Fog Light

Up way before the light today, disturbing dreams of animals that need care, and dogs gone by, calling out for me to save them. It was so real and then to wake and find that Two Bears does not need to be fed, hasn't in twenty years or more, and never will again. A grand dog of history but gone, long, long gone.....

Two Bears, taken in Colorado, many moons ago

Nick though, Nick is glad of my early morning and his hours-before-normal breakfast time. Glad too that Liz picked up some samples of fancy dog food at TS the other day and he can have a taste...and a spoon of last night's meat loaf gravy....nom, nom, nom.....

Rooster crows at 5:06. Indigo bunting tunes up at 5:32 and does not stop. At all. I want some of what he's drinking. I could use that much energy.

Fog is soggy grey right now, drooping and dingy like it needs to be bleached and hung on the line in the sun. S'okay, when the sun gets around to getting up it will light up like a pearl and glow with silver warm light. The fog muffles the sounds of trains and traffic and makes them seem mysterious and cool....rather than just noisy and annoying....

No cows; couldn't milk if I wanted to. The fog shelters them from prying eyes, sleepy out there somewhere on the hill. They will not come down any more without being pursued, not even for their tasty tithe of morning grain and the water in the big blue tub. They are not liking the mud that ALL THIS DARNED RAIN has made. It hurts their poor feet. Old Mandy cow is being kept in the temporarily vacant heifer pen so she doesn't have to make the trudge to pasture. She does not much appreciate the gesture and leans her long, black, self over the high, red gate, calling sadly and sticks her nose in the window at me....OVER the plywood that keeps heifers from ripping out the window. She is one tall cow I'll tell you!

This much water from ONE rain....there have been many others

We put the two young jerseys out with the cows a couple of weeks ago. What a pair of sixes! They travel together as if yoked like oxen, brown on brown, and always in trouble. Quick to it too; they can dart in the barn door and run around like dervish fools in less time than it takes old folks to hurry to close the door.

We are the walking wounded here, alas. After all summer of being the broken-footed, useless gimp, I am surrounded by folks in worse shape than I am. Becky is laid low by a vicious summer cold, that is dripping and gripping its way through the house. Liz sprained her ankle while feeding her horse and is having a miserable time milk inspecting, working here and trying to get ready for the fairs. Alan went out to change a tire yesterday and put his hand in a wasp nest...just as he was finishing up. His ear was stung eight times and his wrist three. Oh, my the swelling... Yow!

How I hate those nasty mixed vespids. Sting first and ask questions later. And they build their nests in the damnedest places and defend them to the death...no matter whose.

Well, as we listen to the sucking sound of our economy going down the drain, I leave you with good wishes for the day. Enjoy the indigo buntings and good dogs in your world, while the great ones in Rome fiddle to the tune of the flashing flames.

From the Weekend

A Wee Guest who spent some time on the sitting porch...sitting...and chirping VERY loudly

My Aunt's fabulous water garden

Cousin Mark at the book signing, which was lots of fun, with cookies, punch, hugs and the signing of books.

Sunday Stills....Sunrises and Sunsets

Almost every morning and evening this week provided us with warmth and color.....so I put them all together in a collage. Spending mornings on the porch snapping away at the sky provided many close encounters of the hummingbird kind (although no pics of them). The male is so tame he flew past my face close enough to ruffle my bangs. What a bold little guy!

For more Sunday Stills.......

Dogs

Dickiebo nailed it.

Book Signing Today

For my cousin's wonderful book, Driving Excellence. He is a pretty amazing guy and should be president...simple as that.

Find it here on Amazon. It is something everyone who works in public service or any business owner or manager should read...more than once. The best part of the whole reading thing is that it is a pleasurable read along with being informative.

The Reason for the Uproar

Home, sweet, too-noisy, home

I waited to ask if it was all right to tell what was going on Wednesday and it is so....

The call from economic development was about Universal Pictures wanting an old house for a location for an upcoming movie. I am assuming that the highway and train noise cancelled out our chances of being chosen, but we had a representative of the studio here taking pics of the place, which was really pretty much fun.

Except for the cleaning part, of course. If I liked to clean, we wouldn't have had to clean, if you get my drift.

Had Northview been chosen we would have had to deal with moving out for two months and assorted attendant hassles. Considering how much stuff we own, and little matters like dogs and cats and running a business which requires our continuous presence, that would have been a pretty staggering prospect, so I am cool with the too-much-noise conclusion.

I get to tell a fairly amazing (and amusing in retrospect) story while staying in my messy, but comfortable home. I can live with that.

Housekeeping Triage

Or how I spent my day.

I was in hot pursuit of the Farm Side deadline, (which I never did make, sorry boss), writing about apples, which I love, and having a grand old time.

Phone rang. Unknown name. Unknown number. Almost didn't answer.

But I did. Yowsa. Complete strangers wanted to visit and take photos for reasons I will let you in on later.

I am probably not the world's worst housekeeper, but I'll bet I could hold my own against some pretty serious competition. (One reason I keep border collies is to herd the dust bunnies.)

I cleaned.

Emergency style. However, the first visitor arrived well before I accomplished anything of note. Thus there are photos floating around somewhere of the dining room table weighted down until its poor oak legs cringe with half of NFO's national paperwork (I swear) because Liz stores it there. Photos of curling wall paper, and the boss's giant piles of newspapers and farm magazines.

Pics of clutter, clutter, clutter, two families, the boss's folks and us, worth of accumulated what not and who knows what not. Not neat that's for sure. Argggghhhh......

Visitor number one left, with visitor number two still in the offing. Liz came home and pitched in like only a young person who does not have a broken foot can. We dusted, we swept, we shifted junk from one place to another. I boiled some vanilla and cinnamon on the stove to try to cover up the pervasive aroma of dairy air, which I am sure city folks notice when they stop by.

Visitor number two arrived, camera in hand, and took pictures of even more places, including our bedroom, which is neat but dusty.

Alas, all our labors were probably for naught. The Thruway is too noisy. The trains are too noisy. Noisy, noisy, noisy.

Tis true dat. They are annoying as all get out, and supply a constant susurrus, often ramping up to din, of horns and tires and engines and Jake brakes and train whistles, day and night.

When we know for sure (if we ever do) I will tell you who our visitors were and what they wanted. I'll bet you will be almost as surprised as I was.

Meanwhile the house looks half way decent, so if you want to stop, by give me a call. I'll put the vanilla and cinnamon on to boil and brew up some instant coffee. Maybe even some cookies?

Nature's Silly String

A flowering cucumber made its way up onto the porch

Foundation for the Future 2

The more I read about this program the less I understand it and emphatically the less I like it. Seems as if Kozak is assuming there is a consensus among farmers that this is a good program. That is very much not the case. Have yet to meet a singe well-informed farmer who wants any part of it.

Still no on/off switches on cows, to help us through the supply management periods, when we either produce less milk, or just don't get paid for it.....(dang it, if there were on/off switches weekends would be a lot happier around here!) And if folks just kill cows when supply management kicks in...well, I'll bet that will go over big with beef growers, not to mention how the cows will feel about it.

And I flat love the idea of sending money to the Treasury.

Dreaming of Cows

Cows all day....nightcows capering through all the hours of sleep and dreams (who needs mares anyhow?). I dreamed of Balsam last night; Alan's old show cow. Dreamed she was held hostage in a warehouse somewhere in the city, ready to have a calf. Unkind men were trying to put her in some kind of squeeze chute, but they kept missing and catching her in the middle instead of by the neck.

She was all riled up and panting and frightened and I was mad about it all. I walked up to her where she was hiding in the warehouse corner, put my arm around her, and led her wherever she needed to be. She was glad of me and wrapped her neck around me and stretched out her mile-long tongue to pull me closer.

And you know, I don't think anyone is ever going to kidnap the old girl and hold her in a warehouse, but she is just that lovely dovey. Whenever she is turned out of her tie stall to go to pasture she waits to be petted before she leaves. And she loves Alan and will wrap her big neck around him if he walks up to her outside to hold him there.....

I'm glad that with the coming of the dawn the dream let go of me and the bad guys let go of our poor hostage cow...... now she is back in her pasture asleep in the woods or gobbling down haylage, oblivious entirely to her adventurous affair of the night.

Dangerous

No, not this guy. Becky found him in the yard and called me over from the barn for a pic. We figure some of you knowledgeable folks will know what kind he is.

No the danger came from an old steel tube gate, tossed up side down in a spot where a heifer was climbing out of the fence.. It had been sitting there for years. Then the other day, Alan opened the regular gate and a cloud of wasps poured out of the old one.

Turns out the entire gate was so full of wasp nest material that it was sticking out the top in places. Although she has had allergy shots for bee sting allergy, we are real careful with Liz. Too many past trips to the hospital. Her horse tossed her in a ground bee nest once, which was not fun for anyone involved.

So the gate has been filled with hot water, there are wasp sprays on hand now, and we will be getting some Great Stuff to fill any other gates that have openings...something we usually do every year, but this cooler year caught us looking.

****Update, Cathy has a very interesting answer on Becky's butterfly here.

The Iron Eagle

Photo via Alan's cell phone. We milked early last night so the guys could go to the pull at Boonville....which meant starting early this AM so the cows were comfy.....does this mean we can start (and thus get done) early tonight?

****Update, a full pull at the Broome County Fair, then won the pull off.

Registrations and Thunderstorms

See that thundercloud...just floating there, placid and pretty, but threatening all sorts of interesting weather? I'm starting to get phone calls about the current NYS increases in all the fees and such on various state registrations, boats, snowmobiles, trail fees, launch maintenance fees......(and technically these aren't even tax increases). I've had folks call just to vent about their school tax bills down in Amsterdam too. NY voters are getting nailed every time they turn around.

In fact, I only bought a seven-day fishing license this year because the price had gone up so much.

I am thinking that the NY voting public is kinda like that thundercloud, just hanging around all calm and innocent right now. However, when the actual tax bills do come in this fall, I think there are going to be some interesting reactions then too. I don't imagine the weather will be too nice in Albany.

You Can Imagine My Chagrin

When the White House, while supposedly engaged in negotiations that could make or break our already creaking and trembling nation, thought it appropriate to Rick roll Twitter

And I ended up with this going through my head.

Dang! So glad they have a sense of humor.

*******Too bad that is the only sense they have.

Where the Water is Clear

Clouds reflected in the lake

Rocks, a couple-few feet down

More rocks along the shore with the overhanging trees reflecting.

Funny thing. In the morning our pale, not-so-very-suntanned-as-it-has-been-a-not-so-very-sunny-summer legs were as white underwater as they were above. By mid afternoon they looked just a tinge green....hmmmm.....

New Lawn Art...a Wolf

Ken keeps making these critters bigger and bigger...which means that they are more challenging to paint...which means that he has to wait longer (and longer, and longer) for me to get them painted.

Footsie

How 'bout the horns on this highlander?

Spinning wheels, twisting up the wind into threads of energy

A heifer we liked at the fair

This cow is seven years old...isn't she beautiful!

Been two months since I broke my stupid foot. It is still giving me heck. However, last night I iced it and amazingly got a good night's sleep. Gratitude! Little brother gave me a new air cast too and that has been a big help.

***More photos from the Boonville Fair

More Boonville Fair

Have I mentioned that I love harness racing?

Wordless Wednesday...at the Boonville Fair

You Gotta Go See This

You just gotta. Florida's finest nature blogger, FC, at Pure Florida rescued some little tadpoles. You need to visit his blog and watch his video. of the event...not missing the captions.

Poles in the Water

Or perhaps not. Went fishing with the family on their pontoon boat one day at camp. It was sweet no matter how you measured it. Wind in your hair, eagle flying by, air textured with water scents and forest tang.

We anchored a few times and couldn't buy a bite. Not that it is exactly punishment, rocking quietly on a boat anchored on the prettiest lake in the world, but an occasional fish does add a welcome bit of punctuation to the party.Then the little brother put us on a spot up at the far end of the lake by the dam.

Dropped a worm.

Wham.

Reeled in a large rock bass. Another worm. Another rocky. Sis-in-law and brother were fishing crayfish and hellgrammite larvae (or dobbies) respectively. I stuck with worms, which don't bite and do appeal to even the biggest, meanest fish in the lake (a rainbow trout BROKE my favorite pole a few years back when I was fishing a lowly earthworm.)

NY law permits two poles in the water per person.

However, keeping two poles in the water was physically impossible. You couldn't get one fish off before there was one on the other pole.

It was crazy; the fastest and most furious fishing I have ever experienced. Although we only caught rock bass, they were huge for rockies and ferocious biters. And you could easily see that there were big predator fish down there, because the surface danced with jumping fry. Even good-sized rock bass were leaping to escape the savage teeth. There are plenty of big pike and pickerel in that lake. Alan says he has seen logs, which suddenly swam away when the boat flowed over them. I suspect that there were at least a couple of those "logs" right under the boat.

We had the live well full of fish before we drifted off the hot spot.

By then the wind was kicking up and the surface of the water was turning that hammered-metal color that it gets before a storm. Matt anchored a few more times, but we never hit the spot again.

Soon the wind got serious and the rain started splashing down, so we ran for the cabins down the lake, churning up an eager wake and getting a free shower.....just before the lightning started slamming all around.

It was the craziest fishing trip I have ever experienced. Such fun!

And the fish fry that Lisa and Matt put on the last day, wherein we got to eat our catch, cooked over their campfire along with Dutch oven veggies and apple crisp ditto wasn't too shabby either.

On a related note my little red el cheapo pole got broken in the car on the way home. I need to find another one before next summer. Any ideas on what to buy? I mostly lake fish, prefer a light-weight, responsive pole, and use a close-faced reel. The pole the trout broke a couple years ago was my favorite ever, just a little Zebco that gave me a real feel for the fish and cast like a charm......every time I go to Wally World, the selection of poles offered changes so much it just boggles my mind. What has worked well for you in this department?

Good Post on Beef Production

Not Beef

Black Duck

From Jeffro

Jeffro explains all about growing beef from calf to feedlot

Back

Not so much to the future as to the same old, same old. The John Deere 4430 has once again earned its reputation as one of the worst tractors we have ever owned. Will not be buying green again I do not think. Major issues this time requiring splitting the tractor to repair it and having a rental to keep working at the hay. We need to trade that junk in!

Two of Alan's friends were in a regional medical center when we left for camp, one with a life-threatening illness and the other with terrible injuries from a motorcycle/deer accident. Both are moving in the right direction, which is wonderful news, although they still need prayers. Over the past few weeks the power of prayer has been demonstrated a number of times, which are not mine to mention, although I am sure grateful for the outcomes. Hope things turn out all right for these two nice boys.

A pretty day today, a lot less humid and much cooler, for which I am grateful. I am sure the cows will be too. They hate the heat and don't do well in it. Liz and the boss had five cows in season in one day while we were gone and didn't even breed them...so hot there wasn't much likelihood of them conceiving anyhow. We had a heifer to breed yesterday, one that was running out with the cows. She obligingly came in the barn without being asked, but wouldn't leave when we were done. Amazingly, although she is not trained to lead, she let Liz throw a halter on her and ambled out of the barn behind her, as tame as a kitten. Too bad she isn't a pretty one to show, as she is evidently came from the factory already halter-broken.

****Unless I get a chance to pause in the cleaning up a week's worth of Godawful mess in the house and barn to get out the camera I am going to go with more pics from camp for a bit. Above is Becky with the bubble stuff she so cleverly grabbed at the Dollar Store for camp....and Alan, blowing bubbles with scissors and a cut off soda bottle. The bubbles were brilliant...there isn't much that can add to the serenity of a clear, blue mountain lake, but bubbles, floating way down the lake on the breeze do the job nicely.

Hark! I hear a wren! I wondered where the heck they had gone......first one this summer.

Sunday Stills....Farm Animals

Click to compare me to a dinosaur

The girls, coming in to be milked

Thought you might find this refreshing, as hot as it has been lately.

This one would have been easy for me, except that I spent the past week in the woods overlooking a lake wallowing in my love for the wild and the light and the song. And swimming and fishing. And takings hundreds of photos of sunrise and geese and herons. Not seeing a single farm animal (and not minding, not one little bit)

However, here is a pic of one of Miss Laura's chickies and a couple from the archives.

For more Sunday Stills......

Still More...

Photos from camp. I watched the sun come up this day.



It is amazing how quickly it goes from being just a bright orange glow in the east to half to whole.

And there are even more here.

Photos from Camp

This sunfish had amazing luck, but lousy judgement. If you look closely you can see big gouges on its side where a predator sought lunch. Then Alan caught if off the porch and released it. Two days later his cousin caught the same fish right in front of the porch and released it again. Instead of live and learn I guess it's live but don't learn.