago and had a senior panel run, and everything looked good. However, he has slowed WAY down since then. It takes him a long time to cross the yard, and sometimes he has to lay down and rest for a while. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a ramp out in the shop which I am going to try to carry over this evening and set up on the patio steps, but I have only ever had one dog that would use it. We will see if he does. The steps on the east side of my porch are not big... and he can still do them easily. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other things that worries me is that he is only eating about a third of what he was eating. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He has been the gentlest, sweetest foster boy. I hope we have some time left. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He puts himself in his crate all the time (the door is open)... he spent almost the whole day in there yesterday and sleeps in at night sometimes, though he has a soft bed. When it is really cold out I turn the little heater on... it is on the left in that picture, and I know the heat feels good for him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorFB4atG_axEcMhfOKHiZQXrPW9WCRKEvkE4AuPPUdnZZ8B6PTYQ5iY5fyXnFHMagfrv_-V10CUGallKKvhVqHL5SKwOujB_tu5LQkmlmOgrzc4QW0D6mNkt6i41AnWFvJVKQ3lCKEXwBq2MqJ4P3y_bpf6rPyWgVB1Hnf1v1E9zDko68LUtZsTMO/s2992/20230201_163022.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorFB4atG_axEcMhfOKHiZQXrPW9WCRKEvkE4AuPPUdnZZ8B6PTYQ5iY5fyXnFHMagfrv_-V10CUGallKKvhVqHL5SKwOujB_tu5LQkmlmOgrzc4QW0D6mNkt6i41AnWFvJVKQ3lCKEXwBq2MqJ4P3y_bpf6rPyWgVB1Hnf1v1E9zDko68LUtZsTMO/w640-h640/20230201_163022.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cleo is sleeping in Fritzi's old bed in the shop. She always looks mad. It took two years for Cleo to let me touch her, and she is currently shying away again if I come too close. She is spayed, don't worry. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bullseye, for some reason, hates Cleo. I have to lock him up when I do chores. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIckCB6twzi3yJvYXgMKt1KSfBDddRO6Bo9zTQzI9w0sZyzhUkmtq31JEkTIcVcZsfJtMRkLEih3wz9Bc5R2hahekgFsUJ1Ur9ndI5X-xWiMpPW3H7hFSx4UCE52eBuhNYzOl5NYeQdQvdvt91J8c_AoHVtjX-tf0UcBcc7RdNMt7a0C4vCl5B4KH/s2992/20230204_172836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIckCB6twzi3yJvYXgMKt1KSfBDddRO6Bo9zTQzI9w0sZyzhUkmtq31JEkTIcVcZsfJtMRkLEih3wz9Bc5R2hahekgFsUJ1Ur9ndI5X-xWiMpPW3H7hFSx4UCE52eBuhNYzOl5NYeQdQvdvt91J8c_AoHVtjX-tf0UcBcc7RdNMt7a0C4vCl5B4KH/w640-h640/20230204_172836.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think Bullseye is also feeling a little under the weather. He spent most of the day inside yesterday and is behind me right now as I type this. I have made him a bed on top of Buddy's crate (he just went in it) and he is curled up going to sleep. I foresee some visits to the vet in our future. He has had all shots and is neutered... I am hoping it is nothing serious. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sNzzKm88phgVKtS3NhTPFF9gHMfAli4y0fxfhT8OanPmdTbQ67m5ELdkIfGFViVejLXXnX51GmW54hyvKisIC3x4i_jYub10LzJjjN2x62aaqMgWurGuQKOhn2ccBBLggR6OMGRsjdRNmvTrxyFaqmr9X_bG2PdhvLw5k670-n67sMNxc_BWcbOv/s2992/20230201_162527.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sNzzKm88phgVKtS3NhTPFF9gHMfAli4y0fxfhT8OanPmdTbQ67m5ELdkIfGFViVejLXXnX51GmW54hyvKisIC3x4i_jYub10LzJjjN2x62aaqMgWurGuQKOhn2ccBBLggR6OMGRsjdRNmvTrxyFaqmr9X_bG2PdhvLw5k670-n67sMNxc_BWcbOv/w640-h640/20230201_162527.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda. She loves her little nest bed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A7pSSz-476oE0CcGAC9uSdvtQ8LeeTaty55TjvSxrj7JnpT3dpan8iE0KldayQMttnMQL6vudNNTSR_P3rV5iI0OktXUHNTftN---i0ZAFqpsadu427XT_zbWDM1_R_fLeP-V4sw1fyXT2D3wko5EEA81iBdIICySDljeHanQu-IWpXv6IAELkS9/s2992/20230131_161123.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A7pSSz-476oE0CcGAC9uSdvtQ8LeeTaty55TjvSxrj7JnpT3dpan8iE0KldayQMttnMQL6vudNNTSR_P3rV5iI0OktXUHNTftN---i0ZAFqpsadu427XT_zbWDM1_R_fLeP-V4sw1fyXT2D3wko5EEA81iBdIICySDljeHanQu-IWpXv6IAELkS9/w640-h640/20230131_161123.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What I see when I do chores every night. Zoey has to go... she cracks me up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was cold that night and she had her little sweater on. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI4rJFAXDMe-4iFVxIFfsti-jUrc_cV_0WG_IYFESmaVycYfcV2QMN1BUZOVq9jvX0pIoBneoYrA-oKZjD7C-Dz9inhJEiRaZ7GYdkNHDZCp5HtmKXCnEElRxr0a7zWsYaJOyNMIBwbuYyHXd4XYuKJaCVctnPtHj5jK6Nwo-af-W90_X1IEo6EeB/s2992/20230128_162041.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI4rJFAXDMe-4iFVxIFfsti-jUrc_cV_0WG_IYFESmaVycYfcV2QMN1BUZOVq9jvX0pIoBneoYrA-oKZjD7C-Dz9inhJEiRaZ7GYdkNHDZCp5HtmKXCnEElRxr0a7zWsYaJOyNMIBwbuYyHXd4XYuKJaCVctnPtHj5jK6Nwo-af-W90_X1IEo6EeB/w640-h640/20230128_162041.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My boys. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9SIWDw37308gw-zZWuUUJSJnAN7E3WG-NEZsSEXVJttNdo3FeI7Qq7jVOEID4gHItQtgAHvA5s1B9yAwdIzbDuCkTGa7k8DaviGjVqCdEKQkvcseWyF954YJOsf8x6xJaMK9GKrUtn1pFY3ZIunfWgjISWeaa2PoFaBDD8n6FQaALwkAsbesHH0F/s2992/20230128_142226.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9SIWDw37308gw-zZWuUUJSJnAN7E3WG-NEZsSEXVJttNdo3FeI7Qq7jVOEID4gHItQtgAHvA5s1B9yAwdIzbDuCkTGa7k8DaviGjVqCdEKQkvcseWyF954YJOsf8x6xJaMK9GKrUtn1pFY3ZIunfWgjISWeaa2PoFaBDD8n6FQaALwkAsbesHH0F/w640-h640/20230128_142226.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful Susie is still alive, even after last week's bitter weather. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is inside today, I think the wind was too much for her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQGSwukSjTj99nc9w4ElE_CVX38lXWJm7KuWFiwcJj5UHtpA445CSgzE5XfZfubLNnQS0S55k-hW-GIyI-KfH_S2nmXXGOH46bonoenkc4HT5NfF1abvG-Ube07PE7MBo_3wK3K5tbGXk2DZKEAS22S8dY4JzFfjMdiJDKkCl7O3d0cjtgWP7jbv6/s2992/20230126_153242.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQGSwukSjTj99nc9w4ElE_CVX38lXWJm7KuWFiwcJj5UHtpA445CSgzE5XfZfubLNnQS0S55k-hW-GIyI-KfH_S2nmXXGOH46bonoenkc4HT5NfF1abvG-Ube07PE7MBo_3wK3K5tbGXk2DZKEAS22S8dY4JzFfjMdiJDKkCl7O3d0cjtgWP7jbv6/w640-h640/20230126_153242.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lost my sweet little Silkie hen, Mary. She suddenly looked terrible, all hunched over. I checked to make sure her vent was not closed with poop... it wasn't. Chickens are prey animals and they do not show you they are sick until they are almost gone. This was Mary's last night, she was gone when I went out in the morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poor little Pipsqueak looked for her everywhere. I tried letting him loose with the big birds but he got beaten up a couple of times, so now I am carrying him in and out to his little pen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to buy a few hens for the Ag Hall, and I'll try to find a little hen I can put with him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gosh, it's 3:14, I just realized. I need to wind this up and get ready to do chores. I am trying to still lock everyone up by four. I think they will be glad to go in tonight! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cleaning hen houses will soon be on the bill, the little hen house, despite it's having been cleaned totally in October, is a disgrace. My grandson Jax will be busy as soon as we are sure the weather is going to be better. I am going to try fine shavings this time instead of straw. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVZcAVpaLwmGtJ85d83N_VX_qA8t2EXt7dmezlp0FVmOwHCPzc6yQrI8zLr_YNtVCRw7vNHOaAT1luTgMchWPuqPWWJTNBoN5BtPbuQogs5EQ7KwgEyvBuouohEMCQ7oVy7Bl2qus4D52DpkgfN0Fw_QHAI2KslZp-I8BAzw2mzMyLhgNSHX6S112/s960/FB_IMG_1674949408850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVZcAVpaLwmGtJ85d83N_VX_qA8t2EXt7dmezlp0FVmOwHCPzc6yQrI8zLr_YNtVCRw7vNHOaAT1luTgMchWPuqPWWJTNBoN5BtPbuQogs5EQ7KwgEyvBuouohEMCQ7oVy7Bl2qus4D52DpkgfN0Fw_QHAI2KslZp-I8BAzw2mzMyLhgNSHX6S112/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1674949408850.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sorry.... I HAD TO DO IT!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can imagine what it is like here in the Kansas City metro area this week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here we go, Chiefs!!!!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-92033945826913367172023-01-22T14:47:00.003-06:002023-01-22T14:47:37.792-06:00Missed a Week! <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Missed a week, how about that? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things are humming along here in Northeast Kansas, Leavenworth County. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got up this morning to this: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSqydU9DDVtWcD-jV5QKXoypeb2U3iPmk6HPnSG-3qvMt8TrhyHQzrHXxrGkI1ax8JFF-DZx9Ly_aSm-BlYNJcsIT9FQqytwQ-nfjgDrRNEKwKNqziPJRO4B_HeNVEWWCiXH8YLwxAEhoPXdlatoy4lUUjnEU_UdWNAznU4JXS0hcRKi8cx4Zew6v/s6000/IMG_4911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSqydU9DDVtWcD-jV5QKXoypeb2U3iPmk6HPnSG-3qvMt8TrhyHQzrHXxrGkI1ax8JFF-DZx9Ly_aSm-BlYNJcsIT9FQqytwQ-nfjgDrRNEKwKNqziPJRO4B_HeNVEWWCiXH8YLwxAEhoPXdlatoy4lUUjnEU_UdWNAznU4JXS0hcRKi8cx4Zew6v/w640-h426/IMG_4911.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrYLDyTF8CFTIr5LzU8e0ipR8kfAN1eVH33Z2V90RPRzM0MrrJ7JkgM5hzwtb8GrCZcVws5_uh1gmZacWuVnLXg0xnsV_CIVbt0SRHboJPBEmZM1vmYbVlt5uZigpbeKbUHZVA7lBk5AzxgEF836q43Ds9LBngkn8kHzJBrLhHg7gl7XEC9OwivV4/s6000/IMG_4912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrYLDyTF8CFTIr5LzU8e0ipR8kfAN1eVH33Z2V90RPRzM0MrrJ7JkgM5hzwtb8GrCZcVws5_uh1gmZacWuVnLXg0xnsV_CIVbt0SRHboJPBEmZM1vmYbVlt5uZigpbeKbUHZVA7lBk5AzxgEF836q43Ds9LBngkn8kHzJBrLhHg7gl7XEC9OwivV4/w640-h426/IMG_4912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5Mp__lb0ADMb8MRpULDPUZKtoZ6iuNL45uejGkBZ5DaxB0Dqfnwo5gp8jH1eKT1pXm_EVb3napyl-9CEKFBEW0Yj5gWsMTEDzUtR3KJdWHz9J8n1fmpYmcYqFfAGzVXeR8H2P6VrbmxS-7K4nv5hWHFZX0ZTDca_dn2AId8hGLJgKw1coO44AGV0/s6000/IMG_4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5Mp__lb0ADMb8MRpULDPUZKtoZ6iuNL45uejGkBZ5DaxB0Dqfnwo5gp8jH1eKT1pXm_EVb3napyl-9CEKFBEW0Yj5gWsMTEDzUtR3KJdWHz9J8n1fmpYmcYqFfAGzVXeR8H2P6VrbmxS-7K4nv5hWHFZX0ZTDca_dn2AId8hGLJgKw1coO44AGV0/w640-h426/IMG_4915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, yes, it's beautiful and it actually was not too cold out! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">See the platform feeder in the second picture? No one could get to any feed, so </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I put boots on and trekked out there and cleaned both feeders off and filled them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cleaned off the hanging feeders, too... and put the small feeder down on the ground. I filled both water bowls. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did not take pictures but within a few minutes, there were many birds out there eating. I especially like watching the finches on the two hanging feeders closer to the house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am satisfied with how I am feeding this year, and the seed you see on the ground in some of the pictures is seed that fell from the feeders. In past years, I have spent hundreds of dollars on wild bird feed... I can no longer afford that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feed a mix from Sam's Club that is 99% black oil sunflower, with a tiny bit of peanuts mixed in... and a tiny bit of filler "parakeet feed", as I call it. Everyone eats it. One bag lasts about nine days. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The finches get sunflower hearts into which I mix dried mealworms. I feed (sparingly) some dried mealworms in the platform feeder you see above, daily. One five pound bag of mealworms is now 50.00 at Tractor Supply... so I made this months last an entire month.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV8VAZJ1PVlyDNW_HTykfJ1ZzBixX6PLmKGyfS-U-osscYC6B8L4Ns2c-VEzL9oJQdIZBCNqMXgetbcyV7YVNZrSzSvCf7VB9jTjGIEhiW1QWd0Cnr9m_-q3uH0z6ifGD-DV5qKBGILxEpxHBajnuRqhzfWoW85lSPswmEkfDZSBHw_XmIBKx5oWr/s6000/IMG_4907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV8VAZJ1PVlyDNW_HTykfJ1ZzBixX6PLmKGyfS-U-osscYC6B8L4Ns2c-VEzL9oJQdIZBCNqMXgetbcyV7YVNZrSzSvCf7VB9jTjGIEhiW1QWd0Cnr9m_-q3uH0z6ifGD-DV5qKBGILxEpxHBajnuRqhzfWoW85lSPswmEkfDZSBHw_XmIBKx5oWr/w640-h426/IMG_4907.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love watching the birds on the more permanent feeder that Keith built years ago. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCVHebwjGjSCGdmSGccxEbSvnO_3yJhhnL2_TChlk7VsJC8SX3w65ux-QGRKWyQw612X-WE7IYQuROVD2P3abSDqZwTmlEgj53jGc50Ki5MARyjleZrH9H8lGBc-vBbaPU1RtxJ9TswkSLZJUCsJxO7XYVKfZgULslnTe4a096Zvu4OD8glEcMSXP/s6000/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCVHebwjGjSCGdmSGccxEbSvnO_3yJhhnL2_TChlk7VsJC8SX3w65ux-QGRKWyQw612X-WE7IYQuROVD2P3abSDqZwTmlEgj53jGc50Ki5MARyjleZrH9H8lGBc-vBbaPU1RtxJ9TswkSLZJUCsJxO7XYVKfZgULslnTe4a096Zvu4OD8glEcMSXP/w640-h426/IMG_4903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My ragamuffin farm girl, Zoey. This girl LOVES to do chores with me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She knows the minute I start to get the bucket ready in the afternoon... her head comes up and she is ready to go! If Buddy feels up to it, he comes with her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw06j4mdrV3pACc9OlNjIk2X-A3-KTzD5GNY6r-D20yJ8m83kY097FifOP2infs5GzyzNfYl6oNVjzZYQKNQwVUsumde57LtL9JwkvXudUN7BjdcfJeGjsHX0uKYQi_b4riPPmSHINeLp8cTJBlS86p42uXcjWtwHjaeT-G3Ok-m202bh5jEPBTLy/s2992/20230119_154206.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw06j4mdrV3pACc9OlNjIk2X-A3-KTzD5GNY6r-D20yJ8m83kY097FifOP2infs5GzyzNfYl6oNVjzZYQKNQwVUsumde57LtL9JwkvXudUN7BjdcfJeGjsHX0uKYQi_b4riPPmSHINeLp8cTJBlS86p42uXcjWtwHjaeT-G3Ok-m202bh5jEPBTLy/w640-h640/20230119_154206.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are such good friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnWUdyZcNa1qX1psjqtho1yPsdC-g_BkmRXwMsXRlD3NqQNINq2fRcLRBukH2Gaa6FtWpHUqDzCK-Q7Gl6BwrlTDcKEmiLiUnJ2E3_hLMSqneyTmEpVCznT7Q5RSo3zO8kHR-JXzLfPwftp1atviWwCz7ksTZCsyCVI1X8zGYG0wd-2EADCymron7/s6000/IMG_4893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnWUdyZcNa1qX1psjqtho1yPsdC-g_BkmRXwMsXRlD3NqQNINq2fRcLRBukH2Gaa6FtWpHUqDzCK-Q7Gl6BwrlTDcKEmiLiUnJ2E3_hLMSqneyTmEpVCznT7Q5RSo3zO8kHR-JXzLfPwftp1atviWwCz7ksTZCsyCVI1X8zGYG0wd-2EADCymron7/w640-h426/IMG_4893.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Big Moose went to the doctor on Tuesday and had blood run, got his nails trimmed, and got weighed. 114.4 pounds! The doctor did not say anything but the techs and I talked when I picked him up, and he is on a diet to lose ten pounds to give his aching joints a rest. He is taking Gabapentin daily now for his arthritic old joints. He remains a hospice foster for Bonner Animal Rescue, and I cannot say enough good about this group. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoey and Fritzi came to me through them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three weeks ago, I was out at 3 AM with Zoey and Buddy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of the sudden, I was surrounded by coyote howls, some that sounded as if they were in the yard with me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were some from across the road to the west (26 wooded acres) and some from the foot of my pasture to the east, and some on the north in Spehar's pasture that wraps me. I came in, shaken. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because of the skunk dying by my hen house, I have removed the feeder that was in the pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeIqStziuGUQ0rMIx8pchAYNQUzRKjNdN88o7mZRvyzJZV48GQlNh111rZ75hOsk7WDRhIV_u8h1FRpLl7_z-QVd_Eo7Vk9_HyRwur9BnkTVoR3CBcnIIM9AiHO3V893obVV-pKu02MhhplnSfbTh_HDtlp7slFYfonxoujIWe9LWpqDL_9NnhaxN/s640/Coyote%20pair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeIqStziuGUQ0rMIx8pchAYNQUzRKjNdN88o7mZRvyzJZV48GQlNh111rZ75hOsk7WDRhIV_u8h1FRpLl7_z-QVd_Eo7Vk9_HyRwur9BnkTVoR3CBcnIIM9AiHO3V893obVV-pKu02MhhplnSfbTh_HDtlp7slFYfonxoujIWe9LWpqDL_9NnhaxN/w640-h360/Coyote%20pair.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So there is no more of this going on. One came up two or three times after the feeder was pulled, but I have not seen any in day or dusk for those three weeks, but friends, they are still around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days after hearing those howls so very close.... I was on the porch of the big hen house one morning and thought "What am I hearing?"... I live 2/10s of a mile from a state highway, and the traffic does not stop until early morning hours... over that traffic, I could hear coyotes calling each other in broad daylight. In all my seventeen years here, I have never heard that! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, fast forward to Friday night. I got out of the recliner at ten to take Zoey out. If I don't, we end up at an outlandish hour, rain or not. I carried her over the deck, put her down... and the most chilling howls came from Troy's pasture, and near his pond, which is about 300 feet behind his house. I cannot see past my yard light, but I could sure hear them. For once, Zoey got scared... and in the middle of the horrible chorus.... there was a single scream that ended. Zoey ran for the door, and I always have her on a leash after dusk.... I ran with her. I picked her up again and carried her down on the east side, and she did finally squat and then stood at attention, no tail wags, and stared down into the pasture. The coyotes had moved away after the scream, to the east. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ3Hjn1z-_gjAeQ8RArctKImAZWu5uI2hCe2K7z3LFSMYg3ufpv6cpXHiYe6RvCeLf__dSJOmtq0VZj4O2ctW6-8X2QX4rP9Q0bO_2DPdDExRHK2M9bEI7w8oI5y31KZewniDCC8vwF5zorM-M3AOUWOGOewza4MWTILg2EJe6McH3_J37Jc5Drx7/s2992/20230120_171806.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ3Hjn1z-_gjAeQ8RArctKImAZWu5uI2hCe2K7z3LFSMYg3ufpv6cpXHiYe6RvCeLf__dSJOmtq0VZj4O2ctW6-8X2QX4rP9Q0bO_2DPdDExRHK2M9bEI7w8oI5y31KZewniDCC8vwF5zorM-M3AOUWOGOewza4MWTILg2EJe6McH3_J37Jc5Drx7/w640-h640/20230120_171806.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-b08YO7yX0GzGgoX9lZ84u0iATx7wh7g2M9jCp6wDaskjv7Jjc4DGMjNZ8xQAnoEhDVFvtndA3Ep_fzjaBBWrdyvQZxLDuBnnMjMQ7J_QW3hSoFoFbexb1dJZTdOLPMA_cSwtj5IyyWqxHkvk1apOKRvU_exxGTqFjTCaYeiPSyhve5Zo7idnPOj/s2992/20230120_171803.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-b08YO7yX0GzGgoX9lZ84u0iATx7wh7g2M9jCp6wDaskjv7Jjc4DGMjNZ8xQAnoEhDVFvtndA3Ep_fzjaBBWrdyvQZxLDuBnnMjMQ7J_QW3hSoFoFbexb1dJZTdOLPMA_cSwtj5IyyWqxHkvk1apOKRvU_exxGTqFjTCaYeiPSyhve5Zo7idnPOj/w640-h640/20230120_171803.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my Teenie girl, who hangs out on the porch of the big hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have not seen her since Friday afternoon, when I took these pictures. I am praying so hard the scream I heard was not from her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She has not been there all day today, and I have checked all my cameras. There is another cat, Alien, who looks like her... I have seen him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have seen Diamond Lil, the most elusive of all the ferals. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not Teenie. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had her spayed at Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society and I am just hoping she is all right. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMLyrN21OMXCOxpZhV8A9BtBE4BxKMC4e5gpSR6KBOLqJpzepNJ0LQ_OG3xL0AiaWVr_biib3hAeMaZ7tQQ8aJrBpOnmw2c9jz8QtVkFrrEtuRV9BzXN4PYIfKnOzc_jKcbDCA8hZ9byujX9cx23A7dDkCLbrgldW9TImwVBT2H8pkGOweKvmFGik/s2992/20230120_155017.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMLyrN21OMXCOxpZhV8A9BtBE4BxKMC4e5gpSR6KBOLqJpzepNJ0LQ_OG3xL0AiaWVr_biib3hAeMaZ7tQQ8aJrBpOnmw2c9jz8QtVkFrrEtuRV9BzXN4PYIfKnOzc_jKcbDCA8hZ9byujX9cx23A7dDkCLbrgldW9TImwVBT2H8pkGOweKvmFGik/w640-h640/20230120_155017.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wanda is still living in the big hen house. Coco, the black cat, now sleeps in the old hen house, and I lock her up there every night. I sleep so much better knowing that they are safe. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both can go in and out during the day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFV6fgy8fO3h2BEpYhVrOicRoacQdQiwWMfrD2slWmh_0NwRwGoaRPANgLItzNQTbhRwfVDX3rEJwaX7l8iRYrByhM5KI61JC97EnMpYPqUCKZS2fztGPmaZQapaagJsOZfnHFWmqrbPmUyrE8Jfh9Mmm93lPHfHEkbmJ0-C4uppzoulvnN6JFBAf/s2992/20230120_155031.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFV6fgy8fO3h2BEpYhVrOicRoacQdQiwWMfrD2slWmh_0NwRwGoaRPANgLItzNQTbhRwfVDX3rEJwaX7l8iRYrByhM5KI61JC97EnMpYPqUCKZS2fztGPmaZQapaagJsOZfnHFWmqrbPmUyrE8Jfh9Mmm93lPHfHEkbmJ0-C4uppzoulvnN6JFBAf/w640-h640/20230120_155031.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Silkie rooster and hen are spending the day inside today, their outdoor pen was full of snow. It has melted somewhat and I let the bigger birds out, but I am keeping them in until morning. I have to carry them in and out twice a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You all know that eggs have become very high at the grocery. One reason is that avian flu has hit the US hard, with 50 million birds lost last year. IF you have one bird test positive, from what I understand, the entire flock must be culled. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has come within two counties of me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel somewhat protected as I no longer have a little pond here. There are three ponds east of me, and one across the road to the west. I have seen geese land on the three to the east. I understand ducks are more likely carriers of it, but I feel like the likelihood of a wild duck landing here is very slim. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the difference it has made in practical terms. Chicks have gone sky high. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">People are buying chicks who have no idea of the smell, the noise, the constant care that must be given to keep them warm enough, fed, and watered and keep their cage or container clean to prevent disease. The farm stores sell flimsy shelters for chickens that are designed really to hold only two full size chickens at adulthood... and cannot withstand an attack from predators. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to buy full size hens, good luck... it's a seller's market, and the prices have gone sky high. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have not had a flock at the National Agricultural Center for three years because of covid. We would like to put one there again this year, and I have begun putting out feelers. We want only six or eight birds, but to find adults, I am going to have to pay over 100.00 for them. I may have to settle for some aged hens in order to get any, and the alternative is that I start chicks and all the work that entails.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So... we shall see. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGFCDLQPgI0_nbXNgbABGxd9u5MA0jth0BLVTWOwZfQNryte6A0jtKjFnni_j2K_KUL92iNMAwkhtsS3oNnsTTgB_YT2-mkp-AS1krfEVmEJGtW-hR_hFRjilsztP7TGPBqdDmTtDZs4u_I4tFavd692qY_Aj5vYMIahQNe05Tb8TtaJ8Qw0CitrM/s2992/20230120_155037.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGFCDLQPgI0_nbXNgbABGxd9u5MA0jth0BLVTWOwZfQNryte6A0jtKjFnni_j2K_KUL92iNMAwkhtsS3oNnsTTgB_YT2-mkp-AS1krfEVmEJGtW-hR_hFRjilsztP7TGPBqdDmTtDZs4u_I4tFavd692qY_Aj5vYMIahQNe05Tb8TtaJ8Qw0CitrM/w640-h640/20230120_155037.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My oldsters this week... this coop used to have thirty birds in it, it now </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">has six, plus the two silkies in their pen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(One hen was in the rafters) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rooster on the floor has lost enough toes that he can no longer roost. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have seven younger girls and Doug, the Silkie rooster in the little hen house, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and Singleton the white rooster and one older Ameracauna hen in the old hen house. She laid four green eggs the week before Christmas and I have not seen another egg out of her! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zDkki7SLERMbG8qE_5E_4THaodyr3yplkdPfTUPby9s8w39g_A9NzwWFrIkwskAKqh749hCiRsSZ8m9mCofwrCPE0OVBbteT1vXbhzAq7XK6xl2RYQD6Ub-92MRSzyMgDye7FRgOjMbq82q5jlRBjBK4okkuWPOaQ5UxK0Ubmx9A4Av9v-aFgWxb/s2992/20230121_150405.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zDkki7SLERMbG8qE_5E_4THaodyr3yplkdPfTUPby9s8w39g_A9NzwWFrIkwskAKqh749hCiRsSZ8m9mCofwrCPE0OVBbteT1vXbhzAq7XK6xl2RYQD6Ub-92MRSzyMgDye7FRgOjMbq82q5jlRBjBK4okkuWPOaQ5UxK0Ubmx9A4Av9v-aFgWxb/w640-h640/20230121_150405.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was my egg take yesterday. I used to get dozens a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is 2:19 and the sun has just come out! So good to see it! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have been told we are going to get more snow on Wednesday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(It disappeared almost as soon as it appeared!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1sEHvf8Iu-4oXV5FD5PKzjN4kzfpJ-cTqKVs-MPaDPMtZK3xwzINXRVdJQvio6GcPA-TzI-XLZmjazpJw-zFApbmv0MnXv2evTPw2r5nwq48lSvrzVGOLRUdDQ8nZAZjHhh3S1vqwVQ2gRU1a7RDY6bAyCyhhDvRrKxbLeLmPwl_LOyOB9D_F5OV/s2992/20230108_121548.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1sEHvf8Iu-4oXV5FD5PKzjN4kzfpJ-cTqKVs-MPaDPMtZK3xwzINXRVdJQvio6GcPA-TzI-XLZmjazpJw-zFApbmv0MnXv2evTPw2r5nwq48lSvrzVGOLRUdDQ8nZAZjHhh3S1vqwVQ2gRU1a7RDY6bAyCyhhDvRrKxbLeLmPwl_LOyOB9D_F5OV/w640-h640/20230108_121548.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoey on Duty. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0AMiJPFOttDQBQvnJ84V_0CdWIDyyP5HVUbbHB9gkQN08P4Hp2LNgiebTJZAzwdRD57dOqQwIX2F-p5uk47v9szTtzcsDhYdVVEYW4CdWFnBa8qO3XohsgdRzXH7wm5Q_J3dm-d1TL2cMYZODH6m_8wOM1h9UwtdnmH1Gj5AeyNr5K_cs_xtEv41/s2992/20230122_112423.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0AMiJPFOttDQBQvnJ84V_0CdWIDyyP5HVUbbHB9gkQN08P4Hp2LNgiebTJZAzwdRD57dOqQwIX2F-p5uk47v9szTtzcsDhYdVVEYW4CdWFnBa8qO3XohsgdRzXH7wm5Q_J3dm-d1TL2cMYZODH6m_8wOM1h9UwtdnmH1Gj5AeyNr5K_cs_xtEv41/w640-h640/20230122_112423.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is how Molly and I spent most of the morning in the recliner, after chores. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She has her head tucked under my sweatshirt. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zHnSqUoXG6rG4rNufjKTh4Y1Mgds1YLdLigWBHGhbPzO5gMAT1MUQRRoTJ1ZJeEV1haoJW0hpk_PS3OdCInR_rq_BUX3Yk8J5M0CA-Ks5OMfQnXjp7onSRWLEV89HiAE9fdN0rQ5NhloM-E6zHYirFKdgBEgSjbl0JHRBMQ1WTIENbkv8IOD4q-P/s2992/20230117_111645.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zHnSqUoXG6rG4rNufjKTh4Y1Mgds1YLdLigWBHGhbPzO5gMAT1MUQRRoTJ1ZJeEV1haoJW0hpk_PS3OdCInR_rq_BUX3Yk8J5M0CA-Ks5OMfQnXjp7onSRWLEV89HiAE9fdN0rQ5NhloM-E6zHYirFKdgBEgSjbl0JHRBMQ1WTIENbkv8IOD4q-P/w640-h640/20230117_111645.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My favorite food truck was here this week! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are back, in Basehor, (five miles) on Saturday the 28th. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It gives me something to look forward to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6wmHUkk5nncMK0arfqViZAfTQ69D7hFvXp2Tj4BFGVowgrTu3Kxjq-3vT9YNvXVbbmhKveojDVb6cZICbsL6PpL5DnoJ21tfuFAh4I6_2504yKXC-EuawqMuL5Cx5m-Ano9NpCmQjh5kHsjpmyefUZPb_OAC1Tv8-wCfdjFOC2Oxfy5Wb3Z56CkS/s1080/FB_IMG_1673825488912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1080" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6wmHUkk5nncMK0arfqViZAfTQ69D7hFvXp2Tj4BFGVowgrTu3Kxjq-3vT9YNvXVbbmhKveojDVb6cZICbsL6PpL5DnoJ21tfuFAh4I6_2504yKXC-EuawqMuL5Cx5m-Ano9NpCmQjh5kHsjpmyefUZPb_OAC1Tv8-wCfdjFOC2Oxfy5Wb3Z56CkS/w640-h475/FB_IMG_1673825488912.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things could be worse. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At least this family had each other. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I remember when my kids were little we lived in a drafty old house, and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would huddle on the furnace grate in the dining room and read in the evenings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are a lot of people who romanticize how "life on the farm" was fifty, sixty and seventy years ago... too often it was like that picture above. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrakk3GZiRFRw3B4OYxQxwzLZd9_qr1HmFyrnMTMKWyKTEttdYqVKICtNVpoTmu6EG0bfe7m4HfeLcsc_6ryWFanKtaY6mjs6pqW4BuRL-6B4r_oig-LTufAaFoG9KkveWI9WsmPEJM8UCpBMF2eR3odtrbIcVOVxx8vh3-Q2uMFZLjernKwo8l9m/s2992/20230106_155941.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrakk3GZiRFRw3B4OYxQxwzLZd9_qr1HmFyrnMTMKWyKTEttdYqVKICtNVpoTmu6EG0bfe7m4HfeLcsc_6ryWFanKtaY6mjs6pqW4BuRL-6B4r_oig-LTufAaFoG9KkveWI9WsmPEJM8UCpBMF2eR3odtrbIcVOVxx8vh3-Q2uMFZLjernKwo8l9m/w640-h640/20230106_155941.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mama says take care of each other, and we will see you soon! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-27404743850110283842023-01-08T17:57:00.000-06:002023-01-08T17:57:09.212-06:00First Week Under Our Belts<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first week of 2023 is safely past.... and all is well. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MYrgpDgg0Qy8-jYKXPqX1IP9DZpxvr6pSfE3AfXX6lGnlr2-akiRcSjRBe8dRXL5sRNQQRgj32RkK0bjmugG2e0g2sG8UY99pFlHE6KeMN7Q0Nyu3L2ogW7usXd66JamE7xlX0FlRCDIUSCJDcwEq1iaXkzcr37pm_xOZv5rkM-pSuTIwDDQpzsQ/s2992/20230106_160543.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MYrgpDgg0Qy8-jYKXPqX1IP9DZpxvr6pSfE3AfXX6lGnlr2-akiRcSjRBe8dRXL5sRNQQRgj32RkK0bjmugG2e0g2sG8UY99pFlHE6KeMN7Q0Nyu3L2ogW7usXd66JamE7xlX0FlRCDIUSCJDcwEq1iaXkzcr37pm_xOZv5rkM-pSuTIwDDQpzsQ/w640-h640/20230106_160543.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I noticed Friday that there are buds on the maple tree! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have had so many small and large branches come off this tree during the fall that I am going to have it assessed when the tree eaters come to take down the saplings in the pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp0TWd_NqzgSKY5pF6jvfNlzYt4jZC6hAIUqPzweyRtZA6DX3TukSi9cK5nGED2VFvGiY96_xOk0PO8HUcTjsmK_zMCup6hVknhth9wRqCACyeXUzsPhgJxZ6-ti_uyEtRqMQK0M8WWWcfsjk9kUTTyA93DgziGfZS7HUezo6dy9LuZ1QH9KlEmIl/s2992/20230101_150148.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp0TWd_NqzgSKY5pF6jvfNlzYt4jZC6hAIUqPzweyRtZA6DX3TukSi9cK5nGED2VFvGiY96_xOk0PO8HUcTjsmK_zMCup6hVknhth9wRqCACyeXUzsPhgJxZ6-ti_uyEtRqMQK0M8WWWcfsjk9kUTTyA93DgziGfZS7HUezo6dy9LuZ1QH9KlEmIl/w640-h640/20230101_150148.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's been cold, but not so cold that Bullseye spent hours doing this. He is outside almost all the time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was under the weather this week, necessitating a trip to the doctor and meds, but am on the mend. I just took it a little easier. Bully was glad to help me stay in one place. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5uKQV3CaytM_COXiBsnHQvsJDV3g_ki3Rsm5Ed2MI2kgjRPx5FHGzrczSXK0vXdfv75AZ3SLhnbNj3DyXWIK-GlJiHIy27p3uVaZOYrHMjCBhGu4vo4AOPrjqKARQZA0MBrcLI3Uw_VOJ9iqaEPSY72wNiM2eHX964Q7Ny5Gy9bMb25rCbV8gs34/s2992/20230105_080907.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5uKQV3CaytM_COXiBsnHQvsJDV3g_ki3Rsm5Ed2MI2kgjRPx5FHGzrczSXK0vXdfv75AZ3SLhnbNj3DyXWIK-GlJiHIy27p3uVaZOYrHMjCBhGu4vo4AOPrjqKARQZA0MBrcLI3Uw_VOJ9iqaEPSY72wNiM2eHX964Q7Ny5Gy9bMb25rCbV8gs34/w640-h640/20230105_080907.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoey was glad to sleep late several mornings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls4LkxsFQt1nK1JX4BRlz5Rd7U1Gux22Zj-9Qyzfg41qYKAn7IyC6YzK5qP-EAJl0FIvWSFfhbQYwBf3yqW2k9X7uvkLcVrOkAzss9cP_QKq_kcYWQu8TyWoi3ueKaMLpG_yzDAex-puS5yBmQWTvub8oPKBZcys9xRB98fkmznoLfRnIPo2UesxC/s2992/20230104_153452.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls4LkxsFQt1nK1JX4BRlz5Rd7U1Gux22Zj-9Qyzfg41qYKAn7IyC6YzK5qP-EAJl0FIvWSFfhbQYwBf3yqW2k9X7uvkLcVrOkAzss9cP_QKq_kcYWQu8TyWoi3ueKaMLpG_yzDAex-puS5yBmQWTvub8oPKBZcys9xRB98fkmznoLfRnIPo2UesxC/w640-h640/20230104_153452.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I found Alien, the feral who has been coming and going, in the garage one morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a theory... I think he lives around here and just stops by to eat, because he is in good flesh, and he disappeared entirely during the terrible weather at Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought it would be interesting to look back at the end of the year from years past. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JAs8ZM2IRytcAupZTik4wrf9Ul3l0faC24rZZKC5YDa3DkPNTdKqNqrYmmOfPMVZSMy1FmGnqaCSdhhFir6iZNaDLITB2pk0WAA43Njma_sKfoIruGf6jrQ01aA6bHQyaqYNzLecOagUp5ZztmZ1nzM77QfqUE0bKMt8QObWy_UY30mD9kCHqXhi/s5152/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JAs8ZM2IRytcAupZTik4wrf9Ul3l0faC24rZZKC5YDa3DkPNTdKqNqrYmmOfPMVZSMy1FmGnqaCSdhhFir6iZNaDLITB2pk0WAA43Njma_sKfoIruGf6jrQ01aA6bHQyaqYNzLecOagUp5ZztmZ1nzM77QfqUE0bKMt8QObWy_UY30mD9kCHqXhi/w640-h480/IMG_0084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">12/31/17 had a full moon, just like this week's. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(ours this week came a few nights after). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTukhmmyyF_Elpl8R0ICVY85DtAujrD-BcW6i99sEqUBQAUILuCColMSkvZe3-8zqgFmBzwB_FIts3--00qb7wKvhZ9Kuh1FNhAOOGULNjxkSUXUx-chTfSp52e-DRHqJM3d7QTCovyAmUvgozzivXVpsRAId8_4J17cYJKruCwCIabxbIQPgUdkZ/s4032/20181231_150523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTukhmmyyF_Elpl8R0ICVY85DtAujrD-BcW6i99sEqUBQAUILuCColMSkvZe3-8zqgFmBzwB_FIts3--00qb7wKvhZ9Kuh1FNhAOOGULNjxkSUXUx-chTfSp52e-DRHqJM3d7QTCovyAmUvgozzivXVpsRAId8_4J17cYJKruCwCIabxbIQPgUdkZ/w312-h640/20181231_150523.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On 12/31/18, I still had Donald and at least two Duckingtons. How I miss them! I miss ducks! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyMnzgztWhWNID9wphxr8kYZit6F4QWvB-9uZALRDtZ2UjTITKOBNOCjuNqBcguYkuYg5CTWhJkdVq2Evd7IngejKqI9zVZEdj_sMl2Wb_EdSL3o0BBz8CdnJlrUPvVRPccwQDy0-bGADTWV7veMehtm7W3MmqaZlKez_ZlEH10roLAN8wiuxOxna/s4992/WGI_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyMnzgztWhWNID9wphxr8kYZit6F4QWvB-9uZALRDtZ2UjTITKOBNOCjuNqBcguYkuYg5CTWhJkdVq2Evd7IngejKqI9zVZEdj_sMl2Wb_EdSL3o0BBz8CdnJlrUPvVRPccwQDy0-bGADTWV7veMehtm7W3MmqaZlKez_ZlEH10roLAN8wiuxOxna/w640-h360/WGI_0064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On 12/31/19, I saved this picture of two big raccoons on my porch. I am not longer leaving food out on the porch to put a stop to this. The skunk's suffering last week led me to believe it is better for the wildings not to become dependent. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy-tu2qK6gAPUJYoWZmP2r2m04v3NcMKu9NBiL3Pwn6jZpdExxr9NeF8a_X8mbwGJlQ1wGhMqnI3tWMm3r6HWY7GIYBeE6fofSnm3-LJsOoyHpuSd96z_Hj909kiMqgQotov9ujeAQdb6so7Ah2sQrVrkUQddv22JSesHndjvS4IqyQ-A5jKfMe3W/s4992/WGI_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy-tu2qK6gAPUJYoWZmP2r2m04v3NcMKu9NBiL3Pwn6jZpdExxr9NeF8a_X8mbwGJlQ1wGhMqnI3tWMm3r6HWY7GIYBeE6fofSnm3-LJsOoyHpuSd96z_Hj909kiMqgQotov9ujeAQdb6so7Ah2sQrVrkUQddv22JSesHndjvS4IqyQ-A5jKfMe3W/w640-h360/WGI_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On 12/31/2020, my beautiful Rusty was still coming here daily and nightly. He has moved over the road to my friend's house, but has now disappeared from there. What a beauty he was, but truly feral, even though he was raised by me as a kitten. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuep6ODBiC4ZAzEN-NJHmRBYlBzn-zqsKQASPCWCkL6UXS48-_6rwoC_ZfiM7Jl-R2yAT6-WKTcymBhI-yFGbisog3p6id_4vR37o0nIGI5UuLMsSEa8zXTPMModi9_TrdxGVHvGJ8sZY6oWIHYJIFFC1KVh0HWucN5cqVrVN-sI5sMdV2iynfzW8G/s6000/IMG_3693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuep6ODBiC4ZAzEN-NJHmRBYlBzn-zqsKQASPCWCkL6UXS48-_6rwoC_ZfiM7Jl-R2yAT6-WKTcymBhI-yFGbisog3p6id_4vR37o0nIGI5UuLMsSEa8zXTPMModi9_TrdxGVHvGJ8sZY6oWIHYJIFFC1KVh0HWucN5cqVrVN-sI5sMdV2iynfzW8G/w640-h426/IMG_3693.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year on the 31st, I posted pictures of the wonderful train in the front yard of one of our National Agricultural Center volunteers... this was his labor of love. Sadly, he was not able to display his train, the Seven Dwarf passengers, and the Grinch sneaking up on them this year. I was privileged to see it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmtig7ZYuD72g8GgqcxMQx1PWuCeK9geUBMuPl829LIe8Ax4piMT9Uze3Ly6ZDetHbs1AR2NB8K9Db6BZoEiYmIMJIl9n0f8VhqRy-3CZKyGgQw1TvzxorOFhS227S9ZxbULWtWLnHHgINUQhwgf2nRM-0mNLwA0nZl0mvywMGd5wqBBeH7zLR3xx/s6000/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmtig7ZYuD72g8GgqcxMQx1PWuCeK9geUBMuPl829LIe8Ax4piMT9Uze3Ly6ZDetHbs1AR2NB8K9Db6BZoEiYmIMJIl9n0f8VhqRy-3CZKyGgQw1TvzxorOFhS227S9ZxbULWtWLnHHgINUQhwgf2nRM-0mNLwA0nZl0mvywMGd5wqBBeH7zLR3xx/w640-h426/IMG_2701.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is what the feeding area looked like on January 2, last year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca9p30I5fq-A5-gSTvRkkYSjahxc97lJWcgq4MDgzfYxuOkfmSh78MuRuOl6AWHQokE0R4vqI-Gp2ar-pLK5E2l8kuZZ2GVrLKsRz17UoWX2ivur8ZrSWJWHEoEihyO4aKXXIj316VT3PcaoFXM4S2I6Ji9ew1a_OVZuE0KhQ2z7lUg42lnlrgmdh/s6000/IMG_3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca9p30I5fq-A5-gSTvRkkYSjahxc97lJWcgq4MDgzfYxuOkfmSh78MuRuOl6AWHQokE0R4vqI-Gp2ar-pLK5E2l8kuZZ2GVrLKsRz17UoWX2ivur8ZrSWJWHEoEihyO4aKXXIj316VT3PcaoFXM4S2I6Ji9ew1a_OVZuE0KhQ2z7lUg42lnlrgmdh/w640-h426/IMG_3702.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this year! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of crows... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiGgdBRiNHQpn4ku2e16V8UbpV6ZMHWWbPF5LpY1hLn74GuwrYrQNQiiZMhxiJ5s39HpqvkhoL4JaWH_unlGv9xUjN7-He-H0czwgio4_HjmV5e9spP1F2R6fDWxqeIkF-00wHHMMkVRGxut7mtosc4G0DlcTU6PVcndfIEUlR-sz8TPCylGXC4Qf/s6000/DSC_4333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiGgdBRiNHQpn4ku2e16V8UbpV6ZMHWWbPF5LpY1hLn74GuwrYrQNQiiZMhxiJ5s39HpqvkhoL4JaWH_unlGv9xUjN7-He-H0czwgio4_HjmV5e9spP1F2R6fDWxqeIkF-00wHHMMkVRGxut7mtosc4G0DlcTU6PVcndfIEUlR-sz8TPCylGXC4Qf/w640-h426/DSC_4333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These guys came down to eat sunflower seed yesterday, and I took their pictures through my front door. The funny thing is, I can go out and take pictures of them, they actually don't fly unless I get within six feet. They are such beautiful birds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJmdso06TSG3uZAYOLcQK_-2X2lweDPery7ED7ix1nkAtgzYWzXG8VwAxYBplgV3NMKb_SUimFdrtqCpEk4f_H2lzj3uLVt2xw-HYWnxgWFCFbTaNbgiL4xNQUj_HSV_bYLUsZJZ6oQFSpMaQN5W0Tf21tcuk8bc5vqacTYqeO5bP-Nh5xrsaaoqO/s2992/20230106_155941.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJmdso06TSG3uZAYOLcQK_-2X2lweDPery7ED7ix1nkAtgzYWzXG8VwAxYBplgV3NMKb_SUimFdrtqCpEk4f_H2lzj3uLVt2xw-HYWnxgWFCFbTaNbgiL4xNQUj_HSV_bYLUsZJZ6oQFSpMaQN5W0Tf21tcuk8bc5vqacTYqeO5bP-Nh5xrsaaoqO/w640-h640/20230106_155941.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz9Gj8msn7iHYGkH_QLwp39B6Qhdz0v8Hw8eTjx3H97CYgv3IwYi7yvhKS9Ay1GX9gEflPRTLbaQibsw2BVqbbZDDDPGSBM5nRhLuP4XvAzJ4957N_lX0XgYX2JiIARSMU-_rD3lNhvy--I5TULHcuT7g4F1QzedSVqSr9_wSNU17FOckuZK2R-WK/s2992/20230106_153932.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz9Gj8msn7iHYGkH_QLwp39B6Qhdz0v8Hw8eTjx3H97CYgv3IwYi7yvhKS9Ay1GX9gEflPRTLbaQibsw2BVqbbZDDDPGSBM5nRhLuP4XvAzJ4957N_lX0XgYX2JiIARSMU-_rD3lNhvy--I5TULHcuT7g4F1QzedSVqSr9_wSNU17FOckuZK2R-WK/w640-h640/20230106_153932.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Mama and Cleo are beauties, too. The shop is staying nice and toasty for them, since I put plastic across the door opening and put two small heaters in there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teenie also sleeps in there, but spends hours outside daily. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9wGSw0-tu3zvizMq6UqN0NbBgF2qLCTOXrESMl1XFvjxD313b5eyIMU6b5ooycFV-5xf85CiOgiwB3tNp9yiZELcoNrs37Pa0uj0Y3nozTfxjrz09tuUOSAIv6z0-UypEcH7kDCmN9t1p2FUUh8L-sFfqFPcRj1lH7WGoWYY4SE0fHCjoDpwQjm_/s2992/20221228_133114.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9wGSw0-tu3zvizMq6UqN0NbBgF2qLCTOXrESMl1XFvjxD313b5eyIMU6b5ooycFV-5xf85CiOgiwB3tNp9yiZELcoNrs37Pa0uj0Y3nozTfxjrz09tuUOSAIv6z0-UypEcH7kDCmN9t1p2FUUh8L-sFfqFPcRj1lH7WGoWYY4SE0fHCjoDpwQjm_/w640-h640/20221228_133114.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Granddaughter Paiton and her bestie got a late Christmas gift from me of a short day camp and ride at a local stable. She was so glad to be back in the saddle again, even if it was a Western saddle. They had a blast in the chilly temps that day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I rode Western and English for many years... Paiton had two years of English lessons, not a slam) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14Q8QotvWR8JamVL6VEDyZ4IQ3hRpTESFGZkjofpa8dSEAN7x1TSCn1wUOp8LvZMCCxpo4hCRA1jQqcGR1NS1WC8HttyeSSFoZtx2U3jPnqC6NPvmQHkzRjv_MVwvt5t2K9vJpsHGXEaf20whtrJTKXawm2byrnNh1J2_EqQlSk1Inoei9oYy52sl/s4992/WGI_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14Q8QotvWR8JamVL6VEDyZ4IQ3hRpTESFGZkjofpa8dSEAN7x1TSCn1wUOp8LvZMCCxpo4hCRA1jQqcGR1NS1WC8HttyeSSFoZtx2U3jPnqC6NPvmQHkzRjv_MVwvt5t2K9vJpsHGXEaf20whtrJTKXawm2byrnNh1J2_EqQlSk1Inoei9oYy52sl/w640-h360/WGI_0044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">That's about the wildest thing I have seen in the shop this week. I only have seen one raccoon in there, one time. The water bowl has only been dirty once. As the day gets warmer, I will have to change it daily. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjyf8Xs37ZtuuQovN3k9PVQDQ9N2YQ1i2Mb8W0pZQrKYmnW0wVol8PYptuLrvBBH65KscWMzafQu1um56BooyrgqwkWegDvUDXT7oAjDMgR0ORcDya4GblMzTh9yCXKiM__x5Re1QDKywPCR1-V3gR5sg6drMlXhfoUNNLV0BN83ALILv4RnAUnt4/s2992/20221228_171038.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjyf8Xs37ZtuuQovN3k9PVQDQ9N2YQ1i2Mb8W0pZQrKYmnW0wVol8PYptuLrvBBH65KscWMzafQu1um56BooyrgqwkWegDvUDXT7oAjDMgR0ORcDya4GblMzTh9yCXKiM__x5Re1QDKywPCR1-V3gR5sg6drMlXhfoUNNLV0BN83ALILv4RnAUnt4/w640-h640/20221228_171038.heic" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope we have many more beautiful sunsets this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGL8KW7Be9_2TG0v-fkePLgsyI-i53PXGUHbK30Ee6AWZH4vCAcqel6LAQX_vh48ZnaQJq0GVz7KuVD4yqDPQwhm00N0fjXBpcwEkdWV2Cog0H1MieiFyStiwQVB7L5bXjQUiAeAB5EtsPWOAm8qToGuQGnGUurxvQW5Jx1EvG82h3pxdp5k2Qu-Pw/s6000/IMG_3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGL8KW7Be9_2TG0v-fkePLgsyI-i53PXGUHbK30Ee6AWZH4vCAcqel6LAQX_vh48ZnaQJq0GVz7KuVD4yqDPQwhm00N0fjXBpcwEkdWV2Cog0H1MieiFyStiwQVB7L5bXjQUiAeAB5EtsPWOAm8qToGuQGnGUurxvQW5Jx1EvG82h3pxdp5k2Qu-Pw/s320/IMG_3703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-28659431469713371522023-01-01T12:21:00.004-06:002023-01-01T12:21:45.425-06:00Looking Back at 2022 <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year, Everyone! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I checked to see last year's first post... not until January 25th, a month out from Christmas. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful boy was still here: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvg7q9oGsOWdG4SbLvB1Bpa8L91aSgAAK4cMz_vOTMjhN6QhKigR8rHXYe57_TnAMzhF8jDYeB47zNFTKIpJV5Nhe3XTyF1ixx36KUhBUlvXWDun-qscj7LOt1hkrB0iVep6vYlWOBV8MWLXiYTTFNJ4fa80xL0IoYzPcZTrqelJqSg5tYibFHJa7/s640/Rusty%20looking%20at%20camera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvg7q9oGsOWdG4SbLvB1Bpa8L91aSgAAK4cMz_vOTMjhN6QhKigR8rHXYe57_TnAMzhF8jDYeB47zNFTKIpJV5Nhe3XTyF1ixx36KUhBUlvXWDun-qscj7LOt1hkrB0iVep6vYlWOBV8MWLXiYTTFNJ4fa80xL0IoYzPcZTrqelJqSg5tYibFHJa7/w640-h360/Rusty%20looking%20at%20camera.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rusty was the first feral who lived here. I took him in with three of his siblings and raised them in the little red hen house until they were old enough to let loose. Two disappeared early on... but Rusty and his sister Harley were here together for a year... then Harley disappeared. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Jack Flash came last year, Rusty moved on, across the road to my neighbor's house. Now they have stopped seeing him. Life is so very hard for feral cats. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was a second male here, Yeller, when Jack Flash came last year... he has disappeared, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I only posted once during February... this picture of the stubby tailed raccoon that has now disappeared was part of that post. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD6GAiqX2C8QyQdcH6Juf3pmbBtjXBHRPDMZeOoFltHiC4bm5I9dDTol03W1mhygAH-RFnmLKki4YlwXTjP9_wo0OxGk1RornvVgOizrgD1YuXUs8VLwZ1wYaTSDe4oQHpgm386ulSfENK4RycpboyxfP-Wrfb6gw7f9SZPA7Pdf4igaZ1eqrCgww/s4992/stubby%20two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD6GAiqX2C8QyQdcH6Juf3pmbBtjXBHRPDMZeOoFltHiC4bm5I9dDTol03W1mhygAH-RFnmLKki4YlwXTjP9_wo0OxGk1RornvVgOizrgD1YuXUs8VLwZ1wYaTSDe4oQHpgm386ulSfENK4RycpboyxfP-Wrfb6gw7f9SZPA7Pdf4igaZ1eqrCgww/w640-h360/stubby%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also posted this picture of the eggs I got one day: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmKWGyQyA6iirajbzwJrEPfkCxqLTXmIpWZAC8gagW75u8az0VRF8QrL58ga8aRuRv6IySBYnPv-Bt6ZQCy48MwoUasT4OCkjZqiKzIvBSnjlrhAcLb8VVmk9N7frmw6trB9lVe9sGmTN89BCdf0G0lkcSHEVjnIlT0Yn_QIoYaWEKRX7cWqR_1l6/s640/Bowlful%20of%20eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmKWGyQyA6iirajbzwJrEPfkCxqLTXmIpWZAC8gagW75u8az0VRF8QrL58ga8aRuRv6IySBYnPv-Bt6ZQCy48MwoUasT4OCkjZqiKzIvBSnjlrhAcLb8VVmk9N7frmw6trB9lVe9sGmTN89BCdf0G0lkcSHEVjnIlT0Yn_QIoYaWEKRX7cWqR_1l6/w480-h640/Bowlful%20of%20eggs.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you, friends, those days are OVER. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have seven hens that will be two in about two months, I am getting TWO eggs a day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have one old brown leghorn... she is six... who lays about three huge white eggs a week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My days of giving away six or seven dozen a week are gone, I'm afraid. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In March, I was sick for almost two weeks... with flu like symptoms. I tested negative for Covid and then tested for flu and was negative, but the doctor agreed I had probably had it. I managed to do chores and almost nothing else. I found out afterwards that it was a reaction to a new medication I had begun taking. What a relief to know that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was still planning to do quite a bit of gardening... and had grandson Jax load me up with planting soil. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nLyyYDnvyvuO6duel9ZzBHkaiLndjIYA_aR6KH2dGDDYgX8H2ZowBAJ0ZCcsttbRoc0le0Zm_SPy3bfDql8ygwIrhyVld7Tj-VOJ5v4tm08X9JMVPTGGhYuhhnS1PkOPywNsuweLdje7BetYLAMJTZmS46-SXl9_jRz_QKtlprf8FEE9okS1V0iS/s640/Jax%20loading%20car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nLyyYDnvyvuO6duel9ZzBHkaiLndjIYA_aR6KH2dGDDYgX8H2ZowBAJ0ZCcsttbRoc0le0Zm_SPy3bfDql8ygwIrhyVld7Tj-VOJ5v4tm08X9JMVPTGGhYuhhnS1PkOPywNsuweLdje7BetYLAMJTZmS46-SXl9_jRz_QKtlprf8FEE9okS1V0iS/w480-h640/Jax%20loading%20car.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started pepper and tomato seeds that I had gotten from Baker Creek. I was very disappointed in the tomato seeds, the pictures in the catalog did not coincide with what I got. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did enjoy growing the peppers, Gorbaci, for ornamental value. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year I will not be starting any vegetables. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In April, the two silkie roosters, Brutus and Doug, managed to kill the last two silkie hens that were running with them. I had separated two out earlier to use for education at the Ag Hall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vTG2EkzYSjZ1xmVEb4nfROu4EmZlkb1nz132n_IWm_P8eCZ_DdLb5rh9eggpCVIS9JS_uSftIZYYAJAfpZUoxKKQLPfuW8CoRfSOCc_pxO14dqtGrZfpfEWBsoEP2OSTWyehnzRJylqW9C8MPmrqhI6m3kZsxAnOcUMVV1A7jeRP6UKSB5y1PsyH/s640/dead%20black%20hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vTG2EkzYSjZ1xmVEb4nfROu4EmZlkb1nz132n_IWm_P8eCZ_DdLb5rh9eggpCVIS9JS_uSftIZYYAJAfpZUoxKKQLPfuW8CoRfSOCc_pxO14dqtGrZfpfEWBsoEP2OSTWyehnzRJylqW9C8MPmrqhI6m3kZsxAnOcUMVV1A7jeRP6UKSB5y1PsyH/w480-h640/dead%20black%20hen.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beasts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have Doug, on the far right, and Brutus is with Mary in a separate pen. Martha, the other silkie hen, was killed by a predator in her pen in broad daylight. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am trying to rehome these guys... Doug is a beautiful rooster, but a pain to get in at night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have to carry Brutus and Mary up and down the steps in and out of their pen daily, and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am no longer doing chicken presentations at the museum, so it's time to lighten the load. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In May, this guy appeared. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3_bjUVHPBDgpPLMJnI6swBZ8FruqNIGPErznEMDm8zDXuI1HEldF7FOAVZTKZJQnrcJalAJ3sF0Im13d4KAFrkkJ3u3gntmSl3nr1v1AUhPRri_3bH8cGBL_PMC9a0Mq_qe2b7rLZldml0EGbUH9KagVAjuxJGtqdPe6YAF00SiqfzCZ3ndG4IYa/s640/Jack%20Flash%20on%20fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3_bjUVHPBDgpPLMJnI6swBZ8FruqNIGPErznEMDm8zDXuI1HEldF7FOAVZTKZJQnrcJalAJ3sF0Im13d4KAFrkkJ3u3gntmSl3nr1v1AUhPRri_3bH8cGBL_PMC9a0Mq_qe2b7rLZldml0EGbUH9KagVAjuxJGtqdPe6YAF00SiqfzCZ3ndG4IYa/w480-h640/Jack%20Flash%20on%20fence.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jack Flash, aka The Jackal... caused all kinds of ruckus here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He hated Coco, the black porch cat. He hated Cleo, the beautiful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He tried to breed Teenie, my sweet little girl who was neutered and is still here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He chased Rusty and Yeller off and tried to chase Bullseye off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was the King of the Place. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He caused me all kinds of problems. I had to go way out in the yard to feed Cleo twice a day, and Coco had to eat on the back porch for three months or be killed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I realized there is a Baltimore Oriole on the feeder behind him in the picture) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApqtt7yGEAk1dp8A787V5oA7GXq3_j-NP8ep9Qbd_Xg_WztUe54jHvUfYOVOgrnZXlMdQQxR7nkzliwj0e3S1bnq7nWX-2s9FBcHfV8tkS4w4YN00WcChTsV9hiM8QU6SzAuqWuLgGu3NPsu-YWUUhReh_RsOF4UHd-uQiP95U9HDqcmbJnkEa7j5/s639/Sheep%20in%20pasture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApqtt7yGEAk1dp8A787V5oA7GXq3_j-NP8ep9Qbd_Xg_WztUe54jHvUfYOVOgrnZXlMdQQxR7nkzliwj0e3S1bnq7nWX-2s9FBcHfV8tkS4w4YN00WcChTsV9hiM8QU6SzAuqWuLgGu3NPsu-YWUUhReh_RsOF4UHd-uQiP95U9HDqcmbJnkEa7j5/w640-h426/Sheep%20in%20pasture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;">In April, these guys came back. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were not here too long, this time, and left again a few months later to give the pasture time to recover. They returned again, and then were taken out in late August when the pasture was pretty much depleted after drought. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not sure if they will be back this year... they were very hard on the pasture, and I am having increasing trouble taking care of the big water tank because of course, I have exacting water expectations. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In May, these appeared at the foot of the deck... I am praying they will all be back this year, too. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWqHv86gnVdT0oxRQ2ZIazhoXxgSj4IxcGeyZ-QT8uCH9ki9FDlDiR1FWQrxxv-V3lK5rWIWQfMIhWz5IhCnRMOCavs7LofPs0R1H2S2_gLRjmb6IJcT64n8WaxzL6JnH5GSFbXakV8c7ApvI6xsQpV68bI83SWCi3jS7wbK4or1ucDMYynHYYW4F/s640/Batchelors%20buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWqHv86gnVdT0oxRQ2ZIazhoXxgSj4IxcGeyZ-QT8uCH9ki9FDlDiR1FWQrxxv-V3lK5rWIWQfMIhWz5IhCnRMOCavs7LofPs0R1H2S2_gLRjmb6IJcT64n8WaxzL6JnH5GSFbXakV8c7ApvI6xsQpV68bI83SWCi3jS7wbK4or1ucDMYynHYYW4F/w640-h480/Batchelors%20buttons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had quite the stand of Batchelor's Buttons. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did not post in June, I have no idea why. I get busy... but that's no explanation. I used to post daily! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In July, I posted a picture of our newest family arrival... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7iaLh3OM7ToIcxna5L5gBRSCDaVzqHtOxY8Ih7NL4ACLPuxEBgYpAbZzifzIj7pfax2ajk-K94aNZzU2FnhstqGBmILmXTa8ZSSo6OCgDZ4SIVZr4MoCdfQK1umQ_T4g-h4JP1h_E9XAO2ugzStmj7jci_92a_2hQV5MSrN8vH0IJ8q1IDXYmFO/s640/Wyatt%20and%20Maci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7iaLh3OM7ToIcxna5L5gBRSCDaVzqHtOxY8Ih7NL4ACLPuxEBgYpAbZzifzIj7pfax2ajk-K94aNZzU2FnhstqGBmILmXTa8ZSSo6OCgDZ4SIVZr4MoCdfQK1umQ_T4g-h4JP1h_E9XAO2ugzStmj7jci_92a_2hQV5MSrN8vH0IJ8q1IDXYmFO/w480-h640/Wyatt%20and%20Maci.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our newest little doll, Wyatt, with his big sister, Maci. These are children of Granddaughter Madison, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">who live at Tanglewood Lakes in LaCygne, Kansas, far from me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love seeing pictures of them, though we rarely meet in person. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is now a six month old... sitting up well and has blond hair and looks like his daddy Dorval's mini-me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maci will be starting kindergarten as an almost-six-year old this fall. It seems like she was just born, where does time go! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xmaLGX0CbenAy7jFpVRfTRFohRwYVRHBgzxP-HbwyRlIcBanecNWjOe7dqVWIiv0XQZUqPmiAkIPenQw6OkFoBSazoOtYivZkTn-1maw5ORkRkxbZRLhYgkvQUBJ7vZYUm-432u18_In3Embq-ORyJsaPpZG-aVCj38i2zCz2rotDJ_ZdD6Pypxg/s640/Jack%20Flash%20sick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xmaLGX0CbenAy7jFpVRfTRFohRwYVRHBgzxP-HbwyRlIcBanecNWjOe7dqVWIiv0XQZUqPmiAkIPenQw6OkFoBSazoOtYivZkTn-1maw5ORkRkxbZRLhYgkvQUBJ7vZYUm-432u18_In3Embq-ORyJsaPpZG-aVCj38i2zCz2rotDJ_ZdD6Pypxg/w480-h640/Jack%20Flash%20sick.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In July, Jack Flash broke my heart. I had had him neutered and got all his shots. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did not have them test for FIV. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Within a week or so of the neuter... he fell sick. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I watched him waste for a week and took him down to the vet for a booster which was scheduled. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The King was dying. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I held him and sung to him as he was euthanized for FIV. The neuter had thrown him into an episode. I will never get another feral neutered without testing for this devastating disease. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It took a while for the cats to relax and stop watching for his ambushes. Coco came back to the front porch and deck, Cleo moved into the shop. Everyone was safe again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sad thing was, I had really learned to love him and the neutering was my way of making sure he could stay here with everyone. We figured the testosterone would die down in a few months and things would settle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was not to be. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGpHM6aFEnyHLrXQvC0_VfNEjhOjwvXtX2tAI3xhnk7A-XA1HRqMCBbuAOO7L7UWoNoLDoqYugFKQ5F3HHcNdqIH7sAcNEDPpo1BzODfngGSYh53F35B5euf0uX-g67MZHVlV--JH5Jf0NK1p9apVqsCUwTzxhvTcjckwktnMJMEnlo4PJ2USpmKr/s640/Mama%20and%20kitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGpHM6aFEnyHLrXQvC0_VfNEjhOjwvXtX2tAI3xhnk7A-XA1HRqMCBbuAOO7L7UWoNoLDoqYugFKQ5F3HHcNdqIH7sAcNEDPpo1BzODfngGSYh53F35B5euf0uX-g67MZHVlV--JH5Jf0NK1p9apVqsCUwTzxhvTcjckwktnMJMEnlo4PJ2USpmKr/w480-h640/Mama%20and%20kitten.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jack fathered a litter of kittens with a cat who was little more than a kitten herself... Mama. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were four kittens in my shop for over two months. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were successfully trapped by Kitty Cat Connection and went on to barn homes of their own. Mama was ear tipped and neutered and returned to me, and lives here happily in the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jax and I were able to finally clean the shop up again. (We need to do it again!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9T2hEFYBK4vf4N89YtiCXv6ZZWnGvP2d3JSGSv9hKcu63JKpcW1eX_98xFQsaIA7sXvcTf5nh-lwNkTe-HttPb6yeRLw3qNifhJXZXSZFC1cqtiBAsMk_Qu_zaL0NdbQL93h3GiJL3SdzAuupx-WkR0CwxLKohvRs5AkH0-jS38XukdbyUmW0_Va4/s639/Doug%20Killer%20Cotton%20Ball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9T2hEFYBK4vf4N89YtiCXv6ZZWnGvP2d3JSGSv9hKcu63JKpcW1eX_98xFQsaIA7sXvcTf5nh-lwNkTe-HttPb6yeRLw3qNifhJXZXSZFC1cqtiBAsMk_Qu_zaL0NdbQL93h3GiJL3SdzAuupx-WkR0CwxLKohvRs5AkH0-jS38XukdbyUmW0_Va4/w640-h426/Doug%20Killer%20Cotton%20Ball.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doug, the Killer Cotton Ball, styling by the morning glories on my henyard fence in August. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGngb8_hFcKzSD553rZXB5mo9dmmdmbfp4R_EdSPZJmlBOruyP8quIWfT9V6vnPKNmdWguq2cdsg_uGVNC4CvNty-r79uFxcB2s8KU1z4D9EP3abNB0cUuhABM4BvGKFN7Gyq3FzZG5cGpUd07Mnwzjh5D0E8hGJt8LlfinwSG9_L_CNvusHHuRpND/s640/Sheep%20leaving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGngb8_hFcKzSD553rZXB5mo9dmmdmbfp4R_EdSPZJmlBOruyP8quIWfT9V6vnPKNmdWguq2cdsg_uGVNC4CvNty-r79uFxcB2s8KU1z4D9EP3abNB0cUuhABM4BvGKFN7Gyq3FzZG5cGpUd07Mnwzjh5D0E8hGJt8LlfinwSG9_L_CNvusHHuRpND/w640-h640/Sheep%20leaving.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">August 28th, the sheep were pulled as the pasture grass was worn out from the drought. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They had stayed until early October the two years before. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In September, I went to Garnett to see my other little great grand, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aurora Jane Rose. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUSatJxby5VU9B5Cx0JtoEy0nYnGV9qyhDD-KY65ytT_D2yz0aWJr4Ib2c2OF6ZtKNK1Q9H7oG70IuGOWShlby6mB8ZYun222c7Ea7YqpQ7bTO1-i8bO5W_Kk48-QeNxNKWt-9LNJQd0e8a7DTz-PnuYGUDW4yhl_L9qzkqFpyT2emIkGSwfxwXs0/s640/Aurora%20and%20gran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUSatJxby5VU9B5Cx0JtoEy0nYnGV9qyhDD-KY65ytT_D2yz0aWJr4Ib2c2OF6ZtKNK1Q9H7oG70IuGOWShlby6mB8ZYun222c7Ea7YqpQ7bTO1-i8bO5W_Kk48-QeNxNKWt-9LNJQd0e8a7DTz-PnuYGUDW4yhl_L9qzkqFpyT2emIkGSwfxwXs0/w640-h640/Aurora%20and%20gran.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She will be two in May. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC_LAklzEFr0rbuo01xGq4OEnoDWdo93EKDWmzTxltNFphTonCdtzhF3enotmGN_E1RBSDfU2lH5yRWk7LJ58Jh1vXLgDpn91knb-xBldqhYxfXYrrvjidN153EMyjpW5h1zYp5qmWHVLDikO-1WdCmJrq2K6YwaWJvzGxWin59MKLKBF9L5dZXlL/s640/Buddy%20on%20deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC_LAklzEFr0rbuo01xGq4OEnoDWdo93EKDWmzTxltNFphTonCdtzhF3enotmGN_E1RBSDfU2lH5yRWk7LJ58Jh1vXLgDpn91knb-xBldqhYxfXYrrvjidN153EMyjpW5h1zYp5qmWHVLDikO-1WdCmJrq2K6YwaWJvzGxWin59MKLKBF9L5dZXlL/w640-h640/Buddy%20on%20deck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">September was also the month that this guy came here... Buddy, whom I also call Big Dog, or Moose. He was found astray in our county and turned over to Animal Control, thank heavens, because he was starved and road-beaten. He has stayed here, and has gained forty pounds. He is the German Shepherd who does not bark! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was estimated at over ten years old, which is old for a GSD. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In October, Wanda started living in the big hen house full time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lock her up every night with the birds, and she does fine in there. In fact, I was so grateful to know she was warm and dry during the cold spells. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc7xBM1Sdh71kfjWCuHAntt2svDq7Bxh5Sw0g96P_9qgklqrM6Zge_Dyv9ArOSGH833t-wxk76uzLBLOoz-91Rt_wYt-7qBmGHaIgzPRXbsSlW9Ff08dQBpXm8fpZlx_xFOLAdOqWYQIrPX39bEeItoCQi77Hqy-IHYW712NYBWeOh2r5r7NzmbcZ/s640/Wanda%20in%20the%20nest%20box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc7xBM1Sdh71kfjWCuHAntt2svDq7Bxh5Sw0g96P_9qgklqrM6Zge_Dyv9ArOSGH833t-wxk76uzLBLOoz-91Rt_wYt-7qBmGHaIgzPRXbsSlW9Ff08dQBpXm8fpZlx_xFOLAdOqWYQIrPX39bEeItoCQi77Hqy-IHYW712NYBWeOh2r5r7NzmbcZ/w640-h640/Wanda%20in%20the%20nest%20box.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She has her meals in there, too, and there is a heated water bowl for her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She actually sleeps in a kennel at night in a deep bed of straw. Since there are hardly any eggs being laid now, she has her run of the nest boxes. She has also gone from wanting to kill me to being a regular purr machine and talking as soon as she sees me in the morning. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In November, I started seeing these guys regularly...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcT2U1XxHQzj4c1Vc_N2jYSsM6ceoWe_Fgzq59Zui5cvj2aW1AE0WgefB6Hp7tpVzrtVhy3uRGTSNca8q4LKpd1KTHxSoNWvubi8JNyDtanDjTp64Z6hyNP7Z55ViUwwTOj2k_xpdYzwfANC6ZlKsmkd7lvzmWVYB8StqiijOb_ka_gZvwV0q5aHC/s640/Coyotes%20at%20feeder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcT2U1XxHQzj4c1Vc_N2jYSsM6ceoWe_Fgzq59Zui5cvj2aW1AE0WgefB6Hp7tpVzrtVhy3uRGTSNca8q4LKpd1KTHxSoNWvubi8JNyDtanDjTp64Z6hyNP7Z55ViUwwTOj2k_xpdYzwfANC6ZlKsmkd7lvzmWVYB8StqiijOb_ka_gZvwV0q5aHC/w640-h360/Coyotes%20at%20feeder.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Notice it is still daylight...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The feeder is no longer in the pasture, and I'll explain why in a minute. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was originally put there because I began seeing another cat. I believe now that that cat, whom I call Alien... has a home nearby, because he disappeared during our recent brutal cold snap, and reappeared after. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still have chicken carcasses from Sam's to dispose of... and they are going in the north fence line. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw skunks come to the feeder, which I had not seen for years here. I also saw possums and raccoons and frankly, I don't need to draw any more of them. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCMmW-AzvtAzZpL8OSqxxCbjvBOECEkWxb5VJ3Gn4G1YMhQI0lwSyPf5lAQC9FpeDFyThdLF7cWYUQPPLrR_-CyWVc2Bljco44xExhRbwQAu6CbD0sAbG3YEEN3XwzYUN-4TtBb6733u8knRcDbY9rvfqxWdNqOmsOndekFkoUwV7OMugLRCOCoT8/s640/November%20leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCMmW-AzvtAzZpL8OSqxxCbjvBOECEkWxb5VJ3Gn4G1YMhQI0lwSyPf5lAQC9FpeDFyThdLF7cWYUQPPLrR_-CyWVc2Bljco44xExhRbwQAu6CbD0sAbG3YEEN3XwzYUN-4TtBb6733u8knRcDbY9rvfqxWdNqOmsOndekFkoUwV7OMugLRCOCoT8/w640-h640/November%20leaves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was still a bit of color in November, but we did not have a glowing fall because of the lack of moisture, I think. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had made a decision to have my cataracts removed, and those operations were (foolishly) scheduled for December 7 and 14. Friends, I did not go into this with enough information. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I listened to friends who had had it done and loved the results. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The surgeon explained to me twice that I <i>could</i> have one eye "long" and the other eye "short" and I told him I could wear eyeglasses for close up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I did not realize that I would have to actually wear glasses in bed as I read at night (which I have always done) or to even look at my phone during the night if awakened. They hurt my nose... that is all I am going to say. (laying on them in bed). I have readers all over the small house now so I can reach for them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hate what I did to my eyes. They feel gritty all the time, and you cannot rub them. I am using the eye drops, which will end in another week... and my eye doctor told me to use eye drops regularly... but I notice last night on the Visine bottle there are warnings against this. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see my own eye doctor again on Wednesday, I had a truncated appointment last week but found out that I can wear contacts that provide that "near" and "far" sensation. The other alternative is to wear glasses full time and have one eye near and one eye far. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really screwed myself up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As far as "far" vision, I can see clear over to the hen houses and see what is going on on the porch of the big hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I urge anyone trying to make this decision to get all of the information before doing it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the camera in the shop, I have been getting pictures of a few animals that are going in there at night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwqEMOy6CUt9TAtaH0K0tV9cm_dxMj-xv8c8LaVS63l_Ot74KzBT-0pP3dYDPeT5uuvXXCAIXhU1dqfVADeyMbTCEEvtLDrAnpfpQDUAYOThccPp0Cm6cHyU76IruWxHLa3KMNsgjkcmE3MstIqwYpsF8Io3Ff2W0OWCWG5F8WJTRRgP0eYrYA7FL/s640/skunk%20one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwqEMOy6CUt9TAtaH0K0tV9cm_dxMj-xv8c8LaVS63l_Ot74KzBT-0pP3dYDPeT5uuvXXCAIXhU1dqfVADeyMbTCEEvtLDrAnpfpQDUAYOThccPp0Cm6cHyU76IruWxHLa3KMNsgjkcmE3MstIqwYpsF8Io3Ff2W0OWCWG5F8WJTRRgP0eYrYA7FL/w640-h360/skunk%20one.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oddly enough, there are not hordes of animals going in there. This big raccoon is one, a large possum is one, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and this skunk. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbjcKcWOqRYP6cgcgKh4hxovLUXNtAZeU3hLDKcQGwJHDM9gHKCKM6uYES9RahprKeuoAVWdcgNov-mwC2xBpQXT39FArSnC1hoU6-OSEnqA7WQEr5XLM0xYAT_-mm-W4wntAhDW_vH9u8sTt6o5WPD2Tcgjxx4CF_Jf9ZNVG4xeqMyBE26r66gT3/s640/skunk%20two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbjcKcWOqRYP6cgcgKh4hxovLUXNtAZeU3hLDKcQGwJHDM9gHKCKM6uYES9RahprKeuoAVWdcgNov-mwC2xBpQXT39FArSnC1hoU6-OSEnqA7WQEr5XLM0xYAT_-mm-W4wntAhDW_vH9u8sTt6o5WPD2Tcgjxx4CF_Jf9ZNVG4xeqMyBE26r66gT3/w640-h360/skunk%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There it is, caught on camera on the 17th. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friday morning, the 30th... I found it here... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I3SAHr1a9Nb-GztYxVMOzyfxT6YsGYmCMWaxFjkDAhNpQ8fIvmOrEzvXU3_cPWq0qyQcqTZ5D1n07te2vlNepXikVk0IA_39NSFMPPCP1sjS101iLpYdRGXOz0h41zZDrZ6MxoTxkNtepD07mqB1g9oKHmnLi_Yc-427B30PCo1OmQKlV2JctVaU/s2992/20221230_094842.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I3SAHr1a9Nb-GztYxVMOzyfxT6YsGYmCMWaxFjkDAhNpQ8fIvmOrEzvXU3_cPWq0qyQcqTZ5D1n07te2vlNepXikVk0IA_39NSFMPPCP1sjS101iLpYdRGXOz0h41zZDrZ6MxoTxkNtepD07mqB1g9oKHmnLi_Yc-427B30PCo1OmQKlV2JctVaU/w640-h640/20221230_094842.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is between the big and little hen houses, and there is a burrow right behind it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believed, when I found it, that it could be diseased and I was immediately afraid of rabies or distemper. I called the largest local wildlife rehabbers and got no help from them, not even a name to call. I tried the sheriff's dept, and to be fair, a deputy did return the call... and then mumbled he would try to get the ACO to call me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I prevailed upon two friends, who did not want to shoot it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It suffered all day long, I checked on it many times. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the above picture, it was still able to raise its tail a little. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the day wore on, I realized it was not diseased, but was the same skunk as on camera in</span> <span style="font-size: large;">the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssRh-I8Qe4_8A7zIFJqfU0Xk7PuelYsNPps9NEC3Oj59qwXrZ9vgYfGsE6iQFDhF1xH7Pv18squseVe3tdvrm42kZ4svoIKuVEl8k0zeCATQMOT_i7LUACvAdyeHPK3Dc3LnNjPiyOOjQ_RCbyK7jbLcR3wQ-Um_HhSxxTXebRmjIT7XP9t5NDc6D/s2992/20221230_160237.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssRh-I8Qe4_8A7zIFJqfU0Xk7PuelYsNPps9NEC3Oj59qwXrZ9vgYfGsE6iQFDhF1xH7Pv18squseVe3tdvrm42kZ4svoIKuVEl8k0zeCATQMOT_i7LUACvAdyeHPK3Dc3LnNjPiyOOjQ_RCbyK7jbLcR3wQ-Um_HhSxxTXebRmjIT7XP9t5NDc6D/w640-h640/20221230_160237.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">By late afternoon, it was barely alive, and I lacked the courage to take a shovel and put it out of its misery, I am such a coward. I could hardly sleep that night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sent some pictures to a friend who is an ACO in Texas and he said it did not look diseased. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We think now... I think... that it was hit by a car on the road just out of sight behind it... and dragged itself up the bank to the closest burrow, which was under the little hen house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Four of those hens and Doug did not come out that day... and their house still smells of skunk, but I have the windows open. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRLAx6ENEm9Y89y-VyzjBc-qkkKiQsEzqWgwNKxQ2pzjmiTTVdn50i0-fYEohFalUM5RZeWI8pJNKsXqg270C-nq8NS6sBSwW3wVaweQtmsNOd8hIiA0vT30hCO4zg52V7I4Wh3z_5FUcPka2mJGvnha9ezg2LD_xtsEKeFootwgM6bJNf6bLVN7K/s2992/20221231_081137.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRLAx6ENEm9Y89y-VyzjBc-qkkKiQsEzqWgwNKxQ2pzjmiTTVdn50i0-fYEohFalUM5RZeWI8pJNKsXqg270C-nq8NS6sBSwW3wVaweQtmsNOd8hIiA0vT30hCO4zg52V7I4Wh3z_5FUcPka2mJGvnha9ezg2LD_xtsEKeFootwgM6bJNf6bLVN7K/w640-h640/20221231_081137.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn5MKUnj_NrgskdKOCCxHUjRSsxALTno6jbcOEhB-GhwL16UppMRkXlebmujzHsuBpR2nVpivw9abiO1lDFEFds5XdeIZvvJ_5SUfB_sNwQ2RmK75ibM-KXshE9J6WwF0wljXFcaSuq_q-LbFVaNEmjKbLcLTpW8IiLA-GJ7V4JD04WRkf1qsam6U/s2992/20221231_080813.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn5MKUnj_NrgskdKOCCxHUjRSsxALTno6jbcOEhB-GhwL16UppMRkXlebmujzHsuBpR2nVpivw9abiO1lDFEFds5XdeIZvvJ_5SUfB_sNwQ2RmK75ibM-KXshE9J6WwF0wljXFcaSuq_q-LbFVaNEmjKbLcLTpW8IiLA-GJ7V4JD04WRkf1qsam6U/w640-h640/20221231_080813.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God, yesterday morning I found it dead. I picked it up and put it into a bag and carried it down to the woods and put it down there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to get a burn barrel where I can burn anything suspect in it, but this skunk was clearly in good health ... and as confirmation, there have been no skunks on the shop camera in the last three nights. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It broke my heart. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I forgot to check if it was male or female, and skunks breed in May and June, so I was not worried about babies. However....skunks also have very short lives in the wild, usually two to three years, like opossums. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the way down to the bottom of the pasture, I stopped to look at the possum that died four weeks ago in the dog house in my garage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dxvx-TLIuXpLBr0qvHPXspUudb_ai3Cj5GgG5I5lEVl4K5RqmW6Eni94f-hm-rfBidxerhVuLIRH_1xj4-qOc9M5FK-vgezhlnePv9UkCeT4_dbJfwa5_XBicMiPbvJ7E_ZYdd82uHeinRCfsWJHkLzhRIIJ1de9tZjhGhVBZl2386Phnp_FJnrm/s2992/20221231_082159.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dxvx-TLIuXpLBr0qvHPXspUudb_ai3Cj5GgG5I5lEVl4K5RqmW6Eni94f-hm-rfBidxerhVuLIRH_1xj4-qOc9M5FK-vgezhlnePv9UkCeT4_dbJfwa5_XBicMiPbvJ7E_ZYdd82uHeinRCfsWJHkLzhRIIJ1de9tZjhGhVBZl2386Phnp_FJnrm/w640-h640/20221231_082159.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Almost untouched. Incredible. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can sure tell the vultures are gone for the winter, and the coyotes are spoiled. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so, another year has passed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am the last of my nuclear family, though I have first cousins who gathered around our family table, but it is at the holidays that I miss them the most, when I think of those happy times of past years. One of my cousins sent me a card that read "I miss those happy days at 240" (our family address). I do, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had a quiet Christmas this year with members of the family being affected by RSV and flu... and I am trying to stay away from anyone sickly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I enjoy being at home, I am one of those "weird" people... who is happy in my own patch. I am going to spend this afternoon looking at seed catalogs... just because I am not starting anything does not mean I am not planting. I had one big planter devoted to herbs the last two years, and that is being dug out and flowers going in. I am going to sit myself down with the Burpee catalog this afternoon and dream of summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am looking forward to another year volunteering at the <a href="http://aghalloffame.com">National Agicultural Center </a> and I am grateful to all of my friends there.... Wayne, Judy, Marsha and all of you who have helped me this past year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot emphasize enough that volunteering is needed and so good for the soul! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did not hear many concerts this year... pandemic times stopped so many tours and my favorite groups did not come here. There were a few I regretted not seeing. YES was back, but not close enough for me to get to. Leaving this place is hard for me now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester, Zoey, Buddy, and all the kitties of Calamity Acres join me in wishing you the best of Happy New Years! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for continuing to read this blog. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://aghalloffame.com"><br /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817285380732686421.post-29557614493202556712022-12-18T09:48:00.000-06:002022-12-18T09:48:03.044-06:00Winter Has Arrived<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though it technically is the last waning days of fall, </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">winter, weatherwise... is truly here. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Twelve degrees F out there this morning, friends. Hard on the diabetic hands and feet! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have to come in to warm up in between doing chores, and though it is sunny.... I did not let any chickens out. Most are just too old. Many will be in for the duration of the week, when we are plunging to literally below zero temps. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am out of straw in any quantity, and it was in short supply this year, but I am going to see if I can get two bales on Tuesday and bed the henhouses a little deeper. Tuesday, because my car is in the shop. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsKrdaGWARfsRcC5oYjykbkrJXtVWC8sKr-LuzmJyg2uUi6dQLqiA0Y8Ru0WITB0ewPHWS5gpw0BzhhdrAu6gaDuSLnyrQykbSvuF_fP6HwwUUCI7Ho32XTuKHlKy_RMACEVu_dr0P4IJv0niD8izdep4RZ4CmXfCPzSvGAt7MEgANJFzV-HK_FD8/s2992/20221211_113312.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsKrdaGWARfsRcC5oYjykbkrJXtVWC8sKr-LuzmJyg2uUi6dQLqiA0Y8Ru0WITB0ewPHWS5gpw0BzhhdrAu6gaDuSLnyrQykbSvuF_fP6HwwUUCI7Ho32XTuKHlKy_RMACEVu_dr0P4IJv0niD8izdep4RZ4CmXfCPzSvGAt7MEgANJFzV-HK_FD8/w640-h640/20221211_113312.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK4KCzu40fxEUCfzWBtkvkO3vYSQl509H8qrrgvl-UTpByPfJTRCMsS4xFWpj42rsk-ArPlDp_ggLv4YdDZDmLVsjbky7HzAwb9GAPinKbLkkVivLqs9a0UTlfmTt-d_zgDeE6yrJFc0B-W3vzSYHiGfNNF-4MY_EpfNL3gBvzEOQHBmBokr4YKn2/s2992/20221211_112541.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK4KCzu40fxEUCfzWBtkvkO3vYSQl509H8qrrgvl-UTpByPfJTRCMsS4xFWpj42rsk-ArPlDp_ggLv4YdDZDmLVsjbky7HzAwb9GAPinKbLkkVivLqs9a0UTlfmTt-d_zgDeE6yrJFc0B-W3vzSYHiGfNNF-4MY_EpfNL3gBvzEOQHBmBokr4YKn2/w640-h640/20221211_112541.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEFRrSePfYI18XIe_uSFJUxXGk3535cujbwiDvKek-1mR70MRCdA3TlFNe0o7zaqWy61m_vfdkD3RWaece5SWLPn3OjlXy3AK8S8KOPHfVJ8cyMlpGBmQKaShO8DZZQ65yJIOVdHvAieeMvElzrdJcRW4hAf8db4oj0y9jrk42Bn6vqtZodE_Krll/s2992/20221211_112504.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEFRrSePfYI18XIe_uSFJUxXGk3535cujbwiDvKek-1mR70MRCdA3TlFNe0o7zaqWy61m_vfdkD3RWaece5SWLPn3OjlXy3AK8S8KOPHfVJ8cyMlpGBmQKaShO8DZZQ65yJIOVdHvAieeMvElzrdJcRW4hAf8db4oj0y9jrk42Bn6vqtZodE_Krll/w640-h640/20221211_112504.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPZ-y4i3P0apO0UVSSayUqvJc3VaLHk6FcdzSEIplCv-cCOHY6XpkhcLA0EyR2IZtl1eWUd6V5MzpNjzhtWiI-QxJviXmKdtaYNOvYU4gqsAYdHhicMAhX-QzwNS-HV_bed0ft5sN-V4dAlKLAhYgcB1I1n3q4miNgbNcbZVW18rUoOSm8uvN8I8y/s2992/20221211_112500.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPZ-y4i3P0apO0UVSSayUqvJc3VaLHk6FcdzSEIplCv-cCOHY6XpkhcLA0EyR2IZtl1eWUd6V5MzpNjzhtWiI-QxJviXmKdtaYNOvYU4gqsAYdHhicMAhX-QzwNS-HV_bed0ft5sN-V4dAlKLAhYgcB1I1n3q4miNgbNcbZVW18rUoOSm8uvN8I8y/w640-h640/20221211_112500.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is beautiful, I will grant you that. But gosh... makes it so hard to get anything done. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow up to my two cataract operations... I can see 20/20 now at distance. I did not understand the importance of making one eye near and one far.... I may have a do-over because I have to whip the readers on and off constantly, I cannot see anything close up. I will be seeing my own eye doctor this week and will talk to her about this whole thing. I am pleased with the results, though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been taking some steps to get the cats ready for winter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVDtB8MEXRmDPUxPHnp_3SsSj0dmopPDJgtYKkE7pCJNeRnqJ-VIMmWXgDbyZmBEAGJn9F_BAJBLduMeOSSbiXZ7Q8LvxTO77_MS6UIR5fTn1AoA335Y--eM57Tp7HQKln6eOI0TKfhdjkf4WIAGoxeVoH_QUhi9pzwx8OFCL0P7DfWsIWmVTgTUH/s2992/20221216_083228.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVDtB8MEXRmDPUxPHnp_3SsSj0dmopPDJgtYKkE7pCJNeRnqJ-VIMmWXgDbyZmBEAGJn9F_BAJBLduMeOSSbiXZ7Q8LvxTO77_MS6UIR5fTn1AoA335Y--eM57Tp7HQKln6eOI0TKfhdjkf4WIAGoxeVoH_QUhi9pzwx8OFCL0P7DfWsIWmVTgTUH/w640-h640/20221216_083228.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are Cleo and Mama eating in front of the heater in the shop. Last winter I used the little black heater on the left... but it cycles off after 8 hours, and yes, I went out there in the middle of the night to turn it on several times. I have not even connected it, as you see. Cleo prefers to sleep in the little bed on top of the chest... the one right behind the heater. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a chick light over the kuranda bed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ayktmz3PjIikGQjw_TbM8uwqnvhVSypAnICQ8x4dfe5_Mcgr8P5bxq8VCP3sBLJ5n-qwnJwtNFJDHZBqwhKaWgaycd9REWs8Am8CUay3qtsL6UQd2xZhfjuesqvwqz_bTX1O-277DcLUrmqV6SzFBKkf82AAFB7eRnvJ90PRpUy2RZ-jREu5Ql1/s2992/20221211_113712.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ayktmz3PjIikGQjw_TbM8uwqnvhVSypAnICQ8x4dfe5_Mcgr8P5bxq8VCP3sBLJ5n-qwnJwtNFJDHZBqwhKaWgaycd9REWs8Am8CUay3qtsL6UQd2xZhfjuesqvwqz_bTX1O-277DcLUrmqV6SzFBKkf82AAFB7eRnvJ90PRpUy2RZ-jREu5Ql1/w640-h640/20221211_113712.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has actually been on for a month or so. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xeUCmhJ5AQZWPslwpMpy7BoPwYE-kaxXKrNdXyhcIGRo5dAR0QbyNojr2OXgU-RaIug4hoji28d9jMlxf_mx1VhOe6kw1FtaftnqX2eOZyCObTNP16ycbkYbOwj3P3q8moljX1Pi3LC8Sbu-ETy-EkyLi8QVcDCQ4u4F6S1u0U4UUFIIlrk2wLXG/s2992/20221216_083224.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xeUCmhJ5AQZWPslwpMpy7BoPwYE-kaxXKrNdXyhcIGRo5dAR0QbyNojr2OXgU-RaIug4hoji28d9jMlxf_mx1VhOe6kw1FtaftnqX2eOZyCObTNP16ycbkYbOwj3P3q8moljX1Pi3LC8Sbu-ETy-EkyLi8QVcDCQ4u4F6S1u0U4UUFIIlrk2wLXG/w640-h640/20221216_083224.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stapled plastic over the doors so that drafts won't blow through continuously, and no, I could not do all the way to the top, but this is helping tremendously. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">IF it warms up next week (after Christmas) I will hire grandson Jax to come and get on a ladder and staple the plastic to the top. Just doing this helped so much. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfX71wOeHQcVNLSgYWac9Y8yxaUkd0ADjmrvUBlgBmt_ujLqD1Hkoo-7z99FflB2Jc3Ny-sL6R0739qPHtLxUYKpaxlYnlw9ajf52fQach1hH096O3Vr1JLSZzYaZ0LlT3kbbKVrdTRINxZloSBUMJhZlOhc1t9IdWT1UWfJUjBxfZlxUagEZ5qCg/s2992/20221216_075550.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfX71wOeHQcVNLSgYWac9Y8yxaUkd0ADjmrvUBlgBmt_ujLqD1Hkoo-7z99FflB2Jc3Ny-sL6R0739qPHtLxUYKpaxlYnlw9ajf52fQach1hH096O3Vr1JLSZzYaZ0LlT3kbbKVrdTRINxZloSBUMJhZlOhc1t9IdWT1UWfJUjBxfZlxUagEZ5qCg/w640-h640/20221216_075550.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is Alien eating on the porch two days ago, this was the cat who began appearing in the pasture. I found him in the shop a few days ago on the camera in there, so I know he knows how to get in where it's a little warmer. He is sleeping here, though. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYRx4DrLHK-NYqR5inmLnu-BqxjkV0mUnpmq_4Zf-dKGtx5X-8nEqrkZGgSLsdJZHsxdjz17xXo5TvWzmInNep06G6GnqmHCek_ArXXm9ejcqHlyrG2awqIV29c8TzOBLAGgycaPA3BXT2uFvt0iz9HpB5AXztHz54jp0HVuTSK7XkgkFM1YgSqUo/s2992/20221216_083338.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYRx4DrLHK-NYqR5inmLnu-BqxjkV0mUnpmq_4Zf-dKGtx5X-8nEqrkZGgSLsdJZHsxdjz17xXo5TvWzmInNep06G6GnqmHCek_ArXXm9ejcqHlyrG2awqIV29c8TzOBLAGgycaPA3BXT2uFvt0iz9HpB5AXztHz54jp0HVuTSK7XkgkFM1YgSqUo/w640-h640/20221216_083338.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, that is the doghouse where the possum died. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of possums, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">here she is after one full week in the pasture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudWiN5SO5qlVHVozxpd1ibGYus1EatLoxURC4DCZoXyChrl1UP8TgjHaVMzumyAeKe46grQQwmmXRayzidxFplY_z2cmW5EI0z8utYtHaP_H64uJ-AtR-0w-_j3z0FRnTm9wMcxsqCNRs6w_bXudRdsF3kKFgRUJ8xiv0yP_h0ziDa2toDqC3R1D8/s2992/20221211_155239.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudWiN5SO5qlVHVozxpd1ibGYus1EatLoxURC4DCZoXyChrl1UP8TgjHaVMzumyAeKe46grQQwmmXRayzidxFplY_z2cmW5EI0z8utYtHaP_H64uJ-AtR-0w-_j3z0FRnTm9wMcxsqCNRs6w_bXudRdsF3kKFgRUJ8xiv0yP_h0ziDa2toDqC3R1D8/w640-h640/20221211_155239.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pretty much untouched. I picked her up and put her over by the brush pile. If it warms up at all today, I'll walk down and see if she is still there. This stuff fascinates me... my brother Pete was the same way. It's not ghoulish, we just like to see nature at work. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEBnsQRVSqzEcik0Bwh9dmJVTp67dTFi9nKtwW6xf4zAIJ9XuE6JdJJL7inidiGtqGEl_3p_NxVNJ5orMZGvm-y5wxRkvwpM7nbrC5J7moEtABGxIcVK-blDfqSjX_NenDm_uYxo3QVru4FAJwQ1Ev4-D_GzgxIfsACYlh3up7GD-ZDvB0Ssl6daJ/s2992/20221215_085053.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEBnsQRVSqzEcik0Bwh9dmJVTp67dTFi9nKtwW6xf4zAIJ9XuE6JdJJL7inidiGtqGEl_3p_NxVNJ5orMZGvm-y5wxRkvwpM7nbrC5J7moEtABGxIcVK-blDfqSjX_NenDm_uYxo3QVru4FAJwQ1Ev4-D_GzgxIfsACYlh3up7GD-ZDvB0Ssl6daJ/w640-h640/20221215_085053.heic" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jester had dibs on the warm crate on Friday. You see I made it like a little cave for them, and they all love to take turns in it. The electric heater on the left is on low now for a few weeks to keep the kitchen warm, and they love to lay near it. I do not like having a huge crate in my kitchen, but I DO like making life easier for the elderly dogs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4HaOpgldLnFxP2JDpN_rMbUwdHsJGh6RjSTxxvsViyicXj31K4H3OC2A0n1xHShcO2br6AWcOlY1Wof6wlhl4_iaVxE59uqfQ3fzDN5huzZOG6svqj9vy1Qr3Ai3Qf7TyA2jgTGUpjB63w3rfEnp9AT0B5uZ_yemDMW75qGuuYDcDOx5NH25OFfu/s2992/20221217_143921.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4HaOpgldLnFxP2JDpN_rMbUwdHsJGh6RjSTxxvsViyicXj31K4H3OC2A0n1xHShcO2br6AWcOlY1Wof6wlhl4_iaVxE59uqfQ3fzDN5huzZOG6svqj9vy1Qr3Ai3Qf7TyA2jgTGUpjB63w3rfEnp9AT0B5uZ_yemDMW75qGuuYDcDOx5NH25OFfu/w640-h640/20221217_143921.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This little doll is the best guardian ever, She stood there on the porch for a long time yesterday, staring into the pasture. I really keep an eye on her because she is coyote-bait. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Xn1K6V836NMgsNzEKBDUUsxuGoKT9sUehzTqVZqw2OPBxn54q3Jl8ltIBbN4lpg4sCFxN7Wt2duUS0DhEL_e1w1mkKzM-Qdtj0C-nw_heT28AwUc44PmXV6rtrWFu95_A-mmU8o6peaF8lY_VgPw1sD4bZXhPx2aa4EtrioQIYBzV_5MGmZO7qOQ/s2992/20221217_181631.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Xn1K6V836NMgsNzEKBDUUsxuGoKT9sUehzTqVZqw2OPBxn54q3Jl8ltIBbN4lpg4sCFxN7Wt2duUS0DhEL_e1w1mkKzM-Qdtj0C-nw_heT28AwUc44PmXV6rtrWFu95_A-mmU8o6peaF8lY_VgPw1sD4bZXhPx2aa4EtrioQIYBzV_5MGmZO7qOQ/w640-h640/20221217_181631.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Buddy, whom I actually call Big Moose half the time, is in the crate behind me this morning, soaking up the heat. In the last week, he has become unable to get on his beloved couch. He either stays in the crate or on this bed in the living room. He is such a good old dog, I speculated with a friend yesterday about what could have happened to him. If only they could talk! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AyMug_1p1DqXX5XUqJs7T4JempxyE-DZKZiBLqABkdIil-Tb12Nfzc_bLIHyVm98Me477tt0LSfSHhY4QR44l4LajrrZm9ohxrM6KcU_sZrn0c2nyOWMrTvCu8v9pNDm9Nk8XN8zZe6UtsnIZgiEko5snFpLQK-fW51FxLIk1DaLXoVO0c7RgiIL/s4992/skunk%20and%20raccoon%20in%20shop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AyMug_1p1DqXX5XUqJs7T4JempxyE-DZKZiBLqABkdIil-Tb12Nfzc_bLIHyVm98Me477tt0LSfSHhY4QR44l4LajrrZm9ohxrM6KcU_sZrn0c2nyOWMrTvCu8v9pNDm9Nk8XN8zZe6UtsnIZgiEko5snFpLQK-fW51FxLIk1DaLXoVO0c7RgiIL/w640-h360/skunk%20and%20raccoon%20in%20shop.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the camera in the shop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnuzN8HZbYOotXGGlaMTwwPUlpX7Lr_5JKVJaImgQeUK4og4keQeq04MRpUlJZDiJwqYfdTZeeaYtXAN0RAMrkyEKR9aKNSdKfLUGkkTPeeZRdb6RMnYRs1tduCBOyPY0PVZie5Kc0YQ_QFUbFnXbB-Zwtt95QuRQZYIwKh8xZVRXCapLwif4oYUw/s4992/skunk%20and%20raccoon%20eating%20together.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnuzN8HZbYOotXGGlaMTwwPUlpX7Lr_5JKVJaImgQeUK4og4keQeq04MRpUlJZDiJwqYfdTZeeaYtXAN0RAMrkyEKR9aKNSdKfLUGkkTPeeZRdb6RMnYRs1tduCBOyPY0PVZie5Kc0YQ_QFUbFnXbB-Zwtt95QuRQZYIwKh8xZVRXCapLwif4oYUw/w640-h360/skunk%20and%20raccoon%20eating%20together.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd3YM5cCkyFBJfWTOeyk-kWS_Wo_A4vdOui0lgsip-TqaMOxEXJSFZqr7Fa28qeXoyUGza0BDggid1VM_TiPXJpR87J1ybJZ8D4cTr2_B2EeUq6Bp5Zs0n9UZg-Tyt9L84HlVtbPRXAa7M6WyUurToAcgFUDBmuUjFNRpiuMF0RP9CRjMQihCWi1_/s4992/WGI_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd3YM5cCkyFBJfWTOeyk-kWS_Wo_A4vdOui0lgsip-TqaMOxEXJSFZqr7Fa28qeXoyUGza0BDggid1VM_TiPXJpR87J1ybJZ8D4cTr2_B2EeUq6Bp5Zs0n9UZg-Tyt9L84HlVtbPRXAa7M6WyUurToAcgFUDBmuUjFNRpiuMF0RP9CRjMQihCWi1_/w640-h360/WGI_0041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check out that expression! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">About ten minutes after this shot was made, the camera was knocked over by the big raccoon. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It did capture this: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVIWlBDeQVNhOT0p3G8vj-iGqFPzqpEyzVU8_rQQ64oYqewyAIntaGj54CWKtyQ6ig6u8LXF-2VnYYK0gcm57zvV9z8HZzCForfxJ3on13_5OafmxRNodWl8YzSYco3pWB_Px6H3FBB6uE1n75wrsP0lmhpJxUfJMntkXXa6lUOQA2yTyO3-vfcek/s4992/WGI_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="4992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVIWlBDeQVNhOT0p3G8vj-iGqFPzqpEyzVU8_rQQ64oYqewyAIntaGj54CWKtyQ6ig6u8LXF-2VnYYK0gcm57zvV9z8HZzCForfxJ3on13_5OafmxRNodWl8YzSYco3pWB_Px6H3FBB6uE1n75wrsP0lmhpJxUfJMntkXXa6lUOQA2yTyO3-vfcek/w640-h360/WGI_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's Alien, coming in to eat and drink. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At some point, I will trap him and he will be neutered like all the others. My traps are still on loan, they have caught a slew of ferals in a colony recently. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcyfBcDx4iP-FqE9hQeG5j449j9qTHF18T8qG8Zk_hytjbeQXJ1J2es70m624vOvHRQfZhftvYe4AwMS_2j7N56_EMd-62QndlRJg0uLOduQJgXndaGX7gXCHi0EoHJxz1cqfKy0HOo0EEL_IXJofx1fzo5un74OfjgHwt0c9SOFNSqr4Hn9pDZ9V/s6000/IMG_4874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcyfBcDx4iP-FqE9hQeG5j449j9qTHF18T8qG8Zk_hytjbeQXJ1J2es70m624vOvHRQfZhftvYe4AwMS_2j7N56_EMd-62QndlRJg0uLOduQJgXndaGX7gXCHi0EoHJxz1cqfKy0HOo0EEL_IXJofx1fzo5un74OfjgHwt0c9SOFNSqr4Hn9pDZ9V/w640-h426/IMG_4874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Pauline, a long-time reader of this blog, sent me this bag recently. I just want to thank you, Pauline, because I carry it in my car and I use it for so many things! It is light, and is an easy way for me to bundle up little things and carry them in the house, and when I don't need it, it folds flat and can be put nearly under the passenger side front seat for when I need it again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I so appreciate your kindness! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R9yTFgbDAbCfjtt4GA9M8AUI1vk0Mh_Zm7nlL_9Fq-QQXrNdaQauE2BqCkMAGRlm7dyKjRH4Qtl93XLbye122KN4-Db7IaXnKyUZHmeBXFRO39S8uGlxQ7LuizQb-QPmWnJ232w9j2ivJVBUbFwvWirKQrx1l0hHL8zq185HSwaDbVu07K-0ARpl/s6000/IMG_4869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R9yTFgbDAbCfjtt4GA9M8AUI1vk0Mh_Zm7nlL_9Fq-QQXrNdaQauE2BqCkMAGRlm7dyKjRH4Qtl93XLbye122KN4-Db7IaXnKyUZHmeBXFRO39S8uGlxQ7LuizQb-QPmWnJ232w9j2ivJVBUbFwvWirKQrx1l0hHL8zq185HSwaDbVu07K-0ARpl/w640-h426/IMG_4869.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My heart fluttered when I looked outside for the dogs and saw this last week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I try to keep a very close eye on Zoey, she wanders to the gate frequently, and in fact, at night when she has to go out, we walk up to the gate in the pitch black dark. At least Buddy was with her to protect her, but I could see both of them wandering out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is the third Sunday of Advent, I hope everyone is ready for Christmas, and, as usual, I thank you all for reading the blog. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Mary Ann http://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.com5