Summer to Fall

I went out to take pictures of the harvest moon one night last week and did not realize I was set to black and white!  

OOPS. 

It was beautiful, though. 

We have gone from 100 degrees here three weeks ago to forties at night.  Yes, my furnace is cycling on. 

It is off this afternoon, airing the house out with windows open. 

Next week, the weatherman tells us we will be in the twenties at night. 

Don't look now, but Foster Buddy is still here. 

I think they have forgotten about him, I have not heard from the rescue for over a week. 

I just had a trash hauler here and he fell in love with him... he is a lovable boy. 

The bean fields surrounding me are ripening, and many farmers have started harvesting. 

Friends, we need rain.  We got maybe a scant quarter inch two mornings ago.  Right now it has been sprinkling off and on, but more off than on. 

I have only seen Singleton on the roost once in the last week, he is pretty much sleeping in the brooder pen.  He molted very, very hard this year... he has no tail feathers left, and the feathers in his hackles are so sparse... that's his good side!  He looks battered and... old. 

The other two big roosters, his dad and brother, look much the same. 

The little roosters look better, but they are younger, too. 

Wanda slept in the big hen house a few nights ago.  The night before, she had slept in the little hen house. 

I wonder if she is scared of night predators. 

(I can handle Wanda, she just looks really feral here) 

She does not bother the chickens.  If I lock Teenie in, Teenie will chase them in the morning. 

I am getting ready to turn on the chick light in the shop next week for the cats, it is going to be down in the twenties at night all week.  I'm also going to hook up the heated water bowls. 

I ordered three new poultry base warmers, and they should be here on Saturday. 

It just makes my life so much easier and the chickens healthier, to have warm water in the henhouses.  With as few as I have, I won't have to be filling the fountains more than once a day, and what's in them will stay warm.  For the old hens, it's important. 

I took a break after I started this, and went out and did chores.  For the first time since before the birds began to molt, I got six big eggs from the young hens and one silkie egg from the only silkie hen I have left, who lays every other day now.  

I also spent the better part of an hour trying to get Doug the Killer Cotton Ball out from under the big henhouse, I literally made six trips out there, and even attempted to belly crawl under the henhouse.  Finally, I banged enough on the outside that he ran out in panic and I think, realized he was alone.  I was able to net him.  Tomorrow... he stays in the brooder pen in the hen house, the one that the other two silkies sleep in at night.  This is the third time this week, and raccoons are already out, I chased one off the porch when I made the last trip.  What truly scared me is that Zoey had been out by herself, and the raccoon must have crossed the yard right where she could see it. 

Doug, when the vegetation was going crazy.  You see how small he is. 

I am so tired tonight I almost sacrificed him.  Tomorrow is the Lineman's Rodeo at the Ag Hall.  There has not been a huge one since before Covid, and they have gone all out.... families have come in from other countries, and there will be lots to see and do besides the competition (pole climbing). I will be at the front desk, thankfully, and out of the ruckus.... but... I will be tired by the time I get home, and I do not relish another session, so tomorrow he stays in the brooder house. 

This is grandson Jax (Yes, we know he needs a haircut) who has been helping me. 

On Tuesday after school, he worked on cleaning out the hay shed, where I now keep recycling. 

He is holding up a scratch grain sack so I can tell you all something. 

Seven years ago, Keith and I bought "The Big House" and moved from Calamity Acres for a couple of years.  We decided when we moved there that we were going to recycle as much as we could, so we set up recycling in our garage.  For years, I have taken birdseed and chicken feed and sheep feed sacks to the recycling center for the county, which is in Lansing  There is a bin there where you put plastic bags and grocery plastic bags.  I have probably put several hundred of the plastic sacks Jax is holding in the wind in this bin. 

Last Friday, I saw something Leavenworth County posted on FB, and it puzzled me, so I asked a question.  Lo and behold, I was answered almost immediately and the answer was that a bin was provided for us to put plastic bags in. 

Guess what? 

They are put in the trash!  

The recycle center does not have a contract with anyone to recycle them, so they simply provide the bin, and when it is full, one of the workers wheels it to the pit, and it is dumped! 

ALL THESE YEARS! 

I could not believe it, I even called the office on Tuesday and the lady said "You asked that question online didn't you?" and I laughed and told her yes. 

They don't recycle them, friends.  Trash. 

I was stunned. 

Okay, don't read the next section if you are squeamish. 

You know I love possums. 

Young. 

On Sunday, Jax was also here working for me, and he did a super job clearing a fence line. 

When we went to get the tractor hooked up to the trailer to haul the stuff down to my brush pile, we saw a very elderly possum coming across the yard.  I looked at Jax and said it was unusual for him to be out during the day.  When I connected the wagon, he froze and "played possum".  I told Jax he was a very old one.... dark, dark gray unlike the one above.  

I had seen him the night before in the pasture at dusk. 

After I moved the tractor, he continued on between the shop and the garage, and came out to where we were working.  We kept an eye on him... it was hot, and he stopped several times, and headed for the shade of a tree in the fence line.  I told Jax he was probably going to go under Troy's shed, which is just on the other side of the fence there.  Pretty soon, he laid down again.  We kept an eye, but we were almost finished and I had to get Jax home.  

When I came back, before I went in the house, I decided to go check on the possum.

Dead. 

I felt so bad, they only live about two years. 

Here's where it gets dicey, so I'm warning you. 

I picked him up (gloved) and carried him down to the pasture and laid him down... and it was, indeed, a male. 

Next day.  (Vultures should be leaving by this weekend) 

That night. 

The next day, there was only a tiny bit of skin and bone. 

Last night, I watched a coyote roll in it. 

That poor old possum fed the two vultures and cleaned my pasture. 

Everything is here for a reason, folks. 

Tomorrow is the fifteenth, and the vultures are usually all gone by then.  I saw one today as I drove down to the Ag Hall. 

Hummingbirds are gone. 

The blackbirds (grackles and starlings) are back at the feeders, but not happy with 

the very plain feed I am feeding, which is fine with me.  

Very little feed is wasted now. 

A few of the flowers are still hanging on! 

Next time, I'll post some of the pictures I am getting on the pasture cam.  Those of you who have read this blog for years know that we always kept a feeder of sorts in the pasture for the wildings.  Now that the sheep are gone, I put two cups of dog food and whatever leftovers we have (very few) in the pasture.  I have not seen any foxes... we always had them before... but... I have seen a skunk, which I had not seen for years! 

I'll show you next time. 

 

 

Summer is Waning

Well, I see Blogger has changed their set up again, and 

it's going to take a few posts to get used to it.  It doesn't seem you can set to type IN the center, with a centered post, without having to justify in each sentence.  We will see. 

Summer is waning, friends.  I know it doesn't seem like it, but it is.  Yes, the heat continues on,but subtle little signs are all around us.  Leaves have begun falling... not just the walnut tree leaves, that start in late July, but other trees have begun dropping.  I am still mowing weekly, but not twice a week, as I had to for a while there.  I noticed yesterday that the Virginia creeper in my front fence line is starting to turn red, that means the poison ivy won't be far behind, or the sumac on the banks out in front. 

It took me a few days to realize, but the red-winged blackbirds have gone now... and were followed by the brown-headed cowbirds.  The Great Migration has begun, but there is a LOT less squabbling at the flat feeder, I can tell you. 

The raccoons are frustrated with me... I literally take down everything... hanging finch feeder, suet, squirrel feeders, and I clean off the flat feeder in the evening.  They are getting only the seed that has spilled during the day, and are digging up the area under the feeder.  This morning I laughed when I went out.... they are definitely excavating to China for anything they can find. 

This picture was actually taken a few days ago, this morning it is a huge circle and everything dug up until close to the post in the middle.  I know they are VERY frustrated. 

One of my favorite birds glided over the deck the other day, and I ran for the camera!

Here it is this morning, as I left for the Ag Hall, in the horaltic pose, drying its' wings: 

Most of you know that I foster-failed with Snowy, who is seventeen.  She had surgery a few weeks ago, and a cancerous mammary tumor was removed.  She is still recovering from the surgery. 

I can see her moving slower.... I don't know how many months we have left together, but she 

has been a delightful little dog.  And... to those who adopt... it took Snowy almost six months before she was really comfortable here, and comfortable completely with me.  Don't despair. 

This looked like a juvenile cardinal on the feeder, and in fact, the presence of the female led me to believe it.  He looks like he is waiting for mom to feed him from the smorgasbord.  

Hemorocallis "Stella De Oro" is reblooming on the deck.  One or two of the others is still blooming, I had fantastic luck with daylilies on the deck this year.  (yep, that's a weed, I'm waiting to see what blooms). 

So, let's talk about gardens.  Keith built an arbor, almost as soon as we moved here, and then started building a wooden fence around the area where we were going to garden.  Along the front part of that fence, he built four thirty-foot long beds.  The first, closest to the house, fell under a maple tree. Don't do that folks, I'm telling you.  Anyway, the first was built using lovely stones, but was expensive and labor intensive (grandson Chris built the wall).  After this, Keith used landscape timbers. 

Two beds, the front two, were planted with perennials and bushes.  The back two... one was our potato bed, and the other, except for four or five mum plants, was never really planted and always had to be kept down as far as weeds. 

Here is the south of the arch front bed in its' glory, about 2011:  

In that  picture, you can see the arbor in the middle, and some of the bushes.... there was an equal bed out of sight  on the north side of the arch.  In the distance is the hoop house.... and the patio is already in, so it has to be 2011 or even 2012.  I was so proud of these beds, they were really glorious. 

In the last two years, I have pulled or had them pulled out.  I really could not keep up with them, and it was very, very hard to get a cultivator in to keep them churned up, not to mention all the mulch.  

Here is the north bed, the one remaining one, today, I literally took this picture thirty minutes ago: 

Oh yes, it really looks that bad.  There are still some decent perennials in it, but I cannot even give them away, I have offered and offered.  The gardeners my age are as tired as I am .  Twice this year, I had this bed in some sort of order... but you see, it is full of saplings.  I cut them down, they grow back up.  I actually put five Gorilla cart loads of mulch on it in the spring, but... it has just gotten away.  Last week, I told my wonderful yard helper, Benjamin, that I am going to pull this one out, too, and asked him to plan a day when he can remove and stack the stone border. For now, I am literally walking past it and trying not to look, and yes, it breaks my heart.  Next year I will be gardening on the deck and maybe the patio only. 

I had many more pictures to show you, but it seems this new update of Blogger will not let me upload pictures directly from my phone.  In the old days, ten years ago when I first started blogging, I carried a small point and shoot camera in a pocket, ALWAYS.  I'm going to have to do that again, I think.  In order to post a picture from my phone now, I will have to send it to my email, and save it to the computer.  Yep, a pain in the patootie. 

So far, the sheep are still here.... I know the three cattle at my neighbor's are going home this weekend, but I believe the sheep will be here for a few more weeks, the pasture is holding up remarkably well.  I love watching them... I'll try to sit down there tonight and take a few pictures of them.  I do keep their water changed during the day so that they have something cool to drink, but other than that, their young owners take care of them.  I have all the fun and none of the hard work! 

I am still seeing big snakes daily, again... the pictures are on my phone.  I'll get one of the small cameras out today and get it fired up. 

Guess what?  I found 'em, good heavens you would think I would be computer savvy at this point after eleven years. 

However, it stops at July 28.  

I saw this snake this morning, though.  

And now, all of the sudden, I am back in the middle of the column, what gives? 

(Blogger, that's what gives. If I were monetizing this blog, I 

would go to WordPress, but I think I would lose eleven years worth) 

I end with one more garden picture, the raised beds.  I planted pumpkins and summer squash in mid-July.... I picked four BEAUTIFUL squash this week, and I believe I'll get a dozen pumpkins.  I know there may not be trick or treat this year, but I'll have some for the deck, and then they can be fed to a friend's hogs.  I even planted some more zinnias (on the left)... they are blooming now.  

Yes, Covid 19 is still in our area, including Tonganoxie, the little town whose address I share. 

Yes, I wear a mask everywhere I go, religiously. 

I believe it will be a year before we are back to normal, and we will have further loss of precious lives. 

I try to remain optimistic and hope for the best.  I pray.  I urge all of my friends to do so. 

Yes, it has touched a family of someone very near and dear to me, and right now they are 

praying for their own fifteen year old who has been stricken.  It's here and it's real, friends. 

Remain as positive as you can, and we will get through this. 

I'll figure Blogger out and update again, soon. 

As always, thank you so much for visiting Calamity Acres. 

Chicken Tales

Spring is finally coming to Calamity Acres, I'm sure of it. 

I am greeted by birdsong every morning when I step aside, though 

the mornings are still crisp and chilly. 

By afternoon, I change from the Carhartt to my lighter jean jacket. 

I am getting more done around the place, though still plagued with the med-related muscle weakness. 

Monday, I had to make a run to Leavenworth to pick up some 

things I had had to have altered.  

Look what I saw as I started back through the countryside!  My first 

vulture of the year, you know I love them.  

I got home and actually saw another above Calamity Acres that afternoon. 

They're baaaacccckkkk! 

Lilly Ann has torn her ACL slightly, and went to the vet yesterday. 

She is NOT a surgical candidate at her age, so we are medicating and keeping her 

quiet.  So far, she is doing well.  

That's the cat/raccoon bowl, she was guarding it Sunday night. 

Pretty demure looking, huh?  She has to be muzzled tightly at the vet, 

she will not tolerate anyone to do anything to her, and that included me and Keith. 

Raccoon-proofing, every night. 

The bird seed is in that can for the wild birds.  

It's expensive, and one night when it rained, the coons knocked the lid off. 

This is one of my two partridge (color) cochins. 

She will be a year old in May, she has only just started laying. 

She is, as of this morning, on four eggs.  Gone broody, not even a year old. 

These noises are the noises she will make to the babies when they are born.... she is still getting up in the morning to run out, go to the bathroom, and eat and drink.  As the days wear on, she will stop doing that.  IF she does, indeed, stay on the eggs, I'll have to move her to the feed room where the other hens cannot bother her.  

There are the eggs this morning, hidden behind and under the next box.  Two are hers, the brown, and two are another hen's. 

This is a sick chicken, and here let me make some comments that are not 

going to make me popular with the chicken community on Instagram. 

This is a sick hen.  See the hunched appearance, the closed eyes... 

in fact, I checked her for a crop impaction,  but it did not seem as if she had one. 

I gave her a 50/50 chance of making it through the day on Monday. 

This was yesterday, she was still up... her crop area looks kind of big to me, but 

does not feel hard.  Her eyes are open, and she was walking around, but mainly stood RIGHT UNDER the warming lamp, a brooder light. 

 Last night. 

The lowest roost. 

I honestly did not think she would make it through the night.  Sometimes chickens just die.  They are remarkable at hiding illness, it's to prevent them being preyed upon. 

This was her and a friend this morning as I started cleaning the henhouse. 

However, I stopped after fifteen minutes, I had the hens who were trying to lay in a tizzy fit. 

Okay, here's what I have to say about the hens. 

I have some upper respiratory in this flock, these all came from the Ag Hall, and 

they had it there.  I had it in my old flock, too. 

I guess if I was really being STRICT, I would cull (kill) everyone who "barked". (the sound they make when they are coughing) I'm not. 

My plan is to finish cleaning the hen house this afternoon, and then to clean the water fountain thoroughly, and add antibiotics to their water to help them get over this. 

I think the hot/cold weather changes are exacerbating it. 

I also found this this morning, and this DID dismay me. 

I am going to catch and soak her after I go to a meeting early this afternoon. 

I have NO idea what's going on here, and don't like it.  I think the antibiotics are 

going to help a bunch of birds. 

The majority of the flock and Ferdinand, the rooster, are out all over the place every day, ranging down into the pasture and all over the yard.  It's a delight to see them. 

(taken through the front window) 

I see a lot of first time chicken and duck owners bringing their birds in the house.  They snuggle the birds, and I always wonder... do they wash their hands?  You just never know 

what you are bringing in the house, and I try to wash my hands without getting unduly 

upset about zoonotic disease.  I don't think I would ever keep any in the house, 

at least not this house, where there is no basement or mud room. 

Darn raccoons. 

If you enlargen this, you will see perfect possum footprints on the right, I 

found these on the deck this morning. 

Our beautiful sunrise this morning. 

God is good. 

How Could It Be March 26?

Despite promises to post more frequently, I have not posted for 2 weeks! 

I'm sorry.  Life keeps intervening. 

For those of you who have been widowed, you know what I mean. 

My son Jim has been ill... he is normally in good health, 

works out at a gym at 4 AM daily, has, for years.  

He was playing catch with Jax, swung his head around suddenly, 

and caused calcium deposits to move in his inner ear.  He 

has had vertigo for going on ten days now.  For someone 

who delivers for a living, this is not good! 

Next Thursday, I'll take him to a specialist (he has been 

to Urgent Care and the ER) to see if there is anything 

that can be done for him, he cannot drive, and cannot 

walk hardly at all.  He is on FMLA to protect his job. 

Prayers requested for his quick recovery. 

Or just his recovery!  

I have taken many pictures. but I find that I

delete as many as half now.  I do not get satisfied with 

them as easily as I did in the past. 

I'll share a few with you. 

Oh... and I have a surprise coming up, but 

am not able to share it for another week or so. 

Look who was visiting at the Ag Hall one morning! 

He came back by a few minutes later. 

I kept Jax and Paiton on the first day of their spring break. 

For the first time, I let Paiton roll out her own cookies, and she did a GREAT job. 

I should have taken pictures of the final product. 

More visitors at the Ag. 

The geraniums are blooming again.  The tomato plant 

bore flowers, and then faded, but I took a look at what 

was left of it today (not this picture) and it is STILL alive. 

In fact, it looks a LOT better than it did in this picture, taken 

about the 12th. 

This one talked all the way down. 

This big guy attacked me yesterday... I have never been 

attacked quite like that before.  In fact... he broke skin on my leg 

two weeks ago, but yesterday was an escalation.  I moved him back with the 

help of a young woman who will be my future backup.... I was grateful she was there. 

This morning, I went in with a broom, and moved him back before he could get 

near me.  It's not fun collecting eggs and worrying about spurs in your tush! 

I'm guessing breeding maturity is kicking in, he has turned one year old.  

He is a Speckled Sussex, (heavy)  by the way, and now I am wondering if he really DID 

kill his brother two weeks ago, and I just didn't find the wounds amongst the feathers. 

Not in trouble, lifting his leg. 

Also not in trouble, just worshiping the sun. 

Can you see him on the left? 

That's a heron at the Ag. 

Here is a not-very-clear picture of it! 

I have never seen one land in a tree! 

This, I don't know what to say about. 

Sister went to the vet last week. 

Sister is a BROTHER! 

He had been neutered previously. 

Name to come soon. 

I had to put this in Kansas Birding on Facebook to find out what it was. 

I thought it was a fancy sparrow of some kind. 

I will reveal the answer below.  

I had NO IDEA. 

Another deck visitor! 

Action Jackson. 

My hawk nest I have followed for three years appears to be unoccupied. 

I checked on it again today, and still do not see any birds using it. 

I also am not seeing hawks along this road, where they have been so plentiful. 

Amazing just the hawks are gone. 

(yes, I'm suspicious) 

On my way to mass last night, I cut across country.  Movement at the back 

of this field caught my eye, and I thought I was FINALLY seeing a turkey. 

Nope. 

Well... it IS a turkey vulture! 

It rained for two hours yesterday morning, and we need it so badly. 

This kildeer was happy at the little pond. 

Michelle at Boulderneigh , this last set of pictures 

is for you. 

I could not get the black and white lambs, and the "black" lambs that were 

to the right, they were moving around too fast. 

I know these all have Shetland names for their colors, and Michelle, 

you will know what they are. 

We are expecting more rain in the next few days... HURRAH!!!

( It's a female red-winged blackbird)