A Lost Fall

It's been a long, lost end of summer and start of fall here on Calamity Acres. 

Beans and corn have been harvested all around me. 

There was "smoke" over the fields, every which way I looked. 

 

Every once in a while, the smoke would clear and you could see the man or woman driving the big machine. 

Friends, your blogger has been sick for almost eight weeks with a bad stomach infection, that is now, thank heavens, gone. 

I had a terrible reaction to the strong meds that had to fight the infection and had many sleepless nights and miserable days.  My weight fell, and to make things worse... I was dehydrated one day and fell in the yard, landing on my left arm.  The doctor was sure it was broken, but exrays told us it was not.  I am doing therapy, trying to get it back to complete usefullness.  In the meantime, I have had to ask my grandson for help off and on to get feed moved around.   Even lifting it high enough to type was difficult, so I did not even turn the computer on for a while. 

This really big raccoon has been wandering around here at night.  Once I thought I was seeing a coyote in the dark! 

So has this elderly possum, and several younger ones. 

Our little "pet" raccoon, Rocky, has moved on.  I went out to the big hen house one day, and he was eating cat food on the porch.  I stood there talking to him when another raccoon of the same size walked out from under the porch!  They went off together between the two hen houses, and I have never seen them again.  Remember, there are 26 undeveloped acres across from me, and they were headed there. 

We have had a weird fall.  All the hollyhocks are coming up again. 

So is this little sunflower, and many others. 

We did get three inches of rain this week, which we sorely needed. 

This truck was parked in front of me the other day.  Patrick would get the vote of everyone in KC right now. 

So would these two. 

Little Bird, one of the two Indio Gigante roosters.

His brother, Big Bird. 

During the first part of October, I bought a companion for Doug, my Silkie rooster who was a real favorite. 

Sadly, I lost Doug three weeks later.  I think it was upper respiratory.  

Shadow was kept seperately until I realized he really wanted out of the pen with the others, and now I simply let him loose from the inside pen at night, and he takes care of himself, because oh yes, it was another cockerel. 

Still not positive, but I believe so. 

He is by far the smallest, even smaller than Rocket, the Mille Fleur rooster. 

My road. 

Thank heavens I can still live here. 

The last weeks have been very hard. 

For years, I have waited for this beautiful tree to turn orange in the fall. 

My eastern fenceline is now overgrown with red juniper.  I know my neighbors would let me clear it out... but... tree work is now very expensive.  I'm going to have to win the lottery. 

I took this last night... It was still beautiful but almost hidden from me. 

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, I could not have said that a few weeks ago. 

I'll get caught up soon. 

 

 

Saddle Up! It's Gonna be a Long One!

Some of you will remember there is a beautiful maple tree in the valley below me. 

Unfortunately, the tree line has grown up terribly, and I can hardly see my neighbor's ponds now.  (Which I love from afar). 

I almost missed it this year... can you see the top of it, all aglow? 

Today's sunrise. 

We are having terrible, terrible wind, this is the third day. 

Yesterday, our wonderful township voluneer firefighters fought a brush fire that stretched eight city blocks in overgrown brushfilled pastures. 

Four other local townships assisted.  Thank God for these men and women who donate their time to keep us all safe. 

It is hard to get anything done outside today, it is really blowing. 

Clouds are coming in as I type this at 2:18 PM.... we have a real chance at rain overnight and tomorrow.  We are in a terrible drought, and need it badly.  I am beginning to see people list livestock for sale and give the reason "no hay" for selling them.  

Three days ago, this greeted me on the porch of the big henhouse. 

I was afraid for a minute it was dog poop... and that scared me, I'll show you why. 

After I looked at it for a while (and before I cleaned it off) I decided it was raccoon or cat. (or raccoon top and cat bottom) 

To be candid, I have never had a cat poop on the porch. 

Both waterbowls, heated and unheated, were empty.  EM-TAY. 

Holes were dug in the hen yard, and I did not take a picture, but the cat carrier I have in the silkie pen for Mary to lay in was overturned. 

Raccoons. 

Drumroll.... the proof. 

I am regularly seeing possums out as early as 5 PM now, so I have been shutting everyone up starting at five.  I work around the possum, taking care not to lock him in the henhouse, and I check high and low before closing doors. 

The wind is dispersing the milkweed seeds, a good thing!

I found this in memories.... That's Abby looking at me from the couch.  I may do another Fall Tree next year.  

I rarely have grands come here now, unlike when they were little, so I don't decorate as much as I used to. 

I think staying, did anyone have any doubts? 

(Bwahahaha) 

This guy was sitting at the top of the pasture as if to say... "Aren't you putting scraps out tonight?".  

(why I got worried when I saw the poop. They can sail over a fence with no effort). 

And this one was waiting for him to move. 

And they are BOTH cautious around this guy.... skunk! 

 

This alien has been showing up to eat out of the pasture feeder.  

Looks like a male from the build and from the fact that Bullseye  DOES NOT LIKE HIM. 

I don't know if I am up to trapping yet another and getting it neutered.  All the females here are 

spayed, and Bully is neutered.  

It looks like The Jackal's brother, doesn't it?  For a minute the other night, I thought it WAS Jack back in Angel form to haunt me! 

This old girl is Susie, I have showed her to you before. 

She "talks" to me in a sing song chirp every day when I open the door of the big henhouse. 

Every morning I am stunned to see her.  She is six years old, and has not laid for many years. 

She was given in the dispersal to a friend, and the friend stopped keeping chickens a year ago, so the Ag Hall hens she got six years ago came back to me. 

She used to follow me around, but now, she mostly stays in the hen house with the oldest rooster, and they lay companionably together. 

Today, in the wind, they both stayed inside, and I was glad. 

She made it through our bitter cold on Monday and Tuesday nights, but that is not 

to say the old ones will make it through the first real cold snap. 

It is a delight to have had her, and I had her sister too, in the past. 

Susie is a Speckled Sussex. 

I took this about an hour ago, and it is a little lighter than the one I led off with.  My favorite time of year! 

Stay safe, everyone. 

(and pray for rain for Kansas) 

Time Flies!

It's been a while, friends. 

I have good intentions, I do, but ... life. 

The last time I posted, Big Red, one of my favorite chickens had just died. 

I have lost four more old ones, including this girl. 

I wanted to show you something with this old girl.  She was an anonymous 

black hen, of the kind designated by hatcheries as 

"Black Stars", or some other all-encompassing word to indicate a hybrid egg layer. 

Her days of laying were LONG past.  She was five, maybe more, because she may 

have been one I bought from a local flock owner when I moved back here four 

years ago. 

See how washed out her face is?  She was aged.  If she were a younger girl, 

she would still have healthy color in her face and comb and wattles. 

Having said all that, everyday when I let them into the house side of the yard, 

she would make her way onto the porch and stand at the front door, staring at it. 

Like this. 

Like this. 

I would see her and put some treats out for just her, and she would 

grab them fast and eat before anyone else noticed. 

I'll miss that. 

I think I took this picture Wednesday or Thursday. 

She faded, and died Friday night, and I found her body under the nest box of the 

big hen house. 

RIP, Little Black Hen. 

There are only nine big hens left in there, and one does not sound well. 

The oldest rooster, Ferdy, is not roosting, but making a little place on the floor. I hate to say it, but 

he may be next. 

This is sweet little Zoe, a ten year old Shih Tzu I have had 

for two weeks from Bonner Animal Rescue as a foster. 

She is a doll. 

However... she will eat anything she can find on the floor except for dry cat food. 

Consequently, today she has diarrhea. 

Jester is a shy eater, and will wait all day to eat if he feels intimidated.  It's easy to say 

"feed them separately" but he will not eat a bite if he is locked in the bathroom and feels like 

he is being punished.  So... she will probably go on to an owner as a single pet. 

She is a really cute little girl with good recall... walks pretty well on a leash. 

Anyone local, she would make a wonderful pet. 

This is my view looking down the pasture towards my neighbor's ponds. 

See the little red tree? 

There is a huge tree that always turns red this time of year, and I am 

afraid I have missed it.  When I walk out to get the mail shortly, I'll look for it. 

We have had some glorious fall weather, but we also had snow flurries on Saturday!

Molly looks so innocent.  In truth, she lays UNDER that swinging planter, the 

last one I will ever use.... (because of all the waste last year) and grab birds as they land to eat.  I caught her as she did it yesterday, and the bird was able to get loose and fly away. 

So... the feeder is going to go on a shepherds hook.  I like this arrangement better, because it cannot swing wildly and spill.  You see, those sunflower hearts are THE most expensive of the feeds I buy. 

I am being very careful this year to not overfill any feeders, especially my flat feeder.... I just cannot continue to buy as much feed as I have in the past, it has gone sky-high.  I don't want the birds as dependent on it as they were in the last few years... so I put out a double scoop in the morning, and that's it. 

 

Meet Bullseye!

This kitten was a wilding down at the lake where my oldest son and family have a trailer. They spend weekends there for half the year.  This kitten came up to them repeatedly, and they began feeding it... and finally, one Sunday, Jim called and asked if I could take it. 

I said yes. 

He has had all shots and been neutered.  My vet's office fell in love with him. 

Here he is in action... and yes, I was warned about the Peace Lily and it is being removed. 

He is a stinker.... he and Jester LOVE each other and play together often. 

He and Molly play together after a standoff of a couple of weeks. 

He has sure livened up the place. 

The vet and I both think he is 4 to 5 months old. 

He may be a little attached to me. 

This is Cleo, one of the Kitty Cat Connection beauties. 

She was one of the wildest. 

She comes every morning and evening (well, most) and watches for me.

When I see her, I stop and go in and get her a can of food.  She has me well-trained. 

I also put the food dish out very early, so that all the ferals can come on deck and have some. 

This is Coal, one of the two newest ferals from KCC. 

She and Diamond Lil spent ten days in a big cage in my shop. 

They are both still around and eating regularly.  They know where the outside and the inside food is. 

Diamond Lil is a tortie, and here she is coming out of the cage on her day of Liberation. 

They are both still around, let's face it, they have it made here. 

My beautiful Rusty, the cat in my header, has disappeared. 

Wanda and Yeller are still here. 

Dawn this morning was beautiful. 

I am one of those weird people, I LOVE early nights. 

I love that the chickens are in by five, and I have the whole evening to relax. 

I found these eggs yesterday.  Let me say here that 

my old girls are almost finished laying, I get an egg from one of them once in a while.  

I am getting NO green eggs any more. 

The seven pullets I got this year are coming through, and three of the silkies. 

One pullet, however, is hiding her eggs, and not in the planter.  Someday I am going to find a huge stash. 

I will have enough for Christmas baking, though. 

Outtake of my helper. 

Wanda waiting on the big hen house porch for me last week one morning. 

Wanda was the spitfire who tired to nail me every time I stuck my hand in the Little Red Hen House to feed her.  Now she meows as soon as she sees me. 

Almost time to get Christmas out, but I am loving fall this year. 

I am going very, very spare with Christmas this year. 

Honestly, I will TRY to post more often so people don't think I fell off the ends of the earth. 

 

Still Alive and Kicking!

Friends, I am still with you all. 

I believe I have dodged the bullet... this time. 

I will be enquiring about the vet this week, as I must take 

Snowy in for some sneezing that she is having. 

I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments here and on FB enquiring about my health. 

Trust me, every little sneeze or headache made me wonder. 

I have since found out that the wonderful family from whom I buy pork and used to buy 

my hay has had it run through their family, rampant, the sons missing work (unpaid) and 

the matriarch exhausted.  The patriarch has ALWAYS worn masks to deliver, they have 

a little granddaughter whom they try to protect, and he told me "You do not want this thing". 

I don't, I agree. 

Since I last blogged, we have had the results of an election and a run of 

wonderful weather here in Leavenworth County (Kansas). 

I think those lovely days are coming to an end, we had crazy wind today, 

and again, tomorrow... and then rain and then cold temps return. 

Fritzi is still with us... by the skin of her teeth.  The Cushings and diabetes is 

taking its' toll on her, and she is now blind, I believe completely so.  She may still be 

seeing a bit of light versus dark.  It is heart breaking to watch her, and many of you have told me 

that blind dogs get along well... I can tell you from watching her she is scared, and will start at the slightest sound... has bumped her poor little head over and over.  I go out with her, and guide her 

by my voice... but she is not the same happy go lucky little dog of yore.  She has had a really good day today, and when it is time, I have found a practice who will come to the house to 

let her cross the bridge, here where she is loved and cherished. 

Look who is back!  After an absence of almost ten days... and I thought for sure he had been killed by something... Spot returned and has been here since.  He has a little house by the door, and he so wants to come in, but he attacked Fritzi once.  She can smell him, and goes right up to him, barking... so I can't chance his going after her little face.  When Fritzi is no longer here, he is welcome in here, the other two dogs pretty much ignore him. 

He and Snowy actually helped me do chores Friday morning in the fog. 

Snow Snow had her grooming done Thursday; she was overdue.  I have never had a dog 

before that had to be groomed!  She was sweet smelling over night, but by the next day, 

had found something to roll in... see the previous picture. 

Brooke, the groomer, has backdrops for the various holidays, and you can book just a photography session if you would like. 

 

The squirrels love to eat the cat food on the deck. 

This baby possum was so close to a camera outside I thought it was a rat for a minute. 

I hope it's the little gray possum, I have not seen it during the day now for about a week. 

I found a dead baby at the back of the house last Monday, but it was darker than this one. 

This gorgeous tree stands in the valley below me, 

on the other side of the Spehar's two ponds.  I look for it every year, 

and this year, I waited so long, I was afraid they had cut it down. 

On the second, there she was in all her glory. 

If you enlarge that, you will see I caught the reflection in the waters of the pond. 

I hope....hope... that I can have all the fir trees that have grown up in the fence line removed this year. 

They were not there when we moved here.  They are not just tearing up the fencing, I am losing my view. 

Spot waited for me to come from the pasture the other day, at the top of the stairs where so many of our pets have awaited me.  I am going to do a story about JUST that one day soon. 

This is the view out my kitchen window, on the west side of the house... fading now. 

That is the 26 acres that is undeveloped, with the communications tower on it.  I used to 

wish I won the lottery so I could buy it and keep it undeveloped forever. 

I am seeing so many birds at the bird feeders now, after a spate of about two months 

where I saw few.  

There are five crows in that picture, picked up on the garden cam, 

one is still on the flat feeder.  

They watch for me to put out the birdseed. 

Those are the two little old ladies, Fritzi and Snowy. 

Since I started this post last week, little seventeen year old Snowy had a grand mal seizure one morning, 

about 1:45 AM.  I sat and watched her, she was in bed next to me... she is the only one who sleeps with me now.  I actually thought she died.... but she was disoriented and her eyes rolled back. The vet was good enough to get me in that day (not always possible any more) and we ran tests on her.  They all came back good... he told me that she may never have another.  

She did exhibit pain in the back, and now is on gabapentin for it twice a day... I can see 

it has helped her, there is more spring in her step. 

I am planning changes around here, and have not spoken about them until now. 

The raised bed garden which Keith planned and made so lovingly back 

ten years or so ago, has been a pain. 

It has to be filled almost every year, and the beds were made just close enough together 

that you have to weed eat them instead of pushing a mower through. 

I have to pay someone to do that weed-eating, Ben, my wonderful yard helper. 

These beds.  

(this year's zinnias in them) 

Ben worked hard on these beds, tilled them, filled them, and weed ate between them all summer. 

We talked about pulling them up... I told him no.... but... I have decided that it makes sense to 

do so.  I am going to ask him to do it (pay him) and then we will till this area and grow bigger pumpkins next year. 

I'm getting an extension made between the original south deck (the back is the front of the house) and the side deck, put on years later.  This will let me go out and feed the birds by simply walking onto the deck, not going down steps, walking around, and going up steps on the side.  

The steps are being replaced, they are a hazzard. 

I'm also getting a new front door and storm door, I should have done that four years ago, to keep 

the winter winds at bay! 

I hate to preach on my blog... but friends, we all 

need to conquer our fears. 

I am planning on being around for a while. 

I am being careful, I hope you are all, too. 

I value your friendships and value the fact 

you still read this blog after all these years. 

I'm holding onto fall for a few more days.... 

holding onto hope, too. 

Everyone have as good a Thanksgiving as you can make it, this year.