Blogging Impediments

Honestly, there would be more posts if life would slow down. 

Also... I have a new charging cable for my phone, and all of the sudden, 

I cannot upload pictures to the computer.  Hmmmm. 

I will try to do a post from the last upload. 

Summer has hung on by its' fingernails here in Leavenworth County. 

My flower box on my deck is still going strong, but the laundry 

tubs full of zinnias faded.  The herbs set seed and faded, and I will not 

grow them in a planter on the porch again, they had NO wow effect. 

I have three of these big planters now, and I am going to fill them with flowers next year. 

A new little friend came into our lives, to fill the hole left by 

Lilly's passing in May. 

Fritzie is nine years old, and she has fit in perfectly here with Jester, 

me, and all the animals at Calamity Acres.  I keep a sharp eye on her, she is 

my watch dog, and she tells me when the raccoons are lurking.  She doesn't get to go out alone because of it. 

On the morning of my birthday, I rolled over in bed to see a Cooper's Hawk sitting 

right outside my window! 

We have had some spectacular sunsets. 

And of course, the beautiful Harvest Moon. 

Singleton the Rooster, attacked by a coyote in August, 

is thriving with his six ladies at the Ag Hall. 

They will be home for the winter on October 20th. 

The outside of a horse really IS good for the inside of a man, or two little girls, riding buddies. 

I am so proud of Paiton for sticking with her lessons for the last year and a half. 

It amazes me to see her go in the stall, throw the halter over the horse's head, lead it to the crossties, 

groom it, pick it's hooves out, and then run over to the lesson horse barn and get the saddle and bridle, 

and then put them on herself, which she could not do a year ago.  I'm so proud of how far she has come, and how far she wants to go. 

BFFs taking some sun together.  These two get along better than Lilly and Jester, 

because Lilly always reminded everyone she was the Boss. 

A tomato hornworm, parasitized by another bug (wasp?) 

it hung on all week on this plant, but is gone today. 

Naughty, naughty sheep on the side deck this afternoon, snarfing up spilled birdseed.  I have been 

letting the sheep graze in the yard every afternoon. 

(I just discovered I can post from the phone directly via the USB cable... ) 

This is a pot with chives in it.  I just read twenty minutes ago that chives will take 

over your garden if you let them.  You see what the root system did in this pot!

They cleaned up all the dead fall apples yesterday, I stopped and picked about twenty more for them. 

The cottonwoods on neighbor Troy's pond are dropping leaves like crazy, and I crackle as I mow now in the pasture.  Yes, we are still mowing around here on September 20, I don't remember the grass every growing this fast, this late. 

Now we expect rain all weekend, I am grateful I got the yard and pasture cut the last two days. 

Last week, my friend Judy from The National Agricultural Center, gifted me with a 

beautiful roast.  I cooked it all night til it fell apart, and I always keep vegetables in my freezer... I made a huge crock pot of vegetable soup for the shelter. (I also use Better Than Bouillon, and Lipton's Beefy Onion soup mix)

This past weekend, I  was gifted a sack of potatoes, and a bag of tomatoes, and 

I made Ina Garten's Garlicky Roasted Potatoes, and a BBQ Pasta Salad. 

I have done both before, both are really tasty. 

My dear brother Mike would have been 77 on the 18th. 

My dear Keith would have been 60 on the 10th, and stepson Brandon would have been 27, they shared a birthday. 

Son Jim turned 51, and my mother would have been 105!  

Fall baseball has begun!

You go, Jaxton Michael!

NOT Like my Other Posts

This is kind of an unusual post today. 

You see, it is 29 degrees out as I type this, and the wind chill is 

making it feel like 22.  I did take some pictures outside 

this morning, but it's hard to manipulate the camera on the phone 

when your fingers are encased in gloves and warmers.  

So, I am going to show you some pictures from the game 

camera on the porch last night. 

Here is Lilly checking out the water and food bowl on the porch.  I always 

make sure the water is filled to the top. 

I had poured some dog food they won't eat into the bowl. 

You notice she is not eating it? 

I am standing there making sure there are no critters around, and this 

is actually early, if I COULD EVER FIGURE OUT HOW TO SET THE CLOCK ON THE BUSHNELL CAM. 

This was taken about ten minutes later. 

About 20 minutes later. 

That's a big 'un!

Of course, I did not have that camera aimed just right. 

Lilly sensed that raccoon, and went barreling out the door, after alerting me. 

Jester also went out, and I don't let him stay out alone. 

So here I am, waiting for Jes to finish.  Lilly was running around in the yard, 

looking for that coon, which I suspected was under the deck, from the smell out there. 

So, while I was out there, I decided to take some pictures of the 

fading supermoon. 

There is a step down at the door, it's the step I rolled my ankle on 

in 2006 and broke my tibia.  Keith built a step for me to break that 

six inch downwards step, but I am still really careful to this day. 

I had locked up Twinkle at this point, because he got out at 

least six times yesterday. 

I do NOT want to take a chance on letting him out at night. 

30 minutes later, one of the kitties was on the porch, with no food left, 

looking for something to eat. 

I was worried about the kittens, I did not see them yesterday and when I went 

out to close up last night, their food had not been touched. 

However, they were both there this morning.  

So, here I am this morning, it was already 8 AM, (I had overslept) and I was 

getting the dogs out.  Lilly still looks sleepy. 

So does Jes!

Lilly smelled the bowl many times, and was on the alert. 

I got myself dressed and came out to do chores. 

I was making sure Twink did not get out behind me, here. 

And pretty soon, the girls had beat me back to the house while I was 

still trying to get the 14 YES FOURTEEN eggs they laid yesterday 

UNDER THE NEST BOX. 

More about that tomorrow. 

Oh, yes, Cogburn was there too!

Here I am tearing up some breadsticks, I just throw them on the deck and pretty soon, the girls are all there. 

I swear they can hear the door open in the bottom of the pasture. 

Today was the first day I had to wear tights under my jeans, and use my hand warmers

(which I gave to my friend at the feed store, since he is in and out all day). 

He had never heard of them! 

I also had my hood over my knitted cap, so yes, my hair is a mess. 

Anything to stay warm. 

When I got to the Ag, the water founts were frozen, the 

big one, on a heated base, was obviously on a base that was no 

longer working.  I changed plugs, just in case. 

As we are dispersing that flock next week, I decided to go back tonight and 

put a fortex of warm water out for the chickens to use tonight. 

Then I'll go early tomorrow. 

I did leave them water in the summer plastic fountain for the day, and 

left a metal fount out in the sun in hopes of it thawing. 

Winter is definitely here!

Thanksgiving Week

A Week!!!

I can't believe nearly a week has gone by since I posted. 

On Wednesday, I went down to Garnett to get grandson Christopher. 

On Thursday, we ate at Ihop!

As you can see, he did not have a traditional turkey dinner. 

We expected Ihop to be swamped, with a line.  It was not. 

We had a lovely waitress, and I got the turkey dinner,

but brought most home.  It was delicious.  Chris inhaled his 

stuffed French toast. 

He does not normally eat sweets, but loved this. 

We both had the gingerbread hot chocolate, we had tried it 

before and loved it. 

Oddly enough, we ended up not going early Black Friday shopping.
I did make a run to Penney's later, but we dispensed with the crowds at 

Wal-mart, etc.. 

The weather could not have been better, it actually hit high 60's. 

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. 

Not kidding. 

Yes, they are pooping all over the porch, I am going to have to get something to clean it off, 

a scrubber or the big broom and suds, and do it regularly. 

Ugh. 

I still have not had to buy more feed, though, they pretty much are feeding themselves until 

winter really gets here. 

I went to a barn sale on Friday morning, and saw this hanging on the wall, way up. 

Everyone was standing to admire it, but it was HIGH... I took a picture, I don't want a huge sign 

like that, but I am going to re-create it and put it in a small frame, I think we need to 

remember to choose happiness. 

Before Chris went home yesterday, he went to connect the lights on the 

"primitive" type tree I am using this year. 

Guess what?  THE PLUG WAS GONE. 

This one here is NOT SO INNOCENT. 

My stylish Boston Terrier socks are so hot I 

am not going to be able to wear them except the coldest days. 

I went this morning and got some lights that are battery-run, and I am 

going to strip the tree and re-dress it. 

I thought this was a neat picture at dusk the other day... the moon was just above the Beacon of the Farm. 

My poor old big trees are shedding limbs right and left.  I suspect I am going to have to do something serious to both the old walnut, here, and the maple tree by the house and deck.  Both are shedding regularly now when we have wind. I am thinking I'll do it in the spring. 

This weekend and next, we have Santa's Express at the National Agricultural Center  in Bonner 

Springs (Ks.) 

It is free... let me repeat, free.  Yes, we put out some donation jars, but it is free. 

Santa is in the train depot... and your kids can visit and have their pictures taken by you FREE. 

Train rides (unless we get a foot of snow, but right now, they are saying 50's) 

The blacksmith is working in the blacksmith shop. 

Crafts (make and take) in the General Store.

The schoolmarm also has crafts in the schoolhouse. 

Cocoa and cookies in the Big Red Barn. 

Hours are 10 - 3 on the 2nd and 3rd, and the 9th and 10th. 

There is a 5K run on the 2nd, and a 1K walk. 

If I live through it all, I'm on the downhill run to Christmas. 

I hate to say this, but for the first time in my life, I have a rooster problem, 

all joking aside.  He has become a terror. 

Today he attacked me from behind, without any provocation. 

I can't handle this, folks, I am having a problem with my inner ear, 

some of you know I have fallen five times since mid-summer.  

I'm afraid Cogburn may have to go.  I carry a stick with me, 

but even a solid kick to the breast yesterday did not dissuade him. 

(and I don't kick easily, it's just not in me to hurt another creature). 

He is too doggone beautiful for the pot, if I could find someone that would take him, I would gladly pass him on. 

He is only 8 months old. 

This picture does not do him justice, but I'm not going to get within striking distance to get a better!

It is in the 60's again here today in NE Kansas... who can believe it? 

Something Troubling

For two years, I have been a member of a Facebook group called

"Kansas Birding" .  Since Keith was dying a great part of that time, I did not have time to go 

out and take shots and contribute to it, but I loved seeing everyone else's shots. 

I learned so much from it. 

Today, I learned something that hurt my heart.  A man who posts multiple times

daily, and whom I really admired... posted a picture of what appeared to be a cage. 

I jokingly referred to it, saying that sparrows had to eat, too. 

Imagine my surprise as I read down the comments, and realized it 

was a cage to trap and kill sparrows during the winter, which he 

considered a trash bird.  Not release them somewhere, but kill them, 

presumably by drowning, a horrible death. 

I was stunned.  I am still stunned, an hour later. 

This person often shows one of his children with him, teaching him the 

ropes of birding.  What stunned me even more was that there was a long list of 

people cheering him on, also referring to the sparrows and how they polluted everything and ate all the seed. 

I guess it worries me that someone is teaching a child it's okay to love SOME things, but to kill those you don't. 

Those of you who have read Calamity Acres over the nine years I have blogged, 

know me well.  We have had llamas, a pony, mini horses, turkeys, geese, 

chickens large and small, 

beloved dogs and cats, and my dear goats. 

I know what a "trash bird" can do to a henhouse: 

But, you know what?  We didn't poison or kill the starlings. 

As a matter of fact, a  very nice man has been working on this henhouse, which may be ready by spring... and has sealed off all the entry points by which they came in. 

That is how I roll. 

Prevention. 

I know you can't prevent sparrows from coming into your yard, don't worry. 

I feed the starlings, too, along with everything else that's hungry in the 

winter.  To see hundreds of  starlings feeding is something else, and no, I don't love it.  But I work around it.  I feed after they have gone away, so the little birds, blue jays, juncoes, titmice, 

cardinals (last to eat) and the crows, plus all the sparrows... have a chance.  Yes, the bills are higher... so what. 

A former neighbor took his martin houses down in the fall... 

so the sparrows would not take them over. 

Prevention. 

Like I said, I am so disappointed in this person, and have quit following him. 

I'll probably stop following Kansas Birding as well, because, you see... I don't bird in my 

limited time because I want to see hawks and owls and other birds of prey.  I bird because I love all the birds, large and small.  I stopped on a country road this afternoon to watch two swans with 

a group of geese on a farm pond,  but I stop just as much for the smaller birds, too.    It doesn't have to be spectacular. And for the heck of it, I saw a Northern Harrier up close and personal on my way back from the feed store, just before the swans, so see... nature is all around us. 

It doesn't have to be something spectacular. 

Joe Petersburger, a photographer whom I follow on Instagram, often says 

"keep a small footprint, and see what's RIGHT AROUND YOU".  

My beautiful Lilly, just 30 minutes ago.  She is not feeling well, and goes to see the dogtor tomorrow afternoon.   You can't see it in this picture, but there is a large bare spot on her other side, 

and I suspect ringworm, but we will see. 

Not killing this one for doing what comes natural to protective roosters, either. 

He came at me several times today, but got surprised each time.  He will soon learn. Noise and slapping a stick in your hand goes a long way. 

I took twenty minutes to pitchfork out under the roosts in the hen spa. 

Ugh.  Normally I would put this on the compost heaps, but today, I let it 

drop in the henyard for the hens to pick through again, and put fresh straw on the area.  

Jester was loath to start his day this morning, but it turned into a glorious fall day, 

55 and sunny! 

Rant over. 

The House Smells Like Dill Pickles!

One day soon, I am going to be able to get back 

on the road and get some pictures.  

On Friday (or was it Thursday???) I saw a 

badger, my very first one in the wild.  I stopped the car and watched him, 

as he was watching me.... and saw him cross the road ten feet in 

front of the car.  No camera. 

I will never forget it, and as Keith said when I told him... "Don't mess with the badgers".  I won't. 

I visited some friends today. 

How glad I was to see them after not seeing them since Monday. 

They got some treats, too... there is a watermelon half out of view in the lower part of the picture. 

I spread some scratch for the turkeys in the nesting room, so they could eat without being bullied. 

This is the oddest flock of chickens.  I have never, ever had chickens that eat the entire watermelon... rind and all. 

I am giving them grit and they get snacks of vegetables... but they are never out on grass.  

They are in great health, as you see. 

You can see the cucumbers are slowly petering out. (Thank heavens!) 

I had plenty for one batch of kosher dills tonight,  and some treats for the chickens. 

Some big ones got away from me, and are going to be growing out of the compost dump next season. 

See the corn?  It's from the birdseed.  I am letting that stalk grow just for fun. 

There are some irises there also that I threw away, thinking they were dead. 

They weren't. 

The grass isn't growing, but the corn all around the feeding area is.  

I actually hung a feeder today, and am going to put the nyger 

feeder back up, after seeing goldfinches the other night. 

The big birds, the cowbirds, grackles and starlings, have been staying away 

for the last month. 

How, may I ask, did this cucumber hide from me in plain sight???

We still need rain so badly. 

Real, actual proof that Fall Is On The Way!!!!

The finished product (still can't pack 'em tightly, doggone it!)