Strange Doings

Well, there have been some strange doings here this week. 

On Thursday morning, the dogs and I were on our ways to the old house. 

Out of the corner of my right eye, I saw something coming across the 

pasture-with-the-airstrip that we pass every day. 

Yes, the picture is a blur.  I was trying to stop the car and get the camera up at the same time, because I did not want to lose sight. 

Finally, the first appeared. 

It paused to look around, but did NOT look towards the car, where we were sitting 25 feet away. 

They were running as fast as they could... and there was actually still another, the seventh, behind these last two with the big group.  

Parents and babies, I think... running at 8:20 in the morning from something frightening. 

I waited until they had disappeared into the bean fields on the left and went on, scanning the woods to the right. 

We got to the old house, and for the first time in weeks, I saw vultures on the comm tower across the road. 

Our poor overgrown pasture. 

So, we started back, and at almost the same spot where the raccoons had come out, we saw this. 

And this.... notice the look back?  At the same stretch of woods.  It was now about 9:20 AM. 

There is a swale in that bean field... do you see her watching? 

These are the woods from which they all ran.  I have talked to several local people (and friend Jill) about it.  Opinions vary from packed dogs, coyotes, a cat of some kind, either bob-or mountain and MAN, the worst killer. 

Daytime, mind you. 

The white thing you see in the ground in front of the treeline is a marker for the air strip. 

As we went on home, I saw the two turkeys I showed you the other day, same yard, but farther back from the road. 

Here I am going to stop to tell you that my brother has been very ill for two weeks, and I have been going daily to the hospital to sit with him.  He is now on hospice care at a new nursing home. 

I was there on Thursday at noon when I got a call that Keith was being admitted to the VA.  He was then sent to KU Medical Center for admittance to the Cardiac Care unit.  Yes, he is 

now in the hospital and on medication.  

This morning, I made a trip to the old house.  Troy had met me there last night, God bless our good neighbor... and rescued me again. 

We are having a new septic system put in there, and somehow, the 

man had tripped the well pump off. 

Troy restored the water.  They must fill the tank partially before they 

backfill. 

I'll have more pictures of this tomorrow, because it is interesting. 

On the way back, we saw this.  Yes, the other was behind her. 

You can see she is a fawn still.  They were the two deer whom 

we had seen cross two days before.  What a relief to know the danger had gone from their woods. 

(they are standing close to the airstrip) 

As we continued on, I thought I saw a hawk standing on a fence pole in a field-yard behind an abandoned home.  Not a hawk... an owl! 

And finally, we saw our friend of the little pond.  The pond, as you see... is seriously low.  The cattle are still standing in it daily... but it is shrinking.  We need rain here! 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend! 

I will try to post again tomorrow sometime. 

Short and Sweet

Saturday night, and I'll keep this short and sweet. 

I still have not had a chance to catch up on your blogs, what with going back and forth to hospital and nursing home, and trying to get things done here.  I promise I will sometime tomorrow. 

I thank you for all your comments! 

Maa Maa... we want OUT! 

They got out, for the second time in about two weeks... since most of the snow has melted in the pasture. 

I throw the gate open, and they have the run of the three acre pasture, but I have yet to see them go down more than the middle.  I'm glad in a way, because I am afraid of a predator darting out from under the bottom fenceline.  I'm going to have to block that passage. 

The good brome hay matters more to them than the feed I've been giving them, but you couldn't prove that by Kelly's rotund belly. 

They'll be on diets in the spring. 

Now that the snow mostly melted, can you tell where the septic tank is? 

It's leaking again.  We need to wait until real spring to take care of it. 

Today, I finally took down our manger set, the Nativity Scene, and packed it away.  There was not room for the angel you see here on the sideboard, so I am going to get a special container for her.  I wanted you all to see the Christmas tree that a volunteer made at the Bingham-Waggoner mansion this year. 

I think I should have turned it so you could see the button on the spool.  The point is, she makes a Christmas tree of some kind every year, and stupid me cut the tag off that said "2013 Christmas Tree) that was tied to it until today, because I thought it was a sale tag I missed.  That is why you see tape under the candlestick. 

I am going to try to make a few of these next year.  Ho Ho Ho. 

Tweedles, do you see your greens are still here? 

Earlier this afternoon, I was out doing chores in the old henhouse.  Buffy the Polish girl and Butch were on the feed room side, where they live.  I left the connecting door open for a minute while I carried the water bucket in, and I noticed that Buffy went through to the coop side. I was not too concerned because she does like to go out once in a while. 

Then I forgot about it. 

I went to church at 4 PM.  I came home from church with light still in the sky... what a pleasure... and talked to Keith for a few minutes, as I had hardly seen him all day. 

I went out to do evening chores... and thank HEAVENS I decided to give the ducks some fresh water and feed. 

I caught a movement, a slight movement... and saw this. 

Can you see her? 

You can see how dark it was getting. 

She didn't know where to go.  Didn't have a clue.  I watched her crouch there, trying to figure out what to do. 

It was almost dark. 

She wasn't hurt... just lost. 

So, I think her days of going out are over. 

She needs her beak trimmed again, too... every three weeks now. 

And I'm going to try to trim a little of the feathers around her eyes. 

I picked her up and carried her in and set her down by her buddy. 

We are having a respite from the cold here for the next few days, with temps going possibly to fifty tomorrow. 

We are in the Season of Mud! 

Everyone have a great Sunday!