Wow, What a Week!

Catch up time! Long summer days keep me busy, but here is a quick review...

When we got home from vacation last week, there was note from the 'pet' sitter that Rocky had not eaten in two days. Lovely...and why was there no call alerting us after the first day and asking for advice? If a human child had not eaten for that long, don't you think the parent would be notified? (I remain thoroughly disgusted to this day over this lack of care for my kitty especially since I was promised that this expensive care would be excellent. I believe I had successfully hired a house sitter and not a pet sitter). Off we went to the vet the next morning. He was constipated, given sedation, and cleaned out so to speak. He was kept over night which was fine. The bad news is that his BUN and creatine levels are high which means kidney issues which is bad news for felines and could mean a shortened life. Well, of course there are going to be kidney issues in a small animal when it hasn't eaten or consumed water due to sheer pain...so he is now on a special Purina canned food (thru the vet only) that I mix with warm water, a kidney med, and Miralax. The good news is that his bowels are great and the Miralax is far better than the prescribed Cisapride that another vet recommended a while back. The bad news is that it cost a whopping $500. So, to look on the bright side I am choosing to think about this entire situation as a positive one unless the kidney's do not recover. Rocky is much improved and his bowels have never been more regular and normal for three years. (Rock has had this problem before and the 'pet' sitter was forewarned and told not take any chances and get him to the vet). Rock seems happy and continues to attack Tiger thus remaining the big domineering Mountain Lion! I found railroad ties! That is not an exciting thing to most folks, but I have been looking and begging for a year now! So, the contractor that refused to put on my layer of limestone dust agreed to haul 50 ties. It took three hours to get them, bring them back and unload them. He wasn't going to charge me since he knew he 'owed' me, but I don't use people. I paid him very well and hopefully he will learn something from that...he loaned me an excellent tool...it is a claw like thing that grabs heavy objects. I chained it to the bucket and it worked like a charm! Hmmm, maybe he will let me keep it?

The following day we hired a man to help arrange the ties. It threatened rain, so the day was not stifling hot and there was a slight breeze. I thought this would be completed in a couple of hours max, but no....it took several hours to say the least. I will say this, the man cannot see straight and my ties looked like a snake when one side was complete. But, not to complain...the strong 'Grampie' genes came through as it was I that had to do most of the rearranging of 90 pound ties that were tightly aligned despite my ignored suggestions not to push them tight as we could rearrange when they were all placed...I was completely exhausted. After a shower, I had to lie down! My arms and back were very sore the next day, but I chalk that up to good exercise. I looked like I came out of a coal mine and when I washed my hair, the water was brown! Yuck!!!!

The next step is to find the right sand...coarse, angular, and washed twice...and that will be no treat either as one cannot have any vehicles on the packed limestone. The sand will have to be dumped on the sides and manually spread out until half way then the tractor can do the rest as the newly laid sand will prevent marks on the base.

Friends of ours experienced a devastating fire a few days ago that consumed their entire home around 2 in the morning. I cannot fathom their pain and to know they are suffering is simply horrible for all of us. Though we are not in each other's 'inner circle', they have been at our farm and we invite each other to parties. I am really fond of their family and they all are good, good people. I do know that several of us rallied around them and their closest pals arranged for us to give what 'green' we could manage to help out. I know our contributions will not bring back their antiques, photos, etc. but I hope they will know that we care so much and are here for them. Hopefully the insurance company will settle quickly. The fire initially began at a neighbor's home. The neighbor was away on vacation and our friends were baby sitting the dog. It was the dog's incessant barking and clawing at the door that awakened them and saved their lives. Bless the animals! Nobody was hurt! I felt privileged to pet the cute poodle mix and told him how wonderful he was and that he is a hero! The sad thing about this entire tragedy was that they had to call the fire department twice. The department located only five minutes away took a good 20 minutes to reach the houses and by then it was too late. That is just not right especially with all of the fees the city folks have to pay for such services or lack of services I should say...

Got back from the ear, nose, throat doc a couple of hours ago....all is well, thank God! I have been experiencing a tightening and sometimes slight pain on the front right side of my neck. The slight enlargement is the carotid 'bulb' and the tiny knot that sometimes hurts when I lift weights or overexert is a 'u' which is a blood vessel. I am so blessed. TYG!!!! What a relief. With so much cancer in our state, one never knows what to think when a bump or a pain is felt anywhere on the body. It is good to check regardless.

This weekend will be busy too as we have a wedding to attend and the good husband mentioned that the beans will be ready to pick....that means canning!!!! BYW, the photos are just a bunch of recent pics from this week, nothing that matches the content...sorry!!

Cows, Cows, Cows!

While in Vermont, I was in my glory! I got to pet both shy and friendly cows. They were beautiful and just by watching them a bit, I was able to determine which one was the boss cow. I couldn't resist photographing these huge beasts. I learned that they can move very fast if they choose. One day, Bossy decided to show her stuff and tell the black and white cow that she could no longer be petted by the 'visitor'. So, Oreo (my name for the black and white one) knew she was coming and attempted to get the first kick in but that was not a good idea. Bossy put her head under Oreo's utters and shoved her away. Ouch! These cows are preggy too! So, Oreo went up the hill to lick her wounds under a tree despite my reprimands to Bossy. Bossy then pushed Strawberry up the hill as well...The next day, the red and white spotted cow (Strawberry) moooed at me when we got out of the car as I told them all 'hello!' That was amazing. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I do not know cows at all. Jess and Blue always give a friendly 'neigh' and talk frequently to their Mama....

HI LADY! COME PET US AND SCRATCH BEHIND OUR EARS!

UGH, OH! HERE COMES BOSSY!

LEAVE US ALONE! WE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING WRONG.....

DON'T YOU TEST ME, YOU YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER!

YOU GET UP UNDER THAT TREE...NOW!

YOU GET UP UNDER THAT TREE TOO!

NOW BOTH OF YOU STAY UNDER THAT TREE!

Strawberry (the moo cow) ended up being the most friendly. I was able to give her a few neck massages while she stood very still reaping the pleasant rewards. Notice Bossy giving me a disapproving look!

LADY, MY COWS ARE NOT TO BE SPOILED! I HEAR YOUR ANIMALS ARE ROTTEN!

Cream Puff, the white one, was very hesitant but would get close enough listen to my silly cow talk. She allowed me to scratch her head one time. She didn't look pregnant. maybe she is younger and the others would have pushed her away...wonder why she doesn't look as boney as the others...

My sis and I noticed circular sores on their knees and asked Mom but she had no clue what that was about as Grampie's cows didn't have sores on their bodies. There were hundreds of flies on their backs too. I do know they have those fly spray fabric rolls that they can brush under but maybe that is not the 'organic' thing to do...have no clue! I swished away the pesky ones near their eyes during their petting sessions. I probably would not be a very good farmer, but it was great fun to get up close to these amazing and gentle creatures! Miss you, cows!!!

Brownie's Babies!

This is proof how smart animals are...in the early afternoon, I drove the Kubota down the lane (too lazy to walk as I am still recovering from the trip and what I came home to...more about that in a later post...) of course the engine is loud and it is very noticeable as it is bright orange in color; in other words, if you live in the woods, and you are deaf, then you can see me a mile away, and if you are blind, then you can hear me a mile away, so with all that said, if you are skittish, then there is plenty of time to escape to safety. After locking the gate, I drove back, of course. Now, before I left, something told me to take the camera, so I walked upstairs (even though I didn't feel like it...) to the office and got it. Nothing stood out on the way to the gate; only a fat woodchuck running to its den near the cemetery paddock.
On the way back, just before the fields come into view, there stood my beautiful Brownie in the woods between some trees in a large empty spot maybe 20 feet from the lane. She just stood square facing me. (she would have received a score of 10 for her halt!) I stopped and planned to ask where those babies are but I didn't have too ask!!! Barely hidden behind some tall weeds were her twins! Brownie showed me her babies for the first time! What a gift! She stood still for the longest time while I praised her and told her how beautiful they all are! I also thanked her. Then she slowly turned towards the twins, passed them and disappeared into the cool woods with the tiny babies following dutifully. She knew I would do nothing but sit and watch. She knew I would not disturb them by getting off the Kubota. She knew it was I who was driving. She knew I would be so happy to see her new twins! Animals are very smart!

As always, one baby is darker than the other just like Brave One and Shy One and Cocoa and Nub...the darker one again, is more brave. When it was time for Brownie to leave, it lingered maybe a couple of seconds while I talked to it. Such darling little creatures and of course the cutest fawns in the county since they are Brownie's!

Bossy was blessed with twins this year as she showed me them last night! And Brave One with her little fawn that baked in the sun (its name is Sunny) in the First Field visited last night too! Now all that is left is Shy One, Runt, and Beauty and maybe a Long Tail doe as they are still skittish. I think Big Girl is deceased as I have not seen her for months.

Another wonderful gift I received last night (didn't have the camera, darn!) was to watch Brave One and her fawn interact with the bucks. At first I was worried as Bossy always drives the boys away. Twin and Bandit came over to eat corn. Twin just looked at the baby and picked a pile close by and began to eat. He didn't push Brave One away either. But, Bandit did something I found quite touching...he sniffed the baby and touched Brave One! Then he, too, found a pile of corn. I am going to assume he is the father of that baby fawn as I doubt any other doe would allow such an alpha male make contact with her fawn especially near food.

All is definitely well on the farm!

The Old Biddy Trip

I am now an official 'old biddy' at my young age. This insulting title was given to me by the 'bad' husband upon my very generous invitation to join my mother, my sister and me for a nice vacation in Vermont. No thought was put into his answer, no sugary declines escaping from fake smiles, just several firm no's, accompanied with one outright and outrageous insult given to me upon the first invite renaming our vacation to an 'Old Biddy Trip'! Of all things!!!! : )

The bad husband feared he could not endure being surrounded by too much estrogen. He envisioned afternoon teas with little old ladies in big old houses, since there were no known species of his type to hang with and he was almost right. Daddy, Uncle Beanie and Grampie are all gone, but there were no teas! So, I guess it was a good decision in the long run though it was difficult to be without him. He would have been truly lost as there was no working television to fill his news and baseball addictions. I must admit, I really missed my internet!

The 1600+ miles of interstate was bearable though on the way back the tops of my knees became extremely sore as though I had jumped Blue or Jess 100 times. I had clocked 13 hours Monday but gave way and found a hotel with only 160 miles more to go. Self preservation kicked in just in time.

Without boring all of you bloggy buddies with mundane details, the following phrases and words describe some of the highlights and memorable moments we experienced during our memorable trip.

Seeing our loved ones again, sharing time with Mom and my sis, going back in time, quiet solitude, babbling brooks, fresh clean air with cool breezes, an awesome rented farmhouse, petting cows, seeing a baby cow and a baby horse, watching chickens, seeing my first hare (huge compared to rabbits!), an excellent 4th of July parade, excellent antique shops, excellent seafood, Grammie's baked beans, touring my grandparent's farm and meeting the generous owners...seeing 'moose crossing' signs, celebrating a cousin's bday, touring their new log home built by my fine carpenter cousin, seeing some of the old furniture again from my grandparents estate, scanning old family photos, traveling through picture perfect towns filled with federal style homes and cozy country stores, gorgeous flowers, and being blessed with some of the most awe inspiring pastoral views that look like paintings from the 18th century.

By the way, it rained pretty much every day of the trip but we did get to see some of the sun's rays peeking through every now and then. Although the rain was a disappointment we still got to do a lot and I am grateful that our traveling was safe, our health is good, and that the 'bad' husband missed me like crazy!