Summer on the Farm

What a summer!  So hot, so stormy, so buggy!  But with those complaints out of the way, we have been blessed with garden goodies, good health for all humans and animals for the most part and good living.  Who could ask for more?

My horses are doing well.  Jessie continues to patiently trot around the arena while young children learn to post.  Blue is being good while his mother puts him through his dressage lessons though now he has decided not to give me left lead canter each time I ask....groan!!!!  A chiropractor is coming to the farm at the end of the month so maybe she will fix his back.  The nasty flying vampires are relentless this year.  I turn out at dusk so they can't torment my poor Jessie.  I do hate horse flies with a passion!

My  deer seem to be doing well too.  So far I have seen eight fawns but I think Brownie has yet to show me her twins that were born July 3rd.  Bossy was the first to bring Cappy to the corn yard.  His pronounced markings look like he has a little cap on his forehead.  I think Bandit is the father since he has the same markings.

The fawns love Ringo for some reason.  They love to smell him.  He seems to be happy especially around all the girls.  Bossy's Boy still has that awful arrow sticking out of his right shouler.  It looks like it is trying to come out with a wrinkling around the entrance of the wound.  It hurts me to know what is inside him.  I looked the other day in a hunting catalog and the arrows are brutal. 

My little Buttons has now decided that I can pet his back!  A first for me.  It is such a joyful thing to pet him while he eats his corn.  Some will disagree with my actions thinking he will get tame for a hunter.  I am not so sure.  Thousands are killed each year anyways that are not tame.  Bossy's Boy and Bandit have survived 3 killing seasons though they are not tame like Buttons.  I can only pray my Buttons will stay around the farm like Bossy's Boy and hopefully avoid that evil tresspasser.  Also, I remember that the boys become more shy as the weather cools so I am sure the petting will soon be a thing of the past and I will back off getting close to him.

The garden didn't do as well this year. The corn was a disappointment as it was planted too early and received too much rain, then the crows ate the second planting until we planted American flags all along the rows which seemed to help but now the cobs aren't growing well and something is eating them.  The good husband thinks it is a raccoon but they have electric fencing every four inches so I am not sure....

Cricket has been on the attack lately which is very disappointing.  He will be 4 in September and so far hasn't figured it out yet that other cats are ok.  He is unlike any other cat I know with his huge fangs on the lower jaw as well.  He moves like a leopard and still remains so dense, so long and so lean.  His 15-inch tail seems like it might have grown as well!  The other day I found Daddy Cat with a bloody eye lid.  Of course it was a Saturday when nobody was open.  I elected to wait a day and sure enough, the eye lid looked better.  Then I discovered an old wound under his throat!  Probably the same day.  Then just two days ago, Callie's tail was dripping pus.  They shaved it and there are two wounds.  It has improved immensely but she is still on antibiotics.  I put Cricket in a huge dog pen at night so the other kitties can have rest and Daddy Cat refuses to allow me to pick him up and put him in the tack room during the day while Cricket is out so I am stumped.  Sylvester goes out when Cricket is in and just cowers if Cricket gets close.  So sad.  They all know Cricket rules and nobody dares to challenge him so I don't know why he continues this domestic violence!!

My little Bridget will have been with me almost a year now...August 14th....she has grown a lot but her little head doesn't match her body.  She is getting independent and doesn't want her mother to pick her up and very rudely puts her strong little paw against my chin to avoid those human kisses!  How spoiled is that?  By the way, Cricket was outside which fascinated the indoor kitties.  Princess was behind them but jumped down.

Poor Nugget had to endure another TTA surgery on the other knee.  He is the perfect patient.  I used a local vet who did a much better job than the huge well known MedVet in Columbus Ohio.  Not once did he whimper and my beautiful golden barely limped the day after surgery!! I was shocked.  Pleasantly shocked.  This dog was limping horribly before surgery and one would think the limping would continue until healed as it had done previously...not this time.  The incision was done a bit differently and the miniscus was not removed as there was no damage to that knee.  Dr. McNeel at Cross Lanes Veterinary Clinic has done over 60 this year already.  If anyone in WV is reading this, you need to see him if your pet is experiencing a torn ligament.  He is cheaper, better, and your dog will be recovering a lot quicker. 

What a long post!  Hope everyone is doing well.  I don't blog as much due to some other things that dominate my time and I do miss reading all of your interesting entries.  Have a great August and stay cool!

Darling Deer

It has been so long since I last posted....ugh oh, sounds like the beginning of 'confession' for all of you Catholics out there.  Like you, life got busy and after a chilly spring, I relished getting outside as much as possible! 

My deer seem fine but disappeared for over 60 days offering me only a few sightings but come May they began their nightly trek to the corn yard.   Bossy Boy still sports a partial arrow behind his right shoulder.  Brownie has not given birth to her twins yet nor has Cocoa given birth to her first fawn but Bossy, Brave One and Shy One all show the telling 'dent' where the tiny fawn(s) once were. 

Brave One positioned little 'Clover' out in the middle of the First Field again just as she did Sunny the year before, but due to visitors at the farm being a bit too nosey and getting too close, she decided that was not a good idea.  Good for her!  Baby Clover didn't need to be baking in that hot sun!

Ringo is growing a nice rack as is little Buttons (already!) who I fear will be like my Nub, taken too early in life for a yearling.  Ringo is 2, Buttons is only 1 year old.  Bandit still hangs with Bossy Boy and Tanner hangs with Ringo both two year olds looking up to the wiser and older big boys!  But my little BB, Nub, Long Horn boys, Beauty's Boy from last year and the older Twin have not shown up this spring.  Sigh..... Patty Pat, Limp and Runt survived the killing season and hopefully have given birth and are doing fine.  Beauty's Boy who is so light in color has no friends and has yet to hang with other little button bucks.  I hope Beauty is ok...

The yearling girls are cute!  Shy Girl is very friendly unlike her mother Shy One, and Sunny is very shy unlike her mother Brave One!   Brownie's 2 year old Cocoa has decided to be like her Aunt Bossy and push everyone away from the corn.  Brownie's Little Peanut is so sweet but not as brave as her twin, dear little Buttons who touched the back of my hand with his moist nose a week ago.  A first for me!  Brownie won't even do that and I have known her for 4 years!!  What a thrill, what a gift to be given from my darling deer!

A Fair To Remember

The Spring 'Chicken Swap' at an Ohio fairground is quite the regional event!  A relative invited us to go since she wanted some peacocks and thought that if we saw chickens then the good husband might relinguish and eventually change his mind.  I had a plan you see...I told him it was a 'farm show'. Well, in his mind he envisioned farm machinery, and in my mind (and in reality) there were lots of animals. 

He agreed to get up early and even agreed the night before when she called to confirm our meeting time since we were going in the same vehicle.   Oh how things drastically changed when 6:30 arrived, and he abruptly refused to get out of the warm and cozy bed.  What? You just confirmed last night!  The bad husband blamed it on Sammy as he is the only dog without an electronic collar and Sammy would need to be let around noon to relieve himself.  Of course I had that planned out...the bad husband's brother could come and complete the simple chore, but noooo, that wouldn't do.  The real reason was the desire to return to lala land.  Fine, I threatened to bring home oodles of  baby chicks, goats, lambs, etc.  I could tell in his voice that he wasn't quite sure if I was serious and laughed nervously...Kritter Keeper was very upset at being stood up!

The morning traffic at 8:30 was backed up for miles.  Unsure of the cause and not familiar with the area, my friend stayed in the left lane passing hundreds of vehicles, mostly pick up trucks with lots of empty cages in the bed that told us we were close. I noticed absolutely no cars coming down from the north and told her pass the entrance since we couldn't get in the right lane and enter from that direction.  We saved probably a half an hour and avoided polluting the environment with another idling engine.  Luckily a shortcut allowed us to quickly park within walking distance. 

So many people! And, so many little cages containing roosters, chickens, goats, ducks, turkeys, puppies, etc.  And...sad to say, so many men resting newly purchased rifles on their shoulders.  Not to mention the hand guns that dangled from trigger loving fingers of the opposite sex. Those were not the visuals I preferred to see.

                                 (The black lab puppy in the back looked just like our Sammy!)

We stopped, looked and cooed at so many furry babies.  The breedy chickens were fun to see in person and much better than the images on my calendar.  I am glad I went but I left with a heavy heart knowing that some of the animals were not treated well. 

The miniature horse had dull eyes and showed no interest when I softly spoke.  A set of mini donkeys stared blankly into space.  The tiny black pig screamed as the fat lady in the wheelchair pulled it up out of the cage by it's little hind leg.   I kindly verbalized my dislike ....'oh no honey, don't do that, you'll hurt it!'  She smiled at me and gave the pig to my friend to cuddle.  The Great Pyranees owner had no clue if her litter of 8 pups were susceptible to hip displasya. Her perplexed look gave me my answer.  A dozen of ducks were stuffed into a small cage and I voiced my concern in a louder than normal tone to my friend....'oh that is awful, look how small that cage is with all those ducks!'  My peripheral vision saw the scruffy owner turn towards me noticing my pointed finger.   Sometimes a word or two said in a kind way or not directed at a specific person may provoke a positive change.  Who knows...but I do know I wouldn't buy these poor animals. Thankfully the peacock man was of a different type. His fowl was pricier but he knowledgable.  Brochures, website, business card, all helpful ways to connect with the new owners in case a question needed answering.  The peacock man was from Indiana and his birds were healthy and seemingly relaxed except for the two nervous pheasants who finally calmed down.  Poor things.  So out of their element.

                                                        (i loved the bronzed peacock!)

                                                            (learning how to clip the wing)

(learning how to properly administer meds)

It was interesting.  It was a different setting.  I learned a lot.  But I probably will not return though I was able to photograph affection for the animals.  I'm pretty sure the pair of hens cuddled in loving arms of a cute young couple with small children will be fine.  The new owner of a sweet little mini goat was wearing a harness instead of a collar which offers a more humane way to lead an animal. A young man was cuddling a goat unafraid that his outward display of love will harm his manly reputation.  The tall burly motorcycle man gently lifting the tiny min pin smiling broadly was pleasant to see though he did not buy the pup.  I am left wondering...did the sweet little jack russell that was shaking with fright, and all alone find a good home?  Will those little ducks be offered fresh water to swim in and the freedom to spread their wings? Or will it be like the person I met a year ago...

...who in the past bought several chickens from this fair and locked them in a small pen outside preventing them from free ranging, preventing them from eating delicious bugs and allowing for frost bite.  She even left them with no water (I watered them when I was there).  I live in an area that can be mean with neglect towards animals.  I also live in an area that is home to so many loving people who adore their furry or feathered or scaly friends.  So, I choose to hope that the beautiful animals I saw last Saturday will find better homes and be able to live lives full of love, good food, quality shelter and humans who are humane.  

Oh, and we teased the bad husband before we got home...my friend happily relayed to him that I found a nice Amish man and that I wasn't coming home for awhile.  Now that would be an 'affair to remember!' ; )

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