The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday—I Do Not Understand You, Boomer!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, just for today …THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY!!! Mom and I are doing the happy dance here there and everywhere!

The Day is 11 hours and 16 minutes long! On Sunday, March 9th, we will switch to Daylight Savings Time and the day will grow LONGER!

YIPPEE! Mom, myself, and the Little Buff Hen like Daylight Savings Time the Best. Why? Because we get up with the sun anyway!

Yesterday was a huge busy day…first rattle-out-of-the-box we all headed over to the equipment hill to load up ‘stuff’ for the consignment sale this coming weekend.

Mom drove the truck and trailer over with Boom and I in the back of the truck. Dad brought over the tractor with the loader.

It was cold outside, sharp wind, spots of frozen ice, lot of cool smells.

While Mom and Dad worked on getting the ‘stuff’ hooked up and loaded onto the trailer, then shuffling around some of the other ‘stuff’ Boomer and I checked out everything going on around there.

Hummmmmmmmm the skunks are out-and-about. I think….snuff, sniff, snuff…yep, mating season. Oh! The badgers are waking up and doing some house cleaning….

Hey, Boom, don’t head over here… the badgers are out and about…you know how cranky they can get.

‘Snuff, snuff,ummm, yumm, swallow.’ Okay, Fuzzy. I’ll just stay up here where the cows and calves stay…smack, slurp.

Oh…hummm….yes! Oh, look a patch of Cheat Grass…the cows are going to love that.

The deer have come back…here is a great deer wallow. Oh, my…I think I’ll just head on back to Mom…COYOTE poop…not, good…not good at all. At my advanced age they would find me perfect for breakfast.

Boomer?

Slurp, slobber…(mouth-full) Yes, Fuzzy?

Let’s go back to Mom, it doesn’t seem, like, um, we had better hang out here much longer…I found evidence of coyotes!

COYOTES!!! Yikes!

Let’s go back to MOM! Beat you there!!!!!

WHEW! I’m glad we are back!

Looks like Mom and Dad are all loaded and ready to go.

This time Dad has the truck and Mom the tractor. You go ahead and ride Fuzzy, I want to run back to the house and check out the fields as I go.

Check out the fields for what, Boomer?

MILK DUDS, Fuzz! MILK DUDS!

Boomer, you really are something, you know it?

Yeah, Fuzzy. I keep the coyotes from getting close to the house!

Ackk! I guess so Boomer! Gag!

Fuzzy

Mud Season (And I’m not Complaining) February 12, 2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

‘Needless to say’ ( favorite saying of my Momma’s) you don’t walk around in flip-flops, or regular shoes of any sort right now, you still walk with your boots on.

But instead of the crunch, and creak, and squeak of the snow your feet with the boots on them make a sort of plunk, and splash, and sucking sound.

BUT I’m NOT complaining! No matter what, after snow you must have mud. Every day that you have mud with sun and little wind is a day closer to DIRT! or SOIL! or just plain Ground!

The mud is bad enough the dogs don’t like to walk with me, which is okay. I walked without them. I wanted to see if the winter annual weeds were perking up–gathering juices to spring forth in all their weedy wonder.

Yep, the nasty Cheat Grass is greening up nicely. Cheat grass is really a mess…it has tiny little barbs that catch in the throats and coats of animals, on socks and pant legs, in general is just a mess. I really should go out and spray it with weed killer in the fall, but I never seem to get around too it. Fall is so extremely busy for us.

I like this little plant…it has little purple flowers and is part of the mustard family. Since I like this plant I will never try to kill it, although, I don’t know what benefits it has except to make me smile. And I do, every time I see it.

While out and about a Murder of Crows flew around and around on the wind thermals, forming figure eights in the air, calling and calling for all to hear: Caw, Caw, Spring is near!

Back home I had three inch clumps of mud on my boots, the dogs just looked at me then rested their heads back down on their paws, as if saying: see that’s why WE didn’t want to go.

That’s okay, I told them! The walk did me good, it filled that slot that had grown thin in waiting, I now have Joy in my soul.

Your Happy Friend,

Linda

A Bluebird Day February 11, 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a very wet day. The clouds sat heavily upon the land, breaking forth in huge copious drops of rain that fell and fell and fell. Gradually all the snow turned to slush and then to mud. Since the ground is still frozen the water stayed on top…filling in where the snow used to be. Huge squishy puddles that would be fun to walk through if it were August instead of February.

All day the rain drops fell, plinking and plonking on the roofs of the house, the barn, and Terry’s work shops. Sheets of water pouring off the sides of the roofs melting any snow that had accumulated there over the winter.

Rain always makes one feel like it is warm outside; not this rain, this was winter’s rain. A very rare experience for us.

Then sometime in the late morning or early afternoon the rain stopped and a chill wind fresh from the snow on the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray—accent on the pah) shoved and pushed the remaining heavy clouds from us and swept them on toward Paonia. A blue sky appeared giving all of us, Terry, myself, the dogs and cats a huge desire to be outside.

Gathering the dogs up and loading them into the back of the pick-up we took off for a short ride…just to get out of the house. Up we went toward Pea Green, then into the out-reaches of Olathe, down in the valley of Monoken (Mo-no-ken) back to Delta, where I mailed a letter, then home.

Refreshed! Open to the thoughts of spring.

This morning a huge cloud had drifted down over-night from the Plateau covering our Mesa (California Mesa), blocking the bright and joyful sun rays for our view.

The little buff hen is gradually doing better. Every evening she comes in to sleep in her laundry basket nest, cooing and talking to us as we walk by going here and there. As the night closes in and I’m done washing the dishes I cover her little basket with towels shutting out the light and helping her stay warm.

When morning comes I take her back out to the hen house. She needs to stretch and fluff and eat and poop at will…in the house is not a good place for all of that.

But today, she took her little fluffy self out into the plastic covered chicken run and started digging and scratching. A first! I was delighted to see her busy searching for interesting things to eat. The soil is dry in there so she will be able to dust herself–a beauty bath is always refreshing.

While watching her two little bluebirds flew right by me and sat down on the wood pile. I was extremely grateful the dogs had stayed in the house. They stayed a short while (of course I didn’t have my camera with me) then lifted up their little wings, turning their blue backs to me and flew off toward the fence along the lane.

Spring is coming! I always know, once I see the bluebirds. Sometimes there are only a few hardy souls braving the cold, then we will see more and more. I hope I have my camera the next time I see them…to capture a bluebird’s photo is one of my photographing goals.

For now we live under a cloud, but not such a bad cloud, as we can see the sun surrounding us.

And the bluebirds are returning. How grand is that?

Linda

Is It Spring? February 9, 2014

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday we went from snow to slush. The day warmed up to somewhere in the 50’s.

Although, having lovely warmer weather is nice, the mud isn’t. But we MUST go through the mud to get to dry ground.

The weatherman predicted rain for today, but nwt is just saying cloudy with temps in the 50’s again.

Could we be so lucky that winter has decided to leave? Only time will tell. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is stating that February 16th is the day ‘winter’s back will be broke’. Until that time yesterday, and so far today, it feels like maybe…..just maybe…we are heading toward spring. One day at a time!

I’m ready and I’m sure you are also!

We are heading up to the Uncompahgre Plateau to go sledding today. The little grandchildren haven’t been this year so to celebrate a shift in the weather we thought this might be a fun thing to do.

I hope your day has the same feeling of hope in it, the same sense of renewal, laying buried almost ready to burst forth.

Your farm friend,

Linda

The Storm That Wasn’t –February 6, 2014

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had everything buttoned down and latched tight, three loads of wood sitting under the carport where it would stay dry, and nothing happened.

I’m not complaining. I’m also glad to be ready than to not be ready.

It is snowing in the mountains, which is hand-clapping/jig-dancing good!

Terry talked to one of the water guys yesterday and he said there is enough snow at Taylor Reservoir to fill the reservoir when spring comes WITH 7 more feet besides. WONDERFUL!! The next trick is for Mother Nature to dump enough snow in the Gunnison area to help bring up the Blue Mesa Reservoir to decent levels.

(While we are talking about water I really hope and pray that California starts to get water! I read where there is huge talk about not allowing farmers to have water to farm this coming year–instead sending all the water to the metropolis areas. What a mess that is going to be…drinking water, but no food. The price of food will skyrocket, farmers will go out of business, and land will sit idle allowing the soil to blow away! I really hope that moisture comes soon for all of them!)

We are progressing here in the health department, the little goat is to have 8 shots, we are closing down on that number. She always enjoys coming to me because I have the graham crackers so giving the shot isn’t hard. The little hen’s head is looking somewhat better. Her eye is starting to de-puff. I saw a tiny crack of chicken eyeball looking at me as I applied her medicine today. I was very concerned that the eye had been pecked out, but NO! She still has her eye!

So slowly, slowly we are wending our way to health and toward spring. I’m into the count down for March-twenty-two days left in February. February always seems like a loooooooong month to me. Thank Heaven’s its a short month!

Your farming friend,

Linda

Now There is a Sick Goat February 5, 2014

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Dayphoto

Now Misty has a sick goat, which means, now I have another patient. She’s a sweet old goat, but no matter how sweet she is she will not be coming into my house at night. 🙂 It’s okay as she has a really nice goat house and her sister/friend.

But every morning I go down to administer a shot to the soft furry old lady. She and her sister each get some yummy graham crackers before I give the shot, then lots of pets and rubs on the back bone where it gets itchy and is hard to scratch.

The hurt hen is doing better. She sleeps inside every night and then goes out to the hen house during the day.

When I get up at night to put wood in the fire I always stop and talk to her in her little laundry basket night nest. She coos and purrs at me in a sleepy in hen voice. Then I wish her a sweet goodnight and go on back to bed myself.

It’s a good thing I’m an early riser because she IS a chicken after all, and does love to get up early. Soon after breakfast I take her back to the hen house, turn on the red heat lamp so she can adjust to not being in the big house.

She is eating and drinking and healing very well. I must wait now until her pen feathers start to come back in, which will be a long ways out yet, before I can bring the little black hen over for company. Until then we will continue this new little routine.

We had lots of snow yesterday, colder temperatures last night, then tonight (by 5 o’clock) the weatherman says another snow storm will make it’s way in here and be here for a length of time.

The storm leaving our area was just beautiful. Most of our storms arrive from the west (southwest, west, or northwest) and head off toward the east or northeast area.

This is the storm as it pushes itself over Cedaredge and Grand Mesa heading to some other part of the county.

Well, I must be off now and go take care of the goat, haul in more firewood and in general just get busy!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Moving Forward-February 3, 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, the Bronco’s lost. What more can be said. Now we move forward to next year. There really is nothing else to do.

The chickens have all been sorted out and deposited at Shannon’s. The poor little hen is now out of the house and in the hen house all by her little lonesome. I feel better with her out there…she has lots of room to move around in, food and water as she wants it and lots of lovely alfalfa to peck at.

When I placed her in the hen house she walked around with the most pathetic little clucking sound–I know she was looking for the others. But not for a while little girl. Not for some time really. Your whole head has to heal and the feathers starting to emerge before I bring back Little Bear (her best friend). Chickens (fowl) will peck on anyone and anything that has blood on them. Once started they get that ‘Mean Girl’ or ‘Bully’ or ‘Mafia’ look in there eyes and only death will please.

(Don’t look at the following photo if blood makes you sick)

As I told the Big Black Hen (of course the best egg layer in the house) as I reached down and grabbed her, peeling her off Little Buff Hen…”YOU STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! I’m the biggest chicken in this house and I don’t put up with this kind of attitude!”

Some of you have asked if I know why this started…not really, but maybe…boredom! The whole flock loves to be outside running and flapping and dusting. But we had a huge snow storm Friday, which has left nothing uncovered. The next day we had a small melt, but that is all.

Although, I have a nice coop, with enough space (chickens need ten square feet per chicken) and a lovely covered run —I even cover it in plastic for winter time use such as this–they have refused to leave around the feeder and the water, except to lay their eggs.

This made them largely bunched up. Crowded and bored…I tried to push them out into the covered pen, but they squalled and squawked until they could get back in and make sure they had all the rights to the feeder. I put the feeder/water out with them…no they wanted the inside feeder/water.

It’s been a struggle and the result was bloody.

Shannon’s pens are larger and covered and empty. They won’t have electricity out there but they will have room. As time passes and everything calms back down I must bring another hen over to help with the loneliness and to help her bond back with the hens.

At night I will bring her into the house so she is warm. Not having other warm feathered bodies to huddle up too would be too much.

So that is where we are now. Everything starting to settle down and another snow storm due in here any minute. We have a 60% chance of snow by noon.

A chicken having room to ‘do stuff’ is good for healing. The other chickens (and Tommy) back at their original home. (Shannon decided if she was going to take the hens she might has well take her turkey home too.)

You friend on a farm in western Colorado,

Linda

Ground Hog Day (without photos) February 2, 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

The sun is shining here and it’s cold, cold, cold! Guess that means we will be having 6 more weeks of winter. (I’m not surprised, are you?)

On the news front–

No calves yet
We had a wee melt yesterday so that helps
I have a hurt chicken in the house

I would take a photo of this poor little hen, but you really don’t want to see. One of the other chickens (maybe all of the other chickens) ganged up oh her and ripped her comb off, bloodied her head and the side of her face and, possibly, damaged her eye.

I was out in the hen house when she came running to me and the big black hen ran just as fast and jumped right on her back and started pecking. I grabbed the black hen and got her off the little buff hen. Picked up the little buff hen and brought her to the house.

Inside I put her in the cat carrier, added water and food, but she just didn’t care. So I wrapped her in a towel and sat her on my lap. Gradually, gradually, I was able to get the blood all cleaned off and some water down her throat. It was a long haul.

She liked my lap. I talked to her, she talked back; little coo’s and chuckles of love. I wish I could understand hen. Off and on throughout the night I would check on her in her little cat carrier…”Are you okay, Little Hen?” I would whisper. “coo, coo, peep, chuckle”, she would reply back.

She is doing better today. We had a wee sit on my lap while I checked her over, petted her feathers and talked to her about how to take care of the pickle she is in. She and I decided that there is no way she can go back into the pen with the other girls. She thinks staying in the house would be just fine, although the cat carrier is rather uncomfortable. I could just let her out; she would enjoy the house.

Hummmm, I don’t think so, my fine little hen. I must do some sorting out there so you can go back and have lots of room to do things.

I called Shannon and asked her to come get the other hens, but to leave Tommy. This little hen will be able to stay with Tommy when I get all of the other sorted out. Tommy will be company and help with the body heat in the chicken house. We got down to 7* last night; I’m thinking another cold front must be moving in again.

On a brighter note I am going to take your advice and suggestions and writing a proper book about the dogs Everyday Life on the farm. It will be an eBook when I’m finished. I’ve talked to a knowledgeable lady who is willing to help me once I get everything in the proper format and length for publication.

Here is part of what she told me: The market for eBooks for children is rapidly evolving. As more and more school systems buy tablets for their children, more children have their own tablets and computers at a younger age, we think this is going to be the next huge market.”

I’m rather excited and a bit over-whelmed, but I’ve been working on this for sometime so I do have some ideas to begin with. I’m not sure if the Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer will be just for children or for everyone. I guess I will let them help me decided.

Anyway, I thank each and every one of your for your comments and private emails that have continued to encourage me to give this a go. Like one of you said, it never hurts to try.

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — It’s Mine

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Dayphoto

It snowed last night. Little tiny drops of snow that pelted your hide as you walked to and fro behind Mom while she worked.

Mom had to put up Tommy and the hens they were stupidly staying outside getting pelted on…and wet…and wetter. Fuzzy and I tried to help.

Ummm Fuzzy tried to help, me not so much. Well, yes I did— I see my job as staying right behind Mom wherever she is. Fuzzy tries to help herd the poultry to the poultry house, but he can’t sometimes see where they are going so he just stands there in crouch mood.

Oh, well, works for me. It must work for Mom because she doesn’t get upset at Fuzzy. I guess that means we are a good working team—Mom, Fuzzy and ME! J

Today is the last day of January 2014. The 31^st day! Even if it’s snowing outside and the day is all one color—- a grayish whitish color it is still 10 hours and 12 minutes long!! The first day of January the day was only 9 hours and 30 minutes long…THINGS ARE IMPROVING!!!

Now what I wanted to tell you about is this: Mom brought us some bones from the grocery store when she went to town yesterday morning. Yummy bones with some meat and sweet rich fat on them!

Fuzzy and I chomped down as fast as we could so nothing or no one else could get ‘OUR BONES”!

We were about done eating when Mom came out and asked us to go for a walk with her to check on the cows…I still had a little bit left to go so I took it with me.

Fuzzy left his back in his dog house.

Not me. No sireee. I’ve had Shannon turn up with all the dog cousins, or Hank walk over, or even Fuzzy sneak around and GET MY BONE!

So I took it with me!

Slurp, slobber, drool.

But, while Mom was getting the gate, I, well, decided a really long walk with a super nice bone wouldn’t be a good idea. I might lay it down somewhere then forget where I put it and some coyote, wild dog, or that fox will get my bone.