55 at Noon!

I am feeling MUCH better today!  Thanks for all the well wishes! 

It was 55 degrees at noon today, can you believe it? 

If we aren't having the craziest winter. 

The break in the line causing the problem was found in the ground, near the old henhouse. 

I thought to tell my nephew and his boss that we had had to have someone do a repair on an electric line 2 years ago when we put the water pump in. 

The repair was done badly, and deteriorated.  The power for the barn (our shop) and the henspa comes from this old building. 

Brandon had it dug out in no time. 

So... a few hours work, and I was able to connect the base heater and the dog bowl heater 

in the henspa tonight.  I spread extra feed... just in case we really get hit during the night. 

This beautiful juvenile red tailed hawk was on a fence post as the dogs and I went home. 

As you can see, he is hurt, and has a wing problem. 

I pulled clear up even with him, and he could not fly away. 

I went home, and called Operation Wildlife.  

Pretty soon, their intake person called me back and told me that 

a volunteer would come from Olathe. 

In the meantime, Friend Jill offered to leave her office and come and help catch him.

By the time we got back out there, we could not find him, which was encouraging, because we thought he was able to fly a little. 

This is nesting season, and the juveniles are being run off by their own 

parents, and there are three big birds on this same road. 

So... we drove up and down the road, looking in the ditches.  We were prepared with blankets and a dog crate. 

Finally, we saw him... 

way in the middle of a big field, on a fencepost.  The field was driveable... 

but we realized if he had flown or managed to get clear over there, that he would get away from us if we approached him.  So... we left him, crossing our fingers that he would make it, and especially tonight in the bitter cold. 

Here's our little goat friend in his bale on the way home! 

We are all hunkered down tonight for the cold... I am so grateful to Brandon 

for restoring the electricity to the henspa.  Knowing that the birds have open water is reassuring to me. 

I just realized I hardly took any pictures today!  The dogs had a great run this 

morning in the good weather... sun... and by tonight, when we went back out to close the birds up... it was gray, suddenly began to blow, and the temps began to drop quickly. The dogs were glad to get in the car and come home. 

Prayers asked tonight for a good friend who will be undergoing a cat scan about which she is very worried... I know the prayer would help her! 

Stay warm, everyone! 

Chopping

Oh, I don't think this is how everyone wants to spend their Labor Day weekend. 

That, my friends, is a fourteen foot high weed next to the little henhouse, the red one. 

See the stalk?  Well... I cut them very close to the ground, otherwise they are trip hazards.  As in 

tripping and falling. 

Here I have cut a bunch and let them fall over the henhouse and the little white chick-grow-out hutch. 

I let them stay there, because there is a wasp nest in the henhouse, and I did not want to get them too 

worked up.  I'll pull them out tomorrow. 

See how close the lightening-downed tree in the pasture came to the fence of the henyard?

This is one of the bales of straw I put out for the ducks to break the wind last winter.  See how nicely it is deteriorating?  Well.. believe in straw bale gardening, friends.  I had intended to try it this year, 

but next year I am going to use just three bales as an experiment.  When you are finished growing 

in them, you can use them as compost. 

You can also see a stalk... they hurt, trust me. 

But... I only fell once, pulling on some vine-wrapped branches!

I worked in a circle clear around the henhouse... the one we closed up two years ago... 

Finally, when I got around the far side... light was coming back into the henyard that had been totally shaded. 

Where there was darkness.... light. 

(and where there is sadness, ever joy!) 

Keith kept me company while the pile grew.  He had made two trips to Home Depot because....

Nephew Brandon was out there at 5:30 this morning, and had made huge progress with the siding. 

We all took a break during the 100 degree temps of the last two weeks, but as you see, one side is nearly finished.  Brandon will finish the back and the other side next weekend, and possibly one night this week after work.  Jordan was helping him again, but Jordan has started college now at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, on a baseball scholarship! 

We have decided today to paint the siding with Behr's Chamois... and the trim will be 

cream-colored.... it has yet to be put up, of course.  The screens will go in then, too. 

We're getting closer, and that's one reason I am trying to get the animal yards in shape... so that when we ARE ready to go, it can be shown to people with animals. 

I think I have shown you this ancient limestone building on a farm near here before.  Sadly, it is falling now. 

The cracks you see have happened in the last month or two. 

 This is the side view.  

It must be one of the oldest structures in Leavenworth County. 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the original house on the place. 

Two more days of weekend for Keith, and he said this morning that we are going to work tomorrow.  I'm all for it... every hour is an hour closer to getting the house rented. 

We have games tonight and tomorrow night, and on Monday, a game at 1 PM, so I am 

foregoing the Santa Cali Gon festival this year.  

Then the season ends on another wonderful summer of fun at the T Bones games. 

Can't wait to work in those weeds tomorrow! 

Keith will kill me for showing you this last picture... he uses the spare bedroom to dress in 

so he doesn't waken me every morning... and last night, we decided to sleep separately because of the boy dogs.  Keith slept in the spare bedroom, and Lilly stayed in there... 

Shiner was in the hallway with the baby gate... 

and Jester was with me.  

This is what happened this morning. 

Lilly is NOT happy about these visitors... and her nose is out of joint badly. 

Only one more night, Lil.